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83/2016 : 28 July 2016 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-294/16

European Court of Justice (News) - Thu, 28/07/2016 - 10:37
JZ
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The Member State that issued a European arrest warrant is required to consider, for the purposes of deducting the period of detention served in the executing Member State, whether the measures taken against the person concerned in the executing State have the effect of depriving a person of liberty

Categories: European Union

82/2016 : 28 July 2016 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-330/15

European Court of Justice (News) - Thu, 28/07/2016 - 10:25
Tomana and Others v Council and Commission
External relations
The Court of Justice confirms the restrictive measures imposed on Johannes Tomana, Attorney-General of Zimbabwe, and 120 other individuals and companies in Zimbabwe

Categories: European Union

Brussels Briefing: He’s Back

FT / Brussels Blog - Thu, 28/07/2016 - 09:19

The scourge of the City of London, the Frenchman who sought to regulate the British financial services industry piece by piece, the Brussels commissioner who had the former Bank of England governor banging on his desk has returned.

The European Commission’s announcement yesterday that Michel Barnier is to lead its Brexit negotiation team was, in a town notorious for leaks, a genuine surprise. In Britain, his return has been received coolly by the government, and has widely been seen as a provocation. Remember also that Barnier has form with David Davis, Britain’s Brexit minister; the FT here looks at their first run-in as Europe ministers in the mid-1990s.

But who really is Michael Barnier? And what clues can be drawn from his past in Brussels to guide us about how he will approach this job?

Read more
Categories: European Union

Article - Facebook: this year's most popular posts so far

European Parliament (News) - Thu, 28/07/2016 - 08:00
General : Parliament's Facebook page is one of the most popular platforms for people to follow what MEPs are working on. More than two million people use it to discover the latest news and discuss the latest issues. But what are they interested in the most? Read on as we reveal the five most popular Facebook post of the first six months of 2016.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Facebook: this year's most popular posts so far

European Parliament - Thu, 28/07/2016 - 08:00
General : Parliament's Facebook page is one of the most popular platforms for people to follow what MEPs are working on. More than two million people use it to discover the latest news and discuss the latest issues. But what are they interested in the most? Read on as we reveal the five most popular Facebook post of the first six months of 2016.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

EUCAP Sahel Niger: new head of mission

CSDP blog - Wed, 27/07/2016 - 09:53

"On 26 July 2016, Mrs. Kirsi Henriksson, a senior diplomat from Finland, was appointed Head of the European Union mission in Niger, EUCAP Sahel Niger. She will take up her duties on 1 September 2016. She will replace Mr Filip de Ceuninck who had been in the position since 2013.

EUCAP Sahel Niger was launched in 2012 to support capacity building of the Nigerien security actors. The mission provides advice and training to support the Nigerien authorities in strengthening their security capabilities. It contributes to the development of an integrated, coherent, sustainable, and human rights-based approach among the various Nigerien security agencies in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. On 18 July 2016 its mandate was amended to also assist the Nigerien central and local authorities as well as the security forces in developing policies, techniques and procedures to better control and combat irregular migration.

Since 2014, Ms Henriksson has been the Deputy Head of Mission for EUCAP Sahel Mali. She has a background both from civilian CSDP, Crisis Management Centre Finland, Ministry of Interior and from academia. She has previously held positions such as: Acting Chief of Staff EUBAM Libya (May-Aug 2014); Head of Planning and Evaluation, EUBAM Libya (2014); Planning and Evaluation Officer, EUBAM Libya (2013-2014); Rule of Law expert, Evaluation and Best Practice Officer, EUJUST LEX Iraq (2010-2011); Head of Development, Crisis Management Center Finland (CMC Finland), Ministry of the Interior (MoI) Research CMC Finland, MoI (2007); Researcher and lecturer at the Department of History and Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, University of Tampere, Finland (1996-2006). She speaks Finnish, English, French, Swedish, German, and has a basic knowledge of Arabic.

The decision was taken by the Political and Security Committee."

(European Council - Press Release)

Tag: EUCAP Sahel NigerKirsi Henriksson

The “priest killer” of Normandy was under electronic surveillance

The European Political Newspaper - Wed, 27/07/2016 - 09:03
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The man who killed a priest in a small village of Normandy was under police electronic surveillance during the assault.

France woke up to another terrorist attack in a small town in Normandy on Tuesday, but attention is now focusing on one of the two assailants of the brutal assault.

who and why

Two assailant were shot dead by the police, but not before they had forced an 85-year old priest on his knees and slit the throat.

According to one of the nuns that the two terrorists used as human shield, Sister Danielle, the two men ritualized and recorded the murder.

The killing of Father Jacques Hamel in the small town of Rouvray near Rouen, shocked France: neither the place nor the target seemed likely.

Major urban centers seemed the target of choice.

Attention is now on the profile of the assailants and the possible political reactions.

The murderer of Father Hamel was not only well-known to authorities but actually fitted with an electronic tag at the time of the attack. He was the 19-year old Adel Kermiche. His accomplice was his 17-year old brother.

The brothers were local and the elder brother had been arrested trying to make his way to fight for the Islamic State in Syria.

Denounced by his family, he was first arrested in Germany in March 2015, when he was placed under judicial supervision. Then he tried again via Turkey in May 2015, when he was again detained and returned to France.

He was released in March 2016 on condition he wore an electronic tag and remain at home, except for week hours from 08.00 to 12.30. The attack occurred at 09.00, local time.

The so-called “news agency” of IS (Amaq) claimed responsibility for the attack.

political reactions

Reactions are mixed.

On the one hand, the regional Imam, Mohammad Karabila, denounced the “odious act” of a man he called “my friend”; the Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi. Rouen’s Catholic archbishop, Dominique Lebrun, called for unity and common prayer. President Hollande is to lead on Wednesday an interfaith meeting; he warned on Tuesday that the target of terrorism is democracy itself and called for unity.

On the other hand, the former President and current candidate Nicolas Sarkozy called for a “merciless” reaction, admonishing the Socialist government for being soft on its fight against terrorism. “There is no more time to be wasted,” Sarkozy said. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen also bided for a hardline position, suggesting mainstream parties failed on security.

(Reuters, AFP, AP, BBC, DW, France 24,)

The post The “priest killer” of Normandy was under electronic surveillance appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Re-elected Vietnam prime minister vows to defend sovereignty

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 17:59
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HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s prime minister vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty in the South China Sea as he was re-elected Tuesday by the rubber-stamp National Assembly.

In his acceptance speech broadcast live on state television, Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on parties to respect and comply with international law and not to further complicate the situation.

“We must resolutely and firmly defend our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, be determined to defend Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea and call on parties to respect and comply with international law and not to further complicate the situation,” Phuc said referring to the South China Sea in Vietnamese term.

An international tribunal two weeks ago rejected China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea in a case initiated by the Philippines. Vietnam is among the other claimants in the disputed area. China is ignoring the ruling, saying The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration has no authority in the matter.

The 62-year-old Phuc won 485 votes from 494 assembly deputies elected in the general elections in May, after becoming prime minister in a vote of the old assembly in April.

In addition to the sea dispute, Phuc’s government faces a serious budget deficit, soaring public debt, an inefficient state economic sector and the worst drought in nearly a century in the southern Mekong Delta, the country’s rice bowl.

But Le Hong Hiep, a research fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute that studies Southeast Asia, said Phuc has surprised many observers and his critics by his pro-business attitude and down-to-earth approach in managing the economy.

“From his interventions to facilitate businesses to his comments on various economic issues, he has demonstrated that he is an active, capable and reform-minded leader that investors can rely on,” Hiep said in an email.

In his speech, Phuc also pledged to speed up reforms, fight corruption and build a transparent and accountable government.

Hiep said the current conditions of the economy force Phuc and his government to explore more reforms to maintain economic growth,

“Vietnam has reached the point of no return, where the government can’t afford to delay the much-needed reforms forever, especially regarding SOEs,” Hiep said referring to reforming the state-owned enterprises which have been slow when only small portions of shares of many major state companies were sold.

Economist Pham Chi Lan said Phuc has initiated many policies to facilitate businesses, but much more needs to be done to push his government agencies to implement them.

“Local and foreign experts have all recommended specific solutions … it’s now time to implement them,” she said “But it requires (the government) to go beyond itself.”

The assembly, with 96 percent of deputies being members of the Communist Party, is scheduled to approve Phuc’s 27-member cabinet before wrapping up its first session on Friday.

The post Re-elected Vietnam prime minister vows to defend sovereignty appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Niece of Thai army torture victim sued for internet postings

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 17:23
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BANGKOK (AP) — The niece of an army conscript who was tortured to death by soldiers was arrested Tuesday on a complaint filed by the Thai military over her internet postings.

Naritsarawan Kaewnopparat last year had posted photos of her uncle’s body and information about the torture he endured. She was arrested at her workplace in Bangkok on charges of criminal defamation and violating the Computer Crime Act.

Military personnel are rarely prosecuted for human rights abuses or other crimes in Thailand, and the military government that seized power in May 2014 has clamped down on free speech.

Naritsarawan won 7 million baht ($200,000) compensation in a malfeasance suit against the army, the defense ministry and the prime minister’s office, but the actual perpetrators went unpunished.

The army’s own investigation concluded Wichian Puaksorn was tortured by about 10 soldiers as punishment when he tried to run away a second time from his camp in the southern province of Narathiwat in June 2011. It said a first lieutenant gave the order and that Wichian was kicked, beaten and dragged across concrete; salt was rubbed in his wounds before he was wrapped in a sheet and beaten again.

“Naritsarawan acted as a representative and advocate in the place of her late uncle’s mother,” said Preeda Nakphew, an attorney for the Cross Cultural Foundation advocacy group. “She fought his case in court and was already paid compensation for his death, so it is unclear as to why the police are acting on this arrest warrant now.”

In a separate case, three human rights activists who were tried on similar charges after being sued by the army will hear the court’s verdict on Wednesday. The charges involve a report the three issued alleging torture by security forces in Thailand’s southern provinces, where a Muslim insurgency has lasted more than a decade. They face the prospect of five years behind bars and a fine of $4,800.

Amnesty International called for Thai authorities to drop the charges and instead investigate the serious allegations the activists’ report raised. “It is the state’s duty to protect human rights activists, not to shield security forces from accountability,” said Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty in a press release.

The report issued in February described acts of torture in the southern provinces as systematic and said that in spite of complaints and campaigns by victims and rights organizations, “the state has not taken any significant action to prevent and address torture.”

Government spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in response to their report that there was no evidence to back allegations of torture.

The post Niece of Thai army torture victim sued for internet postings appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Obama’s Kenyan half-brother says he supports Donald Trump

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 17:07
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan half-brother of President Barack Obama said Tuesday he supports Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and not the candidate his brother has endorsed, Hillary Clinton.

Malik Obama told The Associated Press he thinks Trump has a lot of energy and is very straightforward.

“Clinton is not honest because she says that she did not reveal any classified information, and she did. And I don’t see that kind of person being the president of the United States,” he said.

Also, “I do not support same-sex marriage,” he said. “I am Muslim, it’s something God would not approve. The Republican Party doesn’t stand for that.”

Malik Obama also expressed disappointment that his half-brother hasn’t done more to support his Kenyan family and the country. The president’s father was Kenyan.

“I am upset and disillusioned. When he became president there was a lot of excitement and there was a lot of hope that he would do many things for us and the country,” he said. “I don’t think he has accomplished that.”

Trump has tweeted his surprise at Malik Obama’s stance: “Was probably treated badly by president – like everybody else!”

Malik Obama, 58, stirred up controversy in 2010 when he took a teenager as his third wife. He ran for governor in his home county of Siaya in 2013 and lost by a landslide. He was unhappy that his half-brother did not endorse him.

The father of President Obama and Malik Obama died in a car crash in 1982, leaving three wives, six sons and a daughter. All his children except Malik and the youngest, George Obama, live in Britain or the United States.

The post Obama’s Kenyan half-brother says he supports Donald Trump appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Turkish purge continues with Turkish Airlines and Turk Telecom

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 16:37
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Following members of the security forces, teachers and professors, and members of the public administration, the purge in Turkey continues with State Owned companies.

Turkish Airlines fired 211 cabin crew and management as part of the post-coup purge. Turkish Telecom followed with another 200 dismissals.

According to Sabah, many of the employees were sacked because of their alleged links to the network of the US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen.

The post Turkish purge continues with Turkish Airlines and Turk Telecom appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Islamic Militants kill Catholic priest in Normandy

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 16:11
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Two armed men took five hostages at a church in a small town near Rouen in Normandy, northern France on Tuesday morning.

The two men were armed with knives and took two nuns, a priest, and at two worshippers as hostages in the French town of Rouvray, near Rouen, in Normandy, France.

Apparently, one of the nuns escaped and alerted the police.

The police sealed the area. The two men beheaded the 86-year old priest Jacques Hamel before they were shot dead.

Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet says another one of the hostages is critically wounded.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack. President Francois Hollande says “France is ‘at war’ with ISIS.”

There are reports that one of the two assailants was wearing an electronic surveillance tag. The assailant took advantage of a three hour non-surveillance window for this attack.

He had been arrested in Turkey and jailed in France in 2015, while trying to reach Syria.

The post Islamic Militants kill Catholic priest in Normandy appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Kerry announces cooperation with Russia in Syria

The European Political Newspaper - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 15:32
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday he hoped to announce in early August details of a plan for closer military cooperation and intelligence sharing with Russia in Syria.

Speaking after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian nations intergovernmental conference in Laos, Kerry said there had been progress in negotiations.

Apparently, bilateral negotiations have yielded a bilateral plan.

Kerry’s proposal envisages Washington and Moscow sharing intelligence and coordinating air strikes against the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front; the plan will also prohibit the Syrian air force from attacking moderate rebel groups.

Kerry is defending the plan amidst deep skepticism among his own ranks. Top American military and intelligence officials, including Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford, oppose any cooperation with Russia.

 

The meeting in Laos comes in the aftermath of allegations that Russia is behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) intranet system. A private cybersecurity contractor working for the DNC suggested the hacker is linked to the FSB. Wikileaks released a trove of the e-mails secured via that cyber-security attack on Friday.

Kerry said he raised the issue of the emails with Lavrov during their meeting. Earlier, Lavrov brushed aside the accusations that Russia was involved, saying: “I don’t want to use four-letter words.”

The FBI is still investigating the intrusion at the DNC intra-system.

The post Kerry announces cooperation with Russia in Syria appeared first on New Europe.

Categories: European Union

Heating With Gas – But Not As We Have Known It

Public Affairs Blog - Tue, 26/07/2016 - 15:32

Converting gas distribution systems across Europe from methane to hydrogen could cut CO2 emissions from the heating of buildings by more than 70%.  That’s the prospect held out by a new UK case study that might have big implications for EU energy policy.

With the heating and cooling of buildings accounting for half of Europe’s energy consumption there is little prospect of achieving the climate change goals set last year in Paris unless greenhouse gas emissions from this sector are reduced by a very significant margin.  Yet the strategy outlined by the European Commission in its communication six months ago is less than convincing.  Step  changes in thinking and levels of ambition are needed.

The H21 Leeds City Gate project published its findings last month – rather unhelpfully on the same day that the news was dominated by Theresa May becoming British prime minister!  It proposes construction of four conventional steam methane reformers to convert natural gas to hydrogen in the industrial area of Teesside, on the North Sea coast.  From here the gas would be piped south to Leeds, a city with a 660,000 population, or one per cent of the UK as a whole.

A phased conversion exercise, effectively on a street by street basis, would start from 2026 and mimic the operation that took place 60 years before when coal gas was replaced by natural gas.  Boilers in every home would be replaced.  A rolling programme would see the conversion work extended across the entire country by 2050.

The project team says that expense and disruption will be greatly reduced because the work will follow in the tracks of a major operation that is seeing Britain’s old iron gas mains replaced by polyethylene distribution pipes, which are entirely suitable for carrying hydrogen.  The geology of the area is also ideal for the bulk storage of the gas in salt caverns, making it possible to even out the enormous differences in seasonal demand that could defeat the use of electricity for heating on a similar scale.

At least 90% of the CO2 created as a by-product of the hydrogen manufacture will be captured and piped for permanent sequestration deep beneath the North Sea.  Sufficient storage capacity for 90 years of production has already been identified, and the carbon capture and storage (CCS) network would provide the means of decarbonising the Teesside industrial complex.  Storing inert CO2 is strangely controversial in some countries, even when they appear to regard underground storage of inflammable methane as routine, but in the UK the idea is likely to command cross-party support.

As for the costs of all this?  The project team claim (and cynics will argue that they would say this) they are remarkably reasonable, significantly less expensive than the electrification, home insulation or heat pump alternatives, and with potential for achieving great economies of scale.  With expense shared across the national network the difference in household bills, including the boiler replacement exercise, would be very small indeed.

So is this the answer to Europe’s heating dilemma?  It deserves more study.  The gas industry is interested but it has yet to register with governments.  There’s never a single solution for every member state but with CO2-rich natural gas providing 46% of the EU’s heat a move from methane to hydrogen might prove a vital weapon in the fight against climate change.

Chris Davies led on climate and energy issues for the ALDE group in the European Parliament 1999-2014, and is an advisor to FleishmanHillard.

Categories: European Union

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