European Union

On 7 February 2017, the Council adopted an implementing decision setting out a recommendation to prolong temporary internal border controls in exceptional circumstances. 

Starting from 11 February 2017, when the previous decision expires, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should prolong proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of three months at the following internal borders:  

• Austria at the Austrian-Hungarian land border and Austrian-Slovenian land border
• Germany at the German-Austrian land border
• Denmark in the Danish ports with ferry connections to Germany and at the Danish-German land border
• Sweden in the Swedish harbours in the Police Region South and West and at the Öresund bridge
• Norway in the Norwegian ports with ferry connections to Denmark, Germany and Sweden

 Before prolonging such controls, those member states concerned should exchange views with the relevant member states to ensure that internal border controls are carried out only where it is considered necessary and proportionate. They should also ensure that internal border controls are only carried out as a last resort when other alternative measures cannot achieve the same effect. 

Border controls should be targeted and limited in scope, frequency, location and time, to what is strictly necessary to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security resulting from the continued risk of secondary movements of irregular migrants. 

The member states that carry out these controls should review each week whether they are still necessary and adjust them to the level of the threat, phasing them out wherever appropriate. They should report to the Commission and the Council every month.

Background  

Under article 29 of the Schengen Borders Code, the Commission may propose a recommendation, to be adopted by the Council by qualified majority, to reintroduce controls at all or specific parts of the border of one or more member states as a matter of last resort. They may be introduced for a period of up to six months. Controls can be prolonged for additional six month periods up to a maximum duration of two years.  

On 4 May 2016, in the context of the migratory crisis, the Commission considered that the conditions for applying Article 29 of the Schengen Borders Code were fulfilled and submitted a recommendation to the Council. This was due to serious deficiencies in ensuring efficient controls at parts of the EU's external borders, which put the functioning  of the entire Schengen area at risk. 

On 12 May 2016, the Council recommended to the five Schengen state most affected (Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) that they maintain proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of six months to respond to the serious threat and to safeguard public policy and internal security, as a result of the secondary movements of irregular migrants.  

Given the fragile situation and the residue of pressure remaining in the members states most affected by these movements, on 11 November 2016 the Council recommended that these member states prolong proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of three months. 

On 25 January 2017, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council implementing decision recommending to the five Schengen states that they prolong the temporary internal border controls for a further maximum period of three months. 

On 7 February 2017, the Council registered the absence of unanimity in support of the proposal for a regulation creating a European Public Prosecutor's office (EPPO). This opens the way for a group of at least nine member states to refer the text for discussion to the European Council for a final attempt at securing consensus on the proposal. If this does not prove possible, enhanced cooperation can be considered. 

"EPPO has been part of the Treaties since 2009. However, as the last six and a half years have shown its establishment has been elusive. I am positive that the Maltese presidency will achieve concrete results by continuing to act as an honest broker so that those member states who wish to launch enhanced cooperation do so under this presidency”, said Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice of Malta. 

Next steps & procedure 

Article 86 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU foresees that, in case of absence of unanimity on the regulation creating the EPPO, a group composed of a minimum of nine member states may request that the text be referred to the European Council for discussion. The European Council then has  a period of up to four months to try to reach a consensus. 

If it still proves impossible to secure a consensus, a group of at least nine member states can express the wish to establish enhanced cooperation. 

Background 

The aim of the EPPO regulation is to create a European Public Prosecutor's Office. The EPPO would be an independent Union body with the authority, under certain conditions, to investigate and prosecute EU-fraud and other crimes affecting the Union's financial interests. It would bring together European and national law-enforcement efforts to counter EU-fraud.

Why did nearly six years have to pass? Why did hundreds of thousands of people in Syria have to die and many millions have to flee? Why did it take so long for Europe to feel even a little disgust at the tragedy of Aleppo, one of the biggest worldwide humanitarian catastrophes of recent years?

Why, for months, did the European Union only keep ‘under review’ the idea of using air drops to supply aid to those in the Syrian regions being besieged by government forces – a measure long demanded by the most senior United Nations officials?

Dropping aid into hard-to-reach regions is technically feasible if the political will exists. The Greens in the German Bundestag, of which I am a member, introduced a proposal to this effect in Parliament last autumn.

The proposal was rejected by a majority of MPs, even though in just a few months before even then Germany’s foreign minister, Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, had mentioned these airdrops as an option should ceasefires not hold. The weapons did not stay silent – but nothing happened.

Nothing happened, despite images of horror and destruction and regular testimonies of war crimes delivered daily into our homes since 2011.

“In the face of atrocities, the peace movement kept quiet”

Nothing happened, despite the Syrian tragedy occurring right on Europe’s doorstep, despite our continent – not least Germany, which has accepted more than a million refugees since 2011 – being immediately affected by the results of flight and displacement.

Shortly before rebel-held east Aleppo fell in December 2016, prominent authors and artists called for a demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Several hundred people or more attended.

But where was the voice of the peace movement, which in the 1980s could mobilise hundreds of thousands of people in Germany?

In the face of the atrocities which befell Homs, Daraya and Aleppo the peace movement kept quiet, or they surrendered to those who castigated the United States as Middle East imperialists and praised Russia as the dove of peace. And this despite the use by Moscow of questionable opinion leaders, supposed experts or allegedly independent journalists for propaganda campaigns in Germany and other European states.

The EU has failed to present a united front against Putin and Russia, with too many vested interests and equivocal attitudes towards the Russian government. This phenomenon has shown itself more clearly than ever since the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the Syrian war. Most EU governments’ relations with Russia are strained enough with the tensions in Ukraine; they do not want to exacerbate the conflict with Moscow.

Berlin too, which has taken a relatively hard line, could barely afford to ramp up the pressure as existing sanctions against Russia are already a thorn in the side of parts of the German economy. And there are heads of government like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who is a declared fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Without Western military engagement since the Russian military intervention, the possibilities for influence and action have been restricted. Through the use of poison gas and the dropping of barrel bombs, the ‘red lines’ that US president Barack Obama drew in 2012 and 2013 were crossed, but he pulled back from forceful action, allowing Putin to become a critical player in the region. When the American presidential primary and general election campaigns began the idea of a stronger military engagement in Syria had no chance.

“The EU has failed to present a united front against Putin and Russia; EU governments do not want to exacerbate the conflict with Moscow”

And there is the issue with Turkey: an increasingly questionable partner under its increasingly authoritarian President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on whom Europe became dependent during the refugee crisis. Turkey, due to its hardline actions against the Kurds in northern Syria, has indirectly supported the self-styled ‘Islamic State’, or Daesh, for years.

Any discussion about events in Syria runs the risk of becoming stifled. People argue that the situation in the region is too complex; that there are too many players with incomprehensible interests. Of course, much remains hidden. But the fact that war crimes are taking place, that more than 90% of the deaths of doctors, journalists and civilians are the result of actions of the Syrian regime and its allies − this is not propaganda.

Brave journalists and Syrian human rights activists, as well as doctors and volunteers, document the events blow by blow, and take account of all the victims.

Western journalists have taken great risks to deliver solid reporting from the heart of the conflict. Should all these efforts, and this commitment, remain without impact?

They speak up. Europe should too.

IMAGE CREDIT: radekprocyk/Bigstock.com

The post Why is Europe so silent on Syria? appeared first on Europe’s World.

To receive the Brussels Briefing in your inbox every morning, register for a free FT account here and then sign up here.

It was also fake.

Read more

The worsening security situation in eastern Ukraine, where heavy fighting with pro-Russian rebels recently broke out in the government-controlled town of Avdiivka, were debated by Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs on Monday with Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. MEPs urged Russia to stop testing the West’s reactions and to go on implementing the Minsk agreements.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The worsening security situation in eastern Ukraine, where heavy fighting with pro-Russian rebels recently broke out in the government-controlled town of Avdiivka, were debated by Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs on Monday with Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. MEPs urged Russia to stop testing the West’s reactions and to go on implementing the Minsk agreements.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The worsening security situation in eastern Ukraine, where heavy fighting with pro-Russian rebels recently broke out in the government-controlled town of Avdiivka, were debated by Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs on Monday with Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. MEPs urged Russia to stop testing the West’s reactions and to go on implementing the Minsk agreements.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : It would take another 70 years for women to earn the same as men with the current pace of progress, according to the European Commission. Europe might be one of the world's leaders when it comes to gender equality, but in the EU women still get on average lower salaries and pensions and continue to be underrepresented in political and economic positions of power and decision-making. A report adopted by the women's rights committee today urges the EU to step up its efforts.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : It would take another 70 years for women to earn the same as men with the current pace of progress, according to the European Commission. Europe might be one of the world's leaders when it comes to gender equality, but in the EU women still get on average lower salaries and pensions and continue to be underrepresented in political and economic positions of power and decision-making. A report adopted by the women's rights committee today urges the EU to step up its efforts.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

To receive the Brussels Briefing in your inbox every morning, register for a free FT account here and then sign up here.

How do they get to €60bn? The Commission’s arguments are becoming clearer, but it remains cagey about the precise numbers (EU-27 officials may be told more today when they meet on this subject). From some (often patchy) public data, I’ve estimated the net €60bn bill consists of: €10bn for pension promises to EU officials; around €36bn from unpaid spending commitments; and €27bn of other liabilities and promises of structural funding that will be discharged between 2019-2023. From that is deducted roughly €12bn of UK receipts, from its share of assets and commitments.

Read more

Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU
Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part
Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Albania
Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU - European Commission
Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service
Addressing Refugee and Migrant Movements: the Role of EU External Action
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Some 200 million women and girls have suffered a form of genital mutilation. It consists of cutting off genitalia and is mostly carried out on young girls up to 15 years old. On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February we spoke to women's right committee member Malin Björk, a Swedish MEP from the GUE/NGL group, about what should be done to end the practice.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Some 200 million women and girls have suffered a form of genital mutilation. It consists of cutting off genitalia and is mostly carried out on young girls up to 15 years old. On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February we spoke to women's right committee member Malin Björk, a Swedish MEP from the GUE/NGL group, about what should be done to end the practice.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

I am pleased to welcome President Aliyev to Brussels today.

Azerbaijan is an important partner for the European Union, whose independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity we support.

We want to build on our reliable and strategic partnership in the energy field. Azerbaijan is important for Europe's energy security and diversification of supplies. We have a shared commitment to finalise the Southern Gas Corridor; in fact it is a key priority for both sides.

The European Union is already Azerbaijan's main trading partner and one of its most important investors. We intend to expand these commercial relations further in the coming years. We discussed how our strengthened cooperation will help modernise  and diversify the Azerbaijani economy. For Azerbaijan to also move forward in the WTO talks would pave the way for a competitive business environment that would drive our economic integration.

During our talks, I stressed the importance we attach to human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression. The EU believes that an open society is the best guarantee for long term stability and prosperity. We look forward to continuing to work as partners on these issues.

Azerbaijan acts as a bridge between cultures. This is very welcome in view of the challenges that we currently face in our common neighbourhood.

We discussed the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The status quo is unsustainable. The conflict does not have a military solution and needs an early political settlement in accordance with international law. The EU continues to fully support the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Our relations go beyond energy and trade: We want to upgrade our relationship and develop its full potential through a new bilateral agreement. I am very happy to announce that tomorrow,  the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement will be launched. I wish our negotiators every success.

This new agreement will broaden the scope of our relations, taking into account the new global, political and economic interests we share and challenges we want to face together. Mr. President, thanks again for coming to Brussels.

REPORT on the 2016 Commission Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Cristian Dan Preda

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

REPORT on the 2016 Commission Report on Albania
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Knut Fleckenstein

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

At the start of her presidential campaign Marine Le Pen has spoken out in favour of leaving the EU and putting strict limits on immigration. Polls show the candidate of the far right Front National still in the lead in the polls, with 25 percent. The escalating scandal surrounding conservative candidate François Fillon has also put wind in her sails. What is making Le Pen so popular?