Ongoing talks on trade deals such as TTIP and CETA, future EU-Russia relations and latest developments regarding relocation of migrants to achieve a fair distribution in all EU member states will top the agenda of the 20-21 October meeting of heads of states or governments in Brussels. In a debate with Slovak Secretary of State […]
UNHCR “Takes Note” Of EU Migration Summit Failures
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees wasn’t super happy with Europe’s big migration Summit. With the calm reflex of a seasoned stock broker watching the market crash, UNHCR said it “has taken note of the Statement of the EU Heads of State and Government of Turkey last night and we are concerned with some […]
How Digital is Europe? New Figures Show Jump Needed
Today the European Commission published the results of the 2016 edition of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). The findings show that Member States have made progress in areas such as connectivity and digital skills, as well as in public services, since the publication of the Commission’s Digital Single Market Strategy last year. While […]
UNHCR Concerned By Refugee Border Build-Up
UNHCR is concerned by recent restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries that are placing additional undue hardships on refugees and asylum-seekers across Europe, creating chaos at several border points, and putting particular pressure on Greece as it struggles to deal with larger numbers of people in need of accommodation and services. On […]
‘For How Long Can EU-Russia Economic Relations Deteriorate?’ Asks Chizhov
Let me start by quoting the EU Trade and Investment Strategy approved by the EU Council on 27 November 2015, writes Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union. “The EU’s strategic interest remains to achieve closer economic ties with Russia. The prospects for this will, however, be determined primarily by […]
Europe’s New Innovation Principle, Making Policy Fighting Fit
“It’s time to put The Innovation Principle’ at the heart of Europe’s economic revival,” that was the key message at a recent high-level industry conference in Brussels. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation said barriers between interdisciplinary structures must be removed to quicken innovation and accelerate competitiveness. He said it’s about […]
EU Pushes Two-Year Schengen Border Controls
EU Home Affairs ministers asked the European Commission on Monday to consider suspension of the Schengen area for up two years, prolonging EU Member States border controls. Under the Schengen Code, Member States can only introduce temporary border controls for two months, for unforeseeable events and six months, for foreseeable events. But under Article 26, […]
Brussels Launches Poland Rule of Law Assessment
Brussels is finally worried about authoritarism in Poland, three months after its new government was formed. The European Commission announced on Wednesday the launch of a “preliminary assessment” on whether Warsaw is undermining the Rule of Law in the country. For the first time in EU history, Brussels has opened an assessment to decide if the […]
Refugee Women in Europe Risk Sexual Violence Says UNHCR Report
Oumo (not her real name), a young woman from sub-Saharan Africa is fleeing persecution that has left her brother-in-law dead and her sister missing. Fearing for her life, she made the dangerous and difficult journey to Europe where she is hoping to find asylum and safety. During her journey to Greece, Oumo was forced to […]
“Ambitious Climate Alliance Needed” From EU-CELAC Lawmakers
EU and Latin America, Caribbean Lawmakers Forging Paris #COP21 Positions Today’s formal Declaration at the Brussels Summit of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) calls for the strengthening of the bi-regional alliance ahead of COP21, but hbs says that isn’t enough. “There is a fundamental difference between […]