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Part of the DODS Group DODS Group Logo Register for our newsletter Menu The Parliament Magazine Try 5 copies of The Parliament Magazine for just €5.00 / £5.00 Subscribe Subscribe Search Follow us: [logo-sticky-alt.svg] Nigel Farage predicts EU’s collapse ‘within ten years’ Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, the Brexit party leader told this website, “If we get Brexit half right then these institutions will not be here within ten years.” [logo-sticky-alt.svg] credit: European Parliament Audiovisual Martin Banks By Martin Banks Martin Banks is a senior reporter at the Parliament Magazine 29 Jan 2020 Farage said he will continue to campaign “all over Europe” against the EU in the coming months and years and identified three countries - Italy, Denmark and Poland - as being among those most likely to next exit the EU. “They are the frontrunners,” he declared. Farage, whose party won 29 seats in the last European election, believes the UK departure will prove a “hammer blow” to the EU, adding, “and that is a good thing.” RELATED CONTENT UK exits EU Agreement “I want to stress that we are not anti-European. I love Europe but I loathe the EU.” The EU, he said, had discovered that the “UK is too big to bully”, adding, “If, in ten years, what we have achieved is a catalyst for change elsewhere then I will be absolutely delighted.” Farage lambasted the European Commission which, he said, was putting preservation of the European project ahead of issues like workers’ rights. He said, “I really do not think the EU and its institutions will last”, going on to say that, even so, he hopes its demise will be “peaceful and sensible.” “I want to stress that we are not anti-European. I love Europe but I loathe the EU” Nigel Farage MEP He also scoffed at the EU’s claim to be an economic superpower, adding, “The euro currently represents only 15 percent of global GDP and this figure is going to fall dramatically in the coming years.” He also warned UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, about to embark on what many predict will be the hardest part of the Brexit negotiations, that he and his party “are going nowhere.” He told reporters at a packed press conference, “We may be leaving the battlefield but we are not going away, that is for sure.” Farage, who will deliver his last speech in Parliament later on Wednesday, said, “He has to deliver on Brexit.” “A lot of people have lent their support to him and the Tories and if he breaks this trust this support will fall off an edge.” Farage was speaking just ahead of a historic vote by Parliament on the Withdrawal Agreement later on Wednesday. This will pave the way for the UK to quit the EU on Friday. The former UKIP leader admitted that Brexit is “unlikely to have happened” but for that fact that he was elected as an MEP to Parliament back in 1999. "The euro currently represents only 15 percent of global GDP and this figure is going to fall dramatically in the coming years" Nigel Farage MEP “No, it would not have happened if I hadn’t come here.” “It gave me a platform to be invited on programmes like Question Time and speak at the Oxford Union.” But he admitted the “irony” in his job in Parliament “over four decades” and being the principal cheerleader in the UK against the soon-to-be EU27. Farage, who has been inundated for media interviews this week, also took aim at those in the UK who support EU membership, saying, “Remainers are looking more like members of the flat earth society.” “There has been a remarkable coming together of people, including Remainers, in the UK. Even the FT [Financial Times], which is an ardent EU supporter and wanted the UK to join the euro, says now that this has happened and people have to accept it.” Farage took the opportunity to ridicule the SNP and leader Nicola Sturgeon, saying, “Even one third of SNP voters supported Brexit. She is campaigning for Scotland to become a region of the EU. This is totally bonkers.” He predicts Italy, Denmark and Poland could be next to leave, saying, “The way the Poles have been insulted by the EU is probably more than they can bear. A poll in Poland last year said, for the first time, that Poles believe the EU has a negative effect on their lives.” “Of course, Denmark didn’t join in the first wave of enlargement and has always opted out of the euro and arrest warrant. I also think that the next financial crisis will be too much for Italy to bear.” His MEP job, he said, had offered the chance of “endless dinner invitations, chauffeur-driven cars” and “more money that some could dream of.” “It is worth noting that less than two miles from this place there are 10,000 people earning more than the British Prime Minister.” When asked, years ago, if he thought his life as an MEP would “corrupt” him, he said he’d replied, “No.” The “turning point” for him, he said, was in 2005 and the attempt to introduce a constitution for Europe. This, he noted, was then rejected by the French and Dutch “ but the EU, rather than rowing back on such further integration, did the opposite.” “They rebranded the constitution the Lisbon Treaty," said Farage, who faced a barrage of tv crews jostling for his attention. He called Brexit the biggest historical event since Henry VIII “took us out of the church of Rome.” He added, “We are now about to leave the Treaty of Rome.” Looking to the future, he revealed he would play an active role in the presidential campaign in the US this year, adding, “Instead of going to Strasbourg once a month I will be over on the east side of the States each month.” He said he would “miss the drama” of parliamentary life and, when asked by this website, if there was a “souvenir” he would take back to the UK he paused and said, “Well, there are papers and photographers but the biggest thing I will take back is a big smile.” Related [logo-sticky-alt.svg] 30 Dec Justice 2021 saw progress on EU legislation against hate speech by The Parliament Magazine Read the most recent articles written by Martin Banks - New EU regulations on AI seek to ban mass and indiscriminate surveillance Categories International Trade Justice Share this page Partner Content Alt Should Belgium go its own way to protect its supply chains? 17 Dec by Eli Hadzhieva Alt 40 years of HIV pandemic: key learnings for the future of global health 17 Dec by Zoya Shabarova Alt EU Regulation on Deforestation: The Case for National Certification Programs 16 Dec by Robert Hii Alt Refusal to address Uyghur forced labour is a betrayal of Europe’s values and history 13 Dec by Rushan Abbas Alt What happens in Lebanon should be a warning for us all 10 Dec by Nathalie Goulet Alt Civil society’s crucial role in defending European democracy 07 Dec by Natacha Kazatchkine IFRAME: https://www.dianomi.com/smartads.epl?id=6161 Read Next: [logo-sticky-alt.svg] International Trade MEPs debate Belarus border emergency measures by Andreas Rogal Related articles Policy Focus: Migration and Asylum 29 Dec International Trade Policy Focus: Migration and Asylum EU Migration policy featured heavily in 2021 as MEPs considered the merit of the European Commission’s Asylum and Migration Pact proposals by The Parliament Magazine Poland comes under fire over renewed media law push and new Pegasus spyware revelations 22 Dec International Trade Poland comes under fire over renewed media law push and new Pegasus spyware revelations New revelations about Polish government lead to renewed criticism and calls for the European Commission to act more forcefully against Rule of Law breaches by Warsaw by Andreas Rogal MEPs debate new resolution on #MeToo and sexual harassment 17 Dec Justice MEPs debate new resolution on #MeToo and sexual harassment Parliament debate highlights that sexual harassment within the European institutions is an unwon battle by Inbar Preiss Final plenary debate of 2021 sees MEPs clash with European Commission on free movement of goods restrictions 17 Dec International Trade Final plenary debate of 2021 sees MEPs clash with European Commission on free movement of goods restrictions Austrian regional government of Tyrol banning of HGV night crossings over Brenner Pass costing hundreds of millions of euros, warn MEPs by Andreas Rogal A fortnightly magazine delivered to you and packed with the latest opinion and analysis Subscribe Try 5 copies of The Parliament Magazine for just €5.00 / £5.00 Subscribe Follow us Registered office: 11th Floor, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG Company number: 04267888 © Merit Group plc Site Sections Services General Media Publishing Dods Events Partnership Events § IFRAME: about:blank World Edition Search Edition Follow CNN Live Updates Brexit's done. The UK has left the EU By Angela Dewan, CNN Updated 0146 GMT (0946 HKT) February 1, 2020 What we've covered voted in a referendum, the UK officially left the EU at 11 p.m. on Friday. an hour before it departed the bloc and called on the country to celebrate a "new dawn." Square, where officials had banned fireworks and live music. commiserating at the end of nearly five decades of unity with Britain's European neighbors. first nation to leave in the EU's history, but called for a bright future for its 27 remaining members. 20 Posts Sort by[Latest] 7:00 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 And that's a wrap Brexit's done, and so are we. Here's all you need to know about what comes next: Analysis: The UK has left the EU -- and the implications for the world are huge What Brexit will mean for travelers WATCH: Four years of Brexit in four minutes Britain needs a big trade deal with Europe and wants one with America. It may end 2020 with neither 7:02 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 Brexit has happened. Now what? Analysis from CNN's Luke McGee Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Nearly four years after the UK voted to leave the EU, Brexit has finally happened. As the clock struck 11.00.p.m. GMT, the Article 50 process by which a member state leaves the EU expired and the UK has now entered the transition process it agreed with the bloc. For the first time ever, the EU is down a member state. It's a monumental moment that will go down in history, for better or worse. So what happens now? In the short term, the biggest changes will be invisible to the public. During the transition period, currently set to expire on December 31 of this year, the UK will continue to obey EU laws and European courts. Businesses will be able to operate as normal and people wanting to travel around the EU will not be affected. What Brexit will mean for travelers RELATED What Brexit will mean for travelers Joe Minihane, CNN However, Brexit is far from done. Before the transition period ends 11 months from now, the UK will try and negotiate a deal with Brussels on their future relationship. Failure to reach an agreement would mean the hardest Brexit possible, causing economic damage for both sides and possibly the wider world. This is a scenario that both sides are eager to avoid. These negotiations will begin on March 3. In the meantime, both parties will work to establish their priorities and red lines. The UK will probably want to have its cake and eat it: near-frictionless trade with the EU while enjoying the freedom to do as it pleases at home and strike trade deals with the wider world. For the EU, the priority will be keeping the UK as close to EU regulations as possible and protect European interests. And if you thought phase one of Brexit was nasty, phase two is going to be even worse. The UK now enters a new phase in its history. The choices that Boris Johnson takes in the coming months will have huge implications for British citizens and for people far beyond the UK's borders. However, he does so standing alone. The next Brexit deadline is already hurtling towards us. And for the UK more than anyone else, to get what it wants could require shutting its eyes and hoping for the best. 6:18 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 Scottish leader vows independence after Brexit Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party, vowed to get Scotland back into the EU as an independent country. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to grant Scotland another vote on independence. Scotland voted against independence in a referendum in 2014 but nationalists there have argued that Brexit has given cause for a fresh vote. 6:18 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 "We will not take orders from them," Farage says Nigel Farage, widely considered the architect of Brexit, is basking in a moment of glory as the UK officially leaves the EU. At London's Parliament Square as the UK was minutes from leaving, Farage described Brexit and the 2016 referendum as "the greatest democratic mandate ever seen in this country." "We did it, we did it!!" he shouted to a crowd of thousands who had gathered to celebrate the moment. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFPGetty Images Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFPGetty Images "We know that this is the single most important moment in the modern history of our great nation," he said. Farage said that while he was anti-EU, he wasn't against European nations, and he shared a vision for the continent of what he called "free, sovereign, democratic nations." "We will not take orders from them," he shouted. 6:00 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 Brexit’s done. The UK has left the EU The United Kingdom has officially left the EU more than three years after a referendum that left the country bitterly divided. The departure brings an end to years of political wrangling that has at times paralyzed Westminster, ended the leadership of two prime ministers and left the UK parliament with the biggest Conservative majority since the years of Margaret Thatcher. Daneil Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Daneil Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images The United Kingdom is the first nation to withdraw from the EU in its history and closes a 47-year chapter of the country’s membership in the post-war bloc. Now, an 11-month transition period lies ahead, as well as what is expected to be a protracted period of trade negotiations with the EU. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation earlier in a pre-recorded speech, calling on the country to celebrate a “new dawn” of independence and vowing to deliver on Brexit’s promises: “Whether that is by controlling immigration or creating freeports or liberating our fishing industry or doing free trade deals.” But the momentous occasion passed by with little fanfare – a countdown clock was projected on 10 Downing Street in lieu of London’s famous Big Ben (which is being repaired.) It rained down in London at a Brexit party at Parliament Square, where officials had banned fireworks and live music. 5:27 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 Boris Johnson calls for unity in "new act of our great national drama" Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shared his vision for a post-Brexit UK in an address to the nation, calling on the country to celebrate a “new dawn” of independence. In a pre-recorded speech broadcast an hour before the nation officially leaves the EU, Johnson said the moment was one of “real national renewal and change,” and promised a more equal country for UK nationals across the kingdom. He also said it was the moment to deliver on the promises of Brexit, as an 11-month transition period of negotiations lies ahead before the country can fully break free of the bloc. “This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama," he said. “And yes it is partly about using these new powers – this recaptured sovereignty – to deliver the changes people voted for. “Whether that is by controlling immigration or creating freeports or liberating our fishing industry or doing free trade deals. “Or simply making our laws and rules for the benefit of the people of this country. “And of course I think that is the right and healthy and democratic thing to do, because for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country. And that is a judgment that you, the people, have now confirmed at the polls.” Watch the speech: 5:05 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 The countdown begins -- an hour to go until Brexit A countdown clock has been projected onto 10 Downing Street as the United Kingdom readies to leave the EU. A movement to get the government to sound the bells of London's famous clock, Big Ben, was unsuccessful. The government said that a clock and light show would light up 10 Downing Street instead. 5:31 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 US "shares your optimism and excitement" and is ready for UK trade agreement, says ambassador From CNN's Jennifer Hansler US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson described Friday as "a historic day in British history," and has said his country looks forward to achieving a free trade agreement with the UK. "On behalf of the United States Government, I would like to wish the United Kingdom every success as you chart a new path outside of the EU. America shares your optimism and excitement about the many opportunities the future will bring," he wrote in a statement. "President Donald J. Trump has long supported the United Kingdom’s sovereign decision to withdraw from the EU. Now that the UK is back in control of its own trade policy, we look forward to achieving a broad Free Trade Agreement that will increase prosperity and create jobs in both our countries," the ambassador added. "There are many global challenges that we face, but we face them, as ever, together. There will no doubt be disagreements from time to time about the best solutions to the biggest problems – that is to be expected, even among friends. But this is an alliance forged in our shared history and our common values. This is a special relationship which will endure, flourish and grow even stronger in this exciting new era which Britain is now beginning." 5:14 p.m. ET, January 31, 2020 Brexit by numbers From CNN’s Martin Goillandeau in London In less than two hours, the United Kingdom will leave the EU. Here’s the story of its membership in numbers: 47 The number of years the UK has been in the EU, or its predecessor, the European Economic Community. That’s equal to 17,197 days. 10 The number of different prime ministers the UK has had in that time (Heath, Wilson, Callaghan, Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, May, Johnson). Three of those have been in the past three-and-a-half years. In that time, there's only been one monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. 51.89 The percentage of votes for leaving the EU. The percentage is equal to 17.41 million votes. Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images 6 The number of countries in the European Economic Community when the UK joined. France, West Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were members. 27 The number of member states that will be left in the EU when the UK leaves. 3.6 million The number of European citizens living in the UK. Some 1.1 million British citizens live in the 27 EU member states. 60 The percentage of British people who have lived their entire lives as members of the EU. The Office for National Statistics says 39.8 million British people alive today were born in 1973 or after. A young Brexiteer celebrates in Westminster on Friday. A young Brexiteer celebrates in Westminster on Friday. Richard Baker/In Pictures/Getty Images 73 The number of MEPs the UK had in the European Parliament. Before Brexit it was 751. And just for fun... 11 The number of Euro football championships that have been played while the UK was a member state. No nation of the UK has ever won it, by the way. 47 The number of Eurovision song contests that have been held. The UK has won three times — 1976, 1981 and 1997 — and it has come last four times. Search World Follow CNN © 2021 Cable News Network.A Warner Media Company.All Rights Reserved.CNN Sans ™ © 2016 Cable News Network. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience. § Skip links Skip to Content Navigation menu Live News|Brexit Brexit: UK officially leaves the EU More than three years after the UK’s in/out referendum, the country’s membership of the EU ends. Brexit - freedom - reuters Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrated on Parliament Square as the countdown clock hit zero and the UK officially left the EU [Simon Dawson/Reuters] By James Brownsell Published On 1 Feb 20201 Feb 2020 London, United Kingdom – The flags outside embassies have been lowered, the countdown clocks have stopped. The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the EU. The country’s 47 years of membership officially ceased at the stroke of 23:00 GMT (midnight Brussels time), more than three and half years after an in/out referendum exposed deep rifts across British society. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson marked the historic moment with his team at his Downing Street office, celebrating with English sparkling wine and an array of British culinary treats. As the clock ticked down the final seconds, thousands of Brexiters celebrated outside Parliament and groups burned EU flags on the streets of London. Anti-Brexit campaigners mounted several protests along the Irish border. Under the terms of the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU, Britain now enters a transition period until the end of 2020, meaning London will abide by most EU laws while their future relationship is hashed out. Brexit day: UK to leave EU (2:32) Johnson must now achieve a trade deal with the EU – the world’s largest trading bloc – within 11 months, a task most experts have described as ambitious at best, but his wider mission over the next five years will be to find a way to repair the country’s divisions. The years since the referendum have seen ugly scenes at protests and clashes between pro- and anti-Europe demonstrators, as well as bitter rhetoric dominating newspapers and appearing in Parliament, and fears of a return of Northern Irish paramilitary violence. It is not over yet But those who think Friday’s official departure date marks an end to the chaos may yet be disappointed. “We are not even at the halfway point in this process,” said Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham. “We are only going into the tough negotiations with the EU – on the economic relationship; on the status of Northern Ireland; on industry, agriculture, banking and finance,” he told Al Jazeera. “Even on basics such as will Britons have health insurance in Europe? What are the rights of EU citizens living here and of UK citizens living in Europe?” Trade expert David Henig, the UK director of the European Centre for International Political Economy think-tank, agreed Johnson has a difficult task ahead of him. “The UK government, having spent nearly four years deciding what it doesn’t want – to be members of the EU, have now given themselves less than a year to decide what they do want – in the shape of EU and US trade deals,” he told Al Jazeera. “It is a huge challenge, particularly in such a short time.” ‘Astonishing moment of hope’ Johnson himself, however, remained bullish, calling the UK’s withdrawal from the EU “an astonishing moment of hope” in a televised address to the nation. Brexit: Brits to lose EU citizenship (3:17) “This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama,” he said. “Of course, I think that is the right and healthy and democratic thing to do,” he added. “Because for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country.” The prime minister called for “a new era of friendly cooperation between the EU and an energetic Britain”. “When I look at the potential of this country waiting to be unleashed, I know that we can turn this opportunity into a stunning success. And whatever the bumps in the road ahead, I know that we will succeed.” ‘Boris Johnson owns Brexit’ Brexit has caused the downfall of two prime ministers. David Cameron resigned after the unexpected win for the leave camp. His successor, Theresa May, was subsequently lambasted on all sides, with many who thought the withdrawal agreement her administration reached with Brussels either did not go far enough to cut ties with the EU, or did not protect British interests in the wake of the UK’s departure. Johnson had to spend the first few months of his term in office battling a pugnacious Parliament while unable to command a ruling majority. He then won a sweeping general election victory in December under the slogan: “Get Brexit done.” Mark Shanahan, head of the international politics department at the University of Reading, said doing so would be Johnson’s “ultimate challenge”. “Tonight the UK sets out on a journey into the unknown: zigging while the rest of the world zags,” Shanahan told Al Jazeera. “With a mix of hubris, nostalgic nationalism and cussed optimism, we set sail on a voyage with no clear ending. For the next 11 months, the UK will be the EU’s rule-taker, subject to all of the same regulations, but with no vote, no voice and no veto,” he said. The UK wants a friction-free trade deal with Europe at the same time as sorting trade deals with the United States and the Commonwealth while retaining jobs, inward investment and boosting public services, he added. “Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No. Something will have to give, and there will be many compromises to be made. Chutzpah and optimism will not be enough. Now is the time to back snappy sloganising with substance. Fail, and the UK will break with the prospect of a United Ireland and independent Scotland. Boris Johnson owns Brexit. The new dawn presents his ultimate challenge.” Source: Al Jazeera Related Brexit: A timeline Al Jazeera recaps the major developments on Britain’s path to Brexit since it was first proposed by ex-PM David Cameron. Published On 15 Jan 201915 Jan 2019 Brexit timeline What will the UK look like a decade after Brexit? Growing the British economy may be possible by 2030, but questions remain over racism, poverty and the country’s unity. Published On 31 Jan 202031 Jan 2020 Protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London Brexit Day – good or bad? The United Kingdom leaves the EU after more than three years of political chaos. Video Duration 24 minutes 25 seconds 24:25 Published On 31 Jan 202031 Jan 2020 Britain leaves EU on Brexit day More from News Calls grow for UK PM to resign over lockdown ‘parties’ At least five Conservative Party MPs say they have filed letters demanding a vote of no confidence in Johnson [File: Reuters] New US Africa envoy to visit Ethiopia and Sudan Satterfield, the former US ambassador to Turkey, was appointed to replace Jeffrey Feltman as special envoy to the Horn of Africa on January 6 [File: Amir Cohen/Reuters] Tsunami waves crash ashore in Tonga after volcanic eruption A white plume rises over Tonga when the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha #39;apai erupted, in this still image obtained from an animated GIF from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and NOAA [CIRA/NOAA/Handout via Reuters] Iran looking for ‘safe channel’ to pay UN dues to regain vote UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced earlier this week that Iran and seven other countries have had their voting rights suspended over late dues [File: Reuters] Most Read Indonesia reports highest number of COVID-19 cases in 3 months Celestia, a 7-year-old student, holds her mother Angela while receiving her first dose of China #39;s Sinovac Biotech vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at her school as the country continues mass vaccination program for children aged 6-11 years, while the Omicron variant continues to spread, in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 7, 2022. [Willy Kurniawan/Reuters] Iran says 25-year China agreement enters implementation stage Iran #39;s then-Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi sign a 25-year cooperation agreement in Tehran last year [Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters] Russia is preparing a ‘false flag’ event to invade Ukraine: US A top Ukrainian official has warned that the current standoff with Russia represents a #39;life or death #39; struggle and said most Ukrainians would fight to defend the country [Alexei Alexandrov/AP Photo] Philippines to acquire missile system from India for $375m The new anti-ship system to be acquired from India aims to deter foreign vessels from encroaching on the Philippines #39; 200-nautical-mile (370km) exclusive economic zone [File: Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Follow Al Jazeera English: Al Jazeera Media Network logo © 2022 Al Jazeera Media Network § Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More EU This article is more than 1 year old EU focuses on enlargement into Balkans after Brexit This article is more than 1 year old Brussels overhauls process for joining bloc as it seeks to make it ‘more credible’ for members The paper has been published to assuage doubts about further expansion among member states. [ ] The paper has been published to assuage doubts about further expansion among member states. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA The paper has been published to assuage doubts about further expansion among member states. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Jennifer Rankin in Brussels Wed 5 Feb 2020 17.53 GMT [ ] Last modified on Wed 5 Feb 2020 18.21 GMT Less than a week after the departure of the UK, Brussels is seeking to breathe new life into the enlargement of the EU, unveiling an overhaul of the process for joining the bloc. The long-awaited document from the European commission was published less than a week after the first ever departure of a big country. One main purpose is to keep alive the EU ambition for six western Balkan nations, with a combined population of 17.9 million people. No country has joined the EU since Croatia in 2013, but Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia hope to eventually. The paper is also intended to assuage doubts about further EU expansion among member states wearied by the eurozone crisis as well as backsliding on the rule of law and persistent corruption in some EU countries. It draws heavily on a plan put forward by Emmanuel Macron, who last year vetoed North Macedonia’s hopes of starting membership talks, causing despair among politicians in the region. The French president also joined Denmark and the Netherlands in blocking Albania. Good message to our #WesternBalkans friends about EU enlargement process: Today the @EU_Commission proposes a credible dynamic plan paving the way for opening accession talks with North Macedonia Albania (🇲🇰🇦🇱). EU enlargement is a WIN-WIN situation. #geopoliticalcommission — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 5, 2020 Potential EU member states have to complete 35 chapters to match EU standards in numerous areas, from a functioning public administration to fisheries to financial regulation. The new proposals mean that all countries will be required to complete fundamental reforms on democratic institutions and the rule of law before attempting more technical reforms. France complained that the EU enlargement process lacked credibility and said applicants should be required to repeat negotiating “chapters” if they later unpicked key reforms, an idea the commission has adopted. EU enlargement had to be “more credible” for EU member states and those seeking to join, the EU enlargement commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, told journalists. “It has to be more predictable, more dynamic and more political,” he said, adding that “very many member states” had raised concerns in private, beyond countries that had voiced opposition in public. If countries seeking to join the EU could meet the criteria “then it can actually go quicker and in a much more meaningful way”. The new criteria will not apply to Serbia and Montenegro, which have embarked on EU accession under old rules. Várhelyi said it was “their choice” to opt into the new system, adding that he could see grounds to do so. The former Romanian prime minister Dacian Cioloș, who sits with Macron’s MEPs in the European parliament, described the plans as a good step forward, adding that his group “fully supports” new impetus to EU enlargement. “The next step, after agreeing on the new methodology, should be the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania,” he said. Topics Reuse this content IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § Skip links Skip to Content Navigation menu Live News|EU EU to overhaul process for admitting new members After Brexit, EU centres on the Balkans for ‘geo-strategic’ enlargement against backdrop of French objections. EU enlargement A Staff member holds a folded UK flag after it was taken down from the European Parliament building in Brussels on Brexit Day, January 31, 2020 [File: John Thys/AFP] Published On 5 Feb 20205 Feb 2020 The EU still aims to admit the Balkan nations of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia into the bloc, new EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Wednesday, following France’s veto of the expansion. Varhelyi was unveiling a new methodology for admitting new members, aimed at mollifying France’s concerns about letting the six countries into the EU. He said enlargement was “geo-strategic”, a reference to a view that the bloc cannot stem its waning global influence without stabilising the Balkans. “We continue to have full enlargement as a goal,” he told a news conference after publishing the European Commission reforms, which were reported by Reuters news agency on Tuesday. “EU membership is offered to the entire region, including Kosovo,” Varhelyi said of the country that declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move not recognised by five of the 27 EU members including Spain. In October, French President Emmanuel Macron halted the process of admitting new members, a decision the Commission said was a historic error. The following month, France, which says it supports accession for the Balkan nations in the long term, submitted a proposal for changes. The EU executive hopes to persuade France to lift its objections before a Zagreb summit with the Balkan states in May. The reforms outlined on Wednesday would give existing EU members the power to pause the process of admitting new nations, or even force countries to restart entry talks in some policy areas. It was not immediately clear if the changes were enough for Macron, but one EU diplomat urged Paris to allow membership talks to move forward with North Macedonia and Albania, who are next in line to open negotiations. “The Commission has built a solid bridge for France. We are counting on Paris to walk over this bridge now, join the EU consensus and pave the way for the start of accession talks,” an EU diplomat told Reuters. Serbia and Montenegro are the most advanced in their negotiations and could join the bloc later this decade. The United Kingdom left the EU on January 31 after a 47-year membership, becoming the first-ever country to leave the bloc. Source: Reuters More from News Calls grow for UK PM to resign over lockdown ‘parties’ At least five Conservative Party MPs say they have filed letters demanding a vote of no confidence in Johnson [File: Reuters] New US Africa envoy to visit Ethiopia and Sudan Satterfield, the former US ambassador to Turkey, was appointed to replace Jeffrey Feltman as special envoy to the Horn of Africa on January 6 [File: Amir Cohen/Reuters] Tsunami waves crash ashore in Tonga after volcanic eruption A white plume rises over Tonga when the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha #39;apai erupted, in this still image obtained from an animated GIF from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and NOAA [CIRA/NOAA/Handout via Reuters] Iran looking for ‘safe channel’ to pay UN dues to regain vote UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced earlier this week that Iran and seven other countries have had their voting rights suspended over late dues [File: Reuters] Most Read Indonesia reports highest number of COVID-19 cases in 3 months Celestia, a 7-year-old student, holds her mother Angela while receiving her first dose of China #39;s Sinovac Biotech vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at her school as the country continues mass vaccination program for children aged 6-11 years, while the Omicron variant continues to spread, in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 7, 2022. [Willy Kurniawan/Reuters] Iran says 25-year China agreement enters implementation stage Iran #39;s then-Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi sign a 25-year cooperation agreement in Tehran last year [Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters] Russia is preparing a ‘false flag’ event to invade Ukraine: US A top Ukrainian official has warned that the current standoff with Russia represents a #39;life or death #39; struggle and said most Ukrainians would fight to defend the country [Alexei Alexandrov/AP Photo] Philippines to acquire missile system from India for $375m The new anti-ship system to be acquired from India aims to deter foreign vessels from encroaching on the Philippines #39; 200-nautical-mile (370km) exclusive economic zone [File: Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Follow Al Jazeera English: Al Jazeera Media Network logo © 2022 Al Jazeera Media Network § Skip to Main Content Search Quick Links 'Basically impossible' to agree to full EU-U.K. deal by year end, European Commission head says | CBC News Loaded World 'Basically impossible' to agree to full EU-U.K. deal by year end, European Commission head says It will be "basically impossible" to negotiate all aspects of the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom by the end of this year, the European Commission's head said Wednesday. Social Sharing Ursula von der Leyen said there could be no compromises on EU's single market Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jan 08, 2020 8:28 AM ET | Last Updated: January 8, 2020 Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that it will be 'basically impossible' to negotiate all aspects of the future relationship between the EU and the U.K. by the end of 2020. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) comments It will be "basically impossible" to negotiate all aspects of the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom by the end of this year, the head of the European Commission said on Wednesday. Ursula von der Leyen also saidboth sides must pick priorities. Speaking at the London School of Economics before a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, von der Leyen cast doubt on his timetable for an agreement defining the long-term post-Brexit relationship by the end of 2020. "The transition time is very, very tight... so it is basically impossible to negotiate all that I have been mentioning, so we will have to prioritize," she said. Johnson is expected to tell the new EU commission head, a pivotal figure in the upcoming negotiations, that the U.K. won't extend the transition period and won't seek a deal based on close alignment with EU rules. Now that Brexit's a go, how about that Canada-U.K. trade deal? Von der Leyen said the first topics that would need to be addressed are the areas where there are no international trade treaties to fall back on. "It is not an all or nothing thing, but it is a question of priorities," von der Leyen said, adding there could be no compromise on the EU priority to uphold the integrity of the bloc's single market and its customs union. She suggested that progress in the talks should be reviewed in the middle of the year, "or before summer" ideally, with a view to deciding then whether or not more time was needed. Transition period The U.K. leaves the EU on Jan. 31 but, while no longer an EU member, an agreed transition phase means it will remain bound by all the bloc's rules and pay into the EU's budget until the end of the year. Unless London asks for an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, trade relations between the EU and the U.K. from the start of 2021 will either be governed by whatever agreement can be hammered out by the end of this year, or World Trade Organization rules. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to tell the new EU commission head that the nation will not extend the Brexit transition period. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) The U.K. government does not want an extension of the transition period and is in the process of writing that promise, made during an election campaign last month, into law, making it illegal for Johnson to ask for more time. "Without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our new partnership," von der Leyen said. She noted the further the U.K. diverges from the EU, the less access it will have to the bloc's single market. "Without the free movement of people, you cannot have the free movement of capital, goods and services." Von der Leyen reiterated the EU wanted a new partnership with the U.K. under which there would be "zero tariffs, zero quotas and zero dumping," and that would address everything from climate action to data protection, fisheries to energy, transport to space, financial services to security. She also stressed the need for a comprehensive security partnership to fight cross-border threats "ranging from terrorism to cybersecurity to counterintelligence." CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News Related Stories Now that Brexit's a go, how about that Canada-U.K. trade deal? 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Part of the DODS Group DODS Group Logo Register for our newsletter Menu The Parliament Magazine Try 5 copies of The Parliament Magazine for just €5.00 / £5.00 Subscribe Subscribe Search Follow us: [logo-sticky-alt.svg] At last a European Commission President who is in love with Britain For the first time Britain has got full sight of the woman who will face Boris Johnson in the next chapter of the Brexit saga, writes Denis MacShane, the UK’s former Minister of Europe. [logo-sticky-alt.svg] Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen | Photo credit: Press Association Denis MacShane By Denis MacShane Denis MacShane is a former UK Minister of Europe 09 Jan 2020 @DenisMacShane Ursula von der Leyen, the new President of the Commission, has the smile of a petite blonde Phoebe Waller-Bridge but the steely determination of Margaret Thatcher in her most certain moments. Both were on display at the London School of Economics on Wednesday as she laid down the law to British Eurosceptics and our Eurosceptic-in-Chief (Boris Johnson) telling them to give up all hope of a cake-and-eat-it Brexit. If Britain wants to keep anything like current access to the EU single market - essential for both Nissan, UK farmers, and the City of London, which needs the 350,000 EU passports granted at Brussels’ entire discretion to financial service firms (banks, investment fund, clearing houses, insurance firms, hedge funds) - then von der Leyen says that the UK would have to respect the four freedoms of movement. RELATED CONTENT von der Leyen Brexit post-Brexit Freedom of movement of capital, goods, service are more than acceptable for Britain but as we know the whole Brexit saga has turned on freedom of movement - branded as unacceptable immigration by opponents of Europe over two decades. There is an alternative for the UK, which is to change internal labour market rules to manage down and control arrivals from Europe, or indeed for firms to pay enough in wages to attract British workers. The issue that will now arise is whether the Johnson government wants to launch an all-out war with the European Commission and governments like Poland, which are very sensitive to any suggestion that Poles might be discriminated against by Britain, or whether he will push the freedom of movement issue to the smallest ring with the lowest flame on the back burner? The lines from the Brexit camp that Europe needs Britain more than we need the EU market now appear to have little support beyond the writers for the new closed down “Brexit Central.” “Ursula von der Leyen, the new President of the Commission, has the smile of a petite blonde Phoebe Waller-Bridge but the steely determination of Margaret Thatcher in her most certain moments” An option for Johnson is to make a huge song and dance out of the 3-part Withdrawal Agreement so that he can declare Brexit has been done, completely consummated when the UK ceases to be a signatory member on 31 January. When asked about the UK negotiating trade deals with other countries, von der Leyen called up Michel Barnier, who got a huge cheer from the LSE audience. Barnier gently pointed out that, via its EU membership, the UK currently has more 600 free trade agreements covering various sectors with non-EU countries. Renegotiating all of those would take time as new demands and priorities arise which make a simple cut-and-paste operation impossible. In her LSE speech, which I attended, von der Leyen repeated over and over again that it was not realistic to expect a total comprehensive trade deal in the remaining months of 2020. She schmoozed the audience with a description of her year in London at the LSE as a 20-year-old. London of the 1980s was an eye-opener for the young student from a strict Lutheran family. “I looked at this wonderful multi-cultural city with people mixing easily. I spent more time in Soho than in the Senate House Library and began learning that extraordinary British sense of humour,” she said. She has family in London and two of her seven children attend LSE. She name-checked Roy Jenkins (former Commission president) and Lord Cockfield, ‘the father of the Single Market’, as she called him, and bowed before Winston Churchill as the founding father of European union with his United States of Europe speech in Zürich in 1946. “This was by far the most friendly, polished, love-Britain-to-death performance ever from a major European leader I can recall” She insisted “the EU will never be a military alliance and the European Defence Union is complementary to NATO.” For her, Brexit is ‘done and dusted.’ Now over to Boris Johnson to decide if he wants to continue the Brexit war with Europe or it’s time to draw stumps and keep the UK economy and people fully plugged in to Europe while having absolute sovereignty as and when needed once we lose the obligations of Treaty membership at the end of the month. I have been a watcher of EU bigwigs for many decades and this was by far the most friendly, polished, love-Britain-to-death performance ever from a major European leader I can recall. Now it is over to Johnson to respond calmly and in the British interests during his premiership. 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The lack of progress made by the EU in adopting supply chain due diligence legislation has prompted the EU Member State to ponder its own law, writes Eli Hadzhieva, Director of the Dialogue for Europe by Eli Hadzhieva Horizon Europe will be key to delivering the solutions Europe needs to achieve its green and digital transitions, writes Maria da Graça Carvalho 17 Dec International Trade Horizon Europe will be key to delivering the solutions Europe needs to achieve its green and digital transitions, writes Maria da Graça Carvalho Working alone is rarely as effective as working together. This is why we must support the European partnerships of Horizon Europe, says Joint Undertakings Rapporteur by Maria da Graça Carvalho A fortnightly magazine delivered to you and packed with the latest opinion and analysis Subscribe Try 5 copies of The Parliament Magazine for just €5.00 / £5.00 Subscribe Follow us Registered office: 11th Floor, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG Company number: 04267888 © Merit Group plc Site Sections Services General Media Publishing Dods Events Partnership Events § World Edition Search Edition Follow CNN Britain is leaving the EU today. The hard part comes next Analysis by Luke McGee, CNN Updated 1919 GMT (0319 HKT) January 31, 2020 The UK leaves the EU, but Brexit isn't over just yet The UK leaves the EU, but Brexit isn't over just yet JUST WATCHED The UK leaves the EU, but Brexit isn't over just yet Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH (16 Videos) TOPSHOT - Britain #39;s Prime Minister and Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a Union flag-themed JCB, with the words quot;Get Brexit Done quot; inside the digger bucket, through a fake wall emblazoned with the word quot;GRIDLOCK quot;, during a general election campaign event at JCB construction company in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, on December 10, 2019. - Britain will go to the polls on December 12, 2019 to vote in a pre-Christmas general election. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / various sources / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - Britain #39;s Prime Minister and Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a Union flag-themed JCB, with the words quot;Get Brexit Done quot; inside the digger bucket, through a fake wall emblazoned with the word quot;GRIDLOCK quot;, during a general election campaign event at JCB construction company in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, on December 10, 2019. - Britain will go to the polls on December 12, 2019 to vote in a pre-Christmas general election. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / various sources / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) The UK leaves the EU, but Brexit isn't over just yet US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) and Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R) pose for pictures as they attend security talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a quot;difficult quot; conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. quot;The conversation was difficult, it couldn #39;t have been easy, quot; Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) and Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R) pose for pictures as they attend security talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a quot;difficult quot; conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. quot;The conversation was difficult, it couldn #39;t have been easy, quot; Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) US quietly authorized 200 million dollars for Ukraine security See the massive fossil being excavated in UK reservoir A motorist drives down a road in the wake of Hurricane Ida on September 4, 2021 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. A motorist drives down a road in the wake of Hurricane Ida on September 4, 2021 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. This is how much the climate crisis cost in 2021 Amanpour presses Kazakh official: Do you support shoot-to-kill orders? Djokovic's detention in Australia sheds light on refugee crisis 80 ostriches escaped a farm in China 80 ostriches escaped a farm in China Watch these escaped ostriches go on the run Residents queue to undergo nucleic acid tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Xi #39;an in China #39;s northern Shaanxi province on December 29, 2021. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) Residents queue to undergo nucleic acid tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Xi #39;an in China #39;s northern Shaanxi province on December 29, 2021. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) Lockdown measures spark public outrage in Xi'an, China 'We're not thugs or terrorists': Kazakh protester responds to president's blame This picture taken on October 19, 2021 and released from North Korea #39;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 20, 2021 shows test fire of a new type submarine-launched ballistic missile in an undisclosed location in North Korea. (Photo by various sources / AFP) / South Korea OUT / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT quot;AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS quot; - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE --- / (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) This picture taken on October 19, 2021 and released from North Korea #39;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 20, 2021 shows test fire of a new type submarine-launched ballistic missile in an undisclosed location in North Korea. (Photo by various sources / AFP) / South Korea OUT / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT quot;AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS quot; - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE --- / (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) Explained: How much damage can North Korea's weapons do? China Xi #39;an lockdown desperation lu stout pkg intl hnk vpx China Xi #39;an lockdown desperation lu stout pkg intl hnk vpx Residents pushed to the limits in Chinese city under strict lockdown Watch as protests erupt in Kazakhstan over skyrocketing fuel prices ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 21: A worker stands in the grandstands near a logo in the finish area at the National Ski Jumping Center, that will host events during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, during a media tour on December 21, 2021 in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, in Hebei province, northern China. The area will host a number of events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics which are set to open on February 4th, 2022.(Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 21: A worker stands in the grandstands near a logo in the finish area at the National Ski Jumping Center, that will host events during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, during a media tour on December 21, 2021 in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, in Hebei province, northern China. The area will host a number of events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics which are set to open on February 4th, 2022.(Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) 14 years ago Beijing held a different kind of Olympics TOPSHOT - A health worker takes a nasal swab sample at a COVID-19 testing site at St. John #39;s Well Child and Family Center, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, July 24, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. - The coronavirus pandemic hit grim new milestones July 23, with cases topping four million in the United States and three million in Europe as fresh spikes from Belgium to Tokyo to Melbourne forced new restrictions on citizens. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - A health worker takes a nasal swab sample at a COVID-19 testing site at St. John #39;s Well Child and Family Center, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, July 24, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. - The coronavirus pandemic hit grim new milestones July 23, with cases topping four million in the United States and three million in Europe as fresh spikes from Belgium to Tokyo to Melbourne forced new restrictions on citizens. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images) How is Omicron different? Here's what you need to know 'Traumatic': 30-day quarantine keeps Hong Kong man isolated Prince Andrew accuser's settlement with Jeffrey Epstein released London (CNN)After three-and-a-half years, three prime ministers and seemingly endless votes in Parliament since the 2016 Brexit referendum, Britain finally becomes the first ever country to leave the EU at 11:01 p.m. GMT on Friday. Despite this cataclysmic event, almost all of the immediate changes will be invisible to the public. The United Kingdom will enter the transition period that was agreed between the British government and the EU. And the terms of that agreement mean that for the next 11 months, the UK remains an EU member state in all but name. What actually happens tonight? The UK formally leaves the EU. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation in what can be presumed to be an optimistic message. Other Brexiteers will be celebrating in grander style, as parties are being held across the country -- including one opposite the Houses of Parliament, the body that thwarted Brexit so many times in 2019. Remain voters will be holding similar protest events all over Britain. Read More The mood in Brussels will be somber. The Union flag will be removed from all EU institutions (one of which will be placed in a museum in Brussels) and senior EU politicians will probably make statements expressing that this is a sad day for Europe and that they want to remain the closest of friends with Europe. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation about Brexit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation about Brexit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation about Brexit. What actually changes tonight? In theory, quite a lot; in practice, very little. The UK might be leaving the EU, but as of 11:01 p.m., it will continue to obey all EU law and European courts. In the coming months, it will continue to pay into the EU budget and comply with any changes to EU law. That means that the only things that will change are largely symbolic. The UK will cease to have any meaningful representation in EU institutions and will no longer attend any meetings of EU leaders. So it will be obeying EU rules while having no say in EU policy. What doesn't change? Most things that actually affect you. Businesses will be able to operate as normal, meaning that you as a customer will not be affected. People traveling to Europe will not be affected during the transition period, and EU citizens will still be able to move freely around the bloc. What comes next? The end of phase one marks the start of phase two. And if the past three and a half years have been anything to go by, phase two is going to be far more of a nightmare than phase one. The Brexit transition period is due to end on December 31 of this year. That means the UK has to negotiate its future relationship with Europe in just 11 months. Failure to reach an agreement would mean the hardest Brexit possible, causing economic damage for both sides and possibly the wider world. This is a scenario that both sides are eager to avoid -- even as they continue to engage in their game of high-stakes brinkmanship. Formal negotiations will begin on March 3. In the meantime, both sides will outline their priorities and draw their red lines. If history tells us anything, the UK will be more likely to back down than Brussels. Failure to reach an agreement would mean the hardest Brexit possible, causing economic damage for both sides. Failure to reach an agreement would mean the hardest Brexit possible, causing economic damage for both sides. Failure to reach an agreement would mean the hardest Brexit possible, causing economic damage for both sides. Trade-off on trade The bulk of these negotiations will focus on the UK and the EU's future trading relationship. Trade deals normally take years, if not decades, to negotiate. The EU's deal with Canada, for example, took seven years to hammer out. And the EU is famously difficult to negotiate with because of its complicated internal politics. The Canada deal, for example, almost fell at the last hurdle when Wallonia, a region of Belgium, refused to ratify the deal. However, it is worth pointing out that the UK-EU deal starts from a place of total alignment, meaning comparisons to other trade deals are not fair. But that's just trade. There are still many unanswered questions about exactly how much money the UK would pay the EU in exchange for access to its market and what, if any agreement might be reached on intelligence sharing security, aviation and fishing. And the controversial issue of what will happen on the Irish border is likely to feature heavily in any final deal. Top EU official says Brexit is a #39;wound #39; for the bloc Top EU official says Brexit is a #39;wound #39; for the bloc Top EU official says Brexit is a 'wound' for the bloc Johnson has not formally announced his red lines yet, but it's safe to say that his priority will be sealing a free trade agreement that makes both importing and exporting as straightforward as possible, while freeing the UK from strict EU rules. If this is achievable, it would mean the UK continuing to trade in the EU but being flexible on regulations -- a situation that could come in handy when striking trade deals with other nations like the US and China. "With the EU, we need a close partnership based on zero tariffs and quotas as well as regulatory recognition, adequacy and equivalence in all areas including services and financial services," says Shanker Singham, a competition and trade lawyer. "We won't be immediately diverging all over the place, but we must reserve the right to do so." This issue of divergence is alarming many in Brussels. In short, if the UK is willing to diverge from the EU in areas like tax, food standards and financial regulation, it risks undermining the EU's precious single market -- the EU's most valuable asset and top bargaining chip. And if Brussels thinks that Johnson has plans to undercut the EU, it won't hesitate to restrict access to the world's largest economic bloc. "For the EU, the trade-off is simple: if the UK diverges and no longer meets EU standards, or British businesses gain an unfair competitive advantage over EU business, then it will have less access to the EU market," says Georgina Wright, an EU expert at the Institute for Government think tank. Clock projection but no Big Ben #39;bong #39; planned for Brexit Day Clock projection but no Big Ben #39;bong #39; planned for Brexit Day Clock projection but no Big Ben 'bong' planned for Brexit Day This concern in Brussels is not unreasonable. When the UK points to trading relationships that the EU has with countries like Canada and Japan, it misses two crucial points. First, agreements reached with external countries were about increasing engagement. As the UK leaves, it is about reducing engagement. Second, the UK shares a common border with the EU. And as one EU diplomat points out, "There is a direct relationship between trade and distance: the further you are away the less trade you do. So when we talk trade with Canada, we know that their undercutting of standards will not have the same effect as the UK." Notwithstanding this cold reality, it's clear that both sides desperately want to accommodate one another. The question is whether their competing aims are compatible. "Both sides want to maintain reasonably strong relations, but on the EU side this clearly has to be appropriate with existing structures and agreements," says David Henig, the UK director of the European Center For International Political Economy. "On the UK side it will be about allowing regulatory flexibility while still facilitating trade. Defining that in great detail will be a challenge for both sides, though the EU is concerned that the UK doesn't understand this sufficiently." Calm before -- and after the storm The gloves are already off. France's Europe minister, Amelie de Montchalin, said in a news conference on Wednesday that "France is ready to sign a Brexit deal very quickly if the UK commits to full regulatory alignment that could guarantee no dumping." That lack of understanding is the reason this could all get ugly. Regardless of what both sides might say about reaching a mutually beneficial agreement, in negotiations with the EU, there is always a winner and a loser. The UK will see winning as having its cake and eating it: near-frictionless trade with the EU while enjoying the freedom to do as it pleases at home. It could use state aid to give British businesses a competitive edge or slash tax rates to attract foreign investment in ways that would flout EU rules on competition. What Brexit will mean for travelers What Brexit will mean for travelers What Brexit will mean for travelers For the EU, hugging the UK tight and stopping it from drifting toward an economic rival, e.g. the US, would be a victory. Brexiteers have long talked up global trade deals as being the upside of Brexit, and no victory would be sweeter than a wide-ranging deal with the world's only hyperpower. But for the UK, it will ultimately find that in trade deals with both the EU and the US, it is going to be the smaller partner and to some extent will be expected to sign on the dotted line. Time is running out. Johnson has said that he has no intention of extending the transition period. If he is to extract concessions from the EU and get a deal that looks like Brexit was worth it, he's going to have to hope that European fears of divergence and the relatively short period to get a deal done will focus minds in Brussels. For virtually all of 2019, the British establishment was tearing its hair out over whether or not it would avoid a no-deal Brexit. Getting a Brexit deal through Parliament sucked the life out of British politics. When Boris Johnson finally won his majority last December, a certain degree of calm fell as the key obstacle to getting Brexit done had been cleared. Now, Johnson finds himself facing 11 months of hellish negotiations with another threat of no deal at the end of the tunnel. He does have other bargaining chips at his disposal: the EU is very keen to reach agreement on areas other than trade, such as fishing rights, data sharing and security. Johnson could concede on these to get a more attractive trade deal. But ultimately, Brexit is now weeks away from hurtling towards its next critical deadline. And for the UK more than anyone else, to get what it wants could require shutting its eyes and hoping for the best. Search World Follow CNN © 2022 Cable News Network.A Warner Media Company.All Rights Reserved.CNN Sans ™ © 2016 Cable News Network. Quantcast § [tr?id=157204581336210 ev=PageView noscript=1] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TXHJH9T Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw.com. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better. Go to the new dw.com We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. More info OK 1. Inhalt 2. Navigation 3. Weitere Inhalte 4. Metanavigation 5. Suche 6. Choose from 30 Languages Wrong language? Change it here DW.COM has chosen English as your language setting. DW.COM in 30 languages DW AKADEMIE ABOUT DW DW.COM Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welle # The 77 Percent # Crime Fighters # Africa on the Move SPECIAL TV programs German Courses German XXL Community D Teaching German TOP STORIES Advertisement News EU leaders fail to agree on new 7-year budget An EU summit has ended with no clear answer on the bloc's long-term budget. The main sticking point appears to be that some wealthier member states want rein in spending, whereas others want to loosen the purse strings. Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Usula von der Leyen EU leaders failed to agree on its new 7-year budget on Friday. As a result, a new summit will have to occur in the coming weeks. The 27 leaders of all member states had spent two days in a standoff over the 2021-27 allowance, with a significant gap between countries that are net recipients of funds and the wealthier member states who are keen to rein in spending. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the difference between the member states was too big to compromise on while the EU Council President Charles Michel said: "We need more time." The new budget has a Brexit-sized hole to fill and some member states were unwilling to pay more for the bloc's next spending proposals, worth around €1 trillion ($1.1 trillion). Council President Michel added: "Unfortunately today, we have observed it was not not possible to reach an agreement." It was not clear exactly when a new round of talks would take place. The so-called "Frugal Four" of Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, as well as a few other nations, believe the EU's 2021-2027 budget, which is intended to finance ambitious climate change and digital economy policies, should amount to 1% of the bloc's gross national income. whole, men make better political leaders than women More What are 'European values'? 30 out of 100 Europeans think that men make better political leaders than women Ahead of elections for the European Parliament, there's much talk of "European values." But what does that really mean? If Europe were 100 people, what would they agree on? On what would they disagree? With thousands of participants from all over Europe, the "European Values Study" found, for example, that 29 respondents out of 100 think that men generally make better political leaders than women. bribery and tax fraud are off-limits What are 'European values'? What Europeans agree on: Political violence, bribery and tax fraud are off-limits Respondents overwhelmingly oppose political violence and the accepting of bribes. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being never, three quarters checked 1. This first data release from the 2017 "European Values Study" covers responses from 14 countries: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. surveillance What are 'European values'? Europeans everywhere disagree on video surveillance Over half of respondents think governments should be able to use cameras to surveil public spaces. Nearly half say that shouldn't be allowed. People in all countries are relatively split on this; there are only slight differences: Poland, Slovenia and Croatia, for example, are more vehemently against video surveillance, but even some of their immediate neighbors view surveillance more favorably. What are 'European values'? Europeans are split on matters of religion Only 38 respondents in 100 say they believe in heaven. Of those 38, 33 are religious — curiously, the remainder are atheists or don't consider themselves religious at all. Either way, heaven still seems to be more popular than hell: Only 29 out of 100 Europeans believe that hell exists. What are 'European values'? For same-sex partners with children, Iceland is more accepting Respondents also don't agree on whether same-sex couples can parent as well as mixed-sex couples do. In Iceland, 88 of 100 people believe that they can, while only 10% of respondents do in Russia. Social science research, however, overwhelmingly concludes that children of same-sex parents are not worse off than those with heterosexual parents. as neighbors What are 'European values'? 25 of 100 respondents would mind having Muslims as neighbors Few respondents had a problem with having Christians as neighbors. However, more than a quarter of respondents said they would mind having immigrants as neighbors. The same goes for Muslims, which makes them the religious group that respondents had the most reservations about living next to. That's compared with 12 out of 100 for Jews and just five out of 100 for Christians. More What are 'European values'? Studying European values All of this information comes from the "European Values Study", in which researchers ask Europeans several hundred questions every 10 years to figure out their attitudes about diversity, inclusion, politics and more. The newest survey started in 2017. Sixteen countries have already reported their data, covering almost 20,000 respondents, and 10 more countries have finished the fieldwork. Author: Kira Schacht jsi/aw (Reuters, AFP, AP) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. DW recommends Germany could make big EU impact in 2020 So far, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has not been particularly ambitious with regard to EU affairs. But next year provides ample opportunity to make real progress. (30.12.2019) EU leaders reach agreement over 2020 budget Lawmakers and government officials from the 28 member states have agreed to provide around €153.6 billion in disbursements next year. EU leaders called for more funds to tackle climate change and youth unemployment. (19.11.2019) Scottish independence and Brexit present uncertain economic choices for voters When Scottish voters rejected independence in 2014, it was seen as the smart economic move. Brexit may have ripped up that logic. With a second independence referendum possible, new questions are being asked of voters. (17.12.2019) Union, Angela Merkel, Merkel’s Era: The Women of Power Council Advertisement Facebook Offizielles Logo DW News on Facebook 11.07.2017 Twitter Offizielles Logo Follow @dwnews on Twitter 11.07.2017 © 2022 Deutsche Welle | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement | Legal notice | Contact | Mobile version § [tr?id=157204581336210 ev=PageView noscript=1] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TXHJH9T Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw.com. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better. Go to the new dw.com We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. More info OK 1. Inhalt 2. Navigation 3. Weitere Inhalte 4. Metanavigation 5. Suche 6. Choose from 30 Languages Wrong language? Change it here DW.COM has chosen English as your language setting. DW.COM in 30 languages DW AKADEMIE ABOUT DW DW.COM Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welle # The 77 Percent # Crime Fighters # Africa on the Move SPECIAL TV programs German Courses German XXL Community D Teaching German TOP STORIES Advertisement News EU rules out Huawei ban — but maps out strict rules on 5G The EU has said member states should allow Chinese telecoms giant Huawei to operate within the bloc — but with strict regulations to protect national security. The US has urged allies not to use the technology. A chip of Huawei is pictured in Ji'nan city, east China's Shandong province The EU on Wednesday unveiled security guidelines for "high-risk" suppliers in the opening up of fifth-generation, or 5G, telecoms network across the bloc. The European Commission did not mention Huawei by name, and it did not recommend a ban on any company in shaping future networks. However, it said strict rules should be applied where certain suppliers were concerned. Read more: Is 2020 finally the year for German 5G? Recommendations include blocking high-risk equipment suppliers from "critical and sensitive" parts of the network, including the core, which keeps track of data and authenticates smartphones on the network. There was already an expectation that the European Commission would recommend a tightly-regulated role for networks such as Huawei in developing the EU's 5G network. US cybersecurity fears The US has said it believes the company is a potential threat to cybersecurity — and it fears that the firm could be used to conduct cyber espionage on the part of the Chinese government. It is lobbying allies, including those in Europe, not to use Huawei. Watch video 02:00 Huawei workers carry on amid crises on multiple fronts The US stance is unlikely to change, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday weighed in on the UK's to decision to also not ban Huawei, saying: "We'll make sure American information passes across a network we are confident that that network is a trusted one." However, the company provides a relatively inexpensive option for super-fast data transfers behind technologies, such as self-driving cars and remotely operated factory robots. Read more: Germany's Seehofer warns of 5G delays if Huawei is excluded The operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica are all Huawei clients — and they warn that replacing equipment could cost billions of euros. Huawei leads the global telecoms equipment industry, having a 28% share of the market share worldwide. Nokia is second at 16%, and Ericsson third at 13%. Decision for each member state In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel — who favors a level playing field for all providers — has faced resistance from within her own party from lawmakers who back US calls for Huawei to be banned outright. Any ban on Huawei would ultimately be left for individual member states to impose, but the commission's compromise recommendation provides cover for European capitals to resist Washington's demands. On Tuesday, the UK's government said it would also allow a restricted role for Huawei in shaping the 5G network in Britain. rc, mvb/stb (dpa, AFP, Reuters, dpa) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. DW recommends Explained: Huawei's Meng Wanzhou US extradition trial Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei's founder and the company's chief financial officer, is in a Vancouver court to fight extradition to the US. DW examines why Monday's hearing is so important? (20.01.2020) Huawei boss Liang Hua: 'Our top priority is to ensure survival' In an exclusive interview with DW's editor-in-chief, Ines Pohl, Huawei Chairman Liang Hua spoke about how the tech giant is grappling with its current challenges. US President Trump says Huawei is "very dangerous." (18.12.2019) Audios and videos on the topic Huawei and 5G: A risk worth taking? Technology, Sci-Tech Advertisement Facebook Offizielles Logo DW News on Facebook 11.07.2017 Twitter Offizielles Logo Follow @dwnews on Twitter 11.07.2017 © 2022 Deutsche Welle | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement | Legal notice | Contact | Mobile version § Discover Thomson Reuters Directory of sitesLoginContactSupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up Emerging Markets Updated Poland could exit EU over judicial reform clash: top Polish court By Reuters Staff 3 Min Read WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland could end up leaving the EU because of plans by the ruling nationalists that would allow judges to be fired if they question the legitimacy of the government’s judicial reforms, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: People gather in front of the Presidential Palace during the "Chain of lights" protest against judicial overhaul in Warsaw, Poland July 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel The court said the plans could contravene European law and exacerbate existing tensions between Brussels and Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS). “Contradictions between Polish law and EU law ... will in all likelihood lead to an intervention by the EU institutions regarding an infringement of the EU treaties, and in the longer perspective (will lead to) the need to leave the EU,” Poland’s Supreme Court said in a statement. The EU has accused PiS of politicizing the judiciary since the party swept to power in 2015. Pis says its reforms are necessary to make the court system more efficient. Under draft legislation now before parliament, PiS aims to prevent judges from ruling that peers, nominated by a panel appointed by the party, are not independent. “The Commission has a very clear position on protecting the judiciary from political interference,” European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told Reuters in response to the Supreme Court statement. “The Commission continues to follow the situation closely. We remain ready and available to discuss with the Polish authorities ways forward to resolving the issues at hand.” The EU had said on Monday it would investigate whether the draft law undermines judicial independence. The Supreme Court statement also said the proposed bill was “evidently” designed to allow President Andrzej Duda, an ally of PiS, to pick a new head of the court before a presidential election expected in May. The current head of the Supreme Court, Malgorzata Gersdorf, is due to stand down in April. She was appointed before PiS came to power and has been openly critical of the party’s reforms. Gersdorf has called a meeting of all judges for March 17 so they can participate in the process of choosing the next head of the Supreme Court, court spokesman Michal Laskowski told a news conference on Tuesday. Moves by Hungary and Poland to bring their courts and media under tighter state control have led the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, to begin rule-of-law investigations that could in theory lead to a suspension of their EU voting rights. Brussels is considering tying adherence to the rule of law and democratic standards with access to EU budget funds. Poland joined the EU in 2004 and public support for membership remains strong, despite the tussles between Brussels and PiS. Poland is a major beneficiary of EU funds for its farmers and infrastructure projects. There is no mechanism for the EU to expel a member state. So far only Britain has chosen to leave the bloc, following a referendum in 2016. It is expected to exit the EU next month. Reporting by Alicja Ptak in Warsaw; Jonas Ekblom in Brussels, Writing by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Gareth Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up § #AP News IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WNXLD4 Comscore beacon AP NEWS ADVERTISEMENT https://apnews.com/article/europe-ursula-von-der-leyen-ap-to Click to copy https://apnews.com/article/europe-ursula-von-der-leyen-ap-to Click to copy Related topics EU lays out 1 trillion-euro plan to support Green Deal By SAMUEL PETREQUINJanuary 14, 2020 GMT European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will present the priorities of the rotating Council presidency for the next six months. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will present the priorities of the rotating Council presidency for the next six months. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech at the European parliament Tuesday, Jan.14, 2020 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will present the priorities of the rotating Council presidency for the next six months. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) BRUSSELS (AP) — The EU plans to dedicate a quarter of its budget to tackling climate change and to work to shift 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) in investment toward making the EU’s economy more environmentally friendly over the next 10 years. Aiming to deliver on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s Green Deal, EU officials said the Europe Investment Plan unveiled Tuesday will be funded by the bloc’s budget and by the private sector. It includes a mechanism designed to help the regions that would be most disrupted economically by the transition to cleaner industries. Von der Leyen took office Dec. 1 and has made the fight against climate change the priority of her term as president of the EU’s executive arm. Her Green Deal is aimed at making Europe the world’s first carbon-neutral continent by 2050, “We will support our people and our regions that need to make bigger efforts in this transformation, to make sure that we leave no one behind,” she said. The European Commission says that half of the investment will come from the EU budget. National governments will contribute 100 billion euros and 300 billion euros will come from the private sector. Another 7.5 billion euros from the 2021-2027 EU budget is earmarked as seed funding within a broader mechanism expected to generate another 100 billion euros in investment. That money will be designed to convince coal-dependent countries like Poland to embrace the Green Deal by helping them weather the financial and social costs of moving away from fossil fuels. “This is our pledge of solidarity and fairness,” said Frans Timmermans, the Dutch politician tapped as executive vice president of the European Green Deal. The plan would allocate the money according to specific criteria. For example, regions where a large number of people work in coal, peat mining or shale oil and gas would get priority. EU leaders agreed last month to make the bloc’s economy carbon neutral by the middle of the century, but Poland, which depends on coal for much of its energy needs, did not immediately agree to the timeline. “The workers losing their jobs should be helped for re-skilling. There will be support for new infrastructure, job-seeking assistance, investment in new productive activities. And the regions where existing activities will cease will also need to be regenerated,” said a senior commission official, who was not authorized to speak publicly as a matter of practice. The final amount of financing from the plan will depend on discussions between EU countries on the next multi-annual EU budget. Johan Van Overtveldt, the head of the EU parliament’s Budget Committee, was skeptical about how the scheme set-up. “It carries a one-trillion euros prize tag,” he said. “Where the money should be coming from remains extremely unclear. We are against the recycling of promises and money. We don’t back creative bookkeeping and financial adventures.” The Greens group in the European Parliament, meanwhile, rued the fact that the commission did not tie the money to a deadline for the phasing out coal. “No money should be distributed from this fund before there are clear commitments and concrete dates for the coal phase-out from member states,” Green European lawmaker Niklas Nienass said. “Poland should sign up to EU climate targets before being eligible to money under the Just Transition Fund.” The European Commission said the plan will also be supported by money from EU regional programs, from the InvestEU Program, which mobilizes public and private investment using an EU budget guarantee, and from the European Investment Bank. ADVERTISEMENT According to the commission’s estimates, meeting the 2030 climate goals - which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels - will cost an additional 260 million euros per year. In order to qualify for the financial support, member states will need to present plans to restructure their economy detailing low-emission projects. The plans will need the commission’s approval. Projects including nuclear power won’t be eligible for funding, except for those related to Euratom’s program for nuclear research and training. European lawmakers are expected to hold a non-binding vote on a Green Deal resolution on Wednesday and von der Leyen wants to have a climate law adopted by March. Raf Casert in Brussels contributed to this report. AP NEWS 1. Top Stories 2. Video 3. Contact Us Download AP NEWS Connect with the definitive source for global and local news More from AP 1. ap.org 2. AP Insights 3. AP Definitive Source Blog 4. AP Images Spotlight 5. AP Explore 6. AP Books Follow AP 1. 2. 3. 4. The Associated Press 1. About 2. Contact 3. Customer Support 4. Careers 5. Terms Conditions 6. Privacy All contents © copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 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European Council Council of the EU < Menu Back More More More More More More More Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the recent protests in Iran Over the past weeks, many people all across Iran have exercised their fundamental right to assemble and expressed their economic grievances. A growing body of evidence indicates that despite repeated calls for restraint, the Iranian security forces’ disproportionate response to recent demonstrations has led to high numbers of deaths and injuries. For the EU and its Member States, the widespread and disproportionate use of force against nonviolent protestors is unacceptable. We urge the Iranian authorities to ensure transparent and credible investigations to clarify the number of deaths and arrested, and to provide due process to all detainees. We expect all perpetrators of violence to be held accountable, and in line with statements by senior Iranian officials, all non-violent protestors currently held under arrest should be immediately freed. Iran’s decision to shut down internet access to global networks for over a week prevented communication and the free flow of information for Iranian citizens. This is a clear violation of the freedom of speech. Fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and assembly must always be respected. The Iranian authorities must live up to their international obligations, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The EU addresses all issues of concern in its bilateral exchanges with Iran, including human rights, and will continue doing so. European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, align themselves with this declaration. part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. 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European Commission audit report finds Czech Prime Minister has conflict of interest - Czech Media European Commission audit report finds Czech Prime Minister has conflict of interest - Czech Media 04 December 2019 Media reports from the Czech Republic state that an audit report, recently finalised by the European Commission, has found Prime Minister Babiš in a conflict of interest with the company he founded, Agrofert, and the non-agricultural EU funds it receives. The conflict of interest was first raised by Transparency International Czech Republic (TI-CZ) in June 2018. Information contained in the Slovakian public register of beneficial ownership showed that Babiš is the sole beneficiary of two trust funds that own all of the shares of Agrofert. As Prime Minister, Babiš is involved in negotiations of EU subsidies to the Czech Republic. This final report according to number of Czech media confirms a preliminary European Commission audit report from June this year. As a result, Agrofert has not been eligible for non-agricultural funds and subsidies from the EU since at least from February 2017. The company is estimated to have received over 75 million Euros per year in subsidies in general. An audit report examining potential conflicts of interest in EU agricultural subsidies to Agrofert is expected next year. “This is a significant moment in the fight against ongoing state capture in the Czech Republic,” said David Ondracka, Director of Transparency international Czech Republic. “Czech public institutions controlled by Babiš’s ANO party have given rulings that fly in the face of obvious and publicly available facts. They cannot ignore this report by the European Commission. Agrofert receives not only European funds, but national funds as well. Until he resolves this international conflict of interest, Babiš should resign to prevent any further damage to the Czech Republic.” “Oligarchic politicians reaping the benefits of EU funding for their private gain completely undermines one of the basic ideas of the EU project,” said Michiel van Hulten, Director of TI EU. “The EU needs to be much more diligent in ensuring that conflicts of interest are detected and prevented. Setting up stronger control mechanisms is the only way to ensure these types of funds are used as intended.” TI has acted solely in public interest Transparency International Czech Republic has filed a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Babiš over his repeated description of the anti-corruption organisation as “corrupt”. “Despite the attacks against our organisation by the Prime Minister, it is obvious that we have acted in public interest. Laws are meant to obeyed, not circumvented,” Ondracka added. Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International, said: “Countries with more corruption in the public sector are also environments where civil society organisations face more threats and challenges, from smear campaigns, to physical risk, to legal problems. This case in the Czech Republic clearly demonstrates the essential role that civil society plays in bringing corruption to light and safeguarding state resources for the benefit of citizens.” For any press enquiries please contact Transparency International Secretariat Michael Hornsby E: press@transparency.org TI Czech Republic David Kotora E: kotora@transparency.cz Countries Regions Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Subscribe [ ] This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. View our Privacy Policy. Subscribe Your registration is almost complete. 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Some rights reserved. § next previous items #Europe’s state of the environment 2020: change of direction urgently needed to face climate change challenges, reverse degradation and ensure future prosperity - RSS 1.0 Europe’s state of the environment 2020: change of direction urgently needed to face climate change challenges, reverse degradation and ensure future prosperity - RSS 2.0 Europe’s state of the environment 2020: change of direction urgently needed to face climate change challenges, reverse degradation and Do something for our planet, print this page only if needed. Even a small action can make an enormous difference when millions of people do it! Skip to content. | Skip to navigation European Environment Agency Advanced search A-Z Glossary Sections Advanced search A-Z Glossary Error Cookies are not enabled. You must enable cookies before you can log in. The EEA Web CMS works best with following browsers: Internet Explorer is not recommended for the CMS area. Log in Forgot your password? If you have forgotten your password, we can send you a new one. Personal tools You are here: 1. 2. News 3. Europe’s state of the ... Info News Europe’s state of the environment 2020: change of direction urgently needed to face climate change challenges, reverse degradation and ensure future prosperity Change language This website has limited functionality with javascript off. Please make sure javascript is enabled in your browser. News Published 04 Dec 2019 Last modified 17 Nov 2021 7 min read Photo: © Simon Hadleigh-Sparks, My City/EEA Topics: Sustainability transitions Policy instruments Environment and health Europe will not achieve its 2030 goals without urgent action during the next 10 years to address the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, increasing impacts of climate change and the overconsumption of natural resources. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest ‘State of the Environment’ report published today states that Europe faces environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency. The report says, however, there is reason for hope, amid increased public awareness of the need to shift to a sustainable future, technological innovations, growing community initiatives and stepped up EU action like the European Green Deal. Europe’s environment is at a tipping point. We have a narrow window of opportunity in the next decade to scale up measures to protect nature, lessen the impacts of climate change and radically reduce our consumption of natural resources. Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director While European environment and climate policies have helped to improve the environment over recent decades, Europe is not making enough progress and the outlook for the environment in the coming decade is not positive, according to the ‘European environment — state and outlook 2020 (SOER 2020)’ report. SOER 2020 is the most comprehensive environmental assessment ever undertaken on Europe. It provides a stark snapshot of where Europe stands in meeting 2020 and 2030 policy targets as well as longer term 2050 goals and ambitions to shift to a sustainable, low carbon future. The report notes that Europe has already made significant progress over the past two decades in terms of climate change mitigation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Signs of progress are also evident in other areas, such as tackling air and water pollution and the introduction of new policies to tackle plastic waste and bolster climate change adaptation and the circular and bio-economy. Furthermore, the EU’s sustainable finance initiative is the first of its kind on the role of the financial sector in driving the necessary shift to a sustainable future. Urgent call for scaling up and speeding up change While these achievements are significant, Europe will not achieve its sustainability vision of ‘living well within the limits of the planet’ by continuing to promote economic growth and seeking to manage the environmental and social impacts. The report urges European countries, leaders and policymakers to seize the opportunity and use the next decade to radically scale up and speed up actions to put Europe back on track to meeting its medium and longer-term environmental policy goals and targets to avoid irreversible change and damage. The current range of European policy actions provide an essential foundation for future progress but they are not enough. Europe needs to do things better, it needs to address certain challenges differently, and it needs to rethink its investments. Achieving Europe’s goals will require better implementation and improved coordination between current policies. It will also need additional policy actions to achieve fundamental change in the key systems of production and consumption that underpin our modern lifestyles, such as food, energy and mobility, which have substantial environmental impacts. The report also stresses the importance of how governments can enable a transition to sustainability and the need to address things differently. For example, Europe should rethink how it uses existing innovations and technologies, how production processes could be improved, how research and development into sustainability could be fostered and how changes in consumption patterns and ways of living could be stimulated. Lastly, achieving such change will require investing in a sustainable future and stopping using public funds to subsidise environmentally damaging activities. Europe will gain immensely from such a change in investment priorities because of the economic and social opportunities that it can create. At the same time, it will be crucial to listen to public concerns and ensure widespread support for such a shift — a socially fair transition. The State of the Environment Report is perfectly timed to give us the added impetus we need as we start a new five-year cycle in the European Commission and as we prepare to present the European Green Deal. In the next five years we will put in place a truly transformative agenda, rolling out new clean technologies, helping citizens to adapt to new job opportunities and changing industries, and shifting to cleaner and more efficient mobility systems and more sustainable food and farming. There will be multiple benefits for Europe and for Europeans if we get this right, and our economy and our planet will be winners too. This is an urgent global challenge, and a unique opportunity for Europe. Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. ‘Europe’s environment is at a tipping point. We have a narrow window of opportunity in the next decade to scale up measures to protect nature, lessen the impacts of climate change and radically reduce our consumption of natural resources. Our assessment shows that incremental changes have resulted in progress in some areas but not nearly enough to meet our long-term goals. We already have the knowledge, technologies and tools we need to make key production and consumption systems such as food, mobility and energy sustainable. Our future well-being and prosperity depend on this and our ability to harness society wide action to bring about change and create a better future,’ said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director. The state of the environment has worsened, outlook is mixed Overall environmental trends in Europe have not improved since the last EEA state of the environment report in 2015. The assessment notes that while most of the 2020 targets will not be achieved, especially those on biodiversity, there is still a chance to meet the longer-term goals and objectives for 2030 and 2050. Europe has made important gains in resource efficiency and the circular economy. But recent trends highlight a slowing down of progress in areas such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, industrial emissions, waste generation, improving energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy. Looking ahead, the current rate of progress will not be enough to meet 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets. Protecting and conserving European biodiversity and nature remains the biggest area of discouraging progress. Of the 13 specific policy objectives set for 2020 in this area, only two are likely be met: designating marine protected areas and terrestrial protected areas. Looking ahead to 2030, if current trends continue, they will result in further deterioration of nature and continued pollution of air, water and soil. Climate change, air and noise pollution impacts on the environment and human health are also still of concern. Exposure to fine particulate matter is responsible for around 400 000 premature deaths in Europe every year, affecting central and eastern European countries disproportionally. There is also growing concern over hazardous chemicals and the risks they pose. Looking ahead, the prospects for reducing environmental risks to health would be improved with better integration of environment and health policies. Table ES.1 Summary of past trends, outlooks and prospects of meeting policy objectives/targets Table ES1 Summary of past trends, outlooks and prospects of meeting polic Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in the EU-28, 1990-2050 Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in the EU-28, 1990-2050 Note: The GHG emission trends, projections and target calculations include emissions from international aviation, and exclude emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector. The ‘with existing measures’ scenario reflects existing policies and measures, whereas the ‘with additional measures’ scenario considers the additional effects of planned measures reported by Member States. Source: SOER 2020 p.158. Based on the final 2019 EU GHG inventory submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and projections reported by EU Member States under the EU Monitoring Mechanism Regulation. A sustainable future is still possible: where to take action? Achieving Europe’s low carbon and sustainability vision is still possible. The report outlines seven key areas where bold action is needed to get Europe back on track to achieve its 2030 and 2050 goals and ambitions. 1. Realise the unfulfilled potential of existing environmental policies. Fully implementing existing policies would take Europe a long way to achieving its environmental goals up to 2030. 2. Embrace sustainability as the framework for policy making. Developing long-term policy frameworks with binding targets — starting with the food system, chemicals and land use — will stimulate and guide coherent actions across policy areas and society. 3. Lead international action towards sustainability. The EU should use its diplomatic and economic influence to promote the adoption of ambitious international agreements in areas such as biodiversity and resource use. 4. Foster innovation throughout society. Changing the current trajectory will closely depend on the emergence and spread of diverse forms of innovation that can trigger new ways of thinking and living. 5. Scale up investments and reorient the finance sector to support sustainable projects and businesses.This requires investing in the future by making full use of public funds to support innovation and nature-based solutions, procuring sustainably and supporting impacted sectors and regions. It also entails engaging the financial sector in sustainable investment by implementing and building on the EU’s Sustainable Finance Action Plan. 6. Manage risks and ensure a socially fair transition. A successful transition to sustainability will require that societies acknowledge potential risks, opportunities and trade-offs, and devise ways to manage them. EU and national policies have an essential role in achieving ‘just transitions’ making sure no one is left behind. 7. Build more knowledge and know-how. This entails additional focus on understanding the systems driving environmental pressures, pathways to sustainability, promising initiatives and barriers to change. Further capacity-building is needed to navigate a rapidly changing world by investing in education and skills. Background – Note to editors The European environment – state and outlook 2020 is published by the EEA every five years as mandated in its regulation. SOER 2020 is the 6th SOER published by the EEA since 1995. It offers solid, science-based insights on how we must respond to the huge and complex challenges we face, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and air and water pollution. SOER 2020 has been prepared in close collaboration with the EEA’s European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet). The report draws on the Eionet’s vast expertise of leading experts and scientists in the environmental field, across the EEA’s 33 member countries and six cooperating countries. Related content Sort by: [Publishing date] News and articles Article Reflecting on climate-neutrality ambitions in Europe in times of Covid-19 European countries are taking drastic measures to limit the impacts of Covid-19 on Europeans’ health and the economy. Such crises tend to have immediate and severe impacts on entire populations and the economy. Considering its potential to affect key economic sectors, the coronavirus crisis is expected to reduce some of the impacts of economic activities on the environment and climate. Yet, major and abrupt shocks with an extremely high cost to society are not at all how the EU has committed to transform its economy and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal and the recently proposed European Climate Law call instead for irreversible and gradual reductions in emissions, while ensuring a just transition, supporting those affected. News Why does Europe need to limit climate change and adapt to its impacts? Europe’s many regions are expected to face worsening impacts of climate change over the next decades. A compilation of several existing maps published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today illustrates how drought, heavy rain and flooding, forest fires and sea-level rise could affect some selected regions in Europe, including Central Europe, the Iberian peninsula, Scandinavia, Brittany and Venice. Related briefings Briefing Europe's changing climate hazards — an index-based interactive EEA report Climate change is happening and we need to get ready for more intense heatwaves, floods and storms, wildfires and water scarcity. Different climate-related hazards affect regions, sectors of the economy and members of society in different ways. Decision-makers need the best data and information to help them understand the imperatives and make the necessary preparations — adapted to the different scenarios and likely consequences, at European, national and sub-national levels. Europe’s changing climate hazards, an interactive index-based EEA report, brings it all together with an overview of past and projected changes in Europe’s most important climate hazards. Briefing The European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe Europe will not achieve its 2030 goals without urgent action during the next 10 years to address the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, increasing impacts of climate change and the overconsumption of natural resources. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest ‘State of the Environment’ report states that Europe faces environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency. Briefing Archived The European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe Europe will not achieve its 2030 goals without urgent action during the next 10 years to address the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, increasing impacts of climate change and the overconsumption of natural resources. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest ‘State of the Environment’ report states that Europe faces environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency. Briefing Draft Changing climate hazards in Europe Different climate-related hazards are affecting different regions, sectors of the economy and members of society in different ways. Decision-makers need the best data to help them understand the imperatives, and make the necessary preparations – adapted to the different scenarios and likely consequences, at national and regional levels. EEA’s Changing Climate Hazards in Europe web report brings it all together, under 32 climate hazards indices. Related publications Publication The European environment — state and outlook 2020 Knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe Publication SOER 2020 Executive Summary The European environment — state and outlook 2020 See also Folder The European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe Permalinks Permalink to this version 45faaf83ad8c4f6ea836841a60e629e2 Permalink to latest version GEQNT4WV21 Geographic coverage Albania Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom Temporal coverage Dynamic For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/soer2020-europes-environment-state -and-outlook-report or scan the QR code. PDF generated on 15 Jan 2022, 03:26 PM EEA Page URL QR Topics Topics: Sustainability transitions Policy instruments Environment and health Tags Filed under: climate change impacts eu 2020 targets natural resources consumption circular economy state of the environment biodiversity loss low carbon future climate and energy framework 2030 sustainable consumption and production soer 2020 sustainable development goals Filed under: climate change impacts, eu 2020 targets, natural resources consumption, circular economy, state of the environment, biodiversity loss, low carbon future, climate and energy framework 2030, sustainable consumption and production, soer 2020, sustainable development goals Document Actions Share with others Eionet European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) The EEA also contributes to BISE Biodiversity Information System for Europe Climate-ADAPT Climate Adaptation Platform Copernicus In Situ Copernicus in situ component Copernicus Land Copernicus land monitoring European Industrial Emissions Portal EIEP Forest Information System for Europe FISE Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring IPCHEM Marine Water Information System for Europe WISE-Marine Fresh Water Information System for Europe WISE-FreshWater Follow us Sign up to receive our news notifications and our quarterly e-newsletter Contact us Kongens Nytorv 6 1050 Copenhagen K Phone number: Ask your question Media enquiries The EEA is an agency of the EU Engineered by: EEA Web Team Software updated on 10 January 2022 22:52 from version 21.11.24 Software version: EEA Plone KGS 21.12.30 Code for developers Systems Status Legal notice Creative commons license CMS login § Go to content We use cookies in order to ensure that you can get the best browsing experience possible on the Council website. 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These persons are responsible for or involved in planning, directing and implementing offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean which have not been authorised by the Republic of Cyprus. The restrictive measures consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze. Moreover, EU persons and entities are not allowed to make funds available to the two listed persons. A framework for restrictive measures in response to Turkey's illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean was set up in November 2019 after the Council had repeatedly expressed its concerns and strongly condemned the drilling activities in various sets of conclusions, including European Council conclusions of 22 March 2018 and 20 June 2019. Council adopts framework for sanctions (press release, 11 November 2019) and MH17 (press release, 17 October 2019) Council adopts conclusions (press release, 14 October 2019) alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean (press release, 31 January 2020) Visit the meeting page Press contacts Maria Daniela Lenzu Press officer If you are not a journalist, please send your request to the public information service. Topics: Share Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on LinkedIn Copy the URL in your clipboard Copy the URL in your Subscribe to press releases Sending Request Subscription options Last reviewed on 27/02/2020 Is there something wrong with this page? Is there something wrong with this page? European Council Council of the EU Close Tell us how we are doing! We want to hear your feedback about our website. 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Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. #Covid-19 #Mali #Africa Cup Of Nations France Africa Culture Shows Fight the Fake 1. 2. / Africa EU foreign ministers agree on new mission to strengthen Libya arms embargo Issued on: 17/02/2020 - 20:35Modified: 17/02/2020 - 20:37 Fighters from pro-government forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) fire machine guns during an operation to recapture the coastal city of Sirte, Libya from Islamic State group jihadists on Fighters from pro-government forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Unity (GNA) fire machine guns during an operation to recapture the coastal city of Sirte, Libya from Islamic State group jihadists on June 25, 2016. © Mahmud Turkia, AFP Text by: NEWS WIRES The EU will launch a new naval and air mission in the eastern Mediterranean to stop more weapons reaching the warring factions in Libya, foreign ministers agreed on Monday, after Austria lifted its veto. The decision marked a breakthrough after weeks of fruitless negotiations and warnings by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell that the bloc risked becoming irrelevant if it could not act, potentially leaving Libya’s fate to Turkey and Russia. “We all agree to create a mission that blocks the flow of arms into Libya,” Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio told reporters following a meeting in Brussels, referring to a U.N. arms embargo first imposed in 2011 but now barely upheld. In a compromise to assuage Austria’s concerns that any naval mission could bring more migrants to Europe, EU ships will hail and inspect suspicious vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, where most arms smuggling takes place, away from migrant routes, diplomats said. Borrell said he hoped the EU operation could be patrolling by the end of March. At first, it would operate in international, not Libyan, waters. Borrell also said the EU could not be expected to patrol the Egypt-Libya land border, through which artillery is still being delivered. “It would be very difficult for us to act between two sovereign countries,” he told reporters. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that was acceptable but that Vienna would still be vigilant for any signs that the mission, which will take several weeks to set up, was attracting migrants into Europe. Operation Sophia to end Initially Borrell had hoped to revive the EU’s current military mission, known as Operation Sophia, which stopped deploying ships last March after Italy, facing an anti-immigrant backlash, said it would no longer take migrants rescued at sea. One compromise was to use aircraft, rather than ships, to monitor smugglers who supply Libya’s two rival governments. But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urged the EU to agree on a naval mission, saying overflights would not be enough. On Sunday, a senior U.N. official warned that the arms embargo was meaningless because there was no-one to enforce it. In a largely symbolic move, Operation Sophia will now be scrapped. If ceasefire emerges, peacekeeping mission could follow Schallenberg said Austria had dropped its veto because the new mission was purely military, not humanitarian. However, under international law, EU ships are still required to rescue those in trouble on the high seas. Borrell said earlier on Monday he did not expect a deal because Vienna was still blocking. He publicly said on Sunday it was unacceptable that Austria, a country with no navy, could hold up an EU sea mission. But Borrell needed the backing of all 27 governments to proceed. Following a summit of world leaders last month in Berlin that aimed to seek a ceasefire in Libya, the EU will also consider a peacekeeping mission if a fragile truce becomes a ceasefire, diplomats said. Turkey prefers UN oversight to EU’s A spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party said the United Nations, not the EU, should oversee the arms embargo on Libya. Ankara has backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj’s internationally recognised government in the conflict, while Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt support eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar. “We think the EU overseeing the arms embargo on Libya will not reach realistic results because some countries in the EU directly support Haftar’s side and are sending weapons to Haftar’s side,” Omer Celik said during a news conference. “Turkey sees the United Nations mechanism as the best mechanism here. Of course, the implementation of a ceasefire should be prioritised,” he added. (REUTERS) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app Related content World powers agree to strengthen arms embargo in Libya’s war The France 24 Interview Libya migrant crisis: A humanitarian emergency Security Council votes for 'lasting ceasefire' in Libya as Haftar bans UN flights to Tripoli On the same topic 2022-01-14T145412Z_990791952_RC22ZR9A0PYH_RTRMADP_3_TUNISIA-PROTESTS 14/01/2022 Tunisians defy ban on gatherings to protest against president in capital 000_Q60YJ ANALYSIS 14/01/2022 In Mali, ‘France is paying the price for its own ambiguity,’ expert says mali 14/01/2022 Malians demonstrate en masse after junta calls for protests over sanctions AP21357601659640 14/01/2022 At least 108 civilians killed so far in January in Tigray airstrikes, UN says Takuba Bastill Day 14/01/2022 Sweden to withdraw from French-led special forces mission Takuba in Mali onu Mali 13/01/2022 UN urges Mali's transitional government to present election timetable cameroon-billboard FOOTBALL AND POLITICS 13/01/2022 Assassination mars Cameroon's football fiesta, exposes missed political goals sudan - 1301 13/01/2022 Sudanese protesters kill police officer as anti-coup rallies turn violent AP21347352394274 13/01/2022 France presses EU to agree to sanctions against Mali, in line with ECOWAS 000_Par7753702 13/01/2022 Mali junta condemns ‘clear breach’ of airspace by French military plane Tunisie 12/01/2022 Tunisia reimposes night-time curfew in effort to stem virus surge 000_9VY62G 12/01/2022 Russia, China block UN Security Council from supporting new sanctions on Mali Page not found The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. § #The Verge Skip to main content Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. I Accept The Verge homepage Follow The Verge online: Log in or sign up Site search The Verge main menu Filed under: Signal becomes European Commission’s messaging app of choice in security clampdown New, 6 comments It’s the recommended app for public instant messaging By Jon Porter@JonPorty Feb 24, 2020, 12:28pm EST Share this story Share All sharing options for: Signal becomes European Commission’s messaging app of choice in security clampdown Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The European Commission has told its staff to switch to the encrypted Signal messaging app in a move that’s designed to increase the security of its communications. Politico reports that, earlier this month, a message on the commission’s internal messaging boards notified employees about the change. “Signal has been selected as the recommended application for public instant messaging,” the message to the EU’s executive branch says. According to Politico, Signal will not be used for all communication. Encrypted emails will be used to send non-classified but sensitive information, and classified documents use tighter security measures still. Signal, meanwhile, is intended to be used for external communications between staff and people outside the organization. "The UK’s Conservative party also recently switched to the service" The initiative comes as the EU is attempting to lock down the security of its communications in the wake of high-profile hacks. In June 2018, BuzzFeed News reported that the EU’s embassy in Moscow had been hacked and had information stolen from its network. Later that year, The New York Times reported that the EU’s diplomatic communications network had been hacked over the course of a three-year period in a display of the “remarkably poor protection” given to official communications. The European Commission is not the only governmental body to tell its staff to switch to Signal. Last December, The Guardian reported that the UK’s ruling party, the Conservatives, told its MPs to switch to the service from WhatsApp. At the time, there was speculation that the switch was done in order to take advantage of Signal’s disappearing messages feature to stop leaks like those the party saw while using WhatsApp. However, a party spokesperson claimed it was because its recent influx of newly elected MPs meant that it had exceeded WhatsApp’s maximum group size. Signal is generally considered to be one of the most secure messaging apps available. It’s open source, uses end-to-end encryption by default, and unlike WhatsApp, it doesn’t store any message metadata or use the cloud to back up messages. Edward Snowden said at one point that he uses it every day, and it even has the backing of one of WhatsApp’s original co-founders. Next Up In Policy Sign up for the newsletter Verge Deals Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. Just one more thing! Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you. Email (required) By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. Loading comments... Chorus Vox Media Vox Media logo. Advertise with us Jobs @ Vox Media © 2022 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved Share this story § Login Sign up Login Login EU votes in favor of choosing a common charging cable standard The European Parliment will likely vote on legislation in July. Igor Bonifacic I. Bonifacic|01.31.20 @igorbonifacic Sponsored Links Igor Bonifacic I. Bonifacic @igorbonifacic January 31st, 2020 In this article: apple, eu, europe, european commission, european union, gadgetry, gadgets, gear, lightning, mobile, politics, usb-c Chris Velazco/Engadget Chris Velazco/Engadget EU lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to legislate manufacturers to adopt a shared charging cable standard. In a 582 to 40 vote, the European Parliament said it wants the European Commission, the body that drafts the EU's laws, to ensure consumers don't have to buy a new charger each time they upgrade their phone. The Commission has a relatively short deadline to put something together, with lawmakers saying they want the body to table legislation by July at the latest. The European Parliament also instructed the Commission to think about wireless chargers and how they could be used to reduce electronic waste. It also wants the body to find ways for the EU to collect and recycle more cables and chargers. "There is 'an urgent need for EU regulatory action' to reduce electronic waste and empower consumers to make sustainable choices," the EU said. Lawmakers didn't specify what charging standard manufacturers should adopt in Thursday's resolution. However, given the growing ubiquity of USB-C, the Commission is likely to lean toward the relatively new standard. Any legislation the EU enacts is likely to affect Apple more so than any other company. When the EU renewed its push for a universal charging standard earlier this year, Apple said any regulation would "stifle innovation" and ultimately hurt consumers more than it would help them. It also pointed out that much of the industry is already moving toward integrating USB-C in all their new devices. The EU has been attempting to push manufacturers toward a shared cable standard for more than a decade, arguing that it would reduce electronic waste and make life easier for consumers. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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[2020-01-31-european-union-wants-common-charging-cable-standard.html am p;c5=1197802876 amp;cv=2.0 amp;cj=1 amp;c14=-1] § #VOA - Top Stories [RSS] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-N8MP7P analytics Accessibility links please wait Print Options: Link has been copied to clipboard site logo site logo Languages Latest show o Africa 54 - January 14, 2022 Listen live LIVE VOA 1 - The Hits VOA Newscasts US Politics Update: The Politics of Voting Rights Plugged In Listen live o LIVE VOA Africa Music Time in Africa Nightline Africa Issues in the News Latest program o VOA Newscasts VOA Newscasts VOA Newscasts VOA Newscasts Previous Next [ ] Breaking News Previous Next [ ] Live Europe Who Will Win in Rule-of-Law Clash Between Poland and EU? February 04, 2020 2:52 PM President Emmanuel Macron,left, of France and his Polish host, President Andrzej Duda, shake hands before talks on developing recently-strained bilateral ties at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 3, 2020. President Emmanuel Macron,left, of France and his Polish host, President Andrzej Duda, shake hands before talks on developing recently-strained bilateral ties at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 3, 2020. Share Who Will Win in Rule-of-Law Clash Between Poland and EU? share A long-running conflict between the European Commission and Warsaw over controversial judicial reforms in Poland is coming to a head, say analysts, despite efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron to play down the dispute during a visit Monday to Poland. Since taking office in 2015, Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) has passed laws giving the government more direct control over the courts and judges, violating rule-of-law commitments when the country joined the EU. Last year, the PiS-controlled parliament and the country’s Supreme Court issued rival rulings on the legality of the judicial reforms, which include the government assuming power to appoint, promote and discipline judges. The conflicting rulings in January have thrown the country’s legal order into chaos. Poland’s government has shrugged off EU complaints, fueling tensions between Warsaw and European institutions including the European Court of Justice. Administrators in the EU fear that other central European leaders will be emboldened by Poland. Hungary has also introduced controversial judicial changes, incurring the anger of Brussels. French President Emmanuel Macron gives a speech on Poland and France in Europe at Jagellonne University on Feb. 4, 2020 in Krakow, Poland. French President Emmanuel Macron gives a speech on Poland and France in Europe at Jagellonne University on Feb. 4, 2020 in Krakow, Poland. On his visit to Poland Monday, President Macron, who has been wooing Warsaw in a bid to secure its backing for his plans to reshape the EU following Britain’s exit from the bloc, played down the clash over the PiS’s judicial reforms. Macron had previously been blisteringly critical of Poland's populist right-wing government for seeking to bring the judiciary under political control. This time Macron was carefully measured in tone, saying he hoped his visit would mark a “turning point” in bilateral relations between France and Poland, which have been strained since 2015, and provide an opportunity to clear up “misunderstandings.” Macron mentioned the judicial issue only at the end of his statement to the press alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda, and called for “dialogue with the European Commission to intensify over coming weeks.” But EU lawmakers say dialogue isn’t enough. They are calling for more pressure to be applied to Poland — as well as Hungary — to force both into reversing their efforts to reduce judicial independence. Terry Reintke, a German Green lawmaker, who sits on the European parliament’s justice and home affairs committee, says, “The independence of the judiciary cannot be negotiable.” He is calling on the EU to “stand up for the rule of law.” FILE - Incoming head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the Prime Minister Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland, July 25, 2019. FILE - Incoming head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the Prime Minister Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland, July 25, 2019. The European Commission has repeatedly condemned PiS’s changes, and in 2017 took the unprecedented step of launching a process that could in theory lead to the country’s EU voting rights being suspended until it corrects what Brussels sees as violations of the bloc’s principles regarding judicial independence. The commission has also mounted a series of legal challenges. The EU’s top court, the European Court of Justice, which has ruled some changes illegal, is mulling taking further action. Last month, Christian Wigand, a spokesman for the commission, said Brussels “will not hesitate” to take steps to protect the rule of law. The PiS says the judicial overhaul is necessary to modernize the country’s legal system. Polish President Andrzej Duda says his country “has the right to regulate its internal legal order.” The Polish government says the EU is biased against central European states and turns a blind eye to violations by Western member states. Poland’s courts have been thrown into confession since the country’s warring lower parliamentary chamber and Supreme Court issued their conflicting rulings. The Senate, which is not controlled by the PiS, has not endorsed the legislation. But some trials have been postponed amid the clash. FILE - Leader of Law and Justice (PiS) party Jaroslaw Kaczynski votes on a contested Supreme Court law in Warsaw, Poland, July 20, 2017. FILE - Leader of Law and Justice (PiS) party Jaroslaw Kaczynski votes on a contested Supreme Court law in Warsaw, Poland, July 20, 2017. The Supreme Court warned in December that rulings issued by judges appointed by a PiS controlled body, a revamped National Council of the Judiciary, which was once independent but has now been staffed with party loyalists, could be considered unlawful. The government responded by passing legislation making it illegal for any judge to question the legality of its appointments. The move was dubbed “an extreme escalation by the Polish government” by Marcin Matczak, a law professor at the University of Warsaw. He and other observers say judges who issue rulings disliked by the PiS are faces with state intimidation and being threatened with disciplinary proceedings and sometimes criminal charges.“ The PiS government is on a collision course with EU law, but instead of slowing down, it has accelerated the pace,” according to Michael Meyer-Resende of Democracy Reporting International, an advocacy group. In a commentary, he says Brussels could ask Europe’s top court to impose fines on Poland for rule-of-law violations. Some EU leaders and lawmakers say future EU grants to Poland should be made conditional on upholding democratic values and not undermining the rule of law. That tactic is actively being discussed in early negotiations for the next EU budget, say diplomats. But Polish leaders say they are confident the EU won’t follow through on threats to withhold cash payments — especially in the wake of Brexit. Related Ambassador Defends Poland From Russian World War II Claims US Ambassador Defends Poland From Russian World War II Claims Poland's New Judicial Law Undermines Independence of Judges UN: Poland's New Judicial Law Undermines Independence of Judges Court Poland Could Exit EU Over Judicial Reform Clash, Says Top Polish Court Poland Could Exit EU Over Judicial Reform Clash, Says Top Polish Court Leaders Want New Top Auditor to Go Amid Scandal Poland's Leaders Want New Top Auditor to Go Amid Scandal More Europe News during the opening of the World Health Organisation Academy in Lyon, central France, Sept. 27, 2021. FILE - WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during the opening of the World Health Organisation Academy in Lyon, central France, Sept. 27, 2021. Ethiopia Objects to Alleged 'Misconduct' of WHO Chief Tedros Foreign and Development Ministers Session with guest countries and ASEAN nations in Liverpool, England, Dec. 12, 2021. Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly arrives for a G-7 Foreign and Development Ministers Session with guest countries and ASEAN nations in Liverpool, England, Dec. 12, 2021. Canadian Foreign Minister to Visit Ukraine, Vows to Deter Russian Aggression In Ukraine's Trenches, Strays Bring Respite to Russia-Wary Troops Lisbon Fined for Sharing Protesters' Data with Targeted Embassies Former Danish Defense Minister Charged with State Secret Leaks The Day in Photos the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the Asia #39;s largest slums, in Mumbai, India. Tamil women greet each other as they cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at Dharavi, one of the Asia #39;s largest slums, in Mumbai, India. January 14, 2022 Recommended New series 52 Documentary You may also like USA The Year in US Foreign Policy NASA's James Webb Space Telescope onboard, lifts off Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, at Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. In this image released by NASA, Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope onboard, lifts off Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, at Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Science Health NASA's Revolutionary New Space Telescope Launched From French Guiana her husband, De, after they arrived in the U.S. following the Vietnam War. (Photo courtesy of The Big Book of King Cake, photography by Randy Krause Schmidt) Dong Phuong Bakery was founded by Vietnamese refugee Huong Tran and her husband, De, after they arrived in the U.S. following the Vietnam War. (Photo courtesy of The Big Book of King Cake, photography by Randy Krause Schmidt) USA A Cultural Gumbo: Immigrants Propel Evolution of Louisiana Cooking Back to top XS SM MD LG § Saturday 15th Jan 2022 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Join EUobserver 2. Login 3. Newsletter 1. 1. Headline News 2. Migration 3. Climate Change 4. Freedom Democracy 5. EU the World 6. Opinion 7. More 1. Investigations 2. Coronavirus 3. Nordic News 4. Agenda 5. Stakeholders 6. Podcast 7. Magazines 8. Search 1. FOCUS ON … 2. EU Presidency 3. Nordic News 4. EU China 5. Health 6. Digital Agenda 7. LGBTI Rights 1. Join EUobserver 2. Login 3. Newsletter 1. About Us 2. Privacy Policy 3. Corrections 4. Advertising 1. 2. 3. 1. News 2. Political Affairs Croatia's EU presidency optimism beset by problems of the young energetic hopefuls of his centre-right European People's Party (EPP) (Photo: Council of the EU) By Eszter Zalan Brussels, 9. Jan 2020, 07:05 The EU's newest member, Croatia, is taking over the bloc's rotating presidency at a "delicate period" for the EU, the country's centre-right prime minister Andrej Plenkovic admitted to reporters on Wednesday (8 January) in Zagreb. The Balkan country wants to focus on economic development, connectivity, internal and external security and a globally more assertive Europe in its program for the next six months. Read and decide Join EUobserver today Become an expert on Europe Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial. Choose your plan Monthly €19 Short-term commitment Yearly €150 Best value, save 34% Reduced yearly €90 Student or retired? Then this plan is for you. ... or subscribe as a group Don't miss out on Our exclusive news stories and investigations. Influential. Investigative. Independent. Koert Debeuf Why join? Watch our editor-in-chief Koert Debeuf explain the reasons in this 30-second video. Already a member? Login here. and this is its first presidency. One dilemma will be helping the stalled accession process (Photo: MLKR) However, Croatia is taking over the EU presidency at a time when the EU is about to lose a member, and the remaining 27 are to start a gruelling negotiating procedure on the long-term post-Brexit EU budget. For Plenkovic, regarded by his peers as one of the young energetic hopefuls of his centre-right European People's Party (EPP), this could be a moment to shine. But few big issues — be it Brexit, enlargement, budget talks — depend solely on the skills of the Croatian diplomats. Streamlined Brexit The negotiations on the future relations between the UK and the EU will be led by the EU Commission. Plenkovic said that during the "unprecedented" negotiations, to be kicked off after the UK leaves the EU on 31 January, the EU should not put "too many dossiers" on that table as the transition period for talks lasts only until the end of this year. "We should adopt a negotiating framework which is inclusive, but approach negotiations in a realistic manner," he said, adding that he had never thought the 2016 referendum was a "very bright idea". He said that after years of Brexit talks "it is better to have clarity" for both sides. Enlargement Meanwhile, EU enlargement depends on French president Emmanuel Macron's political flexibility. Croatia, which was the last country to become a member of the EU in 2013, plans to hold an EU summit with Western Balkan leaders in Zagreb on 7 May. Last October, France blocked a start date for EU membership talks for North Macedonia, and other EU countries sided with Paris not to open talks with Albania either. Plenkovic said that Croatia "has the responsibility to support" the aspiring countries to get closer to the EU, and wants to have regular "systematic" meetings between EU leaders and the leaders of the region He said these meetings give "important political impulse" to the region. Plenkovic pointed out that the enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi is working on a proposal cutting red tape in the accession procedure - a key demand of Paris. "If we find the solution to better the process, we could then remove some of the reservations of France. France said clearly they want the Zagreb summit to be successful," he added. Plenkovic described France's concern as "conceptual question", while other EU countries had concrete policy issues when they objected to opening of the talks with North Macedonia and Albania. Budget fight The long-term EU budget talks are spearheaded by EU Council president Charles Michel. "I think this is healthy," Plenkovic said of Michel leading the negotiations, adding that he is the most neutral broker, while the presidency will handle talks on ministerial level. Plenkovic said the presidency's aim will be to "try to find an adequate balance" between member states that argue for capping EU spending at 1.0 percent GNI of the EU, and those who want to spend more maintaining the EU subsidies at current levels. The premier, however, also made it clear Croatia does not support diminishing the level of investment in his region. Borders New initiatives on migration or climate will be rolled out by the commission before the EU presidency can start steering the negotiations among member states. EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen wants to give a new push to the asylum system reform, where talks have been in a deadlock over the internal EU distribution of asylum seekers. Plenkovic said "in months and years to come" the EU has to figure out what level of burden-sharing it can handle. He argued that if external borders are strengthened, the asylum reform becomes less difficult to handle. He said the 2015 migration crisis had an impact on Europe's political "architecture and mood" not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and should not be repeated. Plenkovic, however, referred to media and civil society reports of violent pushbacks of asylum seekers on the Croatian border by Croatian police as "allegations", and said his country adheres to international and European rules and standards. , your membership gives you access to all of our stories. We highly appreciate your support and value your feedback. If you have any thoughts on this story, we would love to hear it. Send feedback Share Article Site Section 1. Political Affairs Related stories 1. EU commission backs Croatia's Schengen bid 2. Juncker warns Croat PM he could wreck EU enlargement 3. Croatia PM struggles to tame own party 4. Slovenia ups pressure on Croatia in border dispute 5. Green money and Iran tensions in focus This WEEK 6. How a Croatian gas project exposes Green Deal hypocrisy EU commission backs Croatia's Schengen bid 23. Oct 2019, 08:01 Croatia is eligible to join the EU's free-travel area, the Schengen zone, the European Commission has said, but threats of national vetoes remain. Juncker warns Croat PM he could wreck EU enlargement 6. Feb 2018, 14:29 Commission head told Croatia's Andrei Plenkovic that Slovenia border dispute could wreck EU aspirations of Balkan neighbours. Croatia PM struggles to tame own party 11. Nov 2016, 09:26 Andrej Plenkovic has shifted Croatia's government towards the centre-ground, but must already deal with strained relations with Bosnia. Slovenia ups pressure on Croatia in border dispute 6. Sep 2017, 08:49 "We're trying to make them [Croatia] accept the ... arbitration award," Slovenian official said at EU congress in Bled told EUobserver. Agenda Green money and Iran tensions in focus This WEEK 13. Jan 2020, 07:04 The EU Commission will unveil the financial backbone for its Green Deal, and also debate a possible minimum wage with MEPs. Lawmakers will also hear from the Jordanian king and the EU's foreign affairs chief. Opinion How a Croatian gas project exposes Green Deal hypocrisy 10. Feb 2020, 07:02 The EU Commission is pushing a wave of controversial gas infrastructure projects, in parallel to its much-touted Green Deal. One of those a flagship project of the Republic of Croatia, who currently chairs the EU presidency. News in Brief 1. 14. Jan, 11:55 Ukraine hit by cyber-attack on government websites 2. 14. Jan, 07:27 Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba, Venezuela 3. 14. Jan, 07:23 Polish minister warns of risk of war in Europe 4. 14. Jan, 07:21 French teachers strike against Covid confusion 5. 14. Jan, 07:08 Denmark warns of increased spying in Arctic 6. 14. Jan, 07:08 Erdoğan: Turkey 'committed to EU membership' 7. 14. Jan, 07:08 German court gives Syrian intelligence officer life sentence 8. 14. Jan, 07:08 EU to impose sweeping sanctions on Mali Too few central and eastern Europeans at top of EU 26. Jan 2021, 07:23 European Democracy Consulting study said continued low numbers, or "even just a feeling of lasting under-representation", will lead to frustration and impact EU governance. EU adds new 'dark red' zone to travel-restrictions map 26. Jan 2021, 07:22 The European Commission has proposed additional measures to limit non-essential travel within and to the EU - amid fears over more transmissible mutations triggering a new surge in cases across the bloc. Stakeholders' Highlights 1. Nordic Council of Ministers10 Nordic highlights from COP26 2. Nordic Council of MinistersHeightened tension puts Nordic Region on NATO radar 3. Nordic Council of MinistersNew report reveals bad environmental habits 4. Nordic Council of MinistersImproving the integration of young refugees 5. Nordic Council of MinistersNATO Secretary General guest at the Session of the Nordic Council 6. Nordic Council of MinistersCan you love whoever you want in care homes? Latest News 1. 14. Jan, 07:19 MEPs seek probe into EU commissioner over Bosnia 2. 14. Jan, 07:07 EU's Borrell contradicts Germany on Russia gas pipeline 3. 14. Jan, 07:06 It's time for a more geopolitical EU-Turkey cooperation 4. 14. Jan, 07:06 EU gas and nuclear rules derided as 'biggest greenwash ever' 5. 14. Jan, 07:06 Even without war, Russia has defeated Europe already 6. 13. Jan, 07:21 Nato and Russia in talks to reopen embassies 7. 13. Jan, 07:18 Record-breaking Omicron wave sweeps across Europe 8. 13. Jan, 07:17 EU agency warns ETS emission-cuts are off track Stakeholders' Highlights 1. Nordic Council of MinistersNineteen demands by Nordic young people to save biodiversity 2. Nordic Council of MinistersSustainable public procurement is an effective way to achieve global goals 3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic Council enters into formal relations with European Parliament 4. Nordic Council of MinistersWomen more active in violent extremist circles than first assumed Join EUobserver Support quality EU news Join us § #EURACTIV.com » LEAK: Commission considers facial recognition ban in [tr?id=307743630704587 ev=PageView noscript=1] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-THJBSRW EURACTIV logo EURACTIV logo Search Agrifood Digital Media Economy Jobs Energy Environment Global Europe Health Politics Transport French ambassador: Smooth transition between presidency stints in 1. Home 2. News 3. Digital Media 4. LEAK: Commission considers facial recognition ban in AI ‘white paper’ LEAK: Commission considers facial recognition ban in AI ‘white paper’ By Samuel Stolton | EURACTIV.com 17-01-2020 (updated: 22-01-2020 ) A protestor wears an enlarged face recognition camera dummy in front of the entrance area at the train station Berlin Suedkreuz in Berlin, Germany, 01 August 2017. [EPA-EFE/CARSTEN KOALL] Languages: Français | Deutsch | Ελληνικά Comments Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp The European Commission is considering measures to impose a temporary ban on facial recognition technologies used by both public and private actors, according to a draft white paper on Artificial Intelligence obtained by EURACTIV. If implemented, the plans could throw current AI projects off course in some EU countries, including Germany’s wish to roll out automatic facial recognition at 134 railway stations and 14 airports. France also has plans to establish a legal framework permitting video surveillance systems to be embedded with facial recognition technologies. The Commission paper, which gives an insight into proposals for a European approach to Artificial Intelligence, stipulates that a future regulatory framework could “include a time–limited ban on the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces.” The document adds that the “use of facial recognition technology by private or public actors in public spaces would be prohibited for a definite period (e.g. 3–5 years) during which a sound methodology for assessing the impacts of this technology and possible risk management measures could be identified and developed.” Five Regulatory Options for AI More generally, the draft White Paper, the completed version of which the Commission should publish towards the end of February, features five regulatory options for Artificial Intelligence across the bloc. The different regulatory branches considered by the Commission in the paper are: recognition A Voluntary Labelling framework could consist of a legal instrument whereby developers could “chose to comply, on a voluntary basis, with requirements for ethical and trustworthy artificial intelligence.” Should compliance in this area be guaranteed, a ‘label’ of ethical or trustworthy artificial intelligence would be granted, with binding conditions. Option two focuses on a specific area of public concern – the use of artificial intelligence by public authorities – as well as the employment of facial recognition technologies generally. In the former area, the paper states that the EU could adopt an approach akin to the stance taken by Canada in its Directive on Automated Decision Making, which sets out minimum standards for government departments that wish to use an Automated Decision System. As for facial recognition, the Commission document highlights provisions from the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, which give citizens “the right not to be subject of a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling.” In the third area which the Commission is currently priming for regulation, legally binding instruments would apply only “to high–risk applications of artificial intelligence. The paper states that “this risk–based approach would focus on areas where the public is at risk or an important legal interest is at stake.” Certain sectors which could be considered high risk include healthcare, transport, policing and the judiciary, the document finds. The Commission adds that in order for an application to be considered “high-risk,” it would have to fulfil one of two criteria: come under the scope of a high-risk sector or present potential legal ramifications and pose “the risk of injury, death or significant material damage for the individual.” Option four covers safety and liability issues that may arise as part of the future development of Artificial Intelligence and suggests that “targeted amendments” could be made to EU safety and liability legislation, including on the General Product Safety Directive, the Machinery Directive, the Radio Equipment Directive and the Product Liability Directive. Risks currently not covered in existing legislation, the document says, include “the risks of cyber threats, risk to personal security, to privacy and to personal data protection,” which may be considered as part of any possible future amendments. On the liability front, “adjustments may be needed to clarify the responsibility of developers of artificial intelligence and to distinguish them from the responsibilities of the producer of the products,” and the scope of legislation could be amended to determine whether artificial intelligence systems should be considered as ‘products.’ With regards to Option 5, ‘Governance,’ the Commission says that an effective system of enforcement is essential, requiring a strong system of public oversight with the involvement of national authorities. Promoting cooperation between such national authorities would be necessary, the document notes. The most likely approaches to be adopted formally, the paper notes, are a combination of Options 3, 4, and 5. “The Commission may consider a combination of a horizontal instrument setting out transparency and accountability requirements and covering also the governance framework complemented by targeted amendments of existing EU safety and liability legislation,” the document says. Avoid heavy AI regulation, White House tells EU The US administration has urged European lawmakers to avoid heavy regulation frameworks in the future rollout of Artificial Intelligence technologies on the continent. The call comes ahead of the European Commission’s planned presentation of its AI strategy, set to be announced early this year. Background The disclosure of the Commission’s draft white paper follows a period of public discussion on how to deal with the future challenges of Artificial Intelligence. A report published in June by the Commission’s High-Level Group on AI suggested that the EU should consider the need for new regulation to “ensure adequate protection from adverse impacts”, which could include issues arising from biometric recognition, the use of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), AI systems built on children’s profiles, and the impact AI may have on fundamental rights. In terms of facial recognition, fears abounded last year about the application of the technology in Europe, with the Swedish Data Protection Authority fining a municipality €20,000 for using facial recognition technology in monitoring the attendance of students in school, while France’s data regulator, the CNIL, said the technology breaches GDPR consent rules. [Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic] Languages: Français | Deutsch | Ελληνικά Comments Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Topics Advertisement Supporters EURACTIV Members Popular articles Trading Practices directive Advertisement Comments 2 responses to “LEAK: Commission considers facial recognition ban in AI ‘white paper’” 1. Joe Thorpe says: 17/01/2020 at 14:00 Sums up the EU, give terrorists rights to avoid being harassed! Reply 2. Sirius Motif says: 17/01/2020 at 16:49 Yeah, give the state the rights to abuse your privacy and freedoms Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply Comment [ ] Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Post Comment Subscribe to our newsletters Subscribe About EURACTIV Communication Services JobSite, EU Services, Agenda PR EURACTIV Network © 1999 - 2022 | Efficacité et Transparence des Acteurs Européens. 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[p?c1=2 c2=8946263 cv=2.0 cj=1] [] IFRAME: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-M9Q373 The Irish Times Sat, Jan 15, 2022 ^ All News State papers: Thatcher very sceptical about EU Prime minister’s remarks in private meeting with Charles Haughey reveal British antipathy to Europe that would eventually lead to Brexit Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 00:26 Harry McGee Political Correspondent British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at an EEC Summit in Dublin Castle in November 1979. Photograph: Pat Langan British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at an EEC Summit in Dublin Castle in November 1979. Photograph: Pat Langan The roots of British scepticism towards the EU which eventually led to Brexit were disclosed by prime minister Margaret Thatcher at private meetings with taoiseach Charlie Haughey 30 years ago. At a meeting at the margin of a European Council summit in Madrid in June 1989, Thatcher described European Monetary Union as “airy fairy” and the proposed Social Charter as “a charter for unemployment” that would result in the “destruction of jobs”. She also said she opposed the concept of a European environment protection agency and any further integration of the community. Her scathing criticisms of the direction of the community in 1989 were remarkably close to those used by Leave campaigners during the Brexit debate (with the exception of immigration, which was not an issue then). The only policy which she gave full approval to was the drive for a single market, which echoes the political thinking of the current Tory government led by Boris Johnson. She singled out German chancellor Helmut Kohl for particular criticism at the Strasbourg meeting over the Social Charter. “He wants to inflict high German social and other costs on other countries in the community so that German industry can continue its expansion.” kidnapped Brian Keenan memo Saying other countries should “slow work” on the charter, she said: “We can’t have more regulations on part-time work or nighttime work.” Haughey agreed that part-time work was essential for many weaker economies. Thatcher also told the taoiseach that European Commission president Jacques Delors need to be watched “like a hawk” over another idea she opposed, namely a new Europe-wide bank. “We want a single market,” she said, “but Germany resists. Kohl resists movement on insurance and financial services. These are among the touchstones of progress.” ‘Wretched EMU idea’ In further dismissive remarks on the “wretched EMU idea”, she said if it happened, then Kohl would pitch for control by the Bundesbank. “Spain, France, Portugal, Italy will want democratic control. This will mean more inflation. Then the European Parliament will also be looking for a say. Nobody gives a damn about the European Parliament. It is not a parliament at all. It is an assembly.” Outlining her opposition to the environmental protection agency at the meeting in June 1989, Thatcher said there were plenty of organisations in existence which could do that job. She mentioned the Institute of Climatology and the United Nations Environmental Protection Agency. In advance of the meeting, the British ambassador to Ireland Nicholas Fenn had briefed Irish officials that Thatcher regarded the Social Charter as a “lot of codswallop which, if implemented, could price Europe out of world markets and damage employment”. Fenn said Thatcher felt a “mite lonesome” in making those points. It implied she wanted Ireland to be more supportive of her stance on the Social Charter at the summit of EU leaders. Read More House of Commons Ireland conflict Clinton visit bills private island An Phoblacht internet for propaganda jousting on North State Papers State Papers Highlights from the government archives and records from 30 years ago. Subscribe. More from The Irish Times Helen McEntee endured a difficult first few months in a senior ministry. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Helen McEntee: The next Fine Gael leader in waiting? Lego is an example of how capital in Denmark, unlike in the Republic, is rooted in locality, family and society. Photograph: iStock 6:31 Fintan O’Toole: Ireland would not be viable without 10 big US corporations A photograph of the celebration at a time of Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings was posted on Twitter by then secretary general of the department Niall Burgess Foreign Affairs staff ‘mortified’ over gathering during Covid restrictions Thursday’s Carabao Cup game has contributed to Arsenal having only 12 fit outfielders ahead of Sunday’s North London derby. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images North London derby postponed due to availability issues in Arsenal squad More in Sponsored Many businesses are only now scratching the surface of digital transformation and how they can use data and tools to connect with customers or engage employees. Photograph: Getty Images ‘Digitalisation makes things simpler and changes the way you do business’ Andrew Brownlee, chief executive of Solas: The inclusion of apprenticeships and further education options on the CAO is a “game changer”. Photograph: Getty Images More CAO options for students with inclusion of further education and training Ulster University has devised programmes to teach language to children and young people. Photograph: Getty Images How language research is changing lives in Northern Ireland ESB’s solar PV offering addresses the difficulties which many organisations experience in achieving payback on such projects. Setting out a roadmap to zero carbon with solar State Papers 1991-1998: Declassified files shed new light on peace process Latest Ireland Former suspect extends sympathies to Ashling Murphy’s family 14:41 Former RTÉ western editor Jim Fahey dies 13:53 Michael Tormey remembered as ‘gentle giant’ at Funeral Mass 13:17 At least a dozen more vigils for Ashling Murphy to take place over the weekend 12:16 Number of people in hospital with Covid-19 falls below 1,000 11:56 Inside Politics Subscriber only Dáil Sitting Days See a sample Our politics team’s behind-the-scenes take on events of the day Subscribe Now Sign up Subscriber Only ‘The whole issue is an embarrassment for the White House’. Photograph: EPA/Shawn Thew 4:21 Biden under pressure as Covid test supplies dry up A sign placed among the flowers and candles during a vigil at Leinster House, Dublin, for Ashling Murphy. Photograph: Brian Lawless/ PA Wire Miriam Lord: Between the headline atrocities men seem to quickly forget all that women said ‘O the Roast Beef of England’, also called the Gate of Calais, by William Hogarth. Photograph: Imagno/Getty Images 4:23 Roast beef and ‘woke warriors’: Hogarth exhibition re-examines Britain’s past Inside Politics Inside Politics - Covid calm despite case avalanche, Sipo's intervention, State papers Inside Politics - Covid calm despite case avalanche, Sipo's intervention, State papers 34:52 Inside Politics - 2022 political preview: Taoiseach rotation, virus mutation and cost inflation Inside Politics - 2022 political preview: Taoiseach rotation, virus mutation and cost inflation 46:35 Inside Politics - Ask us anything 2021 - listener questions answered Inside Politics - Ask us anything 2021 - listener questions answered 42:33 Inside Politics - David Frost's departure, Omicron uncertainties Inside Politics - David Frost's departure, Omicron uncertainties 43:03 Most Read in News 1 New suspect in Ashling Murphy murder inquiry presented to hospital with injuries 2 Why was the wrong man arrested in Ashling Murphy murder inquiry? 3 Miriam Lord: Between the headline atrocities men seem to quickly forget all that women said 4 Multiple sclerosis: Common virus may play role in neurological illness 5 Spain seeks to lead a shift in Europe’s handling of Covid-19 Real news has value SUBSCRIBE Features Opinion What emissions cuts will actually mean, and how they will change our lives What emissions cuts will actually mean, and how they will change our lives Everybody seems to agree with emissions reductions in principle until their implementation What is in the new law on adoption information and how will it work? What is in the new law on adoption information and how will it work? Q A: Campaigners are concerned over proposed ‘information session’ for adoptees Cullinane’s rise from modest roots and car dealership job to SF success Cullinane’s rise from modest roots and car dealership job to SF success Party spokesman on his influences, why he didn’t consider joining IRA, and Patrick Kielty How Donohoe weighed the odds and rolled the dice on the corporate tax deal How Donohoe weighed the odds and rolled the dice on the corporate tax deal 0:28 Not by nature one of life’s gamblers, Donohoe weighed the odds, and rolled the dice Subscribe Support About Us Irish Times Products Services Follow us Download the app Download on the App Store Download on Google Play © 2018 THE IRISH TIMES For the best site experience please enable JavaScript in your browser settings Sign In Forgot Password? Don't have an account? Subscribe Need some help ? SUBSCRIBE Sat 15/1/2022 Forgot Password? Invalid email or password. Not an Irish Times subscriber? Subscribe digital subscription our subscribers your inbox Update Payment Details Unfortunately USERNAME we were unable to process your last payment. Please update your payment details to keep enjoying your Irish Times subscription. § to navigation Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More Sajid Javid This article is more than 1 year old Brexit: Javid comments on non-alignment with EU prompt warnings of price rises This article is more than 1 year old Chancellor’s remarks represent ‘death knell for frictionless trade’, experts warn The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has said Treasury will not lend support to manufacturers that favour EU rules after Brexit. [ ] The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has said Treasury will not lend support to manufacturers that favour EU rules after Brexit. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has said Treasury will not lend support to manufacturers that favour EU rules after Brexit. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent @lisaocarroll Sat 18 Jan 2020 16.59 GMT [ ] First published on Sat 18 Jan 2020 07.30 GMT Businesses have predicted price rises after the UK chancellor, Sajid Javid, said there would be no alignment with EU regulations once Britain’s exit from the EU was made official. In what is being seen as an opening salvo in the next stage of negotiations, Javid said the Treasury would not lend support to manufacturers that favour EU rules as the sector had had three years to prepare for Britain’s transition. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said: “There will not be alignment, we will not be a rule taker, we will not be in the single market and we will not be in the customs union – and we will do this by the end of the year. Brace yourself: the next phase of Brexit is going to get messy | Mujtaba Rahman Read more “We’re … talking about companies that have known since 2016 that we are leaving the EU.” His remarks will be seen as confirmation of a strategic departure from Theresa May’s deal in which she envisaged close alignment with the EU, in an effort to reduce friction at the border for traders. But they will alarm business leaders in key sectors including car manufacturing and agriculture who fear the price of non-alignment will be more complex trade barriers for those who export and import with the rest of the EU. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Saturday said alignment supported jobs and competitiveness for many firms. The group’s director general, Carolyn Fairbairn, said business “recognises there are areas where the UK can benefit from its future right to diverge from EU regulation” but urged government “not to treat this right as an obligation to diverge”. “For some firms, divergence brings value, but for many others, alignment supports jobs and competitiveness – particularly in some of the most deprived regions of the UK,” she said. The co-executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce, Claire Walker, said that while business communities were prepared to be pragmatic about coming changes to regulation, “uncertainty around the extent of divergence risks firms moving their production elsewhere”. “The government must clearly communicate these changes in a timely way and provide substantial support to help firms adapt,” Walker added. “Otherwise they will struggle to make the most of new opportunities as Britain sets its own trading policies.” The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said Javid’s remarks showed Tory promises were “not worth [the] paper they were written on”. In a tweet, he added: “Fears now made real about food price increases and threats to jobs in motor industry and manufacturing. Right ideology overriding common sense.” Labour MP David Lammy described it as a “disaster for business”. “It’s catastrophic for workers and the public services which depend on them too. Brexit will hurt most those communities it claimed to help,” he said. Andrew Sentance, a former member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy conmittee, described Javid and the government’s new position as “more nonsense”, adding: “Of course we need a high degree of alignment with our closest trading partners.” Javid once said the UK’s best economic place was to remain in the EU and the single market. In May 2016, a month before the referendum he said the only thing guaranteed about leaving the bloc was a decade of “stagnation and doubt”. “Just like the Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, and IMF head Christine Lagarde, I still believe that Britain is better off in. And that’s all because of the single market. “It’s a great invention, one that even Lady Thatcher campaigned enthusiastically to create. The world’s largest economic bloc, it gives every business in Britain access to 500 million customers with no barriers, no tariffs and no local legislation to worry about,” he said in an article in the Daily Telegraph. Last week the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that the price of non-alignment would be friction in trade. “The more divergence there is, the more distant the partnership has to be,” she said. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator has also warned that the UK will not get a tariff-free, quota-free trade deal with the EU unless it accepts level-playing field rules on issues such as the environment. Javid admitted that some businesses may not benefit from Brexit, but added that the UK economy would ultimately continue to thrive in the long term. “Once we’ve got this agreement in place with our European friends, we will continue to be one of the most successful economies on Earth,” he said. But the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said that no regulatory alignment with the EU after Brexit could lead to price rises. Its chief operating officer, Tim Rycroft, said the chancellor’s comments represented “the death knell for frictionless trade”. He told the BBC Today programme on Saturday: “Food and drink manufacturers will be deeply concerned by the chancellor’s suggestion that there will not be regulatory alignment with the EU post-Brexit. “It will mean businesses will have to adjust to costly new checks, processes and procedures, that will act as a barrier to frictionless trade with the EU and may well result in price rises.” Chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, also expressed concern: “Automotive trade between the UK and EU is uniquely integrated and our priority is to avoid expensive tariffs and other ‘behind the border’ barriers that limit market access.” He said the car industry needed as early sight as possible of the government’s objectives given the potential disruption involved. Javid will have the opportunity to sell his vision for Britain’s economy after Brexit when he travels to Davos next week for the World Economic Forum. Negotiations on the future relationship are expected to begin formally after 25 February when the EU has formally agreed its negotiating goals. It is not clear whether the UK will publish detailed negotiating objectives, which is the convention in trade talks. Javid was upbeat about the economy, saying he wanted to boost growth rates to between 2.7% and 2.8% a year – the average for 50 years after the second world war. But last week, Carney told the FT he thought Britain’s trend growth rate was much lower at between 1% and 1.5% . Topics Reuse this content IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § Discover Thomson Reuters Directory of sitesLoginContactSupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up Technology News Updated Exclusive: Google users in UK to lose EU data protection - sources By Joseph Menn 3 Min Read SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google is planning to move its British users’ accounts out of the control of EU privacy regulators, placing them under U.S. jurisdiction instead, sources said. FILE PHOTO: The Google internet homepage is displayed on a product at a store in London, Britain January 23, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall The shift, prompted by Britain’s exit from the EU, will leave the sensitive personal information of tens of millions with less protection and within easier reach of British law enforcement. The change was described to Reuters by three people familiar with its plans. Google intends to require its British users to acknowledge new terms of service including the new jurisdiction. Ireland, where Google and other U.S. tech companies have their European headquarters, is staying in the EU, which has one of the world’s most aggressive data protection rules, the General Data Protection Regulation. Google has decided to move its British users out of Irish jurisdiction because it is unclear whether Britain will follow GDPR or adopt other rules that could affect the handling of user data, the people said. If British Google users have their data kept in Ireland, it would be more difficult for British authorities to recover it in criminal investigations. The recent Cloud Act in the United States, however, is expected to make it easier for British authorities to obtain data from U.S. companies. Britain and the United States are also on track to negotiate a broader trade agreement. Beyond that, the United States has among the weakest privacy protections of any major economy, with no broad law despite years of advocacy by consumer protection groups. A Google spokesman declined to comment ahead of a public announcement. An employee familiar with the planned move said that British privacy rules, which at least for now track GDPR, would continue to apply to that government’s requests for data from Google’s U.S. headquarters. Google has amassed one of the largest stores of information about people on the planet, using the data to tailor services and sell advertising. Google could also have had British accounts answer to a British subsidiary, but has opted not to, the people said. Lea Kissner, Google’s former lead for global privacy technology, said she would have been surprised if the company had kept British accounts controlled in an EU country with the United Kingdom no longer a member. “There’s a bunch of noise about the U.K. government possibly trading away enough data protection to lose adequacy under GDPR, at which point having them in Google Ireland’s scope sounds super-messy,” Kissner said. “Never discount the desire of tech companies not be caught in between two different governments.” In coming months, other U.S. tech companies will have to make similar choices, according to people involved in internal discussions elsewhere. Facebook, which has a similar set-up to Google, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reporting by Joseph Menn; Editing by Greg Mitchell and David Evans Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up § navigation Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More OpinionEU The Observer view on the EU’s weakness on the world stage Observer editorial Its new commission is failing to enact its grand ambitions, as destructive global power games are played out by others Ursula von der Leyen [ ] Ursula von der Leyen: ‘The EU needs to be more strategic, more assertive and more united in its approach to external relations.’ Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images Ursula von der Leyen: ‘The EU needs to be more strategic, more assertive and more united in its approach to external relations.’ Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images Sun 19 Jan 2020 06.00 GMT [ ] Last modified on Sun 19 Jan 2020 15.06 GMT It has been a difficult start to 2020 for the EU and the new European commission, which took office last month. Ursula von der Leyen, who succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker as commission president, is not short of ambition. She believes Europe should take a leading “geopolitical” role in international affairs, reflecting the EU’s status as the world’s largest trade bloc. But turning words into deeds is proving problematic. “The EU needs to be more strategic, more assertive and more united in its approach to external relations,” Von der Leyen told Josep Borrell, the newly nominated EU high representative for foreign and security policy, in a mission statement last autumn. “We must use our diplomatic and economic strength to support global stability and prosperity… and be better able to export our values and standards.” It’s early days. But to suggest Borrell, a 72-year-old Spanish former foreign minister, is struggling to fulfil this bold mandate is to put it mildly. Humiliation has been heaped upon humiliation in recent weeks, leaving the EU looking more like an irrelevance than a rainmaker. When Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iran’s senior general, Qassem Suleimani, he totally ignored his European allies. Trump’s illegal, and unilateral, action effectively blew up the most prized achievement of Borrell’s predecessors, Federica Mogherini and Cathy Ashton – the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which was already on life-support because of US sanctions. Adding insult to injury, the US then insisted that the EU3 (Britain, France and Germany) trigger the deal’s dispute mechanism. They complied. Iran, predictably, reacted with fury. The point is that the EU opposes Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy towards Tehran and has sought ways to circumvent it, for example by maintaining non-dollar trade in food and medicine. But European businesses, fearing US reprisals, have mostly refused to play ball. When the EU commission mandated the European Investment Bank to support investment in Iran, it balked for the same reason. An Audi production line in Ingolstadt, Germany An Audi production line in Ingolstadt, Germany: Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on European cars. Photograph: Andreas Gebert/Getty Images Embarrassing, too, was the revelation that Trump secretly threatened to impose 25% tariffs on European car imports unless the dispute mechanism was triggered, a move likened to “extortion” by one official. The EU3 claim they were going to do it anyway. The episode is a troubling example of the US trying, and succeeding, to direct EU foreign policy. It left Europe looking miserably weak. Weakness also characterises the EU’s approach to the Libyan conflict, which it has a vital interest in halting, given the link to destabilising migrant flows across the Mediterranean. Yet another attempt to stop the war will be made in Berlin today under UN and German auspices. But EU states appear at odds over which of the two warring sides to support. Angered by a deal between Turkey and the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, which seeks to control disputed energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Cyprus are courting Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan rebel leader, who held talks in Athens last week. France has also appeared at times to support the rebel general, while Italy leans the other way. The minimalist hope in Berlin is that a permanent ceasefire can be agreed. But the Turkish decision to ignore EU pleas and send mercenaries to join the fight – condemned by Borrell as “very dangerous” – plus blatant meddling by Russia and multiple Arab states show how little influence a sidelined EU has. Whether the issue is Syria, the conflict in eastern Ukraine or Palestine (where Trump has again ignored EU policy), Europe is punching well below its weight, Von der Leyen’s strictures notwithstanding. This is not a new problem. But it is getting worse. As the US, China and Russia and their imitators play destructive global power games, the EU can only watch and fret. And Britain, drifting off, rudderless and irresponsible, into transatlantic limbo is no help at all. Topics Reuse this content comments (…) Commenting has been disabled at this time but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion when it's back comments (…) Commenting has been disabled at this time but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion when it's back IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § Add France 24 to your home screen Skip to main content France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines Live NEWS ON TV On social media © 2022 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. #Covid-19 #Mali #Africa Cup Of Nations France Africa Culture Shows Fight the Fake 1. 2. / Business Google and EU battle in court over €2.4 billion anti-trust fine Issued on: 12/02/2020 - 18:41 The Google logo on a wall at the entrance to the Google offices in The Google logo on a wall at the entrance to the Google offices in Brussels. © Georges Gobet, AFP Text by: NEWS WIRES Google and the EU battled in court Wednesday as the search engine giant tried to persuade judges that it was unfairly accused of ill-treating rivals of its Shopping service. The Silicon Valley juggernaut is appealing a 2.4 billion euro ($2.6 billion) fine from 2017 that was the first in a series of major penalties imposed by the European Commission, the EU's powerful anti-trust regulator. The court case launches a new phase in the decade-long duel and is a major test of the combative tactics taken by the EU commission against big tech. The next months will see Google appeal all three decisions that saw Brussels slap a total $9 billion in EU fines, with the giant's Android mobile operating system and ad service also caught out for illegal behaviour. The tech giant has paid the fines and changed its behaviour, but the company on Wednesday strongly condemned the EU's verdict on shopping in the EU's General Court as ill-founded and unfair. "If Google would have faced the commission's decision in 2008, Google would have had no other option but to abandon its innovative technologies and its improved designs," Thomas Graf, a lawyer for Google told the EU's General Court. Supporting Google, a lawyer for the CCIA tech lobby in Brussels argued that the Commission's demands "would ultimately harm consumers and internet users". 'Colossus' The Commission's lawyer, Nicholas Khan, deplored the power of the Mountain View, California giant. "Google's status as the colossus of the digital age is unquestioned and until recently unquestionable." The commission was joined by other plaintiffs, who shot down Google for aggressive business practices. "Google's behaviour constitutes a serious abuse of dominance which must stop or it will destroy competition in all the markets in which it decides to enter," said Thomas Höppner, a lawyer for three companies fighting the group. The EU and Google have been locked in battle since 2010 when the commission first looked into accusations that the search engine was squeezing rivals from results in order to promote ads and Google Shopping, its price comparison service. For several years Brussels and the US giant sought a negotiated settlement, but the EU abruptly reversed course in 2014 after the intervention of member states and the arrival of Margrethe Vestager who took over as EU competition chief. Vestager, a former Danish finance minister, quickly became known for her relentless pursuit of US tech giants that drew attention worldwide. Instead of negotiation, she repeatedly fined Google and slapped Apple with a 13 billion euro tax bill that boss Tim Cook dismissed as "political crap". The appeal hearing is to last three days with a decision possible by June. The case can then go to the EU's highest court, the European Court of Justice. The EU's case mirrors similar litigation against Microsoft, a legal labyrinth that ran throughout most of the 1990s and early 2000s and saw the Windows-maker fined about 1.4 billion euros. Google was expected to plead that the commission had wrongly applied arguments used successfully against Microsoft and that the company has the right to give advantage to its own services. The company would also underline that the EU case erroneously failed to account for the spectacular rise of Amazon and eBay in its assessment of Google Shopping. Players in other sectors are following the case closely, and hoping that Vestager swoops in on other features such as maps, travel and job ads where Google has yet to face push back from regulators. More than 30 travel firms -- including TripAdvisor and Expedia -- wrote to Vestager on Monday complaining that Google was unfairly trying to enter the vacation rental ad business. The EU has already said it was looking into Google's similar push into job ads. (AFP) Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! 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During the BlueInvest Day conference in Brussels, EIB Vice-President Emma Navarro and Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, launched a €75 million equity investment fund for the blue economy. The BlueInvest Fund will be managed by the European Investment Fund and will provide financing to underlying equity funds that strategically target and support the innovative blue economy. This sector can play an important role in the transformation to a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, an ambition announced in the European Green Deal. The new programme is backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the financial pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe. The blue economy includes economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts. It ranges from companies in the marine environment to land-based businesses producing goods or services that contribute to the maritime economy. The blue economy harbours many promising early-stage ventures and companies – often emanating from EU-funded R D programmes. These companies develop solutions for renewable energy, sustainable seafood, blue biotechnology, maritime IT and much more. The new fund is complemented by the European Commission’s BlueInvest platform, which supports investment readiness and access to finance for early-stage businesses, SMEs and scale-ups. Through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the Commission also funds an additional €40 million grant scheme, to help blue economy SMEs with developing and bringing to market new innovative and sustainable products, technologies and services. Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans Fisheries, said: “Oceans are the first in line to be hit by climate change, but they also hold many solutions to tackle climate emergency in every single marine industry, from fisheries and aquaculture, to offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, blue biotechnology and many other innovation-related fields. A €75 million equity investment fund is a tool to unlock the potential the blue economy holds both in contributing to the European Green Deal and ensuring economic growth of European SMEs developing innovative and sustainable products and services.” EIB Vice-President, Emma Navarro, responsible for the Blue Economy, said:“Oceans are vital for life on Earth. But oceans are under threat and need to be protected. This is why we are developing innovative financing solutions to support the Blue economy. Solutions that allow us to provide financing for protecting the oceans and to turn the seas into a sustainable economic resource. The BlueInvest fund that we are launching today will give an important contribution to mobilize private investments to this sector and to get critical projects off the ground. It marks another important partnership between the EIF and the European Commission. ” EIF Chief Executive, Alain Godard, said: “The oceans provide huge potential for economic growth, but this growth needs to be sustainable. The investments in the Blue Economy sector we signed today show how public funds in the EU can be deployed to attract private investment and catalyse the development of this sector. I am delighted that we can now launch the BlueInvest fund which combined with additional private capital will help to drive Europe’s Blue Economy agenda.” Background BlueInvest is a European Commission initiative that aims to improve access to finance and investment readiness for start-ups, early-stage businesses and SMEs active in the Blue Economy. Its features include an online community, investment readiness assistance for companies, investor engagement, events, an academy and a projects pipeline. More information here. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the EU owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized businesses by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops both venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment. The Investment Plan for Europe focuses on boosting investment to generate jobs and growth by making smarter use of financial resources, removing obstacles to investment, and providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects. Share this: Related Related Topics:EU Up Next EU Economic governance review: Q A Don't Miss Future EU-UK relations: Next steps Newsroom Continue Reading You may like practical issues in the curious case of north Cyprus Comments EU Politics Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for Greece Published 1 week ago on January 7, 2022 By Newsroom The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Greece’s map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027 within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines (‘RAG’). The revised RAG, adopted by the Commission on 19 April 2021 and entering into force on 1 January 2022, enable Member States to support the least favoured European regions in catching up and to reduce disparities in terms of economic well-being, income and unemployment – cohesion objectives that are at the heart of the Union. They also provide increased possibilities for Member States to support regions facing transition or structural challenges such as depopulation, to contribute fully to the green and digital transitions. At the same time, the revised RAG maintain strong safeguards to prevent Member States from using public money to trigger the relocation of jobs from one EU Member State to another, which is essential for fair competition in the Single Market. Greece’s regional map defines the Greek regions eligible for regional investment aid. The map also establishes the maximum aid intensities in the eligible regions. The aid intensity is the maximum amount of State aid that can be granted per beneficiary, expressed as a percentage of eligible investment costs. Under the revised RAG, regions covering 82.34% of the population of Greece will be eligible for regional investment aid: Twelve regions (Βόρειο Αιγαίο / Voreio Aigaio, Νότιο Αιγαίο / Notio Aigaio, Κρήτη / Kriti, Aνατολική Μακεδονία, Θράκη / Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki, Κεντρική Μακεδονία / Kentriki Makedonia, Δυτική Μακεδονία / Dytiki Makedonia, Ήπειρος / Ipeiros, Θεσσαλία / Thessalia, Ιόνια Νησιά / Ionia Nisia, Δυτική Ελλάδα / Dytiki Elláda, Στερεά Ελλάδα / Sterea Elláda and Πελοπόννησος / Peloponnisos) are among the most disadvantaged regions in the EU, with a GDP per capita below 75% of EU average. These regions are eligible for aid under Article 107(3)(a) TFEU (so-called ‘a’ areas), with maximum aid intensities for large enterprises between 30% and 50%, depending on the GDP per capita of the respective ‘a’ area. The region Ευρυτανία / Evrytania, which is part of Στερεά Ελλάδα / Sterea Elláda, also qualifies as a sparsely populated area having fewer than 12,5 inhabitants per km². In sparsely populated areas, Member States can use operating aid schemes to prevent or reduce depopulation. In order to address regional disparities, Greece has designated as so-called non-predefined ‘c’ areas the regions of Δυτικός Τομέας Αθηνών / Dytikos Tomeas Athinon, Ανατολική Αττική / Anatoliki Attiki, Δυτική Αττική / Dytiki Attiki and Πειραιάς, Νήσοι / Peiraias, Nisoi. The maximum aid intensities for large enterprises in Δυτικός Τομέας Αθηνών / Dytikos Tomeas Athinon is 15%. The other ‘c’ areas mentioned above border with ‘a’ areas. For this reason, the aid intensity in these regions has been increased to 25%, so that the difference in aid intensity with the bordering ‘a’ areas is limited to 15 percentage points. Greece has the possibility to designate further so-called non-predefined ‘c’ areas (up to a maximum of 1.16% of the national population). The specific designation of these areas can take place in the future and would result in one or more amendments to the regional aid map approved today. In all the above areas, the maximum aid intensities can be increased by 10 percentage points for investments made by medium-sized enterprises and by 20 percentage points for investments made by small enterprises, for their initial investments with eligible costs up to €50 million. Once a future territorial Just Transition plan in the context of the Just Transition Fund Regulation will be in place, Greece has the possibility to notify the Commission an amendment to the regional aid map approved today, in order to apply a potential increase of the maximum aid intensity in the future Just Transition areas, as specified in the revised RAG for ‘a’ areas. Share this: Related Continue Reading EU Politics 20 years of the euro in your pocket Published 2 weeks ago on January 3, 2022 By Newsroom Twenty years ago, on 1 January 2002, twelve EU countries changed their national currency banknotes and coins for the euro in the largest currency changeover in history. In these two decades, the euro has contributed to the stability, competitiveness and prosperity of European economies. Most importantly, it has improved the lives of citizens and made it easier to do business across Europe and beyond. With the euro in your pocket, saving, investing, travelling and doing business became much easier. The euro is a symbol of EU integration and identity. Today, more than 340 million people use it across 19 EU countries, with 27.6 billion euro banknotes in circulation for a value of about €1.5 trillion. The euro is currently the second most widely used currency in the world behind the US dollar. As it celebrates this 20^th anniversary, the EU continues the work to strengthen the international role of the euro and adapt it to new challenges, including the rapid digitalisation of the economy and the development of virtual currencies. As a complement to cash, a digital euro would support a well-integrated payments sector and would offer greater choice to consumers and businesses. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: “It is now twenty years that we, European people, can carry Europe in our pockets. The euro is not just one of the most powerful currencies in the world. It is, first and foremost, a symbol of European unity. Euro banknotes have bridges on one side and a door on the other – because this is what the euro stands for. The euro is also the currency of the future, and in the coming years it will become a digital currency too. The euro also reflects our values. The world we want to live in. It is the global currency for sustainable investments. We can all be proud of that.” David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, said: “The euro is the embodiment of an ambitious political project to promote peace and integration within the EU. But the euro is also a condition for protecting and relaunching the European economic, social, and political model in the face of the transformations of our time. The euro is a symbol, the coming to fruition of a historic political vision, an ancient vision of a united continent with a single currency for a single market.” Charles Michel, President of the European Council, said: “The euro has come a long way — it’s a true European achievement. I would even say the euro has become part of who we are. And how we see ourselves as Europeans. Part of our mind-set. And part of our European spirit. The euro belongs to all of us all European citizens. But it isn’t just a success within our EU borders. It has also anchored itself on the international stage. Despite the crises, the euro has proven to be resilient — a symbol of European unity and stability. And never has that been truer than during COVID-19. The euro has served as a bedrock of stability. A stable asset for the Union. The euro also fuels our recovery. Unlocking the full potential of sustainable development, quality jobs, and innovation.” Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, said: “The euros we hold in our hands have become a beacon of stability and solidity around the world. Hundreds of millions of Europeans trust it and transact with it every day. It is the second most international currency in the world. As European Central Bank President, I commit we will continue to work hard to make sure that we maintain price stability. And I also pledge that we will renew the face of those banknotes and that we will give them the digital dimension as well.” Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup, said: “The euro has proven its mettle in dealing with great economic challenges. In particular, our response to the COVID 19 pandemic demonstrated that by sharing the euro we can achieve more collectively than we can individually. The euro has strengthened its foundations over the last 20 years. Now, we need to build on those foundations to make the euro the global currency for transitioning to a lower carbon future.” A long journey The euro has come a long way from the early discussions on an Economic and Monetary Union in the late 1960s. Specific steps towards a single currency were first approached in 1988 by the Delors Committee. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty marked a decisive moment in the move towards the euro, as political leaders signed on the criteria that Member States had to meet to adopt the single currency. Two years later, the European Monetary Institute (EMI) started its preparatory work in Frankfurt for the European Central Bank (ECB) to assume its responsibility for monetary policy in the euro area. As a result, on 1 June 1998, the ECB became operational. In 1999, the euro was launched in 11 Member States as an accounting currency on financial markets and used for electronic payments. It was finally on 1 January 2002 when Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain swapped their national notes and coins for euros. Slovenia joined the euro area in 2007, followed by Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014) and Lithuania (2015). Currently, Croatia is taking the preparatory steps to join the euro area, which it plans to do on 1 January 2023, provided it fulfils all the convergence criteria. Twenty years of benefits for citizens and businesses The euro has brought many benefits to Europe, especially to its citizens and businesses. The single currency has helped to keep prices stable and protected the euro area economies from exchange rate volatility. This has made it easier for European home buyers, businesses and governments to borrow money and has encouraged trade within Europe and beyond. The euro has also eliminated the need for currency exchange and has lowered the costs of transferring money, making travelling and moving to another country to work, study or retire simpler. A large majority of Europeans support the single currency. According to the latest Eurobarometer, 78% of citizens across the euro area believe the euro is good for the EU. A strengthened international role The euro is the second most important currency in the international monetary system. Its stability and credibility has made it an international invoicing currency, a store of value and a reserve currency, accounting for around 20% of foreign exchange reserves. Sixty other countries and territories around the world, home to some 175 million people, have chosen to use the euro as their currency or to peg their own currency to it. Today, the euro is used for almost 40% of global cross-border payments and for more than half the EU’s exports. Since the global financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis, the EU has continued to strengthen and deepen the Economic and Monetary Union. The EU’s unprecedented recovery plan NextGenerationEU will further improve the euro-area’s economic resilience and enhance economic convergence. The issuance of high-quality-denominated bonds under NextGenerationEU will add significant depth and liquidity to the EU’s capital markets and make them and the euro more attractive for investors. The euro is also now the leading currency for green investment: half of the world’s green bonds are denominated in euros, and this figure is rising thanks to the new green bonds issued to finance NextGenerationEU. To further develop the international role of the euro, the Commission has launched outreach initiatives to promote euro denominated investments, facilitate the use of the euro as an invoicing and denomination currency, and foster a better understanding of the obstacles for its wider use. This outreach will take the form of dialogues, workshops and surveys with the public and private sector, financial regulatory agencies, and institutional investors in regional and global partner countries of the EU. Share this: Related Continue Reading EU Politics The Commission proposes the next generation of EU own resources Published 3 weeks ago on December 24, 2021 By Newsroom The Commission has today proposed to establish the next generation of own resources for the EU budget by putting forward three new sources of revenue: the first based on revenues from emissions trading (ETS), the second drawing on the resources generated by the proposed EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the third based on the share of residual profits from multinationals that will be re-allocated to EU Member States under the recent OECD/G20 agreement on a re-allocation of taxing rights (“Pillar One”). At cruising speed, in the years 2026-2030, these new sources of revenue are expected to generate on average a total of up to €17 billion annually for the EU budget. The new own resources proposed today will help to repay the funds raised by the EU to finance the grant component of NextGenerationEU. The new own resources should also finance the Social Climate Fund. The latter is an essential element of the proposed new Emissions Trading System covering buildings and road transport, and will contribute to ensuring that the transition to a decarbonised economy will leave no one behind. Johannes Hahn, Commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, said: “With today’s package, we lay the foundations for the repayment of NextGenerationEU and provide essential support to the Fit for 55 package by putting in place the financing of the Social Climate Fund. With the set of new own resources, we, therefore, ensure that the next generation will truly benefit from NextGenerationEU.” Today’s proposal builds on the Commission’s commitment undertaken as part of the political agreement on the 2021-2027 long-term budget and the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument. Once adopted, this package will strengthen the reform of the revenue system started in 2020 with the inclusion of the non-recycled plastic waste-based own resources. EU emissions trading The Fit for 55 package of July 2021 aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990, to stay on track to reach climate neutrality by 2050. This package includes a revision of the EU Emissions Trading System. In future, emissions trading will also apply to the maritime sector, auctioning of aviation allowances will increase, and a new system for buildings and road transport will be established. Under the current EU Emissions Trading System, most revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances are transferred to national budgets. Today, the Commission proposes that in future, 25% of the revenue from EU emissions trading flows into the EU budget. At cruising speed, revenues for the EU budget are estimated at around €12 billion per year on average over 2026-2030 (€9 billion on average between 2023-2030). In addition to the repayment of NextGenerationEU funds, these new revenues would finance the Social Climate Fund, put forward by the Commission in July 2021. This Fund will ensure a socially fair transition and support vulnerable households, transport users and micro-enterprises to finance investments in energy efficiency, new heating and cooling systems and cleaner mobility, as well as, when appropriate, temporary direct income support. The total financial envelope of the Fund in principle corresponds to an amount equivalent to around 25% of the expected revenue from the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport. Carbon border adjustment mechanism The objective of the carbon border adjustment mechanism, which the Commission also proposed in July 2021, is to reduce the risk of carbon leakage by encouraging producers in non-EU countries to green their production processes. It will put a carbon price on imports, corresponding to what would have been paid, had the goods been produced in the EU. This mechanism will apply to a targeted selection of sectors and is fully consistent with WTO rules. The Commission proposes to allocate to the EU budget 75% of the revenues generated by this carbon border adjustment mechanism.Revenues for the EU budget are estimated at around €1 billion per year on average over 2026-2030 (€0.5 billion on average between 2023-2030).CBAM is not expected to generate revenue in the transitional period from 2023 to 2025. Reform of the international corporate taxation framework On 8 October 2021, more than 130 countries that are members of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting agreed on a reform of the international tax framework: a two-pillar solution to tackle tax avoidance and aims at ensuring that profits are taxed where economic activity and value creation occur. The signatory countries representing more than 90% of global GDP. Pillar One of this agreement will reallocate the right to tax a share of so-called residual profits from the world’s largest multinational enterprises to participating countries worldwide. The Commission proposes an own resource equivalent to 15% of the share of the residual profits of in-scope companiesthat are reallocated to EU Member States. The Commission has committed to propose a Directive in 2022, once the details of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework agreement on Pillar One are finalised, implementing the Pillar One agreement in line with the requirements of the Single Market. This process is complementary to the Pillar Two Directive for which the Commission adopted a separate proposal today. Pending the finalisation of the agreement, revenues for the EU budget could amount to roughly between €2.5 and €4 billion per year. Legislative process In order to incorporate these new own resources in the EU budget, the EU needs to amend two key pieces of legislation: First, the Commission proposes to amend the Own Resources Decision to add the three proposed new resources to the existing ones. Secondly, the Commission also puts forward a targeted amendment of the regulation on the current long-term EU budget 2021-2027, also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF Regulation). This amendment offers the legal possibility to start repaying the borrowing for NextGenerationEU already during the current MFF. At the same time, it proposes to increase the relevant MFF expenditure ceilings for the years 2025-2027 to accommodate the additional expenditure for the Social Climate Fund. The Own Resources Decision needs to be approved unanimously in Council after consulting the European Parliament. The decision can enter into force once it is approved by all EU countries in line with their constitutional requirements. The MFF Regulation needs to be adopted unanimously by the Council after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. Next Steps The European Commission will now work hand in hand with the European Parliament and the Council towards swift implementation of the package within the timelines set in the interinstitutional agreement. Furthermore, the Commission will present a proposal for a second basket of new own resources by the end of 2023. 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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. SAVE ACCEPT Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. § Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More Brexit This article is more than 2 years old Post-Brexit UK always welcome back in EU, says Timmermans This article is more than 2 years old European commission’s VP writes ‘love letter’ to Britons, saying UK unnecessarily damaged by Brexit Frans Timmermans [ ] Frans Timmermans writes that British scepticism towards the EU was an asset to the bloc. Photograph: Bernat Armangué/AP Frans Timmermans writes that British scepticism towards the EU was an asset to the bloc. Photograph: Bernat Armangué/AP Daniel Boffey in Brussels Thu 26 Dec 2019 06.00 GMT [ ] Last modified on Mon 3 Feb 2020 11.44 GMT Britain has been unnecessarily damaged by Brexit and “more will follow”, the vice-president of the European commission has written in a “love letter” to the British people in which he promises a warm welcome back should attitudes change. Frans Timmermans, who is Ursula von der Leyen’s deputy in her role as European commission president, writes that British scepticism of the EU had been an asset to the bloc as he expresses his own feelings of rejection ahead of the country’s impending departure on 31 January, likening himself to a jilted “old lover”. Writing in the Guardian, Timmermans, a former Dutch foreign minister who was also deputy to Jean-Claude Juncker, says he first grew to love the UK and the character of its people through his time at a British school in Rome, Saint George’s English School. My love letter to Britain: family ties can never really be severed | Frans Timmermans Read more The British doubts over the European project had offered a healthy check on the more federalist ambitions of figures through the decades, he suggests in his article. He writes: “I know you now. And I love you. For who you are and what you gave me. I’m like an old lover. “I know your strengths and your weaknesses. I know you can be generous but also miserly. I know you believe yourself to be unique and different. And of course you are in many ways, but perhaps less than you think.” “You will never stop referring to the rest of us as ‘the continent’,” Timmermans adds of the British attitude through the decades to EU membership. “It helps you to create a distance you think you need. But it also prevents you from seeing that in fact we all need a bit of distance between us. All European nations are unique. Our differences are a source of admiration, surprise, discomfort, misunderstanding, ridicule, caricature and, yes, love.” Negotiations on the future relationship will start in earnest in March once the UK has formally withdrawn and negotiating positions on both sides of the channel have been confirmed. Boris Johnson has said he will not extend the transition period, during which the UK will remain in the customs union and single market but not the EU’s decision-making institutions, beyond December 2020. Clashes are expected over access to British waters for European fishing fleets and, more significantly, the EU demand that the British government sign up to its environmental, social and fiscal rules in return for tariff-free trade in goods. Timmermans talks of his grief at the unpicking of the relationship built since the UK’s accession to the European economic community in 1973. He suggests that David Cameron’s decision to hold the 2016 referendum was unnecessary. He writes: “You were in two minds about it, like you have always been in two minds about the EU. I wish you had stuck to that attitude – it served you well and it kept all of us in better shape. “Was it necessary to force the issue? Not at all. But you did. And the sad thing is: I see it is hurting you. Because the two minds will still be there, even after you have left. In the process, so much unnecessary damage has been done to you and all of us. And I fear more will follow.” Timmermans concludes, however, that the UK “will always be welcome to come back”. Topics Reuse this content IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § #Search dailyrecord IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-M3TH25P dailyrecordLoad mobile navigation Expand Expand Expand Expand 1. Home 2. News 3. Scottish News 4. Brexit News EU flag no longer to be flown at Scottish Parliament after Brexit The flag at Holyrood will be taken down at 11pm on January 31 when the UK officially leaves the EU. dailyrecord By Craig Paton News The EU flag will not be flown at the Scottish Parliament after Brexit (Image: PA) Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Invalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice The EU flag will no longer be flown at the Scottish Parliament after Brexit . Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh has written to MSPs to explain the move, which will see the flag taken down after 11pm on January 31, when the UK officially leaves the EU . The decision was made on Thursday by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), which rules on the running of the Parliament. It is made up of a representative from each party in Holyrood and is chaired by Macintosh. Read More Related Articles family after ʼdirty waterʼ hospital death dailyrecord In his letter, the Presiding Officer said: "I am writing to inform you that following the UKʼs decision to leave the EU, the SPCB agreed at its meeting this morning that from 11pm on 31 January, the Scottish Parliament will no longer fly the EU flag on a daily basis." The SPCB also decided the flag of the Council of Europe will fly on Europe Day, which this year will fall on May 9. The letter added: "The SPCB decided that on Europe Day we shall fly the Council of Europe flag as a mark of our continued ties with that body and that our flag-flying policy should be amended to reflect these decisions." Top news stories today ʼWine time Fridaysʼ at Downing Street Follow Daily Record FacebookTwitter More On CoronavirusNext Covid variant could be 'more severe' than Omicron, Jason Leitch has warnedScotland's National Clinical Director Professor Leitch has warned that Scots will need to 'adapt' to the next strain of the virus. Tributes paid to 'legend' Scots dad who died after being hit by car CoatbridgeHe has been fondly remembered by his heartbroken family who say he was loved by many. Vile rapist who moaned about English language barrier in Scots jail faces deportation CourtsValentin Lovin could be sent back to Romania after being released from his five year jail term which was handed down at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday. 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Exact time to see the Northern Lights in Scotland tonight as clear skies predicted NasaThere's a good chance for Scots to catch the Northern Lights tonight. Vaping Clinic offers service to help Lanarkshire smokers quit for good SmokingVPZ facility offers a dedicated, one-to-one consultation with vaping specialists Six reports from Prince Andrew summit - from William's fury to Queen's 'lifeline' Prince AndrewPrince Andrew was told in the meeting with the Queen on Thursday that he will no longer use the title of His Royal Highness in any official capacity. John SouttarThe John Souttar fee Rangers must pay revealed as Hearts get tough over January saleThe 25-year-old is Ibrox-bound in the summer after agreeing a pre-contract with the Premiership champions on Friday. Kids left 'freezing' outside school after coats confiscated because they don't have official badge on theme SchoolsPhotos taken by fuming parents show staff milling around outside in cold temperatures in warm overcoats while some children are just in jumpers. The John Souttar to Rangers transfer dilemma as Robbie Neilson and Hearts have trump card up their sleeve John SouttarThe Jambos travel to Ibrox next month and if the Scotland defender is still at the Gorgie club then he will be under scrutiny. Transfer news LIVE as Celtic and Rangers plus Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs eye signings Transfer TalkYour one-stop shop for all the latest signing news as clubs make their moves in the January market. Car tax changes to 'punish' petrol and diesel drivers - full list of new rates TaxesUK motorists are set to be hit with several increased car tax rates in 2022. WeddingsBride asks for divorce the day after wedding following groom's cruel cake prankThe woman explained that she had given her partner one "hard rule" for when they tied the knot - which he completely ignored. Maeda, Ideguchi and Hatate make instant Celtic training impact as 'excitement' factor talked up Celtic FCThe trio were long-term targets for the Parkhead boss who is delighted to strengthen his squad Scots cops arrest suspect during probe into numerous suspicious fires Police ScotlandThe 22-year-old was detained by Police Scotland officers as part of a probe into wilful fire-raisings. When would Celtic vs Rangers take place if derby is postponed as repeat of 2008 fixture nightmare looms Celtic FCThe Hoops would have to postpone three fixtures if they request the derby is rearranged and that would cause a headache in a calendar that is already congested. John Souttar and the alternative Rangers verdict as former Celtic striker shrugs off commitment concerns John SouttarThe centre-back has signed a pre-contract with the champions but may not move until the summer. Top Stories Mum gave birth 'terrified and alone' on same day Downing Street staff 'nursed hangover' Boris JohnsonRosa Maryon, 26, was forced to say goodbye to her partner at the door of the maternity ward, before being left in alone in a room for over three hours by an overworked midwife. Scots NHS nurse died from rare heavy metal poisoning as family fight for answers over mystery death FifeThe results of a post mortem found Alex Duncan had sky-high levels of cadmium in his body when he tragically died in September 2020 but the source of exposure has not been identified. 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Boris Johnson under increasing pressure amid further revelations of boozy gatherings during lockdown Boris JohnsonDowning Street staff held “wine time Fridays” which the PM regularly witnessed. Fourteen Scottish footballers and managers facing fines for breaching SFA gambling rules Scottish Football AssociationThe players and managerial staff accused had their online accounts with bookmakers examined and now face disciplinary panels. The John Souttar fee Rangers must pay now revealed as Hearts get tough over January sale John SouttarThe 25-year-old is Ibrox-bound in the summer after agreeing a pre-contract with the Premiership champions on Friday. Cricketer Majid Haq tells of how he 'cut ties' with club amid racism row RacismHaq left Prestwick Cricket Club just weeks before it emerged three of its members were banned over racist slur claims. I took pelters for Celtic vs Rangers call off claim but there are 30 million reasons why it makes sense - Chris Sutton Chris SuttonSpare me the rubbish about running scared of Rangers if Celtic make an application to have the February 2 derby switched. Dad of Scots schoolgirl diagnosed with cancer after taking Covid test taking on gruelling 'Tour de France' CancerAllan Dickson, 54, was left feeling 'helpless' when his daughter Liv, 13, was suddenly diagnosed with leukaemia last year in November. Follow us About Us Contact Us Work for us Got A Story? 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Brexit News People dance in the street to celebrate Brexit as UK leaves EU As one man walked through the crowd with an EU flag draped over his shoulders, another man carrying the Union Flag shouted at him: "Go away loser" men By Abbianca Makoni John ShammasContent Editor News "We have come here because we are great supporters of democracy. At one stage we thought it was all over, but it ain't now" (Image: Getty Images) Sign up to Postcards from the North - a newsletter from M.E.N. political editor Jennifer Williams Invalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice Brexit voters have danced in the streets in celebration to mark the UK leaving the EU. In Westminster a music system was set up on the back of a lorry on Parliament Street, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the road to music by Sir Tom Jones and Queen. At 11pm on Friday night, Britain formally left the EU - although the nature of the future relationship between the EU and the UK is still to be determined. As one man walked through the crowd at the Westminster event with an EU flag draped over his shoulders, another man carrying the Union Flag shouted at him: "Go away loser." Dozens of people gathered around the Sir Winston Churchill statue, while others rang bells and banged a drum attached to a modified cart called Little Ben. The cart belongs to David and Nancy Waller, who travelled from Shropshire to take part in the Brexit Celebration. Pro Brexit supporters gather ahead of the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave at Parliament Square (Image: Getty Images) Mr Waller, 59, said the cart cost about £500 to restore and build, thanks to a "Brexiteer" blacksmith who donated his services free. He said the bell, which people have been ringing throughout the evening, was found in a salvage yard but was originally forged at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. Read More Related Articles tonight men Read More Related Articles Mr Waller said: "We have come here because we are great supporters of democracy. At one stage we thought it was all over, but it ainʼt now." Among the crowds were a group of French nationals who said they were jealous of Britain. A woman wrapped in an EU flag and a Welsh flag looks on during a candlelight vigil in support of remaining in the EU in Cardiff (Image: Getty Images) Michelle, 54, who declined to give her last name said "France does not have the guts to do this." Waving a Brexit banner she added: "We need to get out of the dictatorship. The EU is imposing its authority measures and policies and we need to get out." France is full of conflict with riots every Saturday between the police and the people but the government are not doing anything, she added. For some, itʼs the day theyʼve been waiting for (Image: Getty Images) Asked if she supported Britainʼs choice to leave, she said: "Yes, I am so jealous and I am here 100% backing them." Donna Jones said she believes Prime Minister Boris Johnson has "tried his best" and delivered "whatʼs best for the country". Guests dance during the Brexit party at Woolston Social Club in Warrington (Image: Getty Images) The 44-year-old from west London said she was there to "be part of history". She added: "I think itʼs a good thing for Britain, I think we need to get our own laws back and I believe we have got the ability to do it. Emotions were running high at the London event (Image: Getty Images) Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles "It doesnʼt mean weʼre anti-Europe, it just means we want to be self-sufficient in a certain way." Asked how she thinks EU nationals living in Britain would react, she said: "They might take it (Brexit) the wrong way because we have a certain group in England that is racist, they have got problems with the immigration but I donʼt want them to think we are leaving because of them. Pro Brexit supporters gather, waiting to celebrate at 11pm - but the party has already started (Image: Getty Images) "Weʼre leaving because of the laws and the trade but weʼre still their allies." Logan Rossiter, 17, from the Plymouth Brexit Party, said the gathering was not a "political one" but a celebration of democracy. "This is what the people voted for, 48% did vote Remain and we are not neglecting them but what we really want to do is unite the nation together under one banner of democracy," he said. Speaking on Friday night Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged there could be “bumps in the road” as the country enters a new era, but he insisted that Brexit can “unleash the full potential” of the UK. Mr Johnson accepted there would be mixed feelings in a nation that remains deeply divided after years of bitter Brexit battles. Speaking on Friday night Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged there could be “bumps in the road” as the country enters a new era, but he insisted that Brexit can “unleash the full potential” of the UK (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) “For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come,” he said. “And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss.” The UK joined the then European Economic Community in 1973 but the 2016 referendum signalled the beginning of the process which resulted in Britain’s membership of the bloc coming to an end at 11pm on Friday. Mr Johnson said his job was now to “bring this country together”. “We want this to be the beginning of a new era of friendly cooperation between the EU and an energetic Britain, a Britain that is simultaneously a great European power and truly global in our range and ambitions,” he said. “And whatever the bumps in the road ahead I know that we will succeed.” Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent directly to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here. 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When we bring in young players we always think we can develop them.” New gym completely destroyed just days before it was due to open in suspected arson attack OldhamDramatic pictures show the blackened and charred equipment inside the gym after more than £350,000 worth of damage was caused Liverpool and Chelsea's bizarre Covid claims debunked after Man City defence Manchester City FCManchester City have been described as 'lucky' over the way they have ridden the Premier League Covid crisis to open up a ten-point lead Follow us About Us Work for us Advertise with Us Bingo Buy a Photo How to Complain Corrections and Clarifications Reader Panel Terms Conditions Privacy Notice Cookie Notice Our RSS Feeds Newsletters Signup Syndication Licensing Notifications and alerts help © 2022 M.E.N Media § r] Skip to main contentSkip to navigation Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More Brexit This article is more than 1 year old Brexit: EU sombre as UK prepares to end 47 years of membership This article is more than 1 year old 31 January will see Britain will turn beige on maps, diplomats locked out of databases and union jacks removed No entire country has ever left the EU before, so there is no protocol on how it works. [ ] No entire country has ever left the EU before, so there is no protocol on how it works. Photograph: John Thys/AFP via Getty Images No entire country has ever left the EU before, so there is no protocol on how it works. Photograph: John Thys/AFP via Getty Images Jennifer Rankin Jennifer Rankin in Brussels Mon 27 Jan 2020 05.30 GMT [ ] Last modified on Mon 3 Feb 2020 11.43 GMT When the clock strikes midnight in Brussels on Friday, Britain’s 47 years in the European club of nations will be over. At first nothing will change, as the UK enters an 11-month transition period that preserves the status quo. But there is one crucial exception: the UK will fall out of all EU decision-making bodies – and the consequences will be immediate. On Friday evening, flags will be taken down, British access to EU diplomatic cables will be switched off, the UK will go beige on EU maps – the neutral colour of a foreign country. Everyone knew this day was coming, but it will still be a big moment. “It will be very sad,” Margrethe Vestager, Europe’s competition commissioner, said. “I think it will bring back the feeling of the day of the referendum. The sorrow, it was tangible, it was almost something you could hold.” On that grey midsummer morning in Brussels, some EU officials, British and non-British alike, cried in their offices, several EU sources have said. Then Brexit became a normal part of bureaucratic life. “Over the negotiating period of time you get distance, but on the day that [Brexit] will happen, it will bring back [those feelings],” Vestager said. Others are more matter-of-fact about Brexit day. “Does it make us happy? No. Does it make us sad? No. Because it’s what we have worked for,” said one EU diplomat referring to the tortuous negotiations over the “divorce” agreement. “It’s a reality. It is a matter of fact. It is not a day to rejoice.” At the end of the week, three EU presidents will mark this fracture in EU history: Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European commission, Charles Michel, chair of EU leader summits, and David Sassoli, European parliament president, are expected to issue a joint statement. On the eve of Brexit day, the three leaders will gather in northern France for a “retreat” on the future of Europe at the house of Jean Monnet, the French statesman whose vision for peace through political integration helped create the European Coal and Steel Community, the precursor of the modern EU. Neither the timing, nor the venue seem accidental. Details are still being worked out, reflecting the sensitivity of the moment. No entire country has ever left the EU before, so there is no protocol on how it works. There will be “no big ceremony, just a low-key message” said one source. While Westminster will see a countdown clock projected on the walls of No 10, government buildings lit up and union jacks flying in Parliament Square, Brussels will be sombre. British flags in the EU institutions will be taken down by maintenance workers, out of office hours, with no cameras to record the moment. One of the European parliament’s flags will be sent to the House of History, the EU-funded museum in Brussels. At the EU council of ministers, the nerve-centre of EU law-making, the union jacks will be taken down and put in a cupboard, along with those of other non-EU states, “third countries” as the EU refers to the rest of the world. The great British Brexit robbery: how our democracy was hijacked Read more From midnight, British diplomats will be locked out of Brussels internal databases, denied access to the diplomatic cables from 139 EU delegations around the world, draft legislation and internal memos that are the heartbeat of European decision-making. The switch-off only affects EU internal communications, as the UK will continue to have access to EU crime-fighting databases under the terms of the transition period. EU diplomats have received warnings to check that no British official is accidentally left on a classified mailing list. The UK will be scrubbed a grey or beige colour on EU online maps, like Switzerland and Norway. Technicians are working to update hundreds of webpages to update references to the UK, from updating technical points on EU law, to the educational output aimed at teachers and children, such as online quizzes and the commission’s “Europe and you” activity book for children under nine. At the European parliament visitors’ centre, miniature models of British MEPs are to be removed from mock-ups of the parliamentary chamber. Artwork from the UK government art collection, currently on display at the European commission, such as Sonia Boyce’s screen print honouring black female singers, will remain on loan for the foreseeable future. The European parliament has no plans to rename its Winston Churchill building nor the Margaret Thatcher room. When British diplomats come to work on Monday 3 February, they will no longer be able to walk into EU buildings. Passes and keys must be returned. The British can apply for a limited number of diplomatic passes to the European parliament, but are unlikely to get routine access to other institutions. It will be a stark change for British diplomats, after decades of co-writing laws on the single market, wielding vetoes on taxation and driving forward EU foreign policy sanctions against rogue states. The British rooms in the council of ministers, where diplomats successfully strategised about reducing the EU budget during all-night talks fuelled by Haribo sweets and Nespresso coffee, will be left empty. But the British are not leaving Brussels. The UK government office in Brussels, currently known as UKRep, will be rebranded, as it searches for new forms of influence outside the meeting rooms. The European flag flying at the door will be removed, a symbol of that change. Since 2016, the number of Foreign Office staff has increased by 50%, while UKRep as a whole now employs 180 staff from 20 different Whitehall departments. Some extra staff were taken on to prepare for the UK’s doomed 2017 EU presidency, which never happened. Instead of Cameron’s planned agenda to turbocharge the single market, they found themselves preparing for life outside the world’s largest trading bloc. For some EU diplomats, Brexit day brings relief. One likened the last few years of twilight membership to a divorced couple living in the same house, sleeping in separate bedrooms. “This has been awkward for both sides,” the diplomat said, citing a recent dispute over a road-tolls regulation, where the UK could have inadvertently blocked the law by abstaining (in the end the law failed for other reasons). “Everyone will miss the British input but [after 31 January] the awkwardness is over, then it’s a clean slate and we don’t have either UK delegation sitting there or an empty chair,” a reference to Boris Johnson’s policy of removing the British from EU meetings. For some 31 January is just another part of the British unwinding, as they look to turbulent negotiations ahead. “It is just another step that happens, it has been a long time coming,” said another diplomat. “They had already left in [so] many ways that we will not notice the difference.” Topics Reuse this content IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § [ ] World Business Sport Green Europe World Business Sport Green Next Travel Culture Video Europe World Business Sport Green Next Travel Culture Video Next Travel Culture Video Europe Sport World Next Travel Green Culture Special coverage Partner content All Programmes BREAKING NEWS 1. Home > > World > Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister This content is not available in your region the global conversation Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister Access to the comments Comments By Euronews • Updated: 25/01/2020 Brexit can be good for Europe, says Finland's foreign minister Copyright euronews Share this article Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Brexit could have a beneficial effect on the EU and help pull the bloc together, Finland's foreign minister has told Euronews. Pekko Haavisto, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said other countries have seen the issues faced by the UK and it has galvanised support for the EU “What Brexit actually triggered was a lot of support of EU members,” Haavisto said. “They see how difficult it is to leave and how many agreements they have to make if they leave the EU so maybe it’s better to stay.” It had long been feared that the UK's departure from the EU might pave the way for other members to follow suit, however, Haavisto instead insists that the EU has a way of surviving these perceived crises. “I think Europe is very good at surviving,” Haavisto said. “We have already many times been thinking this is the end but then something has happened and we have been more successful.” January 31 Brexit months as UK prime minister? In a wide-ranging discussion with Euronews, Haavisto was joined by the Chairwoman for the Italian energy company ENI, Emma Marcegaglia, the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, William Burns, and Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia's Minister for Foreign Affairs. Lajcak acknowledges it’s been a tough five years for the EU. “One reason is that somehow we (the EU) have always had to respond to things that we were not prepared for,” Lajcak said. “The migration wave in 2015, Brexit in 2016 and the arrival of President Trump and his new style of politics in 2017. These were huge changes and Europe was struggling to find a proper response.” Lajcak does think that the new commission has brought a new way of thinking and believes Europe needs to be more assertive. In order for the EU to thrive Haavisto believes it must get on better terms with the USA. As President Trump threatens to impose huge tariffs on automobiles unless a deal can be struck, Haavisto acknowledges this is a new situation. “We somehow have to convince the US why cooperation with Europe is important and why we need each other.” Watch the full debate in the video player, above. Share this article Copy/paste the article video embed link below: You might also like New Brexit coin unveiled as Britain prepares to leave EU Euronews debates: Is there a crisis in global governance? Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia hold talks at Open Balkan Summit More about Browse today's tags FranceCOVID-19VideoUnited KingdomChinaAir pollutionWinterUkraineSerbia Follow us Newsletters Copyright © euronews 2022 - Top tags Europe World Business Sport Green Next Travel Culture Video All Programmes Dubai Airshow My Tokyo Coronavirus Podcasts Visit Petersburg Climate AIBA World Boxing Championships 2021 Destination Dubai InClassica Depth of Field The New Uzbekistan A Greener Tomorrow Ron Barceló Japan Moving Forward Facebook Quantcast § navigation Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More OpinionEU This article is more than 2 years old Will Brexit spell the end of English as an official EU language? Jane Setter This article is more than 2 years old Though the UK is leaving, English is likely to remain a lingua franca in Brussels. Just don’t expect it to stand still An anti-Brexit protester in Brussels, March 2019 [ ] ‘The UK is the only member country that gives English as its official language.’ An anti-Brexit protester in Brussels, March 2019. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA ‘The UK is the only member country that gives English as its official language.’ An anti-Brexit protester in Brussels, March 2019. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Fri 27 Dec 2019 11.56 GMT [ ] Last modified on Mon 3 Feb 2020 11.44 GMT Now that we know that Boris Johnson will “get Brexit done” by the end of January 2020, what are the implications for English as an official language of the EU and in the European parliament? Could it stop being used when Britain leaves? Post-Brexit UK always welcome back in EU, says Timmermans Read more In 2016 Danuta Hübner, an MEP and chair of the European parliament’s constitutional affairs committee, was quoted as saying, “If we don’t have the UK, we don’t have English.” But is it as simple as that? Until the 1990s, the dominant language of the EU was French. When the EU was the EC (European Community) and the official language policy was defined, Dutch, French, German and Italian were identified as the working languages. However, as more countries joined, many of which had English as a second or additional language, the number of English speakers grew until English became the majority common language. Currently, the EU lists 24 official and working languages. The UK is the only member country that gives English as its official language. There are a few member countries that commonly use English but have nominated a different language as their EU official language. For instance, the Republic of Ireland gives Irish Gaelic as its official language, and Malta gives Maltese. When Britain withdraws from the EU (and leaving aside possible negotiations with Scotland or other territories), in order to remove English as an official language, as clarified in a statement on behalf of the European commission in Ireland dated 27 June 2016, there would have to be a unanimous vote in the European parliament in favour of doing so. Speaking at the time of the referendum, in 2016, the German EU commissioner Günther Oettinger explained, “We have a series of member states that speak English, and English is the world language which we all accept.” So, even if there was the will to do so, getting rid of English wouldn’t be straightfoward. Even if it did come to that, would it be a knock-down blow for the language? Historically, English has weathered a number of storms. When colonies of the British empire sought to gain their independence, it may have seemed logical for English – the language of the oppressors – to be rejected at the same time. The fact that this did not happen, and that English is used as an official first or second language in more than 70 countries worldwide, points in part to its developing socioeconomic and political status during the 20th century. The number of speakers for whom English is an unofficial second or foreign language is greater than all other English language speakers, and continues to grow. With the decline of the British empire came the rise of the United States, which has English as its official language. Prof Lynne Murphy from the University of Sussex believes the US saved the English language. From the perspective of its use as a global lingua franca, she has got a point. In fact, in some postcolonial situations, English is regarded as a more or less neutral language. In India, for example, English was supposed to be phased out post-independence in 1947 in favour of Hindi. However, as not everyone in India speaks Hindi, and many do not want to for various cultural and political reasons, English continued to be used, and is now an official language of India. In Hong Kong, English is still an official language despite the return of the territory to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. As Hong Kong is an international hub for trade and finance, this makes pragmatic sense, but there is also evidence that Hong Kong people feel that the English language is part of their identity – something that makes Hong Kong distinctive from mainland China. Singapore has speakers of Malay, Chinese (various dialects) and Tamil, among others; in this context, English is a unifying language. But these Englishes are not “British English”, or even “American English”. The Englishes spoken around the world have developed their own vocabulary and grammar; Euro-English is no exception. English simply does not belong to traditional “native” English speakers any more: it belongs to everyone who speaks it, and it will develop and change depending on the communicative needs of speech communities. Brits and Americans need to bear this in mind when using English in international settings, as they cannot assume they will be understood by every English speaker. So, will English cease to be a language of the EU? Probably not in the short to medium term, either in conversations between EU member countries, MEPs, or in EU interaction with other countries around the world. One Swedish MEP even suggested that communications in the EU could be fairer in English, as it will be everyone’s second language. In the long term, however, the continued dominance of English as a global language may depend on its political and socioeconomic fortunes. As it is so well-established and widespread, I believe it is likely to be used as a global lingua franca for some time. But situations and languages change. I think it was Andy Hamilton who pointed out that, once Latin was everyone’s second language, it was no longer anyone’s first. Jane Setter is professor of phonetics at the University of Reading Topics Reuse this content comments (…) Commenting has been disabled at this time but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion when it's back comments (…) Commenting has been disabled at this time but you can still sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion when it's back IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § Skip to main content IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KFS3NQ Education Related Sites Featured United States How the U.S. Patrols Its Borders President Trump sent U.S. troops to the border with Mexico to supplement the work of authorities there. 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Foley, Barton Gellman and Lilliana Mason January 6, 2022 Renewing America Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia Backgrounder Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia Ukraine has struggled to forge an independent path, torn between Europe and the United States in the West and its long-standing ties to Russia in the East. A protester sits on a monument in Kyiv during clashes with riot police in February 2014. A protester sits on a monument in Kyiv during clashes with riot police in February 2014. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Written By Jonathan Masters Updated Last updated December 2, 2021 7:00 am (EST) Summary geopolitical rivalry between western powers and Russia. political bonds with Russia. not to let the country become more aligned with Western institutions, chiefly NATO and the EU. Introduction Ukraine has long played an important, yet sometimes overlooked, role in the global security order. Today, the country is on the front lines of a renewed great-power rivalry that many analysts say will dominate international relations in the decades ahead. More From Our Experts Thomas Graham Can U.S.-Russia Diplomacy Ease Ukraine Tensions? Stephen Sestanovich The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Scorecard on Biden’s Response Robert D. Blackwill The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War In recent elections, Ukrainians have clearly indicated that they see their future in Europe, but the country continues to grapple with extreme corruption and deep regional rifts that could impede its path. Meanwhile, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has triggered the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War. Though the United States and its allies have taken significant punitive actions against Russia during the seven-year-old conflict, they have made little headway in helping to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity. A buildup of Russian military forces along the border with Ukraine in late 2021 stoked fears that Moscow is preparing for a large-scale invasion of its neighbor, although the Kremlin has denied this. Daily News Brief A summary of global news developments with CFR analysis delivered to your inbox each morning. Most weekdays. Email Address Subscribe View all newsletters > [ ] The World This Week A weekly digest of the latest from CFR on the biggest foreign policy stories of the week, featuring briefs, opinions, and explainers. Every Friday. [ ] Think Global Health A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. Weekly. By entering your email and clicking subscribe, you're agreeing to receive announcements from CFR about our products and services, as well as invitations to CFR events. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Subscribe View all newsletters > Why has Ukraine become a geopolitical flash point? More on: Ukraine Russia NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) United States Military Operations Ukraine was a cornerstone of the Soviet Union, the archrival of the United States during the Cold War. Behind only Russia, it was the second–most populous and powerful of the fifteen Soviet republics, home to much of the union’s agricultural production, defense industries, and military, including the Black Sea Fleet and some of the nuclear arsenal. Ukraine was so vital to the union that its decision to sever ties in 1991 proved to be a coup de grâce for the ailing superpower. In its nearly three decades of independence, Ukraine has sought to forge its own path as a sovereign state while looking to align more closely with Western institutions, including the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, Kyiv has struggled to balance its foreign relations and to bridge deep internal divisions. A more nationalist, Ukrainian-speaking population in western parts of the country has generally supported greater integration with Europe, while a mostly Russian-speaking community in the east has favored closer ties with Russia. Ukraine became a battleground in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and began arming and abetting separatists in the Donbas region in the country’s southeast. Russia’s seizure of Crimea was the first time since World War II that a European state annexed the territory of another. More than fourteen thousand people have died in the conflict, the bloodiest in Europe since the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. More From Our Experts Thomas Graham Can U.S.-Russia Diplomacy Ease Ukraine Tensions? Stephen Sestanovich The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Scorecard on Biden’s Response Robert D. Blackwill The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War For many analysts, the conflict marked a clear shift in the global security environment from a unipolar period of U.S. dominance to one defined by renewed competition between great powers [PDF]. What are Russia’s interests in Ukraine? Russia has deep cultural, economic, and political bonds with Ukraine, and in many ways Ukraine is central to Russia’s identity and vision for itself in the world. More on: Ukraine Russia NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) United States Military Operations Family ties. Russia and Ukraine have strong familial bonds that go back centuries. Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, is sometimes referred to as “the mother of Russian cities,” on par in terms of cultural influence with Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was in Kyiv in the eighth and ninth centuries that Christianity was brought from Byzantium to the Slavic peoples. And it was Christianity that served as the anchor for Kievan Rus, the early Slavic state from which modern Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarussians draw their lineage. Russian diaspora. Among Russia’s top concerns is the welfare of the approximately eight million ethnic Russians living in Ukraine, according to a 2001 census, mostly in the south and east. Moscow claimed a duty to protect these people as a pretext for its actions in Ukraine. Superpower image. After the Soviet collapse, many Russian politicians viewed the divorce with Ukraine as a mistake of history and a threat to Russia’s standing as a great power. Losing a permanent hold on Ukraine, and letting it fall into the Western orbit, was seen by many as a major blow to Russia’s international prestige. Crimea. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine in 1954 to strengthen the “brotherly ties between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples.” However, since the fall of the union, many Russian nationalists in both Russia and Crimea have longed for a return of the peninsula. The city of Sevastopol is home port for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the dominant maritime force in the region. Trade. Russia was for a long time Ukraine’s largest trading partner, although this link has withered dramatically in recent years. China now tops Russia in its trade with Ukraine. Prior to its invasion of Crimea, Russia had hoped to pull Ukraine into its single market, the Eurasian Economic Union, which today includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Energy. Russia has relied on Ukrainian pipelines to pump its gas to customers in Central and Eastern Europe for decades, and it continues to pay billions of dollars per year in transit fees to Kyiv. However, in mid-2021, Russia completed construction of its Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Although Russia is contracted to keep moving gas through Ukraine for several more years, some critics in the United States and Europe warn that Nord Stream 2 will allow Russia to bypass Ukrainian pipelines if it wants and gain greater geopolitical leverage in the region. Political sway. Russia has been intent on preserving its political influence in Ukraine and throughout the former Soviet Union, particularly after its preferred candidate for Ukrainian president in 2004, Viktor Yanukovych, lost to a reformist competitor as part of the Orange Revolution popular movement. The shock in Ukraine came after a similar electoral defeat for the Kremlin in Georgia in 2003, known as the Rose Revolution, and was followed by another—the Tulip Revolution—in Kyrgyzstan in 2005. Yanukovych later became president of Ukraine, in 2010, amid voter discontent with the Orange government. What motivated Russia’s moves against Ukraine? Western scholars disagree somewhat on the motivations behind Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Some emphasize NATO’s post–Cold War enlargement, which Russia has viewed with increasing alarm. In 2004, NATO added seven members, its fifth expansion and largest one to date, including the former Soviet Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Four years later, when NATO declared its intent to bring Ukraine and Georgia into the fold at some point in the future, Russia made clear a redline had been crossed. In the weeks leading up to NATO’s 2008 summit, President Vladimir Putin warned U.S. diplomats that steps to bring Ukraine into the alliance “would be a hostile act toward Russia.” Months later, Russia went to war with Georgia, seemingly showcasing Putin’s willingness to use force to secure Russia’s interests. (Some independent observers faulted Georgia for initiating the so-called August War but blamed Russia for escalating hostilities into a broader conflict.) Other experts dispute the assertion that Russia’s fear of NATO was its primary motive, countering that the NATO expansion question had largely dissolved after 2008 as Western governments lost interest and Russia increased its influence in Ukraine. Rather, they say, the biggest factor behind Russia’s intervention was Putin’s fear of losing power at home, particularly after historic anti-government protests erupted in Russia in late 2011. Putin claimed U.S. actors were sowing this unrest and thereafter began casting the United States as an archenemy to rally his political base. It was by looking through this Cold War redux lens that he chose to intervene in Ukraine, they say. Russia’s intervention in Ukraine proved to be immensely popular at home, pushing Putin’s approval ratings above 80 percent following a steady decline. What triggered the 2013–14 crisis? It was Ukraine’s ties with the EU that brought tensions to a head with Russia. In late 2013, President Yanukovych, acting under pressure from his supporters in Moscow, scrapped plans to formalize a closer economic relationship with the EU. Russia had at the same time been pressing Ukraine to join the not-yet-formed Eurasian Economic Union. Many Ukrainians perceived Yanukovych’s decision as a betrayal by a deeply corrupt and incompetent government, and it ignited countrywide protests known as Euromaidan. Putin framed the ensuing tumult of Euromaidan, which forced Yanukovych from power, as a Western-backed “fascist coup” that endangered the ethnic Russian majority in Crimea. (Western leaders dismissed this as baseless propaganda reminiscent of the Soviet era.) In response, Putin ordered a covert invasion of Crimea that he later justified as a rescue operation. “There is a limit to everything. And with Ukraine, our western partners have crossed the line,” Putin said in a March 2014 address formalizing the annexation. Putin employed a similar narrative to justify his support for separatists in southeastern Ukraine, another region home to large numbers of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers. He famously referred to the area as Novorossiya (New Russia), a term dating back to eighteenth-century imperial Russia. Armed Russian provocateurs, including some agents of Russian security services, are believed to have played a central role in stirring the anti-Euromaidan secessionist movements in the region into a rebellion. However, unlike Crimea, Russia continues to officially deny its involvement in the Donbas conflict. What are Russia’s objectives in Ukraine? Putin’s Russia has been described as a revanchist power, keen to regain its former power and prestige. “It was always Putin’s goal to restore Russia to the status of a great power in northern Eurasia,” writes Gerard Toal, an international affairs professor at Virginia Tech, in his book Near Abroad. “The end goal was not to re-create the Soviet Union but to make Russia great again.” By seizing Crimea, Russia has solidified its control of a critical foothold on the Black Sea. With a larger and more sophisticated military presence there, Russia can project power deeper into the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa, where it has traditionally had limited influence. Russia’s strategic gains in the Donbas are more fragile. Supporting the separatists has, at least temporarily, increased Russia’s bargaining power vis-à-vis Ukraine, but the region’s future is highly uncertain. Fostering political instability there may be Russia’s aim until other factors shift in its favor. Putin has made clear that he will never allow Ukraine to become “anti-Russian” and will continue to push back against the expansion of Western influence in Ukraine. In July 2021, he penned an article explaining his views of the two countries’ shared history, describing Russians and Ukrainians as “one people” who effectively occupy “the same historical and spiritual space.” What are U.S. priorities in Ukraine? Immediately following the Soviet collapse, Washington’s priority was pushing Ukraine—along with Belarus and Kazakhstan—to forfeit its nuclear arsenal so that only Russia would retain the former union’s weapons. At the same time, the United States rushed to bolster the shaky democracy in Russia. Some prominent observers at the time felt that the United States was premature in this courtship with Russia, and that it should have worked more on fostering geopolitical pluralism in the rest of the former Soviet Union. Former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, in early 1994 in Foreign Affairs, described a healthy and stable Ukraine as a critical counterweight to Russia and the lynchpin of what he advocated should be the new U.S. grand strategy after the Cold War. “It cannot be stressed strongly enough that without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an empire, but with Ukraine suborned and then subordinated, Russia automatically becomes an empire,” he wrote. In the months after Brzezinski’s article was published, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia pledged via the Budapest Referendum to respect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty in return for it becoming a nonnuclear state. timeline Ukraine’s Post-Independence Struggles 1991–2019 Pierre Marsaut/Reuters Twenty years later, as Russian forces seized Crimea, restoring and strengthening Ukraine’s sovereignty reemerged as a top U.S. and EU foreign policy priority. Other top U.S. interests in Ukraine are rooting out corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and encouraging privatization of state-owned businesses, particularly in the energy sector. Reorganizing Naftogaz, the state-run natural gas giant, has been a major focus of U.S. and EU policy. What are U.S. and EU policy in Ukraine? The United States remains committed to the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. It does not recognize Russia’s claims to Crimea, and it encourages Russia and Ukraine to resolve the Donbas conflict via the Minsk agreements [PDF]. Signed in 2014 and 2015 and brokered by France and Germany, these accords call for a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weapons, Ukrainian control over its border with Russia, and local elections and a special political status for certain areas of the region. Before the crisis, Ukraine was a top destination for U.S. foreign aid, receiving on average more than $200 million per year. In response to Russia’s aggression, Washington has boosted its support to Kyiv, providing more than $600 million annually in development and security aid. For its part, the U.S. military has provided Ukrainian forces with training and equipment, including sniper rifles, grenade launchers, night-vision gear, radars, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and patrol vessels. NATO allies hold yearly joint military exercises with Ukraine, including Sea Breeze and Rapid Trident. Although Ukraine is a nonmember, Kyiv has affirmed its goal to eventually gain full NATO membership. In 2020, Ukraine became one of just six enhanced opportunity partners, a special status for among the closest NATO allies, such as Australia. The United States and its allies have also taken retaliatory actions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Over the years, Washington has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals, as well as parts of the Russian economy, including the defense, energy, and financial sectors. The EU and countries including Australia, Canada, and Japan have imposed similar penalties. The Group of Eight, now known as the Group of Seven, suspended Russia from its ranks indefinitely in 2014. The United States is officially opposed to Russia’s Nord Stream 2, claiming it will give Moscow greater political leverage over Ukraine and other European gas customers. In late 2019, the Donald Trump administration imposed sanctions on companies involved in the pipeline’s construction. Since the pipeline’s completion, President Joe Biden’s administration has effectively acknowledged that it is coming online and sought to work with relevant allies, particularly Berlin, to mitigate any potential negative consequences for Kyiv. U.S. relations with Ukraine were thrown into the media spotlight under President Trump, whose conversations with President Volodymyr Zelensky became the subject of an impeachment investigation. Democrats and former administration officials alleged that Trump abused his power to pressure Kyiv to investigate then candidate Biden. What do Ukrainians want? Russia’s aggression in recent years has galvanized public support for Ukraine’s Westward leanings. In the wake of Euromaidan, the country elected billionaire businessman Petro Poroshenko, a staunch proponent of EU and NATO integration, as president. In 2019, Poroshenko was defeated by Volodymyr Zelensky, an actor and comedian who campaigned on a platform of anticorruption, economic renewal, and peace in the Donbas. Zelensky’s victory as a political outsider was viewed as a strong indicator of the public’s deep dissatisfaction with the political establishment and its halting battle against endemic corruption and an oligarchic economy. Despite Ukraine’s push for NATO and EU membership, recent polls indicate that public opinion on these matters remains mixed. While more than half of those surveyed (not including inhabitants of Crimea and contested regions in the east) support EU membership, just 40 to 50 percent are in favor of joining NATO. For media inquiries on this topic, please reach out to [email protected]. Related How Is the U.S. Military Pivoting in Europe? by Jonathan Masters and William Merrow The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by Jonathan Masters The Russian Military by Jonathan Masters More From Our Experts Russia Can U.S.-Russia Diplomacy Ease Ukraine Tensions? Russia has demanded security guarantees that U.S. and NATO officials cannot accept, but there could still be room for building a sustainable dialogue on European security. In Brief by Thomas Graham January 11, 2022 U.S. Foreign Policy Program Terrorism and Counterterrorism A Year After January 6, Is Accelerationism the New Terrorist Threat? Far-right extremists are attempting to incite an insurrection to hasten the downfall of what they see as a deeply corrupt U.S. government. Some could resort to deadly acts of terrorism. In Brief by Bruce Hoffman January 5, 2022 National Security and Defense Program Ukraine The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Scorecard on Biden’s Response U.S. officials have preserved NATO unity in the face of Russian military threats, but they have not yet defined a clear negotiating agenda—or put Moscow on the rhetorical defensive. In Brief by Stephen Sestanovich December 23, 2021 U.S. Foreign Policy Program Top Stories on CFR Russia Can U.S.-Russia Diplomacy Ease Ukraine Tensions? Russia has demanded security guarantees that U.S. and NATO officials cannot accept, but there could still be room for building a sustainable dialogue on European security. In Brief by Thomas Graham January 11, 2022 U.S. Foreign Policy Program Ethiopia Ethiopia Conflict Dynamics Shift as New U.S. Envoy Takes Over Recent signs out of Ethiopia are encouraging, but major issues standing in the way of a sustainable peace remain unresolved. Blog Post by Michelle Gavin January 10, 2022 Africa in Transition Conflict Prevention Conflicts to Watch in 2022 In CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey, U.S. foreign policy experts assess the likelihood and impact of thirty potential conflicts that could emerge or escalate in the coming year. Report by Paul B. Stares January 10, 2022 Center for Preventive Action ©2022 Council on Foreign Relations. All rights reserved. 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Please contact [email protected] Register Digitalization, a high priority for Europe’s future - the European Commission showcases its new digital and AI strategy MPR Partners MPR Partners logo Alina Popescu Flavia Ștefura EU February 25 2020 1. Background The way technology is used has changed significantly in the past decade and continues to change at a rapid pace, disrupting the way people interact both within the private and the public sector. Advances in technology make possible achieving efficiencies by streamlining processes, open markets for new products and services, and help communities reach social goals. Data, both personal and non-personal, is at the core of these changes. The EU strives to harness the power of data to drive innovation forth while observing European values and human rights. On February 19, the European Commission unveiled its strategy for Europe’s digital future, a strategy that aims to be the stepping stone for creating an effective single market for data in the EU (the “Digital Strategy”). On the same day, the European Commission released a communication on the European data strategy, as well as a White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (the “AI White Paper”), highlighting the benefits, but also the risks of artificial intelligence and proposing human-centred policy options. 2. Objectives of the Strategy The Digital Strategy sets the objectives of the European Commission for the next five years. It rests on three main pillars: 1. technology that works for people; 2. a fair and competitive economy; and 3. an open, democratic and sustainable society. The main ideas of the Digital Strategy revolve around safety of and trust in the digital services and infrastructure. Europe’s ambition is to create its own resilient networks and communications infrastructure, so that it is less dependent on technologies from other parts of the world and may freely instil its values, rules and standards in the European economic ecosystem. 2.1 Technology that works for people The Digital Strategy promotes: 1. investing in research and development for the creation of digital capacities in AI, cyber, super and quantum computing, quantum communication and blockchain; investments in AI are discussed in more detail in the AI White Paper; 2. accelerating investments in connectivity infrastructure (including 5G and future 6G); 3. encouraging private-sector investments in digital innovation, to complement the EU funding that shall be made available; 4. increasing cybersecurity, including by creating a European cybersecurity strategy and establishing a joint Cybersecurity Unit, as well as a single market for cybersecurity; 5. equipping citizens with the necessary digital skills. It is noteworthy that the European Commission places a heavy focus on investments in research and development and innovation, but also in security and enhancing human digital skills. Indeed, it is already apparent that having the infrastructure alone cannot help societies reap the benefits of technology, as long as a majority of citizens cannot fully use the digital tools at their disposal. 2.2 A fair and competitive economy The main goals of this objective are: 1. to reduce Europe’s dependency on technologies controlled by non-European entities; 2. to create a level playing field for both tech giants and SMEs; 3. to adapt EU competition law rules to the digital environment. The central role of competition-related goals reflects the pioneering work of the Commission and of other European competition authorities in regulating aspects of the technology market, in particular as regards large players and their perceived abuses. 2.3 An open, democratic and sustainable society By its third objective, the Digital Strategy aims to: 1. strengthen and modernise the rules applicable to digital services, for increasing and maintaining trust in such services; 2. protect democracies from specific digital environment threats, such as targeted and coordinated disinformation; 3. clarify the rules on responsibilities and liability of online platforms and information service providers, as well as enforce existing rules; 4. implement electronic identification of citizens; 5. support the transition to decarbonisation and a climate-neutral society. By its Digital Strategy, the European Commission recognizes the major impact of the technology society in various aspects of society, including politics, the impact of tech companies on the economy and the interplay between large companies and SMEs or consumers, security and environment, all major challenges of today’s world. 3. Conclusions Well-thought, multi-angled strategy responding to today’s needs shows proficiency of policy making at EU level. We will closely follow the developments in this exciting sector and will report on the findings. MPR Partners - Alina Popescu and Flavia Ștefura  Back Forward Please login to follow content. add to folder: Folders shared with you Filed under Topics Organisations Popular articles from this firm 1. 2. 3. 4. Litigation: The importance of the Court of Justice of the EU Practice in Ensuring Passenger Rights in Accordance with Regulation 261/2004 5. 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Back to Top Resources Experts More Legal Contact © Copyright 2006 - 2022 Law Business Research Law Business Research § World Edition Search Edition Follow CNN Boris Johnson's Conservative Party wins majority in UK election By Ivana Kottasová and Bianca Britton, CNN Updated 1707 GMT (0107 HKT) December 13, 2019 Boris Johnson's Conservative Party wins UK election Boris Johnson's Conservative Party wins UK election JUST WATCHED Boris Johnson's Conservative Party wins UK election Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH (16 Videos) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives back at 10 Downing Street after visiting Buckingham Palace where he was given permission to form the next government during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on December 13, 2019 in London, England. The Conservative Party have realised a decisive win in the UK General Election. With one seat left to declare they have won 364 of the 650 seats available. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. He said at an early morning press conference that he would repay the trust of voters. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives back at 10 Downing Street after visiting Buckingham Palace where he was given permission to form the next government during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on December 13, 2019 in London, England. The Conservative Party have realised a decisive win in the UK General Election. With one seat left to declare they have won 364 of the 650 seats available. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. He said at an early morning press conference that he would repay the trust of voters. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Boris Johnson's Conservative Party wins UK election British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced tough questions from lawmakers in Parliament as outrage mounts over a quot;bring your own booze quot; event held at Downing Street during the height of the UK #39;s first Covid-19 lockdown. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced tough questions from lawmakers in Parliament as outrage mounts over a quot;bring your own booze quot; event held at Downing Street during the height of the UK #39;s first Covid-19 lockdown. Hear Boris Johnson's statement to Parliament amid lockdown party row UK lawmaker breaks down when revealing mother-in-law died alone of Covid 'Bring your own booze': UK officials face criticism over party held in May 2020 LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) How a local election spells trouble for Boris Johnson LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Labour politician David Lammy arrives at Number 10 Downing Street on April 1, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May hosts summit on knife crime in Downing Street with community leaders, politicians and senior officials today. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Labour politician David Lammy arrives at Number 10 Downing Street on April 1, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May hosts summit on knife crime in Downing Street with community leaders, politicians and senior officials today. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) 'His shtick is getting rather old': UK Opposition MP on Boris Johnson controversies LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) Boris Johnson's party just dealt another blow to the scandal-ridden PM LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: British prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference at 10 Downing Street on December 8, 2021 in London, England. During the press conference, the Prime Minister announced that the government will implement its quot;Plan B quot; due to the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. The work from home guidance has been reintroduced, mask wearing at public indoor venues will be enforced and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passports will be required for entrance into crowded venues such as nightclubs. (Photo by Adrian Dennis-WPA Pool/Getty Images) Fmr. British Conservative MP: Boris Johnson is 'careless' Alleged UK government Christmas party amid Covid-19 restrictions stirs fury Boris Johnson promises to investigate after video of aides surfaces Leaked video shows former UK aide joke about alleged party during lockdown 'I said what I said': Boris Johnson defends himself over 'boozy' Christmas party charge Britain #39;s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) annual conference, at the Port of Tyne, in South Shields, north east England on November 22, 2021. - Britain will make electric car chargers compulsory for new buildings in England from 2022, as it switches away from high-polluting vehicles, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. Johnson, fresh from hosting the COP26 climate change summit, told business leaders that he will legislate to compel charging points in new homes, supermarkets and workplaces in England, as part of his carbon-slashing plans. (Photo by Owen Humphreys / POOL / AFP) (Photo by OWEN HUMPHREYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Britain #39;s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) annual conference, at the Port of Tyne, in South Shields, north east England on November 22, 2021. - Britain will make electric car chargers compulsory for new buildings in England from 2022, as it switches away from high-polluting vehicles, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. Johnson, fresh from hosting the COP26 climate change summit, told business leaders that he will legislate to compel charging points in new homes, supermarkets and workplaces in England, as part of his carbon-slashing plans. (Photo by Owen Humphreys / POOL / AFP) (Photo by OWEN HUMPHREYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Awkward, lengthy pauses plague prime minister's speech 'In this house, I'm in charge': UK house speaker shuts down Boris Johnson Amanpour speaks with Boris Johnson at COP26 summit Video shows long queue at gas station amid supply shortage in London (CNN)Boris Johnson has done it. The UK Prime Minister has stunned political pundits by leading his Conservative Party to score one of the country's most dramatic electoral victories in decades. The result is a vindication of Johnson's strategy to campaign on a single promise to "get Brexit done." Related: Full UK election results It was a crushing defeat for the opposition Labour Party, whose leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would step down after a "process of reflection." And the leader of the pro-Remain Liberal Democrat party, Jo Swinson, lost her seat, as the Scottish National Party swept the board in Scotland. Exit poll suggests Boris Johnson is on course for a huge win in UK election Exit poll suggests Boris Johnson is on course for a huge win in UK election Exit poll suggests Boris Johnson is on course for a huge win in UK election By Friday afternoon, the Conservatives had secured 365 of the 650 seats in the House of Parliament, well ahead of Labour's 203 seats. Read More The Liberal Democrats have 11 seats, while the Scottish National Party posted big gains in Scotland, with 48 seats. That gives Johnson a comfortable majority in the House of Commons and paves the way for Brexit to take place at the end of January. "We did it," the PM said at a victory rally on Friday morning. "We broke the deadlock, we smashed the roadblock," he told a cheering room. "A new dawn rises on a new day. "You may only have lent us your vote, you may not consider yourself a natural Tory," Johnson said. "Your hand may have quivered over the ballot paper before you put your cross in the Conservative box and you may intend to return to Labour next time round. And if that is the case, I am humbled that you have put your trust in me and that you have put your trust in us. "I, and we, will never take your support for granted," Johnson added. Boris Johnson said the election result paves the way for Brexit to take place at the end of January. Boris Johnson said the election result paves the way for Brexit to take place at the end of January. Boris Johnson said the election result paves the way for Brexit to take place at the end of January. He said the results mean Brexit will happen by January 31 "no ifs, no buts" and that it has put an end to "all those miserable threats of a second referendum." "I will make it my mission to work night and day, flat out, to prove that you were right in voting for me this time, and to earn your support in the future." More female MPs won seats in this election than ever before, according to the Press Association news agency, breaking the previous record of 208 set in 2017. A total of 221 women have been elected. Female Conservative candidates won 86 seats -- the most the party has ever had -- and more than 50% of Labour MPs are now female. Women, however, still make up just over a third of lawmakers. Labour heartlands fall to Tories The theme of the night became clear early on when one of the first constituencies to declare a result, Blyth Valley, went to the Conservatives. The Labour Party had held the seat since it was created in 1950. This was a big victory for the Tories -- and one of many more to come. Boris Johnson bet the farm on an election and it paid off big Boris Johnson bet the farm on an election and it paid off big Boris Johnson bet the farm on an election and it paid off big It was a scene that repeated itself throughout the night in parish halls, leisure centers and gymnasiums across the country. The Labour crowd was left watching jubilant Conservatives snatching away one seat after another. As the results trickled in, the scale of the collapse in the Labour vote became apparent. In Workington, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman lost her seat to Conservative Mark Jenkinson, another sign that Johnson's strategy had worked. The traditionally Labour, pro-Brexit constituency was a key target for the Tories. "Workington Man," a white, older, working-class man who supports Brexit, became a key demographic in the campaign. Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would step down after a quot;process of reflection. quot; Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would step down after a quot;process of reflection. quot; Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would step down after a "process of reflection." This was very much a Brexit election and, in the end, Johnson's campaign promise to "Get Brexit Done" appears to have swayed the vote. The result is a clear indication that voters are tired of the country being stuck in a limbo and want to move on. The pound jumps as Boris Johnson heads for big win in UK election The pound jumps as Boris Johnson heads for big win in UK election The pound jumps as Boris Johnson heads for big win in UK election Johnson has already struck a Brexit "divorce" deal with Brussels, but failed to pass it through Parliament after Remain-backing Conservatives rebelled. Having purged the rebels from his own party, and with his newly acquired majority, that should no longer be a problem. Once the UK leaves the EU, Johnson plans to immediately start negotiating a new trade agreement with the bloc. He pledged to secure a deal by the end of 2020, before the end of the so-called transition period during which the UK will be formally out of the EU, but still subject to all its rules and regulations. The transition period is designed to prevent a hard landing. This election result will undoubtedly shape the trade negotiations, and could lead to a softer version of Brexit -- one that would see the UK staying more aligned to the EU. That's because his large majority means Johnson will no longer need to please the hard-line Brexiteers in his party in order to get his legislation through Parliament. Blame game begins for Labour The election ended in heartbreak for the Labour Party -- and the blame game started even before the results had been counted. Corbyn had focused his campaign on increased public spending and radical economic reforms, while his Brexit plans remained vague. Corbyn pledged to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement and then put that new deal to voters with a remain option also on the ballot. As it became apparent that Labour was going to suffer its worst election result since 1935, prominent party members started searching for answers. Brexit is now unstoppable. But Britain must face up to how long it will take Brexit is now unstoppable. But Britain must face up to how long it will take Brexit is now unstoppable. But Britain must face up to how long it will take Many blamed Corbyn for the fiasco. Phil Wilson, the Labour Party candidate who ran for -- and lost -- the seat once occupied by former PM Tony Blair, vented his fury at Corbyn on Twitter. "The Party's leadership went down like a lead balloon on the doorstep," he said. "Labour's leadership needs to take responsibility." Outspoken Labour figure Jess Phillips tweeted that the anticipated Conservative victory "feels like a punch in the stomach." And Alan Johnson, former Labour Party senior politician, said Corbyn "couldn't lead the working class out of a paper bag." Stanley Johnson, UK Prime Minister #39;s father, criticized for comments on female pilots wearing burkas Stanley Johnson, UK Prime Minister #39;s father, criticized for comments on female pilots wearing burkas Stanley Johnson, UK Prime Minister's father, criticized for comments on female pilots wearing burkas Corbyn himself has blamed the party's loss on Brexit overshadowing all other political debate. "This election was ultimately taken over by Brexit and we as a party represent people who voted both Remain and Leave," the Labour leader said Friday. "My whole strategy was to reach out beyond the Brexit divide to try and bring people together, because ultimately this country has to come together." Corbyn announced that he will not lead the party into the next election, but stopped short of saying exactly when he will leave the post. "I called last night for a period of reflection in the party and obviously the ruling body of the party -- our national executive -- will decide what process we follow then for the election of the successor to me," he said. "I was elected to ... lead the party until that takes place." Thursday was also a deeply disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats. The anti-Brexit party had hoped to scoop up the votes of Remainers, but ended up with fewer seats than they won in the 2017 election. In one of the biggest upsets of the night, the Lib Dems' leader, Jo Swinson, lost her seat to the Scottish National Party. Landslide for Scottish National Party North of the border, the SNP won a landslide, bagging most of the country's 59 seats. That result will likely make the party's calls for a second independence referendum much louder. Scotland voted to stay in the EU in the 2016 Brexit Referendum, and the SNP has consistently argued the country is "being dragged out" of the EU against its will. While Johnson has rejected the idea of holding a second vote, SNP's leader Nicola Sturgeon is likely to argue the election result gives a clear mandate for a new referendum. UK election results 2019: Boris Johnson wins majority UK election results 2019: Boris Johnson wins majority UK election results 2019: Boris Johnson wins majority European leaders have welcomed the election results. The EU didn't want the UK to leave the bloc, but uncertainty surrounding Brexit has exhausted their patience. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said now the election result is clear there needs to be clarity on Brexit "as soon as possible" in order to give as much stability as possible to citizens and businesses. "We are ready," Michel said while speaking in Brussels. "The EU will negotiate in order to have close cooperation in the future with the UK." France's European affairs minister, Amélie de Montchalin, reiterated Michel's comments, saying that France had been asking for clarity around the UK's Brexit plans for a long time. "This result brings that," she said. That view was shared by investors -- the British pound jumped 2% higher after the initial exit polls were released. As the results came in, US President Donald Trump tweeted: "Looking like a big win for Boris in the U.K.!" Trump has spoken in support of Brexit and backed his "friend" Johnson before Thursday's vote. The endorsement was met with a lukewarm reaction in the UK, where Trump is not popular. CNN's Simon Cullen contributed to this report. Search World Follow CNN © 2022 Cable News Network.A Warner Media Company.All Rights Reserved.CNN Sans ™ © 2016 Cable News Network. Quantcast § The Ministry The Ministry Affairs Access this section Foreign policy Foreign policy Access this section Country files Country files Access this section Coming to France Coming to France Access this section search 1. Home French Foreign Policy Europe News European Maritime Awareness in the SoH (EMASOH): political statement by the governments of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal (20 January 2020) Share Rising insecurity and instability have been witnessed in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in 2019 with multiple maritime and non-maritime incidents as a result of growing regional tensions. This situation has been affecting the freedom of navigation and the security of European and non-European vessels and crews in the area for months. It has also been jeopardizing trade and energy supplies with potential worldwide economic consequences. Recent developments in the Middle-East are extremely worrying as they fuel tensions and increase the risk of a potential large-scale conflict with consequences in the whole region. This context calls for enhanced de-escalation initiatives to stop the ongoing trend. Sharing the assessment that the current situation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz remains unstable in a region critical to global stability, and supporting the de-escalation approach when it comes to dealing with regional security issues, the Governments of BELGIUM, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS, AND PORTUGAL politically support the creation of a European-led maritime surveillance mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH). We welcome any contribution in kind as already declared by DENMARK, FRANCE, GREECE, and THE NETHERLANDS to this effort and look forward to further commitments in the coming days. In complementarity with existing maritime security efforts and initiatives in the region, including IMSC, EMASoH aims to ensure a safe navigation environment and to lower the existing tensions in the region. In full accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the mission will concretely provide enhanced maritime situation awareness and surveillance through the deployment of additional maritime surveillance assets in the Gulf and Arabian Sea. We are grateful to the UAE for offering to host the mission HQ on their territory. EMASOH will constitute a useful instrument in safeguarding the freedom of navigation by ensuring adequate coordination and information sharing mechanisms with all partners operating in the area, including the maritime industry. Moreover, EMASOH aims to foster de-escalation and to complement vital diplomatic efforts aiming at ensuring increased stability and an inclusive regional dialogue in a critical context. democratic Europe (13 Dec. 21) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Stockholm, December 2, 2021) the Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, 15 November 2021) EU-AU ministerial meeting (Kigali, Oct. 26) (Luxembourg, 19 October 2021) Tweets de @RPFranceUE Follow us All rights reserved - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs - 2022 retour_haut XiTi § IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PZ62X92 Accessibility links Information We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience. Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies. cookie preferences Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to know Scottish Government Search Search 1. Home 2. News News Scotland's commitment to the EU Published: 31 Jan 2020 00:01 Part of: Constitution and democracy, Brexit, International New document reveals continued partnership. External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop today launches a document, explaining how Scotland will continue to work with the EU over the next five years, despite Brexit. She will chair a diplomatic meeting of Scotland’s Consular Corps in Edinburgh and explain how Scotland will contribute to the EU’s priorities. Ms Hyslop said: “Scotland is being taken out of the EU against its democratic will – but the Scottish Government is determined that our nation remains at the heart of Europe. “Brexit will unfortunately change how Scotland engages, but it will not change the EU’s importance to Scotland, nor our commitment to it. We will continue to collaborate across a wide range of issues, reflecting our shared values and goals. “The Scottish Government believes the best option for Scotland is to become an independent country within the EU. Whatever our constitutional future, Scotland will remain an outward facing, constructive nation, working closely with our European partners.” The document sets out four shared priorities for the EU and for Scotland: • to embody progressive, democratic values on the world stage • to rise to the global challenges of climate change • to actively promote the wellbeing of all society • to create smart economies through use of new technology Details of how Scotland will fulfil these objectives include a £3 billion “Green New Deal” beginning in 2020 to attract green finance and reduce emissions across industries while guaranteeing new jobs. Background Read the full document: The EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2020-24: Scotland’s Perspective. Contact Media enquiries Media Contact Media enquiries Was this helpful? Your feedback will help us improve this site Feedback type Your comments Thanks for your feedback § #Anadolu Ajansı » Rss breaking • Türkçe English BHS Pусский Français العربية Kurdî کوردی Shqip فارسی македонски Bahasa Indonesia Español logo 20 challenges awaiting EU in 2020 Turkiye World Economy Politics Energy Sports Infographics Analysis Photo Video Environment Education Life Culture Analysis Health Science-Technology Anadolu Post Company News Finance Terminal Anadolu Images Energy Terminal News Academy Corporate News logo logo × EDITION Türkçe English BHS Pусский Français العربية Kurdî کوردی Shqip فارسی македонски Bahasa Indonesia Español Europe 20 challenges awaiting EU in 2020 EU seeks delicate compromise between national interests, reforms serving interests of all Agnes Szucs | 02.01.2020 20 challenges awaiting EU in 2020 BRUSSELS European politics saw countless campaign promises in 2019. A new European Parliament was elected in May and a new European Commission entered into office in December. But despite alterations in the political landscape of EU institutions, divisions in key policy areas remained profound among the member states, and 2020 will test whether the EU can overcome these disagreements, unlock the stalled decision-making process and start delivering on long-awaited reforms. But the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework and ambitious European Green Deal could deepen those divisions. Migration Reforming the EU’s migration and asylum policy is one of the most difficult tasks that the European Commission’s new President Ursula von der Leyen inherited from her predecessor. Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission tried several times to fix the asylum system, which collapsed during 2015’s migration crisis, and proposed compromises on migration management. But he couldn’t find a solution that all EU member states would have accepted, so now Von der Leyen has to come up with a new concept. 1 - Borders and security: Defending the EU’s external borders against illegal migration and crime is one of the few topics that all EU leaders can subscribe to. The relatively easy part of migration reform might be to allocate further funds and to extend the mandate of EU agencies dealing with border management and internal security. But no matter how popular these arrangements are in the eyes of European voters, they won’t solve the core problem of migration. 2 - Relocation of asylum seekers: The current Dublin regulation determining which country is responsible for asylum application puts an unfair burden on the EU’s border countries. The cornerstone of the reform would be to redistribute the asylum seekers between member states based on their population and economic performance. But regardless of France and Germany’s diplomatic efforts, the idea has been unacceptable for many European governments, which perceive the relocation system as an invitation for illegal migration. The issue seems to remain a challenge in the new year. 3 - Rules on asylum procedure: Main standards of asylum procedures are harmonized in the European countries, but it is still the national authority that makes the final decision. In order to avoid the huge differences between the length and content of the procedure, a well-functioning EU asylum system would require a more unified and centralized approach. But the idea goes against national sovereignty concepts in numerous capitals. 4 - Cooperation with Turkey on migration: By the end of 2019, the EU fully mobilized its €6 billion ($6.65 billion) in financial aid for Syrian refugees hosted in Turkey. The budget was agreed by the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement, meant to stop the irregular flow of migrants heading to Europe via Turkey. Payments will continue for five more years, but recent tensions in EU-Turkey diplomatic relations made the renewal of the agreement politically difficult. 5 - Strengthening the EU’s global role: The draft for the next seven-year budget proposes considerably more funding for partner countries out of the EU in their political and economic transformations towards sustainable development, consolidation of democracy and the eradication of poverty. But it is highly disputed whether financial support for developing or war-torn countries would effectively stop people from taking the risky route to Europe in hope of a better a life. Rule of law, corruption Rule of law was one of the most widely debated topics in EU politics last year. Aiming to enhance the respect of democratic rules and principles, the Article 7 procedure entered into a new phase for Hungary and Poland. Romania and Malta’s reputations were also torn by political scandals, while an investigative article by The New York Times revealed systematic corruption around payments of the Common Agricultural Policy in Eastern European member states. Many claim that this phenomenon undermines the unity and credibility of the entire bloc. 6 - Polexit: Political interference in the judicial system can eventually lead to Poland exiting the EU because its legal system won’t be compatible anymore with European standards, the Polish Supreme Court and the country’s ombudsman warned recently. In 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled in two cases against Polish judicial reform, while the Polish government had three hearings on the independence of the judiciary among their peers in the Council of the EU through the Article 7 procedure. Undeterred by the warnings, the lower house of the Polish parliament passed another controversial bill on their last workday in December. The new law penalizes judges questioning the legitimacy of the government’s legal reforms. 7 - Hungary: 12 aspects of democracy are under investigation by the Article 7 procedure, while Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government is also likely to face criticism on systemic corruption and misuse of EU funds. The government categorically rejects the allegations and interprets the procedure as politically motivated revenge for Hungary’s opposing migration from non-EU countries. The rule of law procedure will continue in 2020, but it is highly unlikely that the parties will radically change their stance or find a compromise. 8 - Malta: The southern European island might be the next country under EU scrutiny because of the scandalous investigation of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat promised to resign in January, but the European Parliament has already adopted a resolution condemning the serious and persistent threat to democracy and the Maltese governing elites’ efforts to hide corruption and money laundering. 9 - Misuse of EU funds: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is expected to start working in 2020. The independent EU body is tasked with prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the EU budget such as fraud, corruption or serious cross-border VAT fraud. However, Ireland, Sweden, Hungary and Poland haven’t joined the cooperation. In the case of the latter two, serious allegations concerning misuse of agriculture subsidies have been recently revealed. 10 - Rule of law conditionality: EU funds may be suspended or completely withheld from member states that violate the rule of law, according to the Commission’s proposal for the 2021-2027 budget. The idea was proposed as an extra tool to pressure member states to respect EU values because the Article 7 procedure turned out to be ineffective. While the concept is very popular among Western European governments and citizens, who consider themselves main contributors to the EU budget, Eastern Europeans find it unacceptable. But unanimity is required for the final deal on the next multi-annual financial framework. Brexit It is now almost certain that the U.K. will leave the EU on Jan. 31 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party’s victory in December’s general elections. But the three-year-long saga of Brexit won’t end because the basis for further cooperation needs to be laid out by the end of 2020 - a date the transition period ends under the current agreement. The negotiation patterns from both sides might remain the same. The British would ask for special treatment and the EU would be reluctant to grant favors for fear of setting an example for further exits as well as causing disputes with other trading partners. 11 - Trade deal: Von der Leyen promised an “unprecedented partnership” to the U.K. after 2019’s last EU summit which will be based on zero tariffs, zero quotas and zero dumping. But the Commission’s president wasn’t precise about which sector of the economy she meant. Finding a compromise on industrial goods might be easy compared to the trade of services, which amounts to 80% of the U.K.’s economy. Johnson certainly won’t accept the Norway model that grants full market access without any right to decide on the rules for the reason that it would prove right the "remain" camp in Britain. Nor can he accept the Canada-like standard free trade agreement as this option barely covers services. 12 - Irish backstop: The final Brexit deal could avoid the hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But the new mechanism may end up unsustainably difficult in reality because even if Northern Ireland stays in the U.K.’s customs zone, different EU rules and tariffs will be applied on goods depending on their destination. Moreover, it’s only an interim regime that can only be realized by the Northern Irish assembly’s approval. 13 - EU nationals in the U.K.: EU nationals legally residing and working in the U.K. can continue living in the country until the end of 2020. They are only required to confirm their residence status. But after the transition period, new and so-far unknown rules on arrivals will enter into force that might be disadvantageous for European students willing to attend world-famous British universities. The new government under Boris Johnson have plans to introduce a point-based immigration system, which is still to be detailed. 14 - Scottish independence: Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon is determined to hold a new referendum on Scotland’s independence after her pro-EU SNP party won 48 of Scotland’s 59 seats in December’s general elections. Scottish independence doesn’t only challenge British domestic politics. The EU also needs to actualize its position on a small separatist state willing to join the bloc, and the decision risks causing a domino effect in other European regions looking for independence. 15 - Losing a net contributor: Britain’s leave will result in an approximately €10 billion ($11 billion) net loss per year in the EU’s budget. If one strictly looks at the balance of contributions and received payments, the U.K. paid more to the common budget than it received from EU funds. The loss will logically harm the net beneficiaries of cohesion and agricultural funds, which are mostly Eastern and Southern European countries. The gap also makes the tense negotiations over the next seven-year budget even harder. European Green Deal The first big announcement of the new Commission was to present a roadmap for a sustainable and just economic transition in order to make the continent climate-neutral by 2050. Sensing popular pressure and looking for a cause to strengthen her legitimacy, President von der Leyen came up with the European Green Deal, which is meant to boost the economy and create jobs while saving the planet. Von der Leyen called it “Europe’s man on the moon moment,” but she mentioned hardly any concrete details of the great turnover. 2020 must be the year when political slogans reveal their content. 16 - Industry reform: A comprehensive legal package will be proposed at the beginning of 2020 which will lay the basis for climate action in every economic sector, including transport, energy, agriculture, buildings and industries such as steel, cement, ICT, textiles and chemicals. The plan will also focus on minimizing waste production and foster a circular economy. The “European Climate Law” will certainly raise costs in every industry, so it might take years to finally adopt a bill that has such profound consequences. EU officials will also have to face campaigns from industry representatives and lobbyists. 17 - International competition: European industry has already been struggling competitively with innovations. European firms might completely fall behind international competitors if they need to incorporate climate action into their business. The cost could be compensated by some sort of climate tariff on imports. However, even plans seem to be extremely cautious because a climate fee might seriously affect international trade relations and cause tensions with trading partners like China and the U.S. 18 - East-West divide: The eastern European member states have already voiced concerns about the shifting priorities of the 2021-2027 EU budget, which significantly reduces cohesion and agricultural funds. The European Green Deal will eventually widen the gap between well-developed Western states, who already have been using climate-friendly technologies, and the Eastern countries, whose convergence is lagging behind. The European Green Deal may raise the already significant tension around the EU’s next multi-annual financial framework as well. 19 - Financing just transition: Despite the fact that Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki agreed with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, he couldn’t commit to the implementation of the European Green Deal at 2019’s last EU leaders summit. European heads of state and government will get back to the question in June 2020, hoping that Poland, whose economy is the most dependent on carbon-intensive activities, will change their mind. The Commission suggested a €100 billion ($110 billion) Just Transition Fund to support the transition of less-developed regions, but it’s still unclear if it will be fully covered by the EU’s own budget or will only give financial leverage to private investment. 20 - Delivering the promises: Von der Leyen’s Commission came to power amid deep divisions between member states and European institutions. The overambitious program on a green economic transition might look like a good instrument to unify the continent behind a noble and necessary cause. But the Commission needs to deliver the details of an extremely complicated and overarching reform with very short notice of its own “first 100 days” deadline and deal with all the other challenges at the same time. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options. 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For more details, you can see "our data policy". Accept Your opinions matter to us Feedback § Menu Fermer Édition The Conversation Éditions disponibles France The Conversation Recherchez (Recherche) L’expertise universitaire, l’exigence journalistique 1. Covid-19 2. Culture 3. Économie 4. Éducation 5. Environnement 6. International 8. Santé 9. Science 10. Podcasts 11. Présidentielle 2022 12. En anglais t amp;w=320 amp;fit=clip amp;dpr=2 amp;usm=12 amp;cs=strip] totojang1977 / shutterstock ‘Green Deal’ seeks to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 16 décembre 2019, 15:40 CET Thomas Muinzer, University of Dundee Auteur 1. Thomas Muinzer Lecturer in Energy Law, University of Dundee Déclaration d’intérêts Thomas Muinzer ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche. Partenaires Voir les partenaires de The Conversation France The European Commission launched its much-anticipated “Green Deal” on December 11. The project has been spearheaded by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose presidential tenure began recently on December 1 2019. The central thrust of the Green Deal is a relentless momentum towards making the EU climate neutral by 2050. This marries up formal political-legal EU ambition with the international Paris Agreement, where average global temperature rise is to be kept well below 2℃. This headline intention of a Green Deal is to take the form of a pioneering “European Climate Law” – one of the most innovative legal regimes ever seriously proposed in the history of environmental law, which intends to deliver the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Efforts towards this 2050 objective will be supported by the expansion of carbon emissions pricing, which already exists in a well-developed form in the EU, most notably under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. A new “carbon border adjustment mechanism” – basically a carbon border tax targeting imports from non-EU countries with less strict climate policies – will also be brought in to assist. The proposal also includes an emphasis on boosting competitiveness, ensuring a just transition across the EU, protecting the natural environment and biodiversity, strategic development of sustainable food policy, and a circular economy action plan. It proposes an economy-wide transition, meaning that it endeavours to drive decarbonisation across the breadth of the EU’s socio-economic sectors. This means in principle that truly profound changes are in store across everything from energy generation, to transport, agriculture, and so on. The ‘just transition’ is particularly important for countries like Poland that still use lots of coal. Pawel_Brzozowski / shutterstock The Green Deal presents itself as a “growth strategy”. In broad terms, it says that a low carbon transition under the Paris Agreement can be an opportunity to simultaneously modernise the economy while seizing genuine green growth opportunities. This perspective is no doubt correct. But in the confused world of contemporary geopolitics the accuracy of the approach is often less important than the extent of the power aligned against the it. President Donald Trump, for example, has consistently asserted that progressive climate action amounts to an expensive means of damaging an economy – a position diametrically opposed to the EU’s “decarbonisation equals growth” type of ideology. This disparity becomes more clear when one reaches paragraph 2.2.1 of the Green Deal proposals, where the commission estimates that “achieving the current 2030 climate and energy targets will require €260 billion of additional annual investment”. Yet this is far from being a Trumpian waste of money. Instead, the commission’s outlook is that the green financing that will be pumped into the Green Deal over time will stimulate and expand the economy, and the EU’s coffers will gradually overflow. In other words “it takes money to make money”. Profound differences in ideological approach cannot be interpreted in isolation, given our globalised world. So significant future trade negotiations between the EU and US may run into problems, for example in relation to the Green Deal’s carbon border tax. The carbon border tax, for instance, could raise tensions with the “economic nationalism” of some current and former people in the Trump administration. They have tended towards aggressive tariff and quota responses to what they have perceived as trade-barrier manoeuvres negatively impacting the administration’s “America First” orientation. Substantial change will be tricky However, the announcement of the Green Deal is currently just that – an announcement. The intended regime has yet to be passed into EU law and policy (the commission intends to propose the European Climate Law by March 2020). Recent history demonstrates that the complex machinery of EU governance makes substantial changes to its climate and energy regime no easy task. The EU has been a relatively progressive actor on climate change over the past two decades, but the commission’s new set of intended commitments pushes the envelope farther than anything seen before. Some member states such as Ireland and Poland have severely struggled to meet even current EU climate obligations. Given the gravity of climate change, the EU institutions are right to press the case for making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. But they must also bring the member states along with them. And that, in the global saying of climate activists, really does require system change, not climate change. Notre audience Le réseau global The Conversation a une audience mensuelle de 18 millions de lecteurs et une audience globale de 42 millions à travers les republications sous la licence Creative Commons. Vous voulez écrire ? Écrivez un article et rejoignez une communauté de plus de 139 300 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 242 institutions. Enregistrez-vous maintenant Politique de confidentialité Conditions générales Corrections Mentions légales Droits d'auteur © 2010–2022, The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) § IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KLF2QR4 Logo Logo Arrow left dark SFN Logo Newsletter icon SUBSCRIBE Article Tags: opinion brexit eu tfeu Michael Upton: A Valediction – forbidding mourning thoughts on leaving the EU 31 Jan 2020 Clock icon Reading time: 11 minutes Article Tags: opinion brexit eu tfeu Michael Upton: A Valediction – forbidding mourning thoughts on leaving the EU Michael Upton So Brexit is done. My mother still recalls the news on 19 April 1945, sixteen days before the war’s end, that Germans had executed her grandfather in prison in Copenhagen for membership of the Danish Resistance. His daughter and son-in-law, my Danish grandparents, had themselves not long before been released from German imprisonment. Unbeknownst to them the grandmother and mother of the woman whom I was later to marry had just arrived in Denmark from what is now Lithuania, as German refugees fleeing the Red Army. Nearby in Holstein, my father-in-law’s family as Italian immigrants experienced the change from living in an allied to an enemy Germany when Italy switched sides. My father had prepared for D-Day more peacefully – acting as occasional human ballast in landing-craft tests on the Thames. You may like me be a Euro-mongrel: out of these strands was born an upbringing in Britain and Denmark; my education in the EU’s laws at its university in the old abbey on the inexpressibly beautiful hillside above Florence (thanks to Neil MacCormick); my crossing the continent by bicycle; and ultimately my dual-nationality, bi-lingual Anglo-German family. Like many readers, I have made professional visits to the EU’s four main institutions, and have for 30 years taught, written about and practised in the field of its laws. Few of my boasts are prouder than that my Belgian god-daughter’s father was one of the authors of the EU Constitution (the Lisbon Treaty as it became). After the winter of war, in the long summer of Europe’s late twentieth century, I was raised among four languages in an implicit belief in European unity. And that does not equate to belief in membership of the EU. The flaws of the EU are as extensive as the corpus of its law. It is flawed at many levels. Few reasonable people would argue that in Scotland or Britain, only civil servants should be able to propose laws – or that alongside basic constitutional freedoms, trade policy and the details of competition law should be fundamental law, changeable only by constitutional amendment requiring unanimity – or that the Supreme Court should be bound by a default-rule, that in case of doubt disputes are to be resolved in whichever way will render the United Kingdom “an ever closer union”. Many might even question the sanity or good faith of proposing these as building-blocks of our national constitution. Yet they are basic to EU law. The incorporation of competition law into the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU has always been a particularly acute moral paradox. Art. 101 makes it fundamental law that undertakings may not form cartels, with members trading on advantageous terms denied to outsiders - and there stands art. 101, in seemingly radical innocence of the fact that all around it the rest of the Treaty makes it equally fundamental law that the EU itself shall be precisely what it outlaws. But perhaps even more basically, the EU has been judged undemocratic, by minds as diverse as Enoch Powell and Michael Foot. The point comes down to this: EU laws are not made by and at the initiative of a directly-elected legislature. Paradoxically, this is borne as much out of member-states’ wish to constrain the EU’s power as out of a policy of imposing unity through the agency of unelected officialdom. The EU could be rendered absolutely democratic, by endowing the EU Parliament with absolute sovereignty – but the coalition against any such reform would have made political allies of even Angela Merkel and Nigel Farage. Instead, the attempt to reconcile the Union’s objects with member states’ interests led to legislative procedures which sadly only a specialist can describe. The procedure of a bill through the Scottish Parliament, or the Houses of Parliament, is easy to grasp. Intelligibility is critical to accountability, and accountability to democracy. Here the EU fails. Who shall narrate its Co-decision Procedure – via the formal and the informal trilogues?; the Consultation Procedure – differing between the Consultation Procedure involving the Parliament, and the Consultation Procedures involving the Committee of the Regions and the Economic Social Committee?; the Consent Procedure?; the procedure for joint Council-Commission acts under arts. 31 207 T.F.EU?; Commission legislation under Treaty powers?; Commission legislation under delegated powers?; Treaty revision by ordinary revision procedure?; Treaty revision by simplified revision procedure?; Treaty revision by Passerelle clause?; etc.? A consequent curiosity of our politics has been how few Remainers have seemed able to explain how EU laws are made, while people marched in the streets for constitutional principles that they could not paraphrase. It seemed a long way from the popular progressive politics of the Chartists or John Maclean. Perhaps understanding is not always a precondition of loyalty. Is the alienating complexity of EU legislative procedure undemocratic? In the Venetian Republic, the Doge was after all freely elected – the names of 30 members of the Great Council were chosen by lot, from whom 9 were selected again by lot, which 9 chose 40 names, from which 12 were selected by lot, which 12 put forward 25 names, from which 9 were selected by lot, who chose 45 new names, from which 11 were selected by lot, which 11 chose 41 new names … who finally elected the Doge. If we are not today inclined to adapt Venice’s rules to select our leaders, we may agree that complexity and obscurity are irreconcilable with the accountability required for democracy. Prominent among the consequent ill-effects is the over-reaching detail of EU regulation of ordinary life. Less could have been more. But instead it was given sufficient rope to hang itself in over-ambition – because of art. 5 of the Treaty on EU’s verbose failure to articulate a chief need of any federation’s constitution: a clear demarcation of states’ rights and Union powers. Some Leavers attribute such flaws to malign motives. But while we cannot look into all hearts, and Brussels’ well-paid incumbents would only be human in seeking to retain what they have acquired, conspiracy is superfluous to explain why in any ranking of constitutions as literary works, the EU treaties have ended up looking more like than McGonagall than Tennyson. Admittedly, when we British evolve our own constitutional dogs’ breakfasts, we are inclined to make a virtue of them, and praise them as the blessings of the inductive method. Brussels is not unique in lacking the humility to admit that there might be better ways of doing things. But EU harmonization and established nation-state democracy could have been better reconciled. Take mutual laws of jurisdiction, for example: the Brussels I Regulation régime worked fairly well when it was simply the Brussels Convention, to which a member-state could sign up à la carte. But that was a model which, on the whole, the EU rejected. In private law, the admirable work on a Common Frame of Reference for harmonizing European contract law has long argued for contracting-in as a route to implementation. Member-states and (in certain fields) individuals and companies could have been left vastly more freedom to opt in to harmonized single-market laws; for example, if their national parliaments so voted. The result would have been a patch-work – offensive to those who see virtue in uniformity. If one member-state rejected a higher quality standard for goods, it might have saved on manufacturing costs, but lost on market reputation. The debate between Aesop’s dog and wolf could have been incremental rather than once for all time. Such freedoms are not simply messy but involve real costs. Yet their benefits can be unquantifiably valuable, if they foster the sense in each community that its law - native or EU-harmonized – is its own, because it is what its own accountable legislature has freely chosen. Fundamental opt-outs – such as Denmark’s on native ownership of property – have never been incompatible with the greater good of European union, because they fostered its legitimacy. The economic power-house of the Anglo-Scottish Union never depended on a premise that ever-greater centrally-imposed legal harmonization was an ideological imperative – as opposed to something which might profitably be adopted, case by case. Even Scotland itself long-lived with differing local land tenures. Offering every country in Europe (and beyond) options for harmonization would have been – may yet be – messier. But it would also have respected the important possibility that historically it was actually intra-European competition which caused the continent to lead the world in many fields of human achievement. It might yet do so. It might be a way of building more slowly, but more surely. To repeat then, European harmonization and national democracy could have been better reconciled. They could be still. It is not too late. Indeed, the whole debate about future British regulatory alignment may present marvellous opportunities to test what is possible: what can be done by co-operation rather than compulsion. That could also provide object-lessons in how to serve the public and its lawyers by drafting laws clearly. The British ‘statute book’ is bad enough, but even it is not quite as ludicrously, laughably impenetrable, complex – and simply very badly written, such that Swift himself could not have parodied it – as the written body of EU law, which regularly trips up even the long-suffering civil servants who have to try to administer it Nor might it be too late – I owe it to T. B. Smith to point out – to begin to remedy the way in which EU law curiously turned its back on much of the true European legal heritage of Roman law. For almost two millennia we have had, for instance, the benefit of Gaius’ distinction of private and public law – so it was redundant to re-invent the wheel very badly with barbarisms such as ‘horizontal direct effect’ to describe concepts our familiarity with which is age-old. Terminology and drafting matter, because communication matters. So does the register with which the law-maker addresses the public: we may wonder what Burns’ man of independent mind would think of a law called a ‘Directive’. The pursuit of European unity is unquestionably a good thing - and it can work - and it does work in NATO, and the Council of Europe, and the OECD, and many more specialist associations. The EU as we have known it may prove to be superfluous. Or it may yet prove that the EU can be the most useful of all of these vehicles, pursuing harmony à la carte through national democratic institutions – and finally in plain, intelligible prose. But the unquestionable, manifest, factual unity of Europe is to be found in and cultivated by each of us. It is to be found in savouring Dante, wondering at Beethoven, laughing with Tati, smoking pot in Amsterdam, summiting on the Matterhorn, and cycling the banks of the Danube – and all the while being loyal to the Vatican, having faith in Luther’s reforms, or sharing Voltaire’s doubts. Our shared European culture, international friendships and marriages, and a common sense of what is right, what is wrong and what is beautiful, all long precede every EU Directive and will long outlast them all. If this may be brought home more often to Euro-mongrels, it is still true for us all. So being European is nothing we may sub-contract to politicians or to laws. For example, if we in Scotland really do particularly pride ourselves on being European, then we could start by learning our neighbours’ languages. One place to Remain sincerely is in the language class-room. No one needs the EU in order to be European. Only dull sublunary lovers’ love requires inky blots or parchment bonds. The shared legal, religious and artistic culture gives inter-assurance of minds across the Channel. The souls of the continent and the island endure not a breach, but an expansion. We are virtuous folk and pass mildly away: so let us melt, and make no noise, no tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; ‘twere profanation of our joys to found on Brussels’ laws our love. Brexit is done. Michael Upton, advocate, holds an LLM in European Law from the European University Institute at Fiesole, and wrote the legal text of the Draft Constitution for the EU, in the European Constitutional Group’s Proposal for a European Constitution. Share icon Share this article: Bell icon Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss articles like this one: Newsletter icon SUBSCRIBE Related Articles Box image 3 Jul 2018 Clock icon 4 minutes Opinion: Human rights defence not so easy elsewhere Box image 7 Jun 2018 Clock icon 7 minutes Opinion: Blasphemy, human rights and a very naughty boy Box image 23 Oct 2017 Clock icon 3 minutes Opinion: Judge not…. Box image 22 May 2017 Clock icon 4 minutes Opinion: Looking for a legally level playing field Logo light Follow us: News Chevron right icon Analysis Chevron right icon Explore Chevron right icon Legal Chevron right icon © Scottish Legal News Ltd 2022 Design by: Future Nature logo Times icon Newsletter Notify Icon Join over 14,000 lawyers in receiving our FREE daily email newsletter Scottish Legal News is your daily service for the latest news, jobs and events, delivered directly to your email inbox. § IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W7SMZ5Q Ledger Insights - enterprise blockchain Blockchain for business Banking • News European Commission responds to MP appeal to ban Libra February 20, 2020 by Ledger Insights european commission In a written responses to questions about Facebook’s Libra stablecoin, the European Commission highlighted that Libra cannot proceed in the EU until there is legal clarity and said Libra’s current legal status is unclear. The EC’s approach is likely to be regulation rather than a ban and it currently has a public consultation in advance of legislation. The requirement for legal clarity was outlined in a statement on December 5 last year. In November last year, a member of parliament representing Malta, Roberta Metsola, asked about a timeline for assessing the legal status of Libra, noting that the “the Commission stated that it was carrying out a preliminary assessment with the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Banking Authority”. Metsola was not part of the 23 person group asking about banning Libra. Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, responded in writing this week without providing a specific timescale. He said that Libra’s legal status is unclear, and it sent Libra a set of questions. Dombrovskis noted that Libra was evolving and hence a moving target, so at the moment, the EC does not have sufficient information to establish its legal status. There are rumors that Libra is considering switching away from a basket of currencies to a US Dollar backed currency, according to TheBlock. Meanwhile, Dombrovskis stated: “risks raised by ‘stablecoin’ arrangements should be subject to clear and proportionate regulatory and oversight framework.” Public crypto-asset consultation Dombrovskis also used the opportunity to highlight that stablecoins are a subset of crypto-assets, the term used by the BIS to reference digital assets, not just cryptocurrencies. In December last year, the EC initiated a public consultation into crypto-assets, which is open until March 19. In response to this consultation, we reported on the French regulator AMF‘s publication of a document seeking legislation to encourage digital assets. MPs ask: will Libra be banned? At the same time, the EC EVP responded in a similar fashion to another question from 23 members of parliament (MPs) who raised concerns about Libra, including money laundering and if it could threaten central bank currencies. They asked whether the cryptocurrency would be regulated or simply banned. He noted that EU law already addressed anti-money laundering for virtual currencies and that EU Member States had a deadline of January 10 to implement it. As an aside, it is this law that has encouraged 40 German banks to express an interest in becoming digital asset custodians. Additionally, Dombrovskis’ response stated: “to compete globally, Europe should embrace technological innovation, including in the financial sector. Crypto-assets present opportunities for cheap and fast payments. At the same time, it is important to consider the risks. In addressing risks, it is important to differentiate between smaller-scale activities and global ‘stablecoin’ initiatives such as Libra.” Image Copyright: jorisvo / Deposit Photos crypto-assets cryptoassets European Commission Facebook legislation Libra stable coin stablecoin FacebookTwitterRedditEmailLinkedInWhatsApp You may also like stablecoin payments Bank stablecoin consortium USDF launched by NY Community Bank, Figure, others Bitcoin europe ECB execs publish SUERF think tank paper slating Bitcoin PayPal stablecoin Analysis: PayPal exploring own stablecoin. Why? crypto regulation Crypto regulatory framework from Financial Stability Board could come in 2022 federal reserve Departing Fed Governor Quarles calls for restraint in stablecoin regulation Subscribe to FREE newsletter on Blockchain for Business 2022 predictions Find out about expectations for digital assets and blockchain in 2022 from Allianz, Digital Asset, Hyperledger, ING, MOBI, Societe Generale FORGE, State Street Digital, Symbiont and more. Dubai launches blockchain Know Your Customer consortium Follow @LedgerInsights Copyright © 2018 - 2021 Ledger Insights Ltd. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Cookie Settings Accept Privacy Cookies Policy Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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Necessary [X] Necessary Always Enabled Analytics [X] analytics Other [ ] other Save Accept Powered by CookieYes Logo § Discover Thomson Reuters Directory of sitesLoginContactSupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up Technology News Updated EU drops idea of facial recognition ban in public areas: paper By Foo Yun Chee 2 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU has scrapped the possibility of a ban on facial recognition technology in public spaces, according to the latest proposals seen by Reuters. An earlier draft by the European Commission had broached the idea of a moratorium of up to five years to give the bloc time to work out how to prevent abuses. Facial recognition artificial intelligence has sparked a global debate about the pros and cons of a technology widely used by law enforcement agencies but abused by authoritarian regimes for mass and discriminatory surveillance. Critics say the technology can infringe people’s fundamental rights and breach data privacy rules. The revised proposal, part of a package of measures to address the challenges of AI, could still be tweaked as the commission is currently seeking feedback before it presents its plan on Feb. 19. The proposed AI rules would cover so-called high risk sectors such as healthcare and transport. The U.S. government earlier this month unveiled its own AI regulatory guidelines aimed at limiting authorities’ overreach and urged Europe to avoid aggressive approaches. Microsoft President Brad Smith has said that a facial recognition AI ban is akin to using a cleaver instead of a scalpel to solve potential problems while Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has voiced support. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Leslie Adler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up § navigation Advertisement International edition [ ] The Guardian - Back to home Search jobs Sign inSearch [ ] ShowMoreShow More Brexit This article is more than 2 years old Brexit talks: EU chief questions feasibility of Johnson's time limit This article is more than 2 years old Ursula von der Leyen airs concerns about PM’s refusal to extend negotiations past 2020 Ursula von der Leyen [ ] Ursula von der Leyen said it would be reasonable to have a mid-year review of how negotiations were progressing. Photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP via Getty Images Ursula von der Leyen said it would be reasonable to have a mid-year review of how negotiations were progressing. Photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP via Getty Images Daniel Boffey in Brussels Fri 27 Dec 2019 14.24 GMT [ ] First published on Fri 27 Dec 2019 09.55 GMT Boris Johnson should reconsider his refusal to extend the 11-month timeframe available for agreeing a deal on the UK’s future relationship with the EU after Brexit, Ursula von der Leyen has suggested. The European commission president said she had “serious concern” about the limited time available for the negotiations and emphasised the need to keep all options open. “It’s not only about negotiating a free trade deal but many other subjects,” Von der Leyen said in an interview with the French newspaper les Echos. “It seems to me that on both sides we must ask ourselves seriously if all these negotiations are feasible in such a short time.” Once the UK leaves the EU on 31 January it will remain in the bloc’s customs union and single market until the end of 2020, with an option to stay within those arrangements for a further two years. But the prime minister has said he will not agree to such an extension, claiming there is ample time to negotiate a comprehensive deal covering all aspects of the current EU-UK relationship, from trade to internal security, transport and data-sharing. The withdrawal agreement provides for a “moment of truth” on 1 July, by which time both sides will need to have agreed on prolonging the transition period or face running out of time. Should there not be a deal in place on trade, for example, the UK would face major disruption to its economy, with tariffs and quantity restrictions being immediately applied to goods being sold into the EU market. Von der Leyen, a former German defence minister, said the risks for both sides meant an extension of the transition period could not be ruled out. “I believe that it would be reasonable to review things in the middle of the year, if necessary to see if an extension is needed,” she said. A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister has been clear that we will not be extending the implementation period. Both the EU and the UK committed to agreeing a future partnership by the end of 2020 in the political declaration and have agreed to work with great energy to achieve this.” Earlier this week, the Guardian revealed that London is expected to co-host the next phase of the Brexit negotiations in a highly symbolic shift in focus from Brussels. A leaked EU document seen by the Guardian lays out the key areas of cooperation which will be the subject of negotiation once the withdrawal agreement is ratified and the UK has withdrawn from the bloc at the end of January. According to the paper, EU diplomats representing the member states will on 10 January look at the issues involved in maintaining a free flow of data after Brexit and allowing the UK’s financial services sector to continue to operate within the EU through a decision on the “adequacy” of UK regulation in those two areas. Later in that week, the internal discussions will move on to trade in goods and services and the arrangements for intellectual property and public procurement. On 14 January, diplomats will scope out their position on fisheries and the need for a level playing field under which the UK will need to sign up to EU fiscal, environmental and social standards. Further seminars are planned on the governance of any agreement to allow dispute resolution, the arrangements in haulage and aviation, security, foreign policy, space, energy, mobility of citizens travelling between the UK and the EU, and future British involvement in the EU’s programmes, including in higher education. Topics Reuse this content IFRAME: https://www.theguardian.com/email/form/footer/today-uk Back to top © 2022 Guardian News Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern) § [tr?id=157204581336210 ev=PageView noscript=1] IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TXHJH9T Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw.com. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better. Go to the new dw.com We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. More info OK 1. Inhalt 2. Navigation 3. Weitere Inhalte 4. Metanavigation 5. Suche 6. Choose from 30 Languages Wrong language? Change it here DW.COM has chosen English as your language setting. DW.COM in 30 languages DW AKADEMIE ABOUT DW DW.COM Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welle # The 77 Percent # Crime Fighters # Africa on the Move SPECIAL TV programs German Courses German XXL Community D Teaching German TOP STORIES / World / Europe Advertisement Europe Croatia's EU presidency: What will it bring for Europe? On Wednesday, Croatia assumes the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council. With countries wanting both in and out of the bloc, what can the EU’s youngest member do? Flags of the EU and Croatia Croatia is not stinting on the superlatives when describing the country's upcoming presidency of the EU Council. Media and politicians are agreed that their country faces "the biggest challenge in modern history." They describe it as a "historic event for Croatia" and the "most difficult test of its maturity since independence." Starting on Wednesday, the youngest member of the EU will serve as first among equals for the next six months. International conferences will be held under its presidency; the EU's highest representatives, as well as hordes of journalists, will be knocking at its door. The country will be in the spotlight — a great opportunity to present itself positively. However, it is expected of any country holding the EU presidency that it will set its own interests aside and promote pan-European issues rather than its own national goals. It is expected to act as a mediator, to help resolve current problems and find compromise solutions. Where foreign policy is concerned, there are three main issues Croatia will have to deal with. Read more: What's in store for the EU in 2020 Migration and EU border protection In the past two years, Croatia has proved an extremely reliable guardian of the bloc's external border, especially along what is referred to as the "Balkan route." Although not all EU states will say so openly, the majority clearly want to allow as few refugees into the EU as possible, and Croatia implements this very effectively. Its eastern border with the neighboring state of Bosnia-Herzegovina is strictly guarded, and any refugees who manage nonetheless to get through to Croatian — and thus EU territory — are immediately sent back. Croatian police are far from squeamish about this. There have been numerous reports from NGOs, and by various witnesses of "pushbacks" — refugees being returned illegally — as well as about abuse and the use of force by Croatian police. Footage of Croatian authorities deporting refugees without legal process Footage of Croatian authorities deporting refugees without due process In May, video footage was released that appears to show Croatian police forcibly returning migrants to Bosnia across the "green border" in the countryside, where there are no official crossing points. Human Rights Watch (HRW) published an open letter calling on the Croatian government to stop this practice. Croatia's president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, actually confirmed in an interview for Swiss television that "pushbacks" did take place, and that "of course a little force" is required. Just a few days ago, the Croatian news portal net.hr exposed an unofficial network within the Croatian security authorities whose task is to collaborate with local taxi companies in tracking down refugees and deporting them to Bosnia. The refugees do not have a chance to file applications for asylum. However, Croatian authorities routinely deny all such allegations, insisting that everything is done in accordance with EU regulations and that no violations of the law have been registered. In doing this, Croatia is also acting in its own interest. Croatian officials are hardly concerned about whether refugees might want to stay in the country — most want to go further west. Instead, the country is trying to present itself as a vigilant border guard in order to be accepted into the Schengen Area as soon as possible — one of the stated priorities of Croatian foreign policy. In the meantime, the Croatian government has received absolution for its activities from the highest authority. At the end of November, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said in Zagreb: "From the perspective of a country that's supposed to protect the external [EU] border, it, of course, looks different compared to the perspective of a country [such as Germany] in the middle of the Schengen Area." Read more: Asylum claims in Germany fall in 2019 Croatian Prime MInister Andrej Plenkovic Croatian PM Plenkovic: We will be a 'fair and honest broker' as EU leader Western Balkans and EU enlargement One of the declared aims of Croatia's EU Council presidency is to press ahead with negotiations on the further European integration of the western Balkan countries. In particular, this refers to the announcement of a date for the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. However, the continuation of negotiations that are already underway with Serbia, as well as closer rapprochement with Bosnia-Herzegovina, are also on the agenda. A separate EU summit will also be held to address these in Zagreb in May. However, France, in particular, has huge reservations about further enlargement. It is also uncertain to what extent Croatia is able to act as a "fair and honest broker" in this process, and be seen as such, as the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has declared it will. Croatia's relations with its former enemy Serbia and with neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina are not exactly characterized by mutual trust. Read more: EU's broken promises in the Balkans lead to rocky road in 2020 Watch video 01:08 EU holds accession talks with Western Balkans Croatia is still in dispute with Serbia over various unresolved issues from their recent war-torn past. Zagreb places particular emphasis on the importance of clarifying the fate of the many people who are still missing and unaccounted for. It accuses Belgrade of failing to cooperate properly on this. Furthermore, it expects the Serbian government finally to put the war criminals from its own ranks on trial, and also, ideally, to admit that it was guilty of aggression. In its relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the main bone of contention is the status of the Croats living there. The government in Zagreb, and above all the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), see themselves as patron saints of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croats and accuse the current central government in Sarajevo of trying to marginalize them. They're especially at odds with Zeljko Komsic, the Croatian member of the three-member presidium, as he was elected predominantly with the support of Muslim Bosniaks. There is also a dispute about plans for an EU-funded bridge across a Bosnian-Herzegovinian bay on the Adriatic. Croatia's good relations with the Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, who has never concealed his separatist aspirations, are also regarded with suspicion in Sarajevo. Brexit perspective The United Kingdom is scheduled to formally leave the EU on January 31. After that, negotiations over Britain's future relations with the EU, including a free trade agreement, will begin. However, Croatia's role in this process will be more of a supporting one. "We want to help all EU members and the European Parliament to ratify the treaty ending British EU membership as early as January, so that we then have eleven months to reach an agreement on future relations," Andrej Plenkovic has said. The Croatian prime minister has emphasized that Michel Barnier will continue to be the EU's main Brexit negotiator. In any case, Brexit is only of peripheral interest for Croatia — it is more a task for the big players, such as Germany, which will take over the bloc's presidency from Croatia on July 1. DW recommends Opinion: The EU in 2020 — old ideas dressed up in green? New people, old problems: The EU is facing major challenges in the year ahead. But established solutions can lead to new opportunities, writes DW's Bernd Riegert. (30.12.2019) Migration Western Balkans, Serbia, Germany Advertisement Facebook Offizielles Logo DW News on Facebook 11.07.2017 Twitter Offizielles Logo Follow @dwnews on Twitter 11.07.2017 © 2022 Deutsche Welle | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement | Legal notice | Contact | Mobile version § IFRAME: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KJHPDW NATO Logo Get the latest updates Secretary General: NATO-EU cooperation has reached unprecedented levels Addressing the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence on Tuesday (21 January 2020), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed closer NATO-EU cooperation, including on maritime security, military mobility, and countering cyber and hybrid attacks. He described Europe and North America as “two sides of the same coin” and emphasized the importance of a strong transatlantic bond in order to maintain peace and security in Europe. The meeting is part of the Secretary General’s regular engagements with EU institutions. Link to the audio file Video 21 Jan. 2020 High resolution photos Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Jan. 2020 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in Brussels Audio to the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence 21 Jan. 2020 | download mp3 the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence 21 Jan. 2020 | download mp3 the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence 21 Jan. 2020 | download mp3 Opinions Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) 21 Jan. 2020 Topics News 2020 Back To Top You must provide an address This is not a valid e-mail address! Something went wrong sending the address Organization Topics Newsroom e-Library Go straight to... Quicklinks § Discover Thomson Reuters Directory of sitesLoginContactSupport for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up Hot Stocks Updated British stocks unchanged ahead of Brexit vote; Shell dips By Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon news window) Dec 20 (Reuters) - UK shares held steady on Friday as trading began to wind down ahead of Christmas and investors awaited a parliamentary vote on the Brexit deal, while Shell dipped after it forecast $2.3 billion in impairment charges for its latest quarter. The FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 were roughly flat by 0810 GMT. With major events such as a ‘phase one’ U.S.-China trade deal and the British election done, the vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s divorce deal is set to take centre stage. With a clear majority in parliament, the deal - which now includes a provision for a hard, December 2020 deadline to reach a trade agreement with the EU - is expected to be ratified without any major hiccups. Shell gave up 1%, the most notable move in early deals, as the oil major also trimmed its forecast for quarterly oil production sales. (Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. © 0 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. for-phone-onlyfor-tablet-portrait-upfor-tablet-landscape-upfor-desktop- upfor-wide-desktop-up §