European Union

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

More than 60,000 minors have fled warzones to arrive in Germany during the refugee influx. And each one has his or her story to tell.

The reasons behind their flight to Europe and why they are at it alone are many, according to Niels Espenhorst of the Federal Association for Unaccompanied Minor Refugees. He spoke to Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster.

As reported by DW, some were sent by their families to escape conscription enforced by the army or militias. Others were separated from their families along the way. Often children leave home because members of their family have joined a militia and there is a danger that they will be drawn into the fighting.

For 16-year-old Fahad, who is currently living in a home for unaccompanied refugee minors in Berlin, it took him nearly a month to reach Europe from Damascus, passing through seven countries. According to DW, his first few weeks in the German capital were spent sleeping in a park across the street from Berlin’s Health and Social Services Office, which serves as a registration point for the refugees. After speaking to several officials, Fahad was put up in a hostel. Once again, he was left to his own devices.

There are currently some 2,000 other youths still waiting for their appointment to meet with the Social Services Office for Minors. They are without healthcare, a guardian or the possibility of attending school.

As for Fahad, he is fortunate to be preparing for his school leaving exams. “My future is the only motivation I have,” Fahad was quoted as saying.

His goal: “To one day have people look at me and ask, ‘Who is that?’ I want to be somebody”.

The post Refugee minors on their own in Germany appeared first on New Europe.

This is Friday’s edition of our daily Brussels Briefing. To receive it every morning in your email in-box, sign up here.

Turkey's Ahmet Davutoglu speaks to reporters upon arrival at the EU summit Friday morning

Turkey’s prime minister arrived in Brussels last night for what is expected to be an extremely difficult final round of negotiations with EU leaders on a deal that would allow Greece to return of thousands of refugees arriving on its shores to Turkey. The talks are due to begin this morning between Ahmet Davutoglu and three EU leaders – the European Commission and European Council presidents as well as Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister who holds the EU’s rotating presidency – but diplomats last night said they remained unsure whether Ankara would agree to the EU’s terms.

After five hours of talks in a summit last night, the EU’s 28 leaders agreed a common negotiating line that was not much different from a proposal tabled by Donald Tusk, the European Council president, the day before. But those terms include potential poison pills that Ankara has indicated are unacceptable. Foremost among those are measures Turkey would have to implement to completely overhaul its asylum system – including widening the nationalities that received protected status. Currently, only Syrians are given protections similar to those required under the Geneva Conventions, and the new EU negotiating line, seen by the FT, insists all migrants returned to Turkey be treated in compliance with “international standards”. Ankara has signaled it is unwilling to be lectured by Brussels on how it treats refugees.

Read more

Statistics concerning judicial activity in 2015: new records in terms of productivity and cases brought for the Court of Justice of the European Union

Tag: migrationOperation Sovereign Border

Karl-May-Verlag v OHMI - Constantin Film Produktion (WINNETOU)
Intellectual and industrial property
The General Court upholds publisher Karl-May’s action against the EU Trademark Office’s decision to annul the Community trade mark WINNETOU

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

Earth Hour, a global World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiative to raise awareness about climate change, will be marked by the European Parliament. All lights in its buildings will be switched off between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on March 19.

“Following the COP21 agreement, this year’s Earth Hour has a particular significance,” said European Parliament President Martin Schulz. “Thanks to the agreement reached in Paris we have to move from pledges to actions, from mapping the route for the future to walking on that route. Everyone has to commit to stop global warming and saving the planet – every individual, every organisation and every institution. That’s why the European Parliament is proud to take part in the Earth Hour.”

WWF is calling on everyone – individuals, businesses, governments and communities – to participate in Earth Hour by turning off their lights for one hour on March 19.

Last year, 172 countries and territories participated in Earth Hour and more than 10,000 landmarks and monuments switched off their lights. In Europe, these included the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Acropolis in Athens, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the Colosseum in Rome, the Alhambra in Granada and the Houses of Parliament in London.

The post European Parliament to go dark for Earth Hour appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

Italian officials blame the good weather for a sudden increase in immigration crossings from Libya, with ships picking up 3,100 migrants over the past three days.

As reported by The Associated Press (AP), some 712 migrants were picked up March 17 on top of 2,400 the two previous days, all grouped in small, flimsy rubber dinghies in international waters near Libya. Three bodies were found during rescues by mostly Italian ships on March 15.

“In these days there has been a window of weather that has been good for transiting this section of sea,” Coast Guard Cmdr. Filippo Marini said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says 9,800 migrants have arrived in Italy this year through March 16, compared with 7,400 in the same period last year. Spokeswoman Barbara Molinario said that it was too early to speak of trends and this kind of concentration in short periods is not unprecedented — even if periods of calm seas in the winter are limited.

Most of the arrivals this year are migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Molinario said, a flow that indicates that the closures along the route from Greece have not led to a shift of the people in that area toward Libya.

“They are the same that transited Libya last year, and not the Syrians, Afghan and Iraqis who go through Greece There is no sign of a change of route, although we don’t exclude that there can be one.”

The post From Libya to Italy, thousands of refugees arrive in rubber dinghies appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

British MPs and an MEP wrote a letter to US President Barack Obama asking him to stay out of Britain’s referendum on the country’s membership of the European Union (EU).

The letter, was the initiative of Leave.EU and the Grassroots Out Brexit campaigns, and carries the signatures of Peter Bone (Conservative), Kate Hoey (Labor), Kelvin Hopkins (Labor), Tom Pursglove (Conservative), Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party), and UKIP leader and member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage.

The letter states: “With so much at stake, it is imperative that the question of exiting the European Union is not one answered by foreign politicians or outside interests, but rather by the British people who must ultimately live with change or the status quo.

The British politicians declare: “issues of national sovereignty must be decided exclusively by the people of the United Kingdom”. They state: “even a passive diplomatic recommendation in the matter of our national decision will receive the opposite of the intended effect.”

“The referendum vote is an act of democracy in its most direct form, and the question of whether or not to leave the EU is a rare political topic that is not owned by any one political party. This is a chance for the British people to choose the path of their country. Interfering in our debate over national sovereignty would be an unfortunate milestone at the end of your term as President.”

Kate Hoey MP said of the warning: “We felt it is important the President of the United States is aware that feelings will run high in the UK if he chooses to make an intervention. We have chosen to respectfully request he recognizes matters of sovereignty are best left to the citizens directly affected. We would certainly never think of visiting the United States and telling the US public how to vote in an election or the amendment of their constitution.”

Peter Bone MP added: “Whatever the President perceives the interests of the US to be it would be better for the relationship between our countries and his reputation with the British people if he kept his counsel to himself.”

British daily, The Independent, reported that Obama is expected to travel to the UK in April and use his power to persuade the Britons to remain in the EU. A governmental source told the Independent: “Barack Obama is coming over at around that time. You wouldn’t look stupid saying that [the President is going to tell British voters to stay in the EU]. It would be pretty shocking if he didn’t ask voters to stay in the EU.”

Bob Corker, the chairman of the US Senate foreign relations committee, said in February, that Obama was planning “a big, public reach-out” to convince the British citizens about the positives deriving from the EU Membership.

Tim Farron, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, told the British daily that the visit of the US President was “welcome”. He added: “This is a reminder that if Britain wants to be a big player on the world stage, then being in the EU is one of the ways we achieve it.

“Sometimes our friends from outside have a clear picture on where we stand. People often refer to the fact that we’re the fifth biggest economy in the world, but they forget we were only the seventh biggest economy when we joined the European Community [in 1973]. Our political relevance is enhanced by the EU,” Farron stressed.

The post British MPs ask Obama not to intervene in EU referendum debate appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

Syrian Kurds declared a de-facto federal region in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, after the end of a two-day conference in the town of Rmeilan in the Syrian province of Hassakeh on Thursday.

Representatives of the Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian communities and other ethnic groups participated in the conference and commonly decided to bring the three Kurdish-led autonomous areas (Jazira, Kobani and Afrin) under the umbrella of one federal region, called Rojava. According to the statement released after the conference, the federal region will be a part of Syria and an autonomous state.

“At least 200 representatives have met in Rmeilan to put forward this decision. We expect to hold several other meetings to discuss how the administration of this region will be organized… a federal and democratic Syria is a guarantee of coexistence and brotherly relations,” the statement reads.

The announcement was not welcomed by the Syrian government, as the Syrian Foreign Ministry said that “any such announcement has no legal value and will not have any legal, political, social or economic impact as long as it does not reflect the will of the entire Syrian people.” One of the main enemies of the Syrian regime, the Syrian National Coalition, also rejected the Syrian Kurds declaration and warned of any attempt to form autonomous regions that “confiscate the will of the Syrian people.”

According to Reuters, Washington, which supports Rojava forces in their battle against the Islamic State, also said that it would not recognize the new federation. “We don’t support self-ruled, semi-autonomous zones inside Syria. We just don’t,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby and added. “What we want to see is a unified, whole Syria that has in place a government that is not led by Bashar al-Assad, that is responsive to the Syrian people. Whole, unified, nonsectarian Syria, that’s the goal.”

On the other hand, according to the Associated Press (AP), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week said that a federal system in Syria, is one possible option if the Syrian people agree to it.

Turkey, which is on war with the Syrian Kurds, also rejected the establishment of the federal region. A Turkish official told Reuters: “Syria must remain as one without being weakened and the Syrian people must decide on its future in agreement and with a constitution. Every unilateral initiative will harm Syria’s unity.”

However, the move most probably angered the Turkish government which fears that the growing Kurdish power in Syria will cause separatism movements in Southern Eastern Turkey, where most of the Turkish Kurds live. The Turkish government has already started military operations against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Northern Syria and against the outlawed Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party (PKK) in Southern Eastern Turkey.

Syrian peace talks

Meanwhile, the UN envoy for Syria emerged from the fourth day of peace talks in Geneva to tell reporters that significant gaps remain between the two sides.

Staffan de Mistura said he’d host both sides separately on Friday to accelerate the process. He also said there were “no discussions about federalism” — a reference to the Syrian Kurdish declaration. De Mistura has said though that the Syrian Kurds deserve a spot at the negotiating table in Geneva.

Even though the Syrian Kurds are the most effective ground forces in the war against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria the PYD was left out of from the peace talks. The exclusion of the Syria Kurds, was in line with the demand of the Turkish government, which sees the Syrian party as a terrorist group which co-operates with PKK and threats the Turkish interests equally as the IS.

However, the rest of the international community doesn’t see PYD as a terrorist group and Moscow, strongly insisted that the Kurds should have been invited to the upcoming peace talks, suggesting that leaving them out could endanger Syria’s territorial integrity.

Rodi Osman, the head of Syrian Kurdistan’s office in Moscow, told Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, that the exclusion of the Syrian Kurds from the peace talks was a definite factor for the Rojava declaration.

“The second round of inter-Syrian talks is underway in Geneva, but Syrian Kurds were not invited. It means that the future of Syria and its society is decided without Kurds. In fact, we are pushed back into a conservative, old-fashioned system which does not fit well with us,” Osman said and added. “In light of this, we see only one solution which is to declare the creation of [Kurdish] federation. It will serve the interests of the Kurds, but also those of Arabs, Turks, Assyrians, Chechens and Turkomans – all parts of Syria’s multinational society. Given the complicated situation in Syria, we would become an example of a system that may resolve the Syrian crisis.”

The post Syrian Kurds declare de-facto federal region in Northern Syria despite criticism appeared first on New Europe.

36shares Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+What's This?var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

European Union leaders will try to convince Turkey’s prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday to accept a common plan to help end Europe’s migration crisis in return for financial and political concessions but they remain unsure if Friday’s Brussels summit can clinch a deal.

“Tomorrow’s negotiations with Turkey won’t be very easy,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who devised the outlines of the plan with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, after EU leaders agreed a common stance on Thursday.

At late night talks in Brussels on Thursday, leaders arrived at a common for negotiations with Turkey that they said would not result in mass deportations and some differences were bridged over sweeteners to give Turkey in exchange for its help.

But Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that reaching an agreement had not been easy.

“There too, it is a complicated process,” he said. “I think we can get a deal out of this, we have to get a deal out of this. But the race is not really finished yet.”

A senior Turkish official told Reuters that Davutoglu would press the EU to open up new areas of negotiation on its long-stalled bid to join the bloc, despite a veto threat by Cyprus.

“We’re on the right track but we’re not there yet,” French President Francois Hollande told reporters after the first day of talks in Brussels. “I can’t guarantee you a happy ending.”

Even if they can overcome possible Turkish objections, Thursday’s EU discussions revealed considerable doubts among the Europeans themselves over whether a deal could be made either legal in international law, or workable.

Desperate to ease the pressure placed on Europe’s borders by the arrival of more than 1 million migrants in a year, the EU has turned to Turkey hoping to stem the flow of refugees into overburdened Greece.

The plan would essentially outsource Europe’s biggest refugee emergency in decades to Turkey, despite concerns about its sub-par asylum system and human rights abuses.

Under it, the EU would pay to send new migrants arriving in Greece who don’t qualify for asylum back to Turkey. For every migrant returned, the EU would accept one Syrian refugee, for a total of 72,000 people to be distributed among European states.

In exchange for the help of Turkey — home to 2.7 million Syrian refugees — the EU will offer up to 6 billion euros in aid, an easing of visa restrictions for Turkish citizens and faster EU membership talks.

The summit chairman, EU Council President Donald Tusk, and Rutte are scheduled to present Europe’s terms for an agreement to Davutoglu on Friday for his endorsement.

If Davutoglu objects, the heads of state and government of the 28 EU nations will meet again to reconsider their position.

But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel warned that Turkey must not expect a free ride: “We’d rather have no agreement than a bad agreement.”

Human rights groups and leading EU legislators have decried the plan as a cynical cave-in, sacrificing universal rights to pander to a restless electorate fed up with hosting people who are fleeing war and poverty.

Even some leaders acknowledged the EU was walking a tightrope.

“It is on the edge of international law,” Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said before leaders signed off on the tentative deal.

The post EU reaches common position on proposals for Turkey, but deal far from sure appeared first on New Europe.

78shares Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+What's This?var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

As the 28 EU heads of state and government went to dinner, they discussed economic issues with the European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi. “We need reforms and investments”, suggested an EU source, referring the to Jean-Claude Juncker investment plan of €72 billion.

Regarding the discussions that took place during the first part of the EU summit, the UK appears to have raised objections over VAT issues.

Concerning the migration issue, “atmospheric indications from EPP and S&D pre-Summit sessions were moving into a direction of the two political sides showing “understanding”. “Europe is facing a dilemma, either Idomeni, or Turkey”, an EU source insisted, talking about an agreement where Turkey would have a “processing role”. “None of the member states opposed” this, the EU source confirmed, while continuing to say that there would be a tripartite meeting between Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, European Council president Donald Tusk and European Commission president taking place either on Thursday late at night or on Friday morning.

On issues that remain open – like the Turkey agreement, the source pointed out that the EU’s determination remains intact, as there is a struggle in finding the correct wording on the five or six chapters in the negotiation of the country’s accession to the EU that appear to be “frozen”, due to Turkey’s refusal to implement the Ankara agreement on Cyprus. There is a common initiative on behalf of France and Cyprus concerning Turkey’s rejection of free circulation within Cyprus.

The 28 leaders are working at the moment in order to find a formula that secures Cyprus’ interests, but that will also provide acceptable wording for Turkey, “even in visual terms”. However, there is a second “objective difficulty”, if a deal between EU and Turkey is to be reached, as the plan has to be worked out in logistics terms, bearing a huge weight not only for Greece but for the EU as a whole. “Greece will then become a de facto outer border of Europe”.

New Europe has earlier presented the detailed plan that the European Commission was to present to the EU leaders tonight. “The alternative to this plan is not one, but many Idomeni-like situations”, the EU source concluded.

As far the visa liberalisation process is concerned, Turkey still has to fulfil the requirements of about half of 72 criteria by the end of April 2016, so that the EU can recommend to the member states the lifting of visa obligations for Turks on brief trips by the end of June.

The remaining problems consist of the French government’s opposing the visa liberalisation for Turks, partly on security grounds, due to popular fears that this would mean even more immigration, because modern, biometric passports would not be issued immediately. Cyprus also seeks for its citizens to be treated like all other EU citizens, something Turkey rejects since it does not recognise Cyprus as a state.

The post 28 EU leaders show ‘understanding’ while issues over Turkey and Cyprus remain open appeared first on New Europe.

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/62cfd496-6d9f-11e5-92fb-bc764e08d9b2_48.88_thumb_169_1458036453_1458036453_129_97shar_c1.jpg

EU heads of state or government meet on 17 March 2016 in Brussels to focus on migration and economic issues.

Download this video here.

Today, we have finally reached an agreement between the EU and Turkey. An agreement aimed at stopping the flow of irregular migration via Turkey to Europe.

Let me mention key elements that allowed us to reach this agreement in the last days and hours: 

First, we needed to ensure that each and every migrant arriving in Europe will be treated individually. In other words that our agreement complies with all EU and international laws. This includes the respect for the principle of non-refoulement and it excludes any kind of collective expulsions. The EU agencies and the UNHCR will be invited to participate in this process. As for the legality of this agreement I want to express my thanks to Jean-Claude and the Commission for their work and contribution. 

Second, I made it clear that this deal needs to be acceptable for all EU member states, regardless of their size. Today we have a balanced proposal that takes on board Cypriot concerns. When it comes to accession talks with Turkey, we agreed to open Chapter 33 during the Dutch presidency based on the Commission's proposal to be presented in April.

Finally, on timing. We agreed that all irregular migrants coming from Turkey into Greek islands as from 20 March, this Sunday, will be returned to Turkey. The implementation will be phased-in gradually and based on the so-called one-for-one principle.

On a more general note, some may think this agreement is a silver bullet. But reality is more complex. It is just one pillar of the European Union's comprehensive strategy and can work only if the other pillars are also implemented. This includes: strengthening the EU's external borders, keeping the Western Balkans' route closed and getting back to Schengen, amongst other elements.

Leaders called for strengthening of our cooperation with the Western Balkan countries in tackling the migration crisis. Yesterday I spoke with President Ivanov about it and reassured him of our support. 

Last night, we also discussed the economic situation in the presence of the ECB President Mario Draghi and endorsed recommendations on re-launching investment, implementing reforms and ensuring sound public finances. 

On climate, we tasked legislators to put in place everything necessary to enable the ratification of the Paris agreement as soon as possible. Leaders also decided that our plans to achieve energy security should be stepped up, in line with the Energy Union strategy. 

Last but not least, let me finish by saying that yesterday I discussed with President Petro Poroshenko, among others,  the case of Nadiya Savchenko, who is illegally detained in Russia. We also discussed this issue among leaders and I was asked to express the EU position that calls for the immediate release of Nadiya Savchenko along with Oleh Sentsov and all other Ukrainian citizens held in illegal detention. Thank you.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

EU leaders seem to be arriving at an agreement concerning their plan to send back to Turkey tens of thousands of would-be asylum seekers who set out by boat for the Greek islands, in exchange for concessions that would reward Ankara with billions of dollars in aid, unprecedented visa access to Europe and promises of faster European Union membership talks.

Leaders will meet on Friday with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Earlier today, Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel said that he would rather have no agreement than a bad one. “We are going to defend European interests.”

“Turkey is really asking for a lot. I refuse to accept negotiations that sometimes resemble a form of blackmail,” said Charles Michel.

Human rights groups and leading EU legislators decried the plan as a cynical move, sacrificing universal rights to reward a restless electorate fed up with hosting people who are fleeing war and poverty.

Even some leaders acknowledged the EU was walking a tightrope.

“It is on the edge of international law,” Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said of the outline deal that the 28-nation bloc hopes to sign off on before putting it up for approval to Turkey on Friday.

Some also criticized Turkey, which hosts 2.7 million refugees, complaining it was cynically trying to exploit the situation to win concessions well beyond its reach under normal circumstances.

Desperate to plug a yawning border hole that has seen more than 1 million people arrive in Europe in search of sanctuary or jobs, EU leaders have been increasingly looking to outsource management of the influx to Turkey.

They see the deal with Turkey as a way to halt the flow by land and sea, especially as the weather turns warmer, and prevent people from turning to unscrupulous smugglers.

Under the plan, set to be finalized Friday in the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the EU would resettle one Syrian refugee currently in Turkey to the EU, in exchange for each person that Turkey takes back to Greece.

Other issues of trust have surfaced. The EU will provide Turkey with 3 billion euros to help Syrian refugees, but will only increase that fund by up to another 3 billion euros more if Ankara uses the money appropriately.

Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament, said that “it cannot be the Turks who decide who enters the EU as a refugee. We have to keep the keys to Europe in our own hands.”

Spain also opposes any blanket return of migrants, even though the EU’s executive Commission insists that every migrant will have an individual interview and the right to appeal.

Cyprus is threatening to veto one of the sweeteners meant to win Turkey’s backing; faster EU membership talks. Turkey does not recognize the Mediterranean island’s Greek-Cypriot government.

“Every candidate country should fulfill its obligations, and it’s obvious that unfortunately, until now, Turkey hasn’t,” President Nicos Anastasiades said today.

The post EU leaders are nearing an agreement on Turkey, refugees appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

Privacy Shield is a transatlantic framework agreement that will “limit” and “regulate” how US firms handle European citizens’ data.

The agreement was concluded by the European Commission on February 2nd. But, the European Parliament feels the agreement is neither limiting nor regulating enough. And in any case, it is unlikely to survive legal scrutiny.

The digital transatlantic partnership

On Thursday, March 17, Members of the European Parliament were holding a hearing trying to scrutinize a transatlantic partnership worth billions of Euros and Dollars, but one that has received much less media attention. That is the so-called “Privacy Shield.”

Privacy Shield was the fruit of a negotiation that started in November 2015 to be concluded within three months, that is, a record by any measure. The Members of the “Citizens’ Rights, Justice and Home Affairs Committee” are scrutinizing an agreement that technology firms are quite eager to see ratified as soon as possible.

4,000 US-based tech-corporations operating in Europe, from Facebook and Google to Twitter and LinkedIn do not have a legal framework that regulates how the data they mine from individual citizens can be stored, used, and shared.

For an industry whose bread and butter is data that is quite consequential.

An industry on thin air

On October 6 2015, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that permitting US public authorities “access on a generalized basis” to the content of electronic communications “must be regarded as compromising the essence of the fundamental right to respect for private life,” that is, article seven of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In effect, the ECJ obliterated the Safe Harbour agreement concluded by the Prodi Commission in 2000.

This was of course the result of a battle initiated by the Austrian litigation-activist, Max Shrems. Since Edward Snowden revealed the US intelligence operation “PRISM,” through which US authorities drew personal data from Facebook, Twitter, and Google, Schrems sought to find out whether his own data were protected. The Austrian law graduate began his litigation battle in Ireland – Facebook’s tax heaven of operations – and moved on to the ECJ.

Following the ECJ ruling in October 2015, the whole tech-sector in Europe was standing on regulatory thin air. A working group of 28 data protection regulators in the EU gave the European Commission a January deadline to come up with an agreement. Meanwhile, US-based technology firms were asked to limit Europeans’ personal data transfer to the United States.

For the industry, the clock was clearly ticking.

But, politics requires time

Today, the European Commission contends that Privacy Shield improves data protection standards. New standards include a US-based dedicated ombudsman to allow Europeans to raise concerns or complaints.

European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip, says that “personal data is fully protected.” Vĕra Jourová added that “the United States has given the EU binding assurances that public authority access for national security purposes will be subject to clear limitations, safeguards and oversight mechanisms.”

The EPP spokesperson, Axel Voss, moved to support the European Commission suggesting that the agreement is “of paramount importance to our digital economy” calling the new framework “clear” and “reasonable.”

Others are less convinced.

The Socialists and Democrats spokesperson, Birgit Sippel, said that the agreement does nopt seem “to rectify the problems with the previous system,” which means “it is unlikely to stand up in court.” ALDE group First Vice-President Sophie in ‘t Veld  also doubted “an ombudsman will have sufficient powers to oversee US intelligence services.” GUE/NGL accused the Commission of “merrily letting data transfers to the US continue” despite the ECJ ruling. The Greens/EFA group MEP Jan Albrecht called the “Privacy Shield” a reheating of the “Safe Harbour.”

The post Privacy Shield: a transatlantic partnership with many opponents appeared first on New Europe.

74shares Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+What's This?var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

An extraordinary assistance programme to Greece is being drafted by the EU in order to achieve the fast implementation of the new asylum scheme, as well as the already approved relocation and readmission plan for refugees.

An EU source stated that in order to transfer migrants and refugees from the Greek islands to the mainland, and to implement the 1/1 scheme between Greece and Turkey, solid further assistance will be needed.

Greece will need 200 supplementary border control officers who will register the incoming migrants and refugees as supervisors of the whole procedure. Athens will also need 400 asylum handlers from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), 50 repatriation specialists through the FRONTEX mechanism, 40 judges and other specialists in asylum law, 150 translators and further technical assistance.

EU sources confirm that the EU Commission’s plan has not yet been presented to any member state, not even to Greece.

At the moment, the heads of states and governments are taking a 20 minutes break, after dinner, in order to resume their negotiations surrounding the draft reports on migration that are on the table.

The post European Commission presents plan on human capital and technical assistance to Greece appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC members will meet on April 17 in Doha in a bid to stabilise falling crude prices, Qatar’s Energy Minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada reportedly said on March 16.

The Qatari minister, who is also the current OPEC president, said in a statement that 15 OPEC and non-OPEC members accounting for some 73% of global oil output supported the initiative, including the world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak also said some 15 countries were expected to take part in the meeting. “We talked with ministers of different countries today and discussed the date of the relevant meeting and consultations between OPEC and non-OPEC countries. We agree such meeting will take place on April 17 in Doha,” TASS quoted Novak as saying, adding that documents for the meeting will be prepared during the remaining time.

“This is most likely to be a resolution or a joint declaration setting forth intentions of the parties to freeze oil production at the level not higher than in January 2016,” Novak added.

Brent crude was trading just under $39 a barrel on March 16, up from a 12-year low of $27.10 reached in January.

Iraq, the biggest source of OPEC supply growth in 2015, reportedly said on March 14 that the freeze initiative was acceptable.

“Measures to monitor arrangements will be discussed, he said. “Qatar, the chairing country in the OPEC, will now send invitations to all countries, both OPEC and non-OPEC members. About fifteen countries confirmed participation within the consultations framework,” Novak said.

Iran is ready to take part in the meeting, Novak said. The meeting will also discuss proposals on measures if production stabilisation arrangements are breached, he added.

Meanwhile, RT quoted Novak as saying that Tehran needs an individual approach in an oil production freeze, as the Islamic Republic’s production is at its lowest.

Konstantin Simonov, the general director of Russia’s National Energy Security Fund, told New Europe on March 17 that even without Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, “all of them together, produce some 26-27 million barrels per day so it will be enough. But, of course, there are a lot of obstacles in this story because first of all you can avoid Iran if you are speaking about the real amount of production. But if you are speaking about psychological aspect you can’t avoid Iran”. Simonov added that Iran is a member of OPEC and without the Islamic country “psychologically you cannot have the full deal”.

“But it is not only the Iran problem. This triangle Russia-Iran-Saudi Arabia is a very problematic. Saudi Arabia is one of the most serious political enemies of Russia. At least now we have a common threat – low oil prices,” he said.

“We can say this common threat can unite us and we can have common position on this issue but in reality we’re still enemies and it’s also the question what will be the result of this Syrian story, withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria because for Iran it was a very bad surprise. Iran was disappointed by this decision of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin but we were disappointed by the policy of Iran in Syria because the idea was very simple: Russia will give air force but Iran will give ground operations and Iran was not involved in this war,” Simonov said.

The post Oil producers want to prop up prices appeared first on New Europe.