Euobserver.com

By opening Turkey's border, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants to push Europe into supporting him in Ankara's negotiations with Russia's Vladimir Putin for a deal on Syria's Idlib.

The EU's unprecedented climate law will be unveiled on Wednesday, making its 2050 climate-neutrality goal irreversible, but proposal has been criticised for postponing action on the 'climate emergency'.

Greece is now "Europe's shield" said the European Commission, as it shores up border patrols on the Turkish border. But when it comes to Greece suspending asylum claims, the same institution was unable to comment.

In some parts of the world people are used to unpredictability. Europeans are not. Brexit has made them aware of the importance to stay together, especially in an increasingly-hostile environemnt with powers like Russia, Turkey, China and the US.

Critics misread the public mood when they claim that migration restrictions are a sign of creeping authoritarianism. More restrictive court judgements would result in broader support for common migration policies across the EU.

In a worst-case scenario, some 20 percent of the UK workforce would be off work with the coronavirus, the British government warned on Tuesday. That would mean enforced absence from work and self-quarantining, while shops, offices and schools were closed, the government action plan stated. As of Tuesday, there were 51 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

Several MEPs asked EU Parliament president David Sassoli why climate activist Greta Thunberg's event can go ahead on Wednesday when all other visitors are banned due to fears over the coronavirus. Centre-right EPP MEP Nuno Melo asked in an email: "I would like to request to hear the considered reasons for the exception granted to the citizen Greta Thunberg." Around 130 events have been cancelled due to the lockdown.

The EU Commission is evaluating the compatibility of German ex-commissioner Guenther Oettinger's possible job at the Hungarian Science Policy Council with EU rules, an EU official said. Oettinger formally told the commission on 26 February, after being appointed to by Hungarian PM Viktor Orban on 5 February. Ex-commissioners have to notify the executive within "a minimum of two months". The commission then checks and authorises the role.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg said she is "honoured" to be on the Hungarian state media watch list after Politico said that staff there need permission to report on her. "Lists like these should never exist. But since they do, I guess it's an honour to be on them... This shows the importance of democracy. Freedom of the press is non-negotiable," she tweeted. Thunberg will be in Brussels on Wednesday.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft amendment to Russia's constitution that would enshrine marriage as being between a man and a woman, the Guardian writes. This measure is part of a 24-page document that would also name Russia as the successor to the Soviet Union, mention Russians' "faith in God", and ensure the "defence of historical truth" regarding the Soviet role in the second world war.

Some 12 EU states, led by Denmark, have urged the EU to quickly adopt new emissions goals to set an example to others at an international climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. "If the fact that the EU goes in front is going to have an effect, then it not only needs to be before the summit, but also well in advance," Danish climate minister Dan Joergensen said.

Russian planes fired at civilians on at least two occasions in Syria in what amounted to war crimes, UN investigators have said. A strike on Ma'arrat al-Nu'man last July killed 43 people, while one in Haas in August killed 20. "The Russian air force did not direct the attacks at a specific military objective, amounting to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas," the UN report said.

Along with Greece, Hungary has also closed down its borders to asylum seekers, while Bulgaria's premier Boyko Borissov was due to meet with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

UK and EU negotiators are once again hunched over the negotiating tables this week, to try to come to an agreement on their future relationship. Several hurdles will to be overcome - in a very short time.

Europe can do more to stop the wars in Syria and Libya, and thus avoid a major comeback of Isis. Avoiding the causes of new movements of refugees is smarter than just closing borders.

A delegation of MEPs from the civil liberties committee have warned of the remaining "deficiencies" of the EU-US 'privacy shield' framework, amid concerns over the efficiency of this mechanism to protect EU citizens' fundamental rights.

Greece cannot waive its obligation to help asylum seekers by citing EU protocols, the UN has pointed out.

The European disease prevention agency on Monday increased the risk of coronavirus infection in the EU to "high," as the outbreak spread to 18 member states. The commission also launched a "corona response team" to work on halting the disease.

Latvia said Monday a citizen thought to be working for Russia has been arrested for allegedly trying to recruit a secret service officer to also spy for Moscow, AFP reports. Contacted by AFP, the Russian embassy in Latvia declined comment. Russian espionage activity in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania has increased since tensions with the West have grown over its backing for rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Top EU officials vowed a new era for the European Union after Brexit, but warned the UK that leaving the EU also has consequences.