European Union

Plenary sessions : MEPs urge all parties in the Syrian war, and especially Russia and the Assad regime, to stop bombing civilians, in a resolution voted on Thursday. They condemn the recent attacks on hospitals and a humanitarian relief convoy and call on International Syria Support Group members to resume negotiations for a stable truce and an eventual peace deal in Syria.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : MEPs urge all parties in the Syrian war, and especially Russia and the Assad regime, to stop bombing civilians, in a resolution voted on Thursday. They condemn the recent attacks on hospitals and a humanitarian relief convoy and call on International Syria Support Group members to resume negotiations for a stable truce and an eventual peace deal in Syria.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

https://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/BCA_Logo_thumb_169_1475573594_1475573593_129_97shar_c1.png

On 5 October, the EU and Afghanistan co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. For the international community, it is the opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to Afghan peace, state-building and development. Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, High Representative Federica MOGHERINI and Neven MIMICA, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation, represent the European Union. President Ashraf GHANI and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah ABDULLAH represent Afghanistan.

Download this video here.

Plenary sessions : Parliament condemns any act of intimidation, arrest, detention or prosecution of opposition party leaders, members and activists in Rwanda, the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of civilians and human rights breaches in Sudan, and the guilty verdict against worker's rights defender Andy Hall in Thailand, in three separate resolutions voted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament condemns any act of intimidation, arrest, detention or prosecution of opposition party leaders, members and activists in Rwanda, the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of civilians and human rights breaches in Sudan, and the guilty verdict against worker's rights defender Andy Hall in Thailand, in three separate resolutions voted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : An EU Commission proposal to tighten up existing rules for the Transparency Register, which lists independent organisations and other lobbyists seeking access to the EU institutions, was welcomed by MEPs in a debate on Wednesday evening. The changes would include the Council in the system alongside the Commission and Parliament, clarify definitions, improve monitoring and introduce penalties for breaches. MEPs debated the proposal on Wednesday evening.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : An EU Commission proposal to tighten up existing rules for the Transparency Register, which lists independent organisations and other lobbyists seeking access to the EU institutions, was welcomed by MEPs in a debate on Wednesday evening. The changes would include the Council in the system alongside the Commission and Parliament, clarify definitions, improve monitoring and introduce penalties for breaches. MEPs debated the proposal on Wednesday evening.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The ‘European project’ has weathered many storms. Confronted with a range of serious challenges, the EU has demonstrated what systems theorists describe as the “essential adaptive capacities” of complex self-regulating systems. Successive stages of political integration have helped to address legitimate sources of popular criticism that could otherwise have jeopardised the project’s future.

But this crisis is like no other. And to survive, the EU’s adaptations have to go beyond the gradual or incremental. The UK’s Brexit vote was a partly symptom of public concern about “liberal” EU migration policies. Illiberal and openly Eurosceptic governments have sprung up in many parts of Europe. Popular resentment over EU-led austerity policies continues. As a result, there is an increased possibility of the Union breaking up in the medium to long term.

So where does the EU look for inspiration?

One source could be the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, signed a year ago by 193 UN member states. Agenda 2030 represents an important global paradigm around which the EU and its member states could mobilise, renew their political mission, and align their strategic positioning in a wider global context.

“By aligning its policies with Agenda 2030, the EU could renew its own mission and vision, and strengthen the case for political and economic cooperation”

Agenda 2030 addresses a wide range of issues – poverty, education, healthcare and gender equality; sustainable production and consumption, climate change and industrial development; peaceful societies, good governance and global partnership.

By aligning its policies with this new global framework, the EU could seize the opportunity to renew its own overarching mission and political vision and even strengthen the case for continued European political and economic cooperation. It could develop a new and compelling European narrative that may help citizens to engage more fully with the European project.

The implementation of this new global framework in Europe has the potential to kick-start a green industrial revolution across EU member states. The EU can position itself as a leader in many areas where its policy-making is more advanced than that of other regions: social policy, the environment and climate change, to give three examples.

Agenda 2030 also allows the EU to shift its focus from economic policy to a broader emphasis on promoting prosperity and well-being. There will be considerable opportunities for the EU to take a global lead in developing and legitimising alternative measures of economic progress when evaluating its implementation of Agenda 2030. These alternative measures of economic progress (such as the Human Development Index and the OECD Better Life Index) could serve as important benchmarks in an era when economic growth indicators are static or falling (and they could be very valuable in developing countries, where growth in GDP often masks a rise in inequality).

Implementation of Agenda 2030 is likely to promote and strengthen the EU’s external trade. Other countries and regions need the technical and industrial experience of the Union and its member states to guide them towards more sustainable development. There is a significant opportunity for private companies, professional bodies and non-governmental organisations in Europe to provide technical advice, policy support and training to their counterparts in other regions of the world. The prospects for maintaining free and open global trading systems between the EU and the rest of the world are greatly enhanced if all countries are collaborating technically and financially in the implementation of a comprehensive, measurable, sustainable development agenda such as Agenda 2030.

“International financial changes would not be risk-free, but the alternative – ignoring economic and political stability and the possible decline and eventual collapse of the EU – is riskier”

But this comprehensive and ambitious global agenda needs resources – both non-financial and financial. Deflationary trends are long-standing and could continue indefinitely. So now is a good opportunity for international political and economic leaders to convene a Bretton Woods II summit to agree levels of innovative, debt-free, public finance that are sufficient to implement Agenda 2030 globally. It would be an unprecedented but timely act; a judicious policy response in the face of continuing deflation in the global economy.

While such international action would not be risk-free, the alternative – continuing to ignore the threats to global economic and political stability, including the possible decline and eventual collapse of the EU – is riskier. And if future migratory flows to the EU and other parts of the Global North are to be mitigated, there must be a comprehensive development plan for poorer and more conflict-prone countries. Agenda 2030 is a key part of that plan.

Given the many daunting challenges that face the EU, the institutions and the member states need to take bold action. Full implementation of Agenda 2030 in the Union’s internal and external policies, with innovative financing agreed internationally, is the kind of action that is required. Otherwise, Europe is likely to continue the gradual political decline that may even lead to the demise of the European project.

IMAGE CREDIT: CC / FLICKR – United Nations Photo

The post A progressive Agenda to revitalise Europe appeared first on Europe’s World.

Length of video : 21'
You may manually download this video in WMV (264Mb) format

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 6 October 2016, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is being officially launched, less than a year after it was first proposed by the Commission. The launch event takes place at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint at the Bulgarian external border with Turkey and includes a presentation of the vehicles, equipment and teams of the new Agency, as well as a press conference attended by Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Bulgaria Rumiana Bachvarova, State Secretary of the Interior Ministry of the Slovak Republic Denisa Sakova, Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Fabrice Leggeri, EU interior ministers and other senior officials. Building on the foundations of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will closely monitor the EU's external borders and work together with Member States to quickly identify and address any potential security threats to the EU's external borders. 

Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, holder of the rotating Presidency of the Council, said: "By launching the European Border and Coast Guard, we are creating a new reality at our external borders. This is a tangible outcome of the joint commitment agreed in the Bratislava Roadmap, as well as a practical display of unity among Member States. It will help us to get back to Schengen. The Presidency is determined to help further strengthen the European Border and Coast Guard, as well as translate other commitments from the Roadmap into action."

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said: "Today is a milestone in the history of European border management. From now onwards, the external EU border of one Member State is the external border of all Member States - both legally and operationally. In less than one year we have established a fully-fledged European Border and Coast Guard system, turning into reality the principles of shared responsibility and solidarity among the Member States and the Union. This is exactly the European response that we need for the security and migration challenges of the 21st century."

Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Fabrice Leggeri, said: “This is a historic moment and I am very proud to see Frontex become the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The new Agency is stronger and better equipped to tackle migration and security challenges at Europe's external borders. Its mandate has wider scope and new powers that will allow it to act effectively. The Agency will conduct stress tests at the external borders to identify vulnerabilities before a crisis hits. It will now also be able to offer operational support to neighbouring non-EU countries who ask for assistance at their border and share intelligence on cross-border criminal activities with national authorities and European agencies in support of criminal investigations.  It also has a key role at Europe's maritime borders through its new coast guard functions.”

Under the new mandate, the Agency's role and activities have been significantly expanded. The Agency's permanent staff will be more than doubled and the Agency will be able to purchase its own equipment and deploy them in border operations at short notice. A rapid reserve pool of at least 1,500 border guards and a technical equipment pool will be put at the disposal of the Agency - meaning there will no longer be shortages of staff or equipment for Agency operations. The European Border and Coast Guard will now ensure the implementation of Union standards of border management through periodic risk analysis and mandatory vulnerability assessments.  

The European Border and Coast Guard will provide a missing link in strengthening Europe's external borders, so that people can continue to live and move freely within the European Union - helping to meet Europe's commitment to get back to the normal functioning of the Schengen area and the lifting of temporary internal border controls by the end of the year, as set out in the Commission's Back to Schengen Roadmap on 4 March. 

Over the next months, the new Agency will be fully rolled out:

• 6 OCTOBER 2016: new Agency is legally operational

• 7 DECEMBER 2016: rapid reaction pool and the rapid reaction equipment pool become operational

• BY DECEMBER 2016: 50 new recruitments in the Agency

• 7 JANUARY 2017: return pools become operational

• JANUARY-MARCH 2017: first vulnerability assessments.

 

Background

The establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard, as announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union Speech on 9 September 2015, is part of the measures set out under the European Agenda on Migration to reinforce the management and security of the EU's external borders. The Schengen area without internal borders is only sustainable if the external borders are effectively secured and protected. 

On 15 December 2015, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal for the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard, building on existing structures of Frontex, to meet the new challenges and political realities faced by the EU, both as regards migration and internal security. The European Border and Coast Guard was approved by the European Parliament and Council in a record time of just nine months.

The European Border and Coast Guard will help to manage migration more effectively, improve the internal security of the European Union and safeguard the principle of free movement of persons. The establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard will ensure a strong management of the EU's external borders as a shared responsibility between the Union and its Member States.

To receive the Brussels Briefing in your inbox every morning, sign up here

There was a meeting last week that should make Brexiters sit up and take note. Captains of European business – the “European Roundtable of Industrialists” – held their annual evening pow-wow with Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and Jean-Claude Juncker. This year the venue was the chancellery in Berlin. After enjoying white wine on the balcony and a Berlin sunset, the assorted executives (all male) moved to the dining room and a discussion of Europe’s economic future.

Read more

On 5 October, the European Union and the government of Afghanistan co-hosted the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. This conference brought together  75 countries and 26 international organisations and agencies. 

Participants endorsed the ambitiousreform agenda presented by the Afghan government. They undertook  to ensure continued international political and financial support for Afghanistan over the next four years. The total sum  committed  by the international community is  US$15.2 billion (+/- €13.6 billion). The EU and its member states committed toUS$5.6 billion (+/- €5 million)This is an exceptional level of funding which ensures that Afghanistan will remain on a firm path to political and economic stability, state-building and development. The regional stakeholders and the international community also reaffirmed their commitment to a political process towards lasting peace and reconciliation.

"The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan expressed impressive international commitment. With this support, I am sure that the Afghan government will succeed. Investing in the Afghan people is a way of investing in international stability and our own present and future. It was a very successful conference, both financially and politically, which will inject the new energy needed for the future of Afghanistan."

Federica Mogheri, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policy.

"A promise has been made. Redeeming of the promise doesn't depend on the international community but on the Afghan nation. It will be translated to budget and dispersment, and then to programs and projects. It is a promise to the poor, to the youth, the women, the excluded that they will be citizens of a State that they will enjoy living in and prosper"

Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan at the final press conference

Plenary sessions : Attempts to make Poland’s stringent sexual and reproductive health laws still more restrictive sparked a heated debate in the Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs focused on a national bill to ban all abortions, but the European Parliament’s legal right to debate the topic was also hotly contested.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Attempts to make Poland’s stringent sexual and reproductive health laws still more restrictive sparked a heated debate in the Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs focused on a national bill to ban all abortions, but the European Parliament’s legal right to debate the topic was also hotly contested.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The rejection in last Sunday’s plebiscite of the peace deal agreed by the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) was a disappointment, but it does not compromise the peace process, which a majority of MEPs consider “irreversible”. In a plenary debate on Wednesday, they urged the EU to continue supporting the negotiations and insisted that the FARC should be kept off the list of terrorist groups.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The rejection in last Sunday’s plebiscite of the peace deal agreed by the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) was a disappointment, but it does not compromise the peace process, which a majority of MEPs consider “irreversible”. In a plenary debate on Wednesday, they urged the EU to continue supporting the negotiations and insisted that the FARC should be kept off the list of terrorist groups.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : With the collapse of a US-Russia brokered ceasefire last month, the war in Syria looks as intractable as ever and violence has escalated in the past fortnight. During a plenary debate on Wednesday afternoon several MEPs criticised Russia’s involvement in the conflict with others calling for the EU to play a greater role in resolving the crisis.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : With the collapse of a US-Russia brokered ceasefire last month, the war in Syria looks as intractable as ever and violence has escalated in the past fortnight. During a plenary debate on Wednesday afternoon several MEPs criticised Russia’s involvement in the conflict with others calling for the EU to play a greater role in resolving the crisis.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 5 October 2016, the 75 countries and 26 international organisations participating in the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 5 October 2016 issued a communiqué, renewing the partnership for prosperity and peace between the National Unity Government of Afghanistan and the international community. They underlined  their collective commitment to deepen and strengthen their cooperation to achieve Afghanistan's self-reliance in the transformation decade (2015-2024) and to create a political, social and economic environment that will allow Afghanistan to consolidate peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity. They noted that important progress has been achieved on Afghanistan's way to a functioning, accountable and increasingly sustainable state, but the substantial challenges that the country still faces require further efforts to safeguard and build on these joint achievements. To foster this progress, they reaffirmed their commitment to the following three pillars over the transformation decade: 

• Afghan-led state and institution building as outlined by the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and the Self Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF);
• Sustained international support and funding at or near current levels through 2020 with increased aid effectiveness;
• Regional and international support for ending violence to foster economic development and improve regional economic cooperation, and for a political process towards lasting peace and reconciliation.