European Union

Close borders, ramp up Frontex - at a refugee summit in Vienna eleven EU member states have agreed on measures aimed at stopping irregular migration along the Balkan route for good. Some journalists see the decisions as progress, while for others closing more doors is tantamount to capitulation.

After the most devastating bomb attacks on Aleppo since the start of the war in Syria, Russia and the states of the West are blaming each other for the escalating violence in the country. While some commentators accuse Moscow of seeking a military solution to the conflict, others blame the US and Europe for remaining idle for too long.

Sweden's red-green governing coalition is planning to have the police raid workplaces in a bid to track down rejected asylum seekers who have gone underground. The step will strengthen people's trust in the legal system, some commentators believe. Others criticise the Green Party's change of stance as inhumane.

A well-known artist couple in Romania has withdrawn their child from school and are having her schooled at home. This has triggered a lively debate about whether homeschooling is better than sending children to regular schools. Some commentators fear the erosion of the school system. Others say there are already too many private lessons after school.

General : The inquiry committee investigating the Panama papers starts its work this week by holding a hearing with the journalists who unveiled how tax evaders have been hiding their funds in overseas tax havens. The industry committee discusses the European Commission's new proposal to prevent consumers abusing the abolition of roaming charges in June 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : The inquiry committee investigating the Panama papers starts its work this week by holding a hearing with the journalists who unveiled how tax evaders have been hiding their funds in overseas tax havens. The industry committee discusses the European Commission's new proposal to prevent consumers abusing the abolition of roaming charges in June 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk received the letters of credentials of the following Ambassadors:

H.E. Mr Bojan ŠARKIĆ, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of Montenegro to the European Union
H.E. Mr Urs BUCHER, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of the Swiss Confederation to the European Union
H.E. Mr Kazuo KODAMA, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of Japan to the European Union

Draft “fair use” safeguards to prevent mobile phone users from taking unfair advantage of EU rules on “roaming” charges were debated in the Industry Committee on Monday 26 September afternoon.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Draft “fair use” safeguards to prevent mobile phone users from taking unfair advantage of EU rules on “roaming” charges were debated in the Industry Committee on Monday 26 September afternoon.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The Council suspended the application of EU restrictive measures against the 'Fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia' ('Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia') known as 'FARC' on 27 September 2016. This decision follows the official signing on 26 September 2016 of the Colombia peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.

The organisation has been listed since June 2002 under the so-called "EU terrorist list", which established a list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts and subject to restrictive measures. Set down in common position 2001/931/CFSP, these measures impose an asset freeze on persons, groups and entities considered as involved in terrorist acts. It also prohibits EU persons and entities to make funds and economic resources available to them. 

The Colombian government and the FARC reached agreement on a peace deal to end more than 50 years of armed conflict on 25 August 2016. The signature ceremony takes place on 26 September 2016 in Cartagena.

The decision to suspend the sanctions against the FARC was adopted by the Council by written procedure. The legal acts are published in the Official Journal of 27 September 2016.