European Union

https://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/e12384d6-6da0-11e5-8721-bc764e08d9b2_112.9_thumb_169_1472033804_1472033804_129_97shar_c1.jpg

EU Ministers of Foreign and European Affairs meet in Brussels on 20 September 2016.

Download this video here.

Mr Marc van der Woude is elected Vice-President of the General Court of the European Union

Mr Marc Jaeger is re-elected President of the General Court of the European Union

First of all, allow me also to join others in expressing appreciation for President's Obama initiative to call this meeting.

In Europe, we are in no doubt, that today, one of the most urgent actions the international community must undertake, is the strengthening of the common response to the refugee crisis.

In comparison to other states who are present here today, the European Union stood out in 2015 as unable to effectively protect its external borders. This time of uncontrolled migration is coming to an end, and it won't repeat itself. The final goal we are aiming at, is that the refugees will get asylum in EU member states through resettlement, and not by embarking on a risky often tragic journey organised by smugglers.

Our determination to protect the EU's external border does not change the fact that Europe will remain the most open continent in the world. And the EU countries together with the United States will continue to make up the backbone of world humanitarian efforts.

Let me highlight the most significant actions the European Union is currently undertaking. Our humanitarian assistance to refugees worldwide has increased, from 1.35 billion euros in 2015 to 1.7 billion euros in 2016. And here I am only talking about the EU budget and not the national budgets of our 28 member states. Part of this funding is helping children to go to school in emergency settings. We provide significant financial and technical support to those countries who host most of the Syrian refugees, notably Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Our Compacts with those countries will help both refugees and people living in host communities to access education and to find a job. With regard to the Syrian crisis specifically, the EU has provided over 6.2 billion euros, which includes 3 billion euros pledged from the Union's budget at the "Supporting Syria" conference in London last February.

And finally, we are determined to strengthen the economic resilience of the countries affected by the refugee crisis, and the European Investment Bank will play its role in this respect.

Let me invite all international partners and stakeholders to step up their contributions. Only working hand in hand can we succeed in handling the refugee crisis. Thank you.

July's events in South Sudan continue to loom large.   During the fighting in July, hundreds lost their lives and atrocious acts of sexual violence were committed.  Those responsible must be brought to justice.  The EU calls for investigations to be opened into all crimes committed during the most recent fighting with a view to the prosecution of those responsible.  In this context, the EU reiterates its call for the rapid establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

The EU welcomes UN Security Council Resolution 2304 (2016) which extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 December 2016 and authorised the deployment of a regional protection force, as part of UNMISS, with the responsibility of providing a secure environment.  Swift deployment of this force is an important step to help ensure peace and stability in South Sudan. 

The EU welcomes the spirit of co-operation demonstrated by the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan in the joint communiqué issued after the visit of the UN Security Council to Juba on 2-4 September.  The commitments made in the joint communiqué, including to work with UNMISS and with the regional protection force, must be fully implemented by the Transitional Government.

The EU commends the continuous engagement on this issue by the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the responsible stance of neighbouring countries during recent events.  The EU reiterates its call on all South Sudanese parties to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in good faith.  The EU remains ready to impose sanctions against any individual responsible for undermining the peace process in South Sudan, and - noting that the EU has long maintained an arms embargo on South Sudan - supports the UN Security Council's willingness to consider additional measures, including an arms embargo, should obstruction of UNMISS continue.

The EU recalls that humanitarian action is independent and neutral, and is provided solely on the basis of the immense needs of the most vulnerable South Sudanese. The EU urges the Transitional Government of National Unity to adhere to its obligations under International Humanitarian Law to facilitate rapid and unimpeded relief to all South Sudanese affected by the conflict, regardless of ethnic, tribal or political affiliations and to ensure full respect for all organisations providing humanitarian relief and their staff.

There is nothing else like it on the internet: the unique and growing portfolio of over 300 graphics and articles continuing to present the case every day for Britain to remain in the EU.

I started the Reasons2Remain Facebook Community Campaign on Monday 4 April 2016. With a small team of supporters, for the following 11 weeks, we put forward clear-cut evidence-based facts, arguments and heart-felt opinions on why Britain’s future would be better and brighter staying in the EU.

Of course, it wasn’t enough.

We lost the Referendum, and woke up early on Friday morning of 24 June dismayed and distraught. Brexit had won.

But we haven’t given up.

Today, we continue to present the compelling case for Britain to remain in the EU. We sincerely hope that there may be opportunities in the future for Britain to reconsider the Brexit decision.

Some have called this ‘undemocratic’. On the contrary, it would be undemocratic if the Referendum result meant that over 16 million people who voted for ‘Remain’ simply had to give-up their beliefs and principles.

No. Democracy doesn’t end with one vote. Anything democracy decides, democracy can also undecide if enough people so desire. That’s called ‘democracy in progress’. If that wasn’t the case, nobody would ever have the chance to change their minds.

Yes, we accept the Referendum returned a slim majority for Brexit. But we’re concerned that the campaign for ‘Leave’ made promises that can never be fulfilled.

In time, we believe that the electorate will increasingly realise that they were conned, and that Brexit will be a tragedy for Britain that we should do our very best to avoid.

How could we reconsider Brexit? Only by legitimate, democratic means.

We look to Parliament to carefully assess the Referendum result, bearing in mind that it was only ever meant to be an advisory exercise; that only a very slim majority voted for ‘Leave’, and that the electorate was grotesquely misinformed during the Referendum campaign about the benefits of Brexit.

We hope and push for another Referendum to vote on what type of Brexit we’re going to get, and whether on reflection, it’s what we really want.

And we hope that, whether there’s a General Election as scheduled in May 2020 or sooner, opposition parties will offer us a credible alternative to Brexit, and that the electorate will positively decide that Britain’s future remains in Union with our European allies, rather than snubbing them and ‘going it alone’.

None of our hopes, beliefs and actions can be described as ‘undemocratic’.

Democracy is about persuading others to the merits of one’s beliefs. We sincerely believe that Britain’s future is better served as a modern, prosperous, cosmopolitan member nation of the European Union, playing a full and active part in the running and future direction of our continent.

With other pro-Remain groups, political parties and individuals, using the legitimate power and provisions of democracy, we hope to persuade the nation that Britain should reject Brexit and remain in the EU.

_________________________________________________

Other stories by Jon Danzig:

• Tim Farron versus Nigel Farage
• The UK government is trying to pass Brexit by bypassing Parliament
• Sir Bill Cash falsely claims the EU outlawed imperial measure in the UK
• List of the latest articles by Jon Danzig

To follow my stories please like my Facebook page: Jon Danzig Writes

_________________________________________________

• The Reasons2Remain Facebook Community continues to support the case for Britain’s membership of the EU, and now, the actual impact of the Brexit vote. Join us!

• Join and share the discussion about this article on Facebook and Twitter:

 

It’s not undemocratic to challenge #Brexit. My blog explains why: https://t.co/jAJotAVPVJ pic.twitter.com/DjhHoeAb1e

— Jon Danzig (@Jon_Danzig) September 20, 2016

The post It’s not undemocratic to challenge Brexit appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

The EU has become a leading multilateral actor in the field of security sector reform (SSR). It continues to face significant challenges that hinder its potential for delivery. This study aims to shed light on the realities faced by SSR policy makers and practitioners. It also provides an assessment of the lessons learnt regarding the complementary process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, and highlights a ways forward for the EU as a security provider.
Further information
Study
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

After electoral defeats for her conservative CDU party in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, German Chancellor Merkel has admitted to making mistakes in her refugee policy in recent years. Her admission comes too late and won't make any impact on voters, some commentators believe. Others feel the move could give the chancellor and her party a boost.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have opposed EU refugee quotas and instead proposed the model of "flexible solidarity" at the EU summit in Bratislava. The concept aims to allow member states to decide for themselves how they will help ease the crisis, taking into account their respective experiences and capabilities. Will the Visegrád states' anti-refugee stance win out?

The European Commission has blocked a retail tax introduced by Warsaw on the grounds that the levy, which means that companies with large turnover pay more taxes than those with low turnover, may breach EU state aid rules. Brussels wants to destroy Polish retailers, some commentators argue. Others warn Warsaw not to get into a fight with the European Commission.

Police in New Jersey have arrested a 28-year-old US citizen of Afghan origin in the wake of bomb attacks in New York and New Jersey. 29 people were injured in the attacks on the weekend. Commentators say such attacks will play right into the hands of Donald Trump in the presidential election campaign.