Puigdemont, the Catalan Farage

Like in the case of Brexit, former Generalitat Catalana president just pushed for independence without thinking to the following steps and the side effects

by Emanuele Bonini

The Catalan issue showed how irresponsible leaders with nonsense decisions be fatal for everybody. Carles Puigdemont has been seen as a new revolutionary man, and perhaps is still considered in such a way by part of local population and some sympathizer here and there across the world. A premise here becomes necessary: the right of people to self-determination is still there, still valid. No question about. But people invoking such a right and nothing but that right, have not clear in their mind the world they live in. Independence is nothing without international recognition. In order to start a new life independence and sovreignity are nothing but the necessary preliminary step. Then comes the internation recognition, and only after that is possibile to start acting in world. This is something that perhaps mr. Puigdemont didn't explain in Catalonia before calling for a referendum illegal since the first moment.

Puigdemont failed, and he failed basically for two reasons: he had a suicide strategy and he played with the popular sentiment . People never pay attention to their mind, just listen to their impulse and follow the instinct. In Spain there historical problems, never-solved issues re-emerging on cyclical basis. Independentism is something typical not only of Catalonia: there's a not isolated problem of identity in Spain, and this is undeniable. But times are radically changed. Trying to act as in the past it is not conceivable. Globalization changed even the idea of independence, and in time of inter-connected societies the Catalan leaders showed to be completely disconnected from the reality. Being separated today means much more risk elements compared to the XIX century. Having different entities in times of single States could still be OK, but in the XXI century we have are unions, confederations, organizazions, associations, finance. It's totally another story, with completely different rules.

«Nobody would recognise the independence of Catalonia», EP chief warned

The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, took an unprecedented position so far against the idea of secession, considered a «mistake»

Antonio Tajani (left side) with Mariano Rajoy

by Emanuele Bonini  
(english version of my article for eunews.it)

Separation from Spain is «a mistake», a not sustainable option, since «nobody in Europe would recognise the independence of Catalonia», the president of the European Parliament said today. Antonio Tajani is the first EU top official to openly take position against what is still a Spanish autonomus region. Speaking at the end of the meeting with the head of State and government of the EU Member States, he was able to break the wall of silence around the Catalan issue. The political messagge sent to the local authorities is not conciliatory. On the contrary, Tajani's speech escalates tentions, although it contains true element of realpolitik. Amongst these, the fact that in case of independence Catalunya risks to find itself totally and completely alone and isolated.

Leaving Spain means leaving the EU. In such a scenario, Catalunia will never access the European Union because enlargment alwayas requires unanimity. The alternative can be the European Economic Area (EEA), but in order to join the group the applicant needs to be recognised as State, independent and sovereign, by the international community. There is also a legal aspect, Tajani told repoters during the press conference. The EU cannot recognise Catalonia because already recognises Spain and its Constitution. Therefore, an eventual secession of Catalunia «would be against the law», and more in detail, it would be «against the Spanish Constitution, which is EU law». In other words no mediation is possible, according to Tajani. «I have no intention to mediate» between Spain and Catalunia. This for two different motivations: first of all, «it's not up the European Parliament to do so», and secondly «we have no intention to recognise Catalunia as an interlocutor of the same level of the Spanish government». Tajani standed with Marian Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister member of the EPP like the president of the European Parliament. The latter made clear that «Catalunia is not a State but a region part of the Spanish country», assuming that for the EU the status won't change.

Italy wants a «multi-year» period to assess reforms

Finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan stressed the importance of giving structural intervention the proper time to bear fruits. «It is no a way to escape our duties»

Pier Carlo Padoan

by Emanuele Bonini

The European Union should reconsider the approach at the base of the European Semester, the cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination within the EU. Reforms should be evaluated in the medium term instead of the current year-by-year attitude, the Italian Finance minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, said today. «One year is not enough to see if reforms are on track», he said intervening at the "Reinventing convergence" conference, held in Brussels by the European Commission. «We need a multi-year period to assess whether reforms are bearing fruits or not». The concept expressed is not new to Padoan. Indeed, it is not the fist time the Italian minister insists on longer-lasting framework as key elements of reforms, and once again he reiterated what has been stating since he took office, in the previous legislature. «Reforms need time to be passed and implemented, need time to be perceived by the people as the good idea, need time to produce effects». That doesn't want to be a smart move to avoid responsibilities. Padoan assured partners Italy will remain committed to what the EU rules foresee. A multi-year approach in the national reform programme assessment «has not be seen as a way to escape from obligations».

Padoan recalled how much Italy has done in these last years. «The beginning of the story» of the country, as he said, was a situation made by «three challenges», namely the stability of the public finance with the related debt reduction issue, the need of enhancing the growth potential, and the reform of the banking sector. Italy had all these three problems, three aspects that «severly interact» and that turn in «a worse example of vicious circle» especially in situation of harsh crisis such as the one Europe experienced since 2008. «Since then we turned a page, starting a virtuos circle», the Italian minister stressed in his intervention. He recalled all the reformes already passed by the Parliament, the one of the labour market (Jobs act), the one for the civil just, «one of the main obstacles for business», and the several measures tabled for the banking sector. Here the italian minister wanted to point out that the bank restructuring process «is still underway, is not over, but is in the right direction».

EU to put an end the profitable detached work

Draft amending proposal of the posted workers directive wants to eliminate the wage differences. In name of labour protection and fair competition

by Emanuele Bonini

Same remuneration and same conditions as local workers, no salary level change in case of subcontractor, publication of all elements of the different remuneration policies in force in the Member States. The European Union made a step forward in the revision of posting workers directive, by adopting the draft proposal containing the new measures. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee approved the legislative text by with 32 votes to 8 and 13 abstentions, paving the way to the negotiations with the European Council. Unless of last-minute surprises, with every probability the Plenary will back the draft bill in the vote scheduled next week. Then representative from the Parliament and from the Member States (Council) will be in the position of table negotiations.

Posted workers account for less than 1% of the overall EU working population, but they are growing in number. According to the EU figures, in 2015 they were 2.05 million, a value increased by 41,3% between 2010 and 2015. The growth of the single market has led to increased wage differences, generating automatic incentives for posting. Workers sent working abroad often earn considerably less than local workers, which can lead to unfair competition between posting and domestic companies, social dumping and exploitation of posted workers. The new draft rules are supposed to stop all that, pointed out one of the two co-rapporteur. «The agreement we have is politically clear: improve the protection of workers and ensure a level playing field for companies in the internal market», said the Elisabeth Morin-Chartier after the commitee vote.

Italy a real problem as no-vax war set in EU agenda

«Unacceptable» for the European Commission chief that in 2017 children still die for measles. Figures suggest is time for remedies, called vaccinations

A US measles information leaflet. Click to enlarge

by Emanuele Bonini

A spectre is haunting Europe, the spectre of sickness. All the powers of Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre, except the Italians. It could be argued that Karl Marx, philosophy and history are all serious things. Perhaps health is not? Of course it is, otherwise the Italian no-vax culture would had never become a matter of urgence. How to explain the lack of vaccinations in Italy in the politica agenda of the EU? In no other way but that. Care and healthcare are supposed to be prerogative of sovereign countries, but apparently in certain cases they don't care. So here comes the need of intervention. The president of the European Commission stressed it clearly in his State of the Union speech, and that was astonishing as is the Italian state of play. The latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) help a lot in catching the spectre which is annoying the continent. Only in 2017, as of 13 September, Italy has reported 4.487 measles cases, making the country the 5th in the world for highest infection rate. Worse than Italy made India, Nigeria, Pakistan and PRC, all developing or underdeveloped countries.

Shame and shake. Antivaxers are ashaming Italy and shaking Europe. «Measles outbreaks continue to occur in a number of EU/EEA countries», the ECDC noticed. Italy and Romania are the main EU countries where such infections take place, as also detected by the World Health Organization (not updated data compared to those from the ECDC). Thus, «there is a risk of spread and sustained transmission in areas with susceptible populations». According to Jean-Claude Juncker «it is unacceptable that in 2017 there are still children dying of diseases that should long have been eradicated in Europe». In other words, what the president of the European Commission ment without saying, a modern Europe can't afford to have neither medievalist forces nor third world poverty dynamics. «Children in Romania or Italy must have the same access to measles vaccines as children in other European countries. No ifs, no buts». So antivaxers, please go home! «Avoidable deaths must not occur in Europe, and we are working with all Member States to support national vaccination efforts». So work Italy? Just in case, the ECDC recalled that «vaccination with at least two doses remains the most effective measure» against measles outbreaks. Oops!


Related articles: 
EU commissioner declared war on antivaxers

Brexit to hit literary legend's isle

Corto Maltese, a «cult» character of the best of the European graphic novel genre, had official residence in Antigua, where consequences from the anti-EU referendum are expected

by Emanuele Bonini

History proved Corto Maltese was right, in the end. Antigua is a good place for a domicile, not a good a place to live in. Even Gibraltar has become a country just to pass through, a destination probably good nothing but for hit and run visits. And that's true especially today, in time of Brexit, whose waves propagate so far to reach and shake the crystalline waters of the Caribbean. In this part of the world many of the countries under the British crown, both formally and «de facto» still continue to be heavily dependent on the United Kingdom. Commercial supplies, special financing, tourism: the British are worth a lot here, and Antigua make no exceptions. Around the 17.7% of local wealth depends on tourism, driven for one third by UK nationals now not in the condition to sustain higher travel costs. With the UK out of the great play of the EU, import-export flows won't be possible any longer unless new commercial agreements are arranged. Because of British EU membership trade, aid, and investment relations between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States countries, included Antigua, has been with the EU.

In perspective what has been until today can't be taken for granted any longer. After Brexit Antigua, as well as all the CARICOM group, won't be in the position to trade with London because the latter will have become a third Country. New partnership will be needed, with CARICOM not on the top of the British agenda. If living in Antigua could previously seem not to be a good idea, it doesn't appear to be the wisest choice given the current times. So farewell, Corto!

Migration is there to stay. So will Europe?

EU more and more disunited in dealing with the asylum seekers crisis, and now it was made clear that mutual solidarity is not a must

by Emanuele Bonini

The first access country is always responsible for migrants and asylum seekers, even in time of crisis, so ruled the European Court of justice today. That means that people landing on the Italian ground can't be allowed to pass through the national territory to submit their asylum application to the EU member State where they would like staying. Juridical clarity was made, now both political measures and practical solutions have to be established as well. Rules are there to stay as they are and always have been, but this doesn't solve the the migration issue. Or, well, it does just in part. First access countries - such as Italy and Greece, in the specific case - are left alone by law in dealing with migrations flows. It's up to them to table credible and sustainable solutions, exactly what didn't happen so far.

It has been recognised that the rules in force have not been thought for managing emergency situations, but under a legal point of view this doesn't justify any derogation to the implementation of the European regulation for the single asylum system, knows as the Dublin regulation. The latter «must be interpreted» in a scrict way: even in front of an emergency («an unusually large number of third-country nationals» arrived to the European Union territory) every transit must be regarded as having «irregular crossing» of the border of the first Member State. This is about justice, which is different from fairness.

Refugees put Lebanon at stake, minister warned

Social and economic rising tensions between Syrians and hosting population, wiht the internation European community underestiming risks

Gebran Bassil

by Emanuele Bonini

Lebanon is about to collapse, the minister for the Foreign Affairs warned today. Social tensions are increasing, and measures are needed to alleviate the huge pressure created by the high amount of the Syrian refugees. Lebanon, a country of 4.4 million inhabitants, is hosting more than 1.5 million refugees from Syria, plus those from Palestine (280.000) and Iraq (6.000). There is a total of 200 refugees per square meter that makes it the highest per-capita concentration of refugees worldwide. One person out of four is a refugee and «the situation can't go on», minister Gebran Bassil said referring to «concerns due to the social and economic rising tensions» between the hosting community and hosted community, what the Lebanese authorities call «the reception fatigue». This is not the only challenge for the Middle East country. There are other two elements undermining the stability of the republic. One is terrorism, the other is lack of international solidarity, especially from the European Union.

Settlements and camps represent a threat for the national security, since terrorists may try to get infiltrated amongst the people in need. Lebanon was able to avoid it so far, but more needs to be done in order to secure the more and more fragile State, the minister stressed at the end of the 8th EU-Lebanon Association Counsil. International sustain thus is key, although Gebran Bassil feels to be left alone. Criticisms were raised against to the so-called partners, blamed for not doing what they are supposed to do.
«We are disappointed with the lack of burden sharing and with the fact that most the of the Countries are escaping from their international obbligations of responsibility sharing». No explicit reference was made to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia or Poland, all EU member States harshly against the idea of take care about refugees, but it was easy to guess who Mr. Bassil had in mind. All over the world, he said, «we see actions aiming at building walls». That is exactly what is happening in Europe, especially in the countries just mentioned. «In Lebanon we believe in bridging gaps rather than digging trenches to segregate humans», and this explains why Lebanon «will continue» to host people in need on the basis of the principle of non-refoulement. Europe have not interests in leaving Lebanon to explode under the pressure of sociali tensions, theory suggests. Practice speaks other way, on the contrary.

Europe needs migrants, EU report shows

According to the 2017 edition of the European Commission's ESDE review extra-EU people are key to solve the issue of the economic demographic decline

by Emanuele Bonini

Intolerance can't be the answer, fences can't be the political agenda. EU countries need migrants more than ever to address the demographic challenge and its future implication, a study from the European Commission revealed today. Without people coming Europe will collapse, it basically says. Europeans are getting older, and the active population in the labour market is projected to shrink by 0.3% every year with all the consequences. Nowadays there are four working-age people per pensioner, in 2060 they will be just two. «No further migration would exacerbate the demographic challenge», states the document. «Without any further net migration into the EU from now on, the decline of the working-age population would be much stronger» than foreseen.

The 2017 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review offers two different scenarios, by which in 2040 the the active EU population could decline to 247 million people or even to 210 million people. With less active people available and more pensions to pay, future poses critical challenges for the 27+1 EU member States. The only possibility at disposal to host migrants and integrated them into the social and labour environment. «Higher net immigration would allow growth in the working age population to resume in the medium term», according to the 268 pages report. In time of fence-building, it appears hard to see national governments allowing asylum seeker applicants come and stay. Decision makers should therefore revise their immigration policies.

«No EU-UK flights after Brexit», Ryanair chief warns

Air carriers can't wait the end of negotiations, scheduled for March 2019. Connections to be disrupted already in September 2018, with British government considered as no problem-solver

by Emanuele Bonini

Brexit «will bring chaos for aviation», with no EU-UK air connections of any kind after March 2019, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary warned today. Although the conditions for exiting the European Union has to be found the 29th of March of that year at the latest, «for carriers the deadline is September-October 2018, when flights will be abolished», he said in a public hearing held in Brussels. «The aviation sector won't wait» so long, and clear conditions have to be in place before the scheduled roadmap in order to allow companies to operate. Both technical and praticals reason require the commercial environment to be clearly defined and predictable. Slots have to be resersed in advance, but in order to ask for them it is necessary to know whether operating flights is possible. So, be ready for the worst. «There is the perspective of not having EU-UK flights in April, 2019. With no deals, flights will be deleted, as the 2019 summer holidays will»

The major concern for the Irish carrier is the uncapability of the British government to find the way out. «British have no idea of they are doing, have no plans, and have no idea what the want» for the future, O'Leary criticised. With these premises it has not a surprise if the touristic sector is in allarm. TUI Group, the world's number one tourism business, has commissioned a study with the aim of investigating the possibile side effects of Brexit. In case of EU-UK flights black-out the EU27 tourism industry stands to lose some €21 billion in business, warned Ralf Pastleitner, Director International Public Policy, Group Corporate & External Affairs of TUI Group. GDP could shrink of 2.8% in Malta, and of 0,5% in Spain, just to give an example. The fact that such a study has been tabled is the proof that concerns are there, are real and the business world is working in order to be ready to address all the possible scenarios, included the worst ones.

Fact-checking, or the index of our failure

More than a journalistic exercise. Today is a systemic need to get away from an increasingly widespread practice of hide the truth

by Emanuele Bonini

Truth, truth, nothing but truth. Apparently the real world is lost in fakes. There is no other explanation for the new season of fact-checking exploded all across Europe and beyond. Newspapers, newswires and websites are more and more focused on searching for truth. In normal times and normal conditions, normality foreseen that journalists verify what they have to write before publishing it. Checking before publish is an obligation linked to the fair activity of every single reporter, but here something is wrong. But we don't live in normal times. Distortion and misinformation are the new practice. There's nothing wrong in journalist, apart from being part of this corrupted system.

In the internet era getting a clear image of what world is about is today more and more complex and complicated. Thousends of thousends of websites flourish in number and actvity, promoting and stimulating debates on everything. Most of the times negating the truth, and here we come to the true big issue: in web we trust. If the internet becomes the community of virtual information, the real world becomes virtual, too. Internet is the place where people get informed. But internet is an unsafe space. Fake news are our every day meal, and media are obliged to follow the rules of a game radically changed. People are finding in the so-called «alternative» source of information their main landmark. Real information producers have lost in confidence and credibility, and have been forced to work in order to regain a missing trust by verifying the supposed reliability of the «alternative truths».

EU Court ruled out ticket flight refunds for bird strikes

Accidents have unpredictable nature and damages occurred are out of the air carrier control

by Emanuele Bonini

Mind the birds. Like in one of the most famous Alfred Hitchcock's movies, the Birds, winged animals can be dangerous and harmful, especially for your pocket. Because of them, you can miss your flight, your journey and your money. According to the the European Court of Justice, delays lasting more than three hours can't be refundable in case of technical problems due to birds. Although bird strikes are episodes not so rare to happen, for the EU judiciary body such events can't be foreseen and not even predicted. That means air carrier are exempted from refunding passengers for their tickets. The EU legislation foresee that air passengers have the right to be reimbursed every time occurs a delay of more than three hours. This happens even in case of technical problems, but not if these are produced of birds got into the plane engine.

There is not only the unpredictable and exceptional nature of bird strikes to "save" air carriers from their repayment obligations. The ECJ ruled that the problems of caused by these accidents to the plane are out of control of the company and its personnel. This the reason why the Court decided to reject the appeal submitted by two European citizens who experienced a five hours delay flight in 2013. Birds are out there, so pay attention. Or simply be ready to pay.

«Elections not a reason for inaction», ECB chief blamed

Mario Draghi criticized the Member States do very little to implement structural reforms

by Emanuele Bonini

Reforms, reforms, reforms. Once again, the president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, urged the governments to implement what is needed to exit the crisis once and for all, calling the Member States not to hide behind the elections as a pretext to avoid maintaining the promised efforts. Draghi has been insisting on the need for structural reforms since he assumed his post, and he still renews his appeal. The latest call was made on at the end of the meeting of the governing council of the European Central Bank, which to decided to maintain unchanged the interest rates and to go on with the Quantitative Easing. The non-standard monetary policy measures, confirmed at the net asset purchases of the new monthly pace of €60 billion, are intended to run until the end of December 2017 or beyond, if necessary. It's the same old story: the ECB does its own part, but the Member States have to do their own. «Things are going better. Recovery previously fragile and uneven, is now solid and broad», the Eurotower chief said at the end of the board meeting. Nevertheless, «economic growth continues to be dampened by a sluggish pace of implementation of structural reforms», whose responsibility lies on the countries of the Euro area. Always. «It’s quite clear that once countries enter into a very important political and election cycle, the push for legislating structural reforms becomes less vigorous. However, this by itself doesn’t justify any absence of action, because even without legislation you have implementation of previously legislated reforms».

EU commissioner declared war on antivaxers

Vytenis Andriukaitis, in charge of Health, made two though intervention against the category of people seen as «irresponsible» in Brussels

Vytenis Andriukaitis

by Emanuele Bonini

Wake up, folks! «Vaccines are one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to ensure public health and avoid preventable diseases», so what's wrong with you? The European Commission went on the attack of anti-vaccination movement. «Anti-vaccination myths and lack of knowledge can lead to people refusing vaccines, which in turn might open the door to disease outbreaks»,the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, said yesterday. It wasn't the first time he took position against the people in favour of abolishing the preparations that provide active acquired immunity to certain diseases. «Shame on you antivaxers!», the EU commissioner previously said in tweet posted on his official personal account.

In papers today: #Measles epidemic in Italy. 1st measles death in Portugal. Measles rise in Germany. Deplorable. Shame on you #antivaxers! pic.twitter.com/OvSuHmHHHw

— Vytenis Andriukaitis (@V_Andriukaitis) April 20, 2017

«It is distressing that some public figures irresponsibly use their position to contribute to distrust of vaccines», Andriukaitis then stated on the occasion of the European Immunisation Week. He recalled that the benefits of vaccines are a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion. About facts, «measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year, before widespread vaccination was put in place in 1980». Today the reality speaks different. «Thanks to Maurice Hilleman's measles vaccine this highly contagious disease is now preventable». Again, smallpox, once one of the world's most devastating diseases, was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global immunisation campaign led by World Health Organization (WHO).

One million migrants blocked in Libya, warned the EU

Representatives from the European Commission and its External Action Service admitted there is a potentially explosive situation on the other side of the Mediterranean sea.

by Emanuele Bonini

Nearly one million people are blocked in Libya and are ready to come to Europe, the European Commission warned today. Migrants and asylum seekers are in special detention centres, and not all of them is controlled by the Libyan authorities. If the situation should get deteriorated, it would be impredictable for everybody to imagine what could be. In 2016 more the 180,000 arrivals from Lybia have been registered, but the situation could radically change, said the deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Maciej Popowski, during a public hearing hosted by the Committee on Civil Liberties of the European Parliament.

«Nearly one million people are blocked in Libya, so far. Not all of them come to Libya with the idea of reaching Europe, but now there is no job in the country». So what? The European Commission is trying to manage the migration crisis by acting in remote control. «We operate from Tunis for security reasons», he told MEPs. How the EU can get the situation under control in such a way? They can't, as recognised by  ‎the Desk Officer for Libya at European External Action Service (EEAS), Andrea Pontiroli. The situation in the country «is not progressing, and tension rise», he said. The country remains politically fragile, and a real fully in charge government is not in place. Economically speaking, risks of «collapse» are just behind the corner: Libya based most of national economy on oil production, and now it is shrinking with no alternatives made available. Furthermore, when it comes to migrants it has to be recognised that the phenomenon is not nationally controlled. Detention centres for refugee in Libya «are often controlled by militias instead of State», the EEAS representative admitted. So Libya is nothing but a time bomb ready to explode at any moment.

No CV, in Italy job is got by playing futsal

Italian minister of Labour explained how it works in his country. Nothing new

Giuliano Poletti

by Emanuele Bonini

In order to get a job «is better to play five-a-side football than send a CV». For this sentence the Italian minister of Labour and Social Policies, Giuliano Poletti, was asked to step down amid harsh critics. No matter if it was a gaffe or a misunderstanding, the point is Poletti didn't nothing but say what Italy is about. There was no intention of offending anybody, since everybody's dignity has been already offended by the clientelism typical of Italy. The country is about that: personal connections. Poletti tried to express better the concept of the 5-a-side football, and the result was exactly that. «I did not belittle the value of the CV, but I stressed the importance of a relationship of trust that can develop outside the school context». This something completely true: connection is on the basis of meritocracy in Italy. Tell me who you know, and I'll tell what you'll become.

It is not the first time a minister of the Italian republic explains what is the country in reality. In 2001 the minister of Infrastructures of that time, Pietro Lunardi, said the country «has to live with mafia». Was the minister wrong? No, he wasn't. Unless the State wants to enter into a civil war, the only way to deal with organised-crime is the promotion of a cultural policy which of course takes time to give results. Meanwhile mafia is there and the everybody has to live with. So, there was nothing wrong in Lunardi's words. Exept for the fact he was a minister and given the role he had at that time he wasn't allowed to think and speak that way. Now it's Poletti's turn. He didn't do anything wrong. He just unveiled what Italy is about. Unfortunately he didn't mention he's supposed to be there to change the country.

Companies can proihibit the Islamic veil at work

At certain conditions the measure is not a discrimination, according to the ECJ

by Emanuele Bonini

The Islamic veil can be not allowed at work, according to the European Court of Justice in its verdict issued yesterday. The EU institution based in Luxembourg said companies can prohibit to wear political, philosophical and confessional dresses in name of the principle of neutrality, if explicit internal firm dispositions foresee it. The judgement was about two different cases involving the traditional female clothing typical of the Islamic culture, but in taking the decision a general principle was set by the European body.

On one hand the EU recognise freedom of religion, but on the other hand it is also recognised the right of neutrality for both public and private sector. In name of such principal, no political signs or cultural symbols can be exposed to public. The European Court of Justice thus admitted that a ban of Islamic veil doesn't constitute a form of preliminary discrimination. Of course, in order to don't generate discriminations such a ban can't be imposed only for a single person or a single category of groups, whatever they are (political, religious and so on). Furthermore, the ECJ clarified that in order to respect the right of neutrality, people are not allowed to show any peculiar signs in public, meaning that the Islamic veil can be kept for internal jobs and all those roles for which is not foreseen any relations with external people.

EU remedy to migration issue is children detention

The controversial proposal in the recommendation to the Member State, formally adopted today

"To migrate is a right. No jail for migrants"

by Emanuele Bonini

Children can be imprisoned as migrants, according to the latest proposal of the European Commission. The controversial rule is foreseen by the recommendation on making returns more effective when implementing the Directive on Returns. New dispositions have been adopted in principle last week, but formal adoption will take place when all language versions are available, which is expected to happen today, 8th of March. It means that from today the EU legislation can be applied in the tougher manner, and the Member States «should not preclude in their national legislation the possibility to place minors in detention, where this is strictly necessary to ensure the execution of a final return decision in sofar as Member States are not able to ensure less coercive measures than detention that  can be applied effectively in view of ensuring effective return».

In European Commission intentions, returns have to speeded up. In the meanwhile, irregular migrants have to be managed and kept on the EU territory until they are not sent back to their country of origin. It has written in the recommendation that «for the purpose of effectively ensuring removals of illegally staying third-country nationals, Member States should use detention as needed and appropriate, and in particular where there is a risk of absconding». A initial period of maximum six months of detention should be foreseen by national legislations, with the possibility of extent up to 18 months in case of need. In order to better deal with the phenomenon of irregular migrants - all those who are not entitled to apply for international protection - Member States are asked to put in place measures to effectively locate and apprehend third-country nationals staying illegally, wherever they are.

Time for low-cost medicines, said the EU Parliament

The Plenary passed a resolution calling for more affordable prices and full access to cure for all

by Emanuele Bonini

It is time to put and end to the high cost of medicines, said the European Parliament in a resolution approved in latest session of the Plenary by 568 votes to 30, with 52 abstentions. Pharmaceutical products have no-limits in price increase, making more and more difficult for people to get access to cures. The EU body thus decided to respond the needs of people by passing a text calling for measures to improve the traceability of R&D costs, public funding and marketing expenditure in name of transparency. Members of the Parliament adopted a non-legislative resolution, whose political message is however strong: medicines must be more affordable.

Barriers to medicines access. The resolution denounced how «in many cases the prices of new medicines have increased during the past few decades to the point of being unaffordable to many European citizens». All this happened despite ensuring patient access to essential medicines be one of the core objectives of the EU and the WHO. However the possibility of medicines depends on their timely availability and their affordability for everyone, without any geographical discrimination. Such conditions are not met, the MEPs complained. «Certain essential medicines are not available in many Member States, which can lead to problems with regard to patient care». This lack of basic pharmaceutical product is supposed to be due to «illegitimate business strategies, such as "pay for delay" in the pharmaceutical sector, or political, manufacturing or distribution issues, or parallel trade».

«Non-performing loans still a serious issue for Europe»

Valdis Dombrovskis pointed out the main challenges for the Eurozone viability. Italy the major concern, German banks with a past of risky attitude

by Emanuele Bonini

Banks in Europe «are stronger and better capitalised» than the previous years, according to the European commissioner for the Euro and the Financial stability, Valdis Dombrovskis. This means the worst is passed. Just theoretically. Risks are in fact not over at all, because of non performing loans. Non-performing loans are all those kind of credits of difficult repayment. It means that financial institutions give money to borrowers who are not in the position to give those money back, finishing to be exposed to the risk of shock due to insolvent debtors. It is not just a matter of isolated cases. On the contrary, that of non-performing loans «is a serious issue we are facing in several Member States», pointed out once again Dombrovskis. Once again because the problem is not a new one, and the story is not an unknown one.

Italy. A Member State with long-date problem is Italy. The country is «in a context of high non-performing loans», as the European Commission underlined in the latest winter economic package. The scale of risk exposure is source of concerns, since «the stock of non-performing loans has only started to stabilize and still weighs on banks’ profits and lending policies». In numbers, the sector’s gross stock of  non-performing loans stabilized only recently at around 329 billion Euro. In practice, Italy lives in «persistent uncertainty» related to the adequacy of loan loss provisions and capital buffers, given the existing high stock of non-performing loans and banks’ limited ability to absorb losses in a context of subdued profitability. Italy is the third economy of the Euro area, and spill-over effects need to be avoided, according to the European Commission, worried for the viability of the Member States. Italy was identified as having excessive macroeconomic imbalances relating to its high public debt and weak external competitiveness in a context of weak productivity growth and the high level of non-performing loans on banks' balance sheets.

CETA to harm the least developed countries

According to an analysis for the European Parliament the EU-Canada trade agreement will likely erode the economic power of poorest States, condemned to be much poorer. 

by Emanuele Bonini

It has been considered «a Trojan horse», an asymptomatic carrier of infectious diseases for the «made in», the workers' health and the national economies. Now CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada, can harshly hit the developing countries. In other words the new trade deal is against the poors, according to a report from the European Parliament. Written under the request of the Committee on Development, the report pointed out that «it is likely that the implementation of mega-regional agreements will result in some preference erosion for developing countries». There is no doubt that CETA is a mega-regional agreement, so it is expectable to see the European Union and Canada trading more between themselves and less with other partners. Less business in the developing countries means to put at stake their future, and for such a reason the report suggested that the EU development assistance «should be targeted at these vulnerable countries and producers». The same report considered to recommend «a more targeted and perhaps extended programme of support» for those third countries affected by CETA».

Despite the impossibility of calculating the real impact of the new trade agreement, the European Parliament recognised side effects. The report made a distinction between the so-called ACP countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific states) and the Least Developed Countries (LDC). According to the different scenarios, losses for the ACP countries are estimated from 21.78 billion Dollars up to 50.31 billion Dollars, while for the second group of States losses range from 11.39 billion Dollars up to 16.24 billion Dollars. To put under pressure the least rich part of the world is the end of trade barriers between the EU and Canada. «CETA will have a very aggressive tariff elimination regime», making goods and products from different markets less attractive because less profitable. So, in the case of CETA analyses suggest that «there may be some preference erosion effects for developing countries, particularly those with concentrated export structures vis-à-vis the EU and those competing directly with Canada in EU markets». It's not only about that. In fact it is not clear whether such trade diversion could be offset by trade creation arising from the growth-enhancing effects of the CETA, particularly vis-à-vis the EU.

New US-EU ties searched amid European skepticism

American vice president Mike Pence tried to reassure Europe on Trump's commitments, but the counterparts didn't show enthusiasm 

Mike Pence (left) and Donald Tusk

by Emanuele Bonini

The United States of America have no intention of reconsider the engagement towards Europe, the US vice president Mike Pence said on Monday during his official visits to the EU institutions chiefs. EU leaders have been considering the new American administration as a problem for the future of the trans-Atlantic ties, and Pence was in Brussels to reassure the historic partner about the intentions and political agenda of the White House. «On behalf of President Trump I reaffirm the strong commitment of the US to continued cooperation and partnership with EU». Pence's key message was sent in the occasion of the bilateral meeting with the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk. Of course on the other side of the ocean expectations are high. «We will continue to do our part but Europe's defence requires Europe's commitment as much as it does ours», said the former governor of Indiana, resuming an issue already pointed out by Barack Obama's administration. Politically speaking, Pence was sent to Brussels to build the first diplomatic ties with the Europeans after the US electoral campaign, during which Trump's statements on the European Union generated general discontent. Concerns were raised also on the foreign affairs agenda, with Trump ready to reconsider the American approach on Russia. According to Pence's assurances, nothing is supposed to radically change. «On Ukraine the United States will continue to pursue any Russian accountable».

European leaders welcomed Mike Pence's declarations with mild optimism and some skepticism. The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, invited today to keep calm and wait the US administration when put to test. «Some positive messages come from Pence, but I believe that we have to wait some time and see what it will be done». In his opinion, it is essential to «wait in order to well understand what is the real position of the White House instead of focusing on the position of single advisors». Totally different is the opinion of Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, who put the new president of the United States amongst the problem of Europe. Speaking in the federal Parliament of Belgium, Juncker didn't hide what he defined «a multiple crisis», that includes «Brexit, Greece, Syria and Trump». Despite Pence's efforts, doubts and mistrust remain in Europe.

What «Orwellian» really means

Moldovan geopolitical game resumed

Pro-Russia head of State Igor Dodon in Brussels to confirm commitments taken with the EU, without forgetting traditional ties with Moscow

by Emanuele Bonini

An eye at east, another to the west. Igor Dodon's Moldova introduced itself to the European Union, in an attempt to secure the little that the former Soviet republic can obtain from the new ally. Or rather, the other partner, namely the Western one, opposed to the Eastern one. The new President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, is a pro-Russian even before being a pro-European. He thus could put in question the painstakingly relationships built between Chisinau and Brussels. Dodon has made his visit to the EU capital to meet the presidents of the three EU institutions (Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk, Antonio Tajani) and the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy (Federica Mogherini). At each of them he reiterated its willingness to comply with the commitments foreseen by the Association Agreements, what led the eastern country to have one foot into the single market. Officially the engagement to go on is there, as well as the usual problems for the country remain. The EU has always recognized Moldova in its entirety, ie with Transnistria, the region under Russian control. This causes Moldovan leadership embarrassment when it comes to deal with the old partner. Moldova is still anchored in Russia. Before being elected new president, Dodon publicly recognised the legitimacy of Russian actions in Crimea, defined by Dodon as «part of the Russian Federation».

On foreign policy issues, the new Moldovan president doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength of the EU. For the European Union the main challenge will be to preserve relations with a country to which Europe promised as many concessions as possible. The main spoken language of Moldova is Romanian, part of the population didn't made mystery of wishing to be part of Romania, and some Moldovans would like getting a deeper European integration. There is at least a moral obligation of the EU towards this country. But the feeling is that the EU be not any longer the goal to be reached as it was in the Republic of until last December, before the new president's appointment.

FACT SHEET/ Wahhabism training in Europe

(click on the picture to enlarge)

Radical Islam growing in Belgium, agency warned

The body responsible for the national security registered the propagation of Wahhabism. Apparently Imams can't avoid it

by Emanuele Bonini

He is not alone, and he is not the only one. In Belgium there are more and more Salah Abdeslam. The Belgium-born French national of Moroccan descent and the symbol of the Paris terrorist attack of November 2015, have an increasing number of comrades. In Belgium Islamic fundamentalism is growing, the Coordinating Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAD) warned in its latest report. Islamic fundamentalism has been proliferating on the internet, and it penetrated worship places and prisons. OCAD noted in particular «a growing number of mosques and Islamic centres in Belgium, as elsewhere in Europe, under the influence of the Wahhabi Salafi missionary device». The phenomenon especially concerns Brussels, Vilvoorde, Mechelen and Antwerp, the urban zones at high Muslim presence. Wahhabism is the ultraconservative branch of Islam, totally closed to any form of modernity and strongly against the Western way of life.

Legacy of the past
Wahhabism is not new for Belgium. He officially entered into the kingdom at the end of 60's, when king Baudouin decided to give the Saudi community a place where praying. It happened in the occasion of Saudi king Faisal bin Abdelaziz's official visit to Belgium. The European country opened the door to the Sunni religious movement in exchange for oil. Radicalization started at that time, and now the situation seems to be not completely under control.
Extremists are becoming huge in number because of the web. On the internet there are a lot of recruitment channels, so many and so powerful that «moderate imams in their Mosques can't do anything in front of this media violence», according to OCAD. The Belgian authorities are working on a plan to counter radicalization: all security services have been asked to submit operational proposals, in order to put all into a draft of an integrated action plan. A Plan which doesn't exist yet. Meanwhile, extremists are increasing.

Crop-destroying worm to cause new African migrations

A new insect larvae «spreading rapidly», warned CABI. Risks of starvation and new refugees

by Emanuele  Bonini

A new migration crisis could be take place because of... A worm. In Africa there is the risk of food emergency, the non-profit organization CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International) warned yesterday. According to the CABI experts it is proved that a crop-destroying armyworm caterpillar is now spreading rapidly across Mainland Africa, and could spread to tropical Asia and the Mediterranean in the next few years, becoming a major threat to agricultural trade worldwide. This kind of worm belongs to a very dangerous specie: it mostly affects maize (corn) but it has been recorded eating more than 100 different plant species, causing major damage to economically important cultivated grass crops such as maize, rice, sorghum and sugarcane as well as other crops including cabbage, beet, peanut, soybean, alfalfa, onion, cotton, pasture grasses, millet, tomato, potato and cotton. A plague of suspected armyworms destroyed 2000 hectares of crop fields in Malawi and was spreading at «alarming rates», while in 2016 first signs of a potential problem where registered in Ghana, in the Gulf of Guinea region.

CABI called to immediate actions. «Following earlier reports from Nigeria, Togo and Benin, this shows they are clearly spreading very rapidly», pointed out CABI Chief Scientist, Dr. Matthew Cock. Without countermeasures Africa risks to be further destabilized and the theatre of new more global issues. «Urgent action will be needed to prevent devastating loses to crops and farmers’ livelihoods». Economic damages will create unrest, social problems and a new wave of migration. The story is well know in Europe, or so should be. The Irish Great Famine is there to recall what has to be avoided. In that case migration was just one of natural consequences. The fact now the problem is not in Europe is not enough to remain indifferent. It would be unfair, and blind too. People in starvation will come soon or late to Europe claiming for a loaf of bread. If not for love, western and European countries have the duty of intervene. Otherwise new tragedies and new migrants will come.

EU at risk of a new migration crisis

Both the president of the European Council and the commissioner responsible for Migration called for actions before spring arrival

by Emanuele Bonini

A new migration crisis can not be ruled out. On the contrary, it is something that is quite likely next to come. The EU leaders look at refugees with concern because of the division within the Member States, of course, and because of a phenomenon which is far, far away, to be under control. «Migratory crisis is not over», warned the European Commissioner for Migration and Internal affairs, Dimitri Avramopoulos. «There is still a lot to do», as figures show. In 2016 more than 1,2 million people applied for asylum in the EU, and 181,436 people reached the Italian coasts. These are «unprecedented numbers», and the situation could worsen. «Flows are at a record level, and spring is approaching fast», stressed the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in the letter sent to the leader of the Member States ahead of the Malta summit.What Tusk wrote is nothing but a warning: once the good season will come, the Mediterranean sea will be theatre of new exodus.

Figures are at record level, and the instability in the southern Mediterranean region can make them even higher. «The situation on the ground requires immediate and urgent action, with and around Libya», where the vast majority of irregular migrants depart from, recalled Tusk. The European Union can't act beyond the international waters, and a political solution is then needed in order to stabilise Libya, something considered now in Brussels as «more important than ever». EU players are aware of the gravity of the situation. When it comes to migration, «2017 is a crucial year», stressed Avramopoulos, who recall Member States to show solidarity and act to find a common solution to what has to be treated as a common challenge. But EU players means above all the head of State and government. It's them who have to work together to set a real and genuine migration policy. This is just one of the main item in a political agenda containing huge issues - such as Brexit, French and German elections - which will test the viability of the EU. There is no much time remained: facts are needed. The alternative is another migration crisis. From Brussels just came a last recall.

Time for rules against fake news on the web, said PACE

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted recommendations calling governments to act properly. Traceability amongst the measures proposed

by Emanuele Bonini

National governments should update domestic legislations on press and publishing in order to guarantee the accountability of the on-line content and tackle the fake-news phenomenon, the Council of Europe said today in a recommendation passed by 127 votes to 2 with 5 abstentions. The international organization based in Strasbourg called to act against the misinformation produced through new media channels, since the line between what could be considered a legitimate attempt to express own views seeking to persuade and what is disinformation and manipulation «is frequently crossed». Facebook, twitter, individual blogs, non-journalistic platforms: the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) noted, «with concern, the number of on-line media campaigns designed to misguide sectors of the public through intentionally biased or false information, of hate campaigns against individuals and also of personal attacks, often in a political context, with the objective of harming democratic political processes». A practice which oblige to initiate, «both at the national level and within the Council of Europe», discussions on norms and mechanisms required for preventing the risk of information distortion and manipulation of public opinion.

Stop with deregulation
According to the PACE there is a situation of substantial deregulation. Today it has become difficult to control the use and sharing of information on the internet, namely (but not only) because of the increasing presence of fake profiles flooding the internet, with anonymous posts and comments using the platforms of different media outlets. That's why rules are needed, and the Council of Europe asked in particular to «ensure the traceability by law-enforcement authorities of users of online media when they violate the law». A measure that can be explained by the fact that on-line media «must not become a lawless zone through the anonymity of users». Furthermore, governments are requested to set up alert mechanisms against people who regularly post insulting or inflammatory text (the so-called «trolls»), which empower users to complain about them, with a view of excluding such people from their fora.

EU for a minimum wage for all (but they can't promise)

Amongst the first centre-right men, European Commission president became the last of leftists by proposing the idea of basic salary for every job category

by Emanuele Bonini

It's time for Europe to introduce basic salary standards, said the president of the European Commission yesterday. According to Jean-Claude Juncker, «we need a minimum wage for every job, in every Member State», and that's what the executive body of the EU has the intention to do in March, when the college of commissioners will have to approve the new social package. Juncker didn't entered into details, but speaking during a conference in Bruxelles, he underlined the importance to have a measure like the one he mentioned. «If everybody had a minimum wage, we could fight the phenomenon of social dumping, which is eroding our societies», stressed Juncker. Despite the best intentions, it is unclear how the European Commission could be able to introduce a minimum wage (that - it has to be specified - should be fixed at different levels taking into account the different realities of the Member States). The European Commission has in fact limited power on this, since by treaties the competence on social policies is shared with the Member States.

 The European Commission has the duty of promoting social policies. It has foreseen that «in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training and protection of human health» (article 9 of the treaty of the EU). Nevertheless, when it comes to employment and social inclusion, most of the actions are left in the hands of governments. It's up to the national authorities to define and set out reforms in labour market. The EU Commission can just «encourage cooperation between the Member States and facilitate the coordination of their action in all social policy fields under this Chapter, particularly in matters relating to employment, labour law and working conditions, social security». (art. 156 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU).

«Corruption in Italy a question of culture»

Italians have no the habit of honesty, according to the Council of Europe. A long term approach is needed more than laws

by Emanuele Bonini

Honesty is an optional in Italy. In the country the principle of legality is missing, but it's principles themselves which are not there. Instead of the rule of law, in Italy there is the rule of non-law. And this is because ethics don't belong to the Italian nature, according to the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe. The latest evaluation report on corruption prevention in Italy put on paper a national problem which is not just or simply legal, but above all cultural. Italians have the culture of bribery. In such a context, bills or legislative acts will never be enough. «Combating corruption has to become a matter of culture and not only rules», underlined the report. «This requires a long term approach, continuing education throughout all sectors of society as an indispensable component of the anti-corruption strategy and sustained political commitment».

Italians need to be educated to be honest and fair, that's the real challenge. Can Italy succeed? Sentence waits posterity. Of course, premises are not really encouraging since those who are supposed to act don't seem to be in the position to do it. It's up to the decision makers to promote the change, to push for a new way of thinking. It's duty of politicians to give the country that long term approach required to stop corruptions once and for all, but they are the first people to be considered part of the problem. Italy has no schemes in place for MEPs, and GRECO asked that «clear and enforceable conflict of interest rules be adopted for parliamentarians, including through a systematisation of the currently dispersed ineligibility and incompatibility regime». Furthermore, the formal recommendation for «a robust set of restrictions concerning donations, gifts, hospitality, favours and other benefits for parliamentarians» means that Italian MEPs are exposed to the risk of being bribed.  A code of conduct should be issued and applied to both branches of the Italian Parliament. Since there is a cultural problem, according to GRECO this measure could facilitate the change. «Although a code in itself does not guarantee ethical behaviour it does help to foster a climate of integrity and to endorse the intention of the current legislature to abide by a culture of ethics». The problem of Italy is not that the country is corrupted. The problem of Italy is that Italians have no the habit of legality.

Theresa May at work for a new British Empire

UK prime minister considers Brexit the opportunity «to build a more Global Britain»

by Emanuele Bonini

Theresa May wants to restore the ancient, old, glorious British empire. That's the sense of the speech she gave today in London, where the prime minister of the United Kingdom not only traced the route of Brexit but also that one for bringing back the country on the roof of the world. Freedom to decide alone the destiny of the nation, together with the restoration of the role of main character worldwide: that's what Theresa May wants to work on. Keep the presence in Europe - and not just because of geography - and play an active role in the rest of the globe is the near future that Theresa May sees for its people. That's why Brexit will have to be completed by the early of 2019, in order to start a new era in which Britannia can rules the waves again.

«I want us to be a truly Global Britain», stressed the British prime minister. This means the United Kingdom from now on - or, well from Brexit on - will must be «a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too». Is history to claim Britain or is Britain to claim history? For sure the Union Jack is here to stay, ready to flutter more vigorously across the world. Brexit is not a tragedy. On the contrary, it is a chance, an opportunity «to make Britain stronger, to make Britain fairer, and to build a more Global Britain too». For such a reason «we do not approach these negotiations expecting failure, but anticipating success». Here we have Brexit as explained by Theresa May's in the speech at Lancaster House. Nothing but the will of return to the past.

Too much security is killing rights

Basic freedoms wiped out by counter-terrorism, denounced Amnesty International

by Emanuele Bonini

In name of security forget about basic freedoms. In name of security Europe has been selling off civil rights. It's happening now, and nothing suggests the process neither will stop nor will be reversed. Terrorism gave carte blanche to national governments, which are responding with authoritarianism, according to the latest report published by Amnesty International. «Individual EU states and regional bodies have responded to the attacks by proposing, adopting and implementing wave after wave of counter-terrorism measures that have eroded the rule of law, enhanced executive powers, peeled away judicial controls, restricted freedom of expression and exposed everyone to government surveillance». That is true for all the 14 countries assessed (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom). Overall, the situation is deteriorated. The answer to the terrorist threat has been «dangerously disproportionate», as read the title of the report. There Amnesty International found that instead of strengthening the European human rights system, the measures adopted «have been steadily dismantling it, putting hard won rights at risk». John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe, has no doubts: «Taken alone these individual counter-terrorism measures are worrying enough, but when seen together, a disturbing picture emerges in which unchecked powers are trampling freedoms that have long been taken for granted».

Introduction of martial law. According to Amnesty International, «one of the most alarming» developments across the EU is the effort by states to make it easier to invoke and prolong a “state of emergency” as a response to terrorism or the threat of violent attacks. In a number of states, emergency measures that are supposed to be temporary have become embedded in ordinary criminal law. In name of national security, the threshold for the triggering and extension of emergency measures has been lowered – and runs the risk of being reduced even further in coming years. While international human rights law is clear that exceptional measures should only be applied in genuinely exceptional circumstances - namely «in time of war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation» - the disturbing idea that Europe faces a perpetual emergency is beginning to take hold.

Happy new (complicated) year, Europe!

2017 will be politcally challenging for the EU, whose future has not to be given for granted. Euroskepticism in France, Brexit and Trump could shout down the single project

by Emanuele Bonini

The year just begun could be one of the most challenging in the recent contemporary history of Europe. A lot of sensitive dossiers are still in search for an adoption, and new question marks will come from the various national elections that will be held all across Europe, as well as from the political choices taken outside the continent, above all on the other side of the Atlantic. The new US administration will be not an easy task for the EU, whose future is more unpredictable in light of the raise of euroskepticism. France and the Netherlands, amongst the six nations who promoted the European integration, could choose the national option, giving the coup de grâce to Europe already in troubles after the British farewell. Here we have the 2017 political calendar of the EU, with all the key dates already scheduled:

January the 1st. The first ever Maltese rotating presidency of the Council of the EU begins. There are those who consider a small country like Malta exposed to the pressure of bigger countries, with all the possible consequences for the European dossiers. We will see.

January the 17th. The European Parliament is expected to elect the new president. In pole positions are Gianni Pittella (S&D) and Antonio Tajani (EPP), both Italians.

January the 20th. Donal Trump will officially assume the presidency of the United States of America. The EU was scared about Trump's personal attitude in dealing with European affairs and the transatlantic relations. Starting from this day, everything will start to become clear.

March the 15th. General elections are held in the Netherlands. This is perhaps the first political test for the future of the European Union, since one of the EU founder Member States is exposed to the risk of a victory by a euroskeptic party. Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid – PVV) could control the national parliament or influence its activity. A problem, considering that international agreements as well as EU agreements need the approval and the ratification of national Parliaments.