«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 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!

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.

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.

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.

«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.

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.

May still in troubles with Brexit six months after vote

Downing Street in search of a strategy and a meaning of leaving, according to the London School of Economics

by Emanuele Bonini

Everything will start in March 2017, or so it should. All the rest is nothing but an activity covered by mystery. Call it work in progress if you wish, but the substance will not change at all. Six months after the UK referendum which saw British people vote for leaving the EU, Brexit still remains a leap in the dark, according to the London School of Economics (LSE). On the occasion of the event «Britain and Europe: toward Brexit?» organized in Brussels the prestigious university put in light the great difficulties of the British administration in dealing with the practical consequences of the outcome of the referendum. According to the academic world there are at least six big issues to be addressed by Theresa May's government, and none of them still has an answer after six months.

No strategy. Julia Black, the Pro Director for Research at LSE, and Robert Saunders, associate professor responsible for EU-UK relations, admitted that after six months in London they still have not idea of what to do. «The previous government had no contingency plan» in case of a Brexit vote. David Cameron was basically betting everything in what he thought could happen but finally it didn't come out. Theresa May, current prime minister of the Unidet Kingdom, «will have not only the responsibility of negotiating Brexit, she will also have the even bigger duty of redefining the entire British strategy with the rest of the world».

No meaning for Brexit. Perhaps the main biggest issue. «If it is clear what citizens voted against, it is unclear on the contrary in favour of what citizens expressed themselves», pointed out the two academicals.  What does Brexit mean, in practice? That is the question the British government have to answer in order to understand what to ask when time of reshaping ties with all the other 31 Countries (the 27 EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) will come. Does Brexit mean more immigration? Less immigration? Just the participation to some targeted EU programmes? And which ones? That's the real rebus for Britain.

A EU large-scale profiling operation against migration

Ministers for Internal Affairs reached a controversial agreement for a revision of the Eurodac database. The draft regulation to negotiated with the Parliament

by Emanuele Bonini

Migrants like serial killers? The Council of the EU is ready to start a large-scale profiling operation as response to the migration crisis. It is only about negotiating with the European Parliament, but the controversial decision has been taken: Europe will keep files on asylum seekers arriving in EU territories. The position of the Member States was reached today during the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Ministers agreed to recast the Eurodac database in a more comprehensive manner: in addition to fingerprints, according to the draft proposal it will made compulsory the collection of personal data such as names, surnames, nationality and pictures.

The Eurodac database, which was established in 2003, is an EU asylum fingerprint database which provides fingerprint evidence to assist in the application of the Dublin Regulation, which determines the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application made in the EU. Ministers today agreed a common approach to adapt and reinforce the Eurodac system in order to expand its scope, with a view to facilitating returns and helping tackle irregular migration. On the basis of the position of the Council, besides collecting an additional biometric data - facial image, it will also allow member states to store more alphanumeric data in Eurodac, such as names, dates of birth, nationalities, identity details or travel documents of individuals.

The decision is questionable, raising concerns as regard privacy, the storage and the treatment of the information, as well as the legal aspect of the new regime. Basically the Council of the EU is authorising nothing but a measure comparable to a criminal profiling.

Erasmus programme for workers starting in 2017

The European Commission announced the launch of ErasmusPro, the new initiative for the exchange of young apprentices

by Emanuele Bonini

Young students of work, go ahead! Starting from 2017 the European Commission will activate Erasmus Pro, the new programme for the mobility of apprentices and trainees. Finally the EU executive body will launch the real Erasmus programme for workers, an initiative sponsored already during the previous legislature by Antonio Tajani, in charge for Industry and the entrepreneurship under the Barroso Commission. The idea was to reproduce the well known EU project of student exchange in a new model thought just for the labour market. No the dream comes true.

Until today small period of apprentices abroad have been financing through Erasmus+, the14.7 billion Euro catch-all framework programme for education, training, youth and sport. Next year  the Commission will launch "ErasmusPro", a new dedicated activity within the Erasmus+ programme to support long-duration (6-12 months) placements of apprentices abroad. In addition to the current 650.000 apprentices that will benefit from mobility under Erasmus+, in the period 2017-2020 these measures will open up the possibility for 50,000 additional young people to spend at least 6 months of their learning experience in another Member State, compared to the much shorter period (1 month on average) registered so far.

The Erasmus programme for workers will be financed by the EU funds. In addition to the already EU-level financial allocations, on 14 September 2016 in the context of the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014–2020, the Commission proposed to increase the budget of Erasmus+ by €200 million. These new extra money will be used for the new initiatives such as ErasmusPro

EU-Turkey ties endangered after anti-Erdogan vote

The European Parliament called for a freeze of the accession process. Kurtulmuş: «They are not a reliable partner»

by Emanuele Bonini

Time of dialogue maybe is not over yet, but time for negotiations is. The European Parliament voted in favour of a temporary freeze of EU accession talks with Turkey, in a resolution approved today at large majority (479 votes to 37, with 107 abstentions). Although the resolution is not legally binding, Europe sent a strong political message to the Turkish authorities: there will be no steps forward in the EU membership negotiations until the country will be back in line with the EU values. Ankara reacted by strongly condemning the vote. MEPs criticized particularly the «disproportionate repressive measures» taken by the Turkish government since the failed coup attempt in July 2016. According to them, these measures «violate basic rights and freedoms protected by the Turkish Constitution» itself. Furthermore, the resolution rehiterated that the capital punishment is the red line not to be crossed. A re-introduction of the death penalty by the Turkish government would lead to a formal suspension of the accession process, said MEPs.

No doubts amongst groups
The three major political groups voted togetherin favour of halting the accession process. «The disproportionate repression measures taken by Erdoğan forced us to urge the Commission and Council to temporary freeze the accession talks with Turkey, because we can no longer remain silent in the face of Erdoğan's outrage and the evident breaches of the rule of law and human rights in Turkey», said the president of S&D group, Gianni Pittella. «This resolution is a clear political message to Erdoğan that should not be misinterpreted: we want Turkey to be anchored to Europe, to democracy and to rule of law». Mafred Weber, the president of EPP group, defined the decision taken by the Plenary «a strong signal for the protection of fundamental values and rule of law». The same kind oof message came from the ALDE Group leader, Guy Verhofstadt. «Turkey is an essential partner for the European Union when it comes to energy security, stabilising the region around Syria and Iraq and the fight against terrorism. However it is wrong to pretend that we can advance on any of these fields by trampling on European values and principles, by closing our eyes as President Erdogan closes down independent media outlets, jails journalists and criminalises members of his Parliament».

«Trump is a clown», said ALDE group chief

Guy Verhofstadt criticised the next US president by attacking the father of Brexit

Guy Verhofstadt

by Emanuele Bonini

The president elected of the United State is a «clown», the president of ALDE group said yesterday in Strasbourg. The European Union didn't welcome Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, but instead of accepting the reality by congratulating with the next occupant of the White House, offensive declarations and attacks go on. In this case it can be said Guy Verhofstadt could be justified by some Trump's statements seen as a sort of provocation for the EU. Trump suggested the prime minister of the United Kingdom to appoint Nigel Farage as next UK ambassador in the United States. Nigel Farage pushed for Brexit, and this is something not acceptable for people like Verhofstadt. «I do believe one clown in Washington is more than enough», said the ALDE leader. He was referring to Farage and the possibility of a post as ambassador, but he expressed a judgement on the upcoming US president as well.


Related articles:
- No EU relevance makes Juncker frustrated

No EU relevance makes Juncker frustrated

Anti-Trump statements explained by the lack of consideration  for the European Union, which has not attribution in foreign affairs matters

by Emanuele Bonini

What is there behind the "Juncker case"? Stress, mental sickness of any kind, rudeness? Frustration. The right explanation is frustration. The European Union has no foreign policy relevance, because it is foreseen it has not to have. Let's rewind the tape and start from the beginning. Commenting Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections, the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that with the next occupant of the White House «we'll waste time for two years while Mr. Trump tours a world that he is completely unaware of». There is a motivation for such a statement. Immediately after Juncker sent a letter to the president elected to congratulate with him and to invite him to Brussels. As fas as everybody knows that letter never got an answer.  Considering the European Commission is constantly under the attack of the EU Member States, it appears clear the sense of frustration of the Commission's chief. Juncker and the body he is responsible for, got little consideration at home and none abroad.

Having said that, there is the possibility Mr. Trump knows really well the world. The impression is he's aware that in foreign policy the EU never existed. By treaties the foreign affairs are competence of the Member States.  When it comes to set strategies and take decisions, national governments are the true plenipotentiary players. Showing a pragmatic approach and a clear sense of realpolitik, it is undeniable that the fist thing to do is to deal with single European leaders. The EU is not a priority because it simply can't be. Who does Federica Mogherini represent? The EU has an external action, but not a foreign affairs office. It is true that the EU is in charge of negotiating trade agreements, but Trump seems not to have the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in the list of his priorities. Juncker is the president of a body with limited powers. Until the European Union will have not attributions in foreign affairs policies, it can't surprise if leaders from the rest of the world will decide to bypass the EU. It is not a question of dividing Europe, it is just a question of the nature of the EU. And then, let's be honest: Europe has never been unite in foreign affairs.

Europe in economic troubles with migrants

Not enough in the EU budget to deal with the current crisis. Adding money not an easy task

by Emanuele Bonini

Migration is not only a matter of political approach and will, it is also a matter of money. Despite the different political ideas, the European Union need resources which are not there. The EU in the sense of the Member States should revise the common budget in order to put new, fresh money with the aim of better addressing a situation otherwise impossible to solve. This is the only way out, and of course it is not an easy one. Far-right populist movements are rising up all across Europe, the European Union opted for strict fiscal rules, and amongst the governments there are those who neither can't nor don't want to invest on migration. There is still the possibility of changing the current Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), the single EU budget for the 2014-2020 period, but it is unclear how such a possibility will be used by the Member States.

Resources made available
The EU can spend for migration €9,26 billion, which are the resources foreseen in the heading 3 («Security and Citizenship»). These money are mainly channelled through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF, €3,1 billion), the Internal Security Fund (ISF, €3,8 billion) and the main EU Home Affairs agencies involved (Frontex, Easo, Europol, that got €2,36 billion). In addition, under humanitarian aid and development cooperation, the EU budget and EU Trust Funds, as well as, outside the EU budget, the European Development Fund (EDF), address migration and asylum both geographically and thematically. As a new element at the end of 2015, the €3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey was set up under the EU-Turkey deal on migration, with €1 billion coming from the EU budget.

No time for back to Schengen, said Europe

The Europen Commission prolonged internal border controls for further three months. No restoration of free movement before 2017

by Emanuele Bonini

There will be no «Back to Schengen» for Europe by the end of the year, as originally planned. The European Commission gave green light to the extension of the internal boder controls reintroduced in some Member States as a consequence of the migration crisis. Temporary checks were re-established in Sweden until the 11th of November, and in Germany, Austria and Denmark until the 12th of November. These countries are now allowed to keep their borders closed in derogation to the EU free movements rules for further three months. This means internal borders will be kept closed until mid-February 2017, against the European Commission forecasts. As decided in its migration roadmap, December 2016 was supposed to be «the target date for bringing to an end the exceptional safeguard measures taken, if the overall situations allows». Cleary it is not the case.

The European Union therefore experienced a new failure in the migration policy. The idea of come back to the normal situation by the end of the year was swept away by the European Commission college meeting. Vice president Frans Timmermans recognized the insuccess. «The Schengen area without internal borders is a historical achievement which we must preserve. We are working hard to return to a normal functioning Schengen area as soon as possible, and we have made significant progress. But we are not there yet». The European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, expressed the change of political line by no setting new deadline for the restoration of normal conditions. «We have one clear priority and determination: to safeguard Schengen and to restore a normally functioning Schengen area as soon as the conditions allow for it».

No full control in EU Commission spending, warned ECA

The European Court of Auditors found breaches in the governance of the Berlaymont. «The Commission diverges from, or does not fully adhere to, international best practice»

by Emanuele Bonini

There is a lack of control in spending activity of the European Commission, according to the latest report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published today. New rules have not been implemented, marking a difference between the actions foreseen on paper and those effectively in place. After the resignation of the Santer Commission, in March 2000 the Commission approved the «Reforming the Commission» White Paper, with the aim of modernising the governance of the Commission. After more than a decade improvements are still missing, as pointed out by the ECA. The Commission abolished the financial controller function in order to make the directors-general responsible for the legality and regularity of spending by their Directorate-Generals (DGs). DGs report annually on their management via the annual activity report. But «mechanisms to hold individuals to account for their contribution to internal control are relatively undeveloped». In other words, The Commission «has not put in place staff evaluation criteria linked to this objective». In practice all this means the European Commission «has not established a basis to determine whether the declarations made within annual activity reports are well-founded, or established a benchmark against which to hold DGs accountable». The European Commission expenditure is thus out of control.

Who is responsible for what?
New rules make difficult to establish who is responsible for what can happen in governing the European Commission, revealed the European Court of Auditors in the same report. In fact the distinction made between the political responsibility of commissioners and the operational responsibility of directors-general means that «it has not always been made clear whether ‘political responsibility’ encompasses responsibility for the directorates-general, or is distinct from it». Recent organisational reforms «are beginning» to address some of the risks of a silo culture, the typical mindset that occurs in organisations, which is inward looking and resists sharing information and resources with other people or departments within the same organisation. According to ECA in order to continue to address key risks, the Commission will need to further strengthen the governance structure across the institution.

Figures revealed the failure of the EU migration agenda

One after the strategy defined to manage the refugee crisis is well far to be implemented

by Emanuele Bonini

The European agenda for migration didn't work. Doesn't work. One year after, migrants are still in Italy and in Greece waiting to be relocated among the other EU Member States. Despite all the efforts of the European Commission, national governments didn't deliver. Despite what the European Commission can state, latest figures show an epic fail in dealing with migration crisis. As of 26 September 2016, just 1,196 out of 39,600 people have been relocated from Italy to the rest of the EU, while just 4,399 out of 66,400 refugees have been relocated from Greece.  In total, in a year 5,595 persons were transferred inside Europe, namely the 5,2% of the 106,000 migrants that Member States promised to take care. A clear sign of how national governments are committed in finding a solution and put an end to the crisis.

The 22nd of September, 2015, the European Council agreed to put in place a relocation system allowing the redistribution of all migrants arrived in in Italy and Greece. The Members of the European Union should welcome 120,000 migrants in two years, but looking at the rhythm of the relocations made until now, it seems unlikely that final goal could be achieved. The special formula behind the relocation scheme, which is mandatory on a voluntary basis, is the main reason of such a delay. Member States simply don't want to act.

The European Commission tried to defend its own strategy. «Our measures work», stated the EU Commissioner in charge for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos. Unfortunately reality suggests it is not true. If anything worked, it didn't properly. According to Avramopoulos «considerable progress have been made as a Union on the refugee crisis», but figures are there to contradict him. Of course 5,595 relocations are a great achievement compared to none, but they are a failure compared to what it is the final goal.

Europe is just about the States

Blaming the EU is useless: decisions are up to governments, responsibilities are nationals

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by Emanuele Bonini

If things go wrong it is because of the Euro-bureaucrats in Brussels and their decision. How many time do we listen to complains like this? From Italy to Czech Republic, from the United Kingdom to Hungary, there are no leaders who abstain to blame Europe. In spite of what is repeated every day by every government, Europe is not a problem. The is not and cannot be the main root of all evil pure and simply because Europe doesn't exist. Blaming the European Union for difficulties, problems or decisions considered as useless or rummy, is nothing but a way to put domestic problems away. Here's a short guide to dismantles all the myths built up all around the twelve stars flag.

Europe is about member States. By definition the EU is an associations of sovereign coutries. Article 1 of the treaty on the EU, clearly states «the High contracting parties establish among themselves a European Union, on which the Member States confer competences to attain objectives they have in common». As a consequence, there are no central powers. The European is not a federation. Europe is a confederation, a league of States. Under a confederal regime, in contrast with a federal one, the central authority is relatively weak. This is the case of the European Union, where the European Commission - to be considered as the "government" - has no power of imposing laws. By treaties, the Commission has only the legislative initiative («The Commission shall promote the general interest of the Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end», article 17.1), which means legislative proposals can be blocked, modified, rejected at any moment. This is a further example of how EU decision are not imposed.

Farage to stay in EU for promoting new Brexits

Former UKIP leader will not leave the European Parliament. He will work «with parties and movements across Europe to help them get their independence»

(Nigel Farage)

by Emanuele Bonini

Nigel Farage the destroyer. After having led the United Kingdom out of the European Union, the fresh former leader of UKIP announced today he will continue his activity of dismantling the EU. «Eurosceptic feeling is spreading all over Europe. I will be working with parties and movements across Europe to help them get their independence», told reporters in the press conference held in Strasbourg. Farage made clear he will not leave his seat at the European Parliament. «I will continue my work in Strasbourg once article 50 will be triggered», said referring to the part of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU regulating the withdrawal of a Member State from the European Union. In other word, Farage wants to be in Europe to destroy Europe from the inside as only real saboteurs can do. He said it is sure after Brexit «nothing will ever be the same again», and his personal aim is now promoting new Brexits as it happened in the United Kingdom

«You destroy for the sake of destruction rather than build something for your citizens», replied the vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. «Is this all you have to offer?» The answer is yes. Another MEP supported the idea of denying Europe. «I'm in favour of a Czexit» (the Czech version of Brexit), screamed Petr Mach from the eurosceptic Free Citizens Party, allied to UKIP in the EFDD group and close to Nigel Farage. The latter is still president of the EFDD group, and Petr Mach is one the vice-presidents of the same parliamentary group. Here we have Farage's personal mission to export the anti-European sentiment. The English man will carry on his battle against the European Union, and he promised (or threatened?) to «return in five years with no EU». According to him in five years, there will be a Europe based on the 1940 idea of nations which decide to have trade and cooperate». Unfortunately in 1940 Europe was engaged in the second world war and in that specific year London was almost razed to the ground by German air-strikes. Indeed, this is all Farage the destroyer has to offer. A fair deal, isn't it?