Europe sliding back to WWII pre-war context

Weak democracy and strong nationalism. Traditional forces fighting for the Status Quo, new powers in favour of radical change. And conservatives derailing to more radical positions

by Emanuele Bonini

Forget about the idea of the United States of Europe, and forget about the European Union as it has been so far. There will be no steps forward. On the contrary, on the horizon lies the status quo, at the best. Democracy is experiencing one of its worse existential crisis since the period which generated the premises for what has been know as the second world war, and the today context seems to be not so different from what already was once.
Traditional political forces become weaker and weaker day by day, and the only way they have (or they think to have) to survive is to shift to more radical positions in order to circumscribe extremisms coming from all across the continent. There’s an ongoing self-defensive run based on the assumption by which subtracting argumentations to the populists can save what has been achieved. But this is a tricky experiment. Brexit is there to recall what can happen when a ruling party starts to play the same game of anti-system forces.

Netherlands made clear there is enough EU
Looking at what the prime minister of the Netherlands stated last week during the plenary session of the European Parliament, it becames clear that the time for a further integration is over. «I believe the future of Europe should essentially be about the original promise of Europe, the promise of sovereign Member States working together to help each other to achieve greater prosperity, stability and security». Mark Rutte has no intention of making Europe a federation. A confederation as it is – or, well, as it was in its origins – must be the path to follow. This is a pure conservative vision which means no evolution. «The debate on the future of Europe is not about more or less Europe, but about what the added value of Eu can be». Here we have a genuine political slang showing how EU be too much powerful.

EU citizens ready to reject the establishment

Next European elections will take place on May, 2019. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 56% of voters believe new parties and movement can bring real change

 by Emanuele Bonini

The European Union as it has been till now seems doomed to become a memory of the time that was. If figures are going to be confirmed by vote, the next European Parliament will be in majority formed by anti-system MEPs. The majority of the European is ready to bet on the anti-establishment politcal forces, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.

Marine Le Pen’s Front National, Geert Wilders’ Pvv, Matteo Salvini’s Northern League, Luigi di Maio’s 5 Star Movements… All these parties are considered as the real alternative to the non-proper functioning of the European Union.

According to the survey, more than the majority of the Europeans believe new political parties can better change and shape Europe. That’s true for the 52% of the people living the Eurozone and for the 56% of those in the non-single currency zone of the EU. Overall, the 56% of the asked people is of the idea that «We need a real change and this is what these parties and movements can bring», with Italy – one of the EU founder Member States – with the most anti-establishment sentiment recorded among all the (currently) 28 Countries (71%).

Safe web and preventive censorship, a thin red line

Social media use to intervene against contents «allegded to be infringing,without prior notice», at their sole discretion. A controversial regime applied in name of proper use and security

by Emanuele Bonini (English version of my Eunews article)

Copyright infringements, incitement to racial or ethnic hatred, cheesecake picture or even porn content, violence. There are several cases of back out and removal of what is posted on-line. Such activities are carried out by the social media themselves, but in most of cases the reporting of inadequate posts and messages is left to the internet users. But who can really say what is right and what is wrong? diversity of opinions and different degree of susceptibility, risk to trigger a short-circuit in the network made by ‘lightly’ complaints with immediate consequences. Twitter, Blogger (the Google blog platform), Facebook and Istagram all have more or less the same conditions and terms of use (ToU) of their services. There is of course, as it’s right it is, a control of surfers. Nevertheless this policy control poses a certain question marks on the way it is applied, since in name of a ‘clean’ and safe web the risk of a real preventive censorship is there.

Presumption of guilt, preventive and discretionary removal
The network is vast, and the number of users – especially those of certain social media – virtually boundless. Monitoring everything that is written is not an easy task. And then the principle of preventive intervention applies. Blogger offers an example. The team can send at any time e-mails like the following:

 

«Blogger has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that certain content in your blog is alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others. As a result, we have reset the post(s) to "draft" status. (If we did not do so, we would be subject to a claim of copyright infringement, regardless of its merits). If you believe that you have the rights to post the content at issue here, you can file a counter-claim».

The DMCA is a US copyright law that provides guidelines for online service provider liability in case of copyright infringement. What has to be noticed is that intervetions are made on the basis of possible infringement. Is a post ‘alleged to infringe’ the rules or in them violation? There is a huge difference between having an illegal situation or a situation thought to be illegal. Anyway, in case of doubt the giants of the internet carry out preventive censorship.
Having a look to the Twitter ToU, it is possible to read that «We reserve the right to remove Content alleged to be infringing without prior notice, at our sole discretion, and without liability to you». In return of being ‘responsibilities-free’, Twitter can basically do whatever the social media likes. Once again rules refer to contents presumed to be irregular, to be treated with immediate and not-communicated removal. The same policy applied to Facebook services. Once again, in case of a report from a rights owner claiming content on Facebook infringes their intellectual property rights, «we may need to promptly remove that content from Facebook without contacting you first. If you believe the content should not have been removed, you can follow up with them directly to try to resolve the issue». First complain, then delete. Only after try to negotiate. Instagram doesn’t act differently. «We reserve the right to modify or terminate the Service or your access to the Service for any reason, without notice, at any time, and without liability to you», states the terms of use of the photo-sharing service.

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 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

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.

«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».

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.

What «Orwellian» really means

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.

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.

Western Sahara reaffirmed as being no part of Morocco

The European Court of Justice confirmed what already said in September by the advocate general. EU-Morocco trade deals not applicable beyond Morocco

(click on the picture to enlarge)

by Emanuele Bonini

Western Sahara is not part of Morocco. Once again the European Court of justice (ECJ) affirmed this principle, by issuing a judgement on the EU-Morocco trade deals. Basically the ECJ made clear that the EU-Morocco trade agreements are not applicable to Western Sahara, as it is not part of Moroccan territory. Similarly, the Liberalisation Agreement «must be interpreted [...] as meaning that it does not apply to the territory of Western Sahara», read the judgement. Politically this is a strong message to the Moroccan kingdom, which has been claiming its sovereignty since the end of the Spanish colonial era.

This judgement doesn't mean any official recognition of Western Sahara a state or sovereign entity by the EU side. On the contrary, the European Court of justice ruled out such a possibility. The EU body based in Luxembourg simply recalled what is the situation of Western Sahara: despite the Sahrawi people self-proclaimed the territory as an independent State under the name of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in the 70's, Western Sahara is still on the list of non-self-governing territories in accordance with the UN Charter, and was clarified that it isn't possible draw the consequences of the status of Western Sahara under international law as regards the inapplicability of the Association Agreement to that territory.

«Full job integration of migrants takes two decades»

A study from the European Commission called to invest on asylum seekers asking to speed up the process despite public opposition

(click on the picture to enlarge)

by Emanuele Bonini

Bad news for the decision makers and the public opinion: a proper and full integration of a migrant into the labour market can require from 15 up to 20 years, according to a report published today. In times of anti-immigration sentiment, the latest annual review of Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) contains warnings that could be misused by those who predict the end of national traditional societies because of the foreigners. According to the report issued by the European Commission, «it takes more than 15 to 19 years in the host country for refugees to reach parity with the native-born in terms of employment rates». Having an asylum seeker completely integrated takes time, and the European Commission called the Member States to invest on migrants by promoting integration policies. It would be key for both social cohesion and security, but it is unclear whether national governments can invest more than a decade on those that the public opinion would like to see returned to their country.

Looking at what has been happening in Europe since the outbreak of the migration crisis, it is easy to guess that the difficulties related to the full integration of migrants will offer more than one argument to the far-right parties. Fences and walls are under construction everywhere in the EU, from Hungary to France. The EU-Turkey deal on migration was reached with the aim of stopping the flows of asylum seeker coming to Europe. So, investing on migrants takes time and, as a consequence, takes money. That's true especially at the beginning, when third-country nationals have to deal with the most difficult barrier: the language. «Those refugees whose language skills are low or non-existent on arrival improve their employment chances significantly by acquiring more solid host-country language skills», stressed the ESDE review. Early investment in the language skills of refugees «may actually be one of the most cost-effective instruments» to enable them to capitalise fully on their existing formal qualifications.

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.

EU-US division over Cuba troubles transatlantic ties

Europe pushed for further cooperation with the island, widening the gap with the American administration, where Trump is ready to restore the embargo

by Emanuele Bonini

The European Union and the United States divided over Cuba. While the US president elected Donald Trump announced the intention of reconsidering Obama's thaw by restoring the embargo, Europe went forward in its process of political and economic normalization with the Cuban authorities. The Council of the EU gave green light yesterday to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba, a new deal aimed to reshape the bilateral relations. Although it is an important and historic moment, the agreement could pose problems in light of the transatlantic partnership, considered at stake after Donald Trump's victory.

EU-Cuba relations
The political dialogue and cooperation agreement, the first ever agreement between the EU and Cuba, will constitute the new legal framework for EU-Cuba relations. It foresees an enhanced political dialogue, improved bilateral cooperation and the development of joint action in multilateral fora. The agreement comprises three main chapters on political dialogue, cooperation and sector policy dialogue as well as trade and trade cooperation. The agreement will be signed and concluded as a "mixed" agreement. This means that on the EU side, it must be signed by both the EU and the member states, and ratified by all relevant national and regional parliaments. The agreement will be applied on a provisional basis, pending ratification by all of the member states. Provisional application will concern the provisions of EU competence.

Let Fidel Castro to the judgement of history

Contemporary man should abstain from easy condemnations: is the alternative to the Cuban model so credible and human?

Opinions

Fidel was a dictator. The democratic United States and the free world have no dictators. They buy them. They make business with them. They put them at the government and they overthrow them according to the convenience of the moment: it is different! In a country like Cuba only one man can rule, or at least one single party can, the only one allowed. In the world of good lobby spokespersons are alternated each other. Also this is different, and it doesn’t change the fact Fidel was evil while all the other always have been good. They were so good that they condemned an entire island to starvation for decades. How can define the embargo imposed on Cuba in different way? And could we? All right, all right, Cuba is in trouble with freedoms, respect of human rights and civil rights. Maybe the world of good and freedoms is free of problems? Do black people and minorities have the same rights of other people? Do they receive equal treatment compared to the rest of the society? Are black people and minorities not discriminated? Do the poors get assistance? The electric chair was replaced by the lethal injection: in civilized countries the good kill with respect and dignity.
 
Missiles, rockets, bombs, airstrikes, tanks and contractors allowed the export of democracy: good are imperalists, never ever dictator! In Cuba minors go to school or to get in prostitution, while in the rest of the world they work in order to satisfy the false need of consumism having in return some professional skills and few money: it is called welfare, something unknown in dictatorship. Anyway, the dictator is dead. The evil is no loger there. On the contrary, Guantanamo is still there as it is Abu Ghraib, to remind us that principles and rules change according to the different colors of uniform. Be on the right side and everything will be permitted and forgiven, be on the wrong side and nothing will be tolerated. My imprisonments will be never like yours, my crimes will be never comparable with yours: that’s how it works. Fidel was a dictator and history will judge. History will do that. And us? Are we really in the position of judging?