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-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?

Semaine de la bière - Beer week

(click to enlarge)

Irritated Ukraine called Europe to deliver

EU unable to give Kyiv what was agreed, criticised Poroshenko. The Ukrainian leader set the agenda: free visas to be granted immediately, no further delays in association agreement

Petro Poroshenko (left) with Jean-Claude Juncker (right)

by Emanuele Bonini

Formally the EU-Ukraine summit relaunched the strategic partnership between the two sides, in practice it showed all the Ukrainian frustration for the incapacity of Europe in keeping the promises. The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement is blocked by the Netherlands and it cannot be ratified, the free visa regime is not granted yet, in energy the Europeans keep making deals with Russia. Too little achievements for the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, who claimed what he believes has to be granted with no further ado. The European counterparts offered optimism and a new financial package aimed to sustain the path of the reforms in the country. Not to much, but it is all what could be offered.

Summit achievement
The 18th EU-Ukraine summit reiterated the condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. EU still defends the territorial integrity of Ukraine and respects the principle of maintaining sanctions, whose imposition is linked to the full respect of the Minsk agreements. This is nothing new in the bilateral relations. The summit was also the occasion to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the energy sector. This is not something of new at all, since the the MoU replaces the one signed in 2005. The two sides decided to review their cooperation extending it in a wider range of areas (research, energy efficiency, energy security, decarbonization, interconnectivity). At the Summit, a €15 million programme to fight corruption has been signed, together with a €104 million programme in support of public administration reform, and a €52.5 million programme to foster the rule of law are in the pipeline for later in the year.

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.


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«Our relationship with Turkey is at a crossroad because Turkey is at a crossroad».
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of EU for foreign affairs and security policy (Strasbourg, 22th of November, 2016)

Erdogan thinking to join the Shanghai Pact

Turkey tempted to redesign the global order leaving the Western block for the Eastern one

The Shanghai Pact (Click to enlarge)

by Emanuele Bonini

Turkey watches more and more east. After decades invested to find a place in the European block, it is time to reconsider policies and abandon the unfruitful relationship with the Western block. In practical terms the republic led by Recep Tayipp Erdogan got the only benefit in joining the NATO, since on the EU side never happened and nothing is supposed to happen. The accession process is still pending, and the European Parliament has announced the intention of freezing the negotiations. Turkey is now considering to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (also known as Shanghai Pact), the Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation founded in 1996 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and joined by Uzbekistan in 2001. It means saying farewell to Europe and write a new chapter of the geopolitical order, considering also that the two nuclear powers India and Pakistan already applied for the membership on June this year .

The European veto to the EU membership
In order to become a member of the European Union the unanimous consensus of the Member States is required. After that it the European Parliament called to express an opinion through a vote. The European Parliament decides on enlargement and the two biggest groups - the EPP and the S&D - both decided the negotiations should be frozen in light of the breaches of the rule of law followed by the attempted coup in Turkey. Erdogan realized the free-visa regime will be never granted, as well as he understood there will be never any improvement in the negotiations. His country got less than expected, so he decided to change alliances. Erdogan knows that a part of the population wanted to join the EU. The fact he cannot guarantee it any longer put pressure on his leadership. He said he might hold a referendum, but it could be a dangerous tool in case of electoral defeat. He knows he could be forced to keep negotiating and he hopes to put pressure on Europe.

Geopolitics
«Turkey must feel at ease. It mustn't say "for me it's the European Union at all costs". That's my view», Erdogan was quoted by the Hurriyet newspaper. The Turkish alternative to the EU could be the block of countries formed by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, revealed Erdogan. «Why shouldn't Turkey be in the Shanghai Pact?» Becoming part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would mean reshape the geopolitical order. In such a scenario Turkey would quit the Western block to join the Eastern one and superpowers such as Russia and China could count on Turkey, the second biggest NATO member. That would be a problem for Europe, of course.