“It’s time to put The Innovation Principle’ at the heart of Europe’s economic revival,” that was the key message at a recent high-level industry conference in Brussels. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation said barriers between interdisciplinary structures must be removed to quicken innovation and accelerate competitiveness. … [Read more...]
EU Pushes Two-Year Schengen Border Controls
EU Home Affairs ministers asked the European Commission on Monday to consider suspension of the Schengen area for up two years, prolonging EU Member States border controls. Under the Schengen Code, Member States can only introduce temporary border controls for two months, for unforeseeable events and six months, for foreseeable events. But under Article 26, controls can be … [Read more...]
Brussels Launches Poland Rule of Law Assessment
Brussels is finally worried about authoritarism in Poland, three months after its new government was formed. The European Commission announced on Wednesday the launch of a “preliminary assessment” on whether Warsaw is undermining the Rule of Law in the country. For the first time in EU history, Brussels has opened an assessment to decide if the Rule of Law is Poland is at … [Read more...]
Refugee Women in Europe Risk Sexual Violence Says UNHCR Report
Oumo (not her real name), a young woman from sub-Saharan Africa is fleeing persecution that has left her brother-in-law dead and her sister missing. Fearing for her life, she made the dangerous and difficult journey to Europe where she is hoping to find asylum and safety. During her journey to Greece, Oumo was forced to engage in transactional sex twice to secure passage on … [Read more...]
“Ambitious Climate Alliance Needed” From EU-CELAC Lawmakers
EU and Latin America, Caribbean Lawmakers Forging Paris #COP21 Positions Today’s formal Declaration at the Brussels Summit of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) calls for the strengthening of the bi-regional alliance ahead of COP21, but hbs says that isn’t enough. “There is a fundamental difference between the EU-CELAC … [Read more...]
“Human Rights. Trade. In That Order.” EU-CELAC Civil Society Tells Mogherini
"Human Rights. Trade. In That Order." EU-CELAC Civil Society has told High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini. Their statement came as Brussels prepares to host the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean on 10 and 11 June. The high-level meeting will bring together 61 political leaders. … [Read more...]
“Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, OVER” – EU Migration Re-Launch
The European Commission's new European Agenda on Migration has been launched. It outlines the immediate measures that will be taken to respond to the Mediterranean crisis situation, as well as the steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects. The plight of thousands of migrants putting their lives in peril to cross the Mediterranean has … [Read more...]
Uzbekistan, Justice For Central Asia’s Forgotten Massacre?
The killing of hundreds of protesters by Uzbekistani security forces in the early hours of 13 May 2005 must be independently investigated and the ongoing persecution of those connected to the unrest must end, Amnesty International said on the 10th anniversary of the Andizhan killings. A decade after security forces indiscriminately gunned down mostly peaceful demonstrators, … [Read more...]
Libya Abuse Horrors Driving Migrants Into Sea
Refugees and migrants across Libya face rape, torture and abductions for ransom by traffickers and smugglers, as well as systematic exploitation by their employers, religious persecution and other abuses by armed groups and criminal gangs, according to a new Amnesty International briefing published today. Libya is full of cruelty’: Stories of abduction, sexual violence and … [Read more...]
EU Needs Rethink On Latin America Relations
EU relations with Latin America should promote greater cooperation and socioeconomic equality with a focus on human rights, according to NGOs meeting at the second EU-CELAC Civil Society Forum held today in Brussels. The event was hosted by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs as EU leaders prepared to meet in Brussels for the EU … [Read more...]