Campaigners have hailed a Dutch appeal court ruling that military police can no longer use race or ethnicity as reasons for checks at the border. The judges found that the force had been guilty of ethnic profiling. Using race “without objective and reasonable justification” was a particularly serious form of discrimination, they found. Mpanzu Bamenga, who was himself challenged on the border, said it was a landmark case for millions of people. “Really it’s a historic victory, not only for me but for many people in the Netherlands who have been fighting against racism and racial profiling and for equal … Continue reading Vestige of colonisation: Dutch border police told to stop ethnic profiling

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has met his national security council as tensions rise in Kosovo between the authorities there and ethnic Serbs. On Saturday a stun grenade was thrown at EU police in north Kosovo, where Serbs form a majority, and local police exchanged fire with unknown groups. Ethnic Serbs set up road blocks after Kosovan police were deployed in a dispute over car number plates. Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Kosovo, which has an overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian majority, broke away from Serbia after a war in 1998-99. Nato, which has peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, called … Continue reading Serbian leader holds security talks over Kosovo unrest

European Union interior ministers have voted to accept Croatia into the 26-nation, border-free Schengen zone, but to reject Romania and Bulgaria. The vote was greeted with relief in Zagreb, but anger and dismay in Bucharest and Sofia. Germany’s foreign minister said it was a bad day for Europe. The European Commission had backed all three countries as meeting the criteria necessary for joining the zone, which includes 420 million people. “I’m also disappointed,” said EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson. Croatia joined the EU in 2013; Romania and Bulgaria had become member states six years earlier. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej … Continue reading No EU border-free zone for Romania and Bulgaria

The EU’s executive has recommended that billions of euros of funding for Hungary should be withheld because Viktor Orban’s government has failed to enact widespread reforms. In total, the European Commission recommends that €13.3bn of EU money should be put on hold in budget and Covid recovery funding. Hungary’s government has been accused for years of democratic backsliding. But it badly needs the money, as the economy struggles and inflation surges. The proposal to freeze EU money is made up of two pay-outs: The Commission said on Wednesday that it had decided to endorse Hungary’s Covid recovery plan, but said … Continue reading EU Commission calls for freeze on €13bn funding for Hungary

Kosovo and Serbia have agreed steps to defuse a row over Serbian car number plates, which had threatened to trigger violence. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted “We have a deal!” and said both sides would strive to normalise relations. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kosovo had threatened to start fining drivers from Thursday if they continued using number plates issued by Belgrade. But Brussels talks resulted in a deal. Mr Borrell said Serbia would stop issuing licence plates with Kosovo cities’ denominations, and Kosovo would not demand that vehicles with Serbian plates be re-registered. On Monday he expressed … Continue reading EU defuses tensions over Kosovo car number plates

The UK and Switzerland are striking a deal on science collaboration as both countries continue to be blocked from a major EU scheme. Political tensions mean the two nations have been shut out from the EU’s multi-billion pound Horizon programme. There are no fresh funds as part of the Anglo-Swiss deal. But Swiss ambassador to the UK Markus Leitner described it as a “political signal” to researchers to deepen existing ties and find new projects. The agreement will be finalised on Thursday in London. UK Science Minister George Freeman said: “Being a Science superpower means deepening our international relationships with … Continue reading UK and Switzerland to collaborate on science as both countries are barred from EU scheme

European countries say they will ramp up security around oil and gas installations after the suspected sabotage of two major pipelines. The EU, US and Nato have suggested damage to the pipelines between Russia and Germany was deliberate, but have not blamed Russia directly. Russia has said it was not involved, and asked if the US was instead. Russia has previously been accused of using gas supplies as a weapon against the West over its support for Ukraine. The leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were discovered on Monday and Tuesday. Neither pipeline was operating … Continue reading Western nations to improve pipeline security after Nord Stream leak

The UK is weighing up whether to attend a new European political “club of nations” next month. The first meeting of the “European Political Community” is due to be held in Prague in early October. Downing Street wants to see more detail on the summit before Prime Minister Liz Truss commits to attending it and no final decision has been made. The European Political Community is an idea championed by the French President Emmanuel Macron. He proposed it, in May, as a “new space” for co-operation. Mr Macron suggested the group could discuss security, energy and transport as well as … Continue reading UK considers joining new European nations club

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania have backed Ukraine’s bid to join the EU, saying it should be given “immediate” candidate status. “Ukraine belongs to the European family,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a joint briefing in Kyiv. But he added that Ukraine still had to meet the accession criteria in full. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the 27-member EU would stand by Ukraine until its victory against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia’s continuing aggression as a war “against the united Europe”, adding that the “most effective weapon” was unity. And he again appealed … Continue reading EU leaders back immediate candidate status for Kyiv

Ukraine has praised the courage of three European leaders who made a long, hazardous journey by rail from Poland to Kyiv in a show of support as the city came under further Russian attack. The prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday evening as a curfew began in Kyiv. The trip was a Polish idea, after the EU warned of potential security risks. The Czech prime minister said Ukraine was fighting for its freedom. “We admire your brave fight,” Petr Fiala wrote in a tweet after the meeting. “We know that you’re … Continue reading #Russianinvasion: European leaders risk train ride to meet Zelensky

European Commission President Von der Leyen The European Union will hold Moscow accountable for the “unjustified” attack on Ukraine, the chief of the bloc’s Executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Thursday. “In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” she said on Twitter. “We will hold the Kremlin accountable,” von der Leyen added. EU leaders are set to hold an emergency summit in Brussels later on Thursday, after a first round of EU sanctions on Russia took effect on … Continue reading #Russianinvasion: EU says it will hold the Kremlin accountable for attack on Ukraine

It is the first African scheme in the EU’s €300 billion “Global Gateway” infrastructure plan, the bloc’s response to China’s Belt and Road strategy. The European Union will invest €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) in Morocco to produce green energy, European Commission Presiden Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. Ursula von der Leyen Morroco is the first country to receive funding under the infrastructure program. “This is a great opportunity for the green and digital transition,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter after meeting the Morrocan Prime Minister, Aziz Ajanuch. On Thursday, she will meet Senegalese President Macky Sall, who … Continue reading EU unveils €1.6 billion investment in Morocco