Refugees – EU360

After Ljubljana and Bled: A blurred role of Slovenia in the European Union of the future

The White Paper on the Future of the Union prompted many new formats that the European institutions as well as national politicians have been testing in the past years, to bring the discussion on the future of the European Union closer its citizens. In this view, Commissioners like Violeta Bulc, have been undertaking a number of Citizens Dialogues, the French President Emmanuel Macron announced a similar setting and we are eagerly awaiting the annual State of the European Union address by the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, who will this week present his own vision for Europe.

Last week, Slovenia hosted the first Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, who held a dialogue with citizens at the national television. The debate was broadcast live during prime time on TV, as well as radio and social media of the European Commission’s representation in Slovenia. A day later, discussions about the European Union took place in the frame of the Bled Strategic Forum. However, when there is talk in Slovenia about the future of the European Union, more often than not, we face a very limited debate with short-term visions presented by citizens as well as those who represent our country in Brussels and take decisions on its behalf. Long-term scenarios are being debated in Brussels, while Slovenia is thinking about more cohesion funds and how to deal with our neighbours in the next few years. This was again demonstrated last week in the studio of the Slovenian national broadcaster, as well as in the big hall in Bled.

evropska komisija — Source: European Commission

Preberi več “After Ljubljana and Bled: A blurred role of Slovenia in the European Union of the future”

Europe’s prioritising problems

The last EU summit showed what is the biggest problem of EU countries. Prioritising. Instead of talking about really important things most of the summit and its “extra time” were devoted to a secondary problem. Yes, you read it right. The question of the UK staying or not in the EU is currently of secondary importance. The existence of the EU will not depend of the British staying or leaving but it depends on the (common) solution to the refugee crisis and its causes in Syria, the Middle East and Africa.

(Vir: (c) Evropska unija 2016) — (Source: (c) European Union 2016)

Preberi več “Europe’s prioritising problems”

What’s the price of our values

3 billion euros, speed up of visa liberalisation and acceleration of EU accession negotiations. This is briefly what Turkey got on Sunday’s summit with EU leaders in exchange of limiting the refugees’ arrivals to Europe. Article 2 of the Treaty of the EU states that “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.” However, as everything, also this values have their price.

Vir: (c) Evropska unija 2015 — Source: (c) European Union 2015

Preberi več “What’s the price of our values”

Last chance for the European Union

If there will be no fast action in dealing with the refugee crisis, “the EU will start to fall apart.” With this quote the Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar warned the heads of State of the countries along the “Balkan” refugee route, who attended last Sunday’s special summit, and other heads of State, about the seriousness of the situation the EU has to cope with. Even if he was quoted by several (European and world) media (the quote was listed also on the list of the 10 most apocalyptic warnings on EU’s future prepared by POLITICO) and it has to be taken seriously into account, it hasn’t brought any bigger action.

Foto: (c) Ansa via laRepubblica.it — Refugees passing through Slovenia – Photo: (c) Ansa via laRepubblica.it

Preberi več “Last chance for the European Union”

When France and Germany have to back up Europe

It was 26 years ago that heads of French and German state stood side by side in Strasbourg. Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl delivered the short speeches of optimism. This week, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her French counterpart President François Hollande stood side by side again in front of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). In spite of them coming from different spectra of political field, the leaders of these two countries that are considered a “locomotive” of European integration, felt compelled to call on all Europeans to cooperate more. An observer might ask here whether European integrations are really in such serious trouble that they need the push from the side of the funding members. Is the vision of the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, simply not enough to move things into the European direction at the time when each Member State is pulling the strings in its own way? And finally, was the call of Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande in favour of European solidarity overshadowed by their statements in immigration and refugee crisis that the media so happily took up?

Vir: European Parliament Press Service

Preberi več “When France and Germany have to back up Europe”

It’s the End of Schengen (As We Know It)

I owe you an apology. It was difficult to find the inspiration and will to write something for the blog this week. Firstly, I was thinking to write something lighter. The European Mobility Week was a perfect excuse. However, the events of the past days, also in Slovenia, didn’t allow me so. I can’t be silent over what is happening. If after the Paris terrorist attacks in January I was thinking how will Schengen seem in the future, after the last events I am more and more convinced that Schengen, as we know it now, won’t exist any more.

Ostanek berlinskega zidu pred Evropskim parlamentom v Bruslju (Vir: (c) Evropska unija 2014 - Evropski parlament) — A historic residue or a return to the future (Source: (c) European Union 2014 – European Parliament)

Preberi več “It’s the End of Schengen (As We Know It)”

Apparently it’s not (yet) enough

After last April’s boat sinking between Malta and Lampedusa, where at least 950 people died, I was asking in a post if that event would wake up the European public and politics to act. I left some hope back then, that the “fast reaction of the EU” will bring some concrete actions. But I was wrong. As always the highly ambitious plans were followed by a cold shower, as the EU States didn’t respect the decisions taken by them just a couple of days before. unfortunately, the number of tragedies didn’t drop. Rather the contrary.

Vir: (c) Bansky FB — Source: (c) Bansky FB

Preberi več