Category: EU News

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EC President goes into self-quarantine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

Her announcement comes amid a spike in the number of cases across Europe…Reports Asian Lite News

https://youtu.be/u6XBr-l_Nrs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that she was self-isolating after being informed that she had attended a meeting last week with a person who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, von der Leyen said: “I’ve been informed that I participated in a meeting last Tuesday (September 29) attended by a person who yesterday (Sunday) tested positive for Covid-19.

“In accordance with regulations in force, I’m therefore self-isolating until tomorrow morning. I’ve tested negative on Thursday (October 1) and (I) am tested again today.”

Her announcement comes amid a spike in the number of cases across Europe.

In its latest update, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the continent has so far registered a total of 5,362,213 Covid-19 cases.

The five worst-affected countries are Russia (1,204,502), Spain (789,932), France (606,625), the UK (480,017) and Italy (322,751).

Europe’s death toll currently stands at 226,515, according to the ECDC update.

The countries with the majority of the Covid-19 fatalities are the UK (42,317), Italy (35,968), France (32,198), Spain (32,086) and Russia (21,251).

Also read:UK, EU agree to intensively bridge gaps

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-Top News EU News

EU Warns Turkey of Sanctions Over Mediterranean

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The European Union (EU) has said it could impose sanctions on Turkey over “provocations and pressures” in a row with Greece over energy resources and maritime borders.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Ankara to “abstain from unilateral actions” in the eastern Mediterranean. She spoke early on Friday during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, the BBC reported.

Earlier, Turkey and Greece set up a military hotline to try to reduce the risk of clashes in the region.

Tensions rose earlier this year when Turkey sent a ship into a disputed area to search for potentially rich oil and gas deposits.

Von der Leyen told reporters that the EU wanted “a positive and constructive relationship with Turkey and this would be also be very much in Ankara’s interest”.

“But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop,” she said. “We therefore expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions. In case of such renewed actions by Ankara the EU will use all its instruments and options available. We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately.”

After their late-night meeting, EU members agreed to review Turkey’s behaviour in December and impose sanctions if “provocations” had not stopped.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an European Parliament plenary session in Brussels. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, posting on Twitter after the meeting, said: “The EU issues a clear threat of sanctions against Turkey should it continue to violate international law.”

European Council President Charles Michel said the EU was offering Turkey closer relations on trade and other areas but holding out the threat of sanctions if tensions in the Mediterranean did not de-escalate.

The European Union and Turkey have long held a fragile relationship.

Turkey has been a long-term candidate for membership of the EU but efforts have stalled. EU leaders have criticised Turkey’s record on human rights and the rule of law, in particular in the wake of the 2016 failed military coup.

Despite the strains, Turkey remains an important partner for the EU. Turkey hosts millions of migrants and struck a deal with the EU that limited the numbers arriving in Greece.

Greece and Turkey are both Nato members, but have a history of border disputes and competing claims over maritime rights.

Tensions flared in August when Ankara sent the research ship into an area south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo which is claimed by Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.

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EastMed ‘provocations’: EU warns Turkey of sanctions

“We expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions. In case of such renewed actions by Ankara the EU will use all its instruments and options available” said Ursula von der Leyen…Reports Asian Lite News

The European Union (EU) has said it could impose sanctions on Turkey over “provocations and pressures” in a row with Greece over energy resources and maritime borders.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Ankara to “abstain from unilateral actions” in the eastern Mediterranean. She spoke early on Friday during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

Earlier, Turkey and Greece set up a military hotline to try to reduce the risk of clashes in the region.

Tensions rose earlier this year when Turkey sent a ship into a disputed area to search for potentially rich oil and gas deposits.

Von der Leyen told reporters that the EU wanted “a positive and constructive relationship with Turkey and this would be also be very much in Ankara’s interest”.

“But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop,” she said. “We therefore expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions. In case of such renewed actions by Ankara the EU will use all its instruments and options available. We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately.”

After their late-night meeting, EU members agreed to review Turkey’s behaviour in December and impose sanctions if “provocations” had not stopped.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, posting on Twitter after the meeting, said: “The EU issues a clear threat of sanctions against Turkey should it continue to violate international law.”

European Council President Charles Michel said the EU was offering Turkey closer relations on trade and other areas but holding out the threat of sanctions if tensions in the Mediterranean did not de-escalate.

The European Union and Turkey have long held a fragile relationship.

Turkey has been a long-term candidate for membership of the EU but efforts have stalled. EU leaders have criticised Turkey’s record on human rights and the rule of law, in particular in the wake of the 2016 failed military coup.

Despite the strains, Turkey remains an important partner for the EU. Turkey hosts millions of migrants and struck a deal with the EU that limited the numbers arriving in Greece.

Greece and Turkey are both Nato members, but have a history of border disputes and competing claims over maritime rights.

Tensions flared in August when Ankara sent the research ship into an area south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo which is claimed by Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.

Also read:Turkey expresses interest in resource sharing dialogue

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-Top News EU News UK News

Brexit breach: EU begins legal action against UK

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The EU had given UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson until the end of September to ditch the contentious clauses, but the deadline had lapsed…said Ursula von der Leyen…Reports Asian Lite News

  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The European Union (EU) on Thursday started a legal action against the UK after it refused to ditch plans to override sections of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

In a statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the UK had been put on formal notice over the Internal Market Bill, which would override a part of the agreement when it came to goods and allow the country to modify or re-interpret “state aid” rules on subsidies for firms in Northern Ireland, in the event of the two sides not agreeing on a future trade deal.

She said the UK would have until the end of November to respond to the EU’s concerns over the draft legislation, reports the BBC.

She said the bill was a “full contradiction” of previous UK commitments over how a hard border on the island of Ireland should be avoided.

The EU had given UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson until the end of September to ditch the contentious clauses, but “the deadline had lapsed”, von der Leyen was quoted as saying in a Guardian report.

“We had invited our British friends to remove the problematic parts of their draft internal market bill, by the end of September.

“This draft bill is, by its very nature, a breach of the obligation of good faith, laid down in the withdrawal agreement. Moreover, if adopted as is it will be in full contradiction to the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“The problematic provisions have not been removed. Therefore this morning, the commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to the UK government. This is the first step in an infringement procedure,” she added in the statement.

Meanwhile, the UK said it would respond “in due course”, the BBC reported.

A spokesperson for the Johnson government said the bill was a necessary “safety net” to protect trade between different parts of the UK.

Thursday’s announcement came after Maros Sefcovic, Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations said on Monday that the EU was mulling legal options if the UK breaches the Brexit deal.

The UK left the EU on January 31, having negotiated and signed the withdrawal agreement, which is now an international treaty, with the bloc, the BBC reported.

The two sides are now in the closing weeks of negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal before the transition period ends on December 31.

Also read:EU considers legal actions over UK Brexit treaty breach

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Education EU News

EC to reform education through digitalisation

BRUSSELS, May 27, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) lead Candidate to the Presidency of the European Commission, speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, May 27, 2019. Voters in Germany, Lithuania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy cast their ballots on Sunday in elections to the European Parliament (EP). Citizens of the 28 European Union (EU) member countries, among whom over 400 million voters are eligible, are expected to vote over the course of four days, starting from Thursday, to elect 751 members of EP (MEPs) for a five-year term. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)
  • BRUSSELS, May 27, 2019 (Xinhua) — Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) lead Candidate to the Presidency of the European Commission, speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, May 27, 2019. Voters in Germany, Lithuania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy cast their ballots on Sunday in elections to the European Parliament (EP). Citizens of the 28 European Union (EU) member countries, among whom over 400 million voters are eligible, are expected to vote over the course of four days, starting from Thursday, to elect 751 members of EP (MEPs) for a five-year term. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)

It is a call to action to make education and training systems truly fit for the digital age…Reports Asian Lite News

The European Commission has adopted the new Digital Education Action Plan, reflecting lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis and devising a plan for a high-performing digital education eco-system, according to an official statement.

In the statement, the Commission said that the plan proposes a set of initiatives for high-quality, inclusive and accessible digital education in Europe.

It is a call to action to make education and training systems truly fit for the digital age.

“The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has put distance learning at the centre of education practices.

“This has shed light on the pressing need to improve digital education, as a key strategic objective for high-quality teaching and learning in the digital age,” the statement said.

The Action Plan has two long-term strategic priorities: First, fostering the development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem and second, enhancing digital competences for the digital transformation.

“Education and training have faced huge disruption due to Covid-19 and a quick shift to distance and online learning. The mass use of technology has revealed gaps and exposed weaknesses,” the statement quoted Executive Vice President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, Margrethe Vestager as saying.

“This is also an opportunity to reset education and training for the digital age. Ninety-five of respondents to the public consultation on the Digital Education Action Plan see the crisis as a turning point for the way technology is used in education and training.

“This is a momentum to shape and modernise education for the digital age,” she added.

Also read:EU considers legal actions over UK Brexit treaty breach

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EU News World News

France opens new era in relationship with animals

Ban use of animals in circuses to prevent spread of disease: PETA.

“It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer means they end up in captivity.”said Pompili…Reports Asian Lite News

France has said it will gradually ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses as part of sweeping new animal welfare measures,

On Tuesday, Ecology Minister Barbara Pompili said, “Our attitude to wild animals has changed.”

She also announced a ban on farming minks for fur and on keeping dolphins and orcas in captivity in marine parks, BBC reported.

The move was hailed as “an historic victory” by leading animal rights groups.

“It is time to open a new era in our relationship with these [wild] animals,” Pompili said during a press conference.

“It is time that our ancestral fascination with these wild beings no longer means they end up in captivity.”

The Minister did not outline a precise timetable for the changes but said they would be implemented “in the years to come”.

“Putting a date on it does not solve all the problems,” she told reporters.

Ban use of animals in circuses to prevent spread of disease: PETA.

Bears, tigers, lions, elephants and other wild animals would no longer be allowed in travelling circuses under the ban. But the government said the rules would not apply to zoos and other permanent attractions or shows.

In addition to the measures, and starting immediately, Pompili said France’s three marine aquariums would no longer be able to breed or bring in new dolphins or orcas. No new marine aquariums would be built, she said.

The Minister added that the government was considering creating a sanctuary for the animals currently in captivity.

Pompili said the government would offer an 8m euro (£7.3m; $9.3m) package to help circuses and marine parks adapt to the new measures.

“We are asking (circuses) to reinvent themselves,” she said. “That transition will be spread over several years because it will change the lives of many people.”

But the announcement was met with anger from the circus industry.

“She didn’t want to listen to us,” William Kerwich, the head of the circus animal trainers’ union, told AFP news agency. “Who is going to pay for the meat for the lions and tigers and the food for the elephants?”

“Circuses will have to abandon their animals and the minister will be responsible,” he added.

Animal rights groups, meanwhile, praised the government’s announcement.

Also read:Covid 19: Second wave could ‘overwhelm’ France

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EU News World News

Belgium swears in new PM after 493 days

Alexander De Croo.
Alexander De Croo.

De Croo is set to lead the country’s 7-party Vivaldi coalition of Flemish and Francophone socialists, liberals and greens…Reports Asian Lite News

Flemish liberal leader Alexander De Croo will be Belgium’s new prime minister. It was announced on Wednesday ,16 months after an inconclusive election.

De Croo is set to lead the country’s 7-party Vivaldi coalition of Flemish and Francophone socialists, liberals and greens.

De Croo will spearhead the Vivaldi coalition in steering the country through the aftershocks of the pandemic, and is set to face fierce pushback from the Flemish opposition parties, sidelined from the incoming administration despite making big gains in the election, reported Brussels Times.

The choice of De Croo follows calls for the country’s new Prime Minister to be a Dutch-speaker, since the last PM to lead a full-fledged government, Charles Michel, was Francophone.

As De Croo’s fellow government formator, the Francophone socialist Paul Magnette, who leads the largest party within the Vivaldi coalition, was also tipped for premiership.

Talks are ongoing among parties on the makeup of the federal cabinet, which, according to Le Soir, will comprise seven Dutch-speaking ministers and seven Francophone ministers.

De Croo was elected President of the Flemish liberal party at 34, a position which he filled for three years before stepping down.

De Croo has been a Federal Minister since 2012 in the governments of Elio di Rupo (PS) and Charles Michel (MR), twice clinching a vice premiership position. He is the son of Herman De Croo, a former Federal Minister, Deputy and current President of the House of Representatives and the longest-serving MP.

Also read:Venezuelan oil revenue drops 99% in six years

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World Tourism Day: Exploring The Origins Of Swiz Tourism

Switzerland is a dream destination which features on every traveller’s bucket list, from around the world. In addition to the picturesque landscapes, majestic mountains and charming towns, which makes Switzerland stand out as a tourist destination is the exceptional experience that it provides. The well connected and convenient Swiss Transport System is a boon for every tourist while the welcoming hospitality of the swiss people leaves them with memories of a lifetime.

This World Tourism Day on September 27, it’s only apt that we explore the origins of tourism in Switzerland.

In the early 18th century, followers of the Romantic movement travelled across Europe in an attempt to follow their own desires and regularly poured their experiences in their art and literature. A poem by Jean-Jacques Rousseau published as “La Nouvelle Heloise” (The New Eloise), which spoke of the untouched beauty of Lake Geneva encouraged thousands to flock to Chillon to admire this picturesque landscape for themselves. Years later, India would romanticize Switzerland similarly thanks to Yash Chopra and many Bollywood songs.



In the 19th century, the mountains proved strikingly fascinating to the young upper-class men from Britain. The first guesthouses to accommodate these young visitors began to appear: Mount Rigi in 1816; Mount Faulhorn, the highest guesthouse in Europe, in 1823; Wengernalp in 1835; Kleine Scheidegg, looking out onto the North Face of the Eiger, in 1838; and the Rothorn (Brienz) in 1840. Even today, the grand mountain peaks lure tourists to Switzerland, some of these summits are now the hub for adrenaline-pumping adventure sports.

The 1854-1865 period was considered the “Golden Age of Alpinism”, when members of the British aristocracy started conquering the highest summits of the Swiss Alps. In the mid-19th century, Switzerland also welcomed Queen Victoria and her entourage for a five-week getaway. It was the first visit to the Alpine country by a reigning British monarch. The trip left its mark not only on the Queen but also on the Swiss tourism industry. In present times, the resort town- Gstaad, greatly appeals to the Indian royalty and the Bollywood elites Like Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Virat Kolhi among others!

A belief in the Alps ‘as a place of healing’, made Switzerland the best place for treatment of lung diseases. High altitude fresh air had a therapeutic effect on patients and soon gave rise to health tourism in the country. The curative regime at the new health resorts involved drinking the spring waters, hydrotherapy, and, of course, inhaling the pure mountain air. Even today, Switzerland is a top wellness destination that houses beautiful spas with world-class facilities!

The launch of special coach services over the mountain passes made the high peaks accessible to a wider public. Cog railways, invented in the mid-1800s climbed the steepest of mountains, proved to be a major advantage for Swiss tourism. The first cog railway in Switzerland, running from Vitznau to Mount Rigi, opened in 1871. And many more followed, to become what is now the most well connected and developed public transport system in the world, which can be accessed by Swiss Travel Pass- a popular service which encourages Indian tourists to opt for Switzerland as a destination, due to its convenience and ease-of-use for tourists.

In 1912, the highest train station in Europe, the Jungfraujoch (altitude: 3454m) opened. The latter half of the 19th century saw the arrival not only of trains but also of hotels and guesthouses, which were springing up across the country’s mountain regions to cater to the rising influx of tourists to these areas. To this day, Switzerland’s panorama train routes are among the most beautiful rail routes in the world. Passing through the most majestic mountain scenery, idyllic valleys and villages; along crystal-clear lakes and ice-blue glaciers, the trains like Bernina Express, Glacier Express and others have become a part of the country’s heritage and history.

Switzerland- a small, prosperous and peaceful nation with a stable economy quickly emerged as a thriving tourist destination with a lot of things to offer- Snow-capped mountains, ravishing landscapes and pristine waterfalls along with rich cultural and traditional experiences, adventure sports, and varied gastronomy. At the turn of the 20th century, the tourism industry in the Swiss Alps became an invaluable element in the national economy. Switzerland is now the most successful nation in promoting winter tourism which accounts for a substantial part of the total revenue of the country.

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-Top News EU News

EU considers legal actions over UK Brexit treaty breach

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The European Union (EU) has reiterated of considering legal options if the UK breaches the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with the controversial Internal Market Bill, which will override some parts of the deal, it was reported.

The remarks were made by Maros Sefcovic, Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations, after a meeting with UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Monday, Euro News said in a report.

“The Withdrawal Agreement is to be implemented, not to be renegotiated, let alone unilaterally changed, disregarded or disapplied,” Sefcovic was quoted as saying to reporters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at an extraordinary European Parliament plenary session in Brussels, Belgium, July 23, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

“It cannot be stressed enough that the (Ireland/Northern Ireland) Protocol is specifically designed to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement and the achievements of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland,” he added.

The Good Friday Agreement refers to a pair of deals signed on April 1998 that ended most of the violence of the Troubles, a political conflict in Northern Ireland that had been ongoing since the 1960s.

It served as a major development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s.

Sefcovic further said that the EU has given the UK until the end of the month to withdraw the Internal Market Bill and that it is “considering all legal options available” and will “not be shy” in using them if London fails to do so.

London, Sept. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) — British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove walks to 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, Sept. 8, 2020. Senior officials from the European Union (EU) and Britain met in London on Thursday for hastily arranged talks over a controversial Brexit bill as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intended to override key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement previously agreed with Brussels. (Xinhua/Han Yan/IANS)

In a statement issued after the meeting, the UK’s Cabinet Office said: “The measures set out in the Internal Market Bill are designed to create a ‘safety net’ to ensure the communities of Northern Ireland are protected.

“The UK is clear that those measures would not be withdrawn.”

The Internal Market Bill proposed by the Johnson-led government would override that part of that agreement when it came to goods and would allow the UK to modify or re-interpret “state aid” rules on subsidies for firms in Northern Ireland, in the event of the two sides not agreeing a future trade deal.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the bill would provide belt-and-braces protection against extreme interpretations of the Brexit protocol, adding that the law-breaking powers will only be used in extreme circumstances.

Meanwhile, his government has agreed to table an amendment to the bill, giving MPs a vote before its powers are used.

The UK left the EU on January 31, having negotiated and signed the withdrawal agreement, which is now an international treaty, with the bloc, the BBC reported.

The two sides are now in the closing weeks of negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal before the transition period ends on December 31.

Also read:EU Warns Legal Action Over Brexit Breach