Trump Warns NATO: Boost Defense Spending or Risk Russian Aggression #defensespending #EasternEurope #Europeanleaders #militarypresence #NATOallies #NATOmembers #NATOsummit #Russianaggression #stabilityintheregion #UnitedStates

UK PM Calls For European Union to Prioritize Border Security

  - PM will put tackling illegal migration firmly on the international agenda at 2nd ever meeting of the European Political Community in Moldova today - As the UK prepares to host the EPC next year, PM will build on migration agreements struck with France, Albania and the EU in recent weeks - PM will also announce new support for Moldova in the face of Russian aggression and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine  

Beds in the migrant shelter. Illegal immigration is a worldwide problem. Photo by greensefa. Flickr.   Stopping illegal migration and securing our borders should be at the top of the agenda for European leaders, the Prime Minister will tell a gathering of the European Political Community (EPC) in Chișinău, Moldova today (1 June 2023). The EPC was established last year as a forum for leaders from across Europe to come together and address some of the biggest trans-national challenges. Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister will point to the devastating humanitarian impact of illegal migration which is rising across the continent. He will emphasise the need for all countries to grip this problem with a lawful and compassionate approach. Migrant crossings into the EU increased by 64 per cent last year and organised criminal gangs are using networks across Europe to commit cross-border crime and profit from human misery. In recent weeks, the PM has agreed an unprecedented package of measures to stop illegal Channel crossings with France and new returns agreements with Albania. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister also agreed with EU President Von der Leyen to develop a new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex – the EU’s border agency. This will include Frontex and UK agencies working together on critical operational and strategic challenges, including in the Channel. Today, the Prime Minister will announce the start of negotiations on a new returns agreement with Moldova and confirm that a similar deal struck with Georgia has entered into force. These returns agreements allow us to return foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration laws in the UK – reducing the incentive for people to come here illegally. The Prime Minister will also announce a new partnership with Bulgaria to help them destroy the business model of organised criminal gangs who are deeply involved in illegal migration. Bulgaria sits at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans migration routes – both of which have seen around a 40 per cent increase in illegal migration since 2021. The country is also becoming a key point of entry for the small boats and engines which are used by criminal gangs in illegal Channel crossings. The UK will increase bilateral intelligence sharing with Bulgaria and work with them to increase their ability to detect and disrupt criminal gangs, building on previous work to disrupt the flow of illicit finance through organised crime networks.  

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to attend Muldova meeting. Photo by UK Prime Minister. Flickr.   The Prime Minister said: Europe is facing unprecedented threats at our borders. From Putin’s utter contempt of other countries’ sovereignty to the rise in organised immigration crime across our continent. We cannot address these problems without Europe’s governments and institutions working closely together. In every meeting, every summit, every international gathering like this, the security of our borders must be top of the agenda. The UK will be at the heart of this international effort to stop the boats and defend our national security.   The UK will host the European Political Community in 2024 following the next summit, hosted by Spain in October. In Moldova today the Prime Minister will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to discuss how the UK and Spain can keep up the momentum of international action on illegal migration at our respective EPC Summits. The Prime Minister will also convene a roundtable discussion on security, alongside the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, where he will stress the need to deal with organised immigration crime and support countries like Ukraine and Moldova who are on the front line of Russian aggression. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was already one of the poorest countries in Europe. It now hosts the largest per capita refugee population, having accepted thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war. Moldova is the subject of constant Russian hostility, from Russian troops illegally stationed in Transnistria to a Russian plot, uncovered earlier this year, to stage a coup in Moldova. In March, the UK announced an extra £10 million to support reforms, including to Moldova’s energy sector, which will help them defend against the kind of economic and political manipulation we know Russia is capable of. We have also provided £12.5 million to UN agencies to help support Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, and today the Prime Minister will announce a further £10.5 million to continue these efforts – particularly helping those women and children who have experienced the most horrific things imaginable over the last year. Given the impact of Putin’s aggression beyond Ukraine, this work is integral to keeping our people safe and stopping the manipulation of our economy.   Sources: THX News, Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street & The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP. Read the full article

Macron's nationalisation of nuclear energy corporation EDF will be a disaster for France

Macron’s nationalisation of nuclear energy corporation EDF will be a disaster for France

 Macron’s energy power grab will be a disaster for France.Nationalisation of the nuclear energy giant is an ill-thought-out, populistresponse from a president overwhelmed by a political crisis. Europeanleaders have yet to come up with any convincing answers to the globalenergy crisis. ……….. France’s energy system is incomplete disarray and Emmanuel Macron’s solution is arguably the worst ofthe…

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زیلنسکی نے مرکل اور سرکوزی کو یوکرینیوں کے قتل کا ذمہ دار کیوں ٹھہرایا؟

زیلنسکی نے مرکل اور سرکوزی کو یوکرینیوں کے قتل کا ذمہ دار کیوں ٹھہرایا؟

زیلنسکی نے مرکل اور سرکوزی کو یوکرینیوں کے قتل کا ذمہ دار کیوں ٹھہرایا؟   لندن، 5اپریل ( آئی این ایس انڈیا )   یوکرین کے صدر ولادیمیر زیلنسکی نے اتوار کو جاری ہونے والی ایک ویڈیو میں جرمنی اور فرانس کے سابق رہنماؤں انجیلا مرکل اور نکولس سرکوزی پر تنقید کرتے ہوئے انہیں یوکرینی شہریوں کی ہلاکتوں کا ذمہ دار ٹھہرایا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ میں مسز مرکل اور مسٹر سرکوزی کو بوچا کا دورہ کرنے کی دعوت دیتا ہوں…

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A challenging time for US, EU relations

http://bit.ly/2KcsxxV #IranDeal, #Ally, #AngelaMerkel, #EmmanuelMacron, #EuropeanLeaders, #Underplay, #Us

Inside The EU's Deal To Help Refugees

European leaders dine on delicacies while discussing the futures of refugees and migrants, many of whom are struggling for food.

06:32, UK,Thursday 24 September 2015

Mark Stone

Europe Correspondent

They met at 6pm. An odd time to begin a meeting you might think. But this was a emergency summit. Trying to find a window in the diary of every EU leader isn't easy. Last night was the best option.

It took some time coming, given the crisis (an over-used word, but appropriate here) that has been unfolding across Europe over the past few months.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, most from Syria according to the UN, have walked into Europe in search of safety and a future.

The meeting was billed as a 'working dinner', and for several hours we heard more about the food than their solutions for the migrant crisis.

An aide to a Czech minister tweeted the menu Pic: @CZSecStateEU

An aide to one minister tweeted the menu: Beetroot Carpaccio with Smoked Eel followed by Guinea Fowl and then Crunchy Chocolate and Praline Cake. A little inappropriate perhaps, given the difficulties facing the migrants they are discussing.  

After a few hours though, a draft agreement was leaked. It looked promising but then they had set the bar pretty low.

An couple of hours later, at 1am, they'd reached a deal.

The Italian Prime Minister was the first with an upbeat reaction: "For the first time, the migrant question is not simply a question of the single member states. It's a question about all European people and particularly the European institution. For this reason we are absolutely satisfied," he said.

Firstly, they agreed that they must recognise solidarity and responsibility while at the same time upholding, applying and implementing existing rules. This is the central dilemma for Europe - how to balance the European spirit of helping those fleeing war and persecution but at the same time not allowing EU rules about migration and border control to be entirely disregarded.

They agreed on an extra €1bn to help those refugees in camps in the Middle East - those who have not yet left for Europe.

They pledged to reinforce dialogue with Turkey: not part of EU and so not really part of conversation at the moment.

And then the crux: strengthening external border controls.

EU Council President Donald Tusk explained: "It is clear that the greatest tide of refugees and migrants is yet to come. Therefore we need to correct the policy of open doors and windows. Now the focus should be on the proper protection of our external borders and on external assistance to refugees and the countries in our neighbourhood."

For weeks now, border guards on the EU's external borders have been utterly outnumbered by the human tide. Registering and fingerprinting each of those who cross into the EU has been impossible.

And so ministers pledged that there will be more personnel and equipment for the EU's border police at certain hotspots. Staffing at asylum centres will be increased to process claims faster.

It all sounds great but it's short on detail. Will police forces and militaries work outside their own country? Hungary had suggested this as an option. And under what rules? None of that has been revealed.

The pledges look positive on paper but with so many migrants and refugees already in Europe, and a door that's now jammed wide open, it's hard to see quite what they will actually do.

Before more children drown...

#Avaaz  support the refugees, show #EuropeanLeaders   #EUisus  what  we can do and wish them to do! In #Italia   #millionidipassi   #faiunpassoanchetu  

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