News

Escalation looms should Rajoy abolish Catalan autonomy

19 October 2017

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy wants to abolish Catalan autonomy and take over the administration of the region on Saturday. This would further escalate the conflict between Spain and Catalonia, which is seeking independence. “The European Union just has until Saturday to start up the …

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Stricter European border controls for travellers without a visa requirement

19 October 2017

Citizens from countries who do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area will from now on be screened in advance. The new ETIAS system verifies whether they pose a threat to European security, public health or the migration policy. “This is a new step towards better information sharing, which …

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Conflicting jurisprudence in the repatriation of Sudanese citizens

18 October 2017
Theo Francken

The Courts of First Instance in Leuven and Liège have issued conflicting statements regarding the detention and repatriation of Sudanese citizens in closed centres. The Court of Leuven has ruled detention to be legal. The services concerned can therefore continue to organise the repatriation of …

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An independent Catalonia makes Europe stronger above all

17 October 2017
Catalan flag

“If Europe continues to refuse any mediation role and the escalation persists, the rest of Europe will have to prepare to grant political asylum to Catalan politicians,” say MEP Sander Loones and Tomas Roggeman, the Chair of Jong N-VA (N-VA Youth). Two months in which to negotiate: that’s the …

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The European Citizens’ Prize goes to the battle against genital mutilation

17 October 2017

This year, the European Citizens’ Prize will go to Hope for Girls, a fund that combats female genital mutilation. MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt awarded the prize to the project’s founders, Annemie Struyf and Lieve Blancquaert. “Hope for Girls has already been doing excellent work in Kenya for a long …

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Europe leaves Flemish construction workers out in the cold

17 October 2017
construction workers

The European Parliament is introducing new rules for temporary employment abroad (secondment). For Europe, equal work in the same place must result in the same wages. However, a shortening of the secondment period in, among other things, the construction and cleaning sectors, is not on the cards …

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