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Boris Johnson appeared unwilling to compromise in order to secure a trade and security deal with Brussels when he joined EU leaders for a summit last week, one of the three who attended the meeting has told the Guardian.

David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, punctured a recent outbreak of optimism over a potential deal by warning that the EU had been left concerned at the end of a video conference call by the lack of enthusiasm to find common ground on the most contentious issues.

After the discussions last Monday, the British prime minister insisted he could see no reason why an agreement could not be secured with Brussels by the end of July following intensified talks.

In a joint statement, Johnson, Sassoli and the presidents of the European commission and council, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, had said new momentum was required.

But in an interview with the Guardian, Sassoli warned that he had not been imbued with confidence the prime minister was ready to do what was necessary to secure agreement before the end of the transition period on 31 December.

Together, we are very worried because we dont see great enthusiasm from the British authorities and we dont see a strong will to get to an agreement that satisfies all parties, he said.

Obviously as an agreement, it has to satisfy both parties that it cannot advantage one over the other. And this puts us in a situation in which at the moment we are frankly a little bit worried.

The two sides are stuck on issues of access to British waters for European fishermen and dispute resolution in a future deal, as well as the so-called level playing field provisions, where the EU has been demanding common environmental, labour and social standards.

On Wednesday, Barnier reiterated that he was willing to work on clever compromises in the new rounds of talks scheduled in July and August, mentioning regulatory equivalence as an alternative to the UK incorporating EU state aid law into domestic legislation.

Sassoli said Barnier had been given the maximum margin of flexibility by the member states to find a compromise, but that it takes two to tango. There cannot be one party that prevails, Sassoli said.

Basically, the fact that they dont really want to build upon the political declaration, this really does disturb us greatly, because that has to be the basis for everything for the whole negotiation, Sassoli said, in reference to the 27-page document agreed last year on the scope of a future deal.

We reached an agreement, and it now must be respected. This really is something which concerns us at the moment.

The UK has taken a minimalist approach to the agreement in the political declaration to incorporate level playing field provisions in a treaty ensuring neither side is able to undercut the other by downgrading their standards. The UK negotiator, David Frost, has rejected any deal that sets up EU law as the common standard to meet.

Sassoli said that when the EU leaders emphasised during the meeting the need for a deal that would give the European fishing fleet fair access to UK waters, he was also concerned by the prime ministers reply.

The response that was given by the prime minister was that fishermen voted for Brexit. We want to respect their point of view, of course, but we also believe that were talking here about a very important resource both for the UK and for Europe, and were talking about the sea, so we think we can come to a common agreement on this.

The prime minister has said he will not extend the transition period, with the deadline for an agreement on extra time passing next week.

Sassoli said he had personally hoped that an extension would be sought given the difficulties in negotiating the terms of the future relationship during the coronavirus pandemic. Both Barnier and Frost have been infected with the virus during the crisis.

Sassoli, an Italian MEP since 2009, who was elected the president of the parliament last year, said he feared Downing Street was seeking to rush the EU into decisions by shortening the timeframe for talks.

He said: This [extension] is something that I actually hoped would happen for technical reasons, because we know that covid has cost us a lot of time in negotiation, so it could have been a very good opportunity. If this really is our goal, if we want an agreement and it would have given us a few more weeks

I do believe that it is a way to put the European Union in a difficult position, an unpleasant position, a position in which no one is is respecting the goodwill which was initially shown to go towards agreement.

Excerpt from:
EU parliament leader: Boris Johnson seems unwilling to find compromise in Brexit talks - The Guardian

EU receives one-third of global asylum applications in 2019

In 2019, applications for asylum in EU+ countries1 rose by 11% to 738 425, followed by a 16% increase recorded in the first two months of 2020.2 While the COVID-19 emergency has led to a recent 87% drop in applications, EASO expects the overall increasing trend to resume.

On 25 June 2020, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) published its annual flagship EASO Asylum Report. It presents a comprehensive overview of the latest key developments in asylum data, policy, practice and legislation. Member State-specific data can be found here.

The Report finds that 2019 was the first time since 2015 that applications increased on an annual basis, in part due to a sharp rise in applicants from Venezuela (+103% over 2018) and Colombia (+214% over 2018). Some EU+ countries such as Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta and Spain received more asylum applications in 2019 than during the so-called migration crisis in 2015 and 2016.

In response, EU+ countries receiving high shares of asylum applicants ramped up efforts to address the influx of migrants, disembarkations and rising backlogs of pending cases. In particular, policies and practices targeted protecting unaccompanied minors, accelerating registrations, fast-tracking the return of rejected applicants and expanding accommodation places. Nonetheless, first instance procedures were lengthy in most countries, frequently extending past the six-month legal time limit.

In 2019, the majority of asylum applications were lodged in Germany (165 615; 22%), France (128 940; 17%) and Spain (117 795; 16%), while the fewest were lodged in Liechtenstein (50), Estonia (105) and Latvia (195). Most asylum applicants were Syrians (80 205; 11%), Afghans (60 700; 8.2%) and Venezuelans (45 645; 6.2%).

EU+ countries made progress toward reaching the goal of resettling 50 000 migrants from non-EU countries under the second EU Resettlement Scheme. In 2019, approximately 30 700 persons arrived in Europe through resettlement, 8% more than in 2018. Syrians accounted for nearly two-thirds of all resettled persons for the third year in a row.

The number of decisions taken at first instance (excluding appeals) in 2019 decreased slightly (-3%) to 584 770, compared to 601 430 in 2018. Germany recorded the most decisions (154 175; 26%), followed by France (113 890; 19%) and Italy (93 485; 16%). Spain issued almost five times as many first instance decisions in 2019 (58 035) compared to 2018 (11 875), particularly due to the rapid assessment of Latin American applicants. Syrians (12%) accounted for the majority of decisions in the EU+, followed by Venezuelans (6.7%) and Afghans (6.4%).

The number of pending cases still awaiting a decision at the end of 2019 (almost 912 000 applications) remained much higher compared to the pre-2015 level, illustrating the pressure under which asylum and reception systems are still operating. However, backlogs were reduced in early 2020 as a result of temporary office closures due to COVID-19 safety measures. At the end of March, there were about 836 000 pending cases, an 8% decrease compared to the end of December 2019.

The first instance EU+ wide recognition rate3 in 2019 remained on par with that of 2018, with 40% of decisions being positive. Recognition rates in EU+ countries ranged ranged from 10% in the Czech Republic to 88% in Switzerland.

A notable development in 2019 was the number and share of positive decisions granted to applicants from Venezuela. The recognition rate for Venezuelans was 96% in 2019, compared to just 29% in 2018. This was largely composed of national protection status. Other nationalities to receive a high number of positive decisions included: Syrians (86%), Eritreans (85%) and Yemenis (82%).

Asylum applications plummet in 2020, but expected to begin increasing again

Improvements made to national asylum systems, and deficiencies which persisted, were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries which had invested in modernising and automating asylum procedures in 2019 were able to restart operations quickly by processing applications online and conducting interviews through videoconferencing.

Nonetheless, as reported by EASO in recent months, national emergency measures due to COVID-19 led to a dramatic 87% reduction in asylum applications. Only about 8 700 applications for international protection were registered in EU+ countries in April, the lowest since at least 2008.

As national and travel restrictions begin to ease, EASO expects that asylum applications will begin increasing and return to pre-COVID-19 trends. In May, asylum applications were already rising again, albeit slowly. EASO reiterates that there is no indication of less demand for international protection, and as highlighted by EASO in May, EU+ countries should be prepared for increases in asylum applications in the medium term, including due to the repercussions of COVID-19 on low-income countries.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Asylum Support Office on the following email address: press@easo.europa.eu.

Excerpt from:
EASO Asylum Report 2020 - Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union - World - ReliefWeb

Member states want the Conference on the Future of Europe to get citizens involved in a wide-ranging debate on Europe's future in the coming decade and beyond, including in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meeting at the level of ambassadors today, they agreed the Council's position on the arrangements for the conference, which paves the way for the opening of discussions on this topic with the Commission and the European Parliament.

In its mandate, the Council takes the view that the conference should be launched as soon as the epidemiological conditions allow for it. It should focus on how to develop EU policies over the medium and long term in order to tackle more effectively the challenges facing Europe, including the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons learned from the crisis.

The Council also stresses the need to involve a wide range of citizens and stakeholders in the process. It suggests building on the citizens dialogues andconsultations which have taken place across Europe and which have fed into the development of the EU's Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024.

Member States want to encourage the active participation of citizens in the Conference on the Future of Europe, which has become all the more relevant following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need an open and inclusive debate across Europe about the future priorities of the EU and concrete solutions on how to emerge stronger and more resilient from the current crisis. This broad dialogue with citizens and various other stakeholders will help guide the way ahead, contributing to a joint vision of the direction the EU should take in the next decade and beyond.

Some of the Council's proposals for the organisation of the conference include focussing discussions around a set of topics, broad enough to provide sufficient scope for all participants to provide input. The conference would also address cross-cutting issues related to the way the EU delivers on its policy objectives.

The effective involvement of citizens and stakeholders should be ensured through debates, including at national and regional level, and through multilingual internet platforms and citizens' panels inmember states and at European level. Digital engagement efforts and activities would be of key importance, especially in the event of restrictions related to COVID-19, while physical participation and face-to-face exchanges should remain an essential part of the conference, according to the Council's mandate.

As regards governance, the Council wants to ensure an equal role for the three EU institutions, respect for each institution's prerogatives and the close association of national parliaments. It suggests that the conference could be placed under the authority of an eminent European personality, selected by the three EU institutions, as its independent and single chair.

The Council also considers that the EU framework offers potential to allow challenges to be addressed in an effective manner and notes that the conference does not fall under Article 48 of the Treaty on the European Union, which lays down the procedures for treaty amendments. It takes the view that the outcome of the conference should be reflected in a report to the European Council in 2022, to be followed up effectively by the EU institutions in the light of the guidance received from the EU leaders.

See more here:
Conference on the Future of Europe - Council agrees its position - EU News

The Coronavirus measures imposed all across the world have affected not only businesses and leisure travels, but have also separated families, and even lovers.

The latter, have intensified their requests to the competent authorities in the country in which they or their lover is stuck, to open border for unmarried couples by excluding them from travel restrictions imposed in a bid to curb the Coronavirus pandemic.

Recently EU citizens as well, are calling on the European Union to permit their non-EU lovers to enter after three months of separation. The call has been taken to social media, where the hashtag #loveisnottourism is thriving, in particular in twitter.

We are all willing to test, quarantine, do whatever it takes etc. just to see our loved ones, something people take for granted every day! #LiftTheTravelBan, twitter user Claire Greidanus said.

Others joined her and many others in their quest to the EU institutions to make an exemption for couples and lift the travel ban.

The European Union Commission had recommended to the Member States and the Schengen Associated Countries to close the external borders of the territory in a bid to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus.

The recommendation was followed with action by the Members Countries, who did not hesitate to put in place an entry ban for third-country citizens travelling for non-essential purposes.

Affected by the ban were not only tourists, but also workers, family members, and overall, lovers. At first, it was unprecedented that the external border closure would remain in place for more than one month. It, however, did last for three and a half months, and the end of it is nowhere near.

Throughout this period, the EU suggested to the member states to exempt from the temporary travel restriction to the EU+ area all EU citizens and citizens of the Schengen Associated States, and their family members for the purposes of returning home.

According to EUs Articles 2(2) and 3(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC, only the following categories qualify as family members of an EU citizen:

Any other family members, irrespective of their nationality, not falling under any of the categories listed above, who, in the country from which they have come, are dependants or members of the household of the Union citizen having the primary right of residence, or where serious health grounds strictly require the personal care of the family member by the Union citizen, are also defined as family members.

Though point (b) of the article Articles 3(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC clearly states that the partner with whom the Union citizen has a durable relationship, duly attested is also considered a family member, even binational couples in long-term relationships and those engaged have faced difficulties in getting back together within the EU, mainly due to restrictions imposed individually by the Member States.

Border restrictions for months have also separated families and friends within the European Union as well, in particular those living in border areas.

The European Commission recommended on June 11 to all Member States and the Schengen Associated Countries to keep the external ban in place until June 30.

It, however, recommended the gradual and partial reopening of borders, starting from July, in particular for countries where the infection rates were low. It also suggested to those countries that were planning to keep the border closure beyond July 1, to at least open its borders to families.

EU citizens and citizens of Schengen Associated States and third-country nationals legally residing in the European Union, as well as their family members, should be exempted from the travel restriction, regardless whether or not they are returning home, the recommendation says among others.

It still permits the Member States can to take appropriate measures such as requiring such persons to undergo self-isolation or similar measures upon return from a third country for which the temporary restriction on non-essential travel is maintained, provided they impose the same requirements on their own nationals.

The recommendation does not contain anything specific for binational couples separated for months now.

Follow this link:
Love Is Not Tourism Binational Couples Separated by Borders Call on EU to Lift Entry Restrictions - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Khartoum, 24 June 2020 The World Health Organization welcomes a generous contribution of 11.5 million Euros from the European Union to fight COVID-19 in Sudan and improve the countrys overall health system. The large-scale 2-year project will benefit an estimated 42 million people in Sudan, including internally displaced people and refugees.

As part of the ongoing COVID-19 response, the project will cover health preparedness needs across the country, including coordinating the emergency response; ramping up surveillance and testing; isolating and managing COVID-19 patients; and raising awareness of the disease.

To identify cases, WHO will train and equip 400 professional and community members as rapid response teams, which will be available on a 24-hour basis to detect and respond to health events. Teams will learn procedures for specimen collection and transportation so that they can investigate cases and clusters. They will also be trained in contact tracing.

To diagnose cases, WHO will establish and upgrade 3 regional laboratories to respond to COVID-19 and other health hazards, providing laboratoty supplies and testing materials.

To treat patients, 10 isolation centres with ICU beds, oxygen, ventilators and other needed equipment will be established, and basic water services will also be set up in 12 hospitals.

Health care workers will receive training on preventing and controlling COVID-19 infection. The project will also ensure community engagement activities so that people are informed and educated on how to protect themselves and prevent the disease from spreading.

Entitled Humanitarian Development Nexus: Strengthening preparedness and response of the health system addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sudan, the project is funded by the European Union Trust Fund and the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission, and will be implemented by the World Health Organization in support of Sudans Federal Ministry of Health.

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EU, WHO to strengthen Sudan's COVID-19 response and health system - Sudan - ReliefWeb