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Today the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, together with High Representative Josep Borrell, have met with Fayez al-Sarraj, Chairman of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord of the State of Libya, upon his arrival in Brussels.

President Michel expressed concerns about the worrying military escalations in Libya. He underlined that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, only a political process can bring peace and stability closer. Libyans should be at the heart of defining their own future. The European Union will step up efforts towards a peaceful and political solution. The European Union fully supports the Berlin process and all UN initiatives aimed at finding a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Libya. High Representative Borrell reiterated the importance of creating the right conditions ahead of future steps as discussed during the ministerial meeting that took place yesterday.

President Michel raised the recent Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea and expressed the European Union's position that the MOU infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States and does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States.

President of the European Council Charles Michel also clearly condemned the recent attacks in Libya, in particular the strike against the military school in Tripoli and the attack on the Sirte airport. He also reiterated that the European Union has always and consistently supported the Government of National Accord as the legitimate government of Libya and that the EU stands ready to provide all possible support to the political process.

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The European Union will step up efforts towards a peaceful and political solution in Libya - EU News

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Joint Statement by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the High Representative on the passing of...

Heres how to immediately repair the relationship.

The transatlantic relationship has suffered a series of near-fatal blows in recent years. President Trump has openly questioned Americas Article 5 commitment to defend any attacked NATO member, dubbed the European Union a foe, and repeatedly disparaged some of Americas closest alliesfor example, calling Germany captive to Russia. The people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. France and Germany, instead of joining forces to chart a future course for the European project, have spent years trapped between President Emmanuel Macrons unbridled desire to lead a more assertive Europe and Chancellor Angela Merkels caution and paralysis.

Meanwhile, Russia and other adversaries have become increasingly creative in finding ways to undermine transatlantic unity and resolve. And populist forces on both sides of the Atlantic are bringing new leaders to power who lack an interest in or exposure to Europe and Americas shared history and values. While it would be premature to issue last rites to the transatlantic relationship, theres no question that it is ailing.The next U.S. president will need to revitalize this critical partnershipit serves far too many of Americas political, economic, and security interests to allow it to deteriorate further. Over the last 70 years, the United States and Europe have established the rules-based order through an array of multilateral institutions and alliances, from NATO to the United Nations, that have protected and promoted shared values. We have, at different times, tackled global challenges ranging from Ebola to climate change to Irans nuclear ambitions. While the U.S. brings the most military assets to the alliance, Europes contribution is substantial; its economic might is hefty; and it invests disproportionately in diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and other forms of soft power.Breathing fresh life into the relationship wont be easy. Electing an American president who refrains from name calling, supports the rules-based order, and brings stability to the alliance would be a good start. But that wont be enough to put the transatlantic partnership on a more sustainable and constructive course and restore Americas credibility.

There are certain steps, however, a new president could take to begin the rebuilding process. In the first 100 days, he or she should travel to Germanythe country that has been perhaps most relentlessly and unfairly criticized by Trumpand deliver a public address. The normal framing for such a speech is to tick off all the ways in which the two sides of the Atlantic can create a shared agenda. This speech needs to be different. Instead of promising cooperation, the president should redefine the transatlantic agenda around the concept of defending democratic values given the surge in authoritarianism globally. The target audience would be both Europe, which is experiencing its own illiberal slide, and China, which is increasingly brazen in its efforts to promote its political model and values.

In the longer term, the new U.S. president will need to focus on two separate tracks. The first involves fortifying the traditional building blocks of the transatlantic relationship. Inside NATO, that means issuing a promise to uphold our Article 5 commitments and bring fresh ideas to the table, such as a joint NATO-EU summitthe first of its kind. In addition, the new president will need to reassure Europeans that he or she doesnt see the EU as an enemy but as a partner.

At least some Europeans will listen to such statements with skepticism. Many Americans will too. It wasnt that long ago when President Obamaa president most Europeans adoredtried to negotiate an ambitious trade deal, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, with the EU. They never got there. Convincing both Europeans and Americans to give it another go will be challenging. Instead of opening a new front, the next president will need to arrest the deteriorating U.S.-EU trade relationship and stop the tariff wars both sides have been waging for the last few years. In doing so, the new U.S. president should remind Americans and Europeans that one of the best ways for Europe and the United States to compete with a rising China and to set global standards is to strengthen their collective hand.

Thats not to say the next administration should focus only on repairing existing damage and preventing future blows. It will also have to think about preparing transatlantic partners for the future. The president should discuss how mass migration will shape our shared agenda, future elections, and economies. He or she should explore if we need new institutions to thwart attempts to undermine our democracies, and how Europe and the United States can both harness and manage a wide array of disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence.But thats a long list, especially for a president who will be consumed with an equally long list of pressing domestic priorities. Europe will have to assist. Now would be a good time for European leaders to start thinking about where they are willing to lead and how they can help. The American people may very well put a president in the Oval Office who wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords and try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, two decisions that Europeans would no doubt celebrate. But that same president will also likely ask our European allies to commit more to defense spending and to stand up to China. Europe should be prepared.When Democrats talk about revitalizing the transatlantic relationship, they arent talking about returning to the pre-Trump era. They are looking to rebalance the relationship for a new era. Lets hope were all up to thatchallenge.

If you enjoyed this article, consider making a donation to help us produce more like it. The Washington Monthly was founded in 1969 to tell the stories of how government really worksand how to make it work better. Fifty years later, the need for incisive analysis and new, progressive policy ideas is clearer than ever. As a nonprofit, we rely on support from readers like you.

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What the Next President Can Do to Save Our Alliances with Europe - Washington Monthly

NewsPoliticsBrexitExclusive: Ministers are preparing celebrations for 31 January but are wary of alienating Remainers

Sunday, 12th January 2020, 8:30 pm

The Government is set to encourage councils and community groups to fly the Union flag to celebrate Brexit on 31 January.

Ministers are preparing a package of announcements to mark the moment Britain leaves the EU at the end of this month, which could include a commemorative coin and Big Ben ringing out.

One of the items is likely to be a fund from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to help local councils and other groups buy and display the Union flag, i understands. A Westminster source said: "It's prompted by Brexit but is also meant to celebrate national identity more broadly."

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The move has been promoted by senior Tory backbencher Sir John Hayes, who said in the House of Commons last week that flying the UK flag from public buildings "would be a fitting tribute to the decision the British people made to leave the European Union". Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay replied: "Any opportunity to do so is one that he and I would always celebrate."

Big Ben bongs

Strident Brexiteer Mark Francois is leading efforts to get the bell restarted. Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said he would back the scheme as long as MPs voted in favour, while pro-Brexit businessman Lord Ashcroft has offered to foot the 120,000 cost.

A Downing Street spokesman insisted that no final decisions had been made on how 31 January will be marked. Some in the Government are nervous about holding too many flashy events in case it alienates people who voted Remain.

Brexit celebration

Nigel Farage is backing a "Brexit Celebration" event hosted by Leave Means Leave in Parliament Square which is expected to attract thousands of supporters and will feature speechs by senior Brexiteers.

The original date on which Britain was scheduled to leave the EU, 29 March 2019, saw two rallies outside the House of Parliament - one featuring mainstream politicians and the other organised by the far right and starring Tommy Robinson, which ended up with clashes between police and protesters.

Commemorative coins

The Treasury is expected to announce it will mint a commemorative coin to mark 31 January. It would be the third time the Royal Mint, overseen by the Chancellor, has announced a special Brexit coin.

First Philip Hammond promised a souvenir 10 coin, with 10,000 copies due to be minted in time for 29 March before the first delay to Brexit.

Next his predecessor Sajid Javid ordered the Mint to work on a 50p piece to go into mass circulation, bearing the motto "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations" alongside the revised Brexit date of 31 October.

After Britain's departure was postponed again, thousands of the coins had to be melted down - any which survived would be hugely valuable to collectors. Some Brexit supporters have called on the Royal Mail to follow suit by producing a set of commemorative stamps, but the company has refused.

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Brexit Day celebrations to include flying Union flag from buildings and Big Ben bonging the moment UK leaves EU - inews

It is a career that marries two very diverse and indubitably challenging professions. Add to that a workload that is both heavy and unpredictable (extending to the weekends on occasion), and you have a career that a select few have decided to embark upon; that of lawyer-linguist at the European Union.

The majority of EU lawyer-linguists work at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Others work for the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council. The CJEU currently employs 598 lawyer-linguists, 60% women and 40% men, with an average age of 44.4 years. The language unit with the most number of lawyer-linguists is French (55), followed by English (35), German (31), and Italian (30). Other language units average about 23 lawyer-linguists, while Irish has the least at six.

Legal translation is an integral part of the proceedings at the Court of Justice: on the one hand, through their work, the lawyer-linguists enable the Court to understand all the necessary procedural documents, and on the other hand, they make the case law accessible to citizens, one such lawyer-linguist told Slator.

Asked for specific instances when their work proved critical to a major policy decision or political event that resonated with the public, the same source cited two instances. First, the ruling on the consequences of the notification by a Member State of its intention to withdraw from the European Union (C-621/18). These documents were urgently translated and paved the way for the United Kingdom for revocation of the notification under Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union, which in fact never occurred, the EU lawyer-linguist said.

Second is a currently pending case that has to do with the imposition of record fines. As the same source pointed out, The cases where the General Court rules on fines imposed by the European Commission on large undertakings sometimes receive great resonance. A case is pending where the General Court is called to consider the action for annulment of the record fine of more than EUR 4 billion imposed by the European Commission on an undertaking within the information and communication technology sector for the abuse of its dominant position.

Lawyer-linguists at the CJEU, typically, spend most of their days preparing translations of procedural documents, opinions of Advocates General, and court judgments or miscellaneous documents (e.g., press releases). Depending on the lawyer-linguists level of expertise, they may also be expected to revise translations prepared by other lawyer-linguists and freelancers.

Lawyer-linguists are expected to translate into the language of their law studies, of which they have perfect command, from at least two other official languages. Depending on the needs of the language unit, they are also required to learn further official languages and may, therefore, spend part of their working week in language lessons, the lawyer-linguist told Slator.

The same source added, A typical day is also likely to involve some contact with other services of the Court, most often with the Judges Chambers, for example, in order to clarify an issue that has arisen in the translation of a judgment originating in the relevant Chambers.

Lawyer-linguists are expected to translate into the language of their law studies, of which they have perfect command, from at least two other official languages.

And there are other responsibilities on top of the lawyer-linguists usual workload: Delivering training, attending the workshop of another language unit on a point of national law, and participating in working groups on, say, legal terminology or translation productivity (CAT) tools.

Lawyer-linguists may also need to travel to another EU institution to undergo training or attend a conference on a relevant topic; or to their Member State for the purpose of extending the network of freelancers and the quality of their translations.

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All lawyer-linguists of the Court must have a law degree. There are no exceptions, the lawyer-linguist told Slator, adding that they also need to satisfy the following conditions to work at the European Union Court of Justice:

Although the work of lawyer-linguists is varied, the main part consists of managing a wide portfolio of translation and revision tasks with stringent deadlines and frequent interruptions due to emergencies or unexpected constraints; thus rendering the workload not only very high but also partly unpredictable, the source said.

The same lawyer-linguist pointed out, It is, therefore, expected that they periodically work long hours or even weekends when necessary. For instance, delivery of judgments is announced weeks or months in advance and, whatever the circumstances, the translation must be at hand, at least in the language of the case, otherwise it cannot be signed and delivered at a public hearing.

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What It Takes to Be a Lawyer-Linguist at the European Union - Slator