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Priority focus on "foreign fighters"

European Union governments and officials are discussing possible responsesto the deadly shooting at satirical paper Charlie Hebdo, and subsequent terrorist attacks in Paris.

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that the EUs anti-terrorism legislation needed strengthening to help counter similar attacks in the future.

Two priority tracks were identified following a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers held in Paris on 11 January:

The meeting, which brought together the interior ministers from all 28 EU countries, and the United States, committed to enhance cooperation in the field of law enforcement and implement measures to reduce the supply of illegal firearms throughout Europe. Intelligence sharing on firearms operations across Europe will be increased, the ministers announced in a statement.

They also pledged to improve the effectiveness of intelligence sharing related to the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. Cooperation within Europol, Eurojust and Interpol should also intensify, as well as the exchange of relevant information between European police forces, the ministers said.

Specific measures are also underway for the countries that are members of the border-free Schengen area.

We are of the opinion that the rules of the Schengen Borders Code should be amended in a timely fashion to allow for broader consultation of the Schengen Information System during the crossing of external borders by individuals enjoying the right to free movement, the ministers said.

Ensuring that checks on persons at external borders become more systematic or harmonised is already considered a priority by EU Interior Ministers. Some EU countries have already taken steps to investigate and prosecute foreign fighters before departure (if a crime is already in place) or upon their return.

A number have also decided to use administrative measures to prevent or disrupt travel to Syria, Yemen and other countries where would-be Jihadist can receive training.

More here:
From 9/11 to Charlie Hebdo: The EUs response to terrorism

London: Up to 5,000 European Union citizens have joined Islamic State ranks, the head of European police agency Europol told British lawmakers on Wednesday.

"We're talking about 3,000, 5,000 EU nationals," Rob Wainwright told a parliamentary committee when asked how many foreign fighters had left from Europe.

"We're dealing with a large body of mainly young men who have the potential to come back and have the potential or intent and capability to carry out attacks we have seen in Paris in the last week," he said.

Up to 5,000 European Union citizens have joined Islamic State ranks, the head of European police agency Europol told British lawmakers on Wednesday.

Wainwright also called for greater scrutiny of the use of social media by jihadist groups.

"We have to have a closer, much more productive relationship between law enforcement and technology firms.

"One of the important evolutions we're seeing right now in the current terrorist threat is the way the Internet is used, clearly much more aggressively, much more imaginatively by the networks," he added.

The European Union's counter-terrorism chief Gilles de Kerchove estimated in September 2014 that around 3,000 European citizens had joined jihadists in Syria and Iraq. De Kerchove said that around 30 per cent have returned to their EU countries.

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About 5000 European Union nationals in Islamic State ranks, says Europol

Published January 14, 2015

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

LONDON A European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes.

Drivers of London's iconic but expensive black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing the black cabs but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.

The private taxi firm Addison Lee argued that amounted to unlawful state support and gave the black cabs an unfair advantage.

But the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice court ruled Wednesday the bus-lane rule did not use state resources to confer "a selective economic advantage" on London cabs.

Originally posted here:
European court gives London taxis a break, says it's OK to bar private rivals from bus lanes

Ukrainians Get Biometric Passports: New documents pave way for visa-free EU travel
As of January 12 Ukrainian citizens are able to get biometric passports. This was one of the criteria Ukraine had to fulfill to join the European Union and establish a visa-free regime. Check...

By: UKRAINE TODAY

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Ukrainians Get Biometric Passports: New documents pave way for visa-free EU travel - Video

THE European Union will double its aid to the Philippines for the period 2014-2020 to 325 million (P17 billion) from 130 million (P7 billion) to implement the bloc's development programs in the country.

In a statement, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines said the EU and its member-states embassies launched on Tuesday the 2015 Joint EU-Philippines Development Report.

It will highlight their development cooperation programs implemented over the last three years while also setting out their priorities for the period from 2014 to 2020.

The 2014-2020 plan will focus on two key areas: the rule of law and inclusive growth through sustainable energy and job creation.

"The new strategy will address governance and climate change which are key areas of the new global sustainable development goals which are expected to replace the MDG's [Millennium Development Goals] this year," the statement said.

"The European Union will continue to direct a more than proportional amount of its assistance to Mindanao as part of its contribution to the peace process," it added.

To finance these "ambitious goals," National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux signed a letter to confirm the new seven-year EU support strategy.

"The significant increase in aid has been granted in the context of the progressive improvement of governance under the current administration. Emphasis will be on achieving concrete results and maximizing the impact of the EU funding provided to the benefit of Filipinos across the country," Ledoux said.

The decision to more than double EU's development assistance to the Philippines, which follows just weeks after the granting by the EU of GSP+ status to the Philippines in line with the EU's strategy to support poverty reduction using the tools of both aid and trade.

The granting of the GSP+ and its related tariff reductions in December 2014 will create many thousands of jobs for Filipinos in the Philippines directly contributing to poverty reduction.

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EU doubles development assistance to PHL