Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Berlin halts reception of migrants from Italy
Berlin (ANSA) – The procedures for the relocation of migrants from Italy to Germany within the voluntary solidarity mechanism have been halted, Rome was told in a letter in August. This was reported by German newspaper Die Welt, citing sources among German authorities. The German Interior Ministry also said in Die Welt that due to the “strong migratory pressure towards Germany” and the “continued suspension of Dublin transfers, Italy has been informed” that processes for selecting migrants for redistribution would be “postponed until further notice“. Migrants from Italy for whom there has already been authorisation from Germany in the past “will continue to be accepted“, the German ministry stressed.
According to Die Welt, the suspension by Berlin is a reaction to Italy’s refusal for months to authorise transfers according to the Dublin Regulation. It was referring to, for example, migrants who have arrived in Germany but for whom Italy was the first country of arrival. The German newspaper cites a letter written by the Italian government on December 5, 2022 to its EU partners, in which it officially said that “transfers to Italy” are “temporarily cancelled” due to “technical reasons that have suddenly emerged and are related to the lack of reception capacity“. (September 12)
Prime Ministers of Slovenia and Luxembourg demand equal treatment of EU candidates and preservation of Schengen
Luxembourg (STA) – Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and his Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel called for equal treatment for all countries wishing to join the EU. They also stressed the importance of maintaining Schengen for the economy at a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday. The two leaders signed an agreement on strengthening cooperation in the field of space technologies.
The prime ministers and their delegations discussed EU enlargement and the Union’s readiness to integrate new members. Golob argued that in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the enlargement process is becoming more of a geopolitical issue and less of a technical one. Slovenia made its position clear with the European Commission, which several other member states share: The Western Balkans should be treated equally with Ukraine and Moldova when it comes to enlargement.
In addition to technical conditions, geopolitical realities must also be considered, the prime minister said. “We do not want the Western Balkans to suddenly become a hostage of some foreign powers just because of a lack of attention from the Commission,” Golob emphasised. Bettel also argued that all countries wishing to join the Union should be treated equally, but underlined the importance of fulfilling the conditions more. “The rules are the same for all and I will insist on that,” he said. (September 12)
Slovak and Hungarian police are expanding the scope of joint patrols
Bratislava (TASR) – In order to combat illegal migration in Hungary and Slovakia from the Western Balkans route, the operation of joint patrols of the Hungarian and Slovak police on the territory of Hungary will be expanded. This comes after an amendment to an already existing agreement, the Slovak police announced on a social network. According to the police, this will help to intensify and streamline cooperation between police forces of the two countries. (September 11)
BiH’s Minister of Foreign Affairs: BiH has the opportunity to jump on the EU train so that benefits are felt by all citizens
Sarajevo (FENA) – Political representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) still have an opportunity to bring the country on the European path, said BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković in Sarajevo, after a series of meetings with high-ranking European officials in Strasbourg.
He stated that at the recent meeting at the forum in Bled, Slovenia, encouraging messages came from the European Union saying that the enlargement policy is very alive and active. A package of 14 billion Euro had been approved for the next seven years.
“In addition, an investment package of six billion Euro over the next three years has been approved, four of which will be aimed at improving the business environment in the Western Balkans, and two billion Euro are Grant funds. If BiH falls out of this package, BiH politicians and mostly politicians from the BiH entity Republika Srpska will have the greatest responsibility,” Konaković said.
He says the latest developments from the entity Republika Srpska concern European officials. The rhetoric and attitudes of the leaders of the Serbs from BiH are currently disrupting this country’s path towards the European Union, Konaković said, when much has already been done in the last seven months.
He therefore appealed to the business community to put pressure on politicians because it was about opening up and accessing the Western Balkan countries to the European market. This would be a great opportunity for business development and a very important economic injection. “We expect to get negotiations started in October, perhaps without a date, but we expect to go into the decision-making process. BiH has the opportunity to jump onto the EU train and make the benefits felt by all citizens of all BiH,” Konaković added. (September 13)
European Union supports Albania in population and housing census
Tirana (ATA) – Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania will get support for the population and housing census. Albania needs to identify the total number of inhabitants and the number of real estate properties, he said. According to the prime minister, Albania will get support from its partners from France, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. “The EU is supporting the substantial fund with 45 percent, and the remainder comes from the Albanian government,” Rama said.
“High technology guarantees the integrity of figures in real-time. The Albanian statistics office INSTAT has undoubted institutional experience and a professional consistency that is a guarantee in this process”, he added. The Albanian Prime Minister also noted that Albania has the most advanced European legislation for minorities. (September 14)
This is a compilation of the European coverage of enr news agencies. It is published Tuesdays and Fridays. The content is an editorial selection based on news by the respective agency.