The German government has suspended an agreement with Italy to voluntarily take in refugees due to Italy’s refusal to respect the Dublin rules. In other news: Slovenia and Luxembourg pledge for equal treatment of all EU candidates and the preservation of Schengen. Slovak and Hungarian police are combating illegal migration together.
In the run-up to the 2024 EU elections, the European Parliament seeks to increase its number of seats. The European Ombudsman wants to investigate Frontex’s role in a deadly shipwreck off the coast of Greece. France and Austria want to prepare the European Union for the accession of new members.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg urges EU candidate North Macedonia to accept constitutional changes in order to advance its EU accession process. The government of Morocco seeks a partnership with the EU in the fisheries sector. The European Parliament criticises Austria for vetoing the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria.
A decade ago, Croatia became the then 28th member of the European Union. The country has achieved its strategic goals, but membership has led to a significant population outflow. In the meantime, neighbouring countries are still in the waiting room.
Slovenia experienced more cyber attacks in 2022 than in the previous year. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to impose new conditions on North Macedonia’s EU accession. The German Federal Statistical Office reveals that significantly more people live alone in Germany than in most other EU countries.