Posts Tagged Immigration
No pain no gain: EU accepts Spain’s controversial work permits
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 03/08/2011
At first glance, Spain’s decision to restrict the access of Romanians to the Spanish labour market is a double blow to EU standards. Not only does it appear to be anti-immigration, and thus symbolic of the shift to the right evident in so many member states, but, by specifically targeting those from one of the EU’s most junior recruits, it appears to be a relapse to old EU prejudices. However, far from falling foul to these accusations, the decision is in fact is driven by Spain’s unique difficulties.
Dictators and Democracy
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 24/02/2011
Last week’s EU blog considered the limitations of the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in light of the recent Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. As events in North Africa have continued to deteriorate, it seems appropriate to consider the EU’s response to Libya’s revolutionary efforts. Whereas Tunisia was the benchmark of stability in the South Mediterranean, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya has never harboured sincere commitment to democratic reform. This begs the question: why has the EU compromised a catalogue of its most fundamental values – democracy, the rule of law, human rights protection – to pander to a volatile dictator?
EU Schengen Shambles
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 02/02/2011
So far, 2011 is not proving to be a very decisive year for the EU. A month of mulling over Hungary’s untimely media clamp-downs, a series of vague statements urging ‘dialogue’ as the protests in North Africa escalate, and now, dithering over what to do with Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the EU Schengen zone (due in the next couple of months). With several member states openly voicing opposition against the countries’ imminent entry, there is growing confusion as to how the ‘readiness’ of the two countries should be assessed, and even whether they should be allowed to enter the Schengen zone independent of one another.
The Greek Wall of Immigration Control
Posted by Carolina Bracken in European Union, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration on 05/01/2011
In an attempt to curb its growing illegal immigration crisis, Greece has revealed plans to erect a 128 mile wall along its Turkish border. The Ministry of Public Order has stated that Greece “has reached its limits in taking in illegal immigrants”, with over 100,000 entering the country in 2010.
The price of friendship
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 01/09/2010
Monday marked the two year anniversary of the signing of the ‘Friendship Treaty’ on immigration between Italy and Libya, writes Natalie Hamill. Visiting Italy for the fourth time this year, Colonel Gaddafi punctuated his visit with several provocative claims, not least that the EU should pay Libya €5 billion a year to stop migration flows to the EU, and that Europeans should convert to Islam. Gaddafi lectured those willing to listen (mainly a parade of young women hired from an Italian model agency) on the virtues of Islam as the ‘ultimate religion’; three of the girls ‘converted’, to complete the stunt.
French Ambivalence
Posted by Pete Quentin in European Union on 20/10/2008
A report published by the independent Brussels-based think tank the Thomas More Institute for European Studies examines the performance of the French Presidency of the EU Council so far, assessing its contribution to the long term development of EU policy. The Presidency, which started in July this year and will end on 31st December, scored 11.5 out of 20 possible marks for its mid-term performance, writes Judith Gollata.