Does anyone know what the Migration Pact meant? European Council cancellation letters are sent, and Brexit means there’ll be a hard border in Kent.
This week the Commission presented its new Migration Pact.
According to Commissioner Margaritis Schinas, it recognises, acknowledges and addresses the different and unique challenges of different member states.
When it comes to migration each of our MS faces different and unique challenges – the ethos of our new Pact on Migration and Asylum is that they all deserve to be recognised, acknowledged and addressed. We can no longer afford the cost of non-Europe. https://t.co/Xkcj84kuLz
— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) September 23, 2020
Nick Gutteridge asked: My gosh is it really 2015 again already?
My gosh is it really 2015 again already? https://t.co/ZAV8zXLlT4
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) September 22, 2020
One person in no doubt about the announcement was Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz:
This is a service announcement: my phone line is quite busy at the moment.
We’ll announce precise press arrangements for tomorrow through normal channels as soon as ready. It’s a bit hectic here, bear with us 😅
This is a service announcement: my phone line is quite busy at the moment.
We’ll announce precise press arrangements for tomorrow through normal channels as soon as ready.
It’s a bit hectic here, bear with us 😅
— Adalbert Jahnz (@Ad4EU) September 22, 2020
One can only imagine the barrage of calls that led to such a tweet.
But Ruth Reichstein sympathised with the life of a spokesperson the day before the presentation of a new European Migration Pact …
The life of a spokesperson the day before the presentation of a new European Migration Pact … https://t.co/y7mb47ol44
— Ruth Reichstein (@RuthReichstein) September 22, 2020
So to sum up on #migration pact: Relocation is dead. Long live Allocation. Still obligations on member states to step in and take or return people. Which despite the clever tweaks, is likely to remain a problem, said Laurence Norman.
So to sum up on #migration pact: Relocation is dead. Long live Allocation. Still obligations on member states to step in and take or return people. Which despite the clever tweaks, is likely to remain a problem.
— laurence norman (@laurnorman) September 23, 2020
Right, this is over and I am confused, wailed Camino Mortera
Right, this is over and I am confused. In the hope that the technical documents shed more clarity on the mandatory quota/return sponsorship conondrum, I am now officially eating my lunch and ending this long thread. May come back with some thoughts later.
— Camino Mortera (@CaminoMortera) September 23, 2020
On Tuesday we learned that European Council President Charles Michel had been in close contact with a security officer who tested positive for COVID19.
The @eucopresident today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for COVID.
The President is tested regularly and tested negative yesterday. ⁰
Respecting Belgian rules, he has gone into quarantine as of today.— Barend Leyts (@BarendLeyts) September 22, 2020
So in line with the current rules he went into quarantine, meaning the whole European Council meeting scheduled for this week was cancelled with just 48 hours notice.
The unprecedented move provoked some skepticism:
Anne Gellinek thinks it’s more likely that the new date is better for the heads of government to try to resolve the conflict between Greece and Turkey.
Gipfelchef Michel muss in Quarantäne, weil er mit einem positiv Getesteten Kontakt hatte.
EU-Gipfel um eine Woche verschoben.
Wegen des Gipfelchefs?!?
Wahrscheinlicher ist, dass neuer Termin allen Regchefs recht ist, um den Konflikt zw 🇹🇷 + 🇬🇷 zu entschärfen. https://t.co/HU5OX0eE5u
— Anne Gellinek (@a_gellinek) September 22, 2020
Merheen Khan pointed out that rescheduling will means two European Councils in three weeks in October. Why can’t leaders just log into a zoom call instead.
Rescheduling will means two European Councils in three weeks in October and likely raise questions about why leaders can't log into a zoom call this week…#euco
— mehreenkhn (@MehreenKhn) September 22, 2020
Sam Morgan said Europe’s bodyguards are having a crap month:
– Dom Raab’s left his gun on a plane;
– Charles Michel’s got COVID and has forced the cancellation of the Summit
– German Foreign Minister’s got infected too, so no Jordan trip for Heiko Maas.
Europe's bodyguards are having a crap month:
– Dom Raab's left his gun on a plane;
– Charles Michel's got COVID and has forced the cancellation of this week's #EUCO;
– German Foreign Minister's got infected too, so no Jordan trip for @HeikoMaas— Sam Morgan (@SamJamesMorgan) September 23, 2020
Finally this week, it was the Brexit news you definitely weren’t expecting:
It seems that the UK is going to have to have a border around Kent!
2016: Brexit will cut red tape.
2020: You’ll need a passport to get to Kent.
2016: Brexit will cut red tape.
2020: You'll need a passport to get to Kent.— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) September 23, 2020
Government Minister Michael Gove announced that truckers cannot enter Kent without a Kent Road Access Permit because of the huge delays and traffic jams expected.
#Gove has announced that truckers cannot enter #Kent without a Kent Road Access Permit. I do hope that truckers come up with a suitable acronym for this. I'm straining hard to come up with one.
— Defender (@Halo_Lawyer) September 23, 2020
It would appear that Boris Johnson has finally been able to measure up to his hero Winston Churchill by <checks notes> drawing an illogical border across a land that didn’t want it.
It would appear that Boris Johnson has finally been able to measure up to his hero Winston Churchill by <checks notes> drawing an illogical border across a land that didn't want it #Kent #Kentxit #kentborder pic.twitter.com/pXUazwNss5
— Joe Blair 🏴🇵🇱🏴🇺🇸 (@JoeZBlair) September 24, 2020
Ahir Shah suggested that if there is to be a border with Kent, it should be drawn with a ruler by a brown guy who has never been there
If there is to be a border with Kent, it should be drawn with a ruler by a brown guy who has never been there
— Ahir Shah (@AhirShah) September 23, 2020
Hans-Erik Iken summed up the general feeling on the continent:
Dear UK. I sincerely hope you all understand why you hear this roar of laughter coming to you over the Channel…… We really can’t help it. Watching your government object to a border in the Irish Sea but erecting one in Kent is just too funny. We will try to keep it down…
Dear UK. I sincerely hope you all understand why you hear this roar of laughter coming to you over the Channel…… We really can't help it. Watching your government object to a border in the Irish Sea but erecting one in Kent is just too funny. We will try to keep it down…
— Hans-Erik Iken (@HansErikIken) September 23, 2020
Even Guy Verhodstadt reckons you couldn’t make it up!
Taking back control starts with erecting an internal border in Kent?
Brexit seems more and more a bureaucratic bonanza even Brussels couldn't make up.https://t.co/BQpEg1HgBB
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) September 24, 2020