Justice & Home Affairs
France, Germany dress down Poland over court reforms
France and Germany on Tuesday (16 October) condemned Poland for pressing ahead with controversial changes to its supreme court despite EU calls for restraint.
Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors targeted by new work requirements
Romanian prosecutors said they feared for their jobs and the rule of law after a new government ordinance increasing the years of professional experience required of them was published Tuesday (16 October).
Salvini brands Macron ‘international shame’ after police dump migrants across border
Italy's far right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini branded French President Macron "international shame" on Tuesday (16 October) for the French police having driven two migrants across its border and dumping them in Italy.
Solidarity vs ‘securitarian obsessions’
The sudden and substantial increase of migrants’ flow to Europe over the last years has produced a severe political and identity crisis within the EU, a crisis that risks undermining its basic principles and values, and fostering the rise of xenophobic nationalism, writes the Progressive Caucus of the European Parliament.
Poland, Czech Republic against EU border guard plan
Poland's premier on Monday (15 October) said he and his Czech counterpart oppose a plan to bolster the European Union's external borders, fearing they would receive less infrastructure funding if the scheme goes ahead.
Hungary takes fight against NGOs to EU level
At a Luxembourg meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday (15 October), Hungary called on the EU to stop funding for NGOs that undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries such as Israel and Egypt or states that contribute to illegal migration.
90% of major European banks already sanctioned for money laundering
According to a British report, 18 of the 20 leading European banks, including four French ones, have already been sanctioned for money-laundering offences over the past decade. EURACTIV France’s media partner La Tribune reports.
Caruana Galizia’s murder a toxic mystery in Malta one year on
A year after a car bomb killed Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, those who ordered the murder remain free while others continuing her work in the EU's smallest state are branded traitors.
Salvini condemned for moving migrants from ‘model’ town
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Sunday (14 October) defended his decision to move hundreds of migrants out of a southern Italian town widely seen as a model of successful integration as opposition groups accused him of racism.
Europe’s black politicians stand by Kyenge in Salvini race trial
Black politicians and community leaders from across Europe have backed Italian MEP Cécile Kyenge, who faces a controversial defamation trial brought by Matteo Salvini, the far-right leader of the League party, for calling his party racist.
Borissov lashes out at EU’s ‘unfair pressure’ over journalist murder
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Wednesday (10 October) the murder of journalist Viktoria Marinova was of purely criminal nature and lashed out against what he called “European pressure”, warning that he would raise the issue at the European People's Party (EPP).
Europe’s ‘golden visa’ schemes open doors for criminals, report finds
With its cash-for-passport practices, Europe has opened its door to the criminal and corrupt, with some member states running a lucrative industry of trading citizenship for money, said a new report by Transparency International and Global Witness.
We lack alternatives to Article 7 – German analyst
Poland and Hungary have been on collision course with Brussels. The EU wants to up the pressure to restore the rule of law in the member states. But what are the instruments at hand? EURACTIV Germany spoke to Nicole Koenig.
Religion should not be used to sow divisions
In recent years, many thousands have died and millions more had to flee their homes due to conflicts in which religion has been used to justify discrimination and violence. Countering these dangerous distortions is one of the challenges that religious leaders will address in Astana on 10 and 11 October, writes Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Salvini threatens to shut airports over migrant ‘charter flights’ from Germany
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini threatened Sunday (7 October) to shut the country's airports after media reported that Germany planned to send charter flights of rejected asylum-seekers to Italy.
The awkward squad: Czech-Polish cooperation on a different EU vision
Stay in the EU or leave? According to experts, for Poland and the Czech Republic, it is important to remain in the EU, despite widespread Euroscepticism in both countries.
Navracsics: I am ‘deeply interested’ in keeping the CEU in Hungary
Viktor Orbán's offensive against the Central European University is at the core of the worsening relationship between Hungary and the EU institutions. But his man at the European Commission, Tibor Navracsics, insists that he is “deeply interested” in keeping the university in Budapest.
Ministers support giving more powers to EU watchdog to fight money launderers
The Ecofin Council “broadly” supported on Tuesday (2 October) the European Commission’s proposal to transfer more powers to the European Banking Authority to investigate alleged cases of money laundering in the EU.
Germany to ease immigration rules to fight worker shortage
Worker-starved Germany will ease immigration rules to attract foreign jobseekers, including giving well-integrated irregular migrants in employment a shot at staying, ministers said Tuesday (2 October).
Struggles at home hamper Germany’s role in the EU
The power struggles in Germany's grand coalition, such as the Maaßen case, are eyed with growing concern from abroad. What does the EU think about the state of the Bundesregierung? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Money launderers are taking EU to the cleaners, experts say
EU nations may boast the world's most stringent anti-money laundering rules, but recent scandals show that criminals are good at exploiting the bloc's Achilles' heel: a patent lack of coordination.
UNHCR concerned over lack of Mediterranean rescue capacity
The Maltese authorities on Sunday (30 September) finally took 58 migrants from the Aquarius to Valletta after they had waited for days in rough seas on the rescue ship that can no longer go to port after its flag was pulled.
In May 2019, Europe will vote on migration
Shortly after settling in at La Moncloa, Spain's new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, welcomed the ship Aquarius after it was rejected by the Italian government. But a few months later, his immigration policy changed, writes Beatriz Becerra.