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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13413
Contents Publication in full By article 36 / 38
NEWS BRIEFS / Migration

Eight Member States ready to return Syrian refugees to safe areas in Syria

21/05/24 (Agence Europe) – On 17 May, the government of Cyprus said it was one of eight EU Member States that wanted safe areas to be declared in certain parts of Syria to allow refugees to be repatriated, AFP reported. The island hosted a conference of Member States supporting its proposal. The other participants were Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malta and Poland. The Cypriot interior minister, Constantinos Ioannou, said the eight governments felt that after 13 years of conflict, the European Union needed to reassess the evolving security situation in Syria. “Stability in the country has not been fully restored... (but) we need to speed up the processes in order to take all the necessary measures to create the conditions that will allow people to return to Syria”, he added. (SP)

Contents

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
RULE OF LAW: with exception of Hungary, EU Member States welcome end of ‘Article 7’ procedure against Poland
EP2024: several European party candidates cross swords over EU’s economic priorities and how to finance them
EP2024: Europe’s far right forms a united front ahead of European elections
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: combatting hatred, 150 citizens made 21 recommendations to European Commission and national authorities
DEMOCRACY: sixteen Member States take initiative to strengthen European democracy against attempts at foreign interference
SECTORAL POLICIES
Interview COHÉSION: “Cohesion Policy is glue that keeps Europe together”, stresses Elisa Ferreira
DIGITAL: EU27 want a next legislative cycle with more implementation and fewer new regulations
DIGITAL: Member States call on European Commission to rapidly present a revised cybersecurity strategy
MIGRATION: international enquiry denounces EU’s complicity in mistreatment of migrants in North Africa
FISHERIES: EU Member States to vote on Wednesday 22 May on proposal to establish no-fishing zones
ENERGY: Kadri Simson estimates that at least 80% of total investment in energy efficiency will come from private sector
ENERGY: Council of EU validates interinstitutional agreement on reform of electricity market
ENERGY: EU Council gives green light to ‘gas’ package
CUSTOMS: European and international logistics representatives call on transport operators to prepare for new import declarations
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
SPACE: space legislation on agenda of Competitiveness Council on space
EXTERNAL ACTION
MOLDOVA: EU and Moldova sign security and defence partnership
MIDDLE EAST: Josep Borrell takes note of ICC Prosecutor’s decision to request arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli officials
SOUTH AFRICA: Charles Michel and Cyril Ramaphosa rekindle EU-South Africa strategic partnership
CHINA: Janet Yellen calls for EU and US to coordinate on Chinese industrial overcapacity
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: Belgian Presidency of EU Council to submit new compromise to Member States on European Works Councils in hope this will be final one
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: EU Council formally adopts proposal to mobilise profits generated by Russian public assets frozen in EU
STATE AID: European Commission authorises a German aid scheme worth €1.7 billion to support rail freight
ECB: monetary policy, ten NGOs call on ECB to seize opportunity of its strategy review to accelerate fight against climate change
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
SPORT: 2027 European Games, European Olympic Committees have signed memorandum of understanding with municipality of Istanbul
NEWS BRIEFS
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: EU establishes Diplomatic Academy to train European diplomats
AFGHANISTAN: EU condemns armed attack on group of foreign tourists in Bamiyan
HUMANITARIAN AID: Josep Borrell and Janez Lenarčič denounce repeated attacks on health facilities in Palestinian territories
BELARUS: EU urges regime to release all political prisoners
CHINA: Beijing launches anti-dumping investigation into European products
CLIMATE: greenhouse gas emissions from EU economy fell 4% between fourth quarter of 2022 and end of 2023
IRAN: EU offers condolences on deaths of Iranian President and Foreign Minister
JAPAN: conclusion of EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement published in EU’s Official Journal
JUSTICE: directive harmonising enforcement of penalties in European Union has come into force
JUSTICE: new directive on protection of environment through criminal law has come into force
MIGRATION: Italy must postpone launch of agreement to transfer migrants rescued at sea to Albania
MIGRATION: eight Member States ready to return Syrian refugees to safe areas in Syria
DIGITAL: EU Council officially adopts AI Act
FISHERIES: Europêche regrets decisions of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission