February 27, 2020 / By mobanmarket
To mark International Women's Day, Vĕra Jourová, the commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, will discuss the problems in achieving equality | Olivier Hoslet/EPA
Midday brief, in brief Spokesman says Commission ‘rather proud’ that EU leaders will be able to discuss the white paper on the future of the bloc.
Today at Commission, visa ruling and summit prep
The European Commission’s daily press point began with a question from Luxembourg, which doesn’t happen often.
Margaritis Schinas, the Commission’s chief spokesman, said the Commission noted a European Court of Justice ruling that “member states are not required, under EU law, to grant a humanitarian visa” to people who intend to apply for asylum once they enter the country.
The ruling by EU judges came as something of a surprise as an ECJ advocate-general in February had the opposite view, suggesting asylum seekers should be granted visas so they have international protection.
The case centered on whether Belgian authorities should have granted visas to a Christian family from Syria in October 2016. The family claimed that because of their religion, they were facing prosecution.
“We are going to analyze it,” Schinas said of the ruling. In theory, the Commission could propose an EU-wide system for humanitarian visas for asylum seekers. Whether national capitals would discuss such a proposal is another matter.
Click Here: Newcastle United Shop
Belgium’s minister for migration and asylum was happy at the ruling, and celebrated the legal victory on Twitter.
A week after the publication of a white paper on the future direction of the EU, Schinas said the weekly meeting of all commissioners will focus on the European Council to be held on Thursday and Friday, which will look at the economy, migration and trade but will also feature an EU27 discussion on the post-Brexit bloc.
“We are rather proud our propositions are now on the table,” Schinas said of the white paper, adding that it was now up to EU leaders to decide on the way forward.
Speaking of the way forward, the Commission denied claims in Greek media about EU economics experts leaving (or being about to leave) Athens to work on updates to the Greek bailout.
It’s common practice for a Commission vice president to give the Wednesday lunchtime readout on the college of commissioners’ meeting.
But, to mark International Women’s Day, Vĕra Jourová, the commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, will do the honors. She will discuss the problems in achieving equality with Cécile Coune, CEO of the insurer Aviabel, Aissatou Diallo, an activist fighting female genital mutilation, and Shada Islam of Friends of Europe.
Categories: News