Latest news with #AssitaKanko
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
From Burkina to Belgium: Fighting for women's rights from the hard-right bench
BRUSSELS, May 30 — When Assita Kanko was 10 years old, she pictured herself as president of her native Burkina Faso—with a mission to stamp out female genital mutilation, and further women's rights. As it turned out, she sits as a Belgian lawmaker in the ranks of the hard-right in the European Parliament, and says that suits her just fine. The 44-year-old says she feels at home among the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) -- one of three groups in the assembly's far-right bloc, whose influence has grown steadily since elections last year. As one of three EU lawmakers from the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, she rubs shoulders in the ECR with around 20 other outfits including Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist Brothers of Italy, and Poland's PiS. She also crossed paths with Meloni at the inauguration of Donald Trump—where they were both handpicked, as likeminded European politicians, to welcome the US leader back to office. Despite divergences with some ECR members on 'ethical' issues, Kanko pushes back at criticism of her decision to join the N-VA, a staunchly conservative party with a tough line on immigration. 'The idea that a black woman cannot also be right-wing is outrageous,' she told AFP. 'I want the right to think and I take that right to think, I don't ask permission.' Fighting for women's emancipation has been a cornerstone of her life in politics, she says. Born in Godyr, Burkina Faso, in 1980, Kanko was subjected to female genital mutilation at the age of five—like three quarters of women in the country. She shared her trauma from the experience in a 2013 book, the first of four she has written about gender equality. 'If my mother had had means of her own, I am convinced I would not have been circumcised,' she said. 'Today I am a very independent woman—and no one would dare mutilate my daughter. That has to be the goal.' EU being 'trampled' A 'top of the class' high-school student in Burkina Faso—in her own words—Kanko left to study in the Netherlands in 2001. From there she would move to Belgium—where speaking both Dutch and French proved a boon to her career, in the private sector then as a municipal official in a district of Brussels. Fast-forward to 2018, and Kanko decided to jump ship, leaving the centre-right MR party for the N-VA—the political home of Belgium's current prime minister, Bart De Wever. 'I feel unstoppable, free and proud to be a new Flemish woman,' she explained on the party's website at the time. Kanko describes herself as pro-business, as a sovereigntist—attached to the role of national governments within the EU—and as a fervent Atlanticist. That's how she explains her decision to attend the swearing-in of a US president who has made clear his disdain for the European Union—which he says was founded to 'screw' the United States. 'The United States is a partner we cannot do without,' she said. 'We have to form a bloc to defend Western values in the world.' But Kanko also warns that 'unless we believe in our own power, our own priority and strategies, Donald Trump will walk all over us.' As it stands—with a transatlantic trade war brewing and US security support in question—she considers 'the European Union today is being trampled underfoot—and not just by the United States.' 'It's trampled on by countries in the Middle East too, trampled on by China, trampled on by Russia, trampled on by radicals living on our own territories,' argued Kanko—who was raised in a Muslim culture but did not adopt the faith, and sees Islamic extremism as a threat. In the EU parliament, Kanko has focused on security and border control—and has sought to spotlight a report sounding the alarm about the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat to secularism and women's rights in France and beyond. Kanko wants to see the organisation investigated at European level. 'We need to wake up,' she told fellow lawmakers in parliament recently, accusing the brotherhood of 'indoctrinating children' and 'treating women as inferior.' — AFP
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
From Burkina to Belgium, fighting women's corner from benches of hard-right
BRUSSELS: When Assita Kanko was 10 years old, she pictured herself as president of her native Burkina Faso -- with a mission to stamp out female genital mutilation, and further women's rights. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As it turned out, she sits as a Belgian lawmaker in the ranks of the hard-right in the European Parliament, and says that suits her just fine. The 44-year-old says she feels at home among the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) -- one of three groups in the assembly's far-right bloc, whose influence has grown steadily since elections last year. As one of three EU lawmakers from the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, she rubs shoulders in the ECR with around 20 other outfits including Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist Brothers of Italy, and Poland's PiS. She also crossed paths with Meloni at the inauguration of Donald Trump -- where they were both handpicked, as likeminded European politicians, to welcome the US leader back to office. Despite divergences with some ECR members on "ethical" issues, Kanko pushes back at criticism of her decision to join the N-VA, a staunchly conservative party with a tough line on immigration. "The idea that a black woman cannot also be right-wing is outrageous," she told AFP. "I want the right to think and I take that right to think, I don't ask permission." Fighting for women's emancipation has been a cornerstone of her life in politics, she says. Born in Godyr, Burkina Faso, in 1980, Kanko was subjected to female genital mutilation at the age of five -- like three quarters of women in the country. She shared her trauma from the experience in a 2013 book, the first of four she has written about gender equality. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "If my mother had had means of her own, I am convinced I would not have been circumcised," she said. "Today I am a very independent woman -- and no one would dare mutilate my daughter. That has to be the goal." - EU being 'trampled' - A "top of the class" high-school student in Burkina Faso -- in her own words -- Kanko left to study in the Netherlands in 2001. From there she would move to Belgium -- where speaking both Dutch and French proved a boon to her career, in the private sector then as a municipal official in a district of Brussels. Fast-forward to 2018, and Kanko decided to jump ship, leaving the centre-right MR party for the N-VA -- the political home of Belgium's current prime minister, Bart De Wever. "I feel unstoppable, free and proud to be a new Flemish woman," she explained on the party's website at the time. Kanko describes herself as pro-business, as a sovereigntist -- attached to the role of national governments within the EU -- and as a fervent Atlanticist. That's how she explains her decision to attend the swearing-in of a US president who has made clear his disdain for the -- which he says was founded to "screw" the United States. "The United States is a partner we cannot do without," she said. "We have to form a bloc to defend Western values in the world." But Kanko also warns that "unless we believe in our own power, our own priority and strategies, Donald Trump will walk all over us." As it stands -- with a transatlantic trade war brewing and US security support in question -- she considers "the European Union today is being trampled underfoot -- and not just by the United States." "It's trampled on by countries in the Middle East too, trampled on by China, trampled on by Russia, trampled on by radicals living on our own territories," argued Kanko -- who was raised in a Muslim culture but did not adopt the faith, and sees Islamic extremism as a threat. In the EU parliament, Kanko has focused on security and border control -- and has sought to spotlight a report sounding the alarm about the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat to secularism and women's rights in France and beyond. Kanko wants to see the organisation investigated at European level. "We need to wake up," she told fellow lawmakers in parliament recently, accusing the brotherhood of "indoctrinating children" and "treating women as inferior."
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Daily Record
New EU travel rules by October as UK tourists face long delays
The European Union has decided to implement new travel regulations that are set to cause significant delays for UK holidaymakers visiting popular destinations such as France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. Under the new system, UK nationals will be required to submit biometric data, including photographs and fingerprints, in addition to scanning their passports. Airlines have been instructed to potentially keep passengers on board aircraft to prevent airport congestion as travellers line up to provide the additional details. Motorists planning to use the Channel Tunnel have been alerted to anticipate extended waiting times, and substantial processing facilities are being established at Dover and London St Pancras to manage the flow of people. The forthcoming Entry-Exit System (EES) aims to bolster security across Europe by meticulously monitoring who enters and exits the EU. Although its introduction has faced several postponements, the EU has recently voted to commence its deployment from October, with a six-month window for all member states to adopt the system, reports Bristol Live . Assita Kanko, the Belgian MEP overseeing the EES initiative, said: "The safety of Europeans can no longer be postponed. Reliance on paper stamps at borders, while criminals operate digitally, is unacceptable. The EES is not just a security measure but also aids legal travellers more efficiently, with fewer queues and increased certainty." UK passport holders will be required to scan their passports and provide fingerprints and a photograph the first time they travel to Europe. This process will need to be repeated every three years or when your passport expires. For those travelling via the tunnel or ferry, these checks will be conducted in the UK. If you're flying, the checks will take place upon landing. Motorists heading to the continent will need to step out of their vehicles to provide the necessary information. Once fully implemented, another system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), will be enforced from 2026. To enter Europe, you'll need to purchase a visa waiver, costing approximately £6 every three years.
Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Britons face huge fingerprint queues when travelling to EU this year
British travellers could face huge queues to register their fingerprints when they enter Europe later this year. All passengers without EU passports will be required to provide their fingerprints, or have their pictures taken, to enter the bloc under the new entry/exit system (EES). The rollout of the new system has been delayed several times over the past two years after Germany, France and the Netherlands said that they were not ready. But the European Council and European Parliament have agreed to a 'phased' introduction of the scheme from October over six months, The Times reported. It will apply to non-EU citizens, including Britons, entering the passport-free Schengen Zone for visits, holidays and business trips for a stay of up to 90 days within 180 days. Brussels promises that it will do away with passport stamping and automate border controls, making it easier to travel to the bloc. But there have been warnings from the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel that there could be delays and chaos at the beginning of the new regime. 'Not just a security measure' Assita Kanko, the Belgian conservative MEP in charge of the EES system in Brussels, said: 'The safety of Europeans can no longer be postponed.' She added: 'Reliance on paper stamps at borders, while criminals operate digitally, is unacceptable. 'The EES is not just a security measure but also aids legal travellers more efficiently, with fewer queues and increased certainty.' Channel Tunnel bosses have estimated that the average time to process a car could jump sevenfold, from less than a minute to between five and seven minutes. In October, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was lobbying for Britain to be exempted from the rules when they come into force. It prompted speculation that he would agree to a youth mobility scheme with Brussels in exchange, something Downing Street signalled it was open to earlier this week as part of an EU deal. After the EES is fully rolled out, British travellers will be able to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation Service), expected to come into force in the second half of 2026. Functioning like a US electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA), passengers will be required to apply online for a travel waiver, which will then be valid for three years.
Wales Online
25-04-2025
- Wales Online
Expect delays as new EU travel rules come into force within months
Expect delays as new EU travel rules come into force within months The EU has voted to start rolling out the new scheme for everyone heading from the UK to countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal Queues at the airport The European Union has voted to roll out new travel rules that will see long delays for UK holidaymakers heading to countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. The rules will mean UK citizens heading to the Continent need to provide biometric data - pictures and fingerprints - as well as scanning their passport. Airlines have been told they may need to hold passengers on planes in a bid to avoid overcrowding at airports as people queue to hand over the new information. Drivers heading for the Channel Tunnel have been warned to expect much longer delays and huge new processing areas are being created at Dover and at London St Pancras to process travellers. The new Entry-Exit System (EES) is designed to make Europe more secure by tracking exactly who is entering and leaving the bloc. The implementation of the scheme has been delayed a number of times, but the EU this week voted to start rolling it out from October. It will be introduced for all EU countries within six months after the roll-out begins. Article continues below Assita Kanko, the Belgian MEP responsible for the EES system, said: "The safety of Europeans can no longer be postponed. Reliance on paper stamps at borders, while criminals operate digitally, is unacceptable. "The EES is not just a security measure but also aids legal travellers more efficiently, with fewer queues and increased certainty." Article continues below Everyone with a UK passport will have to scan the passport and have fingerprints and a photograph taken the first time they head to Europe. You will then need to renew that every three years or when your passport expires. If you're travelling through the tunnel or by ferry the checks will be done in the UK. If you're flying they will be done after you land. Those driving to the Continent will have to exit their cars to provide the information. Once the system is fully in place another system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), will come into force in 2026. You will need to buy a visa waiver to get into Europe - paying around £6 every three years for the document.
