Latest news with #EUrelations
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Millions of young Europeans could move to Britain under Labour's EU youth mobility scheme, experts warn
EUROPEAN youngsters could move to Britain for more than a year under Labour's new EU youth mobility scheme - fuelling fresh outrage over rising immigration. EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the deal will mirror the UK's existing schemes with countries like Australia, which allow stays of up to two or even three years. It means thousands of 18 to 30-year-olds from the EU could soon be counted in Britain's official immigration figures, which include anyone staying more than 12 months. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to be pushing for a 12-month cap, but Brussels is demanding longer stays as part of a reciprocal arrangement. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'The Government openly refuses to talk about a numerical limit to this proposal. "With no limit, Labour's planned scheme would allow tens of millions of people to come to the UK. "Some European countries give citizenship to illegal immigrants within just a year of getting asylum. "Without proper controls, this proposal will throw our borders wide open.' Reform MP Lee Anderson added "Immigration is a top concern for voters, yet Labour continues to keep the doors wide open. 'There is no question, the population explosion has done this country great damage. "Labour should focus on our endless problems at home before pandering to the needs of all foreigners." Mr Thomas-Symonds told The Times it will not be a return to freedom movement, but refused to rule out a multi-year scheme and said it will be 'in the context' of the UK's 13 existing youth mobility arrangements. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown 1
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘Freedom of expression is sacrosanct': Michael McGrath on his role as EU commissioner
Away from the pomp of French president Emmanuel Macron 's state visit and summit in London, separate, much quieter talks were due to take place in Westminster on Thursday that could be almost as crucial for UK relations in the European Union . Yvette Cooper, the British government's home secretary, was due to break away from the Anglo-French summit to meet Michael McGrath , the European Commission's justice commissioner and the Republic's former minister for finance. 'I'm the first justice commissioner to visit Britain since Brexit came into effect in 2020,' he told The Irish Times at his Westminster hotel on Thursday morning. While McGrath may be softly spoken, he carries a big stick. READ MORE In December the EU filed legal action against the UK in the European Court of Justice for allegedly failing to protect the rights of some of the six million EU citizens in Britain. Some EU citizens complained they had been denied entry by UK border officials after returning from visits to their home countries on holidays or to see family. The issue caused friction behind the scenes of British prime minister Keir Starmer 's much-vaunted 'reset' of relations with the EU. A resolution may be near, however. McGrath flew in for talks on the issue, before heading to Manchester for an event for EU citizens. 'Commitments were provided for as part of [Britain's] withdrawal agreement. [However] there have been challenges,' said McGrath. 'But we do now appear to be making progress. I will be raising this issue of EU citizen rights in the UK as a political priority for us. Those who left the UK for a while – we have to get their status regularised. But we also have to make sure EU states reciprocate.' As well as Cooper, McGrath was due to speak to Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary. He was also due to meet Peter Kyle, the UK's science secretary, to discuss new British laws passed in June that shook up restrictions on the transfer of digital data. 'We have to assess this new Act to enable data flows to continue between the EU and UK,' said McGrath, who added it was crucial for co-operation on criminal matters as well as for business. Later in the day, he would head northwest for the fourth annual EU Citizen's Gathering, the first time the event has been held outside London. McGrath said it would be a 'coming together' of Europeans living in the area, politicians and community groups. Andy Burnham, the pro-Europe mayor of Manchester who is seen by many as a future Labour Party leader and possible prime minister, was also due to contribute. As well as justice, McGrath's sprawling commission brief includes overseeing the rule of law in the EU and consumer protection. He also spearheads a commission project to establish a 'democracy shield' to prevent states such as Russia from interfering in elections in Europe by flooding them with disinformation. McGrath said the initiative will involve schemes to support independent media and boost media literacy among European citizens. But will it also involve censorship? The EU, after all, has already banned some foreign media outlets such as Russia Today. 'If we get this right it will be the opposite of censorship. It will be about protecting the freedom of expression of EU voters at the ballot box, and keeping them protected from undue influence and interference.' He said freedom of expression is 'sacrosanct', but suggested the EU should regulate the algorithms of social media platforms to prevent them from boosting disinformation from states such as Russia. 'The issue is with the algorithms,' he said. If it is not addressed, he added, the 'blatant lies' of Russia will be allowed to spread farther. McGrath's brief also includes ensuring EU member states accept the 'primacy of EU law'. Viktor Orban 's Hungary, he said, isn't doing that, and so up to €18 billion in EU funding has been withheld from the central European country. 'We hear them [Hungary] openly criticise European Court of Justice judgments. It is a fundamental obligation of EU membership that you respect the primacy of EU law and the ECJ. They [Hungary] seem to have a difficulty with that.' On consumer protection, McGrath's attention has turned to the stratospheric growth in Europe of Chinese online retail platforms such as Shein and Temu, which ship millions of small-value packages into the bloc each year. McGrath said he is concerned over the safety of many products sold on such platforms. He suggested the EU could adjust customs duty thresholds to make the small purchases more expensive for EU consumers. He said 12 million small retail packages per day are imported into the European Union, more than 90 per cent of which come from China. Europe's 'system', he suggested, was struggling to cope with the volume and he alleged that European retailers were being put at a competitive disadvantage. McGrath said the EU would soon publish the results of an online 'safety sweep' of products sold on sites such as Shein and Temu . The commission used software to 'scrape' the sites for data to analyse. 'My view is the commission needs to be given stronger investigative and enforcement powers in relation to consumer protection and product safety.' He will, we can assume, probably advocate, in his own calm, inimitable way, for more powers behind the scenes.
LBCI
09-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Cypriot President affirms Lebanon's regional role during meeting with President Aoun
During his meeting with President Joseph Aoun, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, reaffirmed Lebanon's pivotal role in the region and its importance to Europe, emphasizing the deep Lebanese–Cypriot ties and ways to enhance cooperation across various fields. In a joint press conference, President Christodoulides noted that regional developments directly affect both countries and underscored Cyprus's consistent support for strengthening EU–Lebanon relations. He stated, 'Cyprus, in word and deed, is a passionate supporter of closer ties between the European Union and Lebanon.' Christodoulides affirmed his country's commitment to Lebanon's stability, unity, and sovereignty, describing Cyprus as not only a steadfast companion but also a leading advocate for Lebanon within the EU. 'Lebanon's prosperity and stability are of strategic importance to Cyprus, and this is the message we are sending to Brussels. Lebanon's stability is in the interest of the entire European Union,' he said. The Cypriot president further stressed that Cyprus remains Lebanon's most consistent ally and reiterated his country's readiness to offer unwavering support. He also expressed gratitude for Lebanon's long-standing support on the Cyprus issue, noting its steadfast backing in all international forums. President Aoun, for his part, expressed his pleasure in visiting Cyprus and welcomed the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest. He called for a just peace through dialogue and the fair exchange of rights, stating, 'We believe that what history and geography unite cannot be divided by numbers or calculations.' In his remarks at the joint press conference, Aoun added, 'Every time one of us faces a storm, the other provides a safe and dignified haven. We have become two countries and peoples joined by shared concerns.'
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi deputy FM receives EU ambassador
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received EU Ambassador to the Kingdom Christophe Farnaud in Riyadh on Monday. During the meeting, they reviewed relations between the Kingdom and the EU, as well as regional and international developments of common interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Development Affairs Abdullah bin Zarah received Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama, ambassador of Djibouti and dean of the diplomatic corps, in Riyadh on Monday. They discussed economic matters of mutual interest.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EU 'blocking Britain's bid to join Mediterranean trade zone'
The EU is unwilling to allow Britain to join a pan-European trade zone despite Sir Keir Starmer 's efforts to 'reset' the UK's relations with Brussels, it has emerged. The Government recently published a trade strategy that hailed membership of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) as an 'opportunity' for the UK. Ministers said they would 'consider the benefits' of joining the PEM as part of efforts to boost British exports. The PEM allows for tariff-free trade of some goods from across dozens of countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. But, according to the Financial Times, the European Commission has made clear to Britain that it would not currently support UK membership of the PEM. EU officials said Brussels bosses had decided that the UK joining the PEM was not currently in the bloc's interests, the newspaper reported. The EU is said to fear it would increase the risk of products unfairly qualifying for low-tariff access to the bloc. It comes despite Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently striking a 'reset' deal following a UK-EU summit in London. The agreement, signed in May, covered fishing, trade, defence and energy and represented the biggest change in Britain's relations with the bloc since Brexit. Although the PEM is not exclusively an EU arrangement, trade experts said Britain would need EU co-operation to join because it would require a rewriting of the post-Brexit trade deal. Sam Lowe, trade lead at consultancy Flint Global, said: 'For it to be meaningful for the UK, the EU would need to agree to incorporate the PEM rules of origin into the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 'This gives the EU de facto blocking powers.' David Henig, a former UK trade negotiator now at the ECIPE think-tank, said: 'The EU isn't united on the importance of the UK reset and issues like PEM can easily be caught up in this even though technically straightforward. 'The UK Government is going to have to work hard in London and Brussels to build momentum.' Although they have left the door open to joining the PEM, the Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the EU's single market or customs union. A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government has secured a new agreement with the EU to support British businesses and jobs and put more money in people's pockets.
