Latest news with #Europe-wide
Euractiv
a day ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
More EU countries eye deportations to Afghanistan, says German interior minister
Berlin says other countries want in on controversial return operations. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Nicoletta Ionta Euractiv Jul 22, 2025 11:08 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Germany's recent deportation of criminals to Taliban-run Afghanistan is drawing attention from across Europe, according to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. 'We have spoken several times about the fact that the deportations to Afghanistan we have carried out are attracting great interest from other countries, who would like to take part in such operations,' Dobrindt said at an informal EU Home Affairs Council meeting in Copenhagen. Last week, Berlin deported a group of convicted criminals to Taliban-run Afghanistan and became the first EU country to let Taliban officials onto its soil to help carry out deportations. One of the key topics under discussion, Dobrindt added, is 'whether and how this can be realised.' 'We believe this is an innovative and absolutely necessary approach,' Dobrindt said, calling for agreements with third countries near countries of origin. Dobrindt didn't rule out Germany pursuing its own migration deals, noting that more and more countries 'have advanced plans to set up such structures.' 'We need partner countries, preferably close to the countries of origin, that through specific agreements are able to receive rejected asylum seekers and settle them in a dignified way near their homeland. This is the basic idea, which has our full support.' Acknowledging the political sensitivity, Dobrindt said: 'We know that for individual member states this can be very difficult, we've already seen that in the past.' Still, he believes a Europe-wide approach could work, as it offers greater chances of implementation." Dobrindt's comments follow a declaration by EU interior ministers on Friday stating that 'returns to Afghanistan and Syria must be possible.' The hardline statement, backed by a self-styled 'coalition of the willing' led by Germany and joined by France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Czechia, and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, calls for tougher migration rules across the bloc.
The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Over 250 unsafe baby carriers, slings, and walkers removed from sale over non-compliance
LAST UPDATE | 36 mins ago OVER 250 BABY products, including baby carriers and slings, have been removed from online marketplaces such as Amazon and Shein following a Europe-wide operation involving Irish consumer protection officials. The authorities, including Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), examined some 1,741 listings as part of a major sweep of baby products for sale on online marketplaces. Authorities went on to send 252 takedown orders to providers of online marketplaces regarding dangerous products offered on their interfaces. The sweep followed the introduction of new product safety legislation in December 2024. Officers analysed the listings for compliance with minimum product safety information rules, which require clear details of the manufacturer and EU responsible person to be displayed. The CCPC said this information is 'crucial for the protection of babies and children from dangerous or faulty products'. Following the sweeps conducted in April and May of this year, 252 takedown orders were sent to the online marketplaces, regarding listings that failed to meet minimum safety and compliance information requirements or featured products that had already been recalled from the market. Advertisement Safety officers from Ireland's CCPC issued 72 of the EU's 252 takedown orders, which targeted baby carriers, slings, and baby walkers. All 72 listings were removed at the CCPC's request from sites including Amazon, Shein, Etsy, eBay, Fruugo and Joom. Of the 252 takedown orders, 155 related to 'very large online platforms' such as Aliexpress, Amazon, Shein, Temu and Zalando. The remaining 97 were sent to other, smaller platforms. Brian McHugh, chair of the CCPC, noted that many parents turn to online marketplaces for convenience when buying baby products and added that they 'deserve to know that those products are safe'. He said the CCPC's product safety officers issue recalls for tens of thousands of items every year and that traceability is 'critically important'. 'Online marketplaces have a duty to be transparent about what they're selling and provide contact details in the event a product is unsafe,' said McHugh. He added that the online marketplaces 'co-operated when we contacted them' and that the 'listings were taken down promptly'. 'The work of our officers, in collaboration with colleagues across the EU, has stopped hundreds of potentially unsafe products being offered for sale to Irish consumers,' said McHugh. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
CAR dealers have been told to halt sales of a popular second-hand car amid severe safety concerns. It could affect tens of thousands of cars while they await an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. 3 Car dealerships have been told to halt sales of some Citroen models following a recall Credit: Getty 3 Some C3 and DS3 models were recalled after a fatal airbag explosion in France in June Credit: Getty Citroens's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for two models beloved by motorists. Citroen DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 and CS3 models built between 2009 and 2016 were Safety Concerns In June of this year, a French woman was killed following a crash as her airbag sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. The car's Takata airbag uses an explosive called ammonium nitrate in tablet form which can degrade into powder if it gets wet. Read more Motors This can then cause an "unstable, uncontrolled explosion" motoring expert Hugo Griffiths told the BBC. Instead of the explosion inflating the airbag at the end of the metal tube, it could cause the metal tube itself to explode sending shrapnel into the passengers. Recall Notice It led to a notice that owners of these models The order is thought to affect Most read in Motors To check whether the recall applies to you, drivers should enter the vehicle identification number on Citroen UK's recall page. You can then arrange a repair online or by calling their recall helpline. Legendary motor discontinued almost 50 years ago revived with retro design However, Not only does this put drivers at potential risk, but it could also invalidate their insurance. Now, A team of motor trade lawyers have It prevents the sale of the car until Citroen have replaced the faulty airbags. Existing owners of the models can book their vehicles in to be fixed, although there are concerns this could take several months. In the meantime, dealerships could be stuck with a number of unsellable, and undriveable vehicles. Industry insiders warned This Is Money that private owners could be prioritised over traders, potentially leaving dealers stuck with their Stellantis acknowledged that its customer care team and dealers "have been overwhelmed" by the number of requests to replace airbags. An investigation by Which? found that Auto Trader would flag adverts for cars impacted by the recall notice. There are currently around 1,000 of these affected vehicles on the site. If dealers were to continue selling the models, they would be in reach of consumer law. The General Product safety Regulations 2005 ensures that "a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer." However, this might not apply to those who buy from private sellers as the responsibility is on the buyer to check for any relevant recalls. If a crash is then caused by a fault recorded in the safety recall, it could invalidate the driver's insurance. You could also face up to £2,500 in fines, get three penalty points and be banned from driving if you are caught driving a recalled car according to the DVSA. Spokesperson for Citroen says... "The replacement of airbags made by the supplier Takata affects many vehicles manufacturers including ourselves. "Vehicles of ours included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. "Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. "The Company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Our Citroen network is fully engaged in maximising the number of cars that can be completed every day and, to increase our repair capacity even further and minimise as much as possible the impact on customers, our Peugeot network is now authorised to replace airbags on these cars in addition to at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers could be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs. "Customers should check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website. "If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible." Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item 3 Drivers could have to wait several months for a replacement airbag Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
The repairs could take months to be fixed SLAM THE BRAKES All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CAR dealers have been told to halt sales of a popular second-hand car amid severe safety concerns. It could affect tens of thousands of cars while they await an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Car dealerships have been told to halt sales of some Citroen models following a recall Credit: Getty 3 Some C3 and DS3 models were recalled after a fatal airbag explosion in France in June Credit: Getty Citroens's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for two models beloved by motorists. Citroen DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 and CS3 models built between 2009 and 2016 were affected by the recall. Safety Concerns In June of this year, a French woman was killed following a crash as her airbag sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. The car's Takata airbag uses an explosive called ammonium nitrate in tablet form which can degrade into powder if it gets wet. This can then cause an "unstable, uncontrolled explosion" motoring expert Hugo Griffiths told the BBC. Instead of the explosion inflating the airbag at the end of the metal tube, it could cause the metal tube itself to explode sending shrapnel into the passengers. Recall Notice It led to a notice that owners of these models should stop driving them until the problem is resolved. The order is thought to affect 120,000 drivers. To check whether the recall applies to you, drivers should enter the vehicle identification number on Citroen UK's recall page. You can then arrange a repair online or by calling their recall helpline. Legendary motor discontinued almost 50 years ago revived with retro design However, This Is Money reported that these models were still being sold second-hand with no mention of the safety notice. Not only does this put drivers at potential risk, but it could also invalidate their insurance. Now, dealerships have been ordered to stop selling the C3 and DS3 models. A team of motor trade lawyers have issued the suspension on sales of C3 and DS3 models from 2009 to 2019. It prevents the sale of the car until Citroen have replaced the faulty airbags. Existing owners of the models can book their vehicles in to be fixed, although there are concerns this could take several months. In the meantime, dealerships could be stuck with a number of unsellable, and undriveable vehicles. Industry insiders warned This Is Money that private owners could be prioritised over traders, potentially leaving dealers stuck with their faulty cars until 2026. Stellantis acknowledged that its customer care team and dealers "have been overwhelmed" by the number of requests to replace airbags. An investigation by Which? found that Auto Trader would flag adverts for cars impacted by the recall notice. There are currently around 1,000 of these affected vehicles on the site. If dealers were to continue selling the models, they would be in reach of consumer law. The General Product safety Regulations 2005 ensures that "a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer." However, this might not apply to those who buy from private sellers as the responsibility is on the buyer to check for any relevant recalls. If a crash is then caused by a fault recorded in the safety recall, it could invalidate the driver's insurance. You could also face up to £2,500 in fines, get three penalty points and be banned from driving if you are caught driving a recalled car according to the DVSA. Spokesperson for Citroen says... "The replacement of airbags made by the supplier Takata affects many vehicles manufacturers including ourselves. "Vehicles of ours included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. "Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. "The Company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Our Citroen network is fully engaged in maximising the number of cars that can be completed every day and, to increase our repair capacity even further and minimise as much as possible the impact on customers, our Peugeot network is now authorised to replace airbags on these cars in addition to at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers could be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs. "Customers should check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website. "If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible." Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits abroad warned to brace for more summer holiday protests from anti-tourists
The anti-tourism movement is quickly gathering pace across Europe with protest groups causing widespread disruption today - and threatening there is more chaos to come Just when Brits thought it was safe to get back in the sunshine - an anti-tourism group is threatening more summer protests. The Southern European Network Against Touristification (SET) group, already revelling in the widespread disruptions caused on a Europe-wide day of action on June 15, is threatening there is more disruption to come. In a strong statement they said: 'Common sense is changing. 'The myth of tourism as economic salvation is over. Touristification is no longer a problem perceived by a few. It has become a widespread concern across generations, social classes, cities and regions. And this is just the beginning. 'Given the situations we are witnessing everywhere, there is no doubt that more actions and mobilizations will take place here and there this summer, much like there might be more anti-touristification actions on 27th September for World Tourism Day. The struggle against touristification is growing, expanding, and is being organized. Because our lives are worth more than their profits.' Tourists across Europe had to endure mass protests last month when thousands of people in Spain, Portugal and Italy took to the streets in at least a dozen tourist hotspots to protest against 'touristification'. It was the most widespread joint action to date against what they see as the steady reshaping of their cities to meet the needs of tourists rather than people who live and work there. Tourists enjoying meals in places like Palma and Barcelona were met with baying mobs and some were even sprayed with water pistols. In Spain, there were instances of protestors holding signs saying 'tourists go home'. Earlier this year The Mirror spoke to one of the ringleaders of the massive tourist protests who spoke to us on condition of anonymity. He said: 'The general mood is one of growing frustration, indignation, and despair. People feel they are being expelled from their own land and that their fundamental rights are not being protected. People have had enough.' The protestors accuse foreigners of inflating property prices and driving up the cost of living for locals who have reached breaking point. Tensions have been building since the protest movement formed last summer and earlier this year a shocking sign threatening to 'kill a tourist' appeared in Tenerife. Footage of the graffiti being painted on the was posted online by a group called Islas de Resistencia, which describes itself as 'a project to recover the memory of social movements in the Canary Islands.' Spanish party isle Ibiza has also seen signs of hostility when access to a popular viewing point was blocked with boulders. Activists have also reportedly torched and smashed hire cars in Tenerife. Shocking video footage posted online appeared to show vandals pouring flammable liquid on the ground, then setting fire to around 20 rental vehicles in the southern Tenerife resort of Costa Adeje. And the protests have now spread to Portugal and Italy who both have huge influxes of tourists each summer. The bulk of last month's protests on June 15 were in Spain, where tourist arrivals surged last year to record levels. But cities in Italy like Venice and Lisbon in Portugal also took part. The statement from SET added: 'The streets of Barcelona, Cantabria, Cordoba, Donostia-San Sebastian, Ibiza, Granada, Genoa, Lisbon, Menorca, Naples, Palma, and Venice were filled with large demonstrations, symbolic actions, statements, and debates. 'Simultaneous and coordinated mobilizations have allowed us not only to join, but also to multiply our voices in a powerful chorus of struggle. And we are not alone. Growing numbers of people understand that this tourism model does not bring progress, but causes evictions, precariousness, and devastation.' Although it is not all doom and gloom for Brits looking to soak up some sun as some industry experts claim one resort's loss is another's gain. Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of Majorca's ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, said business is booming in the German party resort of Playa de Palma instead. He also said the biggest winner of the drop in British revellers picking Magaluf for their holidays following the party resort 'clean-up'. And he has claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf - where holidaymakers from other European countries were once a rare sight in the summer season - because they have been 'demonised.' Mr Perez-Marsa said the gap was being filled by French and Italian tourists who tend to drink less than UK party animals and don't spend as much going out at night. And claiming British youngsters who have traditionally packed out the noisy nightspots of Magaluf's brash Punta Ballena party strip had been 'steam-rollered', he went on to put Benidorm at the top of the list of other 'more welcoming' resorts they were flocking to instead. Mr Perez-Marsa also told Diario de Mallorca more British families were visiting Magaluf, but complained they were opting for all-inclusive deals that meant they spent less outside their hotels. British tourists make up the vast bulk of Benidorm's foreign holidaymakers.
