Latest news with #memberstates
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
EU To Introduce ‘Punitive' External Funding Clause To Reduce Migration
European Union flag in front of the European Commission. Amid a confusing roll-out of the latest long-term budget proposal, the European Commission has signaled it will move to a more 'punitive' approach in trying to get developing countries to take back more deportations of their citizens. The change, which will affect the way money is spent from the EU's $233bn external funding instrument, would see the bloc suspend or even cancel development assistance if countries don't co-operate with the EU's ambitions to reduce migration and increase deportations of failed asylum seekers. The Commission's proposal for the next budget period - which acts as a curtain-raiser for future negotiation and sets the likely tone for what will be the final budget - has already generated a lot of controversy and seen policy analysts scrambling to understand what's coming. The proposal reflects the dominant policy agenda of the Commission - namely defense, competitiveness and border security. To that end, various funding instruments have been grouped together to form mega-funds known as 'National and regional partnership plans.' These mega-funds will give a lot more discretion to member states to dole out money as they see fit, rather than being constrained by spending targets set by the EU. This, in practice, has some asylum and migration researchers and advocates concerned that member states will neglect funding for programs to better support people already seeking shelter in Europe, and spend it rather on building up their borders - something many member states have made it clear they want to do. While pointing out that a lot remains unclear when it comes to how the new budget will affect people on the move, 'what we know is that the proposal is to increase resources for funds that have sponsored violent border surveillance in the past,' says Chiara Catelli, Project Officer at the undocumented migrant charity PICUM. "The same goes for Frontex, an agency that's been accused of complicity in human rights violations at the borders multiple times.' Buried within the budget proposal is another clause that has set a lot of migration advocates on edge. Within the proposal text around the new external funding instrument - to be known as the Global Europe Instrument - it states that development funding for poor countries outside the EU could be suspended or even cut off, if those countries don't cooperate with the EU in accepting deportations of their citizens from the bloc. While the EU - and other major powers - have often used their economic might to convince poorer countries to follow their agenda, it is a new step to have enshrined in law such a 'punitive' approach, at least for the EU. It does, however, mirror broader policy developments in the EU and U.K., the latter of which is reportedly considering overall migration and visa policy as a lever to convince third countries to welcome back 'returns.' At the same time, the EU is believed to be exploring how it may use trade policy as a similar lever, an idea expressed by a Belgian politician in June.
France 24
4 days ago
- Business
- France 24
EU encourages sustainable journeys by rail: Are trains the future of travel?
Europe 12:07 From the show The EU is aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and triple it by 2050. But harmonising rail networks across the continent is easier said than done. While some cross-border routes have opened in 2025, other projects have been hampered by a lack of infrastructure or investment, as well as vested interests in the EU member states. Our panelists discuss what it would take to change this situation – rail travel being a component of the EU 's stated goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
EU Proposes Joint Borrowing to Finance €400 Billion Crisis Tool
The €400 billion ($463 billion) crisis tool proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday would be financed using joint borrowing, according to people familiar with the matter. The European Union's executive branch's new budget instrument for the period 2028-2034 would provide loans to countries so they can react faster to adverse events, said the people, speaking on the condition on anonymity. Brussels told member states that it would borrow money on their behalf to raise money for the instrument, they said.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
France Adds Support for Using Most-Potent Trade Tool on US
A growing number of European Union member states, backed by France, want the bloc to activate its most powerful trade tool against the US should the two sides fail to reach an acceptable agreement by Aug. 1. The charge to deploy the EU's so-called anti-coercion instrument if President Donald Trump carries out his threat of 30% tariffs is backed by more than half a dozen European capitals, we're told. Several member states are understood to be more cautious, while others have yet to express a position.
Bloomberg
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
EU Edges Closer to New Price-Cap Regime for Russian Oil Trade
The European Union took a tentative step closer to a new price-cap regime on Russian oil that would aim to push the price of Moscow's barrels down even further and keep the pressure on in the future. Member states are considering a fresh proposal to lower the threshold on Russian oil — currently set at $60 a barrel — and automatically revise it every three months based on market prices, according to people familiar with the matter. One stumbling block has been buy-in from maritime nations — Greece, Malta and Cyprus — but they're open to the idea, the people said.
