⊂ EUROPE ⊃
Saudi Arabia holds Iran responsible for attacks: Saudi Arabia has displayed recovered evidence from the drone strikes on two oil installations, saying it showed the attacks were unquestionably sponsored by Iran. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also accused Iran of being responsible for the attacks, as he met with Saudi leaders to discuss building a coalition to deter further attacks. US President Donald Trump has pledged to substantially increase sanctions on Iran. France is sending experts to Saudi Arabia to investigate the origin of the drone strikes. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Yemenis had targeted Saudi oil facilities as a warning about a possible wider war in response to the kingdom’s US-backed intervention in Yemen. Yemen’s Houthi rebels said Wednesday they had identified dozens of sites in the United Arab Emirates as possible targets. Saudi Arabia has announced its decision to join the US-led maritime security operation in the Persian Gulf.
theguardian.com (Saudi Arabia); nytimes.com (Pompeo); nbcnews.com (Sanctions); france24.com (France); france24.com (Rouhani); reuters.com (Houthis); dw.com (Gulf)
Juncker and Barnier defend backstop for Ireland: EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has called on the British government to table proposals to resolve the Brexit deadlock. Juncker said Britain must present realistic proposals to replace the Irish backstop arrangement in the withdrawal agreement, calling it a safety net to avoid a divided Ireland after Brexit. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said he and his team were open to any UK proposal. But he also underscored the enormous gap between the two sides in finding an alternative to the Irish backstop. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced another Scottish independence referendum in case of a no-deal Brexit. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has invited EU Parliament President David Sassoli to meet in person in London and stressed the importance of the EU Parliament in the Brexit process. The new EU Parliament has reaffirmed its support for an orderly Brexit based on the already negotiated withdrawal agreement.
theguardian.com, reuters.com (Juncker and Barnier); spiegel.de (Sturgeon); europarl.europa.eu (Sassoli); europarl.europa.eu (EU Parliament)
New investment clause fails to win member state support: In a recent report, the European Fiscal Board recommended including a so-called golden rule in the Stability and Growth Pact. This clause would exclude EU member states’ additional expenditure on EU projects co-financed by them when assessing national expenditure against spending limits. However, only a small group of countries are in favour of introducing a golden rule to take advantage of the low interests and invest in the green economy or digital transformation.
euractiv.com
Free trade agreement: Austria blocks Mercusor agreement spiegel.de
Emissions: European passenger car registrations slump euronews.com
Migrants: 100% increase on the Aegean route de.euronews.com
EU accession: Merkel does not want to name date for Serbia’s accession de.reuters.com
Research programme: MEPs boost support for EU research and Erasmus europarl.europa.eu
⊂ QUOTES ⊃
„The risk of a no-deal is very real.“
Outgoing EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned that Britain is headed for a damaging no-deal Brexit.
reuters.com
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Macron for new approach to migrant policy in Europe: During a visit to Italy, French President Emmanuel Macron called for more efficient immigration and asylum policies in Europe. He said the European policy on asylum seekers and migration needed more humanity, solidarity and efficiency. Europe was collectively inefficient at protecting those who had the right to seek asylum and sending back those who did not. Macron said he was convinced that an automatic European mechanism of taking in refugees was needed.
euronews.com, washingtonpost.com
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British Airways pilots call off strike: British Airways pilots have called off a strike planned for 27 September. The pilots‘ union Balpa said previous strikes had demonstrated the anger and resolve of pilots. It was now time for a period of reflection before the dispute escalated further and irreparable damage was done to the brand. Balpa said it hoped British Airways would now change its approach and negotiate seriously with a view to ending the dispute.
bbc.com, cnn.com
Italy 1: „Bunga bunga“ witness was not murdered faz.net
Italy 2: Government cuts growth forecast reuters.com
Austria: Former FPÖ leader Strache accuses ÖVP leader Kurz of breach of promise welt.de
Denmark: Second arrest after attack on tax authority tt.com
⊂ JOB-BOARD ⊃
politjobs.eu: Bitkom sucht Referent europäische Digitalpolitik (w/m) *** Int. Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory seeks Innovation Project Manager *** Int. Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory seeks Project Assistant for EU Funded Projects *** PwC seeks Public Affairs Senior Manager Belgium *** Johnson & Johnson seeks Policy Assistant, Government Affairs & Policy EMEA *** Public Policy Manager, Connectivity *** Ryanair offers Public Affairs internship
politjobs.eu, politjobs.eu/submit (Inserat schalten)
⊂ MALFUNCTION ⊃
Boris Johnson confronted by angry father on hospital visit: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was confronted by an angry father over NHS cuts during a hospital visit. The father, a Labour activist campaigning against Brexit, said there had been years and years of the NHS being destroyed. He also accused the government of wrecking the NHS while using its hospitals as a backdrop for political campaigning.
independent.co.uk, theguardian.com, politico.eu