⊂ EUROPE ⊃
Austria to tighten asylum controls: Migrants in Greek border camps continue to clash with police ahead of possible deportations to Turkey. Austria plans to further tighten its asylum policy from May. After the recent Balkans route shut-down, Vienna believes refugees will soon focus on its Brenner alpine pass. Applications are to be processed within hours. Five days before Turkey is due to begin taking back migrants from Greece under a deal with the EU, neither side is fully ready. The United Nations urged countries around the world to step up to their responsibilities and take in half a million Syrian refugees.
dw.com, reuters.com, nytimes.com
Assad wants to form new government with opposition: According to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it would not be difficult to agree on a new Syrian government including opposition figures. Assad said a new draft constitution could be ready in weeks and a government that included opposition, independents and loyalists could be agreed. Opposition negotiators dismissed Assad’s remarks, saying that a political settlement could be reached only by establishing a transitional body with full powers, not another government under Assad.
reuters.com
US increases military presence in eastern Europe: The Pentagon has drawn up plans to position American troops, tanks and other armored vehicles full time along NATO’s eastern borders to deter Russian aggression, in what would be the first such deployment since the end of the Cold War. The additional presence will increase US ability to conduct military exercises in the region. The Pentagon intends the plans as an escalation of a proposal it announced last year, when it said it was looking at ways to increase US military deterrence in Eastern Europe.
wsj.com, bbc.com
News from Germany’s car toll: Germany will hold off on introducing a controversial highway toll for foreign cars next year due to legal action by the European Commission, which argues the levy discriminates against foreigners. The Commission will take its next step in the ongoing proceedings for infringement of EU law. It plans to wait for an answer from the German government to its request for changes. If Germany doesn’t give in, the Commission could sue the German government.
wsj.com, n-tv.de
Brussels bombers may have targeted Belgian prime minister: Jihadist bombers who attacked Brussels airport and metro last week also collected building plans and photos of Prime Minister Charles Michel’s office and home. Files were found on a computer dumped in a rubbish bin. The discovery of the computer emerged the day after the Brussels attacks. It had been abandoned in a bin in Max Roos street in the Brussels area of Schaerbeek. Copies of laptop hard drives linked to suspects in the attacks have been sent to the FBI, according to reports from the US.
bbc.com
UN: Developing countries invest more money in global energy revolution than industrial countries euractiv.de
EU: Cybersecurity agency slams calls for encryption backdoors euractiv.com
Schulz: A settlement in Cyprus would be a message of hope for all of Europe europarl.europa.eu
EU-India summit: Trade in goods with India in slight deficit in 2015 for a third consecutive year europa.eu
ECHR: Limits for sensational journalism regarding personal rights nzz.ch
⊂ QUOTES ⊃
„I think we can expect (this) from a partner nation of the EU, especially when we are currently opening further accession chapters and intend to discuss them.“
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter asked Ankara to stop curtailing free speech after it protested a political satire video released in Germany.
dw.com
„Kill us here, but don’t send us back to Turkey.“
A message on a banner waved by migrants in Moria on the island of Lesbos.
n-tv.de
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Germany rejects protests over song mocking Erdogan: Germany and the EU have dismissed Turkish protests over a song aired on German television mocking President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The song, aired two weeks ago on regional broadcaster NDR’s “extra3 show”, takes aim at Erdogan’s authoritarian style while also making fun of some of his physical characteristics. Turkey last week summoned the German envoy to demand the song be withdrawn. But both Germany and the EU have insisted press freedom is inviolable.
bbc.com
Hollande abandons plan to change constitution: French President Francois Hollande is abandoning a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the government to strip convicted terrorists of their French citizenship. The measure has sharply divided France since it was proposed three days after the November attacks in Paris which killed 130 people. It ran into huge opposition and led to Justice Minister Christiane Taubira resigning in February.
npr.org, bbc.com
Dutch police carry out raid in Rotterdam: Two terror suspects arrested in weekend raids in Rotterdam were remanded in custody on Wednesday. The two men will be held for another two weeks, on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organisation, the prosecution said. A third man was released. They were all arrested late Sunday along with a Frenchman who appeared Tuesday before an Amsterdam court and is fighting an extradition request from Paris where he is wanted for a foiled attack plot.
yahoonews.com
Sexism in Italian politics: Giorgia Meloni, a pregnant rightwing politician who leads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, is considering launching a bid to be mayor of Rome, but has been declared unfit for the job by Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s former prime minister, who said the role was not compatible with motherhood. His preferred candidate, Guido Bertolaso, also weighed in on the debate, saying Meloni’s first task was the job of being a mum. Prominent female politicians across the political spectrum in Italy have denounced the remarks. Meanwhile, a candidate for mayor of Milan, Patrizia Bedori, dropped out of the contest after being mocked for her appearance.
theguardian.com
Romania: Labour camp chief Ficior jailed for Periprava crimes bbc.com
Russia: “Islamic State” recruiters detained in Moscow ibtimes.com
Romania: President Iohannis lauds intelligence services, says country is safe euractiv.com
⊂ DATA ⊃
The EU Commission has adopted a 30 million euro programme to provide 350,000 Syrian children with drinking milk, as part of the already substantial aid provided by the EU to those in need as a consequence of the crisis in the region.
europa.eu
⊂ JOB-BOARD ⊃
politjobs.eu: 350.org seeks campaigner *** Steltemeier & Rawe seeks Senior Associate (m/f) *** 1&1 sucht EU Public Affairs Manager VKU sucht Referentin/en *** Afore Consulting seeks Junior Consultants in European Public Affairs
politjobs.eu, politjobs.eu/submit (Inserat schalten)
⊂ MALFUNCTION ⊃
Hostage takes photo with hijacker: British health and safety worker Ben Innes was one of the last hostages held aboard hijacked EygptAir Flight 181 on Tuesday. Amid the drama Innes saw an opportunity to take „the selfie of a lifetime“ alongside a hijacker claiming to have an explosive vest. Innes said a cabin member translated his desire for a photo to the hijacker, who agreed. Innes said he figured if the bomb was real he’d have nothing to lose anyway.
npr.org, nbcnews.com