Photo : The Portugal News
EM in Brief
By Alka Bala
CZECH REPUBLIC
Government to abstain from the voting on the EU migration and asylum pact
On 08 February, as reported by Radio Prague International, the Czech Republic is not ready to vote on the EU migration and Asylum pact, scheduled for March. The pact aims to build effective controls regarding migrants and the secure and faster return of failed asylum seekers. It also aims to bring in “compulsory solidarity” where all member states would have to take in a certain quota of migrants or financially aid the overburdened countries. Although earlier Prague supported the draft legislation, however in the recent cabinet session Martin Kupka, Minister of Transport, highlighted reasons to not support the pact in its current form. He stated that after the changes made to the draft post “negotiations with the European Parliament, the possibility of preventing illegal migration at EU’s external borders” was limited. He reiterated that the Czech Republic was not obliged to accept migrants even if the EU immigration and asylum pact gets approved by the majority. (“Czechia not ready to support new draft of EU migration and asylum pact,” Radio Prague International, 08 February 2024)
IRELAND
Use of facial recognition technology debate continues due to warning over social harm
On 13 February, The Irish Times reported concerns about the use of facial recognition technology (FTR) by An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s National Police and Security Service. An Garda Síochána aims to use FTR to improve investigative procedures in crimes such as murder, child sexual abuse and abductions. It believes that facial recognition technology would help in analysing hours of footage at a faster pace than humans. However, academicians raise the “chilling effects” as they believe the use of this technology would have private life implications and social harm. Senator Robbie Gallagher of Fianna Fáil is concerned that the draft Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill is going forward despite the concerns raised by bodies such as the Data Protection Commission, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), and Digital Rights Ireland (DRI). The need for making this legislation airtight was highlighted. Currently, an Oireachtas committee hearing is occurring where experts are providing insights on the use of technology and legal challenges regarding the current draft legislation. (Mark Hilliard, “Academics warn of facial recognition technology’s ‘chilling effects’ and potential social harm,” The Irish Times, 13 February 2024)
POLAND
Catholic church opposes government plans to reduce religious classes
On 14 February, Notes from Poland reported the opposition of Poland’s Catholic church against the government's plans to reduce the number of hours of religious classes, and called it an “infringement of human rights.” The government plans were to not include the grade from religion in school certificate and the grade average. Barbara Nowacka, Poland’s education minister argued that two hours of religious classes a very “is excessive” and introduced government plans to reduce it to one hour per week as students also have other subjects. The Committee for Catholic Education of the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP) opposed this decision and argued that religious classes are part of pupil’s right to religious freedom and right to education and also included “parents’ rights to teach and raise their children according to their religious convictions.” KEP also expressed the impact of this decision on the loss of livelihood for “thousands of religious teachers.” Religious classes in Poland are optional for pupils, and recently a decline in attendance has been witnessed. In Warsaw, only 29 per cent of high school students opted for these classes in 2022, whereas two cities Wrocław and Częstochowa have expressed to stop funding the subject. (“Catholic church in Poland opposes reducing number of religion classes in schools,” Notes from Poland, 14 February 2024)
Citing insufficient solutions Poland opposes the EU migration pact
On 09 February, according to Notes from Poland, Poland expressed opposition to the EU’s migration pact, although it received support from the majority of EU members. The government of Poland cited that solutions provided in the migration and asylum pact were insufficient as it did not adequately address the “situation of countries bordering Belarus and Russia” as they face “strong pressure within artificially generated migration routes.” The government also raised concerns about to prospect of future disputes within EU institutions as the “pact does not strike an appropriate balance between responsibility and solidarity.” Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister has opposed receiving any relocated asylum seekers under the pact. (“Poland opposes EU migration pact but majority of member states approve measures,” Notes from Poland, 09 February 2024)
PORTUGAL
Council of Ministers approve 26.65 million euros for recovery as Algrave drought eases
On 14 February, according to The Portugal News, based on data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the districts of Beja and Faro and southern parts of the district of Setúbal remained in the moderate drought class, however, the intensity had come down from 38 per cent to 20 per cent between December and 31 January. Data from IPMA also highlighted that January was the hottest month in the last 58 years, in air temperature and rainfall. The Council of Ministers approved a budget of EUR 26.65 million to respond to the drought situation and adopt measures for increasing water availability and supply. Out of the allotted amount, money would also be aimed at other methods to increase efficiency such as EUR 10 million to increase tourism, EUR 2.9 million for management, and 350 thousand euros for agriculture. (“Algarve drought eases,” The Portugal News, 14 February 2024; “€26.6 million to help ease Algarve drought,”, The Portugal News, 09 February 2024)
Agriculture Ministry guarantees additional payment for farmers
On 13 February, according to The Portugal News, Maria do Céu Antunes, Minister of Agriculture guaranteed that farmers would receive 90 per cent support for organic farming and integrated production whereas the remaining 10 per cent would be paid in June. Without approval from the European Union, the Portugal government currently only has the financial availability to make a payment of 25 per cent. Armando Lopes, one of the farmers’ representatives, remarked that some of their demands were met. Farmers had also raised demands for the inclusion of agricultural diesel as a production factor and for VAT exemption, however, the government responded that this fell outside its purview of review. The demonstrations for reinforcement of irrigation and water efficiency plan were currently being stopped but would resume if “the promises are not met.” (“Payments for farmers guaranteed,” The Portugal News, 13 February 2024)
ROMANIA
Ruling parties disagree over the electoral calendar
On 14 February, Romania-Insider reported the disagreement between the ruling parties Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Liberal Party (PNL) as they failed to finalise the electoral calendar. Liberals wish to hold local elections during the same time as European elections on 09 June, as an effort to maintain the party’s relevance in the European Parliament whereas Social Democrats want the general elections coinciding with the first round of presidential elections and voice demands for a joint Social Democrat presidential candidate. This friction between the ruling coalition has resulted in pursing of different election strategies, where the best step for Liberals could be to sacrifice the European Elections and run its candidate for the Presidential elections. The decision-making for the electoral calendar has been pushed for three days. (“Political deadlock over electoral calendar in Romania,” Romania-Insider, 14 February 2024)
REGIONAL
Repatriated Albanians use illegal means to return to Britain
On 14 February, BalkanInsight reported the use of illegal means by repatriated Albanians, to materialise their dream of moving to Britain. In 2022, around 12,000 Albanians used small boats to travel across the English Channel and enter Britain, since then the number of illegal migrants has come down. However, the aspirations and efforts of the repatriated Albanians have been sustained over time. The high cost incurred in these travelling attempts has made these youngsters “the victims of debt bondage,” according to Jahir Cahani, a local activist in Northern Albania. Youngsters sell their property and cattle in their hometowns in Albania and take up loans, to make their travel to Britain using relatively less guarded airports such as Vienna, Barcelona and Ireland with the help of smugglers and fake passports. The youngsters who end up reaching Britain join in illegal activities such as labour-intensive cannabis production. The migration has caused around 176 schools in Albania to close and raises dangerous concerns as students leave their studies unfinished to join organised crime networks. (Bashkim Shala, “Repatriated Albanians Find New Routes Back to Britain,” BalkanInsight, 14 February 2024)
INTERNATIONAL
Serbia and UAE sign MoU on development and cooperation of AI
On 14 February, BalkanInsight reported the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Serbia and UAE by Ana Brnabic, Serbian Prime Minister and Mihailo Jovanovic, Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications and Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council at the World Government Summit held in Dubai. The MoU will focus on “closer cooperation between Serbia and the UAE in the field of development and application of AI,” as stated by Brnabic. The language model developed by UAE is equivalent to US-based ChatGPT, and under the MoU, Serbian institutes would be able to use UAE’s model. Earlier, Serbia had signed MoUs with G42 Cloud, UAE- based AI and cloud computing company, and China’s BGI Genomics. (Katarina Baletic, “Serbia, UAE, Sign MoU Closening Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence,” BalkanInsight, 14 February 2024)
Danish Armed Forces to participate in the largest NATO exercise
On 12 February, according to Danish Defence, the Danish Armed Forces would participate in Steadfast Defender 24, the largest NATO exercise conducted in decades, in collaboration with 31 allied nations and approximately a total of 90,000 soldiers. The NATO plan will take place in two parts, where in the first part Danish Armed Forces will be part of British-led maritime exercises and Norweigian-led exercises in the Arctic region. Denmark would provide support as the host nation and 1,200 Danish soldiers would take part across the services, such as the Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Command. Steadfast Defender 24 aims to reinforce the NATO alliance and the plans were adopted at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2023. (“The Danish Armed Forces to Participate in Major NATO Spring Exercise,” Danish Defence, 12 February 2024)