Photo : REUTERS/Toby Melville
IN FOCUS
By Ashwin Dhanabalan
Impact of BREXIT and COVID-19 on educational visits to the UK
BREXIT's impact on educational visits
On 01 January 2021, BREXIT was officially implemented, leading to the UK leaving the EU. A year later, the implementation of the new regulations under BREXIT has significantly impacted the educational sector, as academic trips to the UK have drastically reduced over the last year. Its implications on educational visits have directly affected the academic markets' supporting arms such as language schools, home-stays, and hotels. Organizers of school trips raised their concerns about the new rules under BREXIT to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as these school trips generated income for the families who hosted students in their homes. The students earlier opted for shorter visits for a few months, which helped them move between their countries and the UK. But now, with the new immigration rules in place, getting visas and passports have become a hassle and more expensive for short visits. In addition, visits by these students supported other attractions in the country such as museums, theatres, and cultural centres.
The Impact of COVID-19
In general, the pandemic has reduced educational visits across Europe. Even then, it has seen a further decline in those students interested in travelling to the UK; students now prefer to go to other English-speaking countries like Ireland and the Netherlands. The UK's day two lateral flow tests for international arrivals are a factor, as passengers have to take a COVID-19 test within two days of entering England. The government justified the fall in educational visits to the pandemic and the measures adopted by the government to strengthen its borders. Verdié Voyages, a French tourism company that organizes educational visits, said: "Requests are down for all destinations because of Covid." However, another reason for the decline in visiting the UK is the decrease in subsidized travel by educational institutes in the EU since to the UK. Professors and teachers would now prefer to travel within the EU for cheaper opportunities than heading to the UK.
Implications to the supporting services
French and German educational trips accounted for 750,000 students visiting the UK every year till the beginning of the pandemic, but the numbers will likely reduce to half due to the new regulations. Earlier, a regular EU national ID card was enough for a student to enter the UK under the EU's laws, but now the students or their parents would have to pay to get a passport and a visa to traverse between the EU and the UK. A German federation of leading school trip organizers said: "In many British towns, student visitors are a vital part of the local economy," as there was an economic benefit to many smaller towns in the country. French Organizers stated: "France's 10,000 school trips a year represent a direct annual input into the UK economy of GBP 100 million." Therefore, the UK would lose a lot of income from the industry as visiting interests of students have now moved away from England to other parts of the EU. Apart from the ramifications to the educational sector, diplomatic ties fostered through school and college trips received a setback. As The Guardian reported: "They forge lifelong connections with the UK, increase tolerance for people, cultures and different ways of living and thinking, and help the acquisition of language skills in the internationally most important language." Students from not so well-off households in Europe were deterred from coming to the UK for short visits as they would have to pay for each visit to the country.
References:
Jon Henley, "'Almost unsaleable': slump in school trips to UK blamed on Brexit," The Guardian, 26 December 2021.
Julia Buckley, "How the UK became the sick man of European tourism," CNN, 13 November 2021.
Jon Henley and Kate Connolly, "School trips to UK from EU could halve as Brexit hits cultural exchanges," The Guardian, 04 June 2021.
Shannon McMohan, "What will Brexit change for travelers? Here's what to know," The Washington Post, 12 January 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Joeana Cera Matthews and Padmashree Anandhan
COVID-19
Serbia: Tennis player Novak Djokovic receives backlash over attempted vaccine exemption
On 06 January, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was denied entry to Australia. It was said that the tennis player was granted a medical exemption by the Victoria state and event organizers. Despite the exemption to play the Australian Open, the player’s visa was cancelled. The Australian border officials reported that Djokovic’s failure to provide valid evidence to enter Australia after coming from Dubai would keep him in the immigration detention hotel. The issue has caused irritation amongst tennis supporters and Djokovic’s family. His supporters have blamed Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison for reversing his decision from supporting the exemption to not, and is accused of politicizing. According to Morrison: “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any differently to anyone else, and he'll be on the next plane home.” (“Novak Djokovic: Australia cancels top tennis player's visa,” BBC, 06 January 2022; “Novak Djokovic denied entry to Australia, requests injunction,” Deutsche Welle, 02 January 2022)
ENERGY
Kosovo: Waning electricity crisis leads to ban on crypto-mining
On 06 January, the government of Kosovo banned the mining of cryptocurrencies to cut down the electricity usage given the waning energy crisis. It ordered security services to track down the sources of cryptocurrency mining and shut it down. The reason for the energy shortage is attributed to the closure of the largest coal-fired power plant due to technical issues. This led to the government importing electricity at high prices. With Europe going through an energy crisis and various member countries taking necessary measures, Kosovo has opted to ban cryptocurrency mining. (“Kosovo bans cryptocurrency mining after blackouts,” BBC, 05 January 2021)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
France: Macron targets negotiation on digital acts between the European Commission and Parliament
On 06 January, the first meeting of the 27 EU Commissioners took place in Paris. According to French President Emmanuel Macron: “the French presidency must be a moment of truth for the regulation and accountability of digital platforms, the carbon pricing at European borders on imported products, minimum wages, and our relationship with Africa.” As part of France’s digital agenda for Europe, Paris plans to negotiate the proposal of the European Commission on Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) with the European Parliament. While DSA targets disinformation, murky advertising practices and illegal content, the DMA targets MNC’s from manipulating their power in digital forums. According to Europe Policy Analyst Eliska Pirkova: “We can expect the French presidency to focus on reinforcing measures to combat illegal content online, safeguarding due diligence measures as well as on pushing for strong centralized enforcement of the future DSA regulation.” (Jack Parrock, “France aims at Big Tech as it kicks off EU presidency,” Deutsche Welle, 05 January 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the US, discusses Ukraine with Blinken
On 05 January, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met in Washington. Regarding the military developments along the Ukrainian border, the US has recommended its European allies to impose further sanctions on Russia. According to Blinken: “Strong trans-Atlantic solidarity is the most effective response and most effective tool that we have in countering Russian aggression.” Baerbock commented after the meeting that it is impossible to arrive at an alternative for a political solution. Although the new coalition supports the joint statement against Russia that was signed by the previous government with Washington, it is yet to disclose the sanctions to be imposed on the Kremlin if an invasion occurs. (Simon Lewis and Madeline Chambers, “Blinken, German minister reiterate warning to Russia over Ukraine,” Reuters, 06 January 2022)
Russia: Russian “peacekeeping forces” to quell Kazakhstan protests
On 05 January, the Armenian Prime Minister and Chairman of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikol Pashinyan stated that a Russian-led alliance of “peacekeeping forces” would be dispatched to the region. The announcement came as a response to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s appeal for troops to “stabilize” the country. Meanwhile, Interfaxreported Russian MP Leonid Kalashnikov to have added that the forces would remain in the region “for as long as the president of Kazakhstan believes it necessary”. Tokayev stated: “Almaty was attacked, destroyed, vandalised, the residents of Almaty became victims of attacks by terrorists, bandits, therefore it is our duty … to take all possible actions to protect our state.” According to the Belta news agency, Tokayev consulted with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian head Vladimir Putin. The violent protests followed a steep hike in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices. (Shaun Walker and Naubet Bisenov, “Shots heard in Kazakhstan as protests enter third day,” The Guardian, 06 January 2022; Shaun Walker and Naubet Bisenov, “Kazakhstan protests: Moscow-led alliance sends 'peacekeeping forces',” The Guardian, 05 January 2022; “Kazakhstan unrest: Government calls for Russian help,” BBC, 06 January 2022; “Armenia says peacekeepers from Russian-led alliance to go to Kazakhstan,” Reuters, 06 January 2022)
Serbia: US Treasury sanctions Dodik for “attempts to threaten the stability of the region”
On 05 January, Deutsche Welle reported the US Treasury Department to have imposed sanctions on the Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik claiming he “improperly used his position to amass riches through a patronage system of bribery and graft”. The department’s Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson was quoted as saying: “Milorad Dodik's destabilizing corrupt activities and attempts to dismantle the Dayton Peace Accords, motivated by his own self-interest, threaten the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region.” The sanctions will be manifested via reporting, freezing, and blocking of those US assets that the Dodik owns; US citizens and companies will also be prohibited from trading with them. However, Dodik seemed least concerned about the move. He was quoted saying: “If they think that they will discipline me like this, they are grossly mistaken… I do not intend to apply for a visa for America even if my sanctions are lifted tomorrow.” (“US sanctions Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik over corruption,” Deutsche Welle, 05 January 2022; Julian Borger, “US sanctions Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik for 'destabilizing activities',” The Guardian, 05 January 2022)
Lithuania: Taiwan steps in with EUR 176 million fund to reduce Chinese economic pressure
On 05 January, Taiwan announced that it would establish a EUR 176 million (USD 200 million) fund to invest in the semiconductor, laser and biotechnology industries of Lithuania. The investment comes in the backdrop of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda terming the establishment of a Taiwan representative office in Vilnius under the name of “Taiwan” instead of the Beijing-approved “Taipei”. Nauseda’s statement was a result of the excessive economic pressure that China was putting on Lithuania. The Taiwanese investment hopes to reverse or reduce the pressure from Beijing. Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tseng Hou-jen was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying: “It's time for us to help with your difficulties… China's action seems to have targeted what it perceives as a vulnerable country, for its political gains. But giving in is not the best way in dealing with bullies.” (“Taiwan to establish $200 million Lithuania investment fund,” Deutsche Welle, 05 January 2022; “Taiwan setting up $200m Lithuania fund amid China row,” BBC, 06 January 2022)