Photo : DW/ Heikki Saukkomaa
13 July 2024, Saturday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #884
By Neha Tresa George
FRANCE
Four migrants reported dead off the coast of Boulogne sur Mer
On 12 July, Deutsche Welle reported that four migrants drowned in the Channel off Boulogne sur Mer along the northern coast, citing the French maritime authorities. According to them, the migrants were trying to enter Britain overnight. After receiving an alert, it was reported that a naval patrol vessel reached the area to rescue the fallen people. Although four people were found dead, several were rescued alive. According to the statements of a spokesperson for France’s coastguard, out of the 67 people on board the vessel, 63 were rescued with four ships and a helicopter. (“France: 4 migrants drown in the English Channel,” Deutsche Welle, 12 July 2024)
FINLAND
Parliament passes legislation to curb migrants
On 12 July, the Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta) voted for new legislation to curb the increase in asylum seekers at its eastern borders. The law came due to the dramatic surge of migrants from countries such as Somalia and Syria in Finland through its 1,340-kilometre border with Russia in the previous year. Finland accuses Russia of “weaponising migration” and the “hybrid attacks” which it claims to be the response to its alliance with NATO. Out of the lawmakers, 167 voted in favour of the legislation while 31 voted against it indicating human rights violations. The act awaits the approval of Alexander Stubb, Finland's President, and will be valid for one year. According to Petteri Orpo, Finnish Prime Minister, the vote was instrumental in providing a strong message to Russia and their allies to secure Finland’s position on its security. Once the act comes into effect, only children or people with disabilities will be eligible to seek protection. (“Finland passes bill to stop migrants at border,” Deutsche Welle, 13 July, 2024)
HUNGARY
Prime Minister meets Donald Trump to discuss peace
On 12 July, Deutsche Welle reported on the meeting between Viktor Orban, Hungarian President, and Donald Trump, former US President. The meeting was part of Orban’s self-proclaimed "peace mission" to end the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The meeting happened at Trump’s beachside Mar-a-Lago estate where both seemed to have discussed ways to make peace. Orban made several visits to meet the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and China to stabilise the relations between Russia and Ukraine. However, his trip to Russia and China was disapproved by the Western allies. The EU also criticised Orban’s meeting with Trump as they claimed that it would not help Ukraine. They were also apprehensive about the impression of the West being divided. (“Hungary's Orban meets Trump on 'peace mission',” Deutsche Welle, 12 July 2024)
THE UK
Labour Party positions its foreign policy to be more Eurocentric
On 12 July, POLITICO reported on the new foreign policy pursued by Keir Starmer, the UK’s new Prime Minister. At the NATO summit, Joe Biden, the USA's President expressed his approval of Starmer's recent comments on establishing closer ties with the EU. According to his statements, “I kind of see you guys as the knot tying the transatlantic alliance together, the closer you are with Europe, the more you’re engaged.” Although Starmer’s plan to shift the UK’s position to a more Eurocentric position was part of the Labour Party’s policy, he seemed to be rapidly advancing his policies. While the leader was reluctant to express his views about Brexit or the UK’s future, he seemed keen to bring the UK and EU closer together as his primary foreign policy objective. At the top of his agenda was the UK-EU defence pact to make it easier for British and European defence firms to cooperate. According to John Healey, the UK’s Defence Secretary, Britain was also keen to be closely involved in Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) — the EU’s defence policy project. (“The Tories are gone — and Britain is moving closer to Europe again,” Politico, 12 July 2024)
REGIONAL
EU accuses platform X for breaching the Digital Services Act
On 12 July, POLITICO reported that the EU accused Elon Musk’s social media site X for disrespecting the EU social media law. The platform was formally charged with encouraging disinformation and illegal hate speech, misleading authentication features and blocking external researchers from checking on the malignant contents. The site would be charged with a multi-million euro fine under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). In the bloc’s first stage of investigation against X, it was found that its blue-check policies were untrustworthy and misled users. Although the checks were created to verify the accounts of government officials, public figures and journalists, the new policy initiated by Musk allowed users to buy the blue-check accounts. The platform was also condemned for not providing very limited access to its public data to the researchers. The European Commission informed on its continued probe into the breach of rules by platform X. The EU has launched an investigation against companies like AliExpress, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram and TikTok so far. (Clothilde Goujard, “EU charges Elon Musk’s X for letting disinfo run wild,” POLITICO, 12 July 2024)