Photo : BBC
NIAS Europe Daily Brief #21, 26 October 2021, Tuesday
IN FOCUS
By Vaishnavi Iyer
Italy: Ex-interior minister on trial for denying docking of humanitarian ship
Matteo Salvini, Italy's former hardliner interior minister, is on trial for refusing to allow a migrant rescue ship to dock in August 2019. The leader of Italy's right-wing League party is accused of abducting 147 migrants stranded on the humanitarian ship Open Arms. For 18 days, the migrants were stranded on the boat. The ship carried twenty-three civilians, a Spanish NGO called Open Arms, and nine migrants. The indictment of Salvini was made possible by a Senate vote that removed the former minister's parliamentary immunity, allowing for a trial. If convicted, he may face up to 15 years in prison. Actor Richard Gere was onboard the ship and has agreed to appear as a witness. Luciana Lamorgese, Salvini's successor, and Luigi di Maio, the current foreign minister, are among the other witnesses. Guiseppe Conte has been called as a witness in the trial by Salvini. To add to his defence, Salvini's argument in keeping migrants in Catania had previously been dismissed. However, the prosecution has rejected this, claiming that Salvini's actions in Catania were justified by government policy.
Activists are hopeful that the court case will create a legal precedent that will serve as a deterrent to nations that obstruct search-and-rescue activities in the Mediterranean. The trial might have enormous ramifications for Italian politics, either putting an end to Salvini's political career or providing a platform for him to reverse a polling fall and fend off far-right competitors.
Response from the defence and prosecution
Salvini responded that he was “protecting the country”. He attributed his efforts to decline docking the ship to his “closed ports” policy. He tweeted defending that it was the “sacred duty” of every citizen. “I’m going on trial for this, for having defended my country? I’ll go with my head held high”. "Now tell me how serious a trial is if Richard Gere comes from Hollywood to testify on how bad I am," he said. He condemned the trial, saying it was wanted by the left and supporters of illegal immigration. "You tell me how serious a trial it is," Salvini said outside the courthouse, "where Richard Gere will come from Hollywood to testify against my nastiness." ""I hope it lasts as short a time as possible because there are more important things to take care of.”
Prosecution has accused Salvini of abuse of power, dereliction of duty and kidnapping of the migrants even as the conditions on board worsened. The stated: “international conventions governing maritime rescue and, more generally, the protection of human life” were violated by Salvini. The minister also ignored orders from the PM’s office directing him to allow disembarking of the ship.
What does this mean for Italian politics and Salvini’s future?
First, the trial has not attracted much attention to the issue or Salvini’s popularity. The public seems fatigued with an incident that happened two years ago. This also reflects Salvini’s declining standing. After hoping to trigger a snap election, Salvini’s leadership is in crisis after being taken over by another far right wing - Brothers of Italy. Only in the event of a non-guilty verdict would Salvini be able to redeem his political fortunes.
Second, discussion of EU’s migration policies. Both Open Arms and Salvini have spoken against harsh EU migration policy ahead of the proceedings. While Salvini appealed to the larger public sentiment of anti-immigration, Open Arms condemned the “deadly” EU migration policy that has cost many innocent lives in the Mediterranean. The minister also appealed to the larger audience that feels “abandoned” by the EU and described humanitarian rescue ships as encouraging migrant traffickers in North Africa. More than 1 million refugees have entered Europe since 2015. The EU has entered into a pact with Turkey to limit migration and has called upon France to regulate entry at the English Channel. More attempts seem to be made to curb and limit migration than address the consequences of migration. Thus, the trial will serve a larger purpose of discussing policy implications and state response to migration.
References
Miriam Berger, “Italy’s ex-interior minister is on trial for blocking a migrant boat from docking. Actor Richard Gere is a witness,” The Washington Post, 24 October 2021.
Angela Giuffrida, “Matteo Salvini objects to Richard Gere as witness in kidnap trial,” The Guardian, 23 October 2021.
“Salvini’s moment has passed: Fading right-wing champion on trial for blocking migrants at sea,” France 24, 23 October 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Joeana Cera Matthews and Padmashree Anandan
AUSTRIA
Government set to legalize assisted suicides
On 23 October, the Austrian federal chancellery released a statement announcing the government’s submission of a draft law that would legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill adults. Last December, a Constitutional Court ruling had suggested that it was unconstitutional to ban assisted suicide since it violated a person’s right to self-determination. The statement issued by the chancellery read: “Seriously ill people should have access to assisted suicide.” According to the proposed law, the patient would require attestations from two consulting doctors, approving the decision-making capability of the patient. (“Austrian government proposes law to legalise assisted suicide,” Reuters, 23 October 2021)
GERMANY
Risky playgrounds to raise kids to face the real-world
On 24 October, The Guardian reported the case of playgrounds in Germany being built to let children learn from their falls, assisting them later in life. The Triitopia playground in Northern Berlin, has been installed with lofty climbing frames that have a maximum fall height of 1.8 metres; it is every overprotective parent’s worst nightmare. Such playgrounds aim to reduce the safety measures in place, essentially helping children face real world situations on a regular basis, even if it means breaking a bone. Karlsruhe University of Education’s Prof Rolf Schwarz commented: “If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come in contact with risk.” Ironically enough, it is Germany’s risk-aversion techniques, which imply strict standard policies, that has resulted in its increased risk-accepting capabilities. Soon enough, similar playgrounds are expected to be constructed by the UK and the US. (Philip Olterman, “Learning the ropes: why Germany is building risk into its playgrounds,” The Guardian, 24 October 2021)
TURKEY
Tensions ease as Erdogan reverts the decision to ban ambassadors
Tensions between Turkey, the US and other Western countries eased after the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's threat to ban ambassadors was taken back. The dispute sparked when the embassies of the US, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden issued a statement calling for the release of Osman Kavala. Erdogan reversed the decision after the involved countries released a statement, assuring that they would not interfere in Turkey’s domestic affairs. The issue is said to be settled for now. (“Turkey dispute with US eases after threat to expel envoys,” BBC, 26 October 2021; “Turkey’s Erdogan U-turns on threat to expel Western ambassadors,” France24, 25 October 2021)
REGIONAL
Poland: EU condemns Morawiecki’s usage of World War terminology
On 25 October, the EU strongly criticized Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s remarks during an interview with the Financial Times. Morawiecki suggested that the EU withholding the pandemic recovery funds and imposing sanctions on Poland likened itself to a World War III situation. In response to this, the European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer said: “(the EU) was a project that very successfully contributed to establishing a lasting peace among its member states… (there is) no place for rhetoric referring to war.” Morawiecki’s interview also had him reiterating that Poland was going to remain strong in the face of a deadly opposition. He said: “If they start the third world war, we are going to defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal.” However, the Polish government’s spokesperson Piotr Muller appealed to not take Morawiecki’s comments in its literal sense. (“EU calls out Polish 'war rhetoric' in dispute over judicial reforms,” Deutsche Welle, 25 October 2021)
Kramp-Karrenbauer comments on EU-NATO security
On 21 October, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said to her European counterparts: “Forget your lofty ideas about the Continent defending itself and get real.” Although some European leaders have professed the muddled US-led withdrawal from Afghanistan, it showed that Europe needed to function more independently in reference to its military. Kramp-Karrenbauer argued that the debacle demonstrated the need for closer and more effective military cooperation between Europe and the US. She also urged the ministers of NATO to engage in a debate on how capabilities of the European allies could develop to be more effective. (Florian Eder and Laurenz Gehrke, “German defense minister warns Europeans: Don’t detach from NATO,” POLITICO, 21 October 2021; “EU defense ambitions should not 'duplicate' NATO: Stoltenberg,” Deutsche Welle, 22 October 2021)
CLIMATE CHANGE
In a bid to rethink climate policy, NGOs urge fossil fuel companies to be treated like the tobacco industry
A group of NGOs, on discovering that fossil fuel producers enjoyed hundreds of meetings with Brussels’ decision makers since the Paris climate agreement, proposed that oil and gas companies should be treated like the tobacco industry and denied routine meetings with the EU officials. According to the researchers, 70 former government ministers and other public officials work for these oil and gas companies, which the NGOs say allows the energy firms to benefit from the “knowhow and contact books of insiders”. Myriam Douo, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, suggested that the policymakers must follow the World Health Organization’s framework convention on tobacco control guidelines for the same. (Jennifer Rankin, “Shun fossil fuel firms by treating them like tobacco industry, EU urged,” The Guardian, 25 October 2021)
BREXIT
EU research programme Horizon Europe funding affected
The ongoing dispute on the Northern Ireland protocol, has led to scientists from the UK being “frozen out” of the GBP 80 billion EU research programme, Horizon Europe. The European Commission assured that the UK was being treated like a full associate member of Horizon, but was in effect being locked out because of funding for the UK participants. David Frost expressed his concern over Brussels’ delay in ratifying the UK’s participation in the research programme which was affecting their scientists’ position in pan-European research endeavours. (Lisa O'Carroll, “British scientists being ‘frozen out’ of EU research due to NI row, claims MP,” The Guardian, 25 October 2021; Lisa O'Carroll and Patrick Wintour, “David Frost says EU close to breaching Brexit deal over science programme,” The Guardian, 25 October 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
President Emmanuel Macron denounces Sudanese coup attempt
On 25 October, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the coup attempt in Sudan and called for the immediate release of the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, along with the Sovereign Council’s civilian members and other government officials. The soldiers belonging to Sudan’s cabinet have also been arrested. Hamdok was detained for not issuing a statement in support of the coup. In a statement sent to Reuters, Sudan’s information ministry called on Sudanese “to block the military's movements to block the democratic transition.” The EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel, after condemning Hamdok’s arrest, stated: “We call on the security forces to immediately release those they have unlawfully detained.” (Sabine Siebold, “EU demands immediate release of Sudanese leader, cabinet members,” Reuters, 25 October 2021; “French President Macron calls for immediate release of Sudan Prime Minister,” Reuters, 25 October 2021)