News of Europe | 13/2023

Dear Federalists readers,

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European Parliament Roberta Metsola wants to have Ukraine's accession talks to start by the end of the year. "If Ukraine and Moldova are ready, accession negotiations should be able to start progressively,” she said last week

Migration crisis. EU ministers for Home affairs met in Brussels last week to discuss a compromise on the migrant crisis regulation. Before the meeting, Germany agreed to the regulation and opened the way to an adoption by a qualified majority. The law was the last piece of the Migration and Asylum Pact, a package aimed at regulating the influx of migrants Europe experiences. Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic opposed the pact over concerns that it was not strict enough.

Meanwhile, France's Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to Italy's Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders agreed on a common line ahead of the vote at the Council on the migration deal. The Elysée reported that “Member States cannot tackle the migration issue alone. [Giorgia] Meloni has really opted for a coordinated European approach, and that is a very concrete and important signal [sic].”

Spain is still waiting for a government after this summer's elections. EEP-affiliated Alberto Núñez Feijóo failed to secure enough votes to become the country's Prime Minister. Pedro Sanchez remains in charge of the caretaker government, which also ensures the rotating Presidency of the European Union.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted on 20 September an own-initiative opinion on Civil society support and funding in the area of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy. The report reasserts the key role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in democracy.

The UEF's Political Commission on Foreign Affairs & Security (PC3) and on Digitalisation, Climate & Biodiversity (PC5), are proud to invite you to their joint debate on AI, Cybersecurity, and Democracy.
Connect on Friday 6 October at 17:30 to debate with Brando Benifei MEP, Rapporteur on AI regulation, Eva Lichtenberger, former MEP and Vice-President of UEF Austria, and Knut André Sande, Member of the Executive Board of JEF-Europe. Register here.

Don't forget the Spinelli Group debate on Treaty change live from the European Parliament on Tuesday 3 October. Follow live on Webex.

Thank you for your continuous readership. Let us know what you think of News of Europe at this link.

Federalist regards,

Alexandre Météreau
on behalf of the UEF Secretariat