En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
The Czech authorities are continuing to place Romani children in schools for pupils with "mild mental disabilities", leaving them with a sub-standard education, Amnesty International said in a report published on Wednesday. ... Amnesty International's report, Injustice renamed: Discrimination in education of Roma persists in the Czech Republic, examines the systematic discrimination that still exists in the Czech education system, despite a 2007 judgment by the European Court of Human Rights. ... With a new Schools Act in 2005, the Czech authorities merely renamed "special schools" as "practical elementary schools", but the system which places children in these schools and teaches a limited curriculum, essentially remains the same.
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Amnesty International's report, Injustice renamed: Discrimination in education of Roma persists in the Czech Republic, examines the systematic discrimination that still exists in the Czech education system, despite a 2007 judgment by the European Court of Human Rights.
With a new Schools Act in 2005, the Czech authorities merely renamed "special schools" as "practical elementary schools", but the system which places children in these schools and teaches a limited curriculum, essentially remains the same.
After the hearing, representatives of the main political groups agreed to ask the commission - the EU's executive - and their own legal service for confirmation that Jeleva's declaration was in line with EU transparency rules, effectively freezing her application. ... [Martin Schulz's request that Bulgaria withdraw Jeleva] provoked a bitter response from conservative politicians, who described the dispute as a liberal and left-wing 'witch-hunt' and launched their own attacks on liberal and socialist candidates. ... Szajer said that his party was seriously worried by anti-Roma remarks allegedly made by the centre-left Slovak candidate for the post of commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic, in 2005.
[Martin Schulz's request that Bulgaria withdraw Jeleva] provoked a bitter response from conservative politicians, who described the dispute as a liberal and left-wing 'witch-hunt' and launched their own attacks on liberal and socialist candidates.
Szajer said that his party was seriously worried by anti-Roma remarks allegedly made by the centre-left Slovak candidate for the post of commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic, in 2005.
A Bulgarian liberal MEP, Antonyia Parvanova, disputed Ms Jeleva's declaration that she had ended her involvement with the Bulgarian firm Global Consult in 2007. Ms Parvanova claims she was still managing the company until 2009. Any undeclared financial interest would put Ms Jeleva in breach of European Union rules.
Ms Parvanova claims she was still managing the company until 2009.
Any undeclared financial interest would put Ms Jeleva in breach of European Union rules.
She denied several times that an official statement outlining her career was incomplete for the years 2007 to 2009. A political opponent at home in Bulgaria, Antonyia Parvanova, said at the hearing that the information that E.U. lawmakers had heard from Ms. Jeleva was "not the truth." Ms. Jeleva rejected the assertion, saying that all of her documentation "can be checked and will be found to be in compliance with Bulgarian law."
A political opponent at home in Bulgaria, Antonyia Parvanova, said at the hearing that the information that E.U. lawmakers had heard from Ms. Jeleva was "not the truth."
Ms. Jeleva rejected the assertion, saying that all of her documentation "can be checked and will be found to be in compliance with Bulgarian law."
European Parliament exercises its role as democratic watchdog
Turkey has accepted an official apology from Israel over the treatment of its ambassador, with the Israeli prime minister expressing the hope it would end the latest row between the two countries. Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister, embarrassed Oguz Celikkol, the Turkish envoy, on Monday, making him sit on a low couch and removing the Turkish flag from the table in a meeting called to convey Israeli protests over a Turkish television series.
Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister, embarrassed Oguz Celikkol, the Turkish envoy, on Monday, making him sit on a low couch and removing the Turkish flag from the table in a meeting called to convey Israeli protests over a Turkish television series.
The ministers for Europe of the 27 member states are meeting today and tomorrow in La Granja (Segovia) to deal with issues that the Spanish government believes need to be progressed by leading European politicians if citizens' expectations created by the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force on December 1 last year after a long negotiation process, are to be met. The full application of the new Treaty is one of the Spanish Presidency's main responsibilities. European citizens need to feel that the EU has entered a new era as soon as possible. The first ministerial meeting being held under the Spanish Presidency will therefore tackle this issue. During Wednesday's meetings, the ministers will deal with four issues in particular, which have been newly introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon.
The full application of the new Treaty is one of the Spanish Presidency's main responsibilities. European citizens need to feel that the EU has entered a new era as soon as possible. The first ministerial meeting being held under the Spanish Presidency will therefore tackle this issue.
During Wednesday's meetings, the ministers will deal with four issues in particular, which have been newly introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon.
Spain wants to start working on a new Community directive on cross-border medical assistance, after the initial proposal from the European Commission was blocked last December, according to the Spanish Minister of Health, Trinidad Jiménez. Nevertheless, until the new European Health Commissioner - which should be Malta's nominee John Dalli - starts to act "and comments on the matter", the Spanish Presidency "cannot make progress on this issue either", she pointed out. Spain wants the alternative proposal to improve the rights of Community nationals without being overly costly to the public health system.
Nevertheless, until the new European Health Commissioner - which should be Malta's nominee John Dalli - starts to act "and comments on the matter", the Spanish Presidency "cannot make progress on this issue either", she pointed out.
Spain wants the alternative proposal to improve the rights of Community nationals without being overly costly to the public health system.
The Czech Republic's Stefan Fuele, the incoming enlargement chief, told European lawmakers in Brussels that Turkey could become a full EU member during his tenure. He told a committee vetting his candidacy that he "respects the achievements" Turkey has made, saying Ankara is an important regional partner with a special role to play in the European energy sector. ... Turkey embarked on its accession negotiations with the European Union in 2005. Ankara has moved on a series of concessions meant to meet the policy requirements to join Europe. It faces obstacles, however, on various provisions over the island of Cyprus.
He told a committee vetting his candidacy that he "respects the achievements" Turkey has made, saying Ankara is an important regional partner with a special role to play in the European energy sector.
Turkey embarked on its accession negotiations with the European Union in 2005. Ankara has moved on a series of concessions meant to meet the policy requirements to join Europe. It faces obstacles, however, on various provisions over the island of Cyprus.
The Czech Republic's candidate for the European Commission successfully completed his hearing in front of the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, despite fears that his communist past might lead some deputies to question his appointment. Stefan Fuele was nominated as Enlargement and Neighbourhood policy commissioner. He was only 27 when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, but between 1981 and 1986 he trained in the Soviet Union at Moscow's State Institute of International Relations, and he was an active member of the Czechoslovakian communist party. Fuele, now a socialist, told members of parliament (MEP) that his personal history is 'a result of the time and place I grew up in.' But he added that his 'record in the last 20 years,' which he spent as a diplomat at the UN, in Lithuania, the Britain and NATO representing Czechoslovakia first and then the Czech Republic, 'is clear.'
Stefan Fuele was nominated as Enlargement and Neighbourhood policy commissioner. He was only 27 when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, but between 1981 and 1986 he trained in the Soviet Union at Moscow's State Institute of International Relations, and he was an active member of the Czechoslovakian communist party.
Fuele, now a socialist, told members of parliament (MEP) that his personal history is 'a result of the time and place I grew up in.' But he added that his 'record in the last 20 years,' which he spent as a diplomat at the UN, in Lithuania, the Britain and NATO representing Czechoslovakia first and then the Czech Republic, 'is clear.'
Stefan Fuele, who has been nominated as the EU's enlargement chief, said the door was open to Turkey despite opposition in some member states and that accession talks were the best way to encourage economic and political reforms. But he made clear the chances of progress by Turkey were limited if it failed to open its ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus under a 2005 agreement known as the Ankara protocol. ... The EU is also frustrated, mainly by the lack of progress in Turkey's relations with Cyprus, although Fuele said he also had concerns about religious freedoms in Turkey.
But he made clear the chances of progress by Turkey were limited if it failed to open its ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus under a 2005 agreement known as the Ankara protocol.
The EU is also frustrated, mainly by the lack of progress in Turkey's relations with Cyprus, although Fuele said he also had concerns about religious freedoms in Turkey.
The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, a measure adopted by Denmark which provides a state guarantee on non-life insurance against damages stemming from nuclear, biological, chemical or radioactive (NBCR) terrorist attacks that exceed a certain threshold. The Commission found that the measure was an appropriate means of ensuring that insurance coverage against NBCR risks would be available in Denmark and approved the measure under Article 107 3 (c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), that allows under certain conditions aid for the development of certain economic activities. In particular, the measure is designed to be self-funding and concerns insurance cover that is currently insufficiently available on the private market. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "Today's decision shows that the Commission and Member States can work together on important public policy goals. The decision will ensure that insurance coverage against certain terrorist risks is available on the Danish market, while at the same time ensuring that state aid and Single Market rules are respected." Denmark considers it an important public policy goal that Danish citizens and enterprises have access to insurance against NBCR risks. However, the global reinsurance market for low probability but high impact events such as a NBCR attack is underdeveloped and as a result there is insufficient reinsurance capacity for Danish insurers that wish to provide this cover in Denmark.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "Today's decision shows that the Commission and Member States can work together on important public policy goals. The decision will ensure that insurance coverage against certain terrorist risks is available on the Danish market, while at the same time ensuring that state aid and Single Market rules are respected."
Denmark considers it an important public policy goal that Danish citizens and enterprises have access to insurance against NBCR risks. However, the global reinsurance market for low probability but high impact events such as a NBCR attack is underdeveloped and as a result there is insufficient reinsurance capacity for Danish insurers that wish to provide this cover in Denmark.
Viviane Reding said the use in the EU of body-scanning equipment made by such companies as the U.K.'s Smiths Group Plc and New York-based L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. should be voluntary. "Our needs for security can't justify every violation of privacy," Reding told a European Parliament confirmation hearing today in Brussels. "Citizens aren't objects; they are human beings." She also mentioned possible health threats from the technology. The comments highlight the obstacles to forging a common approach in the 27-nation EU on the use of body scanners after the failed terrorist attack on a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. The U.K. has conducted trials of such equipment and France said last week that it would start testing the technology.
"Our needs for security can't justify every violation of privacy," Reding told a European Parliament confirmation hearing today in Brussels. "Citizens aren't objects; they are human beings." She also mentioned possible health threats from the technology.
The comments highlight the obstacles to forging a common approach in the 27-nation EU on the use of body scanners after the failed terrorist attack on a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. The U.K. has conducted trials of such equipment and France said last week that it would start testing the technology.
Remember Sir Ian Blair, the laughable policeman, the man who did for public confidence in the police what his namesake did for the trustworthiness of politicians? He's not happy with the European Court of Human Rights' ruling against the "stop and search" powers exercised with such gay abandon by his officers:I find it difficult to reconcile the decision of the European court of human rights that police powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are unlawful with the rather common sense matter of the wider duty of governments to protect their citizens from atrocity.Let me help. Protecting citizens from atrocity and demanding that Austrian tourists hand over their holiday snaps because some plod wants to preserve the modesty of a bus shelter are two entirely different things. Unfortunately, the law is so broadly worded - in particular, the provision that a police officer (or pseudo-officer) doesn't need to have any grounds for believing that the person searched has about their person anything of use for "terrorist purpose" - that it is wide open to abuse. And your officers (and pseudo-officers) have repeatedly abused it. That has to cast some doubt on the wisdom of there being such a wide-ranging law in the first place.
Remember Sir Ian Blair, the laughable policeman, the man who did for public confidence in the police what his namesake did for the trustworthiness of politicians? He's not happy with the European Court of Human Rights' ruling against the "stop and search" powers exercised with such gay abandon by his officers:
I find it difficult to reconcile the decision of the European court of human rights that police powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are unlawful with the rather common sense matter of the wider duty of governments to protect their citizens from atrocity.
Police found explosives and weapons in a van as they arrested two of the suspects near Portugal's border with Spain, Spain's interior minister said. The other two were picked up in central France. They were caught with weapons, false number plates and fake documents, officials said. ... Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said the operation that culminated in the arrests near Clermont-Ferrand in France had been started by French authorities several months ago, triggered by a concentration of vehicle thefts attributed to Eta.
The other two were picked up in central France. They were caught with weapons, false number plates and fake documents, officials said.
Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said the operation that culminated in the arrests near Clermont-Ferrand in France had been started by French authorities several months ago, triggered by a concentration of vehicle thefts attributed to Eta.
