The British and French foreign ministers are to miss special talks with their EU counterparts on Sunday to discuss Donald Trump&#39;s stunning US election win in a sign of divisions over how to deal with the new president.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini summoned the ministers for dinner in Brussels after Republican Trump stormed to victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton on a platform which questioned America&#39;s commitment to Europe.

But British foreign minister Boris Johnson will not attend the meeting which is seen in some quarters as unnecessarily casting doubt on the result of an election in the country that has been closely allied to Europe for decades.

&quot;We do not see the need for an additional meeting on Sunday because the US election timetable is long established,&quot; a British foreign office spokesman said, adding that Johnson would attend a scheduled full meeting of ministers on Monday.

&quot;An act of democracy has taken place, there is a transition period and we will work with the current and future administrations to ensure the best outcomes for Britain.&quot;

Britain will be seeking the incoming Trump administration&#39;s backing as it negotiates its exit from the EU following June&#39;s Brexit referendum vote.

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will meanwhile be &quot;absent for agenda reasons&quot;, a French source told AFP, although his absence from a crucial meeting called by the EU&#39;s own foreign policy chief will also raise questions.&nbsp;

Britain and France will instead be represented by their ambassadors to the EU.

Trump&#39;s victory has already been greeted coolly by a bloc shaken by Brexit and other crises, with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warning the billionaire president-elect he must get up to speed quickly on transatlantic ties. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Mr Trump, during his campaign, said that Belgium was a village somewhere in Europe,&quot; Juncker said Friday. &quot;I believe we&#39;ll have two years of wasted time while Mr Trump tours a world he doesn&#39;t know.&quot;

Juncker also said that Trump had called NATO into question, which could have &quot;harmful consequences&quot; because it is the model of Europe&#39;s defence.

Trump&#39;s lack of solid foreign policy priorities has however kept everyone guessing.

One European diplomat said: &quot;I have not had anyone teary on my shoulder - but everyone is saying &#39;what does it mean&#39; and everyone is trying to interpret it.&quot;

&#39;Warning sign&#39;

Trump has also sought to reach out to US allies since his election win, with phone calls to British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Francois Hollande among others.

But in a sign of the concern that Trump&#39;s victory has caused in Europe, outgoing US President Barack Obama is himself set to meet Merkel, May and Hollande in the wake of Trump&#39;s victory.

Trump&#39;s coolness on Europe and accusations of sexism and racism during the campaign have caused nervousness throughout a bloc dealing with the migration crisis, a stalled economy and a resurgent Russia on its eastern border.

Donald Tusk, the EU president and former Polish premier, warned this week that the events of 2016 were a &quot;warning sign for all who believe in liberal democracy&quot;, and urged Europe to &quot;finally get our act together&quot;.&nbsp;

But Trump&#39;s win is also being seen by some in the European Union as a chance to push ahead with projects of its own in a bid to build unity in the wake of the shock of Brexit.

On Monday, the foreign ministers will discuss plans to boost defence cooperation - a move that Britain had long blocked - including a controversial proposal for a European military headquarters.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Boris Johnson and Jean-Marc Ayrault's decision to not attend the EU meeting is a sign of concern that Trump's victory has caused in Europe

The British and French foreign ministers are to miss special talks with their EU counterparts on Sunday to discuss Donald Trump's stunning US election win in a sign of divisions over how to deal with the new president. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini summoned the ministers for dinner in Brussels after Republican Trump stormed to victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton on a platform which questioned America's commitment to Europe. But British foreign minister Boris Johnson will not attend the meeting which is seen in some quarters as unnecessarily casting doubt on the result of an election in the country that has been closely allied to Europe for decades. "We do not see the need for an additional meeting on Sunday because the US election timetable is long established," a British foreign office spokesman said, adding that Johnson would attend a scheduled full meeting of ministers on Monday. "An act of democracy has taken place, there is a transition period and we will work with the current and future administrations to ensure the best outcomes for Britain." Britain will be seeking the incoming Trump administration's backing as it negotiates its exit from the EU following June's Brexit referendum vote. French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will meanwhile be "absent for agenda reasons", a French source told AFP, although his absence from a crucial meeting called by the EU's own foreign policy chief will also raise questions. Britain and France will instead be represented by their ambassadors to the EU. Trump's victory has already been greeted coolly by a bloc shaken by Brexit and other crises, with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warning the billionaire president-elect he must get up to speed quickly on transatlantic ties. "Mr Trump, during his campaign, said that Belgium was a village somewhere in Europe," Juncker said Friday. "I believe we'll have two years of wasted time while Mr Trump tours a world he doesn't know." Juncker also said that Trump had called NATO into question, which could have "harmful consequences" because it is the model of Europe's defence. Trump's lack of solid foreign policy priorities has however kept everyone guessing. One European diplomat said: "I have not had anyone teary on my shoulder - but everyone is saying 'what does it mean' and everyone is trying to interpret it." 'Warning sign' Trump has also sought to reach out to US allies since his election win, with phone calls to British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Francois Hollande among others. But in a sign of the concern that Trump's victory has caused in Europe, outgoing US President Barack Obama is himself set to meet Merkel, May and Hollande in the wake of Trump's victory. Trump's coolness on Europe and accusations of sexism and racism during the campaign have caused nervousness throughout a bloc dealing with the migration crisis, a stalled economy and a resurgent Russia on its eastern border. Donald Tusk, the EU president and former Polish premier, warned this week that the events of 2016 were a "warning sign for all who believe in liberal democracy", and urged Europe to "finally get our act together". But Trump's win is also being seen by some in the European Union as a chance to push ahead with projects of its own in a bid to build unity in the wake of the shock of Brexit. On Monday, the foreign ministers will discuss plans to boost defence cooperation - a move that Britain had long blocked - including a controversial proposal for a European military headquarters. (AFP)

British, French ministers snub EU talks on Trump

Having spent his football career at centre-forward, Gary Lineker&#39;s outspoken stance in the aftermath of Britain&#39;s Brexit referendum has seen him proclaimed as the country&#39;s most prominent left-winger.

Lineker, renowned as English football&#39;s Mr Nice during his playing days, said he was &quot;ashamed of my generation&quot; after Britain voted to leave the European Union on June 23.

He has called people questioning the age of child migrants &quot;hideously racist&quot;, ridiculed Nigel Farage, leader of the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party, and branded America&#39;s new president-elect Donald Trump &quot;a joke&quot;.

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<h5>Lineker&#39;s Twitter posts have been attacked by centre-right tabloid The Sun, which has labelled him a &#39;leftie luvvie&#39; and called for him to lose his high-profile BBC presenting job for not being impartial</h5>
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centre-right tabloid The Sun, which has labelled him a &quot;leftie luvvie&quot; and called for him to lose his high-profile BBC presenting job for not being impartial.

But people have rallied to the former England striker&#39;s defence on social media, with some mischievously dubbing him &quot;the Leader of the Opposition&quot;.

&quot;I didn&#39;t do this to start some sort of campaign, although it&#39;s turned out that way,&quot; Lineker told AFP.

Lineker, who has 5.38 million Twitter followers, describes his politics as &quot;humanitarian&quot;, rather than left-wing, but it has not stopped him becoming an unlikely poster boy for Britain&#39;s centre-left.

The actual leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, is fighting to appease rival factions in the Labour Party and has been criticised for not being more vocal in his attacks on the Conservative government.

&quot;We tend to assume footballers are a bit on the conservative side, or they&#39;re completely stupid and apolitical, and here&#39;s Gary Lineker saying all this,&quot; says Steven Fielding, Professor of Political History at the University of Nottingham.

&quot;You would expect the Labour Party to be taking a lead on that, but no-one&#39;s really paying attention to what the Labour Party&#39;s saying about anything.&quot;

Lineker, 55, was renowned for his squeaky-clean image during a distinguished playing career in which he scored 48 goals for England and did not receive a single booking.

Figurehead

Since retiring in 1994, he has been best known for advertising a popular brand of crisps and fronting the BBC&#39;s long-running &#39;Match of the Day&#39; football highlights programme.

But in Britain&#39;s polarised post-Brexit political climate, his confrontational comments have attracted the ire of the right-wing media, which has begun to publish critical stories about his private life.

The former Leicester City, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur player has described the support he has received on social media as &quot;overwhelming&quot;.

Lineker&#39;s pronouncements are unusual, as British footballers tend to be reluctant to discuss political matters.

Asked how he felt about Brexit on the day the historic result was announced, Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane confessed: &quot;I don&#39;t think any of us know too much about it to comment on it.&quot;

While Britain&#39;s footballers are overwhelmingly drawn from working-class communities, traditionally seen as bastions of Labour support, few openly align themselves with left-wing politics.

One of the rare exceptions, former Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton, described Premier League footballers as &quot;pretty uniformly right wing&quot; in his recent autobiography due to their vast wealth.

Lineker is yet to fully outline his own political views (and politely declined an opportunity to do so for this article), but he has emerged as an improbable figurehead.

&quot;He manages to articulate the nub of the issue in a way that the Labour Party is not doing,&quot; says Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.

&quot;What he has done is give heart to people who voted Remain, sit on the left, are socially liberal and didn&#39;t like the referendum result.

&quot;They&#39;re a decent-sized minority and they feel slightly disenfranchised because they don&#39;t quite know who to vote for. There is no obvious champion. He cheers them up and gives them a bit of hope.&quot;

(AFP)

The former England striker said he was 'ashamed of my generation' after Britain voted to leave the European Union on June 23

Having spent his football career at centre-forward, Gary Lineker's outspoken stance in the aftermath of Britain's Brexit referendum has seen him proclaimed as the country's most prominent left-winger. Lineker, renowned as English football's Mr Nice during his playing days, said he was "ashamed of my generation" after Britain voted to leave the European Union on June 23. He has called people questioning the age of child migrants "hideously racist", ridiculed Nigel Farage, leader of the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party, and branded America's new president-elect Donald Trump "a joke". Lineker's Twitter posts have been attacked by centre-right tabloid The Sun, which has labelled him a 'leftie luvvie' and called for him to lose his high-profile BBC presenting job for not being impartial × centre-right tabloid The Sun, which has labelled him a "leftie luvvie" and called for him to lose his high-profile BBC presenting job for not being impartial. But people have rallied to the former England striker's defence on social media, with some mischievously dubbing him "the Leader of the Opposition". "I didn't do this to start some sort of campaign, although it's turned out that way," Lineker told AFP. Lineker, who has 5.38 million Twitter followers, describes his politics as "humanitarian", rather than left-wing, but it has not stopped him becoming an unlikely poster boy for Britain's centre-left. The actual leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, is fighting to appease rival factions in the Labour Party and has been criticised for not being more vocal in his attacks on the Conservative government. "We tend to assume footballers are a bit on the conservative side, or they're completely stupid and apolitical, and here's Gary Lineker saying all this," says Steven Fielding, Professor of Political History at the University of Nottingham. "You would expect the Labour Party to be taking a lead on that, but no-one's really paying attention to what the Labour Party's saying about anything." Lineker, 55, was renowned for his squeaky-clean image during a distinguished playing career in which he scored 48 goals for England and did not receive a single booking. Figurehead Since retiring in 1994, he has been best known for advertising a popular brand of crisps and fronting the BBC's long-running 'Match of the Day' football highlights programme. But in Britain's polarised post-Brexit political climate, his confrontational comments have attracted the ire of the right-wing media, which has begun to publish critical stories about his private life. The former Leicester City, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur player has described the support he has received on social media as "overwhelming". Lineker's pronouncements are unusual, as British footballers tend to be reluctant to discuss political matters. Asked how he felt about Brexit on the day the historic result was announced, Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane confessed: "I don't think any of us know too much about it to comment on it." While Britain's footballers are overwhelmingly drawn from working-class communities, traditionally seen as bastions of Labour support, few openly align themselves with left-wing politics. One of the rare exceptions, former Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton, described Premier League footballers as "pretty uniformly right wing" in his recent autobiography due to their vast wealth. Lineker is yet to fully outline his own political views (and politely declined an opportunity to do so for this article), but he has emerged as an improbable figurehead. "He manages to articulate the nub of the issue in a way that the Labour Party is not doing," says Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. "What he has done is give heart to people who voted Remain, sit on the left, are socially liberal and didn't like the referendum result. "They're a decent-sized minority and they feel slightly disenfranchised because they don't quite know who to vote for. There is no obvious champion. He cheers them up and gives them a bit of hope." (AFP)

Britain's voice of post-Brexit outrage? 'Leftie' Lineker

Ireland lodged a formal appeal on Wednesday against a European Commission ruling ordering the country to collect billions of Euros in unpaid taxes from tech giant Apple.

&quot;Our application has now been lodged in the General Court of the European Union,&quot; a finance ministry spokesman said in a statement, confirming the move mooted in Brussels on Tuesday by Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

&ldquo;The government disagrees profoundly with the commission&rsquo;s analysis in the Apple state aid case, and our position on all aspects of the case is very well known,&rdquo; the spokesman added.

Ireland&#39;s appeal comes after the Commission&#39;s ruling in August that Apple must pay &euro;13 billion ($14.2 billion) in back taxes, arguing Ireland broke EU state aid rules.&nbsp;

The EU&#39;s competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said the deal Ireland offered&nbsp;allowed Apple&nbsp;to pay a corporate tax rate of 1 per cent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 per cent in 2014.

Immediately after the Commission ruling, the Irish government said it would appeal the decision, on the basis that Apple had paid its taxes to the Irish state in full.&nbsp;

Dublin also cited the potential impact retrospective penalties could have on its future ability to attract foreign direct investment.&nbsp;

Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Noonan said Ireland&rsquo;s reputation had been damaged unfairly by the commission&#39;s stance.&nbsp;

&quot;We don&#39;t believe that Apple owed this money in Ireland at all,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

&ldquo;We share the OECD view that whatever they owe they owe to the United States and they paid everything that was due to be paid in Ireland,&quot; he said during an address to the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament.

Noonan added that Apple is the biggest corporate taxpayer in Ireland on profits generated in the country, where the multinational employs 6,000 people in its Cork city campus.

(AFP)

In August, the European Union ruled that Apple must pay ?13 billion ($14.2 billion) in back-taxes, arguing Ireland broke EU state aid rules

Ireland lodged a formal appeal on Wednesday against a European Commission ruling ordering the country to collect billions of Euros in unpaid taxes from tech giant Apple. "Our application has now been lodged in the General Court of the European Union," a finance ministry spokesman said in a statement, confirming the move mooted in Brussels on Tuesday by Finance Minister Michael Noonan. “The government disagrees profoundly with the commission’s analysis in the Apple state aid case, and our position on all aspects of the case is very well known,” the spokesman added. Ireland's appeal comes after the Commission's ruling in August that Apple must pay €13 billion ($14.2 billion) in back taxes, arguing Ireland broke EU state aid rules. The EU's competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said the deal Ireland offered allowed Apple to pay a corporate tax rate of 1 per cent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 per cent in 2014. Immediately after the Commission ruling, the Irish government said it would appeal the decision, on the basis that Apple had paid its taxes to the Irish state in full. Dublin also cited the potential impact retrospective penalties could have on its future ability to attract foreign direct investment. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Noonan said Ireland’s reputation had been damaged unfairly by the commission's stance. "We don't believe that Apple owed this money in Ireland at all,” he said. “We share the OECD view that whatever they owe they owe to the United States and they paid everything that was due to be paid in Ireland," he said during an address to the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament. Noonan added that Apple is the biggest corporate taxpayer in Ireland on profits generated in the country, where the multinational employs 6,000 people in its Cork city campus. (AFP)

Ireland launches appeal against EU Apple tax ruling

Britain&#39;s top court has set four days starting December 5 for the government&#39;s appeal against a ruling that requires the parliament&#39;s approval to trigger the Brexit process.

A court statement said that 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the case and deliver their judgement &quot;probably in the New Year&quot;, AFP reported.

A high court ruled last week that Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s government alone cannot trigger Article 50 of Lisbon treaty, which begins Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union (EU).

The Conservative government is appealing against the ruling that could delay Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the EU.

The judgement prompted outrage among people and the justice minister was forced to issue a statement defending the independence of the judiciary.

On Friday, May asserted in phone calls to EU leaders that the Brexit process will go ahead as planned regardless of the court&#39;s decision.

&quot;This timetable remains consistent with our aim to trigger Article 50 by the end of March next year,&quot; Brexit minister David Davis said on Monday.

&quot;We won&#39;t achieve a good negotiation outcome if this is a negotiation being run by 650 people in this House of Commons or nearly 900 in the Lords,&quot; Davis repeated the government&#39;s refusal to set out its strategy to MPs in advance, saying it would &quot;wreck the negotiation&quot;.

&quot;Indeed, if parliament insists on setting out a detailed minimum negotiating position, that will quickly become the maximum possible offer from the negotiating partners.&quot;

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stressed on Scotland Parliament&#39;s consent in triggering Article 50. She said that her government will join to seek the court case to secure a vote for the Scottish parliament.

&quot;Let me be clear -- I recognise and respect the right of England and Wales to leave the European Union. This is not an attempt to veto that process,&quot; Sturgeon told reporters. &quot;But the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the national parliament of Scotland cannot be brushed aside as if they do not matter.&quot;

Scotland had voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU bloc in the June 23 referendum.

The Supreme Court noted that length of next month&#39;s hearing &quot;will depend on further submissions received from the parties on the precise legal arguments to be considered, the number of interveners and whether any other related cases are joined to this one&quot;.

(With inputs from AFP)

All 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the case and deliver their judgement 'probably in the New Year'

Britain's top court has set four days starting December 5 for the government's appeal against a ruling that requires the parliament's approval to trigger the Brexit process. A court statement said that 11 Supreme Court judges will hear the case and deliver their judgement "probably in the New Year", AFP reported. A high court ruled last week that Prime Minister Theresa May's government alone cannot trigger Article 50 of Lisbon treaty, which begins Britain's exit from the European Union (EU). The Conservative government is appealing against the ruling that could delay Britain's withdrawal from the EU. The judgement prompted outrage among people and the justice minister was forced to issue a statement defending the independence of the judiciary. On Friday, May asserted in phone calls to EU leaders that the Brexit process will go ahead as planned regardless of the court's decision. "This timetable remains consistent with our aim to trigger Article 50 by the end of March next year," Brexit minister David Davis said on Monday. "We won't achieve a good negotiation outcome if this is a negotiation being run by 650 people in this House of Commons or nearly 900 in the Lords," Davis repeated the government's refusal to set out its strategy to MPs in advance, saying it would "wreck the negotiation". "Indeed, if parliament insists on setting out a detailed minimum negotiating position, that will quickly become the maximum possible offer from the negotiating partners." Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stressed on Scotland Parliament's consent in triggering Article 50. She said that her government will join to seek the court case to secure a vote for the Scottish parliament. "Let me be clear -- I recognise and respect the right of England and Wales to leave the European Union. This is not an attempt to veto that process," Sturgeon told reporters. "But the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the national parliament of Scotland cannot be brushed aside as if they do not matter." Scotland had voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU bloc in the June 23 referendum. The Supreme Court noted that length of next month's hearing "will depend on further submissions received from the parties on the precise legal arguments to be considered, the number of interveners and whether any other related cases are joined to this one". (With inputs from AFP)

Brexit appeal: UK top court to hear case in December

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday assured her European counterparts that the timetable for Brexit negotiations &quot;remains unchanged&quot;.&nbsp;

England&#39;s High Court on Thursday had ruled that Article 50 cannot be triggered without the approval of the Parliament.&nbsp;

May told German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU President Jean-Claude Juncker that the British government was confident about Supreme Court ruling in their favor next month, AFP reported.&nbsp;

She assured the same to French President Francois Hollande and European Council president Donald Tusk.&nbsp;

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson downplaying the court&#39;s ruling told his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier &quot;The British people voted to leave the European Union, and leave the treaties of the European Union, and that is what we are going to get on and do.&quot;

Stephen Phillips, a pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker resigned as an MP regarding May&#39;s decision to not consult the Parliament.&nbsp;

He cited &quot;irreconcilable policy differences with the current government&quot; and said he could live with the label of a &quot;quitter&quot; than a &quot;conservative,&quot; Reuters reported.&nbsp;

There has been growing public anger over High Court&#39;s verdict with pro-Brexit newspapers calling the three judges as &quot;enemies of the people&quot;, and criticised people on social media who supported staying in EU, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Since taking office, May has been pushing forward for Brexit as quickly as possible to show she will implement the referendum despite voting to stay in EU.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

England's High Court had recently ruled that Parliament must approve the country's leaving of the EU

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday assured her European counterparts that the timetable for Brexit negotiations "remains unchanged". England's High Court on Thursday had ruled that Article 50 cannot be triggered without the approval of the Parliament. May told German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU President Jean-Claude Juncker that the British government was confident about Supreme Court ruling in their favor next month, AFP reported. She assured the same to French President Francois Hollande and European Council president Donald Tusk. British foreign secretary Boris Johnson downplaying the court's ruling told his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier "The British people voted to leave the European Union, and leave the treaties of the European Union, and that is what we are going to get on and do." Stephen Phillips, a pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker resigned as an MP regarding May's decision to not consult the Parliament. He cited "irreconcilable policy differences with the current government" and said he could live with the label of a "quitter" than a "conservative," Reuters reported. There has been growing public anger over High Court's verdict with pro-Brexit newspapers calling the three judges as "enemies of the people", and criticised people on social media who supported staying in EU, Reuters reported. Since taking office, May has been pushing forward for Brexit as quickly as possible to show she will implement the referendum despite voting to stay in EU. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UK PM says Brexit timetable 'unchanged' despite shock ruling

Romania would no longer block the EU-Canada trade accord after Bucharest reached a deal with Ottawa, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday.

&nbsp;

&quot;We have reached a deal with Canada, a reasonable agreement for both parties,&quot; Iohannis told journalists at an EU summit in Brussels, AFP reported.

&nbsp;

&quot;Romania has no longer any objections to the commercial trade accord with Canada.&quot;

&nbsp;

Canada has agreed to waive all visa requirements for Romanian citizens as of December 1, 2017.

&nbsp;

&quot;However, if the number of illegal migrants passes a certain threshold, Canada reserves the right to temporarily introduce visas,&quot; Iohannis added.

&nbsp;

Visa waivers were a key condition for Romania and Bulgaria&#39;s support of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) pact between the EU and Canada.

&nbsp;

The deal which has been in talks for more than seven years now remains in limbo as the parliament of the Belgian region of Wallonia continues to block it. The agreement is planned to be signed on October 27.

&nbsp;

EU leaders on Friday were anxiously awaiting a breakthrough after all-night negotiations between EU officials and Wallonia&#39;s head of government, AFP said.

&nbsp;

The trade accord can only come into effect if all EU member states unanimously agree to the deal.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Canada has agreed to waive all visa requirements for Romanian citizens as of December 1, 2017

Romania would no longer block the EU-Canada trade accord after Bucharest reached a deal with Ottawa, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday. "We have reached a deal with Canada, a reasonable agreement for both parties," Iohannis told journalists at an EU summit in Brussels, AFP reported. "Romania has no longer any objections to the commercial trade accord with Canada." Canada has agreed to waive all visa requirements for Romanian citizens as of December 1, 2017. "However, if the number of illegal migrants passes a certain threshold, Canada reserves the right to temporarily introduce visas," Iohannis added. Visa waivers were a key condition for Romania and Bulgaria's support of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) pact between the EU and Canada. The deal which has been in talks for more than seven years now remains in limbo as the parliament of the Belgian region of Wallonia continues to block it. The agreement is planned to be signed on October 27. EU leaders on Friday were anxiously awaiting a breakthrough after all-night negotiations between EU officials and Wallonia's head of government, AFP said. The trade accord can only come into effect if all EU member states unanimously agree to the deal. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Romania agrees to EU-Canada trade accord after visa deal

Republican Party&#39;s presidential nominee Donald Trump has claimed that the European Union (EU) was created to beat the United States (US) in terms of making money. 
 
In an interview with NBC News, Trump while commenting on the EU said, &quot;The reason that it got together was like a consortium so that it could compete with the United States.&quot; 
 
&quot;The EU was founded in 1952 in an effort to promote strong cross-border ties in Europe and avoid future wars.Since then, it has evolved to a customs union and eventually to the transnational entity devoted to removing internal trade barriers, building a common market and a fiscal union&#39;&#39;, reports the Guardian. 
 
The New York billionaire&#39;s anti-European statements come after he repeatedly praised Brexit, the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. 
 
Trump defended his recent remarks on NATO, saying the countries in the organisation need to pay more to the US so that Washington meets its treaty obligations of mutual defence. 
 
He also called both the World Trade Organization and Nafta &quot;disasters&quot;. On his call to ban the people in the US from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism, he said that it was an expansion on his infamous Muslim ban of December 2015. 
 
&quot;I actually don&#39;t think it&#39;s a rollback. In fact, you could say it&#39;s an expansion. I&#39;m looking now at territory. People were so upset when I used the word Muslim. Oh, you can&#39;t use the word Muslim. Remember this. And I&#39;m okay with that, because I&#39;m talking territory instead of Muslim,&quot; he added. 
 
Trump also confirmed reports that he would seek revenge against former presidential nominee rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz. 
 
He said that he would do it by funding a super Political Action Committee (PAC) in the 2018 cycle to help defeat their respective attempts to win the gubernatorial election in Ohio and US senate election in Texas. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

The New York billionaire's anti-European statements come after he repeatedly praised Brexit

Republican Party's presidential nominee Donald Trump has claimed that the European Union (EU) was created to beat the United States (US) in terms of making money. In an interview with NBC News, Trump while commenting on the EU said, "The reason that it got together was like a consortium so that it could compete with the United States." "The EU was founded in 1952 in an effort to promote strong cross-border ties in Europe and avoid future wars.Since then, it has evolved to a customs union and eventually to the transnational entity devoted to removing internal trade barriers, building a common market and a fiscal union'', reports the Guardian. The New York billionaire's anti-European statements come after he repeatedly praised Brexit, the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Trump defended his recent remarks on NATO, saying the countries in the organisation need to pay more to the US so that Washington meets its treaty obligations of mutual defence. He also called both the World Trade Organization and Nafta "disasters". On his call to ban the people in the US from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism, he said that it was an expansion on his infamous Muslim ban of December 2015. "I actually don't think it's a rollback. In fact, you could say it's an expansion. I'm looking now at territory. People were so upset when I used the word Muslim. Oh, you can't use the word Muslim. Remember this. And I'm okay with that, because I'm talking territory instead of Muslim," he added. Trump also confirmed reports that he would seek revenge against former presidential nominee rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz. He said that he would do it by funding a super Political Action Committee (PAC) in the 2018 cycle to help defeat their respective attempts to win the gubernatorial election in Ohio and US senate election in Texas. (ANI)

EU formed to beat US at making money, says Donald Trump

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France&rsquo;s far-right National Front party, said in a magazine interview said that if she were American, she would vote for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. 
 
&quot;If I was American I would vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton. Between him and Hillary Clinton, it is clear that I would choose Donald Trump,&quot; Le Pen told the French magazine Valeurs Actuelles. 
 
&quot;What appeals to Americans is that he is a man free from Wall Street, from markets and from financial lobbies and even from his own party,&quot; she said. 
 
The anti-immigrant, anti-euro National Front was the only major French political party to call for Britons to vote to leave the European Union, hoping Brexit can boost its own eurosceptic agenda at home. 
 
Le Pen in the interview reiterated her call for a French referendum on European Union membership. 
 
(Reuters)

The anti-immigrant, anti-euro National Front was the only major French political party to call for Britons to vote to leave the EU

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Front party, said in a magazine interview said that if she were American, she would vote for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. "If I was American I would vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton. Between him and Hillary Clinton, it is clear that I would choose Donald Trump," Le Pen told the French magazine Valeurs Actuelles. "What appeals to Americans is that he is a man free from Wall Street, from markets and from financial lobbies and even from his own party," she said. The anti-immigrant, anti-euro National Front was the only major French political party to call for Britons to vote to leave the European Union, hoping Brexit can boost its own eurosceptic agenda at home. Le Pen in the interview reiterated her call for a French referendum on European Union membership. (Reuters)

France's Le Pen says she would vote for Trump

All European Union&nbsp;citizens currently living in Britain will be able to stay after Brexit, a newspaper reported on Saturday citing unnamed cabinet ministers, despite the government&#39;s refusal to publicly guarantee their status.

Official research suggests that more than 80 per cent of the 3.6 million EU citizens living in Britain would be eligible for residency by the time Britain is expected to leave the European Union in 2019, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Under plans being drawn up by the interior ministry, the remainder would be offered some kind of amnesty involving the right to permanently stay in Britain, it said.

Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has said she &quot;fully expects&quot; to be able to guarantee the rights of EU citizens to stay in Britain, but said it was dependent on the rights accorded to Britons living elsewhere in the EU.

Earlier this week, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox repeated her position, and said that their fate was part of Britain&#39;s negotiating hand.

&quot;To give that away before we get into the negotiation would be to hand over one of our main cards in that negotiation and doesn&#39;t necessarily make sense at this point,&quot; he told a fringe meeting at the Conservative party conference.

After a referendum campaign fought on the issue of control over EU migration, the conference was dominated by tough talk on immigration, including proposals to make firms declare foreign workers, which were widely condemned.

May has said she intends to begin the two-year Brexit process by March 2017, putting Britain on course to end its membership of the EU by early 2019. 
&nbsp;

(AFP)

Official research suggests that more than 80% of the EU citizens would be eligible for residency by the time Britain leaves EU in 2019

All European Union citizens currently living in Britain will be able to stay after Brexit, a newspaper reported on Saturday citing unnamed cabinet ministers, despite the government's refusal to publicly guarantee their status. Official research suggests that more than 80 per cent of the 3.6 million EU citizens living in Britain would be eligible for residency by the time Britain is expected to leave the European Union in 2019, the Daily Telegraph reported. Under plans being drawn up by the interior ministry, the remainder would be offered some kind of amnesty involving the right to permanently stay in Britain, it said. Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has said she "fully expects" to be able to guarantee the rights of EU citizens to stay in Britain, but said it was dependent on the rights accorded to Britons living elsewhere in the EU. Earlier this week, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox repeated her position, and said that their fate was part of Britain's negotiating hand. "To give that away before we get into the negotiation would be to hand over one of our main cards in that negotiation and doesn't necessarily make sense at this point," he told a fringe meeting at the Conservative party conference. After a referendum campaign fought on the issue of control over EU migration, the conference was dominated by tough talk on immigration, including proposals to make firms declare foreign workers, which were widely condemned. May has said she intends to begin the two-year Brexit process by March 2017, putting Britain on course to end its membership of the EU by early 2019. (AFP)

Britain 'will allow EU citizens to stay' after Brexit: Media report

The EU will look into a plan to give all Europeans a free continental rail pass for their 18th birthday but officials made clear on Tuesday that the idea faces numerous obstacles.

&quot;We admire the boldness and the level of ambition, and we are ready to explore it further,&quot; transport commissioner Violeta Bulc told the European Parliament in a response to a resolution backed by lawmakers, including the main conservative bloc.

They say free InterRail tickets, typically month-long passes letting young people travel across Europe&#39;s rail network at will, could rekindle enthusiasm for the European Union and bring youngsters together to counter the rising nationalism seen in Britain&#39;s vote to quit the bloc and in many other countries.

&quot;People all around Europe must get to know and learn to cherish each other. Our wish is that as many youngsters as possible...get to know other countries and make new friends,&quot; said Manfred Weber, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who leads the biggest group in the EU legislature.

He acknowledged it would not be easy and require cooperation from rail operators. Bulc said the Commission, the EU executive, would look at the cost and possible funding sources.

A summer rite of passage for millions of Europeans since the 1970s, the InterRail system is now used by some 300,000 people a year and costs those under 26 years old 479 Euros ($536) for a full month.

With 5 million or more Europeans turning 18 each year, the potential cost and strain on the rail system in popular destinations&nbsp;could be immense. One option, Bulc said, could be to limit the issue of the birthday passes via a lottery.

(Reuters)

They say free InterRail tickets could rekindle enthusiasm for the European Union

The EU will look into a plan to give all Europeans a free continental rail pass for their 18th birthday but officials made clear on Tuesday that the idea faces numerous obstacles. "We admire the boldness and the level of ambition, and we are ready to explore it further," transport commissioner Violeta Bulc told the European Parliament in a response to a resolution backed by lawmakers, including the main conservative bloc. They say free InterRail tickets, typically month-long passes letting young people travel across Europe's rail network at will, could rekindle enthusiasm for the European Union and bring youngsters together to counter the rising nationalism seen in Britain's vote to quit the bloc and in many other countries. "People all around Europe must get to know and learn to cherish each other. Our wish is that as many youngsters as possible...get to know other countries and make new friends," said Manfred Weber, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel who leads the biggest group in the EU legislature. He acknowledged it would not be easy and require cooperation from rail operators. Bulc said the Commission, the EU executive, would look at the cost and possible funding sources. A summer rite of passage for millions of Europeans since the 1970s, the InterRail system is now used by some 300,000 people a year and costs those under 26 years old 479 Euros ($536) for a full month. With 5 million or more Europeans turning 18 each year, the potential cost and strain on the rail system in popular destinations could be immense. One option, Bulc said, could be to limit the issue of the birthday passes via a lottery. (Reuters)

EU to look into plan to give all Europeans free continental rail pass for 18th birthday

The landmark Paris climate pact is&nbsp;poised to enter into force globally this week after the European Parliament joined the world&#39;s top polluters in endorsing the deal to slow the planet&#39;s dangerous temperature rise.

&nbsp;

In a vote watched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the parliament voted overwhelmingly by 610 for, 38 against and 31 abstentions in favour of the EU`s fast-track ratification of the deal sealed in Paris last December.

&nbsp;

That puts the European Union on track to hand over its ratification to the United Nations on Friday, which would then take the international community above the threshold needed for implementation.

&nbsp;

&quot;I`m extremely honoured to be able to witness this historic moment,&quot; Ban said after making a special trip to the imposing European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France to watch the vote.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;I look forward to the Paris agreement entering into force as soon as possible, even in just a few days time.&quot;

&nbsp;

The Paris accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and strive for 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible.

&nbsp;

The European Parliament, the bloc`s only elected body, backed a decision by EU environment ministers last Friday to fast-track approval of the deal, despite only seven out of 28 EU countries having themselves ratified it.

&nbsp;

Fears that China and the United States, the world`s two biggest polluters, were leaving Europe behind on ratifying last year`s historic deal pushed them into rushing through the ratification.To come into force the accord needs ratification from 55 countries, which must together account for at least 55 percent of the planet`s greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for climate change.

&nbsp;

With a decision in the last few days by India, the third biggest emitter, a total of 62 countries have ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet`s rising temperatures.

&nbsp;

They all account for 52 percent of the planet`s greenhouse gas emissions, and EU ratification will bring it over 55 percent threshold by including the seven EU countries who have already approved it.The seven EU countries -- Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia -- account for some five percent of global emissions.

&nbsp;

The seven EU countries -- Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia -- account for some five percent of global emissions.

&nbsp;

The entire bloc accounts for 12 percent of global emissions.

&nbsp;

In normal times, for such major international agreements, the EU and its 28 member states must deposit simultaneously their ratification documents under sometimes time-consuming procedures.

&nbsp;

However, the member states overcame differences to reach a political agreement last week to bypass the usual process.

&nbsp;

Europe has prided itself on taking a global lead on climate change issues but has watched with alarm as the rest of the world has left it behind.

&nbsp;

&quot;Europe today is demonstrating it`s capable of great things when it puts its energy and forces together,&quot; European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in Strasbourg at a time when the EU is buffeted by crises from migration to Brexit.

&nbsp;

Oxfam gave a cautious welcome, urging all member states they face a &quot;credibility test&quot; in sticking to the deal.

&nbsp;

US Secretary of State John Kerry, during a visit to Brussels, said &quot;the EU is making good on that pledge&quot; it made at the UN General Assembly last month to help the pact enter force by the end of the year.

&nbsp;

During a White House event on Monday to highlight his campaign to battle climate change, US President Barack Obama warned: &quot;We are really in a race against time.&quot;

&nbsp;

(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With the threshold for impelementation crossed, the pact will go into force globally this week

The landmark Paris climate pact is poised to enter into force globally this week after the European Parliament joined the world's top polluters in endorsing the deal to slow the planet's dangerous temperature rise. In a vote watched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the parliament voted overwhelmingly by 610 for, 38 against and 31 abstentions in favour of the EU`s fast-track ratification of the deal sealed in Paris last December. That puts the European Union on track to hand over its ratification to the United Nations on Friday, which would then take the international community above the threshold needed for implementation. "I`m extremely honoured to be able to witness this historic moment," Ban said after making a special trip to the imposing European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France to watch the vote. "I look forward to the Paris agreement entering into force as soon as possible, even in just a few days time." The Paris accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in temperatures within two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and strive for 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible. The European Parliament, the bloc`s only elected body, backed a decision by EU environment ministers last Friday to fast-track approval of the deal, despite only seven out of 28 EU countries having themselves ratified it. Fears that China and the United States, the world`s two biggest polluters, were leaving Europe behind on ratifying last year`s historic deal pushed them into rushing through the ratification.To come into force the accord needs ratification from 55 countries, which must together account for at least 55 percent of the planet`s greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for climate change. With a decision in the last few days by India, the third biggest emitter, a total of 62 countries have ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet`s rising temperatures. They all account for 52 percent of the planet`s greenhouse gas emissions, and EU ratification will bring it over 55 percent threshold by including the seven EU countries who have already approved it.The seven EU countries -- Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia -- account for some five percent of global emissions. The seven EU countries -- Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia -- account for some five percent of global emissions. The entire bloc accounts for 12 percent of global emissions. In normal times, for such major international agreements, the EU and its 28 member states must deposit simultaneously their ratification documents under sometimes time-consuming procedures. However, the member states overcame differences to reach a political agreement last week to bypass the usual process. Europe has prided itself on taking a global lead on climate change issues but has watched with alarm as the rest of the world has left it behind. "Europe today is demonstrating it`s capable of great things when it puts its energy and forces together," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in Strasbourg at a time when the EU is buffeted by crises from migration to Brexit. Oxfam gave a cautious welcome, urging all member states they face a "credibility test" in sticking to the deal. US Secretary of State John Kerry, during a visit to Brussels, said "the EU is making good on that pledge" it made at the UN General Assembly last month to help the pact enter force by the end of the year. During a White House event on Monday to highlight his campaign to battle climate change, US President Barack Obama warned: "We are really in a race against time." (AFP)

European Parliament endorses Paris climate pact

The European Union has decided to &quot;suspend&quot; Colombia&#39;s FARC rebel group from its terror group list, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced on Monday. 
 
In a statement, Mogherini said the EU would &quot;suspend FARC from its list of terrorist organisations. This decision will take effect upon the signature of the Peace Agreement.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The Colombian government and the leftist FARC rebels were scheduled to sign their historic peace agreement at 2200 GMT Monday in a ceremony in the colonial city of Cartagena. 
 
The suspension will allow the temporary lifting of sanctions against FARC, including the freezing of its assets. FARC was added to the EU terror list in 2002.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We are ready to continue our support, focusing on the implementation of the agreement,&quot; Mogherini said, adding that the EU was also ready to activate a 600-million-euro package to support the peace deal.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Today peace is in the hands of the Colombian people,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;An endorsement of the agreement would send positive shockwaves through the continent and the entire world. It would send a message of reconciliation. It would send the powerful message that all conflicts can come to an end.&quot; 
 
Earlier, a diplomatic source said the sanctions would be suspended for an initial period of six months, after which they would be reviewed. 
 
On Sunday, the EU&#39;s Colombia envoy Ana Paula Zacarias said the guerrilla group could be definitively removed from the blacklist after a six-month review process in which the bloc could have &quot;political dialogue with guerrilla members&quot;. 
 
FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group, launched its war on the Colombian government in 1964. 
 
(AFP)

The suspension will allow the temporary lifting of sanctions linked to FARC's presence on the list, including the freezing of its assets

The European Union has decided to "suspend" Colombia's FARC rebel group from its terror group list, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced on Monday. In a statement, Mogherini said the EU would "suspend FARC from its list of terrorist organisations. This decision will take effect upon the signature of the Peace Agreement." The Colombian government and the leftist FARC rebels were scheduled to sign their historic peace agreement at 2200 GMT Monday in a ceremony in the colonial city of Cartagena. The suspension will allow the temporary lifting of sanctions against FARC, including the freezing of its assets. FARC was added to the EU terror list in 2002. "We are ready to continue our support, focusing on the implementation of the agreement," Mogherini said, adding that the EU was also ready to activate a 600-million-euro package to support the peace deal. "Today peace is in the hands of the Colombian people," she said. "An endorsement of the agreement would send positive shockwaves through the continent and the entire world. It would send a message of reconciliation. It would send the powerful message that all conflicts can come to an end." Earlier, a diplomatic source said the sanctions would be suspended for an initial period of six months, after which they would be reviewed. On Sunday, the EU's Colombia envoy Ana Paula Zacarias said the guerrilla group could be definitively removed from the blacklist after a six-month review process in which the bloc could have "political dialogue with guerrilla members". FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group, launched its war on the Colombian government in 1964. (AFP)

EU to 'suspend' Colombia's FARC from terror list: Foreign policy chief

Former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Rodrigo Rato will face trial on Monday over &#39;overseeing a corrupt system that allowed 65 former executives and board members at Spanish banks Caja Madrid and Bankia to misuse funds during Rato&#39;s tenure as their bank head&#39;, AFP reported today.&nbsp; 
 
Prosecutors want Rato to get a prison sentence of four-and-a-half years and a 2.6-million-euro fine for allegedly spending 12 million Euros between 2003 and 2012, leading to Spain&#39;s near financial collapse.&nbsp; 
 
Rato took over as the head of Caja Madrid in 2010 where he indulged in the corrupt practices. He reportedly continued with &#39;similar practices&#39; later in Bankia, the group born in 2011 following the merger of Caja Madrid with six other savings banks.&nbsp; 
 
The Bankia scandal 
 
Rato&#39;s short tenure as a&nbsp;banker in Spain between 2010 and 2012 saw the unfolding of the Bankia scandal, AFP observes.&nbsp; 
 
Thousands of small-scale investors, after being goaded into converting their savings to shares when Bankia was born, lost huge sums of money.&nbsp; 
 
The losses escalated to an extent that the country plunged into a financial crisis. It had to ask the European Union for a bailout for the banking sector. Out of the 41 billion euros, Bankia has paid 1.2 billion euros.&nbsp; 
 
As the head of Caja Madrid Rato is accused of spending 436,000 euros between 2003 and 2010, including more than 100,000 euros in restaurant bills. 
 
Rato, however, has denied any wrongdoing saying that the expenses were for &ldquo;discretionary spending as a part of the pay deal for executives.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Rato allowed 65 other top executives to misuse bank Caja Madrid and Bankia's funds during his tenure as the bank head

Former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Rodrigo Rato will face trial on Monday over 'overseeing a corrupt system that allowed 65 former executives and board members at Spanish banks Caja Madrid and Bankia to misuse funds during Rato's tenure as their bank head', AFP reported today. Prosecutors want Rato to get a prison sentence of four-and-a-half years and a 2.6-million-euro fine for allegedly spending 12 million Euros between 2003 and 2012, leading to Spain's near financial collapse. Rato took over as the head of Caja Madrid in 2010 where he indulged in the corrupt practices. He reportedly continued with 'similar practices' later in Bankia, the group born in 2011 following the merger of Caja Madrid with six other savings banks. The Bankia scandal Rato's short tenure as a banker in Spain between 2010 and 2012 saw the unfolding of the Bankia scandal, AFP observes. Thousands of small-scale investors, after being goaded into converting their savings to shares when Bankia was born, lost huge sums of money. The losses escalated to an extent that the country plunged into a financial crisis. It had to ask the European Union for a bailout for the banking sector. Out of the 41 billion euros, Bankia has paid 1.2 billion euros. As the head of Caja Madrid Rato is accused of spending 436,000 euros between 2003 and 2010, including more than 100,000 euros in restaurant bills. Rato, however, has denied any wrongdoing saying that the expenses were for “discretionary spending as a part of the pay deal for executives." (WION with inputs from AFP)

Former IMF boss Rodrigo Rato to face trial over corruption charges

Britain has a lot of work to do before it can exit the European Union (EU) but once it triggers a formal divorce from the EU, the process cannot be dragged on, Britain&#39;s foreign minister Boris Johnson said&nbsp;on Sunday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve got to do a lot of work to get our ducks in order,&quot; Johnson told Andy Marr on BBC1&#39;s The Andrew Marr Show. 
 
Johnson suggested last week that Britain would trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which would allow Britain to exit from EU early next year. However, Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s aides have continually said the formal procedure would only start next year. 
 
But some lawmakers and government officials say the government&nbsp;has&nbsp;not had time to form a clear negotiating stance and that, by triggering proceedings too early,&nbsp;Britain&nbsp;may land a poor deal,&nbsp;Reuters said. 
 
Britons voted to leave the EU bloc in a historic referendum in June. 
 
Jeremy Corbyn, who was re-elected as leader of Britain&#39;s main opposition Labour Party&nbsp;on Saturday, said the parliament should be involved in the Brexit process. 
 
&quot;This is a huge political issue, it&#39;s the most significant economic issue facing Britain in my or your lifetime and I think at the very least parliament should be fully informed,&quot; Jeremy Corbyn told BBC&#39;s Andrew Marr. 
 
Stephen Booth, co-director of the Open Europe think-tank, said it was likely that Brexit would end up being a gradual withdrawal from different aspects of the UK&#39;s entanglements with the EU, rather than a single &quot;big bang&quot; event, RT? news reported. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

London is under pressure from EU members and millions of Britons who voted for Brexit in the referendum to start the divorce process soon

Britain has a lot of work to do before it can exit the European Union (EU) but once it triggers a formal divorce from the EU, the process cannot be dragged on, Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday. "We've got to do a lot of work to get our ducks in order," Johnson told Andy Marr on BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show. Johnson suggested last week that Britain would trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which would allow Britain to exit from EU early next year. However, Prime Minister Theresa May's aides have continually said the formal procedure would only start next year. But some lawmakers and government officials say the government has not had time to form a clear negotiating stance and that, by triggering proceedings too early, Britain may land a poor deal, Reuters said. Britons voted to leave the EU bloc in a historic referendum in June. Jeremy Corbyn, who was re-elected as leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party on Saturday, said the parliament should be involved in the Brexit process. "This is a huge political issue, it's the most significant economic issue facing Britain in my or your lifetime and I think at the very least parliament should be fully informed," Jeremy Corbyn told BBC's Andrew Marr. Stephen Booth, co-director of the Open Europe think-tank, said it was likely that Brexit would end up being a gradual withdrawal from different aspects of the UK's entanglements with the EU, rather than a single "big bang" event, RT? news reported. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Britain has lot to do before triggering EU divorce: Boris Johnson

Senior members of Britain&#39;s ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a &#39;hard Brexit&#39;, media reported&nbsp;on Sunday. 
 
Property investor Richard Tice told the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph, &#39;&#39;No deal is better than a bad deal.&quot; He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. 
 
Tice said&nbsp;the&nbsp;Britons had clearly&nbsp;voted in June to leave the European Union (EU)&nbsp;and &#39;the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone&#39;. 
 
&quot;Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth,&quot; Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. 
 
The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph reported. 
 
&#39;Change Britain&#39;, a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign&nbsp;secretary Borish Johnson. 
 
May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger&nbsp;Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit&nbsp;early next year. She has said that she needed time&nbsp;to form an exit policy. 
 
The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party&nbsp;push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy&nbsp;break from the EU. 
 
Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party&nbsp;was &quot;absolutely inevitable&quot;. 
 
&quot;Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the &#39;leave&#39; side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that,&quot; she told ITV&#39;s Peston&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;programme. She said that the government needed to say &#39;this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to&#39;. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The new group, called Leave means Leave, is urging the British government to sever all ties with the European Union swiftly

Senior members of Britain's ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a 'hard Brexit', media reported on Sunday. Property investor Richard Tice told the Sunday Telegraph, ''No deal is better than a bad deal." He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. Tice said the Britons had clearly voted in June to leave the European Union (EU) and 'the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone'. "Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth," Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the Sunday Telegraph reported. 'Change Britain', a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign secretary Borish Johnson. May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit early next year. She has said that she needed time to form an exit policy. The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy break from the EU. Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party was "absolutely inevitable". "Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the 'leave' side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that," she told ITV's Peston on Sunday programme. She said that the government needed to say 'this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to'. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

UK lawmakers in ruling party back group pushing for 'hard Brexit'

British Prime Minister Theresa May might launch formal negotiations for Brexit in January-February next year, European Council president Donald Tusk said on Friday, citing a recent talk with May. 
 
May has refrained from giving any formal notification this year and there is ambiguity over how her government will initiate the process. which would set in motion a two-year countdown to Britain&#39;s exit. 
 
&quot;Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me,&quot; Tusk said talking about his visit to London on September 8.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;She declared it&#39;s almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it&#39;s quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year.&quot; 
 
EU leaders are waiting to hear from May on what she wants. 
 
&quot;Our British colleagues need more time to prepare themselves for these negotiations,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
&quot;We are well prepared for these negotiations and we could in fact start these procedures even tomorrow,&quot; he added, saying that the EU&#39;s goal was &quot;the closest possible future relations&quot; with Britain while negotiating in the interests of the bloc. 
 
Divided EU struggles 
 
A meeting was held on Friday in the Slovak capital of Bratislava with the 27 other EU members &nbsp;and a six-month &quot;road map&quot; designed to bring back public confidence in the union was unveiled.&nbsp; 
 
But unity was shadowed as many leaders including &nbsp;Italy`s Matteo Renzi and Hungary`s Viktor Orban, did not agree with&nbsp;the conclusions once the meeting ended. 
 
&quot;I`m not satisfied with the (summit) conclusions on growth or on immigration,&quot; said Renzi. 
 
According to Reuters, Renzi was miffed at being excluded from a joint news conference given by Germany`s Angela Merkel and France`s Francois Hollande at the end of the summit. 
 
&quot;To define as a step forward today`s document on migrants would require a form of fantasy, a verbal high-wire act,&quot; the Italian Prime Minister added. 
 
Orban ,meanwhile, criticised&nbsp;Merkel for refusing to agree to a cap on the number of migrants entering Europe, calling her pro-refugee stance &quot;self-destructive and naive&quot;. 
 
But people eye-witnesses to the summit said that Orban and Renzi did not raise serious complaints with other leaders during the talks.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;This is clearly about domestic politics,&quot; a senior official said told Reuters. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Donald Tusk had visited London on September 8 to hold post-Brexit talks with British PM Theresa May

British Prime Minister Theresa May might launch formal negotiations for Brexit in January-February next year, European Council president Donald Tusk said on Friday, citing a recent talk with May. May has refrained from giving any formal notification this year and there is ambiguity over how her government will initiate the process. which would set in motion a two-year countdown to Britain's exit. "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me," Tusk said talking about his visit to London on September 8. "She declared it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year." EU leaders are waiting to hear from May on what she wants. "Our British colleagues need more time to prepare themselves for these negotiations," he told reporters. "We are well prepared for these negotiations and we could in fact start these procedures even tomorrow," he added, saying that the EU's goal was "the closest possible future relations" with Britain while negotiating in the interests of the bloc. Divided EU struggles A meeting was held on Friday in the Slovak capital of Bratislava with the 27 other EU members and a six-month "road map" designed to bring back public confidence in the union was unveiled. But unity was shadowed as many leaders including Italy`s Matteo Renzi and Hungary`s Viktor Orban, did not agree with the conclusions once the meeting ended. "I`m not satisfied with the (summit) conclusions on growth or on immigration," said Renzi. According to Reuters, Renzi was miffed at being excluded from a joint news conference given by Germany`s Angela Merkel and France`s Francois Hollande at the end of the summit. "To define as a step forward today`s document on migrants would require a form of fantasy, a verbal high-wire act," the Italian Prime Minister added. Orban ,meanwhile, criticised Merkel for refusing to agree to a cap on the number of migrants entering Europe, calling her pro-refugee stance "self-destructive and naive". But people eye-witnesses to the summit said that Orban and Renzi did not raise serious complaints with other leaders during the talks. "This is clearly about domestic politics," a senior official said told Reuters. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

May likely to launch Brexit in 2017: Donald Tusk

Badly conceived and economically wrong, the euro is at the heart of most of the eurozone&#39;s problems such as stagnation, unemployment and the rise of the far-right, Nobel-prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz told AFP on Wednesday.&nbsp; 
 
The outspoken economist said the single currency was structurally flawed from the outset and takes away member states&#39; ability to make crucial adjustments to their economies. 
 
&quot;What they did was to put the cart before the horse. They tried to create the euro before they had the institutions,&quot; said the former World Bank chief economist, 73. 
 
While the euro might be a boon for &quot;a few people and the bankers who can move money more easily around,&quot; it&#39;s less positive for ordinary individuals in the eurozone, suffering from sluggish economies and high unemployment. 
 
&quot;Our societies are stagnating, we are not growing. That would give impetus to extreme parties of the right,&quot; said Stiglitz, as far-right parties gain ground in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria in part due to high unemployment. 
 
&#39;Mount Sinai&#39; 
 
Stiglitz, who loosened his tie for the interview in a sweltering Paris, took a blistering swipe at the rules underpinning the single currency, as well as those governing the European Central Bank. 
 
&quot;You have to change the rules when the rules are wrong. If you have the wrong rules, then the consequence is a disaster,&quot; he stressed. 
 
&quot;These rules are not like the ten commandments that God gave from Mount Sinai,&quot; he said, adding that the economics and politics behind the eurozone&#39;s fiscal and monetary rules &quot;needs to be rethought.&quot; 
 
He took aim at both the Stability and Growth pact - which limits member state&#39;s budget deficits to a maximum of three per cent of total output - as well as the strict rules governing the ECB. 
 
The European Central Bank has as its mandate to keep inflation to &quot;close to but below two per cent&quot; but unlike the Federal Reserve in the United States, does not have creating jobs as one of its objectives. 
 
&quot;They tied the hands of the countries in Europe and then they tied the hands of the central bank and said &#39;focus just on inflation&#39;,&quot; charged the economist. 
 
Auf wiedersehen Germany? 
 
So what is the solution, according to Stiglitz?&nbsp; 
 
&quot;More Europe&quot; and &quot;less austerity that just leads to contraction&quot;. 
 
He called for eurobonds&nbsp;- allowing eurozone countries to pool debt issuance that is a taboo subject in Germany.&nbsp; 
 
The economist also appealed for &quot;common deposit insurance, a common way to resolve the problems in the banks.&quot; 
 
And he aimed a barb at Germany, Europe&#39;s economic and political powerhouse that spearheaded the drive towards austerity in the wake of the eurozone&#39;s debt and banking crisis. 
 
&quot;The view that you can recover to full employment and to prosperity by austerity is rejected by most economists, rejected by the IMF, but still seems to be the dominant view in the German government, and particularly in the finance ministry,&quot; he charged. 
 
&quot;The easiest way would be for Germany to leave Europe.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The single currency, he says, takes away member states' ability to make crucial adjustments to their economies

Badly conceived and economically wrong, the euro is at the heart of most of the eurozone's problems such as stagnation, unemployment and the rise of the far-right, Nobel-prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz told AFP on Wednesday. The outspoken economist said the single currency was structurally flawed from the outset and takes away member states' ability to make crucial adjustments to their economies. "What they did was to put the cart before the horse. They tried to create the euro before they had the institutions," said the former World Bank chief economist, 73. While the euro might be a boon for "a few people and the bankers who can move money more easily around," it's less positive for ordinary individuals in the eurozone, suffering from sluggish economies and high unemployment. "Our societies are stagnating, we are not growing. That would give impetus to extreme parties of the right," said Stiglitz, as far-right parties gain ground in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria in part due to high unemployment. 'Mount Sinai' Stiglitz, who loosened his tie for the interview in a sweltering Paris, took a blistering swipe at the rules underpinning the single currency, as well as those governing the European Central Bank. "You have to change the rules when the rules are wrong. If you have the wrong rules, then the consequence is a disaster," he stressed. "These rules are not like the ten commandments that God gave from Mount Sinai," he said, adding that the economics and politics behind the eurozone's fiscal and monetary rules "needs to be rethought." He took aim at both the Stability and Growth pact - which limits member state's budget deficits to a maximum of three per cent of total output - as well as the strict rules governing the ECB. The European Central Bank has as its mandate to keep inflation to "close to but below two per cent" but unlike the Federal Reserve in the United States, does not have creating jobs as one of its objectives. "They tied the hands of the countries in Europe and then they tied the hands of the central bank and said 'focus just on inflation'," charged the economist. Auf wiedersehen Germany? So what is the solution, according to Stiglitz? "More Europe" and "less austerity that just leads to contraction". He called for eurobonds - allowing eurozone countries to pool debt issuance that is a taboo subject in Germany. The economist also appealed for "common deposit insurance, a common way to resolve the problems in the banks." And he aimed a barb at Germany, Europe's economic and political powerhouse that spearheaded the drive towards austerity in the wake of the eurozone's debt and banking crisis. "The view that you can recover to full employment and to prosperity by austerity is rejected by most economists, rejected by the IMF, but still seems to be the dominant view in the German government, and particularly in the finance ministry," he charged. "The easiest way would be for Germany to leave Europe." (AFP)

Euro the root of all eurozone's ills, says economist Joseph Stiglitz

EU president Donald Tusk on Tuesday warned leaders they cannot ignore the lessons of Brexit and must address concerns about migration when they meet in Bratislava this week. 
 
Former Polish premier Tusk added that the bloc must be less &quot;politically correct&quot; and protect Europeans worried about terrorism, security and globalisation in the wake of Britain&#39;s vote to leave.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It would be a fatal error to assume that the negative result in the UK referendum represents a specifically British issue,&quot; Tusk wrote in an invitation letter for Friday&#39;s summit of 27 leaders, all except Britain. 
 
In the letter seen by AFP, he said the EU had been too slow to deal with the migration crisis, adding: &quot;We do not have too much time to spare. Bratislava will have to be a turning point in terms of protecting the Union&#39;s external borders.&quot; 
 
The five-page invitation letter was sent to leaders on Tuesday, on the eve of the annual State of the Union address by European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.&nbsp; 
 
Tusk said the EU leaders meeting in Bratislava, in a summit that is meant to draw up a roadmap for a future without Britain, had to act now to secure Europe&#39;s borders in the face of the migration crisis. 
 
&quot;All too often they (European citizens) heard politically correct statements that Europe cannot become a fortress, that it must remain open,&quot; the former Polish prime minister warned. 
 
Tusk added that it was important for the rest of the EU to learn from Brexit, especially the British people&#39;s concerns over mass migration. 
 
He said the Leave camp in Britain&#39;s June 23 referendum used &quot;false arguments&quot; but said it was &quot;also true that the Brexit vote is a desperate attempt to answer the questions that millions of Europeans ask themselves daily&quot;. 
 
&quot;Questions about the guarantees of security of the citizens and their territory, questions about the protection of their interests, cultural heritage and way of life,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;These are questions we would have to face even if the UK had voted to remain.&quot; 
 
Tusk, fresh from a tour of European capitals to canvass opinion, urged the EU to deliver on both security and prosperity but said that did not mean more powers for Brussels. 
 
&quot;My talks with you clearly show ... that is not the desired recipe,&quot; Tusk wrote&nbsp; 
 
His last comments could be taken as a dig at Juncker, who has made much play of the fact that he leads a &quot;political&quot; Commission, rather than the bureaucratic apparatus it is by tradition, and as a result has been harshly criticised for not doing enough to prevent Brexit.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Tusk added that the bloc must be less "politically correct" and protect Europeans worried about terrorism, security and globalisation

EU president Donald Tusk on Tuesday warned leaders they cannot ignore the lessons of Brexit and must address concerns about migration when they meet in Bratislava this week. Former Polish premier Tusk added that the bloc must be less "politically correct" and protect Europeans worried about terrorism, security and globalisation in the wake of Britain's vote to leave. "It would be a fatal error to assume that the negative result in the UK referendum represents a specifically British issue," Tusk wrote in an invitation letter for Friday's summit of 27 leaders, all except Britain. In the letter seen by AFP, he said the EU had been too slow to deal with the migration crisis, adding: "We do not have too much time to spare. Bratislava will have to be a turning point in terms of protecting the Union's external borders." The five-page invitation letter was sent to leaders on Tuesday, on the eve of the annual State of the Union address by European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Tusk said the EU leaders meeting in Bratislava, in a summit that is meant to draw up a roadmap for a future without Britain, had to act now to secure Europe's borders in the face of the migration crisis. "All too often they (European citizens) heard politically correct statements that Europe cannot become a fortress, that it must remain open," the former Polish prime minister warned. Tusk added that it was important for the rest of the EU to learn from Brexit, especially the British people's concerns over mass migration. He said the Leave camp in Britain's June 23 referendum used "false arguments" but said it was "also true that the Brexit vote is a desperate attempt to answer the questions that millions of Europeans ask themselves daily". "Questions about the guarantees of security of the citizens and their territory, questions about the protection of their interests, cultural heritage and way of life," he said. "These are questions we would have to face even if the UK had voted to remain." Tusk, fresh from a tour of European capitals to canvass opinion, urged the EU to deliver on both security and prosperity but said that did not mean more powers for Brussels. "My talks with you clearly show ... that is not the desired recipe," Tusk wrote His last comments could be taken as a dig at Juncker, who has made much play of the fact that he leads a "political" Commission, rather than the bureaucratic apparatus it is by tradition, and as a result has been harshly criticised for not doing enough to prevent Brexit. (AFP)

'Fatal error' for EU to ignore Brexit lessons:Tusk

Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem warned Athens on Friday to swiftly deliver on overdue reforms as its massive bailout programme fell off track triggering fears of a new row with Greece. 
 
Leftist-led Greece is struggling to deliver on fresh reforms that are needed to unlock a further 2.8 billion euros ($3 billion) in bailout loans and more crucially, launch negotiations on debt relief later in the year. 
 
&quot;The pressure is back on. We really need some progress. The summer is over, pack up the camping gear, get back to work,&quot; Dijsselbloem, who leads the group of 19 finance ministers from the eurozone, told reporters in Bratislava. 
 
Athens has committed to deliver on the reforms by the end of the month. They include the long-delayed launch of a massive privatisation fund and reforms in the highly sensitive energy sector. 
 
The EU&#39;s economic affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Athens must deliver on 15 reforms, with only two of those achieved so far. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s not a secret that there is a lot to be done to complete these reforms,&quot; he said after the ministers discussed Greece&#39;s bailout. 
 
&quot;The Greek authorities must know that we are waiting for them, for the matter of trust and efficiency,&quot; he said. 
 
Greece&#39;s creditors are mostly concerned with staffing picks proposed by Athens to run the privatisation fund, which are seen as too inexperienced or too politically linked to the ruling Syriza party, a European source told AFP. 
 
&#39;Still time&#39; 
 
The influential German finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, said Greece still had a short period of time to get back in line on its 86 billion euro bailout programme, agreed amid much bitterness in July 2015. 
 
&quot;They have to do this until the end of September, so there is still time for Greece,&quot; Schaeuble said. 
 
Left unaddressed at the talks was the part played by the IMF, which was key to Greece&#39;s three bailouts but is now holding off until the euro zone ministers commit to debt relief for Athens. 
 
&quot;The IMF is in a very constructive mode and I&#39;m very happy about that&quot;, Dijsselbloem said, adding that the Washington-based fund would take a decision on its role by the end of the year. 
 
Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia risk assessment group warned that the tensions risked boiling over early next year &quot;when the government needs cash and its ECB obligations are once again around the corner.&quot; 
 
Delays by Athens make it easier &quot;for creditors to hide their differences and blame Greece. As such it pushes off the need for Germany and the IMF to come to a deal over debt relief,&quot; he added. 
 
The euro zone ministers met in the Slovak capital as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, an anti-austerity champion, hosted a mini-summit between the European Union&#39;s seven Mediterranean states in Athens. 
 
Schaeuble belittled the summit as a political meeting of &quot;socialist party leaders&quot;, even though non-left leaders attended.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;And when socialist party leaders meet, most of the time, nothing intelligent comes out of it,&quot; he added. 
 
(AFP)

Leftist-led Greece is struggling to deliver on fresh reforms but has committed to deliver on them by the end of the month

Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem warned Athens on Friday to swiftly deliver on overdue reforms as its massive bailout programme fell off track triggering fears of a new row with Greece. Leftist-led Greece is struggling to deliver on fresh reforms that are needed to unlock a further 2.8 billion euros ($3 billion) in bailout loans and more crucially, launch negotiations on debt relief later in the year. "The pressure is back on. We really need some progress. The summer is over, pack up the camping gear, get back to work," Dijsselbloem, who leads the group of 19 finance ministers from the eurozone, told reporters in Bratislava. Athens has committed to deliver on the reforms by the end of the month. They include the long-delayed launch of a massive privatisation fund and reforms in the highly sensitive energy sector. The EU's economic affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Athens must deliver on 15 reforms, with only two of those achieved so far. "It's not a secret that there is a lot to be done to complete these reforms," he said after the ministers discussed Greece's bailout. "The Greek authorities must know that we are waiting for them, for the matter of trust and efficiency," he said. Greece's creditors are mostly concerned with staffing picks proposed by Athens to run the privatisation fund, which are seen as too inexperienced or too politically linked to the ruling Syriza party, a European source told AFP. 'Still time' The influential German finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, said Greece still had a short period of time to get back in line on its 86 billion euro bailout programme, agreed amid much bitterness in July 2015. "They have to do this until the end of September, so there is still time for Greece," Schaeuble said. Left unaddressed at the talks was the part played by the IMF, which was key to Greece's three bailouts but is now holding off until the euro zone ministers commit to debt relief for Athens. "The IMF is in a very constructive mode and I'm very happy about that", Dijsselbloem said, adding that the Washington-based fund would take a decision on its role by the end of the year. Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia risk assessment group warned that the tensions risked boiling over early next year "when the government needs cash and its ECB obligations are once again around the corner." Delays by Athens make it easier "for creditors to hide their differences and blame Greece. As such it pushes off the need for Germany and the IMF to come to a deal over debt relief," he added. The euro zone ministers met in the Slovak capital as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, an anti-austerity champion, hosted a mini-summit between the European Union's seven Mediterranean states in Athens. Schaeuble belittled the summit as a political meeting of "socialist party leaders", even though non-left leaders attended. "And when socialist party leaders meet, most of the time, nothing intelligent comes out of it," he added. (AFP)

Greece told to deliver reforms as bailout falters

A lasting rise in hate crimes has been observed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been reported in the second half of July, nearly a month after the EU referendum vote.&nbsp; 
 
Incidents of hate crimes in the United &nbsp;Kingdom remain significantly higher than they were a year ago, Guardian reported today. 
 
According to the National Police Chiefs&#39; Council report, there was an increase of 49 per cent in such incidents ( to 1,836) in the last week in July when compared with the previous year. The final week of July witnessed a record 58 per cent increase in recorded incidents to 1,787, the report says&nbsp; 
 
Racial abuse in Wales went up to 60 per cent over the EU referendum period, BBC Wales reported.&nbsp; 
 
The most recent data shows that there were over 1,384 incidents of hate crime in the third week of August.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Many victims are still afraid to come forward and so the scale of attacks could be far higher than what is being reported. The UN said two weeks ago that the problem of underreporting hate crime persists in Britain and the government&rsquo;s own hate-crime strategy sets out to increase the reporting of hate crime, acknowledging one of the biggest challenges to the police in tackling it,&rdquo; Jack Dromey, a British Labour Party politician told the Guardian.&nbsp; 
 
Previously published figures reveal that while the increase in hate crime has continued, the level of increase has declined. There was a 46 per cent spike in hate crime immediately after the June 23 referendum.&nbsp; 
 
 
(WION)&nbsp;

'The final week of July witnessed a record 58 per cent increase in recorded incidents to 1,787'

A lasting rise in hate crimes has been observed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been reported in the second half of July, nearly a month after the EU referendum vote. Incidents of hate crimes in the United Kingdom remain significantly higher than they were a year ago, Guardian reported today. According to the National Police Chiefs' Council report, there was an increase of 49 per cent in such incidents ( to 1,836) in the last week in July when compared with the previous year. The final week of July witnessed a record 58 per cent increase in recorded incidents to 1,787, the report says Racial abuse in Wales went up to 60 per cent over the EU referendum period, BBC Wales reported. The most recent data shows that there were over 1,384 incidents of hate crime in the third week of August. “Many victims are still afraid to come forward and so the scale of attacks could be far higher than what is being reported. The UN said two weeks ago that the problem of underreporting hate crime persists in Britain and the government’s own hate-crime strategy sets out to increase the reporting of hate crime, acknowledging one of the biggest challenges to the police in tackling it,” Jack Dromey, a British Labour Party politician told the Guardian. Previously published figures reveal that while the increase in hate crime has continued, the level of increase has declined. There was a 46 per cent spike in hate crime immediately after the June 23 referendum. (WION)

Lasting rise in hate crimes in UK after Brexit

Ireland&#39;s Parliament battled through an ill-tempered debate to vote in favour of appealing a European Commission ruling ordering the country to collect billions of euros in unpaid taxes from tech giant Apple. 
 
Parliament voted 93-36 yesterday to support the appeal against the ruling that Ireland must collect 13 billion euros ($15 billion) from Apple. 
 
The decision followed a heated debate in Dublin during which Prime Minister Enda Kenny asserted the EU ruling &quot;could not be allowed to stand&quot;, insisting Ireland had &quot;played by the rules&quot; when it came to its tax treatment of Apple. 
 
The Commission ruled last week that Apple had received favourable tax terms that amounted to state aid -- illegal under its rules. 
 
Ireland&#39;s decision to challenge the ruling reflects fears that accepting the windfall could scare away international investment, undermining a reputation for business-friendliness that is a cornerstone of the country&#39;s economy. 
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Kenny has refused to distribute the 150-page European Commission report to lawmakers, citing &quot;commercial sensitivities&quot;. 
 
Gerry Adams, leader of the&nbsp;opposition party Sinn Fein, spoke out against the appeal. 
 
&quot;We want companies like Apple in Ireland,&quot; he said. &quot;But this doesn&#39;t mean one should turn a blind eye to tax evasion or avoidance.&quot; 
 
The Commission&#39;s ruling against Apple was met with a warning from Washington that the move could damage hugely important transatlantic economic ties. 
 
Ireland&#39;s two main parties, Kenny&#39;s Fine Gael and the opposition Fianna Fail, which supports the minority government, backed the appeal. 
 
But Sinn Fein, which increased its support in elections earlier this year on an anti-austerity platform, vehemently argued that to do so meant &quot;defending the indefensible&quot;. 
 
The party&#39;s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said Apple had operated &quot;a sort of untaxed Bermuda Triangle&quot; facilitated by Ireland. 
 
Opinion polls reflected the divisive nature of the ruling with many people arguing in favour of Apple paying the back taxes. 
 
The government claims Apple has paid the full amount due to the Irish state from 2004 to 2014 and denies it gave it &quot;selective treatment&quot;. 
 
The European Commission meanwhile says Apple paid an effective corporate tax rate of just 0.005 per cent on its European profits in 2014 -- equivalent to just 50 euros for every million.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

The parliament voted 93-36 yesterday to support the appeal against the ruling that Ireland must collect 13 billion euros from the tech giant

Ireland's Parliament battled through an ill-tempered debate to vote in favour of appealing a European Commission ruling ordering the country to collect billions of euros in unpaid taxes from tech giant Apple. Parliament voted 93-36 yesterday to support the appeal against the ruling that Ireland must collect 13 billion euros ($15 billion) from Apple. The decision followed a heated debate in Dublin during which Prime Minister Enda Kenny asserted the EU ruling "could not be allowed to stand", insisting Ireland had "played by the rules" when it came to its tax treatment of Apple. The Commission ruled last week that Apple had received favourable tax terms that amounted to state aid -- illegal under its rules. Ireland's decision to challenge the ruling reflects fears that accepting the windfall could scare away international investment, undermining a reputation for business-friendliness that is a cornerstone of the country's economy. The Commission's ruling against Apple was met with a warning from Washington that the move could damage hugely important transatlantic economic ties. Kenny has refused to distribute the 150-page European Commission report to lawmakers, citing "commercial sensitivities". Gerry Adams, leader of the opposition party Sinn Fein, spoke out against the appeal. "We want companies like Apple in Ireland," he said. "But this doesn't mean one should turn a blind eye to tax evasion or avoidance." The Commission's ruling against Apple was met with a warning from Washington that the move could damage hugely important transatlantic economic ties. Ireland's two main parties, Kenny's Fine Gael and the opposition Fianna Fail, which supports the minority government, backed the appeal. But Sinn Fein, which increased its support in elections earlier this year on an anti-austerity platform, vehemently argued that to do so meant "defending the indefensible". The party's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said Apple had operated "a sort of untaxed Bermuda Triangle" facilitated by Ireland. Opinion polls reflected the divisive nature of the ruling with many people arguing in favour of Apple paying the back taxes. The government claims Apple has paid the full amount due to the Irish state from 2004 to 2014 and denies it gave it "selective treatment". The European Commission meanwhile says Apple paid an effective corporate tax rate of just 0.005 per cent on its European profits in 2014 -- equivalent to just 50 euros for every million. (AFP)

Ireland backs appeal against Apple tax ruling

Germany&#39;s EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger today said it is possible Britain will not exit from the European Union after the June 23 vote. 
 
Oettinger told Germany&#39;s daily Bild that although EU leaders considered the Brexit vote as &quot;politically binding&quot;, &quot;but it is possible that public opinion will tip if the economic situation in the wake of the Brexit vote worsens.&quot; 
 
&quot;In any case, I wouldn&#39;t place any major bets on Brexit,&quot; Oettinger, who has been Digital Economy and Society commissioner in EU bloc since 2014,&nbsp;told Bild. 
 
Once Article 50 &nbsp;- the legal process of leaving the bloc &nbsp;- is triggered, it would start a two-year countdown to Britain&#39;s exit from the European Union. 
 
Oettinger said the longer the British government waited to trigger Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, &quot;the more insecure the situation will become &nbsp;- economically and politically&quot;. 
 
Prime Minister Theresa May has said that Britain would take time to exit the EU, the government needing time to clarify Britain&#39;s exit objectives first. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged more clarity on the timeline with regard to Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

It is possible that public opinion will change if the economic situation in the wake of the Brexit vote worsens, Oettinger told Bild

Germany's EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger today said it is possible Britain will not exit from the European Union after the June 23 vote. Oettinger told Germany's daily Bild that although EU leaders considered the Brexit vote as "politically binding", "but it is possible that public opinion will tip if the economic situation in the wake of the Brexit vote worsens." "In any case, I wouldn't place any major bets on Brexit," Oettinger, who has been Digital Economy and Society commissioner in EU bloc since 2014, told Bild. Once Article 50 - the legal process of leaving the bloc - is triggered, it would start a two-year countdown to Britain's exit from the European Union. Oettinger said the longer the British government waited to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, "the more insecure the situation will become - economically and politically". Prime Minister Theresa May has said that Britain would take time to exit the EU, the government needing time to clarify Britain's exit objectives first. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged more clarity on the timeline with regard to Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Britain may not exit European Union: Germany's EU Commissioner

The European Union is expected to order Apple on Tuesday to pay billions of Euros in back taxes in Ireland in one of its largest such cases after ruling that sweetheart tax deals for the US tech giant were illegal. 
 
The bloc&#39;s competition watchdog, Margrethe Vestager, will hold a press conference at 1000 GMT in which sources told AFP she is set to announce the European Commission&#39;s findings on the case. 
 
Brussels launched an inquiry three years ago into tax breaks that Ireland offered iPhone-maker Apple, in one of a series of anti-trust cases targeting major US corporations that have angered Washington. 
 
A European source speaking on condition of anonymity said they &quot;understand it could be billions&quot; that Apple is expected to repay. 
 
Apple and Ireland are both expected to appeal against any decision which rules that the highly competitive tax breaks that Dublin offered to the Silicon Valley giant amounted to illegal state aid. 
 
Apple has had a base at the southern city of Cork since 1980 and employs 5,000 people in Ireland, through which it routes its international sales, avoiding billions in corporation taxes. 
 
Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a Washington Post interview published August 13, said he hoped to &quot;get a fair hearing&quot; on the matter. 
 
&quot;If we don&#39;t, then we would obviously appeal it,&quot; he added. 
 
&#39;No bias against US&#39; 
 
The US stepped up its fight last Wednesday against the commission&#39;s crackdown on tax avoidance by Apple and other multinational companies, accusing it of unilateralism and overstepping its mandate. 
 
In a white paper, the US Treasury said the commission probe into alleged special tax treatment that certain EU countries gave Apple, Amazon, Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler &quot;undermines the international tax system.&quot; 
 
The EU has made taxes a core issue since the LuxLeaks scandal in which it was revealed that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker&#39;s native Luxembourg gave companies huge tax breaks while he was prime minister. 
 
In October Brussels ordered US coffee giant Starbucks and Italian automaker Fiat to each repay up to 30 million Euros ($34 million) in back taxes to the Netherlands and Luxembourg respectively. 
 
But the Apple case is set to dwarf those by the virtue of the company&#39;s huge turnover. 
 
A US Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment on a possible ruling Tuesday from the commission. 
 
The US has acknowledged the problems around the issue of multinational firms obtaining state aid, in the form of secret and extremely lucrative tax breaks, from Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg for setting up business in those countries. 
 
But it said those deals were made under international treaties and accepted tax practices.&nbsp; 
 
Last week the European Commission denied it was targeting US companies in particular and said that EU rules do not allow national tax authorities to give tax breaks to some companies that are not available to others. 
 
&quot;There is no bias against US companies,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
Washington has also expressed concern about EU anti-trust cases targeting tech giant Google alleging that it has unfairly suppressed &nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Apple has a base in Ireland through which it routes its international sales, avoiding billions of Euros in corporation taxes

The European Union is expected to order Apple on Tuesday to pay billions of Euros in back taxes in Ireland in one of its largest such cases after ruling that sweetheart tax deals for the US tech giant were illegal. The bloc's competition watchdog, Margrethe Vestager, will hold a press conference at 1000 GMT in which sources told AFP she is set to announce the European Commission's findings on the case. Brussels launched an inquiry three years ago into tax breaks that Ireland offered iPhone-maker Apple, in one of a series of anti-trust cases targeting major US corporations that have angered Washington. A European source speaking on condition of anonymity said they "understand it could be billions" that Apple is expected to repay. Apple and Ireland are both expected to appeal against any decision which rules that the highly competitive tax breaks that Dublin offered to the Silicon Valley giant amounted to illegal state aid. Apple has had a base at the southern city of Cork since 1980 and employs 5,000 people in Ireland, through which it routes its international sales, avoiding billions in corporation taxes. Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a Washington Post interview published August 13, said he hoped to "get a fair hearing" on the matter. "If we don't, then we would obviously appeal it," he added. 'No bias against US' The US stepped up its fight last Wednesday against the commission's crackdown on tax avoidance by Apple and other multinational companies, accusing it of unilateralism and overstepping its mandate. In a white paper, the US Treasury said the commission probe into alleged special tax treatment that certain EU countries gave Apple, Amazon, Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler "undermines the international tax system." The EU has made taxes a core issue since the LuxLeaks scandal in which it was revealed that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker's native Luxembourg gave companies huge tax breaks while he was prime minister. In October Brussels ordered US coffee giant Starbucks and Italian automaker Fiat to each repay up to 30 million Euros ($34 million) in back taxes to the Netherlands and Luxembourg respectively. But the Apple case is set to dwarf those by the virtue of the company's huge turnover. A US Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment on a possible ruling Tuesday from the commission. The US has acknowledged the problems around the issue of multinational firms obtaining state aid, in the form of secret and extremely lucrative tax breaks, from Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg for setting up business in those countries. But it said those deals were made under international treaties and accepted tax practices. Last week the European Commission denied it was targeting US companies in particular and said that EU rules do not allow national tax authorities to give tax breaks to some companies that are not available to others. "There is no bias against US companies," it said in a statement. Washington has also expressed concern about EU anti-trust cases targeting tech giant Google alleging that it has unfairly suppressed (AFP)

European Union to charge Apple with multi-billion Euro tax in Ireland

France said on Tuesday it will call on the European Commission to suspend negotiations on a massive trade deal between the European Union and the United States, which it complained are unfairly weighted in favour of the Americans. 
 
&quot;There is no more political support in France for these negotiations&quot; and &quot;France calls for an end to these negotiations,&quot; the country&#39;s junior minister for trade Matthias Fekl told RMC radio. 
 
The EU and US began work on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in 2013, aiming to create the world&#39;s largest free-trade area by the time President Barack Obama leaves office in January. 
 
But the talks have got bogged down amid widespread suspicion in the 28-nation EU that a deal would undercut the bloc&#39;s standards in key areas such as health and welfare. 
 
The setbacks have raised serious doubts that it will be achieved by the end of the year as hoped.&nbsp; 
 
Fekl said there is an imbalance in the negotiations in favour of the US side. 
 
&quot;The Americans give nothing or just crumbs... that is not how negotiations are done between allies,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We need a clear and definitive halt to these negotiations in order to restart on a good foundation&quot;. 
 
France will make this case at a meeting of foreign trade ministers in Bratislava in September, Fekl added. 
 
He did not indicate when or under what conditions the talks could restart. 
 
France&#39;s Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said it would be &quot;impossible&quot; for the two sides to conclude negotiations on a trade deal by the end of 2016. 
 
And Germany&#39;s vice chancellor and economy minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that the negotiations were effectively dead in the water. 
 
&quot;The talks with the US have de facto failed because we Europeans of course must not succumb to American demands... Nothing is moving forward&quot;, he said. 
 
But the European Commission on Monday rejected the German claims and insisted the talks remained on track. 
 
&quot;The ball is rolling right now. The Commission is making steady progress,&quot; Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. 
 
&quot;Talks are now indeed entering a crucial stage but... provided the conditions are right, the Commission stands ready to close this deal by the end of the year,&quot; he told a press briefing. 
 
Behind the scenes, top diplomats have told AFP talks may be suspended until after the US presidential election in November as well as elections in France and Germany next year. 
 
Activists who have opposed TTIP since negotiations began in 2013 say the deal would only benefit multinationals and harm consumers.

(AFP) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

There is a widespread suspicion in the EU that the deal would undercut the bloc's standards in key areas such as health and welfare

France said on Tuesday it will call on the European Commission to suspend negotiations on a massive trade deal between the European Union and the United States, which it complained are unfairly weighted in favour of the Americans. "There is no more political support in France for these negotiations" and "France calls for an end to these negotiations," the country's junior minister for trade Matthias Fekl told RMC radio. The EU and US began work on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in 2013, aiming to create the world's largest free-trade area by the time President Barack Obama leaves office in January. But the talks have got bogged down amid widespread suspicion in the 28-nation EU that a deal would undercut the bloc's standards in key areas such as health and welfare. The setbacks have raised serious doubts that it will be achieved by the end of the year as hoped. Fekl said there is an imbalance in the negotiations in favour of the US side. "The Americans give nothing or just crumbs... that is not how negotiations are done between allies," he said. "We need a clear and definitive halt to these negotiations in order to restart on a good foundation". France will make this case at a meeting of foreign trade ministers in Bratislava in September, Fekl added. He did not indicate when or under what conditions the talks could restart. France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said it would be "impossible" for the two sides to conclude negotiations on a trade deal by the end of 2016. And Germany's vice chancellor and economy minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that the negotiations were effectively dead in the water. "The talks with the US have de facto failed because we Europeans of course must not succumb to American demands... Nothing is moving forward", he said. But the European Commission on Monday rejected the German claims and insisted the talks remained on track. "The ball is rolling right now. The Commission is making steady progress," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. "Talks are now indeed entering a crucial stage but... provided the conditions are right, the Commission stands ready to close this deal by the end of the year," he told a press briefing. Behind the scenes, top diplomats have told AFP talks may be suspended until after the US presidential election in November as well as elections in France and Germany next year. Activists who have opposed TTIP since negotiations began in 2013 say the deal would only benefit multinationals and harm consumers. (AFP)

France seeks halt to talks on skewed EU-US trade deal

The German, French and Polish foreign ministers vowed today to increase ties between their countries when Britain leaves the EU to secure a safer and more effective union. 
 
&quot;Confronted by unparallelled challenges in Europe (we must) intensify cooperation and create a new drive,&quot; Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Witold Waszczykowski said in a joint statement. 
 
They were gathered in the eastern German town of Weimar to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the &quot;Weimar Triangle&quot; political forum. 
 
They vowed to &quot;reinforce the foundations of European integration for a more flexible EU that reflects the different ambitions of member states regarding increased integration&quot; once Britain had left the bloc. 
 
Talks between the 27 EU nations remaining in the bloc are likely to be challenging, as Berlin&#39;s preferred vision of a centralised, federal Europe clashes with proposals for a confederation of nation states popular among leaders of eastern EU members. 
 
The three foreign ministers gathered in Weimar also called for the bloc&#39;s combined foreign and security policies to be strengthened with the creation of an annual European Security Council meeting of EU heads of government. 
 
Their comments came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the refusal of some EU countries to accept Muslim refugees is &quot;unacceptable&quot; and called for quotas to divide the influx throughout the bloc. 
 
&quot;We know that there is no simple answer to these challenges, but we are determined to confront them together in a spirit of renewed mutual confidence,&quot; said the ministers&#39; statement. 
 
The Weimar Triangle, created in 1991, is a consultative body that promotes cooperation and common interests between the three EU states.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

The countries vowed to 'reinforce the foundations of European integration' for a more flexible EU

The German, French and Polish foreign ministers vowed today to increase ties between their countries when Britain leaves the EU to secure a safer and more effective union. "Confronted by unparallelled challenges in Europe (we must) intensify cooperation and create a new drive," Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Witold Waszczykowski said in a joint statement. They were gathered in the eastern German town of Weimar to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the "Weimar Triangle" political forum. They vowed to "reinforce the foundations of European integration for a more flexible EU that reflects the different ambitions of member states regarding increased integration" once Britain had left the bloc. Talks between the 27 EU nations remaining in the bloc are likely to be challenging, as Berlin's preferred vision of a centralised, federal Europe clashes with proposals for a confederation of nation states popular among leaders of eastern EU members. The three foreign ministers gathered in Weimar also called for the bloc's combined foreign and security policies to be strengthened with the creation of an annual European Security Council meeting of EU heads of government. Their comments came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the refusal of some EU countries to accept Muslim refugees is "unacceptable" and called for quotas to divide the influx throughout the bloc. "We know that there is no simple answer to these challenges, but we are determined to confront them together in a spirit of renewed mutual confidence," said the ministers' statement. The Weimar Triangle, created in 1991, is a consultative body that promotes cooperation and common interests between the three EU states. (AFP)

Germany, Paris, Warsaw call for closer ties post-Brexit

The European Union needs a reboot in the wake of Britain&#39;s vote to leave, Italy&#39;s prime minister said Monday as he prepared to meet his French and German counterparts to discuss the fallout from Brexit. 
 
&quot;It is easy to blame Europe for everything, harder to try to build a different Europe that pays more attention to values and less to big finance,&quot; Matteo Renzi said on his Facebook page, explaining why he had called the meeting with French President Francois Hollande and German chancellor Angela Merkel. 
 
&quot;That is what we are trying to do with all the energy we possess.&quot; 
 
Europe&#39;s economic outlook, jihadist attacks, the refugee and migrant drama, the Syrian conflict, and relations with Russia and Turkey were all on the agenda for the talks later Monday on the island of Ventotene, one of the cradles of the European dream. 
 
The big three are hoping to forge a common position ahead of an informal EU summit in Bratislava that will attempt to plot a way forward for the 27 remaining member states. 
 
Renzi admitted Brexit had left the bloc facing tough challenges. 
 
&quot;Confronted with problems, one has a choice: find someone to blame or find a solution,&quot; he wrote. 
 
&quot;We are working to solve the problems. And that means we want a post-Brexit Europe, that has been hit in the heart by terrorism, to relaunch an ideal based on unity and peace, freedom and dreams, dialogue and identity.&quot; 
 
It will be the second round of talks between the three leaders. At their first, shortly after Britain&#39;s June 23 vote, the leaders called for &quot;a new impulse&quot; for the EU. 
 
Critics have demanded less talk and more action over a crisis some states fear could lead to similar referendums in other countries, particularly the Netherlands, which opposes changes to the EU to achieve closer integration. 
 
Coming up with a road map acceptable to all will not be easy, with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia vowing after Britain&#39;s vote to draw up their own plans for a less centralised EU. 
 
Renzi was to welcome Hollande and Merkel in Naples at 1400 GMT before travelling to Ventotene, where they will visit the grave of Altiero Spinelli, one of the founding fathers of the ideal of European integration. 
 
Imprisoned on the island by the fascist government during World War II, Spinelli and fellow captive Ernesto Rossi co-wrote the &quot;Ventotene manifesto&quot; calling for a federation of European states. 
 
In another symbolic move, the leaders will hold a working dinner and press conference on Italy&#39;s Garibaldi aircraft carrier, the flagship of the EU&#39;s &quot;Sophia&quot; mission against people trafficking in the Mediterranean. 
 
It will be the start of an intensive tour for Merkel as she attempts to coordinate a response to one of the EU&#39;s biggest crises in decades and quell fears Berlin wants to monopolise the debate. 
 
After a series of deadly attacks by the Islamic State group, the three leaders are also expected to explore greater cooperation on counter-terrorism and an integrated European security and defence policy, a long-cherished objective that could be easier to achieve now sceptical Britain has departed. 
 
In terms of the economy, Hollande wants an EU investment fund for infrastructure, education, research and innovation to be doubled, according to a French diplomatic source. 
 
Renzi is tipped to unveil a proposal to use part of those funds to restore European cultural monuments. 
 
But while Hollande and Renzi want to tackle Europe&#39;s identity crisis through investments, Merkel is unlikely to be moved by their anti-austerity overtures. 
 
All three leaders have been hit in the polls by varying toxic combinations of refugee crisis, economic slump and terror attacks, with eurosceptic or populist parties gaining ground. 
 
And with 2017 bringing a general election in Germany and the presidential election in France, they will be wary of ignoring opposition to further European integration at home, leaving them little room for manoeuvre. 
 
(AFP)

EU big three are hoping to forge a common position ahead of an informal summit in Bratislava that will attempt to plot a way forward

The European Union needs a reboot in the wake of Britain's vote to leave, Italy's prime minister said Monday as he prepared to meet his French and German counterparts to discuss the fallout from Brexit. "It is easy to blame Europe for everything, harder to try to build a different Europe that pays more attention to values and less to big finance," Matteo Renzi said on his Facebook page, explaining why he had called the meeting with French President Francois Hollande and German chancellor Angela Merkel. "That is what we are trying to do with all the energy we possess." Europe's economic outlook, jihadist attacks, the refugee and migrant drama, the Syrian conflict, and relations with Russia and Turkey were all on the agenda for the talks later Monday on the island of Ventotene, one of the cradles of the European dream. The big three are hoping to forge a common position ahead of an informal EU summit in Bratislava that will attempt to plot a way forward for the 27 remaining member states. Renzi admitted Brexit had left the bloc facing tough challenges. "Confronted with problems, one has a choice: find someone to blame or find a solution," he wrote. "We are working to solve the problems. And that means we want a post-Brexit Europe, that has been hit in the heart by terrorism, to relaunch an ideal based on unity and peace, freedom and dreams, dialogue and identity." It will be the second round of talks between the three leaders. At their first, shortly after Britain's June 23 vote, the leaders called for "a new impulse" for the EU. Critics have demanded less talk and more action over a crisis some states fear could lead to similar referendums in other countries, particularly the Netherlands, which opposes changes to the EU to achieve closer integration. Coming up with a road map acceptable to all will not be easy, with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia vowing after Britain's vote to draw up their own plans for a less centralised EU. Renzi was to welcome Hollande and Merkel in Naples at 1400 GMT before travelling to Ventotene, where they will visit the grave of Altiero Spinelli, one of the founding fathers of the ideal of European integration. Imprisoned on the island by the fascist government during World War II, Spinelli and fellow captive Ernesto Rossi co-wrote the "Ventotene manifesto" calling for a federation of European states. In another symbolic move, the leaders will hold a working dinner and press conference on Italy's Garibaldi aircraft carrier, the flagship of the EU's "Sophia" mission against people trafficking in the Mediterranean. It will be the start of an intensive tour for Merkel as she attempts to coordinate a response to one of the EU's biggest crises in decades and quell fears Berlin wants to monopolise the debate. After a series of deadly attacks by the Islamic State group, the three leaders are also expected to explore greater cooperation on counter-terrorism and an integrated European security and defence policy, a long-cherished objective that could be easier to achieve now sceptical Britain has departed. In terms of the economy, Hollande wants an EU investment fund for infrastructure, education, research and innovation to be doubled, according to a French diplomatic source. Renzi is tipped to unveil a proposal to use part of those funds to restore European cultural monuments. But while Hollande and Renzi want to tackle Europe's identity crisis through investments, Merkel is unlikely to be moved by their anti-austerity overtures. All three leaders have been hit in the polls by varying toxic combinations of refugee crisis, economic slump and terror attacks, with eurosceptic or populist parties gaining ground. And with 2017 bringing a general election in Germany and the presidential election in France, they will be wary of ignoring opposition to further European integration at home, leaving them little room for manoeuvre. (AFP)

Italy calls for reboot as EU big three mull Brexit wreckage

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the European Union of &quot;humiliating&quot; Ankara, and reiterated his government&#39;s demand for visa-free travel in exchange for stemming the migrant flow, in an interview with a German daily. 
 
&quot;The Turkish people are traumatised&quot; by the failed putsch of July 15, Cavusoglu told Bild newspaper, in remarks that will be published on today.&nbsp;Rather than helping Turkey, (European nations) are humiliating us,&quot; he said. 
 
EU-Turkish relations have soured since the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Europe concerned by Ankara&#39;s subsequent crackdown. 
 
Turkey has angrily rejected EU criticism that the purges might violate rights norms Ankara must meet under the agreement in return for visa-free travel and accelerated negotiations for bloc membership.&nbsp;According to Cavusoglu, Turkey has made intense efforts, &quot;like few other nations, to fulfil the conditions of accession to the EU&quot;. 
 
In return, Turkey has received &quot;only threats, insults and a total blockage&quot; from the 28-nation union.&nbsp;&quot;I ask myself, what crime have we committed? Why this hostility?&quot; said Cavusoglu, who on Wednesday accused the EU of &quot;encouraging&quot; the coup plotters. 
 
He again raised Turkey&#39;s demand for visa-free travel for its citizens in the EU, in return for upholding a controversial deal reached in March to stem the flow of migrants to Europe. 
 
&quot;It is clear: either we apply all the agreements together, or we set them all aside,&quot; Cavusoglu said in response to a question from Bild over whether Turkey would allow hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees to try to reach Greece from its shores. 
 
(AFP)

The EU is angered over Turkey's crackdown after the failed putsch, while Ankara says it isn't being recognised for resettling migrants

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the European Union of "humiliating" Ankara, and reiterated his government's demand for visa-free travel in exchange for stemming the migrant flow, in an interview with a German daily. "The Turkish people are traumatised" by the failed putsch of July 15, Cavusoglu told Bild newspaper, in remarks that will be published on today. Rather than helping Turkey, (European nations) are humiliating us," he said. EU-Turkish relations have soured since the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Europe concerned by Ankara's subsequent crackdown. Turkey has angrily rejected EU criticism that the purges might violate rights norms Ankara must meet under the agreement in return for visa-free travel and accelerated negotiations for bloc membership. According to Cavusoglu, Turkey has made intense efforts, "like few other nations, to fulfil the conditions of accession to the EU". In return, Turkey has received "only threats, insults and a total blockage" from the 28-nation union. "I ask myself, what crime have we committed? Why this hostility?" said Cavusoglu, who on Wednesday accused the EU of "encouraging" the coup plotters. He again raised Turkey's demand for visa-free travel for its citizens in the EU, in return for upholding a controversial deal reached in March to stem the flow of migrants to Europe. "It is clear: either we apply all the agreements together, or we set them all aside," Cavusoglu said in response to a question from Bild over whether Turkey would allow hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees to try to reach Greece from its shores. (AFP)

Turkey continues post-coup feud with European Union

The British government pledged today to match European Union (EU) funding for farmers, universities and infrastructure projects after Britain leaves the bloc, to stem fears that key sectors will be left struggling. 
 
The commitment, intended to address uncertainty over the impact of the June 23 vote for Brexit, could cost around &pound;4.5 billion ($5.8 billion, 5.2 billion Euros) a year, finance minister Philip Hammond said. 
 
The commitment applies to agricultural funds until 2020, structural and investment projects signed before the government&#39;s budget update this autumn, and university bids won under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. 
 
&quot;We recognise that many organisations across the UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about the flow of funding they will receive,&quot; Hammond said in a statement. 
 
&quot;That is why, I am confirming that structural and investment funds projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave. 
 
&quot;The government will also match the current level of agricultural funding until 2020, providing certainty to our agricultural community, which play a vital role in our country.&quot; 
 
The cost will depend on the level of applications for funds, and on when Britain leaves the EU. 
 
The government has said it will not trigger the two-year withdrawal process before the end of this year. 
 
&quot;Around about &pound;4.5 billion a year would be the level we would expect,&quot; Hammond said. 
 
Campaigners for Britain to stay in the EU in the June 23 referendum had highlighted the funding benefits of membership to key sectors such a farming and research. 
 
But the Brexit camp said any shortfall could be covered by ending Britain&#39;s contributions to the EU budget, which stood at about &pound;12.9 billion in 2015, after the rebate. 
 
Projects covered by the government&#39;s guarantee include a new facility at the University of Manchester to develop research into graphene -- a material which scientists say could transform consumer electronics -- using &pound;5 million from the European Regional Development Fund. 
 
(AFP)

The commitment, intended to address uncertainty over the impact of the June 23 vote for Brexit, could cost around ?4.5 billion

The British government pledged today to match European Union (EU) funding for farmers, universities and infrastructure projects after Britain leaves the bloc, to stem fears that key sectors will be left struggling. The commitment, intended to address uncertainty over the impact of the June 23 vote for Brexit, could cost around £4.5 billion ($5.8 billion, 5.2 billion Euros) a year, finance minister Philip Hammond said. The commitment applies to agricultural funds until 2020, structural and investment projects signed before the government's budget update this autumn, and university bids won under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. "We recognise that many organisations across the UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about the flow of funding they will receive," Hammond said in a statement. "That is why, I am confirming that structural and investment funds projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave. "The government will also match the current level of agricultural funding until 2020, providing certainty to our agricultural community, which play a vital role in our country." The cost will depend on the level of applications for funds, and on when Britain leaves the EU. The government has said it will not trigger the two-year withdrawal process before the end of this year. "Around about £4.5 billion a year would be the level we would expect," Hammond said. Campaigners for Britain to stay in the EU in the June 23 referendum had highlighted the funding benefits of membership to key sectors such a farming and research. But the Brexit camp said any shortfall could be covered by ending Britain's contributions to the EU budget, which stood at about £12.9 billion in 2015, after the rebate. Projects covered by the government's guarantee include a new facility at the University of Manchester to develop research into graphene -- a material which scientists say could transform consumer electronics -- using £5 million from the European Regional Development Fund. (AFP)

United Kingdom vows to match EU funds, farm subsidies post Brexit

Two Turkish military attaches in Greece fled to Italy, others were caught overseas and some diplomats were on the run after being recalled as part of an inquiry into last month&#39;s failed military coup, Turkey&#39;s foreign minister, Mevl?t ?avusoglu, said on Thursday. 
 
Turkey, which has NATO&#39;s second-biggest armed forces, has dismissed or detained thousands of soldiers, including nearly half of its generals, since the July 15 coup bid, in which rogue troops commandeered tanks and warplanes in an attempt to seize power. 
 
Western allies worry President Tayyip Erdogan is using the failed putsch and purge to tighten his grip on power, but many Turkish officials are frustrated over what they see as a lack of Western sympathy over a violent coup in which 240 people died. 
 
Turkey Foreign Minister told private broadcaster NTV that two military attaches in Greece, a naval officer and an army officer, had fled by car and ferry to Italy, but Turkish officials would seek their return. 
 
?avusoglu said a military attache based in Kuwait had also tried to escape through Saudi Arabia, but had been sent back, as well as two generals based in Afghanistan who had been caught in Dubai by UAE authorities. 
 
The hunt for fugitive Turkish officers and officials overseas expands from the crackdown at home, where tens of thousands of troops, police, teachers and bureaucrats have been detained, dismissed or put under investigation for alleged links to the coup, which authorities blame on a US-based cleric. 
 
 
&quot;TIME HAS RUN OUT&quot; 
 
&quot;There are those who have escaped. There have been escapees among our diplomats as well,&quot; ?avusoglu told NTV in an interview. &quot;As of yesterday, time has run out for those initially called back. We will carry out the legal operations for those who have not returned.&quot; 
 
Interior Minister Efkan Ala was quoted on Thursday as saying almost 76,100 civil servants have now been suspended. 
 
The Greek foreign ministry said the two attaches fled before Ankara asked them to return to Turkey, and before officials cancelled their diplomatic passports. 
 
US officials told Reuters this week that a Turkish military officer on a US-based assignment for NATO is also seeking asylum in the United States after being recalled by the government. 
 
One official said the foreign ministry sent instructions to Turkish diplomatic missions around the world where those suspected of links to the plotters were thought to be working, ordering them back as part of the investigations. 
 
?avusoglu has previously said around 300 members of the foreign ministry have been suspended since the coup plot, including two ambassadors. He said on Thursday two officials in Bangladesh fled to New York, and another official had fled to Japan through Moscow.&nbsp;&quot;We will return these traitors to Turkey,&quot; ?avusoglu said. 
 
 
&quot;PARALLEL STATE&quot; 
 
Erdogan accuses US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of staging the attempted putsch, harnessing his extensive network of schools, charities and businesses built up in Turkey and abroad over decades to create a &quot;parallel structure&quot;. 
 
Gulen denies any involvement and has condemned the coup bid. But he says Erdogan is using the purges to shore up his own power in Turkey. 
 
The abortive July 15 coup and the subsequent purge of the military has raised concern about the stability of Turkey, a key member of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State and battling an insurgency at home by Kurdish militants. 
 
Turkey has been angered by the Western response to the attempted coup, viewing Europe as more concerned about the rights of the plotters than the events themselves and the United States as reluctant to extradite Gulen.&nbsp;That has chilled relations with Washington and the European Union (EU), bringing repeated Turkish warnings about an EU deal to stem the flow of migrants. 
 
Turkey President Erdogan has also repaired ties with Russia&#39;s President Vladimir Putin, a detente Western officials worry may be used to pressure the West.&nbsp;&quot;Sooner or later the United States of America will make a choice. Either Turkey or FETO,&quot; Erdogan told a rally late on Wednesday, using an abbreviation standing for the &quot;Gulenist Terror Group&quot; which is how Ankara refers to Gulen&#39;s movement. 
 
A total of 160 members of the military wanted in connection with the failed coup are still at large, including nine generals, officials have said.&nbsp;The purge inside Turkey also presses on. Turkey has cancelled the work permits of 27,424 people working in the education sector as part of its investigations, Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said on Thursday. 
 
Ankara prosecutors on Thursday also ordered the detention of 648 judges and prosecutors suspended a day earlier, Hurriyet newspaper and broadcasters said. They are among 3,500 judges and prosecutors, a quarter of the national total, suspended in the coup probe, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. 
 
(Reuters)

We will return these traitors to Turkey: Foreign Affairs Minister, Mevl?t ?avusoglu

Two Turkish military attaches in Greece fled to Italy, others were caught overseas and some diplomats were on the run after being recalled as part of an inquiry into last month's failed military coup, Turkey's foreign minister, Mevl?t ?avusoglu, said on Thursday. Turkey, which has NATO's second-biggest armed forces, has dismissed or detained thousands of soldiers, including nearly half of its generals, since the July 15 coup bid, in which rogue troops commandeered tanks and warplanes in an attempt to seize power. Western allies worry President Tayyip Erdogan is using the failed putsch and purge to tighten his grip on power, but many Turkish officials are frustrated over what they see as a lack of Western sympathy over a violent coup in which 240 people died. Turkey Foreign Minister told private broadcaster NTV that two military attaches in Greece, a naval officer and an army officer, had fled by car and ferry to Italy, but Turkish officials would seek their return. ?avusoglu said a military attache based in Kuwait had also tried to escape through Saudi Arabia, but had been sent back, as well as two generals based in Afghanistan who had been caught in Dubai by UAE authorities. The hunt for fugitive Turkish officers and officials overseas expands from the crackdown at home, where tens of thousands of troops, police, teachers and bureaucrats have been detained, dismissed or put under investigation for alleged links to the coup, which authorities blame on a US-based cleric. "TIME HAS RUN OUT" "There are those who have escaped. There have been escapees among our diplomats as well," ?avusoglu told NTV in an interview. "As of yesterday, time has run out for those initially called back. We will carry out the legal operations for those who have not returned." Interior Minister Efkan Ala was quoted on Thursday as saying almost 76,100 civil servants have now been suspended. The Greek foreign ministry said the two attaches fled before Ankara asked them to return to Turkey, and before officials cancelled their diplomatic passports. US officials told Reuters this week that a Turkish military officer on a US-based assignment for NATO is also seeking asylum in the United States after being recalled by the government. One official said the foreign ministry sent instructions to Turkish diplomatic missions around the world where those suspected of links to the plotters were thought to be working, ordering them back as part of the investigations. ?avusoglu has previously said around 300 members of the foreign ministry have been suspended since the coup plot, including two ambassadors. He said on Thursday two officials in Bangladesh fled to New York, and another official had fled to Japan through Moscow. "We will return these traitors to Turkey," ?avusoglu said. "PARALLEL STATE" Erdogan accuses US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of staging the attempted putsch, harnessing his extensive network of schools, charities and businesses built up in Turkey and abroad over decades to create a "parallel structure". Gulen denies any involvement and has condemned the coup bid. But he says Erdogan is using the purges to shore up his own power in Turkey. The abortive July 15 coup and the subsequent purge of the military has raised concern about the stability of Turkey, a key member of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State and battling an insurgency at home by Kurdish militants. Turkey has been angered by the Western response to the attempted coup, viewing Europe as more concerned about the rights of the plotters than the events themselves and the United States as reluctant to extradite Gulen. That has chilled relations with Washington and the European Union (EU), bringing repeated Turkish warnings about an EU deal to stem the flow of migrants. Turkey President Erdogan has also repaired ties with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, a detente Western officials worry may be used to pressure the West. "Sooner or later the United States of America will make a choice. Either Turkey or FETO," Erdogan told a rally late on Wednesday, using an abbreviation standing for the "Gulenist Terror Group" which is how Ankara refers to Gulen's movement. A total of 160 members of the military wanted in connection with the failed coup are still at large, including nine generals, officials have said. The purge inside Turkey also presses on. Turkey has cancelled the work permits of 27,424 people working in the education sector as part of its investigations, Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said on Thursday. Ankara prosecutors on Thursday also ordered the detention of 648 judges and prosecutors suspended a day earlier, Hurriyet newspaper and broadcasters said. They are among 3,500 judges and prosecutors, a quarter of the national total, suspended in the coup probe, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. (Reuters)

Military attaches and diplomats are fleeing Turkey fearing coup trials

NATO said on Wednesday that Turkey&#39;s membership of the military alliance is &quot;not in question&quot; following the failed coup in July, and stressed its &quot;very clear position&quot; of continued support for Ankara. 
 
&quot;Turkey&rsquo;s NATO membership is not in question,&quot; spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement issued in response to &quot;speculative press reports&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey, and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO,&quot; Lungescu said. 
 
The statement comes the day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia to mend fences with Moscow, sparking speculation that Ankara&#39;s close ties with the West could be at risk.&nbsp;In Ankara, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted the Russian visit had no wider agenda but did warn of the possible consequences if relations with Europe did not improve. 
 
&quot;Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years,&quot; Cavusoglu said, as he blasted the European Union for having &quot;encouraged the putschists.&quot; 
 
&quot;If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The Russian media on Wednesday hailed Putin&#39;s meeting with Erdogan as a major breakthrough, with past grievances forgotten in the interests of building new ties. 
 
Early last month, NATO leaders including Erdogan had endorsed the alliance&#39;s largest military revamp since the end of the Cold War to counter a more assertive Russia in the fallout from the Ukraine crisis. 
 
Turkey is NATO&#39;s second largest military power after the United States, and is a crucial ally as the West faces unprecedented conflict and upheaval across the Middle East.&nbsp;In November, Turkish aircraft shot down a Russian fighter jet along the border with Syria, sparking a crisis in ties with Moscow and strong expressions of support from NATO. 
 
Growing hostility to West 
 
Recent reports in the Turkish media, picked up and amplified by the Russian press, have blasted Turkey&#39;s allies for their lukewarm condemnation of the coup attempt and suggested that they may even have had a hand in it. 
 
Erdogan has sharply criticised the United States and the EU for not doing more to show support in the aftermath of the abortive putsch.&nbsp;He has also bristled at their warnings that he should not undermine human rights and democratic norms in the subsequent crackdown which has netted thousands of people. 
 
In the NATO statement, Lungescu recalled that alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg had telephoned Erdogan in the immediate aftermath of the putsch, &quot;strongly condemning the attempted coup and reiterating full support for Turkey&rsquo;s democratic institutions&quot;. 
 
&quot;He expressed support for the elected government of Turkey and respect for the courage of the Turkish people,&quot; she noted.&nbsp;&quot;He also conveyed his condolences for those who had lost their lives during the coup attempt.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey, and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO: Spokeswoman

NATO said on Wednesday that Turkey's membership of the military alliance is "not in question" following the failed coup in July, and stressed its "very clear position" of continued support for Ankara. "Turkey’s NATO membership is not in question," spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement issued in response to "speculative press reports". "NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey, and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO," Lungescu said. The statement comes the day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia to mend fences with Moscow, sparking speculation that Ankara's close ties with the West could be at risk. In Ankara, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted the Russian visit had no wider agenda but did warn of the possible consequences if relations with Europe did not improve. "Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years," Cavusoglu said, as he blasted the European Union for having "encouraged the putschists." "If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault," he said. The Russian media on Wednesday hailed Putin's meeting with Erdogan as a major breakthrough, with past grievances forgotten in the interests of building new ties. Early last month, NATO leaders including Erdogan had endorsed the alliance's largest military revamp since the end of the Cold War to counter a more assertive Russia in the fallout from the Ukraine crisis. Turkey is NATO's second largest military power after the United States, and is a crucial ally as the West faces unprecedented conflict and upheaval across the Middle East. In November, Turkish aircraft shot down a Russian fighter jet along the border with Syria, sparking a crisis in ties with Moscow and strong expressions of support from NATO. Growing hostility to West Recent reports in the Turkish media, picked up and amplified by the Russian press, have blasted Turkey's allies for their lukewarm condemnation of the coup attempt and suggested that they may even have had a hand in it. Erdogan has sharply criticised the United States and the EU for not doing more to show support in the aftermath of the abortive putsch. He has also bristled at their warnings that he should not undermine human rights and democratic norms in the subsequent crackdown which has netted thousands of people. In the NATO statement, Lungescu recalled that alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg had telephoned Erdogan in the immediate aftermath of the putsch, "strongly condemning the attempted coup and reiterating full support for Turkey’s democratic institutions". "He expressed support for the elected government of Turkey and respect for the courage of the Turkish people," she noted. "He also conveyed his condolences for those who had lost their lives during the coup attempt." (AFP)

NATO says Turkey membership 'not in question', stresses continued support to Ankara

Turkey accused the European Union on Wednesday of &quot;encouraging&quot; the plotters on the night of the July 15 coup in an escalating row that has raised questions over Ankara&#39;s future relationship with the bloc. 
 
A day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish people&#39;s confidence in the EU had &quot;unfortunately fallen&quot; in the wake of the coup, saying the bloc &quot;failed a test&quot; on the night of the putsch. 
 
&quot;Let me say openly, this is because the EU adopted a favourable position to the coup (and) encouraged the putschists,&quot; the minister told reporters during a televised briefing in the capital Ankara without expanding further. 
 
He claimed support for the EU, which Turkey has sought to join since the 1960s, had plummeted to some 20 per cent. 
 
Relations between Brussels and Ankara have become increasingly strained since Turkey launched a crackdown, imprisoning and dismissing tens of thousands within the military, judiciary and education in the wake of the putsch which it has blamed on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. 
 
The EU has urged Ankara to act within the rule of law while condemning Erdogan for suggesting the country could bring back the death penalty, abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey&#39;s reforms to join the union. 
 
Ankara has expressed astonishment that no EU official has visited Turkey in the wake of the coup.&nbsp;Cavusoglu&#39;s comments came a day after Erdogan travelled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the first time since Ankara downed one of Moscow&#39;s warplanes in November, triggering a diplomatic crisis between them. 
 
It was his first foreign trip since the failed coup, but the foreign minister said it was not a move to turn Turkey&#39;s focus to the East. 
 
&quot;Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years,&quot; he said, warning that any deterioration in ties would not be Turkey&#39;s fault. 
 
&quot;If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault.&quot; 
 
Russia and Turkey would work together on military, foreign affairs and intelligence, he said, stressing that both were united in seeing the need for a political solution in Syria. 
 
(AFP)

Turkey's confidence in the EU has fallen because the bloc 'failed a test' on the night of the coup, said the foreign minister

Turkey accused the European Union on Wednesday of "encouraging" the plotters on the night of the July 15 coup in an escalating row that has raised questions over Ankara's future relationship with the bloc. A day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish people's confidence in the EU had "unfortunately fallen" in the wake of the coup, saying the bloc "failed a test" on the night of the putsch. "Let me say openly, this is because the EU adopted a favourable position to the coup (and) encouraged the putschists," the minister told reporters during a televised briefing in the capital Ankara without expanding further. He claimed support for the EU, which Turkey has sought to join since the 1960s, had plummeted to some 20 per cent. Relations between Brussels and Ankara have become increasingly strained since Turkey launched a crackdown, imprisoning and dismissing tens of thousands within the military, judiciary and education in the wake of the putsch which it has blamed on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. The EU has urged Ankara to act within the rule of law while condemning Erdogan for suggesting the country could bring back the death penalty, abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey's reforms to join the union. Ankara has expressed astonishment that no EU official has visited Turkey in the wake of the coup. Cavusoglu's comments came a day after Erdogan travelled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the first time since Ankara downed one of Moscow's warplanes in November, triggering a diplomatic crisis between them. It was his first foreign trip since the failed coup, but the foreign minister said it was not a move to turn Turkey's focus to the East. "Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years," he said, warning that any deterioration in ties would not be Turkey's fault. "If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault." Russia and Turkey would work together on military, foreign affairs and intelligence, he said, stressing that both were united in seeing the need for a political solution in Syria. (AFP)

Turkey accuses European Union of 'encouraging' coup plotters

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