Merkel and the Defense of the Liberal Order

In her New Year’s address to the nation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel looked ahead to the coming months, which just might give Europeans the political will to pull together. Failing that, the EU risks further disintegration driven in part by abysmal and detached leadership in Brussels. Merkel’s address took place a mere thirteen days after a terrorist attack in Berlin that killed twelve people and injured dozens, many critically. Then and in her New Year’s address, Merkel warned that Germany would become a target for Islamist terrorists. Her speech focused…

EC launches consultation on reform of association agreement with Tunisia

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to allow all interested parties to submit their views regarding the reform of the current association agreement with Tunisia, which will end on 22 February. The initial texts for the negotiation of a free trade agreement are divided into 11 areas, including one devoted to agricultural products. According to the basic document of the EU proposal on the trade of agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fishery products, the main points to be negotiated are:   1. The list of sensitive products.…

Italy to step up deportations after migrant death protest

– Italy vowed Wednesday to increase deportations of migrants whose asylum requests have been rejected, after a riot in a reception centre sparked by the death of a young woman. The country, which has been on the frontline of migrants arriving across the Mediterranean from North Africa, is pushing for an agreement with Niger and a renewed deal with Tunisia to facilitate returns. “We have saved many lives but we cannot accept rule-breaking. We need to speed up deportations,” Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, the country’s former interior minister, said in…

Egypt taking all routes to end Libyan crisis: Foreign Ministry spokesman

The spokesman responded to statements from Tunisia’s president on the potential for a three-way summit between Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia to discuss political transition in Libya Egypt is committed to establishing peace in Libya, whether through trilateral talks with Tunisia and Algeria, or in direct dialogue with Libya, its neighbouring countries, the United Nations, the African Union or the Arab League, Egypt’s foreign affairs ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid told Ahram Online on Wednesday.Abu Zeid’s comments come in response to statements by Tunisian President Beji Essebsi to Tunisian Leaders Magazine…

Green state premier wants Maghreb states declared safe havens

The state premier of Baden-Württemberg wants Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria declared safe havens. Asylum seekers from these countries already are rarely granted permission to remain in Germany. Winfried Kretschmann, the only Green state premier in Germany, will not be making any friends within his party with his latest statement. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post,” he said that his state government would be prepared to support the classification of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria as safe countries of origin, making it easier for Germany to deport rejected asylum seekers who…