Agroup of political parties backing Ursula von der Leyen for a second term in one of the most powerful jobs in Brussels at the head of the European Commission is planning to call for further migration reforms, similar to the UK’s Rwanda policy, to head off the rise of the far right. 

The European People’s party (EPP), an umbrella group of centre-right and conservative parties, has said in the final draft of its manifesto ahead of elections to the European parliament in May that it wants a series of deal with non-EU countries with a view to deporting irregular migrants for asylum processing in “safe” third countries.

The draft advocating a fundamental change in European asylum law will be discussed at the EPP’s annual congress in Bucharest on Wednesday.

But the hardening of migration policy is likely to inflame tensions within parliament and create external political risks for von der Leyen, who must represent the interests of the entire bloc and not one political group in parliament, where the EPP is the largest grouping.

She will be formally selected as the EPP’s official candidate for the European Commission presidency in a vote in Romania on Thursday – meaning that it will back her for a second term in office. 

One Brussels insider said “the socialists will go mad with this” – a reference to the Socialists and Democrats, the second-biggest voting bloc in the European parliament.

“Yet another unsavoury EPP chunk of red meat, meant to attract the far-right vote. It will not work. All the EPP strategy has achieved over the past years, is making the far right bigger. So if they know it doesn’t work, why do they stubbornly repeat the same tactics each time?” said Sophie in ‘t Veld, a Dutch MEP, and the lead representative for the liberal Renew group on the parliament committee for civil liberties, justice and home affairs.

The EPP represents centre-right parties across Europe, including government parties in Greece, Poland, Ireland, Latvia, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Romania, Finland and Luxembourg.

“We want to implement the concept of safe third countries. Anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there,” its manifesto says.

But, in what could be seen as a bid to set itself apart from the UK’s controversial Rwanda policy, its manifesto stresses that the “criteria for safe countries shall be in line with the core obligations of the Geneva Refugee Convention and the European convention on human rights”.

It says that neither of the conventions “include the right to freely choose the country of protection.”

Developing the theme further it says that following the “implementation of the third country concept” it proposes that the EU then “admit a quota of people in need of protection through annual humanitarian quotas of vulnerable individuals”.

The publication of the manifesto and the launch of the EPP campaign could be start of a tricky period for von der Leyen.

“I don’t think she will have any difficulty among member states, but the parliamentary vote is another game altogether,” said one diplomat.

While very little legislation is left to negotiate, the bumps on the road to June act as a reminder of how von der Leyen came to power in 2019 as a last minute compromise candidate who was voted in with a wafer thin majority five years ago. Story by Lisa O'Carroll in Brussels, The Guardian

By JULIUS MBALUTO 

Many people are unable to access their Facebook and instagram accounts due to a worldwide outage. many users report that they were strangely logged out of their account with the message, "Session, expired"

When they tried to recover their accounts either using their mobile number or email, they were prompted to try again. Some successfully changed their passwords but even then, their accounts were blocked. Tracking website down detector indicate that the outage is global. 

More to follow...

NAIROBI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday called on the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to enhance regional integration efforts, positioning East Africa as a model for the continent.

Ruto also pointed out that EALA, and other regional parliaments, should also play their role in making the Africa Continental Free Trade Area the next hub of global investment, trade and industry.

"To do this, we have to complete the implementation of all the pillars of EAC integration and critically align our integration agenda with the broader African transformational paradigm under the Africa We Want," he said during the official opening of the third meeting of the second session of the fifth EALA in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

According to a statement issued by the presidency, Ruto said the continent was wealthy and only needed to have its assets properly valued, noting that Africa would soon be the largest single market in the world.

The Kenyan leader said the EALA should help change the narrative of Africa from a poor continent ridden with conflict and disease to that of immense opportunities.

He said EALA was well-placed to reposition the continent as a destination of great potential and investment.

"It's not tenable for Africa to continue being profiled as a continent of poverty, conflict and disease, yet we have enormous resources, including renewable energy and arable land that, if well used, can transform the lives of our people," Ruto said.

He said EALA must provide a strong framework for sustainable competitive advantage in emerging hi-tech fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and machine learning.

According to Ruto, the use of technology will enable the region to effectively tackle threats and harness opportunities in a rapidly digitizing global economy.

He emphasized the need for EALA legislators to lend their support to the efforts to roll back the effects of climate change, and especially the declaration of the African Climate Summit held last September.

Ruto said the declaration defines a strong and distinctly African contribution to the global discourse on climate change, humanity's foremost existential challenge.

He said climate action and sustainable development will help boost investment in Africa and kick-start a green industrial revolution.

Ruto called for a new financing mechanism that is fair and equitable to countries of the Global North and Global South alike, noting that there was a problem in the international financial system.

EAC Council of Ministers Chairperson Deng Alor Kuol, who is also the minister for EAC Affairs in South Sudan, said peace and stability remain key to increased trade and investments in the region. - Xinhua

The 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opened in Zanzibar yesterday with calls for stronger action to ensure that access to justice becomes a reality for all 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens.

In her remarks to the opening ceremony on 4 March 2024, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, told more than 400 ministers, senior government officials, and other dignitaries from across the world's six regions:

"It is our responsibility to drive forward the paradigm shift agreed at our last meeting in Mauritius to deliver on the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration and ensure that people of the Commonwealth know they have access to justice because they can taste it, see it and feel it."

In light of escalating crises around the world, she commended the work of Commonwealth law ministers while calling for even greater emphasis to be placed on justice as an "essential strength" in overcoming the current challenges.

The Secretary-General urged ministers ahead of their deliberations to dig deeper with rigour and courage to ensure that the commitments are not just words on paper but the lived experience of all.

The meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who underscored the crucial role of law in addressing unprecedented global challenges and described the meeting as a timely opportunity to cooperate on strengthening legal systems.

She said:

"This forum will open doors for further collaboration, innovation, and collective action as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our societies.

"Together, we can build a better future where justice prevails, and the rights of every individual are protected to sustain sustainable development across Commonwealth nations."

Reflecting on the meeting's theme, 'How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice', the President highlighted her government's use of technology to enhance legal services, including through the rollout of time-saving e-courts.

She also spoke about the 'Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign', which offers legal aid and information to citizens on various issues, including gender-based violence and dispute resolution.

Hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania, the biennial meeting is the principal decision-making body for law ministers from the 56 Commonwealth countries.

Over the next four days, ministers will deliberate on the policy and strategic actions required to address access to justice challenges, especially for women, people with disabilities and those living in poverty.

Ministers will also exchange innovative practices on evidence-based policymaking and the effective use of digital resources to bridge gaps and enhance the delivery of justice services.

More than 5.1 billion people – two-thirds of the world's population – lack meaningful access to justice. Lost income and stress-related illness due to seeking legal redress can cost countries up to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product every year.

Hon Ambassador Dr Pindi H. Chana, the meeting's Chair and the United Republic of Tanzania's Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, said the conference would facilitate a meaningful dialogue to overcome legal hurdles facing countries.

She added:

"From promoting access to justice to strengthening legal frameworks, our discussions over the coming days will contribute to shaping the future of law and governance within the Commonwealth countries. Together, we can build a Commonwealth where justice and equality reign supreme."

A moment of silence was observed during the ceremony to honour the late President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who passed away on 29 February 2024.

Alongside the meeting, a series of side events are being organised to ensure diverse perspectives, from disability inclusion to digital trade law, contribute to ministerial discussions.

A statement summarising the meeting outcomes will be issued on 8 March 2024, which will support countries in realising the mandates set out in the Commonwealth Access to Justice Declaration – a commitment by all 56 member countries to ensure universal access to justice.