EU ‘seriously concerned’ about press rights in Ethiopia

The EU on Saturday demanded an investigation into the killing of an Ethiopian journalist early this month and expressed “serious concern” over the expulsion from the country on Friday of Simon Marks, a reporter who had worked for the New York Times, POLITICO, and other outlets.

“The EU is seriously concerned about the shrinking space for freedom of the media and harrassment, arrests as well as restrictions imposed on Ethiopian and international journalists in Ethiopia,” an EU spokesperson said, in a statement.

“The recent news about the killing of one journalist from the Oromia Broadcasting Network is completely unacceptable and the case must be thoroughly investigated,” the statement said, adding: “The expulsion from the country this week of a journalist from The New York Times is also a matter of serious concern.”

Sisay Fida, the reporter for Oromia Broadcasting Network, was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the town of Dembi Dollo in the western part of the country, on May 9. The motive of the killing is still unknown. The television channel is controlled by the regional government. Oromia is the home region of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Abiy served on the network’s board of directors before taking office.

Marks, who had reported on atrocities committed by the Ethiopian military and its allies in the Tigray region, where a civil war has raged for months, was deported from Ethiopia in the early hours of Friday morning. His press accreditation had been rescinded in March and an appeal was recently denied, though his residence permit in the country was valid until October.

“The European Union will continue to stand up for the role of independent and reliable media all around the world,” the EU’s statement said. “We are committed, in compliance with international human rights law, to safeguarding media freedom and pluralism, as well as protecting the right to freedom of expression online and offline, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference. Freedom of the press is an essential right and as such must be respected.”

EU’s Borrell Says EU Ready to Support Colombia in Crisis Resolution

According to the document, Borrell expressed EU solidarity with Colombia, but stressed the importance of respecting and protecting human rights, including the right to peaceful protest. He urged the Colombian president to find a solution to the current crisis “via dialogue and negotiations, as well as through an inclusive agenda for the youth.”

“High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell held a phone call with the President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez on Friday evening. They discussed the situation in the country and possible support of the European Union in overcoming the current crisis,” the official statement said.

The top EU diplomat expressed readiness to cooperate further on the issue and offered EU support in diffusing tensions, the statement said.

Since late April, Colombia has been grappling with an internal crisis caused by massive protests and street violence, with a new bout of rallies scheduled for the last week of May. Initially, thousands took to the streets to protest against tax reform. Although the reform bill was later withdrawn, protests continue. Labor and student organizations are demanding social and healthcare reforms, the demilitarization of the cities, and the dissolution of the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron forces.

Since the beginning of the unrest, over 1,900 people have been injured in clashes with police. A reported 966 of those casualties are said to be police officers. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of 15, while human rights activists suggest that over 50 have been killed in the ongoing protests.

North Macedonia Gets EU Backing From Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia

… in its bid to begin European Union membership talks from Austria, … to start talks with the EU, saying that separate bilateral issues … Silva, whose country holds the EU‘s rotating presidency, … , which first applied for EU membership in 2004, received a …

Armenian Ambassador welcomes European Parliament’s adoption of annual resolution-report on Turkey

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union, Ambassador Anna Aghadjanian commented on the recent adoption of the annual resolution-report on Turkey by the European Parliament, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.The Ambassador’s comment runs as follows:“We welcome the calls made by the European Parliament in its annual report on Turkey, particularly, those to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to refrain from anti-Armenian propaganda. We urge Turkey to respect these calls, including refraining from any action or rhetoric that may escalate the tension in the South Caucasus, defending the rights of ethnic and religious minorities living in Turkey, including citizens of Armenian descent and Christians, as well as urgently putting in place comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.The resolution of the European Parliament strongly condemns the transfer of the militants and mercenaries from the jihadist groups in the Northern Syria to Lybia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.It is noteworthy that the European Parliament calls on the EU and EU member states to examine the possibility of adding the extremist movement “Gray Wolves” in the EU list of terrorist organizations and to ban the activities of its associations in the EU countries. The EU and its member states are urged to closely monitor their activities and to counter their influence, which is especially threatening for people with a Kurdish, Armenian or Greek background and anyone they consider an opponent”. 

We urge Turkey to respect these calls: Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union

Comment by Head of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union, Ambassador Anna Aghadjanian regarding the adoption of the European Parliament’s annual resolution-report on Turkey

We welcome the calls made by the European Parliament in its annual report on Turkey, particularly, those to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to refrain from anti-Armenian propaganda. We urge Turkey to respect these calls, including refraining from any action or rhetoric that may escalate the tension in the South Caucasus, defending the rights of ethnic and religious minorities living in Turkey, including citizens of Armenian descent and Christians, as well as urgently putting in place comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.

The resolution of the European Parliament strongly condemns the transfer of the militants and mercenaries from the jihadist groups in the Northern Syria to Lybia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

It is noteworthy that the European Parliament calls on the EU and EU member states to examine the possibility of adding the extremist movement “Gray Wolves” in the EU list of terrorist organizations and to ban the activities of its associations in the EU countries. The EU and its member states are urged to closely monitor their activities and to counter their influence, which is especially threatening for people with a Kurdish, Armenian or Greek background and anyone they consider an opponent.

Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic want North Macedonia in EU

Tensions rise at Irish border over EU inspectors with a finger in too many pies

“Burdensome” checks on supermarket pork pies and ham by European Union inspectors risks exacerbating tensions in Northern Ireland, a Cabinet minister has said, calling for the EU to demonstrate common sense.

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, warns that the damage caused by the EU’s “unilateral move to put a hard border on the island of Ireland for vaccine exports in January cannot be overstated”.

Ministers are increasingly worried about the way that the European Union is enforcing checks when goods move from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The checks under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, signed as part of the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU, are meant to stop goods crossing the EU’s border into the Republic of Ireland.

However, the UK Government has complained that the EU is carrying out 20 per cent of its external border checks at the so-called “sea border” in the Irish Sea.

Calling on the EU to “listen to and take into account the experience of people and businesses”, Mr Lewis says that EU checks were now so extreme that supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has difficulties sending its goods to its own shops in Northern Ireland – even though there are no Sainsbury’s stores in Ireland.

“At the moment a big supermarket, like Sainsbury’s, cannot send a box of pork pies or packet of ham from one of its stores in England, Wales or Scotland to another branch in Northern Ireland without going through a burdensome regime of checks and processes to allow it to cross the Irish Sea,” he says.

“In theory, this is to make sure that there is no risk of ‘non-compliant’ goods ending up in the EU’s single market, via Northern Ireland. Except Sainsbury’s does not have any stores in the Republic of Ireland – so such checks are unnecessary.

“They are attempting to mitigate a risk that does not exist. The sooner the EU is able to find new solutions and embrace a more pragmatic approach the better.”

He adds: “It is our hope that the EU will embrace a more constructive approach to the Protocol so that it can support the peace process, be implemented in the proportionate way that we always intended, and ensure the people of Northern Ireland can continue to see the benefits of continued prosperity and stability. That is the only way it can be sustained.

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“I would urge the EU to take the proportionate, risk-based approach that is needed so that we can all look forward to a more positive and optimistic future for the whole of Northern Ireland – one that fully embraces all that it has to offer the rest of the UK and the world.”

War of words with Dublin

Mr Lewis’s comments came as a war of words broke out with Dublin, with ministers incensed by a report from respected RTE journalist Tony Connelly that the UK was “dangerously fuelling tensions” in the province.

In a column on Saturday, Mr Connelly wrote: “The view in Dublin is that UK rhetoric is dangerously fuelling tensions, and raising expectations that the Protocol will be ditched or radically changed.”

He added: “Warning about violence during the loyalist marching season is a subtler part of the message. David Frost, the UK’s Brexit minister, told the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee on Monday: ‘We all know that the late spring and summer in Northern Ireland can sometimes be turbulent. Such rhetoric is seasoning the pot that unionism is stirring.’”

A government official said these suggestions were “just not true. We have always wanted to ensure that changes and any mitigations were made precisely to take the sting out of growing loyalist agitation and anger, rather than for any selfish or narrow political gain”.

The official added: “We are definitely of the view that that has undermined broader support for the Good Friday Agreement. The Irish government has talked up the prospect of violence for a very long time and we are now left to deal with the consequences of that.”

The official added that there was “still a lot of anger across Northern Ireland but particularly in unionist and loyalist communities” about the way Irish ministers had suggested border posts on the island of Ireland would raise tensions.

In 2018, at the height of the Brexit talks, then-Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar warned EU leaders that a return to a hard border would threaten a return to violence in Northern Ireland.

The EU will focus the plane on renewing the fossil fuel tax

The EU is getting closer and closer to agreeing on an aircraft tax, as part of a comprehensive renewal of fossil fuel taxes, to help meet high-emission targets.

EU finance ministers held a wide-ranging meeting in Lisbon on Saturday for proposals to come across Europe for the tax on kerosene fuel used in aircraft, officials told the Financial Times.

Brussels has struggled in previous years to extend fuel tax rules to areas such as air and sea, but the cause has resurfaced with the bloc pledging to reduce EU carbon emissions by 55% over the next decade and a net zero by 2050.

The pandemic aviation industry has previously expressed concern over EU tax plans on kerosene.

In July, the European Commission will propose a complete overhaul of the Energy Tax Directive, which sets minimum tax rates for fossil fuels and has been out of date for almost two decades. The agreement on the changes was hampered by the need to reach a unanimous agreement in the 27 member states.

Brussels has said it will extend the control rules to aircraft and maritime sectors that were exempt from the system. However, European Union finance ministers have expressed less support for extending the directive to maritime transport, with countries on the geographical periphery of Europe expressing concern about the plans, officials said.

The renewal of the Energy Tax Directive will be one of the most politically sensitive sections of the Brussels Green Agreement agenda, as all countries have a veto on tax policy. EU Vice President of Economy Valdis Dombrovskis said the directive was “outdated” and that ministers had indicated “the right political moment to make changes”.

João Leão, Portugal’s finance minister, who chaired the meeting, said he was in favor of expanding his country to the maritime and aircraft sectors to help meet the EU’s ambitious environmental goals.

Some EU countries have run for office to end fuel tax exemptions, and the Netherlands has promised to introduce a national aircraft tax in the absence of an EU-wide agreement.

The renewal of Brussels will also aim to eliminate the exemptions that many Member States offer to sectors such as agriculture, the coal industry and diesel. The commission is also looking at a more stringent system, where taxes on minimum fuels will increase within 10 years, an official said.

Energy taxes are one of the main regulatory tools that Brussels can use to help reduce emissions, making higher-emission technologies more expensive for consumers and businesses. Another significant carbon pricing initiative that the Commission wants to renew is the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is also considering transporting Brussels to cover shipments, aircraft and cars.

During the discussion, some finance ministers expressed concerns about the imposition of double charges on ships and airlines, included in the ETS and renewed rules for energy control, said diplomats familiar with the debate.

The Commission presented an initial plan to ministers to introduce a carbon tax that will tax imports to the EU based on their carbon footprint. The measure, which will be published in July, has raised alarm in countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Brussels has argued that the tax is necessary to protect the competitiveness of EU industry and prevent foreign companies from failing to meet their emissions targets.

Dombrovskis said the border tax will only be introduced “gradually,” as the initial scope will be limited to high-emission imports, such as cement, steel and fertilizers. “We are confident that we will have a consensus on the proposal to gradually adjust the carbon limit over time,” he said.

@mehreenkhn

Member of the European Parliament Maximilian Krah congratulates the Tibet Autonomous Region on its 70th anniversary

Member of the European Parliament Maximilian Krah congratulated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region and praised its development and achievements.

/EIN News/ — Berlin, Germany, May 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maximilian Krah, a member of the German Alternative für Deutschland in the European Parliament and vice chairman of the China-EU Friendship Group, recently announced his views on Tibet through a video on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Maximilian Krah has played an increasingly important role in the European Parliament as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, a member of the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament and a member of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament.

Maximilian Krah talks about Tibet experience and expresses blessings

https://youtu.be/oD0rDcYmsgo

Maximilian Krah revealed that he went to Tibet in China as a tourist for the first time in 2002 and was very shocked by the local development. Maximilian Krah said: “It is difficult for ordinary people to understand Tibet objectively outside of China. so it is important to go there to experience local development and achievements. For example, to protect Tibetan cultural heritage, the human rights of monks have been effectively protected by the state, new temples have been built, and at the same time The old temple was repaired. A large part of this comes from the support of Beijing and Shanghai, including the construction of new schools. The whole of China has participated in the construction of Tibet, which has enabled Tibet to enter the modern life of the new world while preserving its history and culture.”

Maximilian Krah also revealed that he hopes to further strengthen the exchanges between Germany and China and strengthen economic and trade relations. Tibet can also play an important role through tourism and manufacturing, and cooperate with the luxury goods industry in Europe. Maximilian Krah believes that Tibet is an inherent territory of China. During the 70 years since the establishment of the autonomous region, human rights have been effectively protected, culture has been inherited and carried forward, and the economy and living standards have been continuously improved. They have any reason to be proud of their achievements.

In addition, Maximilian Krah expressed his congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and hoped that the Tibet Autonomous Region can make more achievements in ecological environmental protection and cultural heritage protection. As China develops, Tibet will develop better. Maximilian Krah also expressed regret that he did not have the opportunity to visit Tibet because of the epidemic. Maximilian Krah said, “I hope that after the epidemic, we can go to Tibet to see in person what development achievements have been made from 2002 to the present. I heard that the world’s highest high-speed railway to Lhasa has been completed.

They combine history with the future. ”

Maximilian Krah’s sincere words also revealed the importance of establishing cultural exchanges to promote economic and trade development in the context of increasing global uncertainties in 2021. The Tibet Autonomous Region has also celebrated its 70th anniversary. Maximilian Krah said at the end of the video to enjoy this celebration and wish for better achievements in the future.

Overview of the Development of Tibet Autonomous Region

The Tibet Autonomous Region is approaching the 70th anniversary of its founding. The Chinese government’s management of the Tibet Autonomous Region has ensured the equality, unity, mutual assistance, and common prosperity and development of local residents. At the same time, residents in Tibet have the right to participate in the management of state affairs and independently manage the affairs of the region. The Tibet Autonomous Region, like other regions in China, has institutional guarantees and policy preferences.

Since the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region 70 years ago, the Central Government of China has formulated many special preferential policies for Tibet to help the region develop better. The policies cover various fields such as finance, taxation and finance, infrastructure, industrial development, education and health, cultural protection, and ecological civilization. The support for Tibet is constantly increasing, which has greatly improved the production and living conditions of the residents in Tibet, and the residents’ sense of happiness and security is constantly increasing and rising. This is a major achievement.

In 2020, the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in the Tibet Autonomous Region will double that in 2010. The per capita disposable income of rural residents was 14,598 yuan, an increase of 12.7% over the previous year. It has maintained double-digit growth for 18 consecutive years. The growth rate has remained at about 13% in the past five years. This is a shocking growth rate that even exceeds The region with the strongest economy in China. The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 41156 yuan, an increase of 10% over 2019.

In addition, the Chinese government has also invested huge manpower, financial resources, and material resources, using various methods such as law, economy, and administration to effectively protect and develop the excellent traditional culture of Tibet. While maintaining the traditional methods and styles of clothing, food, and housing, the residents of the Tibet Autonomous Region have also absorbed many new modern cultural customs. This is a perfect fusion of tradition and modernity. At the same time, religious freedom is also greatly guaranteed in Tibet. In the Tibet Autonomous Region, all religions and sects are equal, and religious believers and non-believers are treated equally. There are more than 1,700 places for religious activities in Tibetan Buddhism, with approximately 46,000 monks and nuns. In just a few decades, as if spanning thousands of years, the Tibet Autonomous Region has gone from mysterious and backward to bright and prosperous. With the stability and continuous progress of the region, we also look forward to greater achievements in the future, which deserves any recognition and applause in the world.

Contact:

Maximilian Krah

maximilian.krah@europarl.europa.eu

Startseite

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EU’s unjustified sanctions strain China-EU relations: FM spokesperson

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — China is unwilling to see the current difficulties in China-European Union (EU) relations caused by EU’s unjustified sanctions and the responsibility does not lie with China, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday, adding it is hoped that the EU side will make serious reflections.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a query on the European Parliament’s resolution demanding China lifts sanctions on European lawmakers before the China-Europe investment deal can move forward.

Despite China’s solemn position and strong opposition, the EU disregarded facts, twisted right and wrong, and stubbornly made a wrong decision of unilateral sanctions based on lies and disinformation, Zhao said, adding what the EU has done constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs, brazenly violates international laws and the basic norms of international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations.

“China’s decision to sanction relevant EU entities and individuals who maliciously spread Xinjiang-related lies and disinformation and severely harmed China’s sovereignty and interests, is out of the need to safeguard its own interests. This is a necessary and legitimate reaction to the EU’s moves of imposing sanctions and seeking confrontation,” the spokesperson added.

China has the sincerity to advance China-EU relations, but will staunchly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, Zhao said, adding that sanction and confrontation will not be conducive to solving problems, and is not the way how comprehensive strategic partners should treat each other. “Dialogue and cooperation is the right way forward.”

He said the EU side should immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, abandon confrontational actions, properly manage differences through dialogue and communication, to overcome current difficulties and promote China-EU relations back to the right path of dialogue and cooperation.

Stressing the China-EU investment agreement is a balanced and win-win deal, rather than a “gift” bestowed by one side to the other, Zhao said China is sincere about advancing bilateral relations.

“We hope the EU side will work toward the same direction as China, and make the right decision that conforms to its own interests by relying more on rational thinking, rather than emotion,” he added.

In a brief response to media query regarding the issue, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the EU’s “freezing” of the ratification of the agreement does not conform to the common interests of both parties.

European Parliament votes to ‘freeze’ investment deal with

By European Parliament Votes To ‘Freeze’ China Investment DealBrussels [Belgium], May 21 (ANI): Members of the European Parliament on Thursday voted to freeze the legislative process for ratifying the EU’s investment pact with China, until Beijing lifts sanctions against EU lawmakers, in retaliation for the condemnation of human rights abuses in Xinjiang province.

The motion was passed by 599 MEPs, with 30 votes against and 58 abstentions, hurting the prospect of the major economic pact, officially known as the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), Politico reported.

“The European Parliament has adopted the resolution on the Chinese sanctions with 599 yes, 30 no, 58 abstentions. Very substantial. CAI is definitely in the freezer. China miscalculated and shot themselves in the foot,” Reinhard Butikofer, chair of the Parliament’s delegation for relations with China, said on Twitter.

According to the motion, “any consideration of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, as well as any discussion on ratification by the European Parliament, has justifiably been frozen because the Chinese sanctions are in place.”The motion also demands that “China lift the sanctions before dealing with CAI, without prejudice to the final outcome of the CAI ratification process.” It also says that MEPs expect the European Commission “to consult with Parliament before taking any steps towards the conclusion and signature of the CAI.”The sanctions imposed by the EU on China in March marked the EU’s first punitive measures on Beijing since it imposed an arms embargo after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

In retaliation to the bloc’s sanctions, China introduced sanctions against ten European Union officials and four European organizations after accusing them of spreading lies and false information about the Xinjiang region.

Since the signing of the deal by Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, there is growing concern in Europe over China’s human rights record on issues, including alleged forced labour camps and a crackdown in Hong Kong against anti-government protestors. (ANI)

China slams EU’s confrontational approach after European Parliament’s decision

China has criticized the European Union’s confrontational approach after the European Parliament voted to block the investment deal due to Beijing’s sanctions against EU lawmakers, AFP reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing’s sanctions were a necessary and justified response to previous EU measures against Chinese officials over human rights concerns in Xinjiang.

The European Union and China at the end of December approved a major investment pact that ended seven years of painstaking negotiations.

But the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted to refuse to consider the investment agreement between the EU and China, while China’s sanctions against MEPs and scientists are in effect. Beijing says the sanctions were imposed to protect China’s interests.

China has imposed sanctions on relevant EU institutions and staff who are spreading lies and misinformation related to Xinjiang and which have seriously damaged China’s sovereignty and interests, Lijian said.

He called on the EU to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, abandon the confrontational approach and return relations between the EU and China to the correct path of dialogue and cooperation.

According to the European Commission, the investment deal aims to open up the Chinese market and eliminate discriminatory laws and practices that impede equal competition for European companies.

EU foreign direct investment in China since 2000, excluding the UK, has been $ 181 billion. The corresponding amount from China is $ 138 billion.

Haiti – Politic : The European Parliament adopts a resolution on the situation in Haiti

Haiti – Politic : The European Parliament adopts a resolution on the situation in Haiti
21/05/2021 11:01:02

Thursday, May 20, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution (639 votes in favor, 23 against and 31 abstentions) which urges the Haitian authorities to organize free, fair, transparent and credible legislative, local and presidential elections, and to guarantee effective security during these electoral processes.The resolution emphasizes that the failure of the elections in October 2020 brought about a regime of government by decree, and that rumors of failed coups d’etat reflect growing political and social instability in the country. Political opposition and civil society groups claim that President Jovenel Moïse’s term ended on February 7, 2021, in accordance with the position of Haiti’s Supreme Judicial Council, and insist on the appointment of a President provisional. However, President Moïse has so far refused to resign.

The deputies also reaffirm their deep concern at the deterioration of the humanitarian, political and security situation in Haiti. They strongly condemn all human rights violations and acts of violence, in particular the increase in kidnappings, trafficking of children to the Dominican Republic, killings and rapes.

Download the European Parliament resolution :

HL / HaitiLibre

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Statement by President von der Leyen following the Global Health Summit

European Commission Statement Rome, 21 May 2021 Good afternoon,
Thank you Mario,
I am pleased to say that we had an excellent Summit. I would like to report on two strands. First, on the principles that we co…

European Parliament returns to Strasbourg — but few want to follow

Even a vaccine isn’t enough to persuade some European lawmakers back to Strasbourg.

The French government is trying to entice the European Parliament back to its official seat on June 7 after more than a year away during the pandemic. In addition to the renewed prospect of the region’s Alsatian wine lounges, or winstubs, and choucroute (sauerkraut), the Parliament building now has a vaccine center on-site, offering jabs that might be hard to get elsewhere for some.

But it all comes with a catch. There’s still a 9 p.m. curfew in Strasbourg, and travel rules still dictate that all staff would have to quarantine after returning to Belgium.

The result is a reduced three-day session that will be held mostly online — yet another sign that despite the increasing availability of vaccines and scaled-back COVID restrictions, Europe is far away from returning to pre-pandemic normalcy.

“The French push for Strasbourg in June and in the end no one might show up,” said Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP. “The pandemic is not over … To move the Parliament back to Strasbourg at this stage is simply ridiculous — especially for staff with families.”

When the pandemic hit Europe in March 2020, David Sassoli, the European Parliament president, canceled parliamentary sessions in Strasbourg after French authorities designated the area a coronavirus red zone. Since then, sessions have been held in Brussels, partly online and partly in person. But French officials have repeatedly expressed frustration at Sassoli’s decisions to remain in Brussels, urging him to resume sessions in Strasbourg, which is the Parliament’s official home.

Earlier this month, Sassoli said in a note to leaders of the Parliament’s political groups that sessions in Strasbourg would resume in June under a hybrid format. “We are in a sanitary situation that has improved, particularly on the contamination rate,” one Parliament spokesperson said.  

“There is now a possibility in Strasbourg to eat out and sleep in hotels,” the spokesperson noted, adding that the 9 p.m. curfew would be extended to 11 p.m. on June 9 (two days after the start of the session). In addition, Parliament has set up an on-site vaccination center, which the spokesperson said MEPs and staff have used to get their jabs.

But neither the promise of vaccines nor the improved health situation in Strasbourg is sufficient to convince some MEPs to go back to Strasbourg.

Besides France’s curfew, Belgium still requires a week-long quarantine and two COVID tests for anyone who spends over 48 hours in France. And even if MEPs were exempt from quarantine rules, Freund complained that staffers would still be subject to the rules “simply for doing their job.” As a result, Freund said, staffers “could not bring their kids to school and would have to isolate from their families.”

One European People’s Party official added that even for vaccinated individuals, the “digital green certificates” — the Commission’s plan to allow vaccinated people to travel seamlessly through the bloc — will not yet be in place in time for the Strasbourg session.

“We will have to get a test, and the test rooms in the Parliament are already packed,” the official said. “I am going, but honestly I’m not sure what will happen to me.”

“There are still a lot of question marks that we must resolve,” said Assita Kanko, a Flemish MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists. “We stayed in Brussels for so long … This only confirms the fact that we can easily work in Brussels and that we don’t need to go to Strasbourg.”

Those who will go to Strasbourg in June also grumbled that they might spend hours on a train, only to sit in an office and follow group meetings online. “The session will be mostly virtual, so why do we do all this if in the end we will sit in our offices?” the EPP official wondered.

German MEP Andreas Schwab plans to go to Strasbourg in June simply because Strasbourg “is the official institution.”

“But if we do it, we must do it seriously,” he added.