Roberta Metsola

Violation of sanctions and the EPPO -- here are some thoughts we have just published with my colleague Lucia Zoli

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☝️For successful re-socialisation and positive changes in life, convicts need a tailored approach by probation officers and penitentiary institutions. 🗣 That opinion was expressed by National Expert of EU Project Pravo-Justice Olena Kochura at the meeting of the working group on the re-socialisation of convicts within the framework of the implementation of the project “Advancing Justice and Accountability in Ukraine: Strengthening and Support of the Penitentiary System.” 💬 “The unified risk assessment of re-offending, which is used to prepare a pre-trial report and design social and educational work after the conviction, will contribute to understanding the reasons for committing an unlawful act by an individual. This tool, developed with the assistance of EU Project Pravo-Justice, will help to plan individual measures that are needed for the successful re-socialisation of a person,” said Olena Kochura. 🔹 It is extremely important, she said, to make sure that both penitentiary and probation staff believe in the convicted person and motivate him or her to change his or her life. 🤝 Olena Kochura also emphasised the need for close cooperation of all interested parties for the successful reform of the penitentiary system and the development of probation in Ukraine. 💬 “During the implementation of the reform, the synergy of all related parties – Ministry of Justice and stakeholders – is extremely important. There must be a common, single path to follow so that new initiatives complement each other, rather than conflict and inhibit progressive innovations,” added Olena Kochura. #pravojustice #penitentiary #convicts

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#NoCorruptionYesIntegrity Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (#GRECO) today published a report on Slovenia assessing progress made in implementing the recommendations on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. Learn what exactly GRECO concluded regarding Slovenia 👇 : https://go.coe.int/9xL3b

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What’s happening around the world in #SRHRJ? IPPF European Network shares all you need to know in a comprehensive #WeekinReview. Read in full ⬇️

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Pleased to present the first contribution from the Baltic Initiative on European Reform to the ongoing discussion on EU institutional reform. The paper, titled "EU Institutional Reform and Enlargement: Balancing Efficiency and National Interests," authored by Marts I., revisits the core arguments for advancing reforms in EU decision-making. It also introduces important considerations regarding the national interests of the Baltic States and the integration of new Member States following the EU's enlargement. Enjoy your reading! https://shorturl.at/IsLBm #EUReform #BalticInitiative #EUEnlargement #BalticStates #EuropeanUnion #PolicyDebate

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📣 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial solo “peace mission” to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war has stirred significant debates about the trajectory of the Hungarian Council presidency.   👇 Our latest blog article dives into the implications of Orbán’s diplomatic disruption for the EU, examining the challenges it poses to maintain unity among member states, as well as outlining the Hungarian Council presidency priorities.   Read more on the RPP Blog: https://lnkd.in/euKsEYFD

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What do Ursula von der Leyen's Commissioner picks tell us about her priorities and alliances, and how the balance of power across the EU may shift in the next 5 years? Max Bergmann and I discussed the Commission line-up on this week's episode of the Eurofile, then talked to the excellent Simone Tagliapietra about EU climate and energy policy (remember the Green Deal?) and where those ambitions stand today. Really great to branch out a little! https://lnkd.in/enAUc9ys

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🎤 "𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬." (c) In a video interview, Patrick Doelle, from DG HOME, European Commission, highlighted the vital role of migration while discussing the Prague Process Advanced Training for High-Quality Asylum Procedures, organized in Rome in 2018. In this short video with the participants of the training, he emphasized the benefits of the training, particularly how it equips officials to better manage migration challenges and improve asylum procedures, reinforcing the importance of migration as a solution to labor market needs. As many countries grapple with workforce shortages and aging populations, migration offers a sustainable way to meet workforce demands. 💡 #FactsAboutPragueProcess #PragueProcess15years #migration Prague Process International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)

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In June 2024, the execution of the Baka v. Hungary judgment was on the agenda of the Committee of Ministers (CM) of the Council of Europe again - for the ninth time. Despite the key importance of the case to the independence of the Hungarian judiciary, despite the ongoing enhanced supervision process by the CM, several CM decisions (including an interim resolution), and the eight years that have passed since the delivery of the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights, the Hungarian authorities remain totally reluctant to take the general measures required for the implementation. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee welcomes the decision of the CM to urge the Hungarian authorities in a letter to find swift solutions to fully abide by the judgment. This step has rarely been taken by the CM, only in a handful of cases. https://lnkd.in/dRf86Bcr In our latest communication to the Committee of Ministers, we argued that constitutional-level legislative amendments are necessary to guarantee beyond doubt the freedom of expression of judges as required by the ECtHR’s jurisprudence. See our submission: https://lnkd.in/dn5iCxtU #ruleoflaw #Hungary #justice #judicialindependence #freespeech

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💡New AUTHLIB article out now! What is illiberalism? The negation of three liberal democratic principles: limited power, a neutral state, and an open society. 📔Zsolt Enyedi (Central European University, CEU Democracy Institute) explores the concept and its varieties in his Politics and Governance article. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/drfTJz5t

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Pushbacks (summary removals) are unlawful and violate the right to asylum, the right to life and the prohibition of torture 🙅‍♀️ I am very satisfied to see that litigation on the topic is advancing, before various international fora 🙌 Three recent highlights: 👉 The European Court of Human Rights has held a very rare public hearing in two Chamber cases concerning pushbacks at the infamous Evros river border between Greece and Turkey (where hundreds of foreigners are routinely stuck, ill-treated by authorities from both States and left to die on islets even when they have obtained a favourable interim measure decision from the ECtHR: see report https://lnkd.in/e43auHb2 ) 👀 more information on the Chamber hearing: https://lnkd.in/eGzjbcGh 👉 Front-Lex has filed with the support of leading litigators and academics a first-of-its-kind case before the #ECtHR concerning the absurd pushback of a EU citizen at that same border, which likely happened because of discrimination based on the Applicant's looks 👀 more information on the case: https://bit.ly/3Xq4Ivh 👉 The Court of Justice of the EU has ordered Hungary to pay significant penalties for failure to bring his asylum system in conformity with EU law, notably by allowing removals from territory without examination of asylum requests. 👀 more information below Let's keep the good fight everybody!! #echr #humanrights #CJEU

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This #report analyses the ongoing political unrest in #georgia 🇬🇪 following the suspension of its #eu membership negotiations and the contested #parliamentary #elections. #protests against the Georgian Dream party’s governance, allegations of election manipulation, and accusations of increasing #russia 🇷🇺 influence have intensified tensions in #tbilisi. The #europeanunion 🇪🇺 and the #unitedstates 🇺🇸 have expressed concerns over democratic backsliding, further complicating Georgia’s geopolitical standing. This #specialeurasia #analysis assesses the immediate and long-term #geopoliticalrisks to Georgia’s political stability and its implications for regional security. #geopolitics #kavkazfiles #caucasus #georgian #security #riskassessment #politicalrisk #foreignaffairs #geopoliticalintelligence

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🟥 For Bulgaria, the New Migration Pact will mean a restructuring of the international protection process. "The Anatomy of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. - Desislava Todorova, "CLA - Voice in Bulgaria" ⚖️This is the first analysis to examine the introduction of screening of third-country nationals at external borders. This is the first stage of the newly adopted maze of regulations and is particularly relevant for Bulgaria as an external border of the EU. 🧱The regulation on the introduction of screening raises key questions on access to territory, the practical implementation of the processes foreseen in the regulation, trends and risks of circumventing fundamental principles guaranteeing migrants' and refugees' rights. 📌Read the original ⏩https://shorturl.at/s54V9 #refugees #safeterritory #StopPushbacksNotPeople #stopthispact #HumanRightsMatter #StopTheInhumanity

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Military Engagement by EU Institutions Could Severely Damage the EU’s International Standing. Legal Prohibitions and Constraints The Principle of Non-Proliferation The EU is committed to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as outlined in the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. This strategy underscores the EU’s dedication to international treaties and agreements aimed at preventing the spread of WMDs, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Engaging in War and War Crimes If any EU institution, including the EC or EP, were to engage in or support war activities without the explicit mandate of the Member States, such actions could potentially constitute a violation of both EU law and international law. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), individuals, including those in leadership positions, can be held accountable for war crimes. #innovation #management #technology #creativity #futurism #startups #marketing #socialmedia #socialnetworking #digitalmarketing https://lnkd.in/dWxMACn8

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The topic of the high number of violations of international humanitarian law is one of the most critical and disheartening conversations increasingly taking place amongst humanitarian aid actors and donors. Naturally it a topic that needs active restraint by armed actors as a solution, and will not be solved by conversations alone…Nevertheless it is good to see that the EU keeps doing its part to keep the topic at the top of the agenda - including at a side-event of this year’s UN General Assembly Ministerial Week - to discuss how to restore the centrality of international humanitarian law in today’s armed conflicts.

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On 10 April 2024, the General Court of the Court of Justice of the EU annulled the inclusion of Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman on the EU sanctions list for the period 22 February 2022 to 13 March 2023. In this blog, we look at some of the reasoning that led the Court to annul the designations. (Note: Messrs Aven and Fridman still remain subject to EU asset freeze sanctions by virtue of subsequent decisions of the EU authorities.) Read more in this post from Aki Corsoni-Husain, Angelos Lanitis, and Neofytos Makris: https://lnkd.in/eHFn-s_q #EUSanctions #Sanctions #RegulatoryBlog

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✍ A comprehensive research study on how the issue of applicants’ right to know and to access classified information is regulated in immigration-related proceedings in the Member States of the European Union, and whether national frameworks are in line with European standards was published earlier in 2024 by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee. 🔍 The study identified a number of breaches of these standards, which are now specifically highlighted in a policy brief, primarily with the purpose of drawing the European Committee’s attention to these breaches and the need to monitor compliance issues in this area. Read more! 👇

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