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EC Sets out Principles of Economic Integration of Migrants
January 10, 2018
The European Commission (EC) has signed an agreement with a group of trade unions and business organizations called the EU Social and Economic partners setting out "key principles for the integration of refugees into the labour market" as a model of action at the European and national levels.
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CoE Chief Seeks Review of Romanian Judicial Reforms
January 09, 2018
Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland has published a letter to Romanian President Klaus Iohannis calling for the country's authorities to seek advice from the CoE's constitutional body the Venice Commission on the compliance of a set of proposed reforms to the judiciary with "fundamental rule of law standards."
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Article: Polish Sanctions Decision Is an EU "Gamble"
January 09, 2018
An article in The Economist asserts that the European Commission's decision to trigger an EU sanctions procedure against Poland for measures aimed at reducing the independence of the country's judiciary could "backfire" and lead merely to more Polish claims of foreign political meddling if EU member states fail to advance the sanctions process.
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Swiss President Supports Vote on Future EU Relations
January 09, 2018
Reuters reports that Swiss President Doris Leuthard has suggested a "fundamental referendum" to clarify the direction of Switzerland's future relations with the EU and whether to pursue a "framework treaty" with the bloc would be helpful.
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Hungary Confirms Plans to Block EU Sanctions on Poland
January 09, 2018
Bloomberg reports that the government of Hungary has announced it will block any sanctions against Poland under the "Article 7" procedure launched by the European Commission over the country's judicial reforms and will oppose calls from Western EU governments to link development funding in the bloc with the observance of rule-of-law and human-rights norms.