Digital Phablet

Tag: Brussels

  • US to Hand Over Senior NATO Roles to Britain and Italy

    US to Hand Over Senior NATO Roles to Britain and Italy

    The U.S. is transferring two major regional NATO commands to European nations as President Donald Trump urges allies to shoulder more responsibility for their defense. Diplomats revealed that leadership of NATO’s Naples command, responsible for the alliance’s southern region, will shift to Italy, while the Norfolk command in Virginia, covering the northern region, will be handed over to Britain. At the same time, the U.S. will take control of NATO’s maritime forces based in the United Kingdom.

    A NATO official stated, “Allies have agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibilities within the NATO Command Structure, giving European allies— including NATO’s newest members—a more prominent role in military leadership.” However, specifics about the changes weren’t disclosed, only indicating they are part of planning for upcoming rotations.

    French outlet La Lettre first reported these developments, which are expected to take several months to implement, according to NATO diplomats who spoke privately with AFP. One diplomat commented, “This demonstrates a practical shift of burden.”

    These adjustments come amid discussions in Washington about reducing Europe’s defense footprint to better address emerging threats like China. Despite these changes, U.S. influence remains central, with continued control over NATO’s primary air, land, and sea commands and retention of the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

    European nations have increased military budgets in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and collectively agreed last year to boost NATO’s defense spending targets. Tensions rose recently when Trump cast doubt on the alliance’s reliability, notably with comments about Greenland, prompting a brief crisis in NATO. However, U.S. NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker has emphasized that the goal is to strengthen the alliance by encouraging Europe to increase its defense contributions, not to diminish American involvement.

    “We’re aiming to make NATO stronger, not to withdraw or reject it. Our focus is on ensuring it functions as an alliance of 32 capable and robust members,” Whitaker said.

  • Cyberattack Hits European Airports, Disrupting Heathrow and Brussels

    Cyberattack Hits European Airports, Disrupting Heathrow and Brussels

    A cyberattack targeting a provider of check-in and boarding system services caused significant disruptions at several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, resulting in delays and cancellations on Saturday. Collins Aerospace, which supplies check-in and boarding technology to numerous airlines worldwide, is experiencing a technical glitch that may lead to delays for travelers departing from affected airports, according to London Heathrow. The parent company, RTX, did not respond immediately outside U.S. business hours.

    The attack has disabled automated systems, forcing airports to rely on manual check-in and boarding procedures. Brussels Airport issued a statement on its website indicating the situation has considerably impacted flight schedules, leading to delays and cancellations. The airport is actively working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

    Travelers scheduled to fly on Saturday were advised by the affected airports to verify their flight status with airlines before arriving at the airport. Berlin Airport also issued a notice on its website, stating, “Due to a technical problem with a system provider operating across Europe, check-in times are longer than usual. We are working on a quick solution.” However, Frankfurt, Germany’s largest airport, confirmed it was not affected, nor was Zurich Airport’s operations impacted.

    The disruption has led most other airports to issue advisories urging passengers to check their flight statuses prior to travel, emphasizing ongoing efforts to restore normal operations amid the cyberattack.

  • EU Designates Seven ‘Safe’ Countries to Expedite Migrant Returns

    EU Designates Seven ‘Safe’ Countries to Expedite Migrant Returns

    Human Rights Advocates Rally at European Parliament Before Asylum Vote

    Human rights activists gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on April 10, 2024, in anticipation of a crucial vote concerning the EU’s Pact on Asylum and Migration.

    In an effort to accelerate the repatriation of migrants, the European Union recently released a list of seven nations it deems "safe." This designation aims to complicate the asylum process for individuals from these countries.

    The European Commission announced that it intends to classify Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia as "safe countries of origin." The decision has faced backlash from various human rights organizations, which argue it could lead to a quicker dismissal of asylum claims from these nations based on an assumption that such claims are unwarranted.

    Magnus Brunner, the European Union’s migration commissioner, emphasized the urgent need to address the significant backlog of asylum applications among member states. “Any measures we can take now to expedite asylum decisions are critical,” he stated.

    With rising public discontent regarding migration issues and the electoral successes of far-right parties in multiple countries, Brussels has been pressured to take a stronger stance on irregular migration and streamline deportations.

    On the same day, the Commission mentioned that potential EU candidate countries could also qualify as safe territories. However, there are exceptions to this designation, particularly during times of conflict, as seen with Ukraine.

    In 2015, the EU attempted to publish a similar list but retracted it following contentious debates about Turkey’s inclusion as a candidate for membership.

    The recent list can be updated over time based on countries that currently have a high volume of applicants seeking asylum. For instance, several EU member states already maintain their own lists of "safe" countries; France’s list includes Mongolia, Serbia, and Cape Verde.

    The goal of this EU initiative is to standardize rules and ensure all member states operate under the same criteria. While member nations can add new countries to the EU’s roster, they cannot remove any existing entries. Individual assessment of asylum cases will continue to be mandatory, ensuring that established protections are upheld and that applicants aren’t outright denied.

    Before it can take effect, the plan must receive endorsement from both the European Parliament and member states. However, it has already attracted criticism from human rights activists.

    The organization EuroMed Rights expressed concern, noting that several countries on the EU’s list are known to have documented human rights violations and inadequate protections for their citizens and migrants. "Labeling them as ‘safe’ is both misleading and perilous," they posted on social media.

    According to the EU border agency Frontex, irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 38%, falling to 239,000 last year after nearly a decade of record-high numbers in 2023.

    Following strong calls led by countries like Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands for new legislation focusing on expedited returns, less than 20% of individuals ordered to leave the EU actually return to their home country. Last month, the European Commission proposed a reform of the EU’s return system, allowing for the establishment of migrant return centers outside of Europe.

    On Wednesday, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi declared the EU’s latest initiatives a triumph for the Italian government.