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18th year reporting on civil liberties and the state in the European Union (updated 29.7.16) Editor: Tony Bunyan
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July 2016
EU: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (29.7.16): including Turkish coup increases migration to Greece and analysis of EU relocation and resettlement schemes.
EU: Over 3,000 migrants dead or missing in 2016
The latest figures from the IOM show that 3,034 migrants have died or gone missing trying to reach Europe in 2016. The organisation has recorded 251,557 arrivals by sea this year so far. May was the deadliest month so far, with 1,138 people dying.
See: IOM: Mediterranean Update: Migration Flows Europe: Arrivals and Fatalities (29 July 2016, pdf)
UK: Burger chain holds fake training day to shop immigrant workers to the Home Office (The Canary, link):
"Burger restaurant chain Byron has come under fire after it has been reported that in early July its London managers held a training exercise that served as a front for immigration control to interview and arrest a number of its migrant staff members.
The Spanish language website El Iberico quotes a source from within Byron that says on 4 July, Byron migrant workers from as many as 15 of its branches were brought to a secret location under the belief that they were undergoing training. Within minutes, immigration officers arrived with photographs and names of migrant staff members, predominantly from Latin America."
And see: Protests taking place across London over Byron Burgers treatment of migrant employees (Migrants' Rights Network, link)
UK: Annual figures released on deaths following police contact and police use of firearms
There were 200 deaths during or following police contact in England and Wales between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, according to the latest figures released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. There were 21 road traffic fatalities; three fatal police shootings; 14 deaths in or following police custody; 60 apparent suicides following police custody; and "102 other deaths following police contact that were independently investigated by the IPCC."
See: IPCC report: Independent Police Complaints Commission, Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 2015/16 (pdf)
EU: Policy cycle on serious and organised crime: "illegal immigration" report and other documentation
The EU's policy cycle on serious and organised crime is supposed to coordinate the actions of Europol and Member States' law enforcement priorities in order to deal with a series of cross-border "threats", identified by Europol and subsequently approved by the Council of the EU. Amongst the current priorities is "facilitated illegal immigration". A leaked Europol report gives an overview of work undertaken during 2016.
See: NOTE: EU Policy Cycle: Monitoring of the Operational Action Plans 2016 - Priority "Illegal Immigration" (9931/16, EU RESTREINT/EU RESTRICTED, 9 June 2016, pdf)
UK: Post-Brexit racism: incidents of hate across the country, proposed government response criticised
"The full extent and true nature of the blatant hate that has beset post-Brexit Britain is today detailed for the first time after The Independent was given exclusive access to a database of more than 500 racist incidents compiled in the weeks since the EU referendum.
The hatred that has divided British society in the past month features F*** off to Poland letters in Tunbridge Wells, wealthy London diners refusing to be served by foreign waiters, dog excrement shoved through letter boxes in Rugby, and racist abuse from children as young as ten."
UK: Security services spied on 20 high-profile people in questionable operations (The Guardian, link)
"British security services snooped on 20 high-profile individuals in operations that were either unjustified, or may have been unjustified, according to previously withheld information.
The disclosures came during an investigatory powers tribunal hearing brought by Privacy International against bulk data collection by the intelligence agencies.
Information released on Wednesday by government lawyers on behalf of GCHQ and MI5 shows that between 2009 and 2013 there were three searches into high-profile individuals by three intelligence officers that were not operationally justifiable.
In the same period there were another 17 searches, by five officers, which may not have been operationally justifiable. The lawyers for the security services said there were no records of conversations with those officers, making it not possible to ascertain whether they were in fact operationally justifiable."
UK-EU: Brexit Begins: an overview of the legal issues (EU Law Analysis, link):
"The nature of the future relationship between the UK and the EU, the question of Scottish independence and membership of the EU, increasing calls for unifying Ireland, the risk of Eurosceptic contagion affecting the rest of the EU and the nature, scope and focus of the new 27 member bloc EU are all huge existential questions, the implications of which will reverberate for years to come.
The more immediate legal question to address, and one that has been largely side-lined by the bigger picture problems, is that of the actual process of extricating the UK from the EU legal system.
The process for withdrawal is not without uncertainty. The new process for withdrawal is set out in article 50 of the Treaty on European Union and has only been in force since 2009, when the Treaty of Lisbon came into force. Thus, the process is nascent, without legal precedent and ambiguous."
Statewatch News Online, 28.7.16 (pdf): Collection of recent coverage. Fifty stories and refugee crisis news (daily list).
Council of the European Union: Exit-Entry, Discrimination, Equal treatment, Maritime Security and Banned exports,capital punishment, torture etc
1. EXIT-ENTRY SYSTEM (EES): Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States of the European Union and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes and amending Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 and Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 (LIMITE doc no: 10880-16, pdf):
"Delegations will find in the Annex to this Note compromise suggestions submitted by the Presidency on the operative part of the draft Regulation setting up the Entry/Exit System. The compromise suggestions reflect the discussions and the relevant contributions by delegations put forward during the first reading of the draft Regulation.
The new changes are highlighted in bold/underline and bold/strikethrough. The changes already included in the previous version of the text (doc. 9578/16) are highlighted in underline/strikethrough."
Includes extending access to "designated authorities" not just law enforcement agencies:
"This Regulation also lays down in its Chapter IV the conditions under which Member States' designated (law enforcement - deleted) authorities and the European Police Office (Europol) may obtain access for consultation of the EES for the purposes of the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences or of other serious criminal offences."
2. EQUAL TREATMENT: Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (LIMITE doc no: 9332-REV-1.16, pdf): Council developing its negotiating position prior to entering trilogue with the European Parliament:
"At its meeting on 24 May 2016, the Working Party on Social Questions continued its work on the above proposal. The discussion focused on a set of drafting suggestions prepared by the Presidency. PL reaffirmed its general scrutiny reservation and its parliamentary scrutiny reservation."
3. As above: Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (LIMITE doc no: 10561-16, pdf): "Delegations will find attached a set of drafting suggestions prepared by the Presidency."
4. As above: Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (LIMITE doc no: 9729-16, pdf) Consolidated Council negotiating text with Member States' position.
5. MARITIME SECURITY: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency (LIMITE doc no: 10545-REV-1.16, pdf):
"The Presidency therefore suggests to include the modifications to that proposal, which were agreed with the Parliament at the trilogue on 21 June 2016, in this proposal without changes. For ease of reference, those modifications are marked in bold/ strikethrough italics."
"The Agency shall, in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Fisheries Control Agency, each within their mandate, support national authorities carrying out coastguard functions at national and Union level, and where appropriate, at international level."
See also: Securing the high seas: Maritime Security Strategy progress report (Statewatch News):
"There seems to be significant interest in the CISE (Common Information Sharing Environment Initiative), which is supposed to join up all maritime surveillance systems operated by EU and national agencies - for example EUROSUR, maritime safety systems, fisheries monitoring systems, military surveillance tools and beyond."
6. EXPORTING BANNED GOODS: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (First reading) - Confirmation of the final compromise text with a view to agreement (LIMITE doc no: 10562-16, pdf). Amends Council Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005.
Final "compromise" text and: "It has been signaled that the European Parliament might be in a position to adopt its position at first reading in the plenary session on 12-15 September 2016."
EU quiet as Erdogan jails dozens of journalists (euobserver, link):
"Turkish authorities have extended their crackdown on media and, in one case, indicted a financial analyst for writing a critical report on the post-coup investment climate.
The government said on Wednesday (28 July) that it would shut down three news agencies, 16 TV channels, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers and 15 magazines.
It also issued arrest warrants for 47 journalists and media executives, most of whom used to work for the government-critical Zaman newspaper, which had been seized by authorities in March prior to the failed coup earlier this month, or for the Feza Media Group that owned Zaman."
EU gives Poland three months to address rule-of-law concerns (euractiv, link):
"The European Union today (27 July) handed Poland a three-month deadline to reverse changes to its constitutional court to meet EU concerns over the rule-of-law and democracy.
The move is the second step in an unprecedented procedure which could eventually see Warsaws voting rights suspended in the European council of ministers, the EUs most important decision-making body."
See: Commission Press release: Rule of Law: Commission issues recommendation to Poland (pdf)
UK: Parliament: Justice Committee: Prison reform inquiry (link)
"Inquiry status: open - accepting written submissions - Accepting written submissions; the deadline is Friday 30 September 2016.
As details of the reforms are still emerging, we pose high-level questions in our inquiry's terms of reference. In doing so we wish to seek overall views initially which will be followed up in greater detail with a series of sub-inquiries following the publication of the White Paper expected in October 2016."
Terms of reference (link) and Send a written submission (link)
EU: Council rotating presidencies: decision on revised order (link):
"Following the UK decision to relinquish the Council presidency in the second half of 2017, the Council decided to bring forward by six months the order of presidencies, starting from 1 July 2017.
It also decided to add Croatia, which was not yet a member state at the time of the original decision, for the period January-June 2020."
UK: Home Affairs Select Committee report: The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q1 2016) (pdf):
"The Home Office releases immigration statistics on a quarterly basis. The statistics provide an overview of the Home Offices work on immigration control, entry clearance, asylum and enforcement, and provide a platform for us to assess the performance of the Department, and particularly the UK Visas and Immigration, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force directorates."
France, Turkey and human rights: is a state of emergency the new normal? (The Conservation, link):
"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency in the wake of the failed coup of July 15. Its not yet clear how the President intends to interpret the powers awarded to him in this situation but there are ongoing concerns that his government will clamp down on human rights.
Indeed, explaining the decision, deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said: "Turkey will derogate the European convention on human rights insofar as it does not conflict with its international obligations."
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (26.7.16)
UK: Hate crime policing to be reviewed after spike in reports (BBC News, link):
"Police handling of hate crime is to be reviewed after a sharp rise in incidents following the EU referendum, the home secretary is to announce.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will analyse how forces in England and Wales respond, Amber Rudd will say. It comes after figures showed there have been more than 6,000 reports of hate crime to police since mid June."
UK: Home Affairs Select Committee: diversity in police forces
Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee, said:
This is a complacent, perfunctory and rushed response from the Home Office. The lack of progress on ethnic diversity in police forces is a serious and embarrassing problem and we made strong, practical recommendations about how this must improve.
As our Report stated, the current position is lamentable, and has so far failed to achieve any significant progress. That is why our Report called on the Home Office and Ministers to show leadership by requiring innovation and rapid action from those directly responsible for delivering change."
See: Government response (pdf) to the Committee's Report (pdf)
European use of military drones expanding (Drone Wars UK, link):
"Two weeks ago a new coalition of European civil society groups (including Drone Wars UK) launched a Call to Action on Armed Drones at a meeting in Brussels attended by, amongst others, US drone whistleblowers Cian Westmoreland and Lisa Ling.
The European Forum on Armed Drones (EFAD) launch was on the eve of an important European Parliament meeting, jointly organised by the subcommittee on Human Rights and the Subcommittee on Security and Security and Defence, focusing on the human rights impact of armed drones in counter-terrorism operations."
UK: New trials for delivering goods by drones (BBC News, link):
"The government's getting together with the retail giant Amazon to start testing flying drones that can deliver parcels to your door. Amazon's paying for the programme, which will look at the best way to allow hundreds of robotic aircraft to buzz around Britain's skies safely.
The company claims it'll eventually mean small parcels will arrive at your house within 30 minutes of ordering them online. Ministers say they want to pave the way for all businesses to start using the technology in future, but they will still have to convince the public that having automated drones flying around is both safe and won't invade people's privacy."
UK: CONTEST: Annual report for 2015 on the UK's counter-terrorism strategy
The annual report of the UK government on its counter-terrorism strategy, covering the year 2015, was published on 21 July. Amongst other things, the report includes statistics on the "effective use of proportionate counter-terrorism powers," noting that the power to cancel or refuse to issue passports to British passport holders was used 23 times; powers to seize and temporarily retain travel documents at ports have been used 24 times; and that two Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (essentially a form of internal exile) were in force "in the last quarter of 2015".
See: CONTEST: The United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering Terrorism: Annual Report for 2015 (pdf)
EU: The future of national data retention obligations How to apply Digital Rights Ireland at national level? (European Law Blog, link):
"On 19 July, Advocate General (AG) Saugmandsgaard Øe delivered his much awaited opinion on the joined cases Tele2 Sverige AB and Secretary of State for the Home Department, which were triggered by the Court of Justices (CJEU) ruling in Digital Rights Ireland, discussed previously on this blog. As a result of this judgment, invalidating the Data Retention Directive, many Member States which had put in place data retention obligations on the basis of the Directive, were confronted with the question whether these data retention obligations were compatible with the right to privacy and the right to protection of personal data, guaranteed by Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Charter). Hence, without a whisper of a doubt, several national legislators eagerly await the outcome of these joined cases, in the hope to get more guidance as to how to apply Digital Rights Ireland concretely to their national legislation. The large number of Member States intervening in the joined cases clearly shows this: in addition to Sweden and the UK, no less than 13 Member States submitted written observations. The AGs opinion is a first important step and thus merits a closer look."
See: the Advocate-General's Opinion (pdf) and press release (pdf)
UK: Protester, 91, goes to European court over secret police files (The Guardian, link):
"A 91-year-old whose political activities were covertly recorded by police has won the right to take his legal case to the European court of human rights.
John Catt, who has no criminal record, has fought a six-year battle to force the police to delete their surveillance records of his activities at 66 peace and human rights protests.
The police had noted descriptions of his appearance and clothes at the demonstrations and how he liked to draw sketches of the protests.
The case in front of the European court could help to determine how much information police are permitted to record on law-abiding individuals taking part in protests."
Background: A BAD DAY FOR DEMOCRACY (Statewatch News Online, March 2015) and: Files on politicians, journalists and peace protestors held by police in "domestic extremist" database (Statewatch News Online, November 2013)
EU: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (25.7.16): migrants march to Serbia-Hungary border, Council wants EU migration budget increase, new detention centre to open in Spain.
UK: Appalling situation in prisons laid bare in latest annual report of chief prisons inspector
The new Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales issued his first annual report last week, noting that the "grim situation" highlighted by his predecessor has "not improved, and in some key areas it has, if anything, become even worse."
The number of assaults within prisons in 2015 grew to 20,000, a 27% increase on the previous year, while incidents of self-harm between April 2015 and March 2016 grew by a quarter to reach more than 32,000. In the same period there were 100 suicides, a 27% increase.
GREECE: State punitiveness and political "transitions": the long view
"Extant research on the relationship between political systems and state punitiveness has so far paid little attention to the impact that transition from one political system to another may have upon levels and patterns of state punitiveness. This risks not only exaggerating the degree to which given trends in state punitiveness are distinct to particular political systems but also overlooking the legacy that punitive policies, practices or experiences under a prior political system may bequeath its successor. With a view to advancing a better understanding of the relationship between political systems and state punitiveness, we draw on the case of Greece, taking a long historical perspective to chart the trajectory of punitive state policies and practices in the country before, during and after its dictatorship of 19671974."
See: Punishment and political systems: State punitiveness in post-dictatorial Greece (link to pdf), from the July 2016 issue of Punishment & Society (link)
UK-GREECE: European Arrest Warrant: judgments recognise that "certain Greek prisons are failing to protect prisoners' fundamental rights"
"The appalling conditions in certain Greek prisons have long been a concern of Fair Trials International and of lawyers representing those whose extradition has been sought by Greece... [In many cases] the courts in the United Kingdom refused to recognise that there was a real risk that extradition to Greece would give rise to inhuman treatment within the meaning of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Prohibition of torture).
"That has changed with the decision of the High Court in Marku v Nafplion Court of Appeal Greece and Murphy v Public Prosecutors Office to the Athens Court that was delivered on the 20th July 2016. With this decision the Court has recognised that certain Greek prisons are failing to protect prisoners fundamental rights and that the Greek Government appears to be unable to bring about the improvements that are needed to make these institutions safe."
EU: Review of the ePrivacy Directive: opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor
The European Data Protection Supervisor has said that the EU's forthcoming new legal framework on ePrivacy "must be extended... to take account of technological and societal changes."
UK: Growing calls to extend undercover policing inquiry remit beyond England and Wales
One of the targets of exposed British undercover police officer Mark Kennedy has taken the first steps towards legal action in an attempt to have the remit of the Pitchford Inquiry into undercover policing expanded to cover officers' activities outside England and Wales.
EU: H v Council: Another Court breakthrough in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (EU Law Analysis):
"This summer alone, the Court of Justice (the Court) has issued two important decisions that will further shape the legal dimension of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Despite this largely intergovernmental sphere of law (the former Second Pillar) being merged into the unified EU at the Treaty of Lisbon, the pillars shadow still lives on. Lasting evidence of CFSP as a separate but integrated sphere of law allow for it to be titled CFSP law, with judgments of the Court arising from interinstitutional and direct action litigation, permitting its legal development.
The two judgments, Tanzania (Case C-263/14) and H v. Council (Case C-455/14 P) address different questions, and with a third, Rosneft (Case C-72/15), being delivered later in the year. This sequence of judgments demonstrates the fluidity of CFSP dynamics. In this blog post, analysis will focus on the H v. Council judgment, and specifically, given its peculiarity, the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice in CFSP."
EU: Commission and High Representative "playbook" on "countering hybrid threats"
At the beginning of July the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published a 'Joint Staff Working Document' on "countering hybrid threats".
See: European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: EU operational protocol for countering hybrid threats - 'EU Playbook' (SWD(2016 ) 227 final, Council document number 11034/16)
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (22.7.16)
EU: Proposals for EU intelligence-gathering abroad and "civmil convergence and synergies"
A paper published by the European External Action Service calls for EU missions, officials and representatives abroad to be used for more information- and intelligence-gathering, and makes a number of proposals in relation to "civmil convergence and synergies" in security operations and activities overseas.
See: Working document of the European External Action Service: CMPD Food for Through Paper: "From strengthening ties between CSDP/FSJ actors towards more security in EUROPE" (EEAS(2016) 909, Council document 10934/16, pdf)
EU-ITALY: Refugee relocation scheme "has clearly failed", says Italy's immigration chief
The European Union's relocation scheme for refugees in Greece and Italy "has clearly failed", the Italian interior ministry's head of immigration, Mario Morcone, told a recent press conference hosted by the Italian Council of Refugees. The most recent European Commission report on the relocation scheme, published on 13 July, records a total of 843 people being relocated from Italy to other Member States since the scheme was put in place in September 2015. The Commission's aim is to relocate 6,000 people from Greece and Italy per month.
See also: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (22.7.16)
UK: Delayed "counter-extremism" plans denounced again
The UK government's plans for countering "non-violent extremism" have again been denounced, this time in a "pre-legislative scrutiny" report by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. Despite announcing on a number of occassions that it will introduce a Counter-Extremism Bill, the government is yet to do so - but given the numerous problems with defining "extremism", and the harsh criticism that has been directed at the Prevent programme, it may be better for any such bill not to be published at all.
The report: House of Lords/House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights: Counter-Extremism (pdf)
EU: Implementation of the European Agenda on Security: Questions & Answers (European Commission, pdf)
A useful summary: "The European Commission adopted the European Agenda on Security on 28 April 2015, setting out the main actions envisaged to ensure an effective EU response to security threats over the period 2015-2020. Since its adoption, significant progress has been made in its implementation.
The period since the adoption has been marked by tragic terrorist attacks around the world, notably on European soil in Paris in November 2015, in Brussels in March 2016 and in Nice on 14 July.
This Memo highlights the actions already completed as well as the steps that still need to be taken as a matter of urgency in view of the current challenges, to pave the way towards a genuine and effective Security Union as proposed by the European Commission on 20 April 2016."
Background: Statewatch Analysis: Full compliance: the EU's new security agenda (pdf) by Chris Jones, May 2015
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (21.7.16)
Council of Europe: Turkey to suspend European Convention on Human Rights
"The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has been informed by the Turkish authorities that Turkey will notify its derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights under the Conventions Article 15....
There can be no derogation from the following articles: Article 2 (Right to life), Article 3 (Prohibition of torture and inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment), Article 4 para. 1 (prohibition of slavery), Article 7 (No punishment without law). It is important to note that the European Convention on Human Rights will continue to apply inTurkey.
Where the Government seeks to invoke Article 15 in order to derogate from the Convention in individual cases, the European Court of Human Rights will decide whether the application meets the criteria set out in the Convention, notably the criteria of proportionality of the measure taken.
The Turkish Government will inform the Secretary General about measures taken."
Steve Peers, Professor of Law, University of Essex comments: "Emergency derogation *can* be used to extend pre-trial detention and limit fair trials. Turkey has invoked it before."
See: Secretary General receives notification from Turkey of its intention to temporarily suspend the European Convention on Human Rights (pdf)
And: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the declaration of the State of Emergency in Turkey (link): "The declaration of State of Emergency gives the executive far reaching powers to govern by decree. Under the terms of the Turkish Constitution, core fundamental rights shall be inviolable even in the State of Emergency. "
Also: ECHR Factsheet: Derogation in time of emergency (pdf)
UK: Post-Brexit racism update (IRR News Service, 21 July 2016, link): "Below we present an update of racially motivated attacks and other incidents of harassment that have taken place since the Brexit result, which indicate the types of attacks taking place across the UK. But of course, this account is in no way exhaustive."
Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance: No Hiding Place for Spycops in Scotland (COPS, link):
"Support is growing for a Public Inquiry into the activities of undercover police in Scotland. Victims of blacklists, fellow trade unionists, environmentalists, Amnesty International, and politicians across the spectrum believe there should be some kind of Inquiry.
The main demands from campaigners are for an expansion of the Pitchford Inquiry (which is currently limited to England and Wales); or, for the Scottish government to launch a parallel Inquiry. Even the Scottish Tories support the call!"
Europol: TE-SAT report 2016 (pdf):
"This new edition of the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT), which Europol has produced on an annual basis since 2006, provides an overview of the failed, foiled and completed terrorist attacks that took place in the EU during 2015, and of arrests, convictions and penalties issued. It has become clear that Europe currently faces a shifting and increasing range of threats emanating from jihadist groups and individuals"
And under: "Left-wing and anarchist terrorism": "In recent years, Marxist-Leninist terrorist groups have carried out no attacks in the EU. Members of such groups active in the 1980s, the 1990s, early 2000s, and now dismantled currently engage in propaganda and ideological indoctrination but not in violence. Terrorist groups active in the EU largely adopt an anarchist, antiauthoritarian ideology and some of them occasionally use Marxist-Leninist propaganda elements."
TURKEY: President Erdogan: Ready to reinstate the death penalty (Al Jazeera, link):
"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is ready to reinstate the death penalty if the Turkish people demand it and parliament approves the necessary legislation."
And see: Mogherini on Turkey: No country can become an EU member state if it introduces the death penalty (euractiv, link): "EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini stressed on Monday (18 July) that no country can become an EU member state if it introduces the death penalty, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the country should reintroduce capital punishment after last weeks attempted coup.
Turkey is an important member of the Council of Europe and, as such, is bound by the European Convention of Human Rights that is very clear on death penalty, Mogherini added, in a joint press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Speaking about the role of NATO, Kerry said that it has a requirement with respect to democracy and NATO will indeed measure very carefully whats happening."
Also: Hunt Turkeys Coup-Plotters: Greece deploys 6 Apache attack helicopters to Eastern Aegean Sea (Keep Talking Greece, link)
UK: Met puts extra police on patrol to curb spread of London disturbances More officers to be deployed through to weekend and leave requests refused after Tuesdays violent clashes with youths (Guardian, link):
"Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that it would put extra officers on the streets as it tried to stop a spread of disturbances that included violent clashes with youths at three events across London.
The extra officers would be deployed throughout London after the clashes on Tuesday night amid sweltering summer heat appeared to catch police by surprise."
The Metropolitan Police will be mindful of: UK-LONDON: A variety of articles discussing the outbreak of the London riots on 6th and 7th August 2011 (Statewatch database)
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (20.7.16)
Bulk data collection only lawful in serious crime cases, ECJ indicates - Initial finding from top EU court backs David Davis and Tom Watson and could have serious impact on snoopers charter (Guardian, link):
"Retaining data from telephone calls and emails is legal only if law enforcement agencies use it to tackle serious crime, the EUs highest court has indicated.
The preliminary finding by the advocate general of the European court of justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg came in response to a legal challenge that was brought initially by David Davis, when he was a backbench Conservative, and Tom Watson, Labours deputy leader, over the legality of GCHQs bulk interception of call records and online messages.
Davis, one of the most vociferous critics of the states powers to collect data on its citizens, quietly withdrew from the case after his appointment to the cabinet. Many had commented on his involvement in the case at the EUs highest court after he was appointed secretary of state for leaving the EU."
See: According to Advocate General Saugmandsgaard Øe, a general obligation to retain data imposed by a Member State on providers of electronic communication services may be compatible with EU law - However, it is imperative that that obligation be circumscribed by strict safeguards (Press release,pdf)
And: Advocate General: Opinion (pdf)
Also: Human Rights and National Data Retention Law: the Opinion in Tele 2 and Watson (EU Law Analysis, link): "The Advocate General goes beyond endorsing the principles in Digital Rights Ireland: even regimes which satisfy the safeguards set out in Digital Rights Ireland may still be found to be disproportionate."
TURKEY: Graveyard for traitors to be built in Istanbul for coup plotters: Mayor (Hurriyet Daily News, link):
"Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas has said the city ordered a space which will serve as a graveyard for the plotters of the July 15 failed coup attempt as no cemetery would accept their corpses, calling the plot the graveyard for traitors.
I ordered a space to be saved and to call it the graveyard for traitors. The passersby will curse the ones buried there. Everyone visiting the place will curse them and they wont be able rest in their graves, I said, Topbas told a group of coup protesters gathered in Istanbuls Taksim Square late on July 19, while adding that the mayor of the Black Sea province of Ordu had refused to provide a burial place for the coup plotters."
Referendum on Irish reunification is a possibility after Brexit (euractiv, link):
"Enda Kenny, the Irish prime minister, said on Sunday (18 July) that Northern Ireland could vote to become part of a united Ireland if they want to stay in the European Union. But the topic is highly divisive."
US government allowed to plead in Facebook data case (euobserver, link):
"The US government can take part in a case against Facebook on data transfer from Europe to the US, the Irish high court said on Tuesday (19 July).
The case was brought by Austrian activist Max Schrems. It was formally opened last October after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) struck down an EU-US data protection agreement known as Safe Harbour. It will determine whether European internet users' data is sufficiently protected from US surveillance."
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (18.7.16)
European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS): Data protection and Whistleblowing in the EU Institutions (press release, pdf):
"Confidentiality is the most effective incentive to encourage staff to report wrongdoing at work said the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today as he published his Guidelines on Whistleblowing Procedures. Wojciech Wiewiórowski, Assistant EDPS, said:
"Whistleblowing procedures are meant to provide safe channels for staff or other informants to report fraud, corruption or other serious wrongdoing in organisations. Given that the information processed in whistleblowing procedures is sensitive and that leaks or unauthorised disclosure may have adverse consequences both for the whistleblowers and the accused, special care must be taken over that information. The EDPS Guidelines can help the EU institutions and bodiesto mitigate the risks."
See: EDPS Guidelines (pdf)
TURKEY: Aftermath of the attempted coup
The Turkey coup looks like the most incompetent undertaking imaginable (euractiv, link): "Whatever happened on Friday 15 July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged stronger than ever and can now arrest anyone he wants on charges of treason, writes George Friedman."
Erdogan says coup was gift from God to reshape country, punish enemies (euractiv, link): "President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Fridays failed coup (15 July) was a gift from God, giving him the chance to re-shape the country, and purge the countrys elite from enemies, who accuse him of creeping Islamisation in the traditionally secular state....
Erdogan promised a new Turkey after Fridays failed coup. He has made clear that the country he plans would be different in two fundamental ways: power would be concentrated in the hands of the president, and the old secular elites would have a lesser political role."
And: Turkey's Erdogan vows talks on death penalty for coup plotters (DW, link): "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he'll discuss the possibility of capital punishment for those involved in an attempted coup against his government."
See also: Council conclusions on Turkey (18.7.16, pdf): there is a striking omission of asylum or visa issues.
GREECE: Anti-authoritarian son of SYRIZA Minister sentenced for disturbing public peace outside Golden Dawn offices (Keep Talking Greece, link):
"An Athens Misdemeanors Court imposed a 14-month imprisonment to the son of a SYRIZA Minister for attacks that occurred last month outside the offices of far-right Golden Dawn in Maroussi suburb of northern Athens. The 21-year-old man and each of three other defendants were sentenced to 14-month imprisonment with 3-year suspension.
The defendants were charged for offenses of disturbing public peace and refusal to allow fingerprinting. They were acquitted for the offenses of unprovoked dangerous physical harm against police and aggravated damage."
Race and class: the colour of struggle (IRR, link):
"The latest issue of Race & Class is devoted to black political struggle in the UK 1950s-1980s.
Race and class: the colour of struggle, 1950s-1980s, edited by Jenny Bourne, brings together the voices of unsung political heroes of the time, groundbreaking new research, and campaigning material from the archives, providing readers with key resources on Britains history of black anti-racist activism especially relating to policing, racial violence, workers exploitation and immigration controls. Those who speak from its pages mothers, workers, students, exiles testify to the common experience of colonialism and racism which made Black the colour of their fight."
UK: Post-Brexit racism (IRR News, 7.7.16, link):
"We present an overview of racially motivated attacks and other incidents of harassment that have taken place since the Brexit result, which indicate the types of attacks taking place across the UK. But of course, this account is in no way exhaustive."
Council of Europe: Annual Activity Report 2015 (pdf)
"2015 was a year of fear and insecurity in Europe. In such an atmosphere, governments tend to neglect their human rights obligations and public opinion sometimes encourages this trend. Recurrent fears about possible military escalation in eastern Ukraine and ongoing economic malaise were increasingly overshadowed in 2015 by a growing sense of vulnerability to new terrorist threats and panic at the apparent inability of European governments to cope with the influx of asylum seekers.
The instinctive response in many quarters was to retreat back into ones national fortress, to build fences, to grant enhanced powers to security services and to restrict freedoms. European co-operation faltered and European institutions struggled to formulate a response, as the divergent stances of member states often proved irreconcilable."
EU-NATO Declaration (pdf): Joint Declaration by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary General of NATO (pdf)
Including: "Broaden and adapt our operational cooperation including at sea, and on migration, through increased sharing of maritime situational awareness as well as better coordination and mutual reinforcement of our activities in the Mediterranean and elsewhere."
FATF rules on civil society and "terrorist financing" rewritten
Most people have never heard of Recommendation 8, the regulation intended to protect the nonprofit sector from abuse through terrorist financing. Its a technical section of an esoteric regulatory system that governs the global flow of money.
Until this month, it was also a flawed regulation that left civil society vulnerable to illegitimate government crackdowns.
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (15.7.16)
EU: Informal Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting under the Slovakia Council Presidency, 7 July 2016
Minimalist background documents provided:
- Schengen Borders fit for the future (pdf):
"Ministers will discuss the implementation of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation as well as interaction of the new Agency with neighbouring countries....
The Presidency attaches great importance to the Smart Borders project and is committed to bringing it closer to reality. A proposal on the EU Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to complete the picture in a not too distant future. Ministers will discuss how the system should look like."
- European Asylum Policy, addressing common challenges (pdf)
"The Commissions legislative proposals, both those already adopted and those expected in the nearest future, aim at improving many aspects of the CEAS. One of the leading concepts of the proposals is solidarity."
Comment: There has not been much solidarity between Member States on the refugee crisis.
"Reforming the Common European Asylum System - the way ahead: The package of asylum proposals submitted by the Commission is one of the most important elements of the legislative work ahead."
EU-USA: Commission Implementing Decision of 12.7.2016 pursuant to Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the adequacy of the protection provided by the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (pdf)
And see: Privacy Shield Press Breakfast by MEP Jan Albrecht European Parliament, Brussels, July 12th 2016- Statement by Max Schrems, Summary (pdf):
"Schrems: Privacy Shield is the product of pressure by the US and the IT industry not of rational or reasonable considerations. It is little more than an little upgrade to Safe Harbor, but not a new deal. It is very likely to fail again, as soon as it reaches the CJEU. This deal is bad for users, which will not enjoy proper privacy protections and bad for businesses, which have to deal with a legally unstable solution. The European Commission and the US government managed to make everyone miserable, when they could have used this opportunity to upgrade the protections that are crucial for consumer trust in online and cloud services.
Case Watch: Discrimination Dressed up as Neutrality in European Headscarf Bans (OSF, link):
"The Court of Justice of the European Union has been asked to interpret this law in two cases, each about a Muslim woman dismissed by a private sector employer because she wore a religious headscarf at work. In the first cases to reach the Court of Justice on the question of religious discrimination, national courts in Belgium and France have asked whether the dismissals were direct discrimination or whether exceptions to Directive 2000/78 allow such dismissals. In our legal briefing on the issue , we argue that the Court should rule that targeting clothing because it is religious is direct discrimination not allowed by EU law."
See also: Religious discrimination in the workplace: which approach should the CJEU follow? (EU Law Analysis, link)
European Parliament: Draft Report: On the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2015 (pdf)
Germany: About the exposure of three undercover policewomen in Hamburg (link):
"In three successive years, undercover policewomen from the Hamburg Criminal Police Office have been unmasked by activists. Their assignments included cases with international connections.
At least two of the officers also maintained sexual or intimate relationships with their targets or informers. This was the subject of several meetings of Hamburgs internal-affairs authorities and of internal police enquiries."
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (14.7.16)
EU: Trilogues: Again citizens and civil society get half the cake: Institutional "space to think" (in secret) defended by EU Ombudsman
"The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has called on the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission to further increase the transparency of law-making in the EU by publishing key documents related to their informal negotiations known as trilogues.
Prevent: UK anti-terror plan 'harms children's rights' Prevent policy limits freedom of expression in the classroom and leads to Muslims self censoring, rights group says (Al Jazeera, link):
"The UK's counterterrorism strategy is stifling children's freedom in school classrooms, infringing young people's right to privacy and causing Muslim pupils to self-censor out of fear of being reported to authorities, according to a new human rights report.
Rights Watch UK called on Wednesday for the programme known as Prevent, which aims to stop people "becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism", to be abolished. Prevent is "leaving a generation of young Britons fearful of exercising their rights to freedom of expression and belief," said Yasmine Ahmed, the NGO's director."
See report: Preventing education? Human Rights and UK counyrr-terrorism policy in schools (pdf)
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (13.7.16)
EU: Police chiefs: nine-point programme on keeping the 'Balkan Route' closed
The declaration was adopted following a meeting on 30 June in Vienna of police chiefs from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. It was circulated on 5 July by the Austrian delegation to the Council of the EU to other Member States' representatives.
See: Joint Declaration on Managing Migration Flows - Police Chiefs Meeting in Vienna on 30 June 2016 (LIMITE doc no: 10933/16, 5 July 2016, pdf)
EU: Implementing the Internal Security Strategy: May 2015 update
A May 2016 version of the "living document" maintained by the Presidency of the Council giving an overview of the implementation of the EU's Internal Security Strategy. It outlines "results achieved" between December 2015 and May 2016; sets out work for the current Slovenian Presidency of the Council; and gives an overview of the work of the different Council working parties dealing with internal security issues (covering areas as diverse as "organised property crime", border control and wildlife trafficking).
See: NOTE from: Presidency to: Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI): Renewed European Union Internal Security Strategy Implementation Paper: first half of 2016 (8587/16, 13 May 2016, pdf)
Background: Implementing the Internal Security Strategy: planning documents (Statewatch News Online, August 2015)
EU: Money laundering and terrorist financing: Commission set to adopt first EU-wide list of "high-risk third countries"
The European Commission is due to adopt this Friday a list of 11 "high risk [non-EU] countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering/countering terrorist financing", establishing for the first time a common EU list of countries to which financial institutions will have to apply "enhanced customer due diligence measures when establishing business relationships or carrying out transactions with natural persons or legal entities established in listed countries."
See: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) .../... of XXX supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 by identifying high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies (pdf) and: Annex to the Commission Delegated Regulation (pdf)
UK: Mass surveillance mandated in secret
"There are 15 secret directions in force under the Telecommunications Act enabling the intelligence services to collect bulk data about online and phone traffic, a surveillance watchdog has revealed."
UK: Older prisoners set up to fail by lack of support on release (Prison Reform Trust, link): "Older people released from prison are being set up to fail by a lack of adequate provision to meet their health and social care needs, according to a report published today by the Prison Reform Trust and Restore Support Network.
Limited and inconsistent support to help sort out housing, employment, personal finances and debt, drug and alcohol dependence, and re-establish family relationships is also undermining the effective resettlement of older prisoners and increases the risk of future offending.
The report, Social care or systematic neglect?, calls for the creation of a cross-government national strategy for meeting the health, social and rehabilitative needs of older people in prison and on release in the community."
See the report: Social care or systematic neglect? Older people on release from prison (link to pdf)
EU-US: Privacy Shield gets the go-ahead
The much-maligned "Privacy Shield" has been approved by EU governments, putting in place a new framework for EU-US data-sharing that - just like its predecessor, the Safe Harbour agreement - is likely to face legal challenges. Safe Harbour was struck down by the European Court of Justice in October 2015.
EU: New counter-terrorist financing rules: the "threat has grown and evolved recently"
The European Commission has published a proposal for new rules aimed at countering terrorist financing and money laundering that will amend the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, agreed in May 2015.
Proposed changes include obligations for "virtual currency exchange platforms" and virtual currency wallet providers to conduct due diligence checks on customers; limiting the anonymity of pre-paid cards by lowering the threshold (from 250 to 150 euros) at which sellers of cards will be obliged to undertake due diligence checks; strengthening the powers of Financial Intelligence Units; improving the ability of authorities to find out who owns bank and payment accounts; and introducing a harmoised EU approach towards "high-risk third countries".
EU: New handbook on alternatives to prison
"Severe overcrowding and bad conditions are common features of prisons in all the eight states involved in this, the latest European Prison Observatory project: Italy, France, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Community-based sanctions and controls are quite new in some of these countries, but long part of the criminal justice system in others (notably France and the UK). Latvia, the biggest per capita user of imprisonment, stands alone among these eight states, in having recently legislated to end the use of imprisonment across a large group of offences. By contrast the UK, another high per capita user of prison, has seen sentences grow longer and the imprisonment net widen: the state of our prisons is now widely acknowledged as a national disgrace.
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (the Observatorys UK partner) has long argued for an end to our over-reliance on prison, based as it is on the false premise that punishment and control can address social problems like poverty, substance dependency and mental ill-health. This project gave us the chance to compare the UK with other EU countries and assess the role that alternatives to custody have played in changes to prison populations. We found a complicated picture."
See: Alternatives to imprisonment in Europe (Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, link) and the handbook: Alternatives to imprisonment in Europe: A handbook of good practice (link to pdf)
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (11.7.16): EU safe third country list and new rules for visa waiver suspension on the way; report on Greek asylum system; amendments to asylum law in Hungary; news round-up.
UK: Government condemned for overseas police training secrecy
"Parliaments Home Affairs Committee has condemned the Government for the secrecy surrounding the approval of overseas police training, saying the current policy to guard against the human rights risks of such training may not be fit for purpose.
The Committees report, focused on the UK College of Policing, found that the College has been put under pressure by government departments to raise revenue, including through providing overseas training, and that some of this training been provided on the basis of opaque agreements, sometimes with foreign governments which have been the subject of sustained criticism. In a statement, the MPs warned that some of these programmes threaten the integrity of the very brand of British policing that the College is trying to promote and smacks of hypocrisy."
See: Government secrecy on overseas police training unacceptable, say MPs (Reprieve, link)
Home Affairs Committee news item: "Alarming" inconsistencies in policing across forces must be addressed (parliament.uk, link) and the full report: House of Commons Home Affairs Committee: College of policing: three years on (pdf)
EU: Procedural rights "package" completed with agreement on legal aid Directive
"After seven years the EU has reached political agreement on the final element of a package of laws to improve defence rights across the Union. Yesterday the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament (LIBE) voted by 44 votes to 1 to approve the text of the Directive on Legal aid for suspects or accused persons deprived of liberty and legal aid in European arrest warrant proceedings, agreed in trilogue negotiations between the Council, Parliament and Commission.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Mark Kelly, consortium leader for the JUSTICIA European Rights Network, welcomed the new Directive saying,
"Already we have seen European leaders strengthen criminal justice systems across the EU by setting down minimum standards for countries to provide access to a lawyer when people are accused of crimes. The truth is that having access to a lawyer is meaningless if you do not have the money to pay for one. Particularly, this new law will make a huge difference to people who are detained in police stations, conferring them the absolute right to seek legal aid.""
See: EU COMPLETES PACKAGE OF LAWS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACROSS THE UNION (JUSTICIA, link)
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (8.7.16)
French government to ignore parliament for second time to pass labour law
"France's government has used a special measure to force through a divisive labour bill in the lower house of Parliament without a vote - for a second time.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls invoked a special constitutional article to approve the controversial bill Tuesday, prompting lawmakers to storm out of the National Assembly in anger.
This is the second time he has bypassed the legislature on this issue amid stiff opposition from members of his own party."
See: French PM Valls bypasses parliament to force through labour reforms (France 24, link) and: French government to bypass parliament to introduce controversial labour law (Statewatch News Online, May 2016)
UK: Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war: case closed?
"The long-awaited Chilcot Report was finally released today, examining the UKs involvement in the Iraq War and occupation. Unfortunately, on the most important question, the reports conclusions are all but silent: why did the UK go to war?
Chilcot takes at face value the Blair governments claim that the motive was to address Iraqs weapons of mass destruction, and limits its criticism to mistakes in the intelligence on WMD, and on insufficient administrative and military planning. He shows a remarkable lack of curiosity about the political factors behind the move to war, especially given the weakness (even at the time) of the WMD case."
See: Chilcot's blind spot: Iraq War report buries oil evidence, fails to address motive (OpenDemocracy, link) by David Whyte and Greg Muttitt
And: Take it from a whistleblower: Chilcot has only scratched the surface (The Guardian, link) by Katharine Gun: "Following the damning Chilcot report, much will be said about the decision to go to war in Iraq. But one thing will be missing: the information I leaked in the runup to the war. It wont get an airing because I was never questioned or asked to participate in the Chilcot inquiry"
The full, 12-volume, 2.6 million word report of the Inquiry is available on its website: The Iraq Inquiry (link)
EU: Decision establishing 'High-Level Expert Group on Interoperabilty and Information Systems'
"(1) With a view to structurally improve the Union's data management architecture for border control and security in particular by addressing the current shortcomings and knowledge gaps of information systems at Union level, in accordance with the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council entitled 'Stronger and Smarter Information Systems for Borders and security'1, the Commission needs to call upon the expertise of high level experts in an advisory body.
(2) It is therefore necessary to set up a group of high level experts in the field of Information Systems and Interoperability and to define its tasks and its structure."
See: Commission Decision of 17.6.2016 setting up the High Level Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability (C(2016 3780 final, pdf)
Background: Fingerprinting for all? Inclusion of all travellers in new border database to be discussed by 'High Level Expert Group'
Industry calls for the repeal of the e-Privacy Directive to "empower trust and innovation"
After the approval of new EU rules on data protection in general and with regard to law enforcement agencies, the next step is the revision of the 2002 e-Privacy Directive. Civil society groups are hoping to see the existing legal framework strengthened, while industry has its own ideas - scrapping the rules altogether in the name of "empowering trust and innovation".
FRANCE: Intelligence services should be merged, says parliamentary inquiry: 40 recommendations
"A French parliamentary commission of inquiry into the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks published a report recommending a fusion of the country's intelligence services. France currently has six different intelligence units answering to the interior, defense and economy ministries...
The main proposals include creating a new domestic intelligence agency working specifically in the suburbs with the task to monitor radical Islamists. It also promotes better coordination between existing intelligence and security agencies and the creation of a coordinating agency that directly reports to the Prime Minister."
EU: Council documents: responses to offensive cyber operations; "cyber capacity building" in non-EU countries; implementation report on Cyber Defence Policy Framework
- Developing a joint EU diplomatic response against coercive cyber operations - final revised text (5797/16, 5797/5/16, 5797/6/16, pdfs)
- Cyber capacity building: towards a strategic European approach (8732/1/16 REV 1, pdf)
- Six Monthly Report on the Implementation of the Cyber Defence Policy Framework (9701/16, pdf)
UK: Getting off lightly: police and personal data breaches
Police staff in the UK were responsible for at least 2,315 data breaches between June 2011 and December 2015, according to a new report by Big Brother Watch. More than 800 staff accessed personal data "without a policing purpose" while data was shared with third parties over 800 times, with organised crime groups amongst the recipients. More than half of the cases led to "no disciplinary or formal disciplinary action being taken."
UK: Post-Brexit policing: special treatment, please
"The head of London's Metropolitan Police Service has sought assurances from political officials that the UK police will still have access to European biometric and DNA databases following the countrys decision to leave the European Union.
Speaking to the London Assembly, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner, said he wants Europol crime-info sharing, European Arrest Warrant scheme & DNA profile exchange to continue post-Brexit.
That would mean that the UK keeps access to Europol/Interpol, and all arrest warrant and biometric database despite not being politically tied to the continent."
See: UK police want post-Brexit access to EU biometric database (Planet Biometrics, link)
UK: Racism after Brexit: overview and organising meeting
"Below we present an overview of racially motivated attacks and other incidents of harassment that have taken place since the Brexit result, which indicate the types of attacks taking place across the UK. But of course, this account is in no way exhaustive."
See: Post-Brexit racism (IRR, link). And: MEETING in LONDON, SATURDAY 9 JULY: Brexit, racism and xenophobia (The Monitoring Group, link): "Brexit represents a new, unlike any other, dangerous phase for people of colour and migrants in our country.
There is a glaring absence of political leadership in this present crisis. We believe that all of us Black, Asian and Minority communities together with progressive people need to develop a new plan and a common strategy to tackle the present surge of rising racism and inequality. Its impact will be long- lasting."
Technology of control? New remote camera disabling technology patented by Apple
"Imagine: You pull out your phone to record police misconductsuddenly, your camera just doesnt work. Turns out, your phones camera has been disabled by an infrared emitter. Apples newly patented technology may make this possible. The technology places an infrared sensor in your phone that has the potential to be disabled remotely. While the technology is being promoted as a tool to prevent the filming of copyrighted material, we think it has the potential to undermine efforts to hold law enforcement accountable."
EU: Rush to pass new terrorism law continues with LIBE vote
"Today, on 4 July 2016, the European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) waved through a compromise text for a Directive on combating terrorism. The compromise comes after a series of secret negotiations between a handful of parliamentarians.
Our freedoms and security are being threatened by unclear provisions on key issues like internet blocking and encryption. The text also includes undefined terms, such as radicalisation and the glorification of terrorism which can be subject to abuse. Due to political pressure, there was exceptionally no assessment of alternatives to the far-reaching measures contained in the proposal. This political expediency risks undermining the values on which the European Union is founded."
EU: European Parliament: thumbs up for beefing up Frontex
On Wednesday 6 July the European Parliament approved a proposal to turn the EU border agency Frontex into a 'European Border and Coast Guard Agency', with new powers that have been heavily criticised by some of the Parliament's political groups as well as civil society organisations. The new agency is expected to start operations in the autumn.
The text of the new Regulation - which was agreed in secret trilogue meetings between Council, Parliament and Commission negotiators before being voted on by the full Parliament - was adopted with 483 votes in favour, 181 votes against and 48 abstentions.
Statewatching Europe Conference 2016: Plenary speech by Gareth Peirce (mp3)
EU: Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (6.7.16): Hungarian border guards undertake shoot-to-kill practice; number of children in detention in France in 2015 doubles; refugees smuggling themselves in shipping containers; and more.
UK: UNDERCOVER POLICING: Core Participant? Your Names Not Down, Youre Not Coming In (COPS, link):
"When the [Pitchford] Inquiry was established there were over 200 applications for CP status. Most were accepted. A judgement made in October 2015 illustrates the open character of the Inquiry.
Based on this initial ruling we felt that the Inquiry was going to do two things, listen to those of us who were spied upon and investigate undercover policing of political groups who were engaging in their right to protest.
It was also said that there would continue to be an open door for those who wish to seek Core Participant status. We now question that initial promise, as recent refusals have thrown it into doubt."
EU: Securing the high seas: Maritime Security Strategy progress report
A recent joint report by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy provides an overview of progress made in implementing the EU's Maritime Security Strategy, adopted in 2014 and supposed to ensure: "effective and cost-efficient responses to the protection of the maritime domain, including borders, ports and offshore installations, in order to secure sea borne trade, address potential threats from unlawful and illicit activities at sea, as well as to make optimal use of the seas potential for growth and jobs, whilst safeguarding the marine environment."
EU says "soft power is not enough" as German and French ministers call for "European Security Compact"
The new 'Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy' issues the same demands that some leading EU officials have been making for years: that greater unity in defence and security issues is required, not just politically but also financially. "Member States must channel a sufficient level of expenditure to defence," says the report, because "soft power is not enough." A statement issued by the German and French foreign ministers following the British referendum on EU membership makes some similar demands.
EU: Frontex: Annual Report 2015, Western Balkans risk analysis January-March 2016
At the end of June the EU's border control agency, Frontex, presented its Annual Activity Report 2015 to the Council of the EU. The report provides an overview of the agency's work during 2015 - for example, through the coordination of joint operations and joint return operations - as well as information in budgetary and management issues. Frontex has also recently published its Western Balkans "risk analysis" for the first three months of 2016.
FRANCE: Number of children in detention doubles
The number of families with children locked up in detention in France doubled in 2015 compared to the previous year, finds a new report entitled 'Centres and Sites of Administrative Detention' by La Cimade and four other organisations
In 2015, 48,000 people were held in detention, among them 52 families with 105 children. More than half were in mainland France (58%), with the rest in the overseas territories.
"Does it need to be recalled that the best interests of the child must take precedence over arrest and confinement which, however brief, can be deeply traumatic for children?" ask the authors of the report, five French NGOs: Assfam, Forum Réfugiés, France terre d'asile, l'Ordre de Malte and La Cimade.
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (4.7.16): new report on the companies profiting from Europe's border control industry; report on Softex camp in northern Greece.
EU: Fingerprinting for all? Inclusion of all travellers in new border database to be discussed by 'High Level Expert Group'
The possibility of subjecting all travellers entering and leaving the EU to the proposed Entry-Exit System - which would mean mandatory fingerprint checks and facial scans at the EU's external borders - is to be discussed by a new 'High Level Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability', which counts numerous law enforcement and security agencies amongst its members, but seemingly no data protection officials or authorities.
See: Roadmap to enhance information exchange and information management including interoperability solutions in the Justice and Home Affairs area (LIMITE doc no: 9368-REV-1, pdf),
Rendition: ECHR hearings continue; CIA officer could be imprisoned in Italy
Last week the European Court of Human Rights held confidential hearings on two cases concerning the CIA's rendition programme, Al Nashiri v Romana and Abu Zubaydah v Lithuania. Both men are currently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay. An ECHR news item said: "Both cases concern the alleged rendition of the applicants, suspected of terrorist acts, to CIA secret detention sites, where, according to their submissions, illegal interrogation methods amounting to torture were used."
UK: Call for information on racist incidents in order to "build a national picture"
"After years and years of struggle against racial hostility to new migrant communities, we are back there again albeit post Brexit, which, seemingly, has taken the shame out of racism. And now, just like in the 1970s, communities up and down the country are experiencing an upsurge in racist and fascist violence. The IRR wants to help organisations at the grassroots by building up a national picture. Can you help us by sending regular updates about what is happening in your community?"
See: Brexit and xeno-racism help us to build the national picture (IRR, link)
UK: Undercover policing guidance: contradictions made clear
Last week the College of Policing launched a six week consultation on guidance regarding the use of undercover policing for intelligence and evidence-gathering in England and Wales. An article in online newspaper The Canary makes clear some of the problems with the draft guidance.
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (2-3.7.16)
USA: Secret Rules Make It Pretty Easy for the FBI to Spy on Journalists (Intercept, link):
"Secret FBI rules allow agents to obtain journalists phone records with approval from two internal officials - far less oversight than under normal judicial procedures.
The classified rules, obtained by The Intercept and dating from 2013, govern the FBIs use of national security letters, which allow the bureau to obtain information about journalists calls without going to a judge or informing the news organization being targeted. They have previously been released only in heavily redacted form.
Media advocates said the documents show that the FBI imposes few constraints on itself when it bypasses the requirement to go to court and obtain subpoenas or search warrants before accessing journalists information."
See: DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND OPERATIONS GUIDE CLASSIFIED APPENDIX G (pdf)
UK-EU-BREXIT: House of Lords Library: Leaving the EU: Parliaments Role in the Process (pdf):
"Following a vote in the referendum on 23 June 2016 in favour of the UK leaving the European Union, the Prime Minister said that this decision must be accepted, adding that Parliament will clearly have a role in making sure that we find the best way forward. Drawing on parliamentary material and recent legal and constitutional comment, this Library briefing examines what Parliaments role would be in the process of withdrawing from the European Union in several key areas."
European Parliament Study: Cross-border traffic accidents in the EU - the potential impact of driverless cars (pdf)
"this study provides an analysis of the potential legal impact of the introduction of connected and autonomous vehicles on rules of private international law determining jurisdiction and applicable law in the EU Member States in the event of a cross-border traffic accident."
UK: Howard League for Penal Reform: The Carlile Inquiry 10 years on: The use of restraint, solitary confinement and strip-searching on children (Press release, link) and Report (link):
"Force that causes the deliberate infliction of pain on children account for over a third of all approved techniques that can be used on children. Pain is being used illegally to secure childrens compliance."
Irish EU minister: Post-Brexit North-South hard border not acceptable (euractiv, link):
"Irelands EU minister has told EurActiv.com that any post-Brexit border between Northern Ireland and the Republic should allow status quo in terms of movement of goods or people, and a hard border would be unacceptable." ...
Well we said throughout the campaign and we continue to say now that any measures to restrict the movement of goods or people with border-related measures would be regretted as backward moving steps. Thats our position with respect to the movement of goods and people notwithstanding the UK vote, but as far as at all possible the status quo should be maintained."
Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe (1.7.16): Hungary jails migrants for "violating the border fence"; warning over new Frontex powers; UNHCR statistics on June arrivals in Greece; and more.
SCOTLAND: After the EU referendum - SACC Policy Statement (Scotland Against Criminalising Communities, link): "SACC stands against repressive legislation and policies that criminalise the daily lives of minority communities; criminalise dissent; and institutionalise, legitimise and promote racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. Resistance to these policies is more important than ever in the aftermath of the EU referendum. It must become a priority for all progressive political movements and parties."
EU: European Parliament study on reintroduction of border controls in the Schengen area
"This study, commissioned by the European Parliaments Policy Department for Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee, analyses the Schengen area in the wake of the European refugee crisis and other recent developments. With several Member States reintroducing temporary internal border controls over recent months, the study assesses compliance with the Schengen governance framework in this context. Despite suggestions that the end of Schengen is nigh or arguments that there is a need to get back to Schengen, the research demonstrates that Schengen is alive and well and that border controls have, at least formally, complied with the legal framework. Nonetheless, better monitoring and democratic accountability are necessary."
UK: Decriminalise sex work, says House of Commons Home Affairs Committee
A report from the Home Affairs Committee of the House of Commons calls for changes to the law on sex work in England and Wales, recommending that "the Home Office change existing legislation so that soliciting is no longer an offence and so that brothel-keeping provisions allow sex workers to share premises, without losing the ability to prosecute those who use brothels to control or exploit sex workers."
UK: Unaccompanied child asylum seekers: Home Office age assessment policy unlawful
"The High Court has ruled that the Home Office policy on judging the age of unaccompanied children seeking asylum is unlawful. Ministers have, up until now, allowed immigration officers to treat as an adult anyone they believe seems to be significantly over the age of 18."
EU: Warning over new Frontex agency's data-gathering powers, lack of accountability and overseas deployments without oversight
With the full European Parliament due to vote on the proposed new Frontex Regulation on 6 July, the Frontexit campaign has called on MEPs to reject the text, warning that it provides new powers to gather and exchange personal data without the necessary safeguards; establishes a new complaint mechanism that does not meet the required standards of independence; and permits increased overseas deployments by the agency "away from any oversight by the European Parliament or national parliaments."
LITHUANIA: Lithuanian court prevents secret detention and rendition victim from participating in investigation into CIA secret prisons in Lithuania
Press release from REDRESS: London, 1 July 2016 Vilnius Regional Court has issued its final rejection of REDRESS application for victim status for Mustafa al-Hawsawi in a pre-trial criminal investigation into CIA secret prisons (also known as black sites) in Lithuania. This status would have allowed Mr. al-Hawsawi to participate in the ongoing investigation, including to request access to pre-trial investigation material and to make requests to expand the investigations scope.
EU: Crime pays well, says Europol report
A new report by European policing agency Europol estimates that between 2010 and 2014, just "2.2% of the estimated proceeds of crime were provisionally seized or frozen, and 1.1% of the criminal profits were finally confiscated at EU level." Thus: "98.9% of estimated criminal profits are not confiscated and remain at the disposal of criminals."
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What started 40-years ago as a way to get local teens into running shape and give residents an annual fitness goal, the second oldest road race on Cape Cod, the Wellfleet Road Race, has grown into a post Fourth-of-July mid-summer classic with more than 500 participants for Sunday mornings races along with streets of Wellfleet.Th
Started in 1975 by Nauset teachers Bob Morse and John Gray, this year's race featured 369 runners for the 5-miler, and an additional 125 runners for the 1.2-mile Kids Fun Run.
Overall first place went to Patrick Powdermaker of Newton, MA, with a time of 29.38. Amos Kobert placed second with a time of 30.10, followed by Roger Good, of Wellfleet with a time of 30.15.
Female winners included Emily Margolis of Needham, with a time of 34.03, Katie McCully of Eastham, with a time of 34.21 and third place went to Allison Buckler of Annapolis, MD, with a time of 34.58.
Other local finishers included Shea Cavanaugh, with a time of 30.18, Mary Bragg, at 44.05.
For race walkers, first place for females went to Suzanne Gray, of Fitzwilliam, NH, at 56.35 and first place male Bertram Bruce, of Wellfleet, at 57.19.
Two runners from that participated in the first race in 1975 were on hand running on Sunday. Dan Rosenberg, of Miami and Wellfleet, who bested his 1975 time, and John (Dewey) Doucette of Pennsylvania and Wellfleet, who walked the race with his father John Doucette, Sr, of Wellfleet, the oldest participant at 85 yrs old.
Location, ST | website.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Home Alone (Widescreen) (Bilingual) [Import]
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Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) has become the man of the house, overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, Kevin gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he's not decking the halls with tinsel and holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin's rigging a bewildering battery of booby traps to welcome them!
Now and forever a favorite among kids, this 1990 comedy written by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club) and directed by Chris Columbus (Mrs. Doubtfire) ushered Macaulay Culkin onto the screen as a troubled 8-year-old who doesn't comfortably mesh with his large family. He's forced to grow a little after being accidentally left behind when his folks and siblings fly off to Paris. A good-looking boy, Culkin lights up the screen during several funny sequences, the most famous of which finds him screaming for joy when he realizes he's unsupervised in his own house. A bit wooden with dialogue, the then-little star's voice could grate on the nerves (especially in long, wise-child passages of pure bromide), but he unquestionably carries the film. Billie Bird and John Candy show up as two of the interesting strangers Culkin's character meets. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are entertainingly cartoonish as thieves, but the ensuing violence once the little hero decides to keep them out of his house is over-the-top. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.See all Product Description
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This is a sweet movie. The DVD may not be the best, but it's still a great buy! Enjoy!
Home Alone smashed box offices with an unexpected christmas story of a kid who accidently finds himself alone at home. Now every one shoudl have seen it by now, and most of the people who loved the film as like me already have it on VHS anyway. right?
So why does one of the most succsesfull and popular movies of all time get a poor treatment when it comes to putting it onto DVD? It comes in widescreen, and a trailer, and subtitiles, and thats all!!! ITS NOT EVEN IN SURROUND SOUND!!!!!!!! (5.!)
I remember when the first two movies came out I watched behind the scenes things about the movie on TV and I remember them talking specidly on the second film about how it wasnt shot at christmas and how they used fake snow, and the pigeons wernt real, and Daniles saying he was the guy in charge of the comedy, and if he didnt find somthign funny, it was his desicion.... so WHERE ARE THOSE FEATURETTES????????
For anyone who dosent care for bonus features, then pick this movie up, youll love it. But if your like me, and do enjoy bonus features, then this movie has been abused!!!!!
No bonus features? Not in surround sound? No featurettes? which i know for sure exsist. Dont you think a smash hit like this movie, which is without a doubht one of the most popular movies of all time,should have had better treatment as a DVD? I think they have done a poor job with this DVD and had better realese a speichel edition one day to justify what a poor effert they have done with this DVD for such a great movie.
Kevin McAllister (that's Culkin) is an ordinary kid whose family (with all relatives) is about to leave for France. When he gets in a fight with one of his many siblings, Kevin is sent to his room. The power goes off during the night, and the family sleeps too late before hectically packing everything and dashing into the airplane just in time. Kevin is forgotten, and he stays home alone.Read more ›
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It's a classic. I used to love watching this movie over and over as a kid. Now my kids enjoy it!Published 3 days ago by N. Saer
Funny movie but too much profanity. We enjoyed much more once we purchased a ClearPlay filter.Published 19 months ago by kwlnl
I love it and I play it at least once sometimes more at the Christmas season!Published 20 months ago by Dolores K Gardner
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Roger Boyd
I have a BSc in Information Systems from Kingstom University U.K., an MBA in Finance from Stern School of Business at New York University, USA, and a MA in Integrated Studies from Athabasca University, Canada. I have worked within the financial industry for the past 25 years, and am also a research member of the B.C. Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) looking at the linkages between issues of sustainability and models of ownership and finance. Most recently I have completed a book, to be published shortly by Springer, titled "Energy and the Financial System".
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The Panic Of '32?When the realities of rapid climate change become undeniable to the general populous will the elites have any legitimacy left to be able to make the hard and painful choices necessary?
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2016: Is The El Nino Showing Us Where The Edge Of The Climate Cliff Is?The current El Nino event may be showing humanity where the edge of the climate positive feedback cliff is, we would be wise to act upon that warning.
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British Petroleum 2016 Energy Outlook : Reasonable Base Case Assessment?The B.P. 2016 Energy Outlook both shows the incredible scale and difficulty in replacing our carbon-dependent infrastructure while providing an optimistic assessment of fossil-fuel supplies, net enertgy and the acceptance of natural gas usage.
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The Hog Cycle And Oil PricesThe oil industry shares many of the delayed supply responses of the hog (pig) industry, especially as more and more difficult to finance and develop fields have to be developed.
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Complexity, Short Term Volatility, The Exponential, And The Limits Of Human CognitionThe problem with complex systems, such as Climate Change, the Energy System, and Financial Systems, is that they tend not to move in straight lines.
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China's One Child Policy: Overwhelmed By Increased AffluenceChina's one child policy is an excellent example of how the main determinant of furure sustainability will be the limitation of increases in consumption per capital, rather than the limitation of absolute population.
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The Problem With An Undulating Trend And Natural VariabilityHumans find it very hard to identify a trend that is affected by natural variability, instead getting caught up in short term variations like the "Climate Pause". This may have disabled humanity's urgency in taking a sustainable path,


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Flight from LaGuardia to PBIA diverted to Jacksonville due to fight over seat recliner
32-year-old Boca Raton woman named in report
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Delta Airlines flight from LaGuardia to Palm Beach International Airport had to be diverted to Jacksonville Monday night due to an unruly passenger who lives in Boca Raton.
According to Delta Airlines, Flight 2370 was diverted "due to safety reasons in regard to a passenger issue."
A report from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority identified the passenger as Amy Caryn Fine, 32, of Boca Raton.
The onboard witness, Aaron Klipin, was seated next to a woman who attempted to recline her seat. The report said that Fine was trying to sleep on a tray table and was struck in the head by the reclined seat.
"This woman who was sitting next to me knitting actually tried reclining her seat back and the woman behind her started screaming and swearing and the flight attendant came over and that just exacerbated what was going on, and then she demanded that the flight land," he said.
Klipin said when a flight attendant was called, the incident became heated and Fine insisted that the flight be diverted to the next stop.
The flight attendants tried to calm down Fine, but they said she continued to be disruptive and loud.
"She started swearing at the flight attendants and then demanding that the flight land. The flight attendants went and spoke with the captain, while somebody was blocking her path to the cabin. Then, a few minutes later, an announcement came on that we were diverting to Jacksonville," Klipin said.
Klipin said that Fine stated something to the effect of, "I don't care about the consequences put this plane down now."
Fine said in the report that she had two dogs die, and she was very emotional.
The flight attendants were concerned for the safety of themselves and the passengers, forcing the flight to be diverted to Jacksonville International Airport.
According to Klipin, a flight attendant stayed next to Fine until the plane landed in Jacksonville at 9:30 p.m., where she was escorted off the plane by police.
Fine was taken to the rental car center area and released without incident, said the Jacksonville Aviation Authority report.
The flight landed in West Palm Beach at 11:13 p.m., said Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant.
This is at least the third time in the last ten days a passenger's behavior has caused a flight to be diverted.
"The real key is people don't act appropriately in public. This needs to stop," explained NewsChannel 5 aviation expert, David Bjellos.
In June, a set of principles were adopted industry-wide at the 70th annual meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The principles clarify an airline's right of recourse and rights to reclaim costs incurred. Flight diversions can cost airlines up to $200,000. Passengers who cause flight diversions could be held financially responsible for the diversions and expenses for flight crews, fellow passengers and fuel costs.
Bjellos says, in addition to the cost of the diversions, they inconvenience hundreds of other passengers.
He says it's impossible to penetrate a cockpit door and it's rare for an angry passenger to become physically dangerous to others in the cabin.
"Airlines always use the term, out of an abundance of caution. Tell me exactly what a screaming woman in the back of an airplane is going to do to disrupt a flight to the point it's dangerous for the flight and crew? Absolutely nothing," Bjellos said.
Bjellos suggests passengers inconvenienced by the disruptive passengers file a class action lawsuit. He also says the airlines should create a no-fly list for people who are disruptive.
"You do this once? No fly for a year. Anywhere, anyone, anytime. You do it twice? You don't fly anymore," he said.
The best solution, Bjellos says, is for all passengers on all flights to be as courteous as possible to the people around them. They are, after all, people who they will likely never see again after they land.
"The people that we have flying on these airplanes don't have etiquette in their vocabulary. Or their demeanor. It just simply does not exist. They're rude because that's the way they are at home, that's the way they are at work, and that's the way they are everywhere else and we put them on the airplane," he said.


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This is your resource to discuss support topics with your peers, and learn from each other.
08-16-2012 03:21 PM - edited 08-16-2012 03:27 PM
Hi All,
I have just purcahsed a Torch 9810 and have uploaded it with latest OS 7.1. I am facing problems like :
1. The touch screen stops working while the phone is getting charged.
2. The screen gets hanged very frequently. Should we use it very calmly or is it hanging because we use it too fast. For this condition,solution i am left with is a HARD RESET. But till when this will help. Please suggest some work around.
3. When i select Loud profile,for sometime it works and after that it stops working. I try to ring it manually by going to LOUD profile sound settings and pressing the TRY IT option. I do use a cover. Does it makes any difference ? The problem goes when i do a HARD RESET. But why is this happening ? Any Other setting neds to be done ?
Please HELP or Suggest what to do !!!!!
Ronak Gupta