The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EU

  • EU, UK blast Edo

    The European Union and the United Kingdom have condemned the execution of four prisoners in Edo State.

    Judgment was delivered against the four inmates on Monday in the legal suit instituted by Legal Defence and Assistant project (LEDAP) on behalf of the affected inmates at the Federal High Court, Benin Division.

    United Kingdom’s Africa Minister Mark Simmonds said: “I am deeply saddened that four prisoners were executed in Edo State on Monday. These executions, the first since 2006, end Nigeria’s seven year moratorium on the death penalty.

    “This is a serious setback for human rights in Nigeria, coming only a few months before the Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria by the UN Human Rights Council.

    “We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. There is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value. It is particularly concerning that there are reportedly around 1,000 prisoners currently under sentence of death in Nigeria, and I would urge the Nigerian authorities to halt any further executions”.

    The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Ms Catherine Ashton, said: “I recognise the serious nature of the crimes involved and express my sympathy to the families and friends of the victims.

    “However, executions can never be justified. I reiterate the longstanding opposition of the European Union to the use of the death penalty and recall the importance of UN Resolutions calling for the establishment of a moratorium as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.”

     

     

  • Prisoners: Nigeria wants conclusion of agreement with Europe

    Prisoners: Nigeria wants conclusion of agreement with Europe

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has called for early conclusion of Prisoners Transfer Agreements between Nigeria and countries in Europe.

    Ashiru made the call on Monday in Berlin at a two-day seminar organised for Heads of Nigerian Missions in Europe.

    The Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that under the agreement, Nigerians serving prison terms in Europe could be transferred home to complete their sentences.

    “One strategy we need to deliberate upon to ameliorate the plight of Nigerian prisoners is the prospect of concluding the PTA.

    “This Includes, the legal framework for orderly repatriation of Nigerians who have lost their rights to remain in their host countries,” Ashiru said while declaring open the seminar.

    According to him, the agreement is already being implemented in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, South Africa and Turkey.

    Ashiru also tasked the envoys to focus more on economic diplomacy, saying, “we need to market Nigeria’s huge potentials and growing profile as the greatest market of foreign investments in Africa with the highest rate of returns.”

    He urged the ambassadors to explore opportunities offered by the economic meltdown in parts of Europe to increase the nation’s share of global inflow of foreign direct investments.

     

     

  • EU to sue Britain over migrant benefits

    EU to sue Britain over migrant benefits

    The European Union is set to take Britain to court over benefits for migrants – setting the Government on course for a battle with Brussels, Sky News reports.

    The European Commission has accused Britain of discriminating against EU nationals who have been living and working in the United Kingdom.

    The commission says tests applied to check if claimants are eligible for benefits are unfair.

    It is expected to announce details of an “infraction” procedure against Britain, which would lead to a court case in Luxembourg.

    But Iain Duncan Smith has vowed not to “cave in” to any demand to ease restrictions on migrants’ access to benefits.

    A source close to the Work and Pensions Secretary said: “He will not be dictated to on what he can and cannot do.

    “It is his responsibility to do all that he can to stop abuse and benefit tourism in this country.”

    The EU has a standard test, which is supposed to be applied by member states to determine a migrant’s eligibility for welfare payments.

    The UK applies an extra “right-to-reside” test, which the EU says is discriminatory and may have denied thousands of migrants’ access to benefits like child tax credit.

     

  • EU to discuss arms embargo on Syria

    European Union foreign ministers are to discuss British and French calls for an easing of sanctions against Syria so weapons can be supplied to the rebels, BBC reports.

    France and the United Kingdom are expected to argue that the move would increase pressure on Damascus for a political solution.

    However, several EU states are totally opposed to ending the arms embargo, which expires on May 31.

    EU officials have warned against jeopardising a current initiative to hold an international peace conference.

    Syria’s foreign minister confirmed on Sunday that the government would “in principle” attend the conference which the United States and Russia hope will take place in Geneva next month.

    Walid Muallem said it would be “a good opportunity for a political solution” to the conflict, which the United Nations says has left more than 80,000 people dead.

    Members of the main opposition coalition are currently discussing whether to attend the conference, but spokesmen have said they would if President Bashar al-Assad agreed to step down.

    Arriving for the talks in Brussels on Monday, several foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was vital to give the planned Geneva talks a chance.

    Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said first and foremost the EU had to “do everything to support as Europeans the American and Russian initiative.”

    UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Britain fully backed the Geneva conference as “in the end there is only a political and diplomatically supported solution.”

     

  • British PM ‘losing control of party over Europe’

    British PM ‘losing control of party over Europe’

    British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is losing control of his party over Europe, former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Howe has said.

    The Tory leadership is “running scared” of its backbenchers by offering to renegotiate the United Kingdom’s relationship with Brussels, he said in the Observer.

    He also warned that if a proposed referendum led to the UK leaving the European Union, there would be dire consequences for the country’s global influence.

    The Tories said the PM’s position on seeking to return powers was unchanged.

    BBC reports that Lord Howe’s warning comes amid press reports that a figure close to the prime minister called grassroots Conservatives pushing for an EU referendum “mad, swivel-eyed loons.”

    No. 10 denied “anyone in Downing Street” had made the remarks, while party co-chairman Lord Feldman said he was taking legal advice over “untrue” web rumours he had made “derogatory comments.”

     

  • EU to pledge 520m euros for Mali reconstruction

    EU to pledge 520m euros for Mali reconstruction

    The European Union will pledge 520m euros (£442m; $673m) to help rebuild Mali, at a conference of international donors in Brussels, BBC reports.

    European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, said the money would help the West African state become “stable, democratic and prosperous.”

    The conference is the first since France sent troops to oust Islamist rebels from northern Mali in January.

    Mali’s government has a 4.3bn-euro plan for “a total relaunch of the country.”

    It includes rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north, and stimulating the economy.

    After meeting the European Commission chief in Brussels on Tuesday, Mali’s interim President Dioncounda Traore said he hoped about 2bn euros would be raised at the donors’ conference.

    “I think that’s a good start,” he told a news conference. “Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, in a week or in a month, it is clear that the international community, the European Union, will inject a lot more than that.”

    Mr. Barroso said the aid would benefit Europe as well as Africa.

    “The support of the international community is essential to establish a Mali that is stable, democratic and prosperous,” he added. “But the principal actors in this transition are the Malians themselves and their government.”

     

  • EU, Nigeria sign N18b pacts

    The European Union (EU)has signed three agreements worth 89 million euro (about N18 billion) with the Federal Government to support the non-oil sector and other related developmental programmes.

    Speaking at the event, which held at the Ministry of National Planning in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr David MacRae, said the grants would impact on the targeted sectors and help the country in leveraging its successes and supporting the efforts to attain of the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs’) targets.

    The Secretary to the National Planning Commission, Fidelis Ugbo, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, and for the Federal Government, said with the deals, the EU would provide the cash, noting that it will help Nigeria achieve the MDGs.

    He expressed optimism that the grants would assist the country in achieving its developmental goals as enunciated in the Vision 20:2020, the administration’s Transformation Agenda and the imminent Second National Implementation Plan.

  • Nigeria, EU sign N18b pact

    The European Union (EU) yesterday signed 89-million Euro (about N18 billion) financial agreements with the Federal Government to support the country’s health, water programmes and economic growth.

    The Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, signed the three financing agreements on behalf of the government. Dr David MacRae, the Ambassador of the EU to Nigeria, signed on behalf of the union in Abuja.

    Usman, who was represented by the NPC Secretary, Mr Fidelis Ugbo, said the agreements would help to expedite action toward implementing the programmes.

    He said the water supply and sanitation sector reforms was conceived to contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable development and the achievement of the water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Adamawa, Ekiti, and Plateau states.

    The minister added that the total budget for the programme was 52 million Euros and that the European Development Fund’s (EDF) contribution toward its implementation was 40 million Euros.

    He said that the maternal and newborn health programme was designed to significantly improve the health status of women and children through improved and sustainable primary health care delivery system in Adamawa and Kebbi states.

    According to him, the total budget for the programme is 33 million Euros and the EDF’s contribution to the programme is 30 million Euros.

    “The Nigeria competitiveness support programme will support the country in trade and investment competition through development of process, procedures and stronger capacity of relevant institutions in Nigeria.’’

    Usman said that the total budget for the programme was 230 million Euros and that the EDF’s contribution to the programme was 19 million Euros.

    “By authorising the three financing agreements today, the EU contribution stands at 89 million Euros. In this regard, Nigeria will be on the right track to making considerable progress in the achievement of the MDGs,’’ he said.

    The minister said the EU contribution would also assist Nigeria to achieve its developmental goals as enshrined in the country’s Vision 20:20202 and the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    In his remarks, MacRae said the EU would contribute 89 million Euros from the EDF to assist in the development of water supply, improved access to health and foster economic growth in Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Federal Government had in November 2009, signed the 10th EDF Country Strategy Paper-National Indicative Programme with EU for the implementation of 17 indicative programmes in the country.

     

  • Rivers’ll partner EU, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said his administration would continue to partner the European Union (EU) to transform the living standard of the people.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the Micro- Projects Programme in the nine Niger Delta states (MPP9)

    He said the programme would fast-track development at the grassroots.

    The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, described the projects as “community-based,” and assured the EU of his administration’s support.

    Amaechi called on the chairmen of the 13 local governments, where EU projects are sited, and the community leaders to cooperate with the Union and not allow their actions to hinder development in their communities.

    “The Rivers State Government will render its total commitment to the MPP9 and the partnership between the EU and Niger Delta states is enjoyable because we know that whatever projects that are executed in the region is like helping the whole world,” Amaechi explained.

  • EU ministers to hold horsemeat talks

    European Union agriculture ministers are set to meet in Brussels for talks widely expected to focus on the continent’s growing horsemeat scandal, the BBC reports.

    The labelling of the origin of meat and the traceability of the products will be high on the agenda.

    The scandal erupted last month when horsemeat was found in some beef meals and burgers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

    Since then, supermarkets across Europe have had to withdraw affected prepared meals from their shelves.

    The BBC says the original agenda of the ministerial meeting included support for rural communities and the common fisheries policy.

    However, the ministers will now try to come up with measures to tackle the horsemeat scandal.

    The report adds that there seems to be consensus that this is a pan-European problem that requires a concerted approach.

    France and Germany both want compulsory labelling and traceability.

    UK Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said on Friday that he would “continue to insist on concrete, co-ordinated action right across Europe when I meet European agriculture ministers on Monday.”