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EU Parliament president: extending border controls only possible with ‘balanced, comprehensive approach to migration’

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In this interview — conducted before Germany’s decision to re-introduce border checks — EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola spoke to DW about disinformation, migration and the right-wing surge in the EU election.

 

Maltese conservative Roberta Metsola was reelected president of the European Parliament in July 2024, only the second person and the first woman to serve in the role for two terms
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa/picture alliance

 

DW: Right before the EU elections in June, the then European Parliament media chief Jaume Duch told me that an information war is being waged against the EU. You saw disinformation on your son’s phone. What did you feel as a mother and a politician?

Roberta Metsola: First concern, then resolve.

I was concerned. “Will this disinformation influence his choices? Had the school taught him to distinguish fact from fiction?”I thought: “If this is happening to a boy whose mother is a candidate in the elections, what influence would it have on a person who is very far away from politics?”

Then came the resolve: Fix it. Fix it with strong legislation that will enable us to act strongly, politically against those who are essentially trying to undermine the EU’s political system.

At the Campus Poland of the Future conference in Olsztyn in late August, you complained that the Member States are reluctant to implement even the best legislative answers to European problems.

Metsola: Absolutely.

Metsola says that strong legislation is needed to allow the EU to act against ‘those who are essentially trying to undermine the EU’s political system’
© Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/picture alliance

 

What are the issues you are most concerned about?

Metsola: Corporate social responsibility, gender rights — we need more women in various boards — whether our laws that tackle violence against women across the EU are strong enough to protect them and, considering where I come from, migration.

You said in Olsztyn that behind every migrant story is a human being. Yet at the same time, the EU is adopting stricter migration rules — and Member States are doing the same on their own — to make the Schengen zone endure. How can a balance be found between the EU as a human rights beacon and the realpolitik of “fortress Europe?”

Metsola: It’s not an easy question. It is exactly because of our inability as the EU to find that balance that our migration policy has been failing for so long.

We have so many different national contexts — land borders, sea borders. I was speaking also from the perspective of a citizen of Malta, an island migrants are trying to reach.

I’m not a politician who would say “let’s make sure that Europe does not open its door to anyone.” I have met too many people who had no choice but to place their child on a boat, because it was safer than on land.

In the past five years we have seen the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls in many EU countries.

Metsola: The Schengen freedom of movement is sacrosanct. We fought so hard to get it. Extending internal border controls can only be done with a balanced and comprehensive approach to migration — not one that would create a silo.

Roberta Metsola comes from EU Member State Malta, an island that many migrants attempt to reach by sea
© Darrin Zammit Lupi/REUTERS

 

For many years we would say that the EU focuses on the countries that border it. We held summits with them, telling them we’ll invest in them on the condition that they take back their migrants. I think it will require a revolution in our international relations to develop a more coherent migration policy.

How do we find the middle road?

Metsola: I believe that the Migration Pact we adopted in March can start to work on that middle road. On the one hand, solidarity between the Member States; on the other, strong external border protection — obviously different on land and on sea, the return of those who are not eligible for protection, but not isolating our migration policy from our neighborhood and development policy.

But again, we can have the best laws on paper, but if they are not implemented, then they will never work, and citizens will feel cheated.

Don’t you feel a bit powerless as the president of the institution that actually votes on these laws? After all, it is up to national governments to implement them. Don’t you wish you had some sort of figurative baseball bat to force the leaders of the Member States to implement these laws?

Metsola: Well, I see that as a little bit of my role. I have a very good relationship with the leaders of the Member States, and I present them with the fact that we are now directly elected.

The interesting situation is that all EU prime ministers are party leaders, and during the EU election campaign, they were committing, among other things, to a better implementation of EU acquis [the legislative application all EU candidate countries need to fulfill before being considered for accession – ed.].

I will hold them to it. Whenever I go to the European Council, whenever I meet any of the leaders, either individually or with my colleagues, it is my job to do it.

In early 2024, Time magazine wrote that “Metsola wants the parliament to have the power its name implies and generate laws itself.” In the light of war, migration pressure, climate change, struggling industries and the Green Deal, do you see any chance for the European Parliament to actually carve out a bit of power for itself?

Metsola: I would say that we’ve already done it. For example, the Media Freedom Act would not have been possible without a non-legislative report from the parliament.

Roberta Metsola says the European Parliament will hold EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured here) and her commissioners to account © Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu/picture alliance

 

Also, look at the power the parliament wields in terms of budgetary negotiations, for example, making sure that the money goes to Ukraine, or the framework programs for EU candidate countries, the solidarity funds, Erasmus, Horizon… Without the parliament, the amounts of EU money for these programs would never have been so visible, so effective.

Now, from a legislative perspective, where does the parliament not yet have competence? Foreign affairs.

The parliamentary hearings for commissioners-designate will begin soon. Isn’t that the first and last moment when they say and do what the EP wants, and once they’re voted in, then off they go?

Metsola: I don’t think this chamber will allow that to happen. This is the first time I’m going through this process as president of the parliament and I want all commissioners to be absolutely willing to face — and respond to — tough questions from the MEPs according to their portfolio.

We expect commitments from the Commission President and her designated commissioners, and we will hold them to account.

At the press conference with Ursula von der Leyen after the vote on her second term, you said that you saw, on the Commission’s side, the acknowledgement of a stronger parliament and the will to cooperate with it. After the last five years, are you really optimistic that the institutions will cooperate?

Metsola: If the last five years showed us anything, it is that even in areas where there once was no cooperation, there was cooperation when we had no choice. I refer specifically to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the immediate responses that had to be taken. We saw great cooperation on the political and the legislative level.

Would I have wished for more? Absolutely. Would I have expected some commissioners to be more respectful towards the parliament? Absolutely. Will I insist that the next five years be better? Always.

Populist, far-right parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) polled strongly across Europe in June’s EU elections
© Jörg Carstensen/dpa/picture alliance

 

We now have an incumbent president of the European Commission, a number of incumbent commissioners, but also many new ones. We will hold them all to account, not only at the beginning and at the end of their terms.

We’ve seen the parliament taking other EU institutions to court when this sincere respect and cooperation wasn’t upheld. And I’m the one who signs the decisions to do it — without hesitation — because I was given the mandate to do so. I will not stop.

Two years ago you had to assist the police in an operation that uncovered the so-called “Qatargate” corruption scandal. Senior MEPs were involved. The press accused a former Latvian MEP of spying for Russia. That didn’t help the image of the parliament. Are you sure political corruption will never happen again?

Metsola: It goes without saying that I hope such things will not happen again. I understand that for many parts of the world, near and far, the European Parliament, its members and its very existence are a threat.

And as someone who has fought corruption all my life — not only in my own country but in others, too — if I have a real problem on my hands, I will not make an excuse to do nothing simply because it might happen again.

Back then, my colleagues and I immediately embarked on a quest for a series of reforms that were very difficult to pass. We looked for majorities. Some new regulations went as far as I wished them to, some didn’t.

But I am glad that the election showed that people recognized our efforts. Does that mean it will never happen again? I cannot say that. But at least we have inbuilt firewalls and alarm bells to hear the signals earlier.

The outcome of the EU elections means that for the next five years, you will be dealing with a huge representation of far-right parties. Do you think such a divided parliament will be able to pass the right legislation and then ensure its implementation in the Member States?

Metsola: I consider myself part of the constructive pro-European majority that wants to build rather than destroy. And I hope that this majority, which elected me in 2022 and reelected me in 2024, will stick together to adopt tough legislation, to hold other institutions to account, to self-reform and to be ready to adapt to challenges.

So, I look forward to a parliament where majorities are formed, rather than a divided one. Will it be harder? Yes. But I am not going to question the voters’ choice. I consider myself a president of every member of the EP, my job is to make sure decisions are made here. I am confident that we can find majorities, although the MEPs are responsible for their own actions.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length.

Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan

Author: Michal Gostkiewicz

Business

Prices to fall as NNPC plans 12 more filling stations to sell N230 fuel.

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Prices to fall as NNPC plans 12 more filling stations to sell N230 fuel.
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NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) is planning to open 12 more filling stations to sell fuel at a lower price of N230 per liter. This move is expected to increase competition in the market and potentially lead to a decrease in fuel prices.

Ekwutosblog gathered that with these  more filling stations selling fuel at a lower price, consumers may benefit from:

1. Increased competition: More filling stations selling fuel at a lower price can encourage other marketers to reduce their prices.
2. Lower fuel prices: As more fuel is available at a lower price, the overall market price may decrease.
3. Improved accessibility: More filling stations can make fuel more accessible to consumers, especially in areas with limited options.

However, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

1. Sustainability: Will NNPC be able to maintain the lower price point, or is this a temporary measure?
2. Market dynamics: How will other marketers respond to NNPC’s move, and will they also reduce their prices?
3. Supply and demand: Will the increased supply of fuel at a lower price lead to increased demand, and how will this affect the market?

Keep an eye on the developments and see how the market responds to NNPC’s plans!

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Bitcoin soars past US$81,000 as Trump’s pro-crypto stance fuels buying spree

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Bitcoin reached a record high on Monday. Photo: Reuters
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The token climbed to an unprecedented US$81,497 early in the Asian day on Monday

Bitcoin rallied past US$81,000 for the first time, boosted by President-elect Donald Trump’s embrace of digital assets and the prospect of a Congress featuring pro-crypto lawmakers.

Trump’s decisive victory in the presidential election has prompted celebratory chest-thumping from the digital-asset industry, which spent over US$100 million backing a range of crypto-friendly candidates.

The largest token climbed as much as 6.1 per cent on Sunday, before extending the gain to an unprecedented US$81,497 early in the Asian day on Monday. Bullish sentiment lifted smaller coins too, including a surge in Dogecoin, a meme-crowd favourite promoted by Trump supporter Elon Musk.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

“With the dust from Trump’s victory still settling down, it was only a matter of time before a run-up of some sort occurred given the perception of Trump being pro-crypto, and that’s what we’re seeing now,” said Le Shi, Hong Kong managing director at market-making firm Auros.

Trump vowed on the campaign trail to put the US at the centre of the digital-asset industry, including creating a strategic bitcoin stockpile and appointing regulators enamoured with digital assets. Jubilant traders for the moment are paying little heed to questions such as the speed of likely implementation or whether a strategic stockpile is a realistic possibility.

His broader agenda of stoking domestic economic growth, tax cuts and reducing red tape has fuelled a buying spree across stocks, credit and crypto. The S&P 500 stock index last week hit its 50th record this year.

Bitcoin has added about 92 per cent so far in 2024, helped by robust demand for dedicated US exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The rise in the token, which scaled fresh records after Tuesday’s US vote, exceeds the returns from investments such as stocks and gold.

The ETFs, powered by BlackRock’s $35 billion iShares Bitcoin Trust, posted a record daily net inflow of almost US$1.4 billion on Thursday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A day earlier, the iShares ETF’s trading volume jumped to an all-time peak – all signs of how Trump’s victory is reshaping crypto.

Trump’s stance contrasts with a crackdown on digital assets under President Joe Biden. Securities & Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Genslerrepeatedly labelled the sector as rife with fraud and misconduct. The agency turned the screws on crypto following a 2022 market rout and a litany of collapses, notably the bankruptcy of Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraudulent FTX exchange.

Digital-asset companies spent heavily during the election campaign to boost candidates viewed as favourable to their interests. Against that backdrop, Trump did an about-face, becoming a supporter of an industry he once labelled a scam.

“Trump has promised supportive regulation, and the sweep of the House and the Senate makes the passage of crypto bills much more likely,” wrote Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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Philippine hotel named world’s largest chicken-shaped building by Guinness World Records

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A 15-room hotel at the Campuestohan Highland Resort in the Philippines was named the largest building in the shape of a chicken by Guinness World Records. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records
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Philippine hotel named world’s largest chicken-shaped building by Guinness World Records

A hotel in the Philippines has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest chicken-shaped building in the world.

The hotel measures 12 meters in width, 28 meters in length, and stands 35 meters tall, approximately the height of a 13-story building, with each floor around 2.6 meters high, according to the Guinness World Records website.

Designed by businessman Ricardo “Cano” Gwapo Tan, the chicken-shaped building is part of Campuestohan Highland Resort, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines.

The hotel features 15 air-conditioned rooms equipped with televisions and large beds, suitable for families or groups. Additionally, it boasts a viewing deck that offers visitors a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area, as reported by Philstar.

Room rates start at 4,500 pesos (US$77) per night.

When asked about the rooster-inspired design, Tan explained that it reflects the gamefowl industry in Negros Occidental. He added that the “calm and commanding, imposing and strong” figure of the rooster represents the local spirit, according to Guinness World Records.

Construction of the hotel began on June 10, 2023, and completed on Sept. 8 this year despite challenges of frequent storms in the area.

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