DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 'You can live like a king' by retiring in Europe, says CFP—but make these 3 moves first
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"If you have that money in southern Italy, you can live like a king, including renting or purchasing a property." If you're hoping to retire in style while keeping costs low, a European retirement may be right for you. That's true for luxury vacation hotspots such as Lake Como and Saint-Tropez, though you may not find what you're looking for in those places anyway. So they have beaches, a walkable town, restaurants, bars, trains — they live on the main line," Sikes says. "There are zero restrictions on Americans buying property in Italy or France," Sikes tells CNBC Make It.

Persons: Tommy Sikes, Sikes Organizations: CNBC, European Union Locations: France, Italy, United States, U.S, York, Los Angeles, Europe, Paris, Rome, Milan, Como, Saint, Ireland, Cyprus

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone on Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries. The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romania’s admission, it was comprised of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Truck drivers are frequently stuck in kilometers-long queues at the borders of both Romania and Bulgaria.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Siegfried Muresan, ”, Marcel Ciolacu, ” Kalin, “, ___ McGrath Organizations: —, European Union, EU, Schengen, Associated Press, European Commission, The Union of International Carriers Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, — Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Romania, Croatia, Romanian, Europe, Sofia, The, Sighisoara

☆ Record numbers of wealthy Americans are looking for ways to live overseas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An investment-migration consultancy says record numbers of rich Americans are enquiring about citizenship abroad. Portugal's golden visa program is the most popular option among Americans, Henley & Partners said. AdvertisementAn investment-migration consultancy says that it is seeing record numbers of wealthy Americans looking for ways to get residence rights abroad or additional citizenships. Programs offered by Malta, Spain, Greece, and Italy are also high on American citizens' lists, Henley & Partners said. The programs allow wealthy Americans to live in the USA as their primary residence but relocate "at any point," it said in the report.

Persons: —, Mehdi Kadiri, Dominic Volek, Kadiri Organizations: Henley & Partners, Service, North America, EU Locations: North, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Greece, Italy, USA

☆ Here are the most powerful passports for 2024 — Switzerland tops the list
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The 2024 Nomad Passport Index states: "Citizens of different countries deal with very different requirements to pay tax, live freely, comply with regulations, and avoid scrutiny when traveling. In that regard, the number of countries a passport holder may visit does not tell the whole story." A slight corporate tax adjustment in Ireland was more than offset by its top scores for travel and global perception, according to Nomad Capitalist's research team. The drop was caused by a change in UAE tax policy that affected domestic and overseas company owners, including residents with foreign company ownership, it said. Many people are curious to know how their passports compare to their global peers, but that's not why Nomad Capitalist produces the annual ranking, it said.

Persons: Hong Kong, Andrew Henderson Organizations: Nomad, Ireland, United, United Arab Emirates, The UAE, Macao Locations: Ireland, Portugal, Finland, United Arab, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Hong, China

☆ Israeli Offensive on Rafah Would Be a Humanitarian Catastrophe, Says Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - An Israeli offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah where 1.3 million people have sought refuge would be a humanitarian catastrophe, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday. Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem, Baerbock said: "1.3 million people are waiting there in a very small space. If the Israeli army were to launch an offensive on Rafah under these conditions, it would be a humanitarian catastrophe." War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 Images"Let's agree on sanctions together in Europe. Photos You Should See View All 22 Images(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Persons: Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Riham Alkousaa, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, German, European Union, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Jerusalem, Germany, France, Washington, Britain, Israel, Europe, Berlin

☆ At 25, I saw zero career opportunities in my hometown. I spent all my savings on a one-way ticket out, and I have no regrets.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Veronica Pulido left her hometown at 25 because finding a career there felt impossible. My country isn't in the best economic situation and I always felt like I had nothing to do there. I always wanted to travel, and when I saw her story, I thought, "I could be her, right?" It took two years of savings, which is everything I had, to buy a one-way ticket to Spain, where my sister lives. I keep 400 euros, or $435, in my fund, and I pretend I don't have that money until it's an emergency.

Persons: Veronica Pulido, Pulido, She's, Workaway, —, Veronica Puldio Organizations: Service, Spain, Kids Locations: Europe, Venezuela, Switzerland, Prague, Czech Republic, Spain, Romania, Germany, Balkans, Croatia, Bulgaria, Venezuelan, Sofia, Asia

☆ Poland Extends Border Controls With Slovakia to Stem Illegal Migration
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland has extended border controls with Slovakia until March 2 to try to stop illegal migrants entering from Slovak territory, the interior ministry said on Friday. "Due to the continuing threat of illegal migration... the Minister of Interior and Administration extended the temporary reintroduction of border control on the section of the state border with the Slovak Republic for the period from February 2 to March 2, 2024," it said. Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria all tightened their borders with Slovakia on Oct. 4. The Czech Republic said this week it would end temporary controls on its border with Slovakia. Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria are all part of Europe's open-border Schengen zone.

Persons: Anna Wlodarczak, Nick Macfie Organizations: of Interior, Administration, European Union Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Slovakia, Slovak Republic, East, Afghanistan, Europe, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, EU, Czech Republic, Austria, Israel, Gaza

☆ This is the world’s rarest passport
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Lola Méndez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The Sovereign Military Order of Malta – also known as the Knights of Malta – isn’t just a religious Catholic order with nearly 1,000 years of history. After World War II, the use of the diplomatic passport took on characteristics of passports used in other countries. Today, there are only around 500 of the diplomatic passports in circulation – making it the rarest passport in the world. robertharding/Alamy Stock Photo“The Order grants passports to members of their government for the duration of their mandate,” de Petri Testaferrata says. Once when I arrived at the Bangkok airport, a crowd of operators at passport control wanted to see my rare passport and take a selfie with it,” Balfour tells CNN.

Persons: Malta –, It’s, King, Spain, Napoleon Bonaparte, Daniel de Petri Testaferrata, Angelo, ” de Petri Testaferrata, Marianna Balfour, “ They’ve, ” Balfour, De Petri Testaferrata, John Kellerman, Anne, de Valette, Paschal II, ” Dane Munro, Don’t, Grand, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Caravaggio, St John’s, St John ”, Finnbarr Webster, Casa Rocca Piccola, de Piro, Munro, Marquis Nicholas de Piro, Knight of Malta Don Pietro Rosselli Organizations: CNN, Knights, Knights of Malta – isn’t, United Nations, Sovereign Council, Souverain, Fort, UNESCO, “, Casa Magazzini, National Library of Malta, of, Supreme, Grand Masters, of Ambassadors, St, Maltese Association of Locations: Malta, Knights of Malta, Jerusalem, Maltese, Rome, of Malta, St, robertharding, Bangkok, France, United Kingdom, United States, Knights, Valletta, Mdina, Knight

☆ Don’t let this passport quirk upend your next vacation. It 'trips a lot of people up,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

However, another common passport snafu threatens to upend your trip overseas — and it involves passports that haven't yet expired but are close to doing so. Many countries require that Americans have at least a few months of validity remaining on their U.S. passport in order to travel there, or to secure a visa to that country. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions require at least six months of validity for permission to enter. What this means: Gatekeepers like border officials will deny travel if your passport doesn't have a certain amount of validity remaining. The requirement "trips a lot of people up," said Charles Leocha, president and co-founder of Travelers United, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Persons: Charles Leocha Organizations: Finance, State Department, Travelers United Locations: New Europe, Schengen, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong

☆ Asylum Seekers 'Missing' After Crossing Russia Border to Finland
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Greta Rosen Fondahn(Reuters) - Some 160 people who applied for asylum at Finland's eastern border last year have since disappeared, amid a sudden surge of asylum seekers arriving via Russia, Finland's immigration authority said. Finland closed its eastern border with Russia late last year amidst a growing number of arrivals from countries including Syria and Somalia. Now 160 people are missing from reception centres, most with unknown whereabouts, Migri's Director of the Asylum Unit, Antti Lehtinen told Reuters. Earlier in January, Finland extended the closure of its border with Russia until Feb. 11, saying it was likely that the inflow of asylum seekers would restart if the border opened. "Smuggling activities have taken advantage of the border security disruptions on the eastern border," the coast guard said in a statement.

Persons: Greta Rosen Fondahn, Migri, Antti Lehtinen, " Lehtinen, Lehtinen, Sauli Niinisto, Greta Rosen, Anne Kauranen, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Kremlin, Asylum Unit, Reuters, EU, Finnish Border Guard Locations: Russia, Finland, Syria, Somalia, Moscow, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, EU

☆ Taylor Swift ticket may have helped Filipino tourist get Europe visa, says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A woman claims her Europe visa reapplication approved after she sent proof of Taylor Swift tickets. She was initially denied entry to Italy but then showed a ticket to Swift's Singapore show. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . So when I reapplied, I said that, I'll leave BECAUSE I WILL ATTEND TAYLOR SWIFT'S CONCERT IN SG and attached the email confirmation" [sic].

Persons: reapplication, Taylor Swift, —, Taylor, TAYLOR Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Europe, Italy, Singapore, Asia, Pacific

☆ Spain ready to sign a deal with Britain on Gibraltar as early as Wednesday - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jon Nazca/files Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Spain is ready to sign a deal on the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar as early as Wednesday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, before setting off to meet newly appointed British Foreign Minister David Cameron in Brussels. Albares said he spoken with Cameron on Monday on the telephone and both men agreed to meet in Brussels to further discuss the status of Gibraltar there. He said he was due to fly to Brussels later on Tuesday, adding: "Spain wants this agreement to be signed tomorrow." The European Commission and Spain sent Britain a proposal, including keeping Gibraltar's land border to Spain, open in late 2022 and ensuring the free flow of people. Spain ceded the rocky outpost at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea to Britain in 1713 but has long called for its return.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Jose Manuel Albares, David Cameron, Albares, Cameron, Inti Landauro, Aislinn Laing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, British, Spanish TV, European Union, EU, Schengen, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Gibraltar, Spain, Rights MADRID, Brussels, British, Britain

Travellers walk with their suitcases at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China April 24, 2023. A recent Pew Research Center survey in 24 countries revealed that views of China were broadly negative, with 67% of adults expressing unfavourable views. Visa-free travel to Germany for Chinese nationals would only be possible if all members of the European Schengen Agreement approved, she said. This month, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens of Norway. It resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Patricia Flor, Catherine Colonna, Wang Yi, Joe Cash, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Christopher Cushing, Kim Coghill, Miral Organizations: Beijing Daxing International, REUTERS, Rights, Pew Research Center, Visa, French, Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Taiwan, Norway, Singapore, Brunei

☆ Factbox-European Countries Tighten Borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

These countries have reinstated stricter checks:* Austria introduced checks at its border with the Czech Republic in October, set to last until Dec. 6. * Denmark in August tightened border control for arrivals, including those from Schengen countries, at Copenhagen airport to boost security after incidents of Koran burnings. * Germany announced controls in September on its land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, set to stay in place until Dec. 4. * Sweden strengthened checks in August on its borders, giving border police more power including body searches and increased use of electronic surveillance. * France as of November reintroduced controls on its borders with Schengen members, citing what it called terrorism threats.

Persons: Berlin, Matteo Piantedosi, Gerald Darmanin, Olivier Sorgho, Stéphanie, Milla Nissi, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, European, Austria, EU, Kremlin Locations: Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark, Copenhagen, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Berlin, East, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, France, Belgian, Brussels, Africa, Croatia, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Gdansk

☆ European countries tighten borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Berlin, Matteo Piantedosi, Gerald Darmanin, Olivier Sorgho, Stéphanie, Milla Nissi, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, European, Austria, EU, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Forst, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark, Copenhagen, Poland, Switzerland, Berlin, East, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, France, Belgian, Brussels, Africa, Croatia, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Gdansk

☆ Kremlin says NATO's desire for a 'military Schengen' zone in Europe ratchets up tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that NATO's desire to have a military analogue of the Schengen Zone in Europe to allow the alliance's armed forces to move around freely to counter Russia had ratcheted up tensions and was a cause for concern. NATO is actively supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and Kyiv hopes one day to join the alliance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would respond if 'the military Schengen' proposal became a reality. This (statement) is nothing more than about fuelling tensions in Europe which has consequences," Peskov told reporters. He said talk of building a 'military Schengen' showed once again that Europe was unwilling to listen to Moscow's legitimate concerns and was ready to boost its own security at Russia's expense.

Persons: Alexander Sollfrank, Joe Biden, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, NATO, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet, Warsaw, Poland, Baltic

☆ NATO urges members to get their logistics homework done
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) in the southern German town of Ulm started operating in 2021. "At the heyday of the war in Ukraine, Russia fired 50,000 artillery shells per day. As it is, NATO forces have to navigate a variety of national regulations, stretching from the advance-notice required before ammunition can be shipped to the permissible length of military convoys and disease prophylaxis. "We have a surplus of regulations, but the one thing we don't have is time," warned Admiral Rob Bauer, head of NATO's military committee. "Russia's war against Ukraine has proven to be a war of attrition – and a war of attrition is a battle of logistics."

Persons: Alexander Sollfrank, Sollfrank, Rob Bauer, Sabine Siebold, Christina Fincher Organizations: Europe NATO, NATO, Reuters, Command, Warsaw, EU, Thomson Locations: Europe, BRUSSELS, Russia, Ulm, Ukraine, Germany, Moscow

☆ Finland to close all but northernmost border crossing with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The government has today decided to close more border stations," Orpo told a press conference. Finland said Russia was letting migrants through those two crossing points by foot despite an agreement that they could only be crossed by car. "There are growing signs that the situation is worsening on the eastern border," Orpo said. Finland will shut three of the four remaining border crossing points from midnight on Friday, leaving only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing in the Arctic open. "Raja-Jooseppi is the northernmost (border crossing) and it requires a real effort to get there," Orpo said.

Persons: Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Ylva Johansson, Sauli Niinisto, Moscow's, Essi Lehto, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Alexandra Hudson, Christina Fincher, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Nordic, European Union, Kremlin, Finland, Russia, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, EU, Estonia, Baltic, Finnish, Vartius, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, East, Africa

☆ Finland mulls more border restrictions as asylum seekers 'impossible' to return
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Finland said on Monday it had become impossible to return asylum seekers who did not meet the criteria for protection and said that it might further restrict migrant entries from Russia following a jump in the number of applicants. Over 500 asylum seekers, mostly from Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Iraq, arrived in Finland - an eastern outpost of the European Union - via Russia in the past two weeks, prompting Helsinki to shut half its border crossings and accuse Moscow of funnelling migrants to its border. Migrants entering Finland from Russia can now only request asylum at two of the remaining four crossing points on their shared 1,340-km (830-mile) border. The Kremlin said on Monday it had lodged a formal protest over the partial border closure, saying the decision reflected an anti-Russian stance.

Persons: Sauli Niinisto, Caitlin Ochs, Niinisto, Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Tomi Kivenjuuri, Kivenjuuri, Moscow's, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik, Anna Ringstrom, Jonathan Oatis, Gareth Jones Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, European, Migrants, Finnish Border Guard, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York, U.S, Finland, Russia, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Helsinki, Moscow, Poland, EU, Finnish, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, East, Africa, Oslo, Stockholm

☆ I left NYC and moved to Eastern Europe after my divorce — but here's what I wish I would've done differently
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Katka Lapelosova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Katka Lapelosová moved to Serbia in October 2020 after her divorce. Then I fell in love with my best friend from high school, who had never left Long Island, and everything changed. Our nearly 10-year relationship was fantastic and filled with many wonderful memories including a few trips to Europe. AdvertisementSerbia really surprised me and moving here has been interestingLapelosová drove around Serbia and found the countryside very beautiful. Courtesy of Katka LapelosováWhile I love living abroad, it can definitely get lonely, and I still get homesick.

Persons: Katka Lapelosová, Lapelosová, would've, she'll, —, I'm, wasn't, I'd, I've, Lapelosová I've, Serbia —, don't, There's, it's, Belgrade haven't Organizations: Service, Belgrade —, Yorker, EU Locations: Serbia, Yorker, Prague, Long, Europe, EU, Balkans, Serbian, Belgrade, Italy, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Saint Sava Temple, New York City, Paris, Barcelona, Siberia, Syria, Croatia, Malta

☆ Italy Extends Border Controls With Slovenia Deeper Into November
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Controls at the border between Italy and Slovenia will continue this month, Rome's parliament minister said on Thursday, and the government could decide to further extend their duration. Italy reinstated police checks at the border in its northeast as of Oct. 21 for an initial 10 days, suspending the free movement normally allowed within most of the European Union under the Schengen treaty. Last month, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the border checks were likely to be extended into next year, citing the risk of terrorists among the migrants in transit on the Balkan route. Ciriani said 10 people had so far been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration as a result of the controls. (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Keith Weir)

Persons: Luca Ciriani, Matteo Piantedosi, Ciriani, Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir Organizations: European Union, Hamas, Slovenian Locations: ROME, Italy, Slovenia, Israel, France, Belgium, Rome, Croatian, Italian

☆ Slovenia deploys police on borders with Croatia, Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OBREZJE, Slovenia, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Slovenia on Saturday deployed police on border crossings with Croatia and Hungary to prevent potential security threats, leading to queues as travellers waited to have their documents checked. The Slovenian government had on Friday decided to introduce temporary border controls until Oct. 30, following its neighbour Italy which introduced controls on its border crossing with Slovenia to improve home security. Police were deployed on 14 border crossings with Croatia and Hungary, Slovenian news agency STA reported. Travellers queued to have their papers checked at the Obrezje crossing on the border with Croatia, where checks had not taken place since Jan. 1 this year when Croatia joined the control-free Schengen Area. Reporting by Antonio Bronic; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: queued, Fjacko, Antonio Bronic, Ivana Sekularac, David Holmes Organizations: Saturday, Slovenian, Police, Croatia, Croatian, Thomson Locations: OBREZJE, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Slovenian, Zagreb, Europe, Balkans

They spoke after paying tribute to the victims of Monday's attack in the Belgian capital, home to the EU institutions, and condemning what they branded a brutal terrorist attack. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europe's open-border Schengen zone would not survive unless the EU's external frontiers were better protected from unwanted immigration. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the EU also needed a more effective system of returning unauthorised immigrants. The 45-year-old gunman arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2011 and then lived in Sweden before claiming asylum in Belgium. EU migration ministers will discuss the plans in Brussels on Thursday, as will national leaders next week.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Alexander De Croo, Yves Herman Acquire, Margaritis Schinas, Abdesalem Al Guilani, RTBF, Abdesalem, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Johnny Cotton, Anna Ringstrom, Benoit van Overstraeten, Gabriela Baczynska, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Swedish, Belgian, REUTERS, Sweden's, EU, STV, European Commission, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, BRUSSELS, Tunisia, Swedish, Belgian, Europe, Lampedusa, Israel

He lost his case in October 2020 and, the following March, was issued an order to leave Belgium. With at least three EU countries involved, the case points up the challenges the EU faces tracking people across the bloc's Schengen open-travel zone that is mostly free of border checks. Proponents of the EU's new migration pact - which has been tentatively agreed by most EU countries and is now being further negotiated with the European Parliament - say it would support returns by shortening time for migration and asylum procedures. "Those who are not allowed to stay in the EU must leave Europe. "This is a wake-up call for those who are not ready to accept ... the migration pact."

Persons: Alexander de Croo, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Manfred Weber, Marine Strauss, Bart Meijer, Angelo Amante, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Belgium Case, EU, Immigration, Belgian, Frontex, Eurostat, Reuters, European People's Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, Sweden, Belgium, BRUSSELS, ROME, Tunisia, Europe, Israel, Germany, Brussels, Tunis, ITALY, SWEDEN, BELGIUM, Lampedusa, Poland, Hungary, East, Africa, Rome

☆ Poland, Czech Republic extend border controls with Slovakia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Polish soldiers guard along a temporary checkpoint at the Slovakia-Poland border, as seen from the village Skalite, Slovakia, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Poland and the Czech Republic will extend temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia into November as countries seek to restrict the flow of illegal migrants. The Polish government has decided to extend the controls by 20 days to Nov. 2, the interior ministry said in a statement. On Wednesday, Slovakia extended its own border controls with Hungary until Nov. 3. Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany are all part of the EU's Schengen open-border zone.

Persons: Radovan Stoklasa, Mariusz Kaminski, Kaminski, Slovakia's, Anna Wlodarczak, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Justice, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Czech, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, EU, Europe, Warsaw, Prague

Search resuls for: "Schengen"

25 mentions found