¿Cómo ven Europa los jóvenes? 160 jóvenes han participado en el primer concurso de fotografía organizado por la Asamblea de Regiones de Europa. Sus trabajos dan mucho que pensar. EuroparlTV

La Comisión Europea está intentando simplificar las leyes del divorcio para las parejas que sean procedentes de diferentes nacionalidades, en Europa. Los nueve países que han avanzado para esa cooperación fueran: España, Rumania, Hungría, Austria, Francia, Italia, Eslovenia, Luxemburgo y Grecia. Esas leyes tienen como finalidad buscar reglas comunes que puedan dar la libertad de escoger la legislación y la jurisdicción que pueda declarar el divorcio.

Launch of EuroparlTV in Brussels. Meabh Mc Mahon

The European Parliament has voted today in its plenary session on the directive on common standards and procedures for the return of third-country nationals residing illegally in European Union territory. The “return” directive lays down a maximum period of custody and a ban on re-entry into the EU by deportees. Parliament has been working on the directive on an equal footing with the Council under the co-decision procedure. After discussion, a text was approved by the Council on Thursday 5 June. In Parliament, it is backed by several groups. According to this text, the “voluntary return” period would be limited to between seven and thirty days. The period of custody would be six months maximum, but could be extended to 18 in the cases described above and if the administration of the third country concerned was excessively slow. The re-entry ban would apply for five years, or longer if the individual represents a serious threat to public safety. Lastly, the text takes account of MEPs’ demands regarding children and families: they must not be subject to coercive measures and alternatives to custody must be proposed for them. Unaccompanied minors may only be deported if they can be returned to their family or to “adequate reception facilities” in their state of return. Member States must also take account of the situation of the individual’s country of origin, under the principle of non-refoulement (which says that no state may send a refugee to a country where his/her life or liberty may be endangered). Following a recent ruling by the Court of Justice, the European Parliament will in future decide jointly with the Council (under co-decision) which countries are deemed “safe”.