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A30 world news
Diabierna 9 OctOber 2020

EU states accept plan as a basis to revamp asylum policy

told reporters, after chairing ciana Lamorgese was encour- up.
the meeting, the first time aged that the proposals mark "There was no member state
the proposals have been dis- a change in policy but, she that said they were fully sat-
cussed by the 27 EU member said, "we are at the beginning isfied with everything in the
countries. of a long process and a very proposal," she said. "So, they
Seehofer said the plan "ad- complex negotiation" that all have some concerns, they
dresses the key points for a must ensure that the coun- all have some questions, they
possible future migration tries where most migrants all have some amendments
pact," but he conceded that enter don't carry the burden they would like to see."
it wasn't welcomed with en- alone. But she added that she sees
tirely open arms, saying "ob- Under the proposals, mi- no "obstacles that are impos-
viously, there are differing grants arriving at Europe's sible to deal with in the nego-
perspectives, differing views." outside borders without per- tiations to come."
The plan must be endorsed mission would be screened Still, Johansson said "many
by all member nations and within five days. They would member states" wanted de-
the European Parliament. then enter an asylum proce- tails about the plans for what
Seehofer, whose country dure or be deported, both are being called "return spon-
(AP) — European Union lum — particularly on new holds the EU's rotating presi- within 12 weeks. People sorships;" the process by
interior ministers agreed plans to deport people who dency until Dec. 31, said he could be held in detention which countries would take
Thursday that sweeping aren't permitted to stay. hoped a political deal would throughout. charge of sending people
new proposals to revamp the The plan is aimed at ending be sealed before then but that EU countries would then face who are refused asylum back
bloc's failed asylum system years of chaos at Europe's the pact was only likely to be two choices: take in some of home.
should form the basis for borders and a political crisis finalized next year. the refugees or provide other Broadly speaking, countries
negotiations on building a sparked by migrant arriv- Time is of the essence for Eu- material and logistical sup- that accept to host refugees
fresh policy for managing the als that has seen some EU rope's politicians — not just port; or for those not will- would receive 10,000 euros
arrival of unauthorized mi- countries turn their backs because people are languish- ing, take charge of deporting ($11,650) per person in as-
grants in Europe. on Greece, Italy, Malta and ing at sea in rickety boats or in people whose applications are sistance from the EU's cof-
However, the ministers Spain, where most people squalid migrant camps — but refused. Mandatory refugee fers. Those that don't would
sought clarification about seeking better lives enter. because the colder weather quotas have been abandoned. have eight months to deport
many aspects of the propos- "There is a great deal of will- means that fewer people are EU Home Affairs Commis- people not allowed in or be
als — brought forward by the ingness to continue to work likely to attempt the danger- sioner Ylva Johansson said forced to accept them.
European Commission in based on the commission ous Mediterranean Sea cross- she was "very encouraged" by In recent years, only about a
a package dubbed the New proposal," German Interior ing. the ministers' response to the third of all people ordered to
Pact for Migration and Asy- Minister Horst Seehofer Italian Interior Minister Lu- proposals she helped draw be sent home were deported.

Greek court adjourns sentencing in Golden Dawn case

(AP) — A Greek court on country's third largest party. who delivered the fatal stab During Thursday's sentenc- sued. Those convicted can
Thursday adjourned the Considered a model for wounds to Fyssas, was found ing hearing, prosecutor Ada- also turn themselves in at a
sentencing procedure for many extreme-right groups guilty of murder, posses- mantia Economou argued police station.
18 former lawmakers of the in Europe and beyond, it sion and use of a weapon, that mitigating circumstances One of the former lawmak-
extreme right-wing Golden held parliamentary seats and faces a potential life sen- could be recognized for those ers, Ioannis Lagos, is now
Dawn party and others con- from 2012 until 2019, when tence. Fifteen others — none found guilty of membership a member of the European
victed in the case, a day after its popularity plummeted in of them former lawmakers of a criminal organization but Parliament and lives in Brus-
the three-member panel of national elections. — were convicted as accom- not for other crimes. sels. As such, he enjoys im-
judges delivered a landmark Government spokesman plices. The defendants are not re- munity which could require
verdict deeming the party a Stelios Petsas described the Reacting to the verdict quired to be present in court a long process to be lifted.
criminal organization. court decision as being of Thursday, Michaloliakos for the verdict or sentencing. In an online video post from
The court hearing will re- "historic importance," and tweeted that "they convicted None of the 18 former law- the European Parliament,
sume Friday morning with added: "What is important is us for our ideas." makers, who had all served Lagos vowed to fight a legal
summations by the lawyers that democracy prevailed." "When the illegal immigrants the maximum 18 months in battle to demonstrate that the
representing the former law- Sparked by the 2013 fatal are the majority in Greece, pre-trial detention at the start trial of Golden Dawn mem-
makers, including the party's stabbing of left-wing Greek when they surrender land and of the trial, were in court bers had been unfair, describ-
leader, with arguments on rap singer Pavlos Fyssas, the sea to Turkey, when millions Wednesday. ing it as politically motivated.
mitigating circumstances for trial wrapped four cases into of Greeks are unemployed If the judges impose sentenc- But he added that he was
more lenient sentences to be one: Fyssas' killing; physical in the streets, then they'll re- es that are not suspended or willing to give himself up
imposed. attacks against Egyptian fish- member Golden Dawn," he not delayed pending appeal, voluntarily if requested.
Wednesday's verdict was the ermen in 2012 and on left- said in a tweet also posted on then orders for the arrest of
culmination of a five-year, wing activists in 2013; and the party's website. those sentenced would be is-
politically charged trial that whether Golden Dawn was
involved 68 defendants — operating as a criminal orga-
party officials, members, and nization.
alleged supporters — more The court ruled that of the 18
than 200 witnesses and over former party lawmakers on
60 lawyers. About 20,000 trial, seven, including party
people held an anti-fascist leader Nikos Michaloliakos,
rally outside the courthouse were guilty of leading a crim-
for the verdict, and thou- inal organization. They face
sands more held a similar between five and 15 years in
rally in the northern city of prison. The other 11 were
Thessaloniki. deemed guilty of participat-
Golden Dawn, founded as a ing in a criminal organiza-
neo-Nazi group in the 1980s, tion, a charge that carries a
rose to prominence during potential sentence of five to
Greece's brutal near decade- 10 years.
long financial crisis that be- Giorgos Roupakias, accused
gan in 2009, and became the of being a party supporter