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Saturday 10 december 2016
Celebrate closer EU union? Not with all that division

RAF CASERT it. And, despite the timid As Luxembourg’s finance exempted from the single sion, he feels “it is too hot
Associated Press signs of an economic up- minister in 1991, Juncker currency and rules govern- in the kitchen for a certain
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands turn, high unemployment was there at the cradle of ing workers’ rights and oth- number of member states,”
(AP) — Instead of celebrat- and debt still creates divi- the Maastricht Treaty when er labor conditions. including Britain.
ing the 25th anniversary of sion between the rich and 12 EU leaders have agreed Even with the British reserva- “We have to invent a dif-
the summit that reinforced poorer member states. to expand their powers to tions, the accord marked ferent orbit for those of our
the goal of an ever-clos- European countries who
er union, the European don’t want to be part of
Union’s Commission chief all the domains where we
lambasted some member are trying to work together.
states that refuse to apply This will not be a tragedy,
common rules and said this will not be a crisis,” he
the bloc needs to rethink a said, instead calling it “a
looser relationship for those chance, make things clear-
not fully committed. er.” Quarrels between the
For those who sought to EU headquarters and mem-
go it alone, Jean-Claude ber states like Poland and
Juncker warned Friday that Hungary over their consti-
they faced a tough future. tutional duties have come
Juncker acknowledged to dominate the national
a quarter century after agenda. And after Juncker
EU leaders agreed on the pushed and EU nations ap-
Maastricht Treaty for a proved a binding system
tightly knit unity that break- to set quotas for members
away Britain and others to take in migrants, some
had changed conditions to member states including
the extent that he was con- Hungary refuse to apply it.
sidering a system where Juncker called it a wa-
a core group of nations tershed moment. “That is
would be linked less closely European Council President Donald Tusk, left, walks with European Parliament President Martin something new,” he told
to members in “a different Schulz, center, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the European Coun- the conference. “This is
orbit.” The 28-nation EU has cil building in Brussels. The 28-nation EU has been rocked by the British exit referendum last year, against this basic principle
been rocked by the Brit- and acrimonious relations with some eastern members on migration and constitutional law. that the EU is a rules based
ish exit referendum, and (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) system. It is no longer.”
acrimonious relations with Yet, he said, leave the EU at
some eastern members on It turned the symposium to help achieve greater sta- a great stride forward, but your own risk. “Those who
migration and constitution- celebrate the landmark bility and prosperity. They also underscored the diffi- think the time has come to
al law. The EU has come treaty into a less than joyful hammered out a com- culties London would con- deconstruct, to put Europe
under further pressure from event where worries about promise setting up a loose tinue to pose. in pieces, to subdivide us in
hundreds of thousands of the common future cast a federation with a common “We really had impression national divisions are totally
migrants seeking entry and pall over what the closer foreign policy and a single we were making history,” wrong. We won’t exist as
the inability of member monetary and political uni- currency by 1999. The deal Juncker still insists. But now, single nations without the
states to smoothly deal with ty had brought. came only after Britain was as chief of the EU Commis- European Union.”q

Populist lawmaker Wilders convicted of anti-Moroccan chants

MIKE CORDER rowly leading a nationwide Netherlands. He had insisted he was per- be limited, for example to
Associated Press poll of polls and has risen in That sparked a chant of forming his duty as a politi- protect the rights and free-
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Popu- popularity during the trial. “Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!” — cal leader by pointing out doms of others, and that is
list anti-Islam lawmaker Wilders quickly released a to which he replied, “we’ll a problem in society. what this case is about.”
Geert Wilders was found video message, in English take care of it.” On Friday, he was convict- Abdou Menebhi, president
guilty Friday of insulting and Dutch, slamming the Prime Minister Mark Rutte, ed for the interaction with of the Euro-Mediterranean
and inciting discrimina- judgment and vowing to speaking after the verdict, the crowd of supporters Center for Migration and
tion against Moroccans, a appeal. underscored that he and in the Hague cafe, which Development, welcomed
conviction he immediately “Today, I was convicted his Liberal Party would not judges said was carefully the judgment.
slammed as a “shameful” in a political trial which, consider forming a coali- orchestrated and broad- “For us, it’s a very important
attack on free speech and shortly before the elections, tion with the Party for Free- cast on national television. verdict,” he told The Associ-
an attempt to “neutralize” attempts to neutralize the dom unless Wilders retracts He was acquitted for similar ated Press.
him. leader of the largest and the comments. comments he made in a “This gives the Moroccans
Presiding Judge Hendrik most popular opposition “That is our stance and it radio interview a week ear- who felt like victims a re-
Steenhuis said the court party,” Wilders said. “They remains our stance,” Rutte lier, which the judges said newed belief in a demo-
would not impose a sen- will not succeed.” said at his weekly press did not amount to inciting cratic society.”
tence because the con- The politically charged conference. hatred. He said it also sent a mes-
viction was punishment prosecution centered on Prosecutors say that Steenhuis stressed that free- sage to Wilders’ supporters.
enough for a democrati- comments Wilders made Wilders, who in 2011 was dom of expression was not “This man is not looking for
cally elected lawmaker. before and after the Dutch acquitted at another hate on trial. solutions for you,” Menebhi
Wilders was not in court municipal elections in 2014. speech trial for his outspo- “Freedom of speech is one said. “His is an ideology of
for the verdict that came At one meeting in a Hague ken criticism of Islam, over- of the foundations of our smearing Europe, migrants,
just over three months be- cafe, he asked supporters stepped the limits of free democratic society,” the Muslims, without offering al-
fore national elections. His whether they wanted more speech by specifically tar- judge said. But he added: ternatives.” q
Party for Freedom is nar- or fewer Moroccans in the geting Moroccans. “Freedom of speech can