Luxembourg: Stronger stance on modern slavery practices
Building sites could be partially or totally closed if modern slavery practices are found under new powers to be given to Luxembourg's ‘Inspection du travail et des mines’. The body is responsible for checking that employers obey the law when it comes to workplace practices. The new EU directive aims to end criminal exploitation in the workplace where people are paid below minimum wage. Responding to a parliamentary question, employment minister Nicolas Schmit said that in addition to increasing powers to close down sites which illegally exploit workers, the new law will define who is responsible when work is subcontracted. A report claimed that Portuguese construction workers were being routinely exploited. One worker said he worked ten hours per day for 7.50 euros per hour.
Lithuania: US general in Lithuania says there will be increasing exercises in Baltics
Visiting Chief of Staff of the United States Army General Raymond T Odierno says military exercises in the Baltic States will be of ‘greater sizes’ in the future. With joint exercises the US demonstrates NATO’s collective defence commitments at a time when Russia's growing military activity is raising concern. Asked about Russia's military activity, Odierno said, ‘It's concerning that in some ways they are not following the rules that we've set in place with some of their air activity. As part of NATO, it's our responsibility to protect our NATO allies which is why we are here in Lithuania. Major General Almantas Leika, commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, said joint exercises show the US determination to be present here when it's not completely safe in the region, and send clear messages to everyone.’
Liechtenstein: Migration smuggling situation
On 9 July, at the invitation of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Deputy Prime Minister Thomas Zwiefelhofer, an informal Council of EU Justice and Home Affairs and Schengen associated countries (Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) discussed the migration situation in the Mediterranean Sea. Although Liechtenstein is landlocked , the irregular migration by sea has increased dramatically over the past year and reached a new high which affects member states. Smuggling of migrants has become an extremely lucrative business, in which criminal networks take advantage of a low risk of detection and sanction. In the migration agenda adopted by the European Commission, migrant smuggling has been set as a priority objective. Through an enhanced police and judicial cooperation among member states and with other countries, with the involvement of FRONTEX and Europol, the exploitation of migrants by criminal networks is prevented and the incentives for irregular migration are reduced.
Latvia: Russia and the Baltic states - legal facts
Since the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, the security situation in the Baltic States has become a hot issue. Regular violations of national airspace, increased military trainings and bold political statements illustrate the rising tensions. In this context, it has been argued by some that ‘the Russians are coming’ whereas others believe that the idea of a Russian invasion in the Baltics is an absurdity. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov described the perceived threat of a Russian intervention as ‘raving nonsense’ and the result of ‘a psychological disorder’. However, the message a few days later that the Russian General Prosecutor is asked to review the legality of the Baltic states’ independence is not very reassuring. Some say there is no real threat to the sovereignty of the Baltic States but the events in Ukraine and, previously, Georgia explain the feeling of insecurity in the region.
