Tag Archives: Donald Tusk


Top: Taoiseach Leo Vardkar with Donald Tusk, President of the ERuropean Council in Brussels today

“That is ultimately a decision for them, however, and that may change. Countries can take positions, often very strong positions, they are often negotiating positions, and yet the final outcome might be more favourable.

While Britain says they intend to leave the customs union and the single market, they also say they want a Free Trade Agreement, and while many of the elements of a free trade agreement, while not being the same as the customs union, may not be that far from that.”

Taoiseach Leo Vardkar today following a meeting with Donald Tusk, President of the European Council.

FIGHT!

Varadkar says Ireland does not want UK to leave EU (RTÉ)

Pics via Donald Tusk

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From top: A Kurdistan family of six who have been living in a tent in Piraeus port, Athens in Greece for more than 40 days; European Council president Donald Tusk

Ahead of his and German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to a refugee camp in Gaziantep, Turkey tomorrow, the president of the European Council, in today’s Guardian, writes:

Only strong states are capable of supporting those in need on a large scale, without the risk of self-destruction.

Tough policies do not rule out humanitarian goals – quite the opposite: only determined policies enable their implementation. If we want Europe to remain open and tolerant, we can no longer allow ourselves to be helpless.

We need the solidarity and determination of all member states in every aspect of migration policy: relocation, humanitarian aid, external actions, and most crucially protecting our external borders.

What is at stake is not only the future of Schengen, but the future of our community.

Recent experience with Turkey shows that Europe must set clear limits to its concessions. We can negotiate money but never our values.

We cannot impose our standards on the rest of the world. Equally, others cannot impose their standards on us.

Our freedoms, including freedom of expression, will not be part of political bargaining with any partner. The Turkish president must heed this message.

By being tough on migration Europe can also be humane (Donald Tusk, The Guardian)

Previously: ‘We Can Bus The Refugees To Greece’

One Love

Pic: MSF Sea