Europeans have expressed their views on the issue of EU enlargement
45% of Europeans support further enlargement of the European Union to include new members, while 42% are against. This is indicated by the results of a survey conducted by the Eurobarometer sociological service.
The study showed that in the 10 EU "newcomer" states, every second respondent agrees with the need to expand this regional organization. Meanwhile, among the "old" EU member states, citizens of Greece (56%), Spain (55%), and Denmark (51%) are most in favor of admitting new members. Conversely, 66% of respondents in Germany, 65% in Luxembourg, 62% in France, 61% in Austria, and 60% in Finland disapprove of the expansion of the "club of 25".
As for Europeans' attitude towards Turkey's accession to the EU specifically, 48% of respondents are against it (compared to 55% in the previous December survey), while 39% support it (31%). At the same time, 52% of respondents are now convinced that EU membership benefits primarily Turkey itself. Only 20% of respondents are confident that it is a mutually beneficial agreement for both Turkey and the current EU members. Meanwhile, respondents generally view favorably the prospect of EU membership for Balkan states, with the exception of Albania.
The survey conducted by Eurobarometer in March-May of this year covered over 26,000 people in EU countries.
Poland simplifies transit for Ukrainian citizens
From August 1, Poland has abolished the requirement for mandatory transit visas for Ukrainian citizens traveling by air to Great Britain and Ireland. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, citing the Consulate General of Poland in Ukraine.
The period of transit stay on Polish territory should not exceed five days. At the same time, a guest visa or residence permit in these countries must exceed this term.
Transit visas are also not required for foreign citizens who have guest visas or residence permits issued by Austria, Belgium, Greece, Estonia, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and those who have a residence permit issued by Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
EU citizens will find it easier to move to Estonia
In Estonia, a new law came into effect on August 1, simplifying the relocation of EU citizens and their family members to Estonia. The entry into force of this law is due to the need to bring Estonian laws into compliance with European law, reports the Citizenship and Migration Board.
The law introduces new terminology. Specifically, for EU citizens and their family members who are citizens of a third country, the term "right of residence" will now be used instead of "residence permit".
From August 1, EU citizens and their family members can apply for the right of permanent residence in Estonia after living there for at least five years. Under the new law, EU citizens and their family members residing in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit as of August 1 will be considered to have the right of residence.
The new law grants EU citizens in Estonia greater rights compared to foreigners and protects them from deportation. It also simplifies a number of bureaucratic procedures when processing various documents.
Brussels limits the right of smokers to work
European entrepreneurs will not break the law if they refuse to hire a smoker — this statement was made by representatives of the European Commission, reports AFP.
The reason for addressing this issue was the clause "smokers need not apply" contained in a job advertisement published by an Irish company.
EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Špidla reminded that EU laws prohibit discrimination on several grounds, including gender, sexual orientation, or religion. However, refusing employment to smokers does not violate any existing laws, according to Špidla.
Germany needs foreign specialists
The "grand coalition" in Germany apparently plans to amend the law on foreigners to attract highly qualified personnel to the country.
The law in its current form is very bureaucratic and contains too many restrictions, Dieter Wiefelspütz, an expert on internal policy for the Social Democratic Party faction in the Bundestag, told the Berliner Zeitung. According to him, coalition partners are discussing the details of amendments to the law.
In 2005, 900 people came to Germany who the law defines as "highly qualified specialists". These are foreigners earning at least €84,000 per year. According to this law, foreign investors wishing to settle in Germany must invest at least one million euros and create 10 jobs. The government is going to lower these criteria.
Spaniards reduce road fatalities
The introduction of a warning ticket system from July 1 this year has helped significantly reduce road fatalities in Spain, said the head of the country's General Directorate of Traffic, Pere Navarro.
"In July, 225 people died in road accidents on Spanish roads, which is 68 fewer than last year," said Pere Navarro at a press conference in Madrid, emphasizing that "the death rate has decreased thanks to the introduction of the warning ticket." He also added that "in the last decade, the human losses in July consistently exceeded 300 people."
According to the new regulation, all Spanish drivers with more than three years of experience must have a penalty points card with 12 points. Beginners have eight. Points are deducted for traffic violations. For example, for driving under the influence or speeding, a driver loses six points; for running a red light, four points; for parking in a prohibited spot, two points.
If a driver loses all points, he will be required to take a traffic rules course and pay €320. However, driving without violations for three years is rewarded with two additional points.
The introduction of such a card is linked to the need to strengthen control over drivers, since road accidents and motorist fatalities on Spanish roads are among the highest in Western Europe. The main causes of incidents are alcohol abuse and speeding.
The most inattentive fathers to their children are Japanese
According to a study conducted in Japan, the USA, South Korea, France, Sweden and Thailand by the National Center for Women's Education, Japanese fathers turned out to be almost the most inattentive to their children. On weekends, the average Japanese father spends only three hours and six minutes with his children, which is the lowest figure in the last ten years.
Japanese men were second to last in terms of time spent with children, ahead of only fathers from South Korea, who spend two hours and 48 minutes per day with their children. The most time with their children is spent by fathers from Thailand—five hours and 54 minutes.
At the same time, according to the study, Japanese mothers spend the most time with their children compared to other countries—an average of seven hours and 36 minutes.