Reding’s statement in full

Over the past weeks, the European Commission has been following very closely the developments in France regarding the Roma

I personally have been appalled by a situation which gave the impression that people are being removed from a Member State of the European Union just because they belong to a certain ethnic minority. This is a situation I had thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War.

I have made crystal clear my doubts about the legality of the French measures in a public statement on 25 August – a statement that was made in full agreement with Commission President Barroso with whom I worked closely on this issue over summer.

Together with Commissioner Andor and Commissioner Malmström, I submitted a preliminary legal analysis of the French measures on 1 September to President Barroso and the College of Commissioners.

This preliminary analysis stressed, inter alia, that France would be in violation of EU law if the measures taken by the French authorities in applying the Free Movement Directive had targeted a certain group on the basis of nationality, race or ethnic origin.

The College of Commissioners discussed the matter intensely last week in Strasbourg.

During a formal meeting with French ministers Eric Besson and Pierre Lellouche, the Commission – Commissioner Malmström and myself – received political assurances that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France. Our doubts remained. This is why last Tuesday, following discussion in the Commission college, I sent a further formal letter to French minister Besson to ask for additional details, which should be sent to the Commission swiftly.

I can only express my deepest regrets that the political assurances given by two French ministers officially mandated to discuss this matter with the European Commission are now openly contradicted by an administrative circular issued by the same government.

The role of the Commission as guardian of the Treaties is made extremely difficult if we can no longer have confidence in the assurances given by two ministers in a formal meeting with two Commissioners and with around 15 senior officials on the table from both sides.

And ladies and gentlemen, this is not a minor offence in a situation of this importance. After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I would even go further: This is a disgrace.

Let me be very clear: Discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin or race has no place in Europe. It is incompatible with the values on which the European Union is founded. National authorities who discriminate ethnic groups in the application of EU law are also violating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which all Member States, including France, have signed up to.

I therefore find it deeply disturbing that a Member State calls so gravely into question, by the actions of its administration, the common values and the law of our European Union.

I also take issue with the statements made by the French Secretary of State for European Affairs yesterday questioning the role of the European Commission as guardian of the Treaties. The Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties is one of the foundations of the European Union – a Union which is held together not by force, but by respect of the rule of law agree upon by all Member States, including France.

I take note that the French authorities seem themselves to become aware that the developments of this weekend put them into an untenable situation. I also take note that yesterday afternoon the French Minister of the Interior signed a new circular on the matter eliminating the references to a specific ethnic group, the Roma. We are currently looking into the legal implications of this – it is important that not only the words change, but also the behaviour of the French authorities. I am, therefore, asking the French authorities for immediate and swift explanation of the matter.

The Commission will include all these developments, as well as other relevant documentation, into our final legal analysis of the situation. This legal analysis is done in close cooperation by my services, the services of Commissioners Malmström and Andor, as well as with the Legal Service of the President, and I expect it to be completed in the days to come.

I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement action against France:

Infringement proceedings against France for a discriminatory application of the Free Movement Directive.

And infringement proceedings against France for lack of transposition of the procedural and substantive guarantees under the Free Movement Directive.

I will of course give the French authorities the right to submit comments on the new developments in the course of the next days. But I make it very clear my patience is wearing thin: enough is enough.

No Member State can expect special treatment, especially not when fundamental values and European laws are at stake. This applies today to France. This applies equally to all other Member States, big or small, which would be in a similar situation. You can count on me for that.”

 

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Working group to look at how to liven up debates

Improving attendance of Parliamentary debates will be one of group’s main priorities.

Hannes Swoboda, a Austrian centre-left MEP  and vice-president of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, will lead a special eight-member working group on improving attendance of Parliamentary debates.

According to an official, the working group will have a “wide” remit to “improve the attractiveness” of the debates in the plenary chamber for MEPs. The group will have until the end of the year to report back to political group leaders and present its proposals for changes.

Group leaders were expected today (23 September) to confirm the mandate of the working group as well as its members. Proposed members of the group include József Szájer, a Hungarian centre-right, Diana Wallis, a UK Liberal, Rebecca Harms, a co-leader of the Greens, Richard Ashworth, a UK Conservative, Francesco Enrico Speroni, an Italian far-right member, and Angelika Werthmann, an Austrian independent.

The working group was put together after MEPs on 7 September objected to plans from their political group leaders to fine members €70 if they failed to attend the ‘State of the Union’ speech by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Many members complained that the plan would violate their freedoms as elected officials.

The Parliament has for years been preoccupied with the question of how to make debates between MEPs, government ministers and commissioners more interesting. Reforms implemented in 2008, which were meant to make debates more lively, gave extra time for MEPs to follow up comments made by speakers and scheduled major political debates on Wednesdays. But those moves have had little effect on attendance in the debates.

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Working group to look at how to liven up debates

Improving attendance of Parliamentary debates will be one of group’s main priorities.

Hannes Swoboda, a Austrian centre-left MEP  and vice-president of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, will lead a special eight-member working group on improving attendance of Parliamentary debates.

According to an official, the working group will have a “wide” remit to “improve the attractiveness” of the debates in the plenary chamber for MEPs. The group will have until the end of the year to report back to political group leaders and present its proposals for changes.

Group leaders were expected today (23 September) to confirm the mandate of the working group as well as its members. Proposed members of the group include József Szájer, a Hungarian centre-right, Diana Wallis, a UK Liberal, Rebecca Harms, a co-leader of the Greens, Richard Ashworth, a UK Conservative, Francesco Enrico Speroni, an Italian far-right member, and Angelika Werthmann, an Austrian independent.

The working group was put together after MEPs on 7 September objected to plans from their political group leaders to fine members €70 if they failed to attend the ‘State of the Union’ speech by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Many members complained that the plan would violate their freedoms as elected officials.

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The Parliament has for years been preoccupied with the question of how to make debates between MEPs, government ministers and commissioners more interesting. Reforms implemented in 2008, which were meant to make debates more lively, gave extra time for MEPs to follow up comments made by speakers and scheduled major political debates on Wednesdays. But those moves have had little effect on attendance in the debates.

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is rated as the outstanding player in the heart of the field, beating Luka Modric to top spot

Thinking about signing a top midfielder to boost your squad in FIFA 20? Look no further.

Although there were no midfielders in the top three rated players, there is a plethora of talent in that area of the field and, while you can see the full ranked list here, Goal has rounded up the highest-rated midfielders.

FIFA 20: Top-rated midfielders

Player	Team	Nation	Position	Rating
Kevin De Bruyne	Man City	Belgium	CAM	91
Luka Modric	Real Madrid	Croatia	CM	90
N’Golo Kante	Chelsea	France	CDM	89
Sergio Busquets	Barcelona	Spain	CDM	89
David Silva	Man City	Spain	CAM	88
Paulo Dybala	Piemonte Calcio	Argentina	CAM	88
Christian Eriksen	Spurs	Denmark	CAM	88
Toni Kroos	Real Madrid	Germany	CM	88
Paul Pogba	Man Utd	France	CM	88
Marco Reus	Borussia Dortmund	Germany	CAM	88
Casemiro	Real Madrid	Brazil	CDM	87
Fernandinho	Man City	Brazil	CDM	87
Thiago	Bayern Munich	Spain	CM	87
Isco	Real Madrid	Spain	CAM	86
Thomas Muller	Bayern Munich	Germany	CAM	86
Daniel Parejo	Valencia	Spain	CM	86
Miralem Pjanic	Piemonte Calcio	Bosnia	CM	86
Ivan Rakitic	Barcelona	Croatia	CM	86
Marco Verratti	PSG	Italy	CM	86
Allan	Napoli	Brazil	CM	85
Bruno Fernandes	Sporting CP	Portugal	CAM	85
Frenkie de Jong	Barcelona	Netherlands	CM	85
Fabinho	Liverpool	Brazil	CDM	85
Papu Gomez	Atalanta	Argentina	CAM	85
Koke	Atletico Madrid	Spain	RM	85
Blaise Matuidi	Piemonte Calcio	France	CDM	85
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic	Lazio	Serbia	CM	85
Rodri	Man City	Spain	CDM	85
James Rodriguez	Real Madrid	Colombia	CAM	85
Saul	Atletico Madrid	Spain	CM	85
Axel Witsel	Borussia Dortmund	Belgium	CDM	85
Hakim Ziyech	Ajax	Morocco	CAM	85

It should come as little surprise that the outrageously talented Kevin De Bruyne comes out on top of the list, boasting an overall rating of 91. The Manchester City and Belgium star is not touched by anyone else in the game.

Indeed, he surpasses even 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, who despite being out of the running for the major awards this year still comes in second on EA Sports’ ranking with a grade of 90.

While De Bruyne is listed as a CAM and Modric a simple CM, the best defensive midfielders in the game can be found in the form of Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, both of who grab 89 ratings.

Technical players largely dominate the peak of the ranking, though, with Manchester City’s David Silva joining team-mate De Bruyne in the top five with a rating of 88, which is shared by five other players.

Paulo Dybala – in the game with Piemonte Calcio due to an agreement that Juventus have with Konami over their naming rights – Christian Eriksen and Dortmund’s Marco Reus are the other CAMs with the same mark.

The 88 rating is also what Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is awarded, with the central midfielder tied with Toni Kroos of Real Madrid in this regard.

Three players chalk up an 87 overall score: Fernandinho of Manchester City, Thiago of Bayern Munich and Casemiro of Real Madrid.

One point further back on 86, there are a group of six players, which includes Isco, Thomas Muller, Daniel Parejo, Miralem Pjanic, Ivan Rakitic and Marco Verratti.

There is an extensive group of 13 players who are on an 85 rating, meanwhile, with the most notable of these new Barcelona signing Frenkie de Jong, Liverpool’s Fabinho, new Manchester City addition Rodri, Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and Hakim Ziyech of Ajax – one of only two players in the top 100 not to play in one of Europe’s elite five leagues.

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The Portugal international midfielder has made a bright start to life at Old Trafford and now wants to follow in some illustrious footsteps

Bruno Fernandes is setting lofty targets at Manchester United, with the Portugal international looking to match the trophy haul achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils provided a five-time Ballon d’Or winner with the springboard on which to soar to never before seen heights after snapping him up from Sporting in 2003.

A familiar transfer path was taken in January 2020 as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raided the ranks of the Portuguese heavyweights for 25-year-old midfielder Fernandes.

He has hit the ground running in English football, with favour earned within a demanding fan base and a key role taken up in Solskjaer’s plans.

Fernandes is making no secret of the fact that he wants to help bring the good times back to the Theatre of Dreams, allowing him to follow in some illustrious footsteps.

He has told Canal 11: “Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani won big trophies here and that makes me want to achieve that.

“Nani, with whom I had the opportunity to train at Sporting, has always spoken well to me about Manchester United.

“And the fact that Cristiano has given a lot of good references to whoever spoke to him during my transfer makes me proud, for a player like him to recognise my worth.”

Ronaldo won eight major honours during his time in England, including three Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.

Seeing Fernandes get anywhere near that tally would mean that United have found considerable value in a €55 million (£47m/$60m) deal.

An immediate return has already been offered on that investment, with there seemingly plenty of potential to still unlock.

Fernandes is, however, of the opinion that the Red Devils were forced to pay over the odds for his signature in what remains an inflated transfer market.

“Never were the values so high as now,” he added.

“I think it’s an exaggeration. My transfer, the figure mentioned, the add-ons that could still be, the value that was paid for me was very high.

“Players that were bought at that value some time ago were Ballon d’Or winners.”

Ronaldo falls into that category and the Ballon d’Or could be another prize that Fernandes has his eyes on in the future, with any success at United set to see his stock rise considerably.

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The head coach spent just one season of his four-year contract with the Hammers and his former charge has not held back in his assessment of that time

Julien Faubert has taken aim at former manager Avram Grant, laying the blame for West Ham’s relegation to the Championship in 2011 at his door and stating that the Israeli’s “motivation was sh*t” and that he “didn’t learn anything from him”.

Following a turbulent season under Gianfranco Zola, Grant was brought in by the Hammers on a four-year contract, with the club’s hierarchy stating that they had taken time over the appointment and that they were confident they had made the right hire.

The club performed even worse than the previous campaign, however, with a 3-2 loss to Wigan in May 2011 sealing the club’s fate in the English second tier for the following season.

And Faubert, who spent five years with the Hammers, is adamant that Grant was the main cause behind their relegation, with the manager’s hands-off approach, poor communication and planning all playing a part in the drop.

“That guy was so antisocial,” the 36-year-old told The Athletic. “He never spoke to us, he barely took charge of the training sessions because he was always in his office, his motivation was sh*t and I didn’t learn anything from him.

“Time after time and after every game we kept seeing the same problems with very little progress. We tried to be positive and motivate each other but everything was so bad, from the training and preparation for games. It’s such a shame, because the fans were on our side until the very end.”

It is not the first time Grant’s credentials have been questioned over the years, with reports suggesting that several of Chelsea’s players were unhappy with the allegedly archaic nature of the head coach’s approach during his time at Stamford Bridge.

He did, however, lead the Blues to the Champions League final in 2008, ultimately losing out to Manchester United on penalties. For Faubert, though, Grant should not be given plaudits for reaching that stage, with the players more deserving of praise for getting as far as they did.

“People say he is the reason why Chelsea reached the Champions League final but it wasn’t, it was down to the players,” he said.

“With us, it was his assistant (Zeljko Petrovic) who would do the training sessions and he tried to make it fun. He really tried his best but if Avram Grant can be a manager then I can too. That season, he made so many poor decisions. 

“It’s going to sound bad but the season we got relegated it was inevitable. I didn’t have a good relationship with him and we got relegated because of him.”

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The Wolves frontman is attracting plenty of interest from afar, but he claims to be happy at Molineux and is not considering an imminent switch

Raul Jimenez has reacted to the transfer talk that continues to swirl around him, with the Mexico international stating his happiness at Wolves after being heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.

Premier League heavyweights Tottenham are also reported to be mulling over an approach for a frontman who has registered a career-best 22 goals in the 2019-20 campaign.

With Jimenez having proven himself to be a reliable source of end product in English football, plenty are willing to buy into his obvious ability.

Wolves, though, invested heavily in the 28-year-old when snapping him up from Benfica and have him tied to a long-term contract.

Jimenez has no intention of breaking that agreement any time soon, with there a desire on his part to remain a leading figure in an ambitious project at Molineux.

Quizzed on his future during a Facebook Live session, the Mexican star said: “I have a contract until 2023.

“It’s not that we have to qualify for the Champions League in order to stay. I’m good [here], happy with Wolves, doing important things – me as well as the whole team.

“We’ve been trying our best since the start of last season. We’ve qualified for the Europa League, now we’re fighting for a Champions League spot.

“And it’s the big motivation to keep growing as a player and getting into the Champions League is always a plus that satisfies you and keeps you thinking about big things.”

While feeling settled in his current surroundings, Jimenez concedes that he may decide to head home at some stage.

He added when asked where he sees himself at the start of the next decade: “In 10 years I will be 39 so, I don’t know, I may be retired. I hope to last as long as I can.

“I have been a player with few injuries and I hope to continue for many more years.

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“I then want to be a coach or take a position on TV, but I will continue in football.

“I am having a good time in Europe for now but in the future I don’t rule out going back to America.”

TORONTO — All Ontario businesses deemed non-essential have been ordered to close Tuesday night as part of escalating government measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Premier Doug Ford announced the closures Monday, issuing a lengthy list of the types of businesses that will be allowed to remain open.

“The grocery store clerks, transit and hydro workers and truckers are out there on the front lines making sure the people of Ontario continue to have access to the products and services they need,” Ford said in a statement.

“It is essential that their workplaces be kept as safe as possible so these local heroes can return home to their families worry-free.” 

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The government said Ontarians will still have access to grocery stores and pharmacies, and their power and telecommunications will continue to run.

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Beer, wine and liquor stores have been giving the green light to continue operations, as have gas stations, taxis and vehicle repair businesses.

Businesses that support IT infrastructure service providers, power generation, natural gas distribution and clean drinking water will also stay open.

Child-care services, veterinary and animal health services, and funeral services are also exempted from closure, alongside dry cleaners, laundromats and a number of other industries.

The government said working from home and online commerce are permitted to continue for all businesses.

The shutdown takes effect at 11:59 p.m. ET and will last for at least 14 days.

Ontario reported 78 new COVID-19 cases Monday — the largest increase in a day so far — bringing the provincial total to 503, including six deaths and eight cases that have fully resolved.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 24, 2020.

The World Cup winner has hailed the skill set of a fellow countryman and admits expectation is being piled onto the 28-year-old’s shoulders

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar is the most technically-gifted player on the planet, says Cafu, with even Barcelona icon Lionel Messi sitting behind the Brazilian when it comes to ability on the ball.

An exciting South American talent has built his reputation on being one of the most creative performers in the global game.

For Neymar, football is a form of entertainment and he rarely passes up an opportunity to break out his box of tricks.

The same can be said for many other elite players, including six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, but Cafu believes his fellow countryman takes the art of ball manipulation to a whole different level.

The legendary World Cup winner told Fox Sports: “Technically, Neymar is the best player in the world.

“Today, technically, nobody can beat Neymar. Not even Messi, although I am a fan of him. But he does not surpass him in terms of technical quality.”

While Neymar’s individual excellence remains without question, Cafu admits that he needs to work on his leadership.

A man who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 added: “Today I don’t see any leader within the Brazilian team.

“Today I don’t see anyone who says this to Neymar: ‘Oh, don’t do this’ or ‘Do this’. There is not!

“They gave him that responsibility, and it’s not his profile. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but because it’s not his profile.

“Have you ever seen him catching Thiago Silva and Tite in a discussion and solving the situation? No, because it is not his profile.”

While Neymar is not the kind to bark out orders to those around him, he is capable of providing inspiration through his actions on the field.

For Brazil, a nation starved of football’s biggest prize for what they consider to be far too long, the 28-year-old remains the man to carry the expectations of an entire country.

Cafu added: “I speak again here, he is our greatest hope for winning a World Cup.

“With Neymar on the pitch, whether he wants it or not, eight opponents will stay connected to him.

“He is a reference, he makes room for others, he scores extraordinary goals, but, really, someone is missing who covers, someone is lacking the strength to fit in around him.”

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TORONTO ― Cannabis companies are calling on Ottawa to provide immediate help for the industry, hurt by the steps taken to slow the spread of COVID-19.

About 71 cannabis firms and organizations have written a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains asking for their companies to get access to wage subsidies being made available to small businesses.

Watch: What condo dwellers should expect in an age of pandemic. Story continues below.

 

They are also asking to get access to funding through federal agencies, the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada.

They say the BDC has indicated that cannabis companies cannot access $10 billion in stimulus funding they have to offer, so the industry is seeking more equitable treatment.

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Among the letter’s signatories are Canopy Rivers Inc., WeedMD, Organigram Inc. and Fire and Flower Inc.

The cannabis industry had already experienced more than 2,000 job losses in the last six months and funding drying up, when COVID-19 hit, causing more layoffs and some pot retailers to close.

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