Five Stories from Europe You May Have Missed

[rpannier]

5. Defamation Law Adopted By National Assembly Of Bosnia's Republika Srpska Despite Criticism From Rights Activists

The National Assembly in the Republika Srpska (RS) on July 20 adopted amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia-Herzegovina's majority Serb entity that journalists and rights activists say would criminalize defamation and stifle free speech.

The National Assembly adopted the amendments despite months of protests by domestic and international organizations as well as journalists who have called on the lawmakers to scrap the changes.

The amendments say that making malicious or untrue statements about a person amounts to defamation and make the offense punishable with fines.

The law was adopted despite criticism that it represents an attack on freedom of opinion and a step toward the introduction of censorship.

https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-srpska-defamation-law-criminalization-criticism/32512853.html


4. Armenian PM Says Another War With Azerbaijan 'Likely' Unless Peace Treaty Is Signed

Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian says a fresh war with Azerbaijan remains a high probability in the absence of a peace treaty between the two countries.

snip

Baku and Yerevan have fought two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian-populated mountainous enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The most recent war lasted six weeks in late 2020 and left 7,000 soldiers dead on both sides.

As a result of the war, Azerbaijan regained control over a part of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. The war ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire under which Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers.

Armenia and Azerbaijan in recent weeks have engaged in rounds of diplomacy aimed at reaching a lasting peace deal but there have been sporadic border clashes, and the talks have not yet yielded a breakthrough.

https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-pm-war-azerbaijan-likely-peace-treaty/32513815.html


3. UK relaxes visa rules for foreign builders amid Brexit shortages

Bricklayers, plasterers and other construction jobs have been added to the government’s “shortage occupation list”, making it easier for foreign builders to come to Britain amid labour shortages partly caused by Brexit.

The UK government has relaxed visa restrictions for a number of sectors that face severe worker shortages, and has added bricklayers and masons; roofers, roof tilers and slaters; carpenters and joiners; plasterers and other construction workers to the list. Fishing jobs have also been added to the list.

The Home Office said that this would “aid the delivery of key national infrastructure and stimulate growth for related industries”.

Those working in a shortage occupation can be paid 80% of the job’s going rate and still get a skilled worker visa, and benefit from a lower application fee. Applicants need a sponsored job offer from an employer and must meet English language requirements.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/18/uk-visa-rules-foreign-brexit-shortages-construction


2. Belarus's Vyasna Among Recipients Of 2023 UN Human Rights Prize

The Belarusian human rights group Vyasna (Spring) is one of the recipients of this year's prestigious UN human rights prize. The awards were announced at the United Nations in New York on July 20. The prize “sends a clear message to human rights defenders all over the world that the international community is grateful for, and supports, their efforts to promote all human rights for all," said UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi, the head of the laureate selection committee. Among the other winners was a Congolese women's rights activist and a global nature-protection coalition.

https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-vyasna-human-rights-prize/32512867.html

Vyasna's website if you wish to know more about it

https://spring96.org/en/news/112280


1. Western Balkan Leaders Meet In Tirana Ahead Of October Summit On EU Membership Bids

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said that the European Union is committed to the rapid implementation of the region's growth strategy after meeting in Tirana on July 17 with top government officials from five Balkan countries that want to become members of the EU.

Varhelyi said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama invited him to Tirana to discuss ways to speed up the economic and social integration of the Western Balkans into the EU.

snip

Rama held a working lunch with the prime ministers of Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro and the chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers to prepare for a summit scheduled to take place on October 16 on progress toward European Union integration.

The government of Kosovo was not represented at the meeting because Prime Minister Albin Kurti is participating in an international symposium in Greece. Albania will host the October summit as part of the Berlin Process, an initiative of Germany and France to encourage the Balkan countries in their path toward EU membership.

https://www.rferl.org/a/western-balkans-eu-membershup-summit-tirana/32507518.html

Apologies on not having a greater variety of sources for stories this week. There were some really good ones (like border violence in Bulgaria), but they were all videos.

[Joinfortmill]

1. Thanks for this.

[Carlitos Brigante]

2. K&R! nt

[niyad]

3. KNR with thanks.

[2naSalit]

4. Thank you!

I missed these.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Thanks for posting this.

[BComplex]

6. The UK contractors need to go after some of the people that Florida has kicked out!

All those very strong & talented immigrants who have come over from South America, and who DeSaneless has ejected from his state, would surely find jobs in the UK! Contractors from the EU would do well to send some planes over here with a bunch of visas for people exiled from violent countries.