And will Russia be declared a terrorist state? Did the climate protest cause the death of a cyclist in Germany? Will Twitter have another big collision with the EU?
Rikhard Husu,
Anna Karismo
Greetings from Brussels,
How does a killer who has warned of his violent intentions get away from the authorities without anyone intervening? The discussion on the topic has been heated throughout the past week in Belgium.
Last Thursday, a man stabbed a 29-year-old police officer to death and seriously wounded another in the Schaerbeek district of Brussels. The 32-year-old arrested for the act is suspected of terroristic murder and attempted murder.
The suspect is already known to the police. The man had spent several years in prison, where he had become radicalized. Radicalization was known to the authorities. He was also on the EU’s list of terrorist suspects.
In addition, the man had told about his violent intentions at the local police station the morning before the stabbing. The man was taken to a psychiatric hospital at his own request, but he left without ever seeing a doctor.
WHETHER THERE WAS A DEATH OF A POLICE OFFICER could have been avoided, let’s ask now. Why weren’t the man’s threats taken seriously? Did the communication between the authorities fail? Is the anti-terrorism legislation up to date?
Interviewed by the media (you go to another service) according to the authorities, apprehending persons who threaten violence is easier said than done. According to Belgian law, a person who seeks psychiatric treatment voluntarily is also free to leave treatment of his own free will.
In the police force, explanations are not swallowed whole. The police officers who demonstrated in Brussels demanded political decision-makers and the judiciary to be held accountable for what happened. of Le Soir magazine (you will switch to another service) according to the interviewed police, the decision-makers lack an understanding of the everyday reality of the police.
Previous acts of violence against the police have also surfaced. The last fatal attack occurred in 2018, when a man on leave from prison killed two police officers and a student in Liège.
Even then, there was a discussion about why the prisoner was allowed to move freely, even though he was suspected of having connections with radical Islamists.
THE STABBING IN BRUSSELS WAKES UP also other unpleasant memories related to terrorism.
The laundry left by the terrorist attacks of 2016 is still being washed. The trial of the attacks that claimed 32 lives has been delayed until this autumn. Some of the people injured and traumatized in the attack feel that they have been left without sufficient social support.
in the EU it is steps taken (you switch to another service) in the work against terrorism and radicalization. The goal is, among other things, combating financing related to terrorism and interfering with terrorist online content.
EU countries have also considered ways to prevent radicalization in prisons. The situation in prisons is a problem, among other things In France and Belgium (you switch to another service).
Happy late fall,
Richard
PS Order the entire Europe letter from this link (you will switch to another service), and you will receive the entire letter in your email on Friday mornings.
Next, a colleague Anna Karismo tells you what else Europe is talking about and what you should watch next week. ⬇️
#Trending in EU-some: Picture like a tableau
You know Axis Gallen-Kallela Symposion (you switch to another service)board? In the fantasy group picture, the artist is sitting Oskar Merikanton, Robert Kajanus and by Jean Sibelius with me pondering the riddle of life.
A similar dramatic atmosphere is conveyed by a photo that has spread on various social media platforms, in which the president of the United States Joe BidenChancellor of Germany Olaf ScholzPrime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez and the President of France Emmanuel Macron listening to the British Prime Minister sitting on his back Rishi Sunakia.
The gentlemen are discussing the missile that hit Poland a couple of days ago At the meeting of the G20 countries (you will switch to another service) In Bali. Wow – sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words!
TOPIC: Which work of art will be vandalized next?
Climate activism among young people is only accelerating
LAST TUESDAY climate activists threw black paint by Gustav Klimt on top of the work in Vienna. “Der Planet wird kaputt”, the man shouted (you switch to another service) as the guard ushered him away. The wave of vandalism of works of art began in October, and numerous paintings have already been targeted in various parts of Europe, from Madrid to Frankfurt. Protesters at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam blocking the runway (you switch to another service)in Berlin, motorists visited young people sitting on the road to (you switch to another service).
THE DISCUSSION IS HEAVY specially In Germany (you switch to another service)where the cyclist died (you switch to another service) apparently partly because of the climate protest. Activists stopped traffic, and the blockade prevented ambulances from reaching the scene.
ART IS DESTROYED, because it gets more media coverage than, for example, a demonstration in front of a coal power plant. Protesters the motive is (you switch to another service) Makes people act like nothing’s wrong; if the worst happens and the earth is destroyed, art will no longer be needed.
IN THE NEAR DAYS: Forest strategy, Russian terrorism and Hungarian subsidies
IN THE PLENARY SESSION OF THE EU PARLIAMENT one of the hottest topics next week will be the subsidies received by Hungary. The Commission will present its assessment of Hungary’s rule of law situation in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Many mepi (you switch to another service) are already have taken a stand (you switch to another service)that a corrupt country should not be given money from the common treasury.
PARLIAMENT ALSO VOTES About declaring Russia a terrorist state. From the motion for a resolution (you will switch to another service) can read why it would be justified. The presentation of the ECR group of European conservatives and reformists lists a long list of terrorist acts in Putin’s Russia.
I THINK THE FINNISH WOULD BE INTERESTED to be held on Monday Agriculture and Fisheries Council (you will switch to another service). There, the ministers discuss, among other things, the forest strategy and the restoration of nature from the perspective of agriculture.
There are enough council meetings next week for every day (you switch to another service): for example, the general affairs council will be held on Tuesday and the trade ministers will meet on Friday to prepare for the thirteenth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization WTO.
Did the topics provoke thoughts? You can comment below until Saturday night at 11pm.