Friday
20th Oct 2017
By EUOBSERVER
Austrian chancellor Christian Kern wants to stop talks with Turkey about joining the European Union because of the country's democratic and economic deficits. In an interview with Austrian broadcaster ORF Kern described accession talks as a "diplomatic fiction" and said he wanted EU leaders to rethink their approach to Turkey. He said he would ask for "an alternative concept" at the next European Council summit.
EU leaders have not yet decided how to make digital companies pay their fair share of taxes, but spoke of creating a "global" level-playing field.
Merkel has said EU states will cut pre-accession funds to Turkey, but called to maintain dialogue on the shape of future relations.
UK prime minister called on other EU leaders to "step forward together", but she has almost nothing to offer them except the threat of walking away.
EU leaders are aiming to reach a consensus on the Dublin asylum reforms by early next year, announced European Council chief Donald Tusk. But first, they want to shut down the Central Mediterranean route from Libya.
EU leaders have warned telecommunications ministers that if they cannot reach compromises, the leaders will take over the debate at a future summit.
The EU Parliament's lead negotiator on the Dublin rule, a key asylum regulation that has sparked a political clash among EU states, is now demanding for an automatic and permanent relocation scheme.
