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Ambassador to Venezuela

A new European Union ambassador to Venezuela has been named.

Aude Maio-Coliche, a Frenchwoman, will take up her post after the summer. She has been working in the European External Action Service as deputy head of human resources but knows about Latin American affairs from her time in the European Commission. Indeed, a leaked US diplomatic cable from 2009, which contained a US diplomat’s summary of her views, suggests she  already knows the well-established bottom line in the EU’s relationship with Venezuela: “European Commission PolCouns [political counsellor] Aude Maio-Coliche told Poloff [political officer] April 29 that the International Cooperation, or NGO, law (Reftel) as it appears to be drafted would violate European Union (EU) transparency regulations and potentially end EU funding of Venezuelan NGOs. Nonetheless, the EU has no plans to press the [government of Venezuela] on democracy issues, Maio-Coliche said, noting that the economic crises in Europe has crowded out attention for human rights.”

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Economic and structural recommendations get approval

The European Council approved recommendations initially made by the European Commission on member states’ economic plans and structural reform.  Although some countries, notably France and Hungary, had raised objections to some of the recommendations, the wordings was passed with few alterations.

Last month, François Hollande, France’s president, had described some of the Commission’s suggestions for reform of the French economy, notably to raise the retirement age, as unwelcome “diktats”. In its draft the Commission said that France should increase its statutory retirement age from 62, something that Hollande had previously ruled out.

Leaders rubber-stamped a slightly watered-down version agreed by finance ministers on 21 June, that said merely that France should look at raising the “effective retirement age”.

The recommendations also included references to Hungary’s need to ensure the independence of its judiciary, with the language slightly weaker than had been proposed by the Commission.

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Ombudsman launches investigation into Dalli departure

Probe follows complaint that Commission has been selectively releasing documents relating to the case.

The European Ombudsman today (6 March) launched an investigation into the resignation of John Dalli as European commissioner for health and consumer policy, and asked the European Commission to hand over all files relating to his departure.

The investigation follows a complaint made earlier this year by the transparency campaign group Corporate Europe Observatory, which accused the Commission of selectively releasing documents relating to the case and failing to fulfil its obligations under EU transparency laws.

“The Commission has unduly refused access to documents, failed to provide clarity about which documents falling under the scope of request actually exist, and used delay tactics,” the group said.

The ombudsman has asked José Manuel Barroso, the president of the Commission, to submit an opinion on the allegations.

The Commission has always said that Dalli’s resignation is a cut-and-dry case of impropriety, but there has been confusion over exactly which rules Dalli violated.

MEPs have complained that their requests for more information about the resignation have either gone unanswered or have not been answered to their satisfaction.

Dalli’s resignation followed an investigation by the EU’s anti-fraud office, OLAF, which found that Dalli was aware that a Maltese businessman had solicited tobacco company Swedish Match for payment in exchange for influencing the tobacco legislation.

Last month the ombudsman launched a separate investigation into so-called ‘revolving door’ lobbying at the Commission. The Commission was asked to provide details of all cases in the last three years in which Commission staff left to take up jobs in the private sector where there may be conflicts of interest.

The Commission has three months to respond to the ombudsman request.

Portugal looks for bail-out help

Government hopes extension of loan maturities and new spending cuts will help resolve growing crisis.

Portugal hopes that a potential eurozone agreement to extend maturities on bail-out loans and a further round of cuts will stave off the threat of having to request a second emergency rescue.

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Finance ministers of the eurozone’s 17 member states meet for scheduled talks in Dublin on Friday (12 April), and the maturities of bail-out loans to Portugal and Ireland is high on the agenda.

The issue has become more pressing because the Portuguese government has had to find new savings after the country’s constitutional court blocked a proposal to suspend benefits for civil servants and pensioners worth €1.3bn.

Pedro Passos Coelho, Portugal’s prime minister, said that he would find the money by making further cuts to education, health and social security budgets. He will then have to convince the ‘troika’ of Portugal’s international lenders – the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – that they are sufficient to comply with reform conditions imposed by 2011’s €78 billion bail-out.

Passos Coelho also said that he hoped that eurozone finance ministers would help ease the burden by agreeing to extend maturities on Portugal’s bail-out loans when they meet on Friday.

“The government is committed to all the goals of the aid program,” Passos Coelho said. “We will have to do everything to avoid a second rescue.”

In a statement issued last night the Commission said that Portugal needed to demonstrate a “continued and determined implementation” of the bail-out conditions in order to obtain an extension of bail-out maturities.

“The Commission supports that such a decision be taken soon,” the statement added.

The Dutch midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Italy in recent months, but Erkan Alkan is certain his client will be staying put

Manchester United youngster Tahith Chong is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club, his agent has confirmed.

Speculation over Chong’s future has been ongoing for several months, with his existing deal at Old Trafford due to expire in the summer.

Barcelona and Juventus have been credited with an interest in the 20-year-old, along with Inter, who had reportedly already reached an agreement to sign him on a free transfer.

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However, it now looks as though Chong will snub a move to Italy in favour of extending his stay in Manchester, having been offered the chance to commit to fresh terms with his current club.

The Netherlands Under-21 international is reportedly set to sign a new long-term contract worth £30,000 per week, with it his desire to continue his development at United.

Stellar Group’s Erkan Alkan, who represents Chong, has confirmed the offer from United while also validating rumours of “big clubs” being in contact over the midfielder’s availability.

Alkan told Dutch publication AD : “There was a lot of interest, we talked to big clubs, but Manchester United came up with a good plan for Tahith.

“He likes to stay with the club that brought him from the Netherlands.”

Chong has racked up 10 first-team appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils this season, the last of which came in a 5-0 Europa League victory over Club Brugge on February 27.

United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that the club were in talks with the Dutchman and fellow academy star Angel Gomes over possible renewals shortly before that outing, but the latter’s future remains up in the air.

Both men could be back in contention for some rare minutes when United travel to Austria for another European fixture on Thursday.

Solskjaer’s men have been drawn against LASK in the round of 16, with the first leg set to take place at the Raiffeisen Arena.

United will turn their attention back to the Premier League three days later, as they look to maintain a promising recent run by beating Tottenham in north London.

After winning eight of their last 10 matches, the Red Devils have emerged as genuine top-four contenders once again and will be buoyed for another vital week of action after beating Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford over the weekend. 

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Benefit fraud

The interior ministers of Austria, German, the Netherlands and the UK wrote to the European Commission on 23 April to demand tougher measures against ‘benefit fraud’ committed in one member state by citizens of another member state. 

Member states should have the ability, the ministers said, to expel EU citizens who committed such fraud. Andor said that the Commission remained “unconvinced” by the arguments put forward in the letter. “We suspect that these arguments have been a little exaggerated for national political reasons,” he said.

Carlos Tevez has named winning the Champions League with Manchester United in the top three successes of his playing career but failed to mention Manchester City.

During his time at Old Trafford between 2007 and 2009 Tevez scored 34 times, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

The Argentinian crossed the Manchester divide to join City from United in 2009, scoring 73 times in 148 appearances for the Citizens, winning the Premier League and FA Cup once.

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The 35-year-old is currently in his third spell at home town club Boca Juniors and just helped the club to the Super League title in Argentina.

When asked where his latest achievement rated in his numerous successes, Tevez told El Intransigente (via Sport Witness): “It is one of the most important titles due to the circumstances.

“I came three years ago to fight it; it was to get the head out of a well that became eternal. It was a unique night—a very big relief.

“It’s in the top 3 with the Intercontinental Cup in Japan and the Champions League with Manchester United.”

 

Olympiacos’ playing squad have all tested negative for coronavirus after their owner tested positive on Tuesday.

The Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night has been postponed “as a precautionary measure” due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The move came after a positive test for Covid-19 was returned by Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis – whose side played at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on February 27.

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The Premier League said in a statement: “Following medical advice, Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC consider it is necessary to postpone their fixture due to be played this evening to give time to fully assess the situation.

“The Premier League has therefore agreed that tonight’s game will be rearranged.”

However, the news that the Olympiacos players have tested negative will come as a huge boost to Arsenal, who have placed some players and staff in self-isolation after they came into contact with Marinakis.

A statement read on Olympiacos’ website: “Olympiacos FC informs that after the required medical exams to which all the members of the football staff, as well as board members and staff, were submitted, all the tests came out negative for the COVID-19 virus.”

 

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RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann hailed his side for controlling both legs of their Champions League win over Tottenham.

The German side knocked out Spurs 4-0 on aggregate, with the second leg ending 3-0 to confirm their place in the quarter-finals.

Nagelsmann was proud that his side were able to make history against Jose Mourinho’s floundering Spurs, but claimed they were more in control after the first leg, despite it only ending 1-0.

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“It was a great moment for the history of the club and for me as a manager,” he told BT Sport. “It’s totally deserved we go to the next round. We had control of both games, scored four goals and conceded none.

“Perfection is difficult in soccer because you’ll always make mistakes. But we had control of both legs. Our control was a bit better in the first game.

“We were a bit lazy in the first 10 minutes of the second half but we got more powerful after that. If we pushed a little bit more we could have scored more goals. But it’s OK, I’m happy with 3-0.

“It’s good if you have a young team who have a lot of self-confidence.”

UEFA have issued a response to claims that countries have asked to postpone Euro 2020 due to coronavirus.

The spread of the virus has led to several countries opting to cancel sporting events or order fixtures to be played behind closed doors.

Italy’s Serie A has been postponed until April 3, with the country’s football federation admitting on Tuesday that the season may not be completed, while top-flight games in the likes of France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and Spain have either been delayed or moved to empty stadiums.

A host of Champions and Europa League fixtures will also take place without spectators.

There are fears that Euro 2020, which is scheduled to take place across Europe and is due to begin in Rome on June 12, could be threatened if the virus continues to spread.

But UEFA says no countries have asked to delay the tournament.

“We did not receive a single request from national associations to postpone the tournament,” said a spokesperson for the governing body.

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A number of international matches set to take place later this month have also been moved to behind closed doors, but England’s friendly against Italy at Wembley is still scheduled to go ahead as planned.

Tickets remain on sale for the March 27 meeting as the Football Association continues to follow Government advice.