Brussels rebukes UK over detaining EU citizens at borders
May 20, 2021, 4:38 am

Brussels rebukes UK over detaining EU citizens at borders

European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium August 21, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)

EU leaders will urge Britain to respect the rights of their citizens after reports about travellers being detained at UK borders amid confusion over post-Brexit visa requirements, according to the draft of an EU summit statement.

There have been several media reports this month about EU citizens being detained, some for a few days, at immigration centres in Britain after being denied entry.

With the end of freedom of movement following Britain's exit from the bloc, EU citizens seeking entry to work or study are currently y subject to different rules. British and EU citizens still enjoy reciprocal visa-free travel for recreational purposes.

European Union leaders will urge the UK to respect the rights of their citizens after reports about travellers being detained at UK borders amid confusion over post-Brexit visa requirements, according to the draft of an EU summit statement.,,

"The European Council calls on the UK to respect the principle of non-discrimination among member states and the rights of EU citizens," said the draft for a summit of the EU's 27 leaders next week, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

Speaking in Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said 12 Italians had recently been refused entry to Britain and detained ahead of their repatriation.

He told parliament such treatment was "disproportionate" and said Italy's deputy foreign minister would go to London next week to discuss the situation with immigration officials. He also urged Britain to do more to raise awareness in the EU of new visa requirements.

"The British authorities undertook to... consider the possibility that, in future similar cases, they could let people enter British territory on bail until the time of their repatriation flight," Di Maio said.

'SERIOUS IMPEDIMENTS'

Dacian Ciolos, president of the European Parliament's main liberal group, wrote to the European Commission last week to raise concerns about detention measures that posed "serious impediments" to relations between the EU and Britain.

"The detention of often young and low-risk EU citizens reaching the UK for summer jobs and not being yet fully aware of new entry conditions is not in line with... the spirit of good cooperation that we would expect," Ciolos wrote.

Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said that while international travel is disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it would aim to grant immigration bail to those who have been refused entry into the country rather than detain them.

"We have updated our guidance to clarify that overseas nationals, including EU citizens, who have been refused entry to the UK and are awaiting removal should be granted immigration bail, where appropriate," a Home Office spokeswoman said.

Source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”