1 minute read
Human rights record
Betty Henderson
THE European Commission has summoned representatives from Spain over their treatment of refugees arriving at their borders. Europe’s governing body issued the summons to representatives from several European countries including Greece, Portugal and Belgium, on Thursday, January 26.
Brussels say that Spanish authorities are currently failing to uphold their duties set out in international regulations to keep refugees safe on arrival in the country. The European Commission is set to give the countries a two month deadline to implement new legislation and safety guarantees for asylum seekers arriving.
If Spain and the other countries do not change their policies, the European Commission could take action including fi nancial penalties. A spokesperson explained, “The Commission is closely monitoring the way all member states incorporate European legislation into their national laws”.
The European Commission has taken issue with Spain’s treatment of refugees, saying they must act in the next two months.
European law states that refugees have the right to seek asylum in countries they arrive in and have been working for several years to create a Europeanwide policy to apply in every member state. Several European states are at odds with the decision, saying border control is a sovereign issue.
By Peter McLarenKennedy
A COURT in Palma has said that prosecutors can proceed with their case to charge a gang of eight Brits who organised false food poisoning claims.
As reported in the local press on Wednesday, January 25, prosecutors intend to charge eight people with encouraging visitors to the island to report that they had been the subject of food poisoning. They were encouraged to do so in an effort to extort compensation from hotels and tour operators.
In total, some €200,000 is said to have been raised through fraudulent claims by the gang, who have been charged with aggravated fraud and criminal organisation.
The cases go back to 2016 and 2017 with British tourists staying at all inclusive resorts targeted. The gang prepared the case for the ‘claimant’ showing that they had been ill during their stay.
A brother and sister are said to have been behind the idea of using a company they set up to send the information to a law firm in the UK with which they had a working relationship.
The eight Brits have not been named but are believed to be wellknown among the local expat community, and if found guilty could be sentenced to jail.
