According To Iran News, The European Union’s top court ruled on Thursday that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic had broken the law by refusing to host refugees to help ease the burden on southern states such as Greece and Italy after a surge in migrant arrivals from 2015.

The ruling underscores Europe’s bitter divisions over migration, though the three ex-communist nations face no immediate penalty as the relocation of tens of thousands of people agreed by the EU was only envisaged until 2017.

“By refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have failed to fulfil their obligations under European Union law,” the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union said in its ruling, Reuters reported.

The Eurosceptic, nationalist governments on the EU’s eastern flank had cited national security reasons in refusing to take in any of the mostly Muslim refugees and migrants who had fled wars and poverty in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.

Frontline states such as Italy and Greece complained angrily over the lack of European solidarity as they struggled with mass arrivals that overwhelmed their security and welfare systems.

Wealthy northern European states such as Germany also criticized the ex-communist east for refusing to help while continuing to benefit from generous EU financial aid.

More than a million people reached Europe’s shores from across the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the EU unprepared as they trekked across the continent and triggering a new wave of support in some quarters for far-right, anti-immigrant parties.

The EU has since cracked down on immigration, fortifying its external borders and offering money and aid to countries such as Turkey to help prevent migrants from heading to Europe.

But the internal EU divisions on migration are far from healed. The 2015 mass influx of migrants at least partly contributed to Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the EU, in the worst setback for European integration since World War Two.

The EU now faces a fresh test of its unity from the coronavirus pandemic, with member states mostly pursuing their own strategies to counter the spread of the disease and the worst affected nations – Italy and Spain – again complaining of a lack of European solidarity and aid.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Addressing the forum, Chumba termed Iran a beautiful country with an amazing history, adding that he has come to Tehran with a certain mission to expand bilateral trade after the JCPOA. He pointed to the meetings of high-ranking officials of Iran and Czech Republic after the nuclear deal, adding that  at that stage, Czech Trade Office was inaugurated in Tehran and the office started good and effective ties with Czech Embassy. He also pointed to some bilateral agreements which were signed between both stares as well as exchanges of delegation which show how important it is for Czech Republic to boost ties with Iran.

He went on to say that there is good will among politicians and business activists for expanding ties, admitting that there is major problem in banking and financial transactions and both sides should find ways for trade and bartering goods in order to increase trade exchanges.

Chumba reiterated that both sides should work to link their companies  which is important in expansion of trade ties.

He added that both countries have good capacities for cooperation, adding that although the volume of bilateral trade declined after the reimposition of sanctions but small Czech companies have not left Iran and they continue their cooperation with their Iranian counterparts.

Deputy Head of Tehran Chamber Mr. Atabak, for his part, pointed to the history of relations between both countries especially signing Treaty of Amity which was signed in 1929.

He added that Iranians have positive approach towards Czech Republic and it cam help both countries to develop their relations.

He noted that the current trade volume between both countries is not satisfactory regarding their  $220b GDP.

He also pointed to four agreements between Czech companies with Iran’s IDRO group, adding that the trade volume of both countries currently stands at $93m and Czech Republic exports to Iran are around $75m.

Atabak also added that both countries can cooperate in tourism, noting that the chamber has prepared a list of goods which could be bartered between both states.

Meanwhile advisor to the international affairs of the chamber Mr. Mohammad Reza Bakhtiari raised questions about Czech Republic’s approach to the INSTEX and Czech Ambassador in response said that INSTEX is only a tool which has been promised to be launched by EU for saving the JCPOA and it has not been fully operationalized yet, noting that INSTEX is not for saving trade relations, adding that bartering goods is one way for saving trade.

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“The Silhouettes, which is a working title at the moment, is the story of an Afghan family living in Iran, who has left Afghanistan 40 years to come and live in Iran,” director Salari told Screen. “The film follows the son of the family who wants to repatriate to Afghanistan – to live and work there – but is confronted with the opposition of his family. It’s a film about belonging, identity, separation and connecting to your roots through the past in order to reconcile with the future.”

“We are in post-production now,” she continued. “To receive such positive feedback on the project gives us more confidence that we’re really on the right track now and there’s now more hope for what comes next in the future of the film.”

The film is expected to be ready at the end of the year, according to the report.

The documentary jury consisted of Pierre-Alexis Chevit, of the Doc Corner & Doc Day industry programme of the Cannes’ Marché, Lejla Dedić, a programme producer at Al Jazeera Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Denmark’s Patricia Drati, a creative producer and film development consultant.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

According to the MoU, an industrial work group between Iran and Czech Republic is to be set up in IDRO and Czech Industry Ministry.

Both sides agreed to cooperate in fields like auto industry, rail transport, new technologies and energy industries, urging governments of both sides to ease ground for cooperation.

Setting up joint-venture companies to expand industrial investments and renovation as well as ship-manufacturing was of other item in the MoU.

During the meeting, Mr. Aali called for easing the ground for the link of small and medium-sized enterprises of both states.

Muricky, for his part, announced the determination of his country for operationalizing the MoU as soon as possible.

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