EU Commission May Probe Disinformation Campaign Against UN Compact on Migration -Spokesman
The European Commission will consider a request to conduct an investigation into alleged disinformation campaign against the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the commission's spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Monday.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel asked the European Commission to conduct an investigation into the disinformation campaign against the compact, which, he believed, was taking place.
"I would imagine that the request from the Belgian Prime Minister, which is perfectly legitimate, will be dealt with in this context," Schinas told reporters in Brussels.
Of the 28 EU member states, those having refused to sign the compact are Austria, which currently chairs the Council of the European Union, as well as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Latvia and Slovakia. According to EU members who refused to support the agreement, it may encourage uncontrolled migration flows as well as "global" migration management.
A key party in the Belgian government coalition, the New Flemish Alliance, announced earlier that it would withdraw from the government in protest against the prime minister's intention to sign a global migration pact. This decision led to a cabinet reshuffle and the loss of a majority coalition in the Federal parliament.
The migration agreement, the text of which was developed during a six-month discussion among virtually all UN member states, is not legally binding, but only opens up the possibility for global cooperation in this area. It is expected that the pact, which was approved in Marrakesh by representatives of more than 150 countries, including the Belgian prime minister, will be approved at a meeting of the UN General Assembly on December 19.
According to the police, about 5,500 people gathered on Sunday in Brussels to rally against the agreement in a "March against Marrakesh." Some young people openly declared their intention to arrange a "little Paris" during the Brussels march.
The demonstrators gathered in the European Quarter, where EU institutions are located, chanting "No jihad in our country!", "We are tired, close the borders!", "Brussels rats, get out!", and called on Michel to resign. At the end of the rally, a group of 300-400 protesters attempted to break into the building of the European Commission headquarters, but was stopped by the police, which used a water cannon and tear gas. The police detained 90 people and arrested another six.