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EU leaders have repeatedly criticised human rights violations in Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN) member states.

But Surin Pitsuwan, former Secretary General of ASEAN, hit back by launching a stunning attack on the union last night.

He claimed EU countries fail to "respect" Brussels' diktats and suggested member states do not act "honestly".

Ten countries make up the south-east Asian alliance which was formed in 1967 including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Mr Pitsuwan said: "The Europeans can not expect the world to revolve around their own ideas, just as it did a century or two hundred years ago.

"The colonial period is over. We work differently from Europe. We do not have strict rules, such as the level of debt which are then not respected."

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker greets EU Commission Chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas

South-east Asia has long regarded European integration as model to follow.

However, the Eurozone debt crisis and the migrant crisis have both led to a growing skepticism about a supranational model.

Several ASEAN states have renounced plans for a common currency, fearing could plunge them into financial turmoil.

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Every problem of a member state can infect the others

Surin Pitsuwan

Speaking during an interview to mark ASEAN's 50th anniversary, Mr Pitsuwan added: "We in Asia have learned that we have to deal with each other honestly and cautiously.

"We communicate at all levels. We know that every problem of a member state can infect the others.

"In the West, individualism dominates. Here in Asia, however, we still need a controlling hand that is recognisable.

"However, it seems to me that Europe is now taking a step back and emphasising the role of the state again."

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The founding ofASEAN in 1967coincided with the Vietnam War and was originally aimed at curbing the rise of communism.

With an annual economic growth of about five per cent, its members form one of the most dynamic economic areas in the world.

For the European Union, the ASEAN region is its third largest trading partner after the United States and China.

Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg

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'EU is taking a STEP BACK' Asia distances itself from Brussels as Eurozone crisis grows - Express.co.uk

While certain member nations have discussed banning sales of new gasoline and diesel cars, the European Union is taking a more conservative approach to reducing emissions. The EU won't adopt electric-car sales quotas, a spokesperson recently confirmed to Reuters.

The statement came in response to a report by the German newspaper Handelsblatt, which cited EU sources saying the European Commissionthe EU's governing bodyplanned to institute quotas beginning in 2025.

"Generally speaking, the Commission is looking into ways to promote use of low carbon energy and transport, but none of them includes quotas for electric cars," an EU spokesperson told Reuters. "We do not discriminate between different technologies."

The comments were made as Europe continues to reel from the impact of the Volkswagen diesel scandal. The revelation that VW used "defeat devices" to cheat on emissions tests has led to examinations of other automakers, and additional accusations of emissions cheating. Last month, Daimler issued a recall of 3 million diesel cars in Europe to address emissions concerns.

While the EU won't enact electric car sales quotas, some member nations are proposing aggressive action. Motivated by concerns over air pollution, several countries have proposed banning sales of new internal-combustion cars in coming decades. Last month, France announced plans to ban vehicles powered by fossil fuels by 2040, and the U.K., Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands have all proposed or discussed similar bans that could go into effect in the next 25 years or so.

If those bans go into effect, sales of electric cars in Europe will skyrocket, whether the European Union sets quotas or not. Increased concern over emissions and the fallout from the Volkswagen scandal already have internal combustion wobbling on its feet in Europe. Holding off on electric car sales quotas may only buy the ICE one more round.

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Despite Member Nation Rhetoric, European Union Says No to Electric Car Quotas - The Drive

Millions of eggs have been pulled from European supermarkets in the past week after an outbreak of the insecticide Fipronil.

The UK has been swept up in the scandal, with around 70,000 eggs recalled from Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda stores.

According to new report, Belgium's safety authority FASNK alerted Dutch officials and the European Commission to the scare on July 6.

The report states: "July 6 2017: Question addressed to the Netherlands via the anti-fraud system AAC-FF, explaining the hypotheses concerning the original contamination.

"This message is also read by the European authorities that operate the system."

Brussels food law is overseen by its Administrative Assistance and Cooperation System (AAC) and its Food Fraud Network (FF).

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Swap a sugary breakfast cereal for porridge

Earlier today, Dutch police detained two men suspected of being involved in the illegal use of Fipronil at poultry farms.

The pesticide is banned by the EU for use on animals destined for human consumption, such as chickens.

Reported adverse effects from consumption of Fipronil include seizures, vomiting, dizziness and head and stomach pain.

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The Commission admitted Dutch and Belgian authorities had spoken on July 6, but it insisted it was not involved in the exchange.

A spokesman said: "On July 6, there was a bilateral exchange between Belgium and the Netherlands within the framework of the so-called administrative support and cooperation system.

"The Commission does not actively monitor the exchange in the AAC as is the case with the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)."

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Speaking to German media, the Belgian official did not send an official risk report on the Fipronil outbreak until July 20.

He added: "The European Commission did not know about Fipronil contaminated eggs until July 20, when the Belgian authorities informed the Commission via our rapid alert system.

"The Commission did not receive any information about this contamination accusation before July 20, not via technical or any other channels."

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Belgium's Agricultural Minister said his Dutch colleagues had been made aware about eggs contaminated with Fipronil since November 2016.

The minister, Denis Ducarme, said a report had confirmed Dutch eggs had tested positive for the potentially dangerous pesticide.

But the head of Dutch Food Safety Authority, Rob van Lint, denied his claims.

He said: "The accusation that we knew of Fipronil in eggs in November 2016 is not correct. At that time, there was no evidence that there could be an acute risk to food safety."

Original post:
European Union officials 'knew about contaminated egg scandal LAST MONTH' - Express.co.uk

The regulations, introduced this May, mean Britons caught breaking the speed limit in European Union countries could face a fine of up to 640.

However, a shock new survey has found 81 per cent of UK drivers are unaware of the recently amended European speeding laws.

And more than a third of those polled 38 per cent admitted their knowledge of speed limits on the continent is not up to scratch.

It's important for people to drive carefully on the road

Simon Henrick

Following the research findings, motorists have been urged to get grips with EU road regulations to avoid potential accidents.

Simon Henrick of breakdown provider Green Flag said: "Driving over the speed limit inevitably increases the likelihood of an accident.

"So it's important for people to drive carefully on the road whether at home or on the continent.

"To avoid breaking the law and subsequently being met with a hefty fine, it's important that drivers research the local road regulations and get up to speed on their metric measures before driving abroad."

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Swearing at other drivers

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The Brussels directive covers eight motoring offences, giving EU member states the power to track down UK motorists to hand them fines.

But British police cannot pursue European drivers caught speeding on UK roads because currently the system only works one-way.

Unsurprisingly, this legal oddity has riled UK drivers.

A staggering 81 per cent of people polled by Green Flag revealed they want European tourists who speed in the UK to be fined.

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Earlier this year, the Department of Transport said the Brussels directive could be scrapped after Brexit is completed in March 2019.

A spokesman said: "While the UK is still a member of the EU, we are obliged to bring in rules on cross-border enforcement.

"Once we have left the EU, our Parliament will have the power to amend the law."

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DRIVING WARNING: UK motorists face HUNDREDS in speeding fines under shock new EU rules - Express.co.uk

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, front | AFP via Getty Images

EU takes measures in line with latest UN Security Council resolution.

By David M. Herszenhorn

8/10/17, 3:58 PM CET

Updated 8/10/17, 5:19 PM CET

The Council of the European Union on Thursday expanded its sanctions against North Korea to align the EUs punitive measures with a new United Nations Security Council resolution.

In a statement, the Council said it had extended an asset freeze and travel restrictions to nine individuals and four organizations, including the government-owned Foreign Trade Bank, to an existing roster of 62 individuals and 50 organizations already under sanction.

The U.N. Security Council on Saturday adopted Resolution 2371 to toughen sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programs.

In the latest exchange of bellicose rhetoric, Pyongyang warned that it would fire missiles at Guam in response to U.S. President Donald Trumps threat that North Koreas aggression would be met with fire and fury.

Separately from the sanctions that mirror measures by the U.N., the Council of the EU said that it has designated 41 individuals and seven organizations for punishment.

The EU has implemented all U.N. Security Council resolutions adopted in response to the DPRKs nuclear and nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, the Council said in a statement.

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Council of the EU expands sanctions against North Korea - POLITICO.eu