A senior EU official said the election of Joe Biden to the White House offers a unique chance to renew the US-Europe relationship, as leaders from the bloc held defence talks.
Some member states are reportedly fearful that a more independent EU could upset President Biden’s push to rebuild relations with the bloc.
"I'm totally convinced that this new Biden administration offers a unique opportunity to renew the strong alliance between Europe and the United States," European Council President Charles Michel said at the start of the video summit between EU leaders and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
"A strong partnership requires strong partners – that's why I'm convinced that a stronger European Union is a stronger Nato,” Mr Michel said.
Mr Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump accused Nato members – many of whom are also in the EU – of underspending on defence. French President Emmanuel Macron, a key proponent of a more autonomous EU, said at the time that Nato was experiencing a “brain death”.
"We share very much the same population, the same members and the same neighbourhood and the same challenges," Mr Stoltenberg said. "It makes it absolutely obvious that we need to work together."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the attendance of Mr Stoltenberg was "a clear sign of the close partnership" between the bloc and Nato.
“Our co-operation has been advancing in the past and will continue doing so. There is a strong demand in the current difficult and challenging environment for the EU and Nato to work more closely together,” he said.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
