EU justice, immigration ministers balk at UN call to take more refugees News
EU justice, immigration ministers balk at UN call to take more refugees

[JURIST] A UN appeal to European Union countries to draft a joint resettlement policy that would allow for acceptance of more refugees was met with reluctance Saturday by European justice and immigration ministers gathered in Brussels. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers [official profile] called on EU states to agree to measures that would allow relocating refugees evenly across the EU. Germany in particular cited economic concerns and argued it cannot cope with the number of refugees currently seeking asylum within its borders. EU ministers agreed in 2004 [EU directive] to set up a common asylum and immigration policy by 2010. An action plan to meet that goal is to be drafted in May. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.