EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

EU leaders reached recovery&budget deal

«We have reached a deal on the recovery package and the European budget. These were, of course, difficult negotiations in very difficult times for all Europeans. A marathon which ended in success for all 27 member states, but especially for the people. This is a good deal. This is a strong deal. And most importantly,…

EUCO: Michel scales down grants

In a search of compromise the president of the European Council Charles Michel came forward with the proposal to scales down the grants (subsidies) in recovery & resilience facility (RRF) fund €672.5bn, of which loans €360bn & grants €312.5bn, 70% of grants provided in 2021-2022, 30% in 2023. The proposal constitutes a significant change in…

Crimea: Putin attends keel-laying ceremony

President Vladimir Putin attended the keel-laying ceremony for the Russian Navy’s first helicopter carriers warships at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch, Crimea, on Monday July 20. #Керчь: Владимир Путин посетил судостроительный завод «Залив» и принял участие в церемонии закладки боевых кораблей ВМФ https://t.co/oi5HCxbvM3 pic.twitter.com/9slKFo9jMP — Президент России (@KremlinRussia) July 20, 2020 Together with the general…

Sassoli: MEPs call for end to rebates

Statement by European Parliament President on the ongoing European Council meeting: “After days of discussions, European citizens expect an agreement that lives up to this historical moment. We are worried about a future where European solidarity and the Community method are lost. The European Parliament has set out its priorities and it expects them to…

EU budget Summit marathon

The European Union leaders continue the marathon negociation at Summit in Brussels on a coronavirus recovery package, and the seven year budget of the 27 members bloc. Update 4pm is new timing for #EUCO plenary meeting https://t.co/nFMbwjQNv3 — Barend Leyts (@BarendLeyts) July 20, 2020 The Leaders left the marathon summit early Monday morning hours and…

Erdogan visits Hagia Sophia

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprise visit to Hagia Sophia site just days before the first Muslim prayers will be held at the Istanbul historic building since it was reconverted to a mosque last week. Erdogan today inspects the carpets to be placed in Hagia Sophia after he converted it into to a mosque…

Europol: Spain exotic birds traffickers arrests

Police have recovered 280 exotic birds, valued at over one million euros, among which featured macaws, parrots and cockatoos, all of which are endangered species protected by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). These birds were destined to be sold to North African countries – Morocco in…

Borrell: U.S. sanctions contrary to international law

“I am deeply concerned at the growing use of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, by the United States against European companies and interests. We have witnessed this developing trend in the cases of Iran, Cuba, the International Criminal Court and most recently the Nordstream 2 and Turkstream projects” reads the statement of the EU…

Dutch Rutte is «not opitimistic»

«Hard work» lies ahead said the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the doorstep of the European Summit (#EUCO) on recovery and long-term budget. However he underlined that due to prepararty period the positions of everyone became clear, and it also became more visible where the «bridges can be built», but of paramount importance is…

Azerbaijan Foreign Minister fired amid conflict

On July 16, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dismissed Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. According to Russian media, the top diplomat caused the criticism of the head of state because he preferred to work at home, respecting coronavirus measures of social distancing, when the conflict began. In addition, Aliyev said, Azerbaijani “diplomacy should be attacking diplomacy,…