EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

EU diplomacy discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict

EU ministers of foreign affairs today on May 15 held a video conference, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. 🔴 LIVE NOW: Press Conference with @josepborrellf on today's #FAC https://t.co/0uH3xaNGlP — European External Action Service – EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) May 15, 2020 They had an in-depth discussion on the Middle…

Barnier not «optimistic» about Brexit deal

European Union’s top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on May 15 that the third round of talks with the UK on a new partnership was “disappointing”. Michel #Barnier foaming at his mouth: «you cannot have best of both worlds» he said, without hiding his frustration with British demands. Hope of #Brexit agreement by end of…

EU expects Kyrgyzstan to release Askarov

Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic on May 13 upheld the life sentence of prominent human rights defender Azimjan Askarov. Mr Askarov was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2010 on charges of allegedly organising mass riots and involvement in the killing of a policeman. Today’s hearing was Mr Askarov’s final opportunity to appeal…

COVID19: EU tourism re-launch

Commission presented a package of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen, after months of lockdown, while respecting necessary health precautions. We are helping European tourism get back on track while staying healthy and safe. 🎦 Join us live for the press conference on resuming…

COVID19: EU approves UK £9bn SME aid

European Commission has approved a GBP 9 billion (approximately € 10.3 billion) UK aid scheme to support self-employed individuals and members of partnerships affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 April and 8 May 2020….

EU maintains operational presence

EU Defence Ministers discussed the security and defence implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing in particular on the crucial role played by armed forces in supporting civilian actors and providing cross-border support among member states. In this context the Task Force that was established at the last video conference of Defence Ministers on 6 April…

Borrell: Afghan people deserve peace

“There are few words that can do justice to the horrors we have witnessed today in Afghanistan. At the same moment an attack was targeting a maternity ward in Kabul, a terrorist detonated his bomb in the middle of a funeral in Nangarhar. Dozens of innocent civilians were killed or injured in these most reprehensible…

Malta ambassador resigns after verbal assault

Malta’s Ambassador to Finland has resigned after comparing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Adolf Hitler in a public message in the context of Europe remembering the end of World War II. Zammit Tabona resigns as ambassador after comparing Merkel to Hitler https://t.co/hDpdIGZfNU pic.twitter.com/QCgXyupbX1 — MaltaToday (@maltatoday) May 10, 2020 Malta government ensured that the official…

Leyen stands for ECJ primacy

“The recent ruling of the German Constitutional Court put under the spotlight two issues of the European Union: the Euro system and the European legal system” reads the statement of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on decision of the German Constitutional Court. “We will look into possible next steps, which…

Europe Day virtual celebrations

Europe Day is held every 9 May to mark the anniversary of the speech by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman that led to the foundation of the European Union. On #EuropeDay, let’s never forget… Europe is YOU, it’s US, it’s all of us TOGETHER. UNITY is what makes us stronger. Here’s what Europe means to…