EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

COVID19: Venice welcomes swans

In times of COVID19 pandemic Venice, one of Italy’s most famous tourist attractions, which usually receives visitors throughout the year, notices some positive effects of the imposed quarantine. Swans in Murano and Burano making the most of the current calm, clear water in the canals #Venice #Murano #Burano pic.twitter.com/TpBcdgaBUB — City Wonders Ltd. (@City_Wonders) March…

EU Council response to COVID19

Today 17 March, Members of the European Council held a videoconference on COVID 19 in order to follow up on previous conclusions of 10 March 2020 together with the ECB President, the President of the Eurogroup and the High Representative: “We reaffirmed the need to work together and to do everything necessary to tackle the…

Sassoli: lack of coordination in face of COVID19

“Europe is correcting the selfishness and lack of coordination between national governments in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Today the extraordinary meeting of the European Council gave the green light to the Commission’s proposals, also indicated by the European Parliament, to tackle the spread of the virus and help countries in need. Savid Sassoli,…

#COVID19: Eurogroup rapid response

Today Eurogroup welcomed all the measures taken by Member States and by the European Commission, in particular those taken to ensure that health systems and civil protection systems are adequately provided for to contain and treat the disease, preserve the wellbeing of our citizens and help firms and workers that are particularly affected. The #Eurogroup…

EU condemns Russia EED limitations

“The decision by the Russian authorities to include the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) on their list of “undesirable organisations” is unacceptable” reads the statement of the European External Action Service spokesperson. Russia: Putting @EEDemocracy on “undesirable organisations” list is unacceptable. EU urges to reconsider this & take it off the list. Legislation on “undesirable…

COVID19: Schengen area in question

Today the Civil Liberties Committee Chair, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) issued a statement on the reintroduction of border controls at some Schengen internal borders due to coronavirus. Chiusura frontiere Schengen: commissione libertà civili chiede proporzionalità e coordinamento nell'UE. https://t.co/idjQciHgeq — Jaume Duch (@jduch) March 16, 2020 “In the last days, several EU member…

Crimeans denounce EU «hypocrisy»

The speaker of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, defined the position of the European Union, which continues to refuse to recognize the Russian status of Crimea as “hypocrisy“. Сегодня в Государственном совете Республики Крым состоялось торжественное собрание, посвященное 6-й годовщине Общекрымского референдума, в ходе которого крымчане проголосовали за воссоединение Крыма с Россией.https://t.co/e9R5tANMM7 #Крым #Россия #Референдум…

Crimea anniversary EU declaration

Today the Declaration was issued by the High Representative Josep Borrell-Fontelles, on behalf of the European Union, on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (pictured) and the city of Sevastopol. “Six years on from the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the European Union remains…

Russian Embassy in Kiev attacked

Russian embassy in Kiev was attempted to set ablaze by Ukrainian nationalists from a rocket launcher. A video of the incident was published by various TV channels. (Image: social media). The missile hit directly the roof of the Russian Embassy, but apparently it failed to cause fire of the building. In addition, illustrating their aggressive…

COVID19: Austria 5 people limit

Austria’s Chancellor says his government is limiting people’s movement nationwide, and introduces gatherings limit of five people. #BREAKING Austria bans gatherings of more than five people over #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JFQvm8lNS4 — AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 15, 2020 Sebastian Kurz told the Austria Press Agency on March 15 that there should be only three reasons for…