EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Merkel predicts “difficult” EU budget Summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that talks to set the European Union’s budget for the coming seven years will be “very difficult” at an extraordinary summit beginning February 20 in Brussels. “We think our concerns are not sufficiently addressed on many points, and I therefore see very tough and difficult negotiations ahead,” Merkel told reporters…

EU prolongs Belarus arms embargo

Today the Council decided to prolong the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2021. These measures include an embargo on arms and on equipment that could be used for internal repression, as well as an asset freeze and travel ban against four people designated in connection with the unresolved disappearances of…

EU diplomatic appointments

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced today three senior appointments in the European External Action Service (EEAS): #EUDiplomacy HRVP @JosepBorrellF appoints three new @eu_eeas Deputy Secretary General: Stefano Sannino, Enrique Mora Benavente and Charles Fries. Mora will be also Political Director. https://t.co/2Q5emLBel8 — Sabrina Bellosi (@sabellosi) February 17, 2020 Enrique…

Borrell on W.Balkans European perspective

At aprrival to the Euorpean Council for the EU-Western Balkans informal meeting the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said he hoped that some of Western Balkans countries could become members of the EU before the end of his mandate. “Today is another step on the European perspective for the Balkan countries. We are going to…

Macron agrees to Albania and N.Macedonia accession talks

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would agree North Macedonia and Albania to begin talks on joining the European Union if the bloc’s executive gave them a positive review next month. Good that this impasse has ended. A more united Europe is positive, but let us also make sure that “new” and “old” countries fully…

Borrell on situation in Idlib

“The war in Syria is now in its ninth year. The most severe humanitarian catastrophe and security crisis is unfolding right now in the northwest of the country. In other parts of Syria we continue to see instability and dramatic human suffering. WATCH: Footage from #Idlib #Syria today. Almost 150k people have been displaced in…

MAVRIDES: Erdogan supports jihadists in Idlib

During February Plenary the Members of European Parliament discussed the crisis in Idlib, reacting upon aggravated hostilités between Syrian Army and groups of Islamist fighers, backed by Turkey. The ongoing shelling caused a new ordeal for civilians in de-escalation zone in Idlib, agreed between Ankara and Moscow (2018) to protect refugees and prevent the flow…

EU-Vietnam free trade approved

The EU-Vietnam trade agreement, the “most modern and ambitious agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing country”, got Parliament’s support on February 12. (Image: illustration) “These state-of-the-art agreements just adopted present a unique opportunity to further the EU’s goal to become a geopolitical player that defends multilateral trade, rejects protectionism, and raises labour,…

MEPs stand for Status of Women

MEPs set their priorities for the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women Call for the EU to take strong action against all measures undermining women’s rights. Today the 🇪🇺 European Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU priorities for the 64th session of the🇺🇳UN Commission on the Status of Women. Some @EP_GenderEqual MEPs…

MEPs determined to eradicate FGM

The European Parliament has repeatedly demonstrated a strong commitment to elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide. By adopting laws and resolutions, MEPs have advocated common action to eradicate female genital mutilation. Excision: le texte porté par Assita Kanko contre les mutilations génitales approuvé au Parlement européen https://t.co/fUGmbBFs8j — RTBF info (@RTBFinfo)…