EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

EU Election Observation Mission to Ecuador

Brussels 18.12.2024 In response to an invitation by the National Electoral Commission, the High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas has decided to deploy an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the general elections in Ecuador on 9 February 2025. The High Representative has appointed Gabriel Mato, Member of the…

Sakharov Prize goes to Venezuela

Strasbourg 17.12.2024 President Metsola presented the Sakharov Prize 2024 to Venezuela’s Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado at a ceremony on Tuesday in Strasbourg. Opening the award ceremony of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2024, President Metsola said: “In their quest for justice, democracy and the rule of law, Edmundo González Urrutia…

EU Kallas: Syria “optimistic” future

Brussels 16.12.2024 Today the top EU diplomats convene in Brussels to discuss a number of international issues, with the events in Syria in first ranks. “…On Syria, on Saturday, I was in Jordan, meeting with the Arab nations, as well as Türkiye and the United States to discuss the principles of engagement with the new…

OSCE: Malta’s leadership of “responsibility and determination”

Attard, Malta 06.12.2024 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had devoted his speech to the criticism of the West during the 31 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council taking place on Malta December 5-6. The top diplomat used his plenary speech to attack the “pseudo-liberal” values, and warn that a new Cold…

Russia closes Polish consulate

Brussels 05.12.2024 Today Russian announced the closure of Poland’s consulate in Saint Petersburg, pointing to Warsaw’s recent decision to shut down a Russian consulate in Poznan over accusations of sabotage. In the context of tensions escalating since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland warned of further diplomatic channel closures if alleged espionage activities persist. Poland announced…

Mark Rutte: “Putin is not interested in peace”

Brussels 03.12.2024 Ahead of the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels 3-4 Dec 2024 the Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed press representatives. “Today, as you know, and tomorrow, NATO Foreign Ministers will meet and we have many urgent security issues to discuss. “This afternoon we will welcome His Majesty King Abdullah II…

EU officials visit Riyadh

Brussels 28.11.2024 Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), including the PSC Chair, Ambassador Delphine Pronk, as well as Ambassadors of EU Member States, paid the first-ever official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 24 – 26 November 2024. The delegation was accompanied by the EEAS Managing Director for MENA, Ms…

Borrell: focus on support to Ukraine

Brussels 19.11.2024 “…It is clear that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the biggest threat to the European security and stability since the end of the Second World War. It is good to remind that security is the most important asset for a society. If there is no security, it is difficult to build anything else”…

Iran: EU widens restrictive measures

Brussels 18.11.2024 The Council today decided to widen the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure is targeted to the use of vessels…

Borrell calls for “power response” to Putin

18.11.2024 The EU Foreign Affairs Council has started today in Brussels, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. At doorstep of the meeting Borrell answered a few questions of the journalist. There is a broad agenda for discussion for the EU top diplomats: Russian aggression against Ukraine EU…