OIDHACO – the ‘International Office on Human Rights – Action Colombia’ has welcomed progress made towards peace in Colombia, but expressed its deep concern at the risks faced by Colombian civil society in this new phase of peace-building. Over the past four years, the negotiating teams of the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces […]
Brussels’ Colombian Expats Rally for Peace
The Colombian community in Brussels gets together in the face of uncertainty following the rejection of the Peace Agreement last October 2, through a referendum. “Manneken Paz por Colombia” is the result of a collective will to preserve the advances gained by the Peace Agreement signed on September 26, 2016. On Friday, October 7 in […]
Violence Against Women, Action Needed, Says Civil Society
Civil society denounces lack of real commitment by the EU and Latin America in the fight to eradicate violence against women and girls. Despite Europe and Latin America pledging to fight together against this scourge, few results have been seen, says civil society groups. In 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined the abuse of women […]
Zahradil Celebrates Vietnamese New Year With EU-Vietnam Friendship Group
Vietnamese New Year (Tết) is the most important holiday in the Vietnamese culture, and is celebrated by millions of Vietnamese all around the world. Tet´s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to one week. On this occasion, H.E. Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong hosted a reception for the Members of the EU-Vietnam Friendship […]
EU-Tunisia Trade Agreement Important Step
Member of the European Parliament, Marietje Schaake (ALDE/D66), has underlined the importance of the start of negotiations on a trade agreement between the European Union and Tunisia. Today, the European Parliament debated the issue and tomorrow a resolution on the topic will be voted. Schaake stated: “Tunisia is the only country in a successful transition […]
UNHCR Concerned By Refugee Border Build-Up
UNHCR is concerned by recent restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries that are placing additional undue hardships on refugees and asylum-seekers across Europe, creating chaos at several border points, and putting particular pressure on Greece as it struggles to deal with larger numbers of people in need of accommodation and services. On […]
‘For How Long Can EU-Russia Economic Relations Deteriorate?’ Asks Chizhov
Let me start by quoting the EU Trade and Investment Strategy approved by the EU Council on 27 November 2015, writes Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union. “The EU’s strategic interest remains to achieve closer economic ties with Russia. The prospects for this will, however, be determined primarily by […]
“Human Rights. Trade. In That Order.” EU-CELAC Civil Society Tells Mogherini
“Human Rights. Trade. In That Order.” EU-CELAC Civil Society has told High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini. Their statement came as Brussels prepares to host the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean on 10 and 11 June. The high-level meeting will bring […]
Eastern Partnership Having ‘Positive Impact’ Says Georgia’s Margvelashvili
Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili speaking at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee discussed the Eastern Partnership ahead of the Riga summit on 21-22 May. He said the Eastern Partnership has had a positive impact on Georgia, not only because we reached the association agreement, but also because it gave us opportunities and mechanisms for reforming our economy, […]
Uzbekistan, Justice For Central Asia’s Forgotten Massacre?
The killing of hundreds of protesters by Uzbekistani security forces in the early hours of 13 May 2005 must be independently investigated and the ongoing persecution of those connected to the unrest must end, Amnesty International said on the 10th anniversary of the Andizhan killings. A decade after security forces indiscriminately gunned down mostly peaceful […]