The European Parliament’s mission to Ukraine this week will do its best to have Julia Tymošenko transferred to Berlin for hospital treatment in the coming weeks, said Pat Cox, Special Envoy of the European Parliament Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. Speaking at a COSAC meeting at the Seimas, Lithuania, his presentation titled ‘Parliament Diplomacy: The EP and […]
Claude Moraes, Facing Facts. Surveillance Delegation In Washington
“We will have the opportunity to discuss directly with US counterparts the alleged surveillance activities of US authorities and any impact they have in terms of EU citizens fundamental right to privacy,” said Claude Moraes, head of a European Parliament civil liberties committee delegation to Washington. The delegation is in Washington from 28 to 30 October […]
She’s ‘Big In Japan’. Catherine Ashton Secures The East
She’s ‘Big In Japan’. Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy met today with Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida and Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera. Ashton said they took stock of “…our bilateral relations and discussed our common objectives for the forthcoming EU-Japan Summit. We also discussed global and regional issues […]
“We are the richest continent. We can do more” – Schulz On Migration Solidarity
“Lampedusa has become a symbol of a European migration policy,” European Parliament President Martin Schulz told EU leaders at the October European Council, in Brussels. “It should also become a turning point for that migration policy”, he added, calling for greater support of the Mediterranean countries, which receive most irregular migrants trying to enter the […]
Brok Insists On Proactive EU Foreign Policy
It can’t be business as usual for Ashton’s successor, MEPs insisted, Thursday. Deputies called for a new approach to EU foreign policy based on leadership and the defence of the EU’s interests and values. Above all, they insist, the EU must be proactive, set priorities and make full use of EU and member states’ resources […]
Suspend EU-US Bank Data Transfer Say MEPs, Response To NSA Snooping
The EU should suspend its Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) agreement with the US in response to the US National Security Agency’s alleged tapping of EU citizens’ bank data held by the Belgian company SWIFT, says a non-binding resolution voted by Parliament on Wednesday. The resolution, tabled by the S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA groups, was […]
Lady In Waiting. Aung San Suu Kyi Receives The Sakharov Prize
Myanmar/Burma militant and parliamentary opposition leader finally received the Sakharov Prize, awarded to her in 1990, at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 October. Ms Suu Kyi was released from house arrest three years ago. The prize was presented at a special ceremony during the plenary session, chaired by European Parliament President, Martin Schulz. “You […]
U.S.-Ukraine Rule of Law Working Group Meets in Kyiv
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas O. Melia, will lead an interagency delegation to Kyiv, Ukraine for the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Political Dialogue/Rule of Law Working Group, October 21-25. The delegation will include Paige Alexander, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Catherine Newcombe, Regional Director […]
Colombia, Peru and UAE May Get Right To Visit EU Without Visas
Citizens of Colombia, Peru and the United Arab Emirates should be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa, said the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday, amending a draft update of the EU visa regulation to this effect. The Commission’s initial proposal envisaged a visa waiver only for citizens of five Caribbean island […]
EU / Canada Conclude Trade Deal Negotiations
Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have reached a political agreement on the key elements of a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) after months of intense negotiations between EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Canadian trade Minister Ed Fast. It will be the first free trade agreement between the […]