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 […]
Violence Against Women – The EU’s Great Unfinished Business
Europe and Latin America have a problem in common: the high rates of violence against women continue to increase in their countries. That is why, today November 25th, the International Day Against Gender Violence, the network of European NGOs, Grupo Sur, calls on the European Union to meet its commitments in the fight against this […]
“Ambitious Climate Alliance Needed” From EU-CELAC Lawmakers
EU and Latin America, Caribbean Lawmakers Forging Paris #COP21 Positions Today’s formal Declaration at the Brussels Summit of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) calls for the strengthening of the bi-regional alliance ahead of COP21, but hbs says that isn’t enough. “There is a fundamental difference between […]
Sovereignty Claw-Back From Corporate Trade At EuroLat Summit
Three days of social mobilisation (8-10 June) kicked off today in Brussels and Strasbourg to mark the EU-CELAC Summit (10-11 June). The broad coalition aims at strengthening and giving visibility to existing resistances and struggles taking place in the two regions. They highlight new initiatives, which move away from the trade and investment architecture promoted by […]
“Feminicide, EU-CELAC Must Act”
Femicide, the murder of women because they are women, continues to be a reality in both Latin America and Europe. Two years after an action plan was adopted during the last EU-CELAC Summit, including commitments to eliminate all forms of violence against women, a conference has been held in Brussels on “The duty of due […]
Lux Leaks Scandal. Juncker Gets A Step Closer to Hot Seat
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, just got a step closer to explaining his role in the Lux Leaks scandal. Speaking after an official visit to Luxembourg, German Member of the European Parliament, Fabio De Masi said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that powerful EU member states like Germany and France are covering aggressive […]
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 […]
Turkey “Step back from authoritarian reform” Says MEP Schaake
Turkey must step back from authoritarian reforms to remain key EU partner said Marietje Schaake, Dutch Member of the European Parliament. Schaake was responding after the adoption of the annual Turkey report in the foreign affairs committee. She said: “The text was significantly sharpened compared to the draft by S&D-rapporteur Kati Piri, who failed to address many urgent […]
TAXE – Go Slow. The Order Of The Day.
At a public hearing in the European Parliament, Brussels, United Left MEPs declared their frustration with the Special Committee on Tax Rulings (TAXE) and what they saw as a lack of any real progress by the Committee towards protection for whistle blowers and journalists. GUE/NGL MEP Fabio de Masi, TAXE shadow rapporteur, said: “The majority in […]