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, […]
“Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, OVER” – EU Migration Re-Launch
The European Commission’s new European Agenda on Migration has been launched. It outlines the immediate measures that will be taken to respond to the Mediterranean crisis situation, as well as the steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects. The plight of thousands of migrants putting their lives […]
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 […]
Libya Abuse Horrors Driving Migrants Into Sea
Refugees and migrants across Libya face rape, torture and abductions for ransom by traffickers and smugglers, as well as systematic exploitation by their employers, religious persecution and other abuses by armed groups and criminal gangs, according to a new Amnesty International briefing published today. Libya is full of cruelty’: Stories of abduction, sexual violence and […]
EU Needs Rethink On Latin America Relations
EU relations with Latin America should promote greater cooperation and socioeconomic equality with a focus on human rights, according to NGOs meeting at the second EU-CELAC Civil Society Forum held today in Brussels. The event was hosted by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs as EU leaders prepared to meet […]
“Mobilise Global Partners On Climate Deal” Says BUSINESSEUROPE
European Environment Ministers met today in Brussels to discuss preparations for the UN Climate Change conference which will take place in Paris in December. BUSINESSEUROPE Director General Markus J. Beyrer commented: “The United Nations climate summit in December has to deliver an ambitious legally-binding agreement by committing all major economies. But as the new agreement expected […]
Schaake: “Council must adopt more ambitious Telecoms plan”
Dutch Member of the European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE) foresees a big fight between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the Telecoms Single Market. Today the Council announced that instead of abolishing roaming, it will be gradually capped. This measure will be effective in 2016 and only in 2018 they will be […]
Back To A Digitised Future For European Business
The 1989 cult movie “Back to the Future II” predicted that the year 2015 would bring with it a world of hover-boards, flying cars and self-lacing trainers, writes Carsten Bruhn, Executive Vice President, Commercial at Ricoh Europe. While few of the flashy gadgets foreseen by the film’s creators have come into existence, 1989 proved a landmark year […]