COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION interesting latest news

The Council today approved conclusions on EU digital diplomacy. Digital technologies have brought new opportunities and risks into the lives of EU ci… Press material Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 16:13 | Press release | EU digital diplomacy: Council agrees a more concerted European approach to the challenges posed by new digital technologies   The Council today approved conclusions on EU digital diplomacy. Digital technologies have brought new opportunities and risks into the lives of EU citizens and people around the globe. They have also become key competitive parameters that can shift the geopolitical balance of power. The EU has a growing web of digital alliances and partnerships around the world. It is increasingly investing in digital infrastructure and, under the Global Gateway strategy, in supporting partners in defining their regulatory approach to technology based on a human-centric approach. Against this background, the Council invites all relevant parties to ensure that digital diplomacy becomes a core component and an integral part of the EU external action, and is closely coordinated with other EU external policies on cyber and countering hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference. In this context, to enhance the EU’s Digital Diplomacy in and with the US, the EU will soon open a dedicated office in San Francisco, a global centre for digital technology and innovation. The conclusions stress the importance of capacity building and the strategic promotion of technological solutions and regulatory frameworks that respect democratic values and human rights. For this reason, the EU will actively promote universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and democratic principles in the digital space and advance a human-centric approach to digital technologies in relevant multilateral fora and other platforms, promoting partnerships and coalitions with like-minded countries and strengthening cooperation in and with the UN system, the G7, the OSCE, the OECD, the WTO, NATO, the Council of Europe and other multilateral fora, striving to match the progress achieved with the EU’s Green Diplomacy and Cyber Diplomacy. Council Conclusions on EU Digital Diplomacy, 18 July 2022 Press material Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 15:40 | Press release | Foreign information manipulation and interference: Council approves conclusions stepping up EU's engagement and ability to respond   The Council today approved conclusions on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its war propaganda have underlined the urgency of tackling foreign information manipulation and interference targeting not only Russian, but global audiences. The conclusions underline how foreign information manipulation and interference is often used as part of broader hybrid campaigns and aims at misleading, deceiving and destabilising democratic societies, by creating and exploiting cultural and societal frictions in a strategic and coordinated manner. These interference techniques carried out by Russia have been strengthened during its unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. The conclusions demonstrate the EU’s commitment to strengthening its engagement to tackle this threat at all levels, notably in multilateral formats with and within the United Nations and other international and regional organisations. The Council invites all relevant parties to step up work towards the development of international principles on disinformation and FIMI. The Council calls on the High Representative and the Commission to present options, in full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, for well-defined measures that could be taken against FIMI actors when this is necessary to protect EU public order and security. Council Conclusions on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, 18 July 2022 The Council has today adopted a series of decisions extending the mandates of four EU Special Representatives (EUSRs): Miroslav Lajčák, the EUSR for … Press material Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 12:35 | Press release | Council extends the mandates of four EU Special Representatives   The Council has today adopted a series of decisions extending the mandates of four EU Special Representatives (EUSRs): Miroslav Lajčák, the EUSR for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, had his mandate extended for two years, until 31 August 2024. He was first appointed on 2 April 2020. Emanuela Claudia Del Re had her mandate as EUSR for the Sahel extended for two years, until 31 August 2024. Ms Del Re was first appointed on 21 June 2021. Annette Weber had her mandate as EUSR for the Horn of Africa extended for two years, until 31 August 2024. Ms Weber was first appointed on 21 June 2021. Toivo Klaar had his mandate as EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia extended for an additional year, until 31 August 2023. He was first appointed on 13 November 2017. Background The EU Special Representatives are proposed by the High Representative to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and provide the EU with an active political presence in those areas. The first EUSRs were appointed in 1996. Currently, nine EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. These include the four special representatives mentioned above, as well as the EUSRs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo, and the EUSRs for Central Asia, the Middle East Peace Process, and Human Rights. EU Special Representatives (EEAS Website) The Council today approved conclusions setting out the EU's priorities at the United Nations during the 77th session of the United Nations General As… Press material Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 11:16 | Press release | EU priorities at the 77th United Nations General Assembly: Council approves conclusions   The Council today approved conclusions setting out the EU's priorities at the United Nations during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 2022 – September 2023). The conclusions are approved at a time when the world is facing one of the greatest challenges to global peace and security in decades - Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine - which adds to existing geopolitical fractures and crises, such as those caused by COVID-19 and climate change. Against this background, the EU and its member states recall the binding character of the UN Charter in its entirety – peace and security, human rights, gender equality, human dignity, equal rights of large and small nations – and stress the universality of the UN’s founding principles. The EU reaffirms its conviction that the major challenges of our time, by their nature and global scope, cannot be addressed by countries acting alone but must be tackled together. Together with partners, the EU and its member states will spare no effort to make the world a safer place to live for all, by defending democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and by ensuring peace and prosperity. In the coming year, the EU will focus on upholding the UN Charter and the rule of law, addressing the global consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, promoting sustainable development and human rights, supporting access to quality education, strengthening global health security, and fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as shaping the global digital agenda. The multiple and often overlapping crises of recent years have exposed some significant gaps in global governance and underlined the need to modernise and reform the United Nations in view of deepening geopolitical fractures. The EU underlines the need for transformative changes, so that the United Nations becomes a UN 2.0, which is sustainably funded, more inclusive, transparent and accountable, and ultimately properly equipped for future challenges and opportunities. EU priorities at the United Nations during the 77th United Nations General Assembly, September 2022 - September 2023 - Council conclusions EU at the UN General Assembly (background information) Press material Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 10:52 | Press release | Council renews EU's terrorist list for a further six months   The Council today renewed, with no changes, the so-called EU terrorist list, which sets out persons, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures with a view to combatting terrorism. The 13 persons and 21 groups and entities on the list are subject to the freezing of their funds and other financial assets in the EU. In addition, it is prohibited for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to them. The Council first set up the list in implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1373/2001, which followed the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. It reviews the list at regular intervals, and at least every six months, on the basis of information on any new facts and developments relating to the designations. This sanctions regime is separate from the EU regime implementing UN Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) and targeting Al-Qaida and ISIL/Da'esh. The EU may also apply restrictive measures autonomously to ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida and persons and entities associated with or supporting them. EU fight against terrorism (background information) Meetings Monday 18 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   18/07/2022 20:00 | MEETING | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 18 July 2022   The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean, and Digital Diplomacy. The Council was also informed about current affairs. Council of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, 18 July 2022 Main results Russian aggression against Ukraine The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine. At the beginning of the meeting the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, briefly addressed EU ministers via video conference, and briefed them about the latest developments on the ground and the dramatic effects of the Russian aggression on the civilian population in the country and food security worldwide. Russia is trying to destroy Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation, and at the same time unleashing a global food and energy crisis. Ministers unanimously agreed on the need to continue to stand firmly with Ukraine and lend it all our support in its fight for freedom and independence. Ukraine needs more arms; we will provide them. That is why I have proposed the next tranche of the European Peace Facility, allocating €500 million more. There has been political agreement on this proposal today.Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The Council will continue its work on restrictive measures on the basis of a joint proposal from the Commission and the High Representative, including measures to close the loopholes and avoid circumvention. The High Representative underlined that EU sanctions work and the Russian economy is severely affected. The EU will continue to support Ukraine in implementing its reform agenda within the European perspective, after it was recently granted the status of candidate country by the European Council. The next EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting should take place on 5 September 2022.EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information) EU-Latin America and the Caribbean relations The Council held a discussion on EU relations with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). LAC countries have been badly affected by the negative consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular rising prices and shortages of food, fertilisers and energy. Latin America and the Caribbean nonetheless remains a very important EU partner in a number of areas. For this reason, the Council agreed to step up this ‘other transatlantic relationship’ and bring about a qualitative leap in the relations between the EU and LAC countries. Ministers emphasised the importance and urgency of completing and finalising the network of trade and association agreements, prioritising those with Mexico and Chile. The Council agreed to hold an EU-CELAC foreign ministers’ meeting in Buenos Aires in October 2022, during the Argentinian pro tempore presidency of CELAC. Digital diplomacy The Council exchanged views on digital diplomacy and approved conclusions on the matter.EU digital diplomacy: Council agrees a more concerted European approach to the challenges posed by new digital technologies (press release, 18 July 2022) The High Representative underlined that the EU is equipping itself with another foreign policy tool to support its geopolitical role and ambitions in the global technological power game. The conclusions approved today spell out the EU’s intentions in the field: actively promoting the EU’s regulatory model by building coalitions on digital issues, developing training programmes to produce ‘digital diplomats’, and enhancing coordination with the UN and other multilateral bodies. In this context and as a first concrete step, the EU will open a dedicated EU office in San Francisco to enhance the EU’s digital diplomacy in and with the US. Current affairs EU ministers exchanged views on the resumption of Association Council meetings with Israel, which have not taken place since 2012. They agreed to reconvene the meetings and start work to determine the EU position. The EU position on the Middle East Process has not changed since the 2016 Council conclusions supporting the two-state solution. The Council also discussed developments in Tunisia, in the run-up to the constitutional referendum on 25 July. Ministers stressed the importance for Tunisia of moving towards institutional normalcy and preserving the democratic set-up. An inclusive national dialogue is a cornerstone of any credible constitutional process and long-term stability. Lastly ministers touched on the situation in Sri Lanka and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Council conclusions and other decisions The Council also approved the following conclusions:Foreign information manipulation and interference: Council approves conclusions stepping up EU's engagement and ability to respond (press release, 18 July 2022) EU priorities at the 77th United Nations General Assembly: Council approves conclusions, 18 July 2022 Official development assistance: the EU and its member states remain the biggest global provider (press release, 18 July 2022) The Council also adopted, without discussion, the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items. Meeting information Meeting n°3889 Brussels 18 July 2022 09:30 Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda List of A items, non-legislative activities List of A items, non-legislative activities, addition 1 Background brief Outcome documentsList of participants