20/07/2023 | Article EU home affairs ministers make progress on measures to manage extraordinary migration situationsThe EU home affairs ministers took another step towards completing the Pact on Migration and Asylum this Thursday in Logroño, making progress in specifying measures aimed at streamlining and effectively managing extraordinary migratory crises. |
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21/07/2023 | Article Highlights of the agenda of the informal ministerial meeting on healthThe ministers' working sessions will focus on the Spanish presidency's priorities of implementing new initiatives focused on prevention and healthy lifestyles, strengthening the capacities of health systems and developing new EU strategies in this field. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 20:00 | MEETING | | | | | The Foreign Affairs Council held discussions on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and Türkiye. Under current affairs it was informed about: the EU-CELAC summit, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Middle East Peace Process. EU ministers also had informal exchanges with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and US State Secretary Antony Blinken. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 16:23 | Press release | | | | | The Council today established a new framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. This new regime prohibits the export from the European Union to Iran of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It also provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures that could be imposed against persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV’s programme. This new regime complements the three previously adopted packages of drone-related sanctions targeting individuals and entities, the latest of which in February 2023. The Council today also decided to list six Iranian individuals under two already existing sanctions regimes for Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (drones) and to the Syrian regime (air defence systems). Designated individuals are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. They are also subject to travel restrictions, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories. Today’s decisions show the EU’s resolve to continue responding swiftly and decisively to Iran’s actions. The European Union condemns the delivery of Iranian drones to Russia and their deadly deployment in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundIn December 2022, the Council expressed great concern on the reports related to Iranian drones being manufactured with components of international origin including from Europe. It stated that the EU would continue to respond to all actions supporting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The European Union stands firmly with Ukraine and will continue to provide economic, military, social and financial support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. Sanctions on Syria were first introduced in 2011 in response to the violent repression of the civilian population by the Assad regime. EU sanctions in place regarding Syria target the Assad regime and its supporters, as well as sectors of the economy from which the regime is making a profit. Official Journal of the EU, 20 July 2023 (including a list of the sanctioned individuals and entities) Iran: EU restrictive measures (background information) |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 15:31 | Press release | | | | | The Council today decided to extend the framework for imposing targeted restrictive measures to address the situation in Lebanon for an additional year, until 31 July 2024. This framework, originally adopted on 30 July 2021, provides the possibility of imposing sanctions against persons and entities who are responsible for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon, through any of the following actions: - obstructing or undermining the democratic political process by persistently hampering the formation of a government, or by obstructing, or seriously undermining, the holding of elections
- obstructing or undermining the implementation of plans approved by Lebanese authorities and supported by relevant international actors, including the European Union, to improve accountability and good governance in the public sector or the implementation of critical economic reforms, including in the banking and financial sectors and the adoption of transparent and non-discriminatory legislation on the export of capital
- serious financial misconduct, concerning public funds, insofar as the acts concerned are covered by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, and the unauthorised export of capital
Sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to listed persons and entities. The European Union remains ready to use all its policy instruments to contribute to a sustainable way out of the current crisis and to react to a further deterioration of democracy, rule of law, and of the economic, social, and humanitarian situation in Lebanon. It is of the utmost importance for the Lebanese leadership to put aside their differences, work together to form a government, and enact the measures required to steer the country towards a sustainable recovery-including an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Swift presidential elections, government formation, and municipal elections are more essential than ever. The stability and prosperity of Lebanon are of crucial importance for the whole region and for Europe. The EU stands by the people of Lebanon in this hour of need. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 16:17 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council imposed restrictive measures against 18 individuals and 5 entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, because of their responsibility for serious human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ukraine and Russia. Six individuals were listed over various forms of sexual and gender-based violence. These include the acting Taliban Ministers of Education and Justice and the acting Taliban Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan because of their role in depriving Afghan girls and women of their right to education, access to justice and equal treatment between men and women. The measures also target a senior officer of the South Sudanese armed forces, a leading figure of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic, and a commander of the 30th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian armed forces because they committed widespread attacks against the civilian population in the countries where they operated, which systematically included sexual and gender-based violence, including as a means to terrorise the population. The EU also imposed restrictive measures against twelve other individuals and five entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Russia. The measures target those who have misused facial recognition technology for massive arbitrary arrests in Russia as well as the politically motivated rulings against the opposition politicians, democracy activists and outspoken Kremlin critics Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza. These listings include various bodies linked to the City of Moscow, a minister in the government of the city and a deputy mayor, three companies producing or organising tenders for the supply of facial recognition systems. The listings also target individuals responsible for running the penal colony where Alexei Navalny has been held since his politically motivated sentencing in March 2022 and an officer of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) personally involved in an attempt to assassinate Vladimir Kara-Murza through the use of a neurotoxin. Altogether, EU restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime now apply to a total of 61 individuals and 20 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories. In its conclusions of 14 November 2022, the Council expressed concern about the disproportionate effect that armed conflicts continue to have on women and girls worldwide, as well as the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence including conflict-related sexual violence, offline and online. The Council committed to enhanced efforts to counter such violence in order to ensure full accountability and to combat impunity. The EU condemns the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia. Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has amplified internal repression in Russia, drastically limiting the freedom of opinion and expression and media freedom and introducing war censorship. The EU continues to strongly condemn the severe expansion of restrictive legislation and systematic repression against civil society and human rights defenders, as well as unabated crackdown on independent media, individual journalists, political opposition members and other critical voices. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 15:23 | Press release | | | | | The Council today approved conclusions setting out EU priorities at the United Nations during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 2023 – September 2024). The conclusions restate that multilateralism is a fundamental principle of the EU. Today the world faces a proliferation of crises: Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and its global consequences, the situation in the Sahel and other parts of Africa, the climate emergency, rising food insecurity, erosion of democracy and human rights, terrorism and violent extremism, cyber threats, as well as backsliding on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These challenges cannot be addressed by any one country alone; they must be resolved collectively. That is why the EU and its Member States will continue to uphold the rules-based international order founded on the UN Charter and to strive for a well-functioning, reformed multilateral system, with an effective and sustainably funded United Nations at its core. EU action at the United Nations in the coming year will be guided by the following overarching priorities: - Accelerating implementation of the SDGs
- Strengthening global governance in line with UN Secretary General’s “Our Common Agenda” proposals for reform and modernisation
- Building global partnerships to help achieve our common goals
Text of the conclusions EU priorities at the 77th United Nations General Assembly: Council approves conclusions (press release, 18 July 2022) EU at the UN General Assembly (background information) |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 14:21 | Press release | | | | | The Council today adopted a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the EU, with the United States on a Critical Minerals Agreement (CMA) and the related negotiating directives. This agreement seeks to strengthen critical minerals supply chains and mitigate some of the negative repercussions of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on EU industry. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:44 | Press release | | | | | The Council adopted a decision on the signature and provisional application of the European Union and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Partnership Agreement, as the new legal framework for the relations between the EU and its Member States and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, for the next twenty years, which will succeed the Cotonou Agreement. The deal covers a wide range of areas, from sustainable development and growth, to human rights and peace and security. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:42 | Press release | | | | | The Council today appointed two European prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor's Office: Ignacio DE LUCAS MARTÍN and José António LOPES RANITO. They will take office on 29 July 2023. These appointments take place in the context of the partial renewal of the EPPO College. As part of the transitional rules for the first term of office following the creation of the EPPO the European prosecutors from one third of the member states, determined by drawing lots, were to hold a three year non-renewable mandate in order to stagger the renewal of the EPPO College. This was the case for the prosecutors from Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Five European prosecutors were appointed on 27 June. The remaining European prosecutor will be appointed in a future proceeding. Role and mandateEuropean prosecutors supervise investigations and prosecutions and, together with the European Chief Prosecutor, form the EPPO College. They are appointed for a non-renewable term of six years. The Council may decide to extend their term for a maximum of three years at the end of this period. Selection processEach member state nominates candidates for the position of European prosecutor. These must be candidates who are active members of the public prosecution service or judiciary of their member state, whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to high prosecutorial or judicial office in their member state. They must have relevant practical experience of national legal systems, of financial investigations and of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Following the nomination phase, a selection panel draws up reasoned opinions and ranks the nominated candidates for each member state who fulfilled the conditions. The Council then selects and appoints one of the candidates to be the European prosecutor for their member state. |
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| ● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ | | | 20/07/2023 13:43 | Δελτίο τύπου | | | | | Το Συμβούλιο διόρισε σήμερα τους εξής δύο ευρωπαίους εισαγγελείς στην Ευρωπαϊκή Εισαγγελία: Ignacio DE LUCAS MARTÍN και José António LOPES RANITO. Θα αναλάβουν καθήκοντα στις 29 Ιουλίου 2023. Οι διορισμοί αυτοί πραγματοποιούνται στο πλαίσιο της μερικής ανανέωσης του συλλογικού οργάνου της Ευρωπαϊκής Εισαγγελίας. Στο πλαίσιο των μεταβατικών κανόνων για την πρώτη θητεία μετά τη δημιουργία της Ευρωπαϊκής Εισαγγελίας και κατόπιν κλήρωσης, οι ευρωπαίοι εισαγγελείς του ενός τρίτου των κρατών μελών επρόκειτο να είχαν τριετή μη ανανεώσιμη θητεία, με σκοπό τη χρονική μετάθεση της ανανέωσης του συλλογικού οργάνου της Ευρωπαϊκής Εισαγγελίας. Αυτό συνέβη στην περίπτωση των εισαγγελέων από την Αυστρία, την Κύπρο, την Ελλάδα, την Ιταλία, τη Λιθουανία, τις Κάτω Χώρες, την Πορτογαλία και την Ισπανία. Στις 27 Ιουνίου διορίστηκαν πέντε ευρωπαίοι εισαγγελείς. Ο εναπομένων ευρωπαίος εισαγγελέας θα διοριστεί σε προσεχή διαδικασία. Ρόλος και εντολήΟι ευρωπαίοι εισαγγελείς εποπτεύουν τις έρευνες και τις διώξεις και, από κοινού με τον Ευρωπαίο Γενικό Εισαγγελέα, συγκροτούν το συλλογικό όργανο της Ευρωπαϊκής Εισαγγελίας. Διορίζονται για μη ανανεώσιμη θητεία έξι ετών. Το Συμβούλιο μπορεί να αποφασίσει να παρατείνει τη θητεία για μέγιστο διάστημα τριών ετών μετά το πέρας της περιόδου αυτής. Διαδικασία επιλογήςΚάθε κράτος μέλος προτείνει υποψηφίους για τη θέση του ευρωπαίου εισαγγελέα. Πρόκειται για υποψηφίους που είναι ενεργά μέλη της εισαγγελικής αρχής ή του δικαστικού σώματος του κράτους μέλους, οι οποίοι παρέχουν εχέγγυα ανεξαρτησίας και διαθέτουν τα προσόντα που απαιτούνται για διορισμό σε υψηλό εισαγγελικό ή δικαστικό αξίωμα στα κράτη μέλη τους. Επίσης, πρέπει να διαθέτουν σχετική πρακτική πείρα στα εθνικά νομικά συστήματα, στις έρευνες στον χρηματοοικονομικό τομέα και στη διεθνή δικαστική συνεργασία σε ποινικές υποθέσεις. Μετά το στάδιο του διορισμού, επιτροπή επιλογής συντάσσει αιτιολογημένες γνώμες και κατατάσσει τους υποψηφίους που προτείνονται από κάθε κράτος μέλος και πληρούν τις προϋποθέσεις. Στη συνέχεια, το Συμβούλιο επιλέγει και διορίζει έναν από τους υποψηφίους ως ευρωπαίο εισαγγελέα προερχόμενο από το οικείο κράτος μέλος. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:10 | Press release | | | | | The Council has today adopted a series of decisions extending the existing mandates of following three EU Special Representatives (EUSRs) for one year, until 31 August 2024: - Johann Sattler is the EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) since 1 September 2019. His mandate is to ensure continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multiethnic and united BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards membership of the Union. He also supports the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH.
- Tomáš Szuyog was appointed EUSR for Kosovo* on 1 September 2020. His mandate includes the task of offering the EU’s advice and support in the political process and promote overall Union political coordination in Kosovo.
- Toivo Klaar was appointed EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia on 13 November 2017. His task is to contribute to a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, namely the crisis in Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as to encourage regional cooperation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and, as appropriate, their neighbouring countries.
BackgroundThe 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. Currently, ten EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. These include the three special representatives mentioned above, as well as the EUSRs for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, as well as for the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Gulf region, Central Asia, the Middle East Peace Process, as well as for Human Rights. EU Special Representatives (EEAS Website)
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:09 | Press release | | | | | The Council today renewed, without 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) |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:04 | Press release | | | | | The Council today decided to prolong by six months, until 31 January 2024, the restrictive measures targeting specific sectors of the economy of the Russian Federation. These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, were significantly expanded since February 2022, in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. They currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods. They also cover: a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks, and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets. Additionally, specific measures were introduced to strengthen the ability of the EU to counter sanctions circumvention. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 10:47 | Press release | | | | | The Council adopted today a regulation which renews and expands the temporary suspension of all outstanding tariffs and the entry-price system that are still applicable to seven agricultural products for another year, until 24 July 2024. "The renewal and expansion of the measures aim to ensure that the existing trade flows from Moldova to the EU can continue, which will support Moldova’s economy. This is particularly important, given Russia’s continued military aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing impact on Moldova, and considering that Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022."
Héctor Gómez Hernández, Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister of Spain The measures continue to cover all seven agricultural products for which exports from Moldova into the EU are not yet fully liberalised under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as they are subject to duty-free quotas: plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries and grape juice. |
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| ● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ | | | 20/07/2023 13:09 | Δελτίο τύπου | | | | | Το Συμβούλιο ανανέωσε σήμερα, χωρίς αλλαγές, τον λεγόμενο ενωσιακό κατάλογο τρομοκρατών, ο οποίος περιλαμβάνει πρόσωπα, ομάδες και οντότητες που υπόκεινται σε περιοριστικά μέτρα με σκοπό την καταπολέμηση της τρομοκρατίας. Τα 13 πρόσωπα και οι 21 ομάδες και οντότητες που περιλαμβάνονται στον κατάλογο υπόκεινται σε δέσμευση των κεφαλαίων και των λοιπών χρηματοοικονομικών περιουσιακών στοιχείων που διατηρούν στην ΕΕ. Επιπλέον, απαγορεύεται στους οικονομικούς φορείς της ΕΕ να τους παρέχουν κεφάλαια και οικονομικούς πόρους. Το Συμβούλιο κατήρτισε αρχικά τον κατάλογο για να εφαρμόσει την απόφαση 1373/2001 του Συμβουλίου Ασφαλείας του ΟΗΕ, η οποία εκδόθηκε μετά τις τρομοκρατικές επιθέσεις της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου 2001. Επανεξετάζει τον κατάλογο τακτικά και τουλάχιστον κάθε έξι μήνες, βασιζόμενο σε πληροφορίες για τυχόν νέα γεγονότα και εξελίξεις που σχετίζονται με τις καταχωρίσεις. Το συγκεκριμένο καθεστώς κυρώσεων είναι διακριτό από το ενωσιακό καθεστώς κυρώσεων κατά της Αλ Κάιντα και του ISIL/Da'esh, με το οποίο εφαρμόζονται οι αποφάσεις 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) και 2253 (2015) του Συμβουλίου Ασφαλείας του ΟΗΕ. Η ΕΕ μπορεί επίσης να επιβάλλει περιοριστικά μέτρα αυτόνομα στο ISIL/Da'esh και την Αλ Κάιντα, καθώς και σε πρόσωπα και οντότητες που συνδέονται με τις ομάδες αυτές ή τις υποστηρίζουν. H αντίδραση της ΕΕ στην τρομοκρατία (γενικές πληροφορίες) |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 08:57 | MEETING | | | | | The EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council reviewed the state of relations under the Stabilisation and Association Process and exchanged views on developments in the Western Balkans. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 08:56 | Press release | | | | | The Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) between the European Union (EU) and Bosnia and Herzegovina held its fifth meeting on 19 July 2023 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, represented the European Commission. The Delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was led by Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, accompanied by the Deputy Chairpersons: the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina Staša Košarac. The EU welcomed the new milestone in EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina relations reached with the decision of the European Council in December 2022 to grant the status of candidate country to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision opens a window of opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to the EU through swift implementation of the pending reforms and adaptation to EU standards. The EU welcomed the prompt entry into office of executive and legislative bodies at state and entity level, following the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2 October 2022 and the reform steps taken so far, while calling for intensified efforts to deliver on reforms, ensuring that they consistently meet European standards. The EU also expressed serious concern over the legislative initiatives and announcements in the Republika Srpska entity that run counter to the EU path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including secessionist rhetoric and putting into question the constitutional order of the country. The EU deplored the adoption of legislation in the Republika Srpska entity on the inapplicability of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the entity. This legislation has no legal basis. The EU urged the entity Parliaments to swiftly appoint the vacant judges to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to ensure its unimpeded functioning. The EU furthermore stressed that all political leaders need to engage in constructive dialogue to address internal political issues as a matter of priority. The EU reiterated the unequivocal commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country. The EU urged all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to refrain from and renounce provocative divisive rhetoric and actions, including questioning the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country, and to end the glorification of convicted war criminals, as well as to actively promote reconciliation. The EU also underlined the urgency for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward on its EU path, in particular via fulfilling all 14 key priorities for the opening of EU accession negotiations identified in the Commission Opinion as endorsed by the Council in 2019. The EU strongly called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop and adopt a national programme for the alignment with EU acquis (NPAA). On public administration reform, the EU welcomed the implementation of the comprehensive strategy on public finance management by all levels of government. The EU underlined the need to reinforce the rule of law and take decisive steps to strengthen the judiciary and the prevention of and fight against corruption and organised crime. The EU welcomed that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers adopted several strategies (on terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, migration) and draft laws (notably on integrity in the judiciary, on conflict of interest, on torture prevention). The EU stressed that parliamentary adoption of these legislative initiatives, fully in line with European standards, will contribute to addressing the Opinion key priorities and related steps. The EU welcomed the final entry into operation of the contact point for cooperation with Europol, after several years of delays, and expressed expectations for Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve concrete results in the fight against organised crime. The EU called for the urgent adoption of legislation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, in line with the EU acquis, in order to avoid Bosnia and Herzegovina from being again grey-listed. The EU welcomed improvements in migration management and stressed the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure more efficient access to asylum, and to swiftly conclude the Frontex status agreement. The EU called on the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve alignment with EU visa policy. Concerning human rights and minorities, the EU welcomed the adoption of action plans for the social inclusion of the Roma and on the rights of LGBTI persons. The EU recalled that, as an Opinion key priority, Bosnia and Herzegovina should ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society, notably by upholding European standards on freedom of association and freedom of assembly. In this regard, the EU expressed serious concerns about the legislative initiatives to criminalise defamation and target civil society in the Republika Srpska entity, which if adopted would mark a clear step backwards, and called for them to be withdrawn. The EU stressed the importance of guaranteeing freedom of expression, assembly and association, gender equality, the protection and inclusion of vulnerable groups, and of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all. Following the commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide, the EU urged all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to take concrete steps to promote an environment conducive to reconciliation in order to overcome the legacies of the war. The EU welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s active participation in regional cooperation, including the common regional market, and encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina to swiftly ratify last pending regional mobility agreement. The EU welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s significant improvement of its alignment with EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, signalling its commitment to the EU path, and stressed that restrictive measures need to be fully implemented. Through its military Operation EUFOR Althea, the EU supports the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a safe and secure environment. The EU welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strong support to the executive mandate of EUFOR Althea and its continued presence for stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU underlined the opportunities offered by the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans and the European Green Deal. Within the Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans (IPA 2023), Bosnia and Herzegovina received €70 million in budget support with the aim to protect vulnerable families and small businesses affected by the rising energy prices, while advancing energy transition and diversification. The first instalment of €63 million was disbursed in May 2023. The Stabilisation and Association Council also held an exchange of views on developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the regional situation in the Western Balkans. |
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| ● General Secretariat of the Council | | | | | Over the course of the summer, the Council Library, in collaboration with the permanent representations to the EU, will recommend books to read from across the EU. It’s the fourth instalment of our Readers of Europe initiative, and this year, the spotlight is on female authors. Today’s recommendation is from the Permanent Representation of Latvia to the EU: ‘Kate, kas gribēja kļūt par vectēvu’ by Signe Viška. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 20/07/2023 13:04 | Press release | | | | | The Council today adopted an assistance measure, worth €20 million, under the European Peace Facility to support the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). The support will be implemented by the Belgian Ministry of Defence. Through its own armed forces, Belgium is already training the brigade which will benefit from this support. This 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade is active in Eastern DRC and the EU support will strengthen the capabilities and resilience of the FARDC in a region marked by the presence of more than one hundred armed groups. Through this assistance measure, the EU will provide basic, non-lethal individual equipment, such as commando kits, first aid kits and clothing, and collective equipment, such as counter-IED kits, vehicles and radios, for the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade of the FARDC. The assistance measure will also support the rehabilitation of the brigade’s headquarters. As for any support under the European Peace Facility, the assistance measure entails a set of controls, safeguards and monitoring measures notably designed to ensure the brigade’s adequate use of the equipment and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. |
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| ● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ | | | 20/07/2023 13:04 | Δελτίο τύπου | | | | | Το Συμβούλιο αποφάσισε σήμερα να παρατείνει κατά έξι μήνες, έως τις 31 Ιανουαρίου 2024, τα περιοριστικά μέτρα που στοχεύουν συγκεκριμένους τομείς της οικονομίας της Ρωσικής Ομοσπονδίας. Οι κυρώσεις αυτές, οι οποίες θεσπίστηκαν για πρώτη φορά το 2014 ως αντίδραση στις ρωσικές ενέργειες αποσταθεροποίησης της κατάστασης στην Ουκρανία, επεκτάθηκαν σημαντικά από τον Φεβρουάριο του 2022, ως απάντηση στην απρόκλητη και αδικαιολόγητη στρατιωτική επίθεση της Ρωσίας κατά της Ουκρανίας. Πρόκειται για ευρύ φάσμα τομεακών μέτρων που περιλαμβάνουν περιορισμούς στο εμπόριο, τον χρηματοοικονομικό τομέα, την τεχνολογία και τα αγαθά διπλής χρήσης, τη βιομηχανία, τις μεταφορές και τα είδη πολυτελείας. Καλύπτουν επίσης τα εξής: απαγόρευση της εισαγωγής ή μεταφοράς αργού πετρελαίου και ορισμένων προϊόντων πετρελαίου διά θαλάσσης από τη Ρωσία στην ΕΕ, αποκλεισμό πολλών ρωσικών τραπεζών από το σύστημα SWIFT και αναστολή των ραδιοτηλεοπτικών δραστηριοτήτων και των αδειών διαφόρων μέσων παραπληροφόρησης που υποστηρίζονται από το Κρεμλίνο. Επιπλέον, θεσπίστηκαν ειδικά μέτρα για να ενισχυθεί η ικανότητα της ΕΕ να αντιμετωπίζει την καταστρατήγηση των κυρώσεων. |
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