Press material
Wednesday 20 July 2022
● Council of the EU
20/07/2022 10:17 | Press release |
Russia: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Law on Foreign AgentsToday marks the tenth anniversary of the signing by President Putin of the law on “foreign agents”, a decade shaped by the Russian authorities’ growing fear of critical voices from within Russian society. This law was the first of several legislative measures, including the law on “undesirable organisations” in 2015 and the 2022 “fake news law”, purposely aimed at silencing and putting unprecedented pressure on Russia’s civil society, political opposition and independent media. The law on “foreign agents” has evolved over the years and continues to be elaborated to further stigmatise and significantly limit the rights of different groups of society, including NGOs, unregistered public associations, media outlets, journalists, activists and human rights defenders. The most resonant example of persecution based on the alleged violations of the “foreign agent” law is the forced closure of the internationally recognised Memorial International and the Memorial Human Rights Centre.
With these laws, Russia is clearly violating its commitments under international law to guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms of its own citizens. This was confirmed by the 2021 Opinion of the Venice Commission and in June 2022 by the European Court of Human Rights. According to the Russian Constitution, international law is an integral part of Russian law.
Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has amplified internal repression in Russia, targeting ordinary citizens and drastically limiting the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.
The massive expansion of restrictive legislation adopted since the beginning of the illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, including the law on so-called “false information about the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation” (the 2022 “fake news law”) aims to further deprive the Russian people of independent information about illegal actions and atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. The increasing repression is thus a significant enabling factor of Russia’s aggression abroad and the people in Ukraine are paying a bitter price for it.
As a result of this censorship and repressive legislative framework, political opposition, human rights defenders, LGBTI persons, independent journalists, media workers and other Russian residents fearing the state repression have been compelled to flee their own country, while both local and international Civil Society Organisations, as well as international and Russian independent media outlets, have been shut down or forced to liquidate.
The European Union strongly condemns the systematic attempts to instigate fear and impose a crackdown on civil society, independent media and the democratic opposition in Russia. We will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media and journalists inside and outside Russia. We call once again on Russian authorities to abide by their international obligations and commitments regarding the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries of Northern Macedonia and Albania have officially started. The historic moment for bo…
19/07/2022 18:30 | Article
Albania and Northern Macedonia open accession talks with the EUThe EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries of Northern Macedonia and Albania have officially started. The historic moment for both countries and the EU as a whole came at the very beginning of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The launch of the talks was announced by EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the Prime Ministers of Albania Edi Rama and North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski after today's meeting in Brussels.
Albania and Northern Macedonia open accession talks with the EU
© EU
The EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries of Northern Macedonia and Albania have officially started. The historic moment for both countries and the EU as a whole came at the very beginning of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The launch of the talks was announced by EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the Prime Ministers of Albania Edi Rama and North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski after today's meeting in Brussels.
"Both countries have long sought this step. As we all know, the main obstacle in recent times has been the relations between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia. This has been unblocked. I am glad that the Czech Presidency is building on the work of the French Presidency and I am also glad that I had the opportunity to attend today's ceremonial and working moment," the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.
Achieving a result that is acceptable to all was not easy. The two countries have been linked in temporally and procedurally in the EU integration process in recent years. To start their negotiations, a solution had to be found to Bulgaria's demands regarding the obligations of the bilateral friendship treaty with North Macedonia. The substantive framework for the agreement was negotiated by France during its Presidency. Under the Czech Presidency, the agreement was confirmed in the Macedonian Parliament in a complex manner and all the necessary procedural steps were completed.
"It is in our interest that the countries of the Western Balkans integrate into the EU as quickly as possible. It is in the interest of the whole of Europe and, given what is happening around us and the security situation, we want the Balkans as a whole to be stable and to be part of a common Europe," Prime Minister Fiala added.
The Western Balkans region has long been one of the priority areas of Czech foreign policy. Enlargement policy is a key strategic tool for the EU to maintain peace, stability, democracy and prosperity in Europe.
"There is still a long way to go towards full membership of the European Union, which will certainly take several more years. But there is a strong interest from all to make the process as short as possible, and both Albania and Northern Macedonia express a strong will to fulfil all the conditions to become EU members as soon as possible. We are trying to make everything advance as quickly as possible. That is why we have convened intergovernmental conferences for today, which actually commence the whole process," said Prime Minister Fiala.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský opened the intergovernmental conference on behalf of the European Union. "This is an important moment for the Western Balkans and the European Union," the Czech diplomatic chief said at the opening of the accession conferences. "We know that the approval process in the Macedonian Parliament was painful and difficult for your country, but your determination prevailed," Lipavský praised the commitment of North Macedonia in the difficult compromise. He mentioned Albania's patience in waiting for the unblocking. "For several years you have stood firmly by North Macedonia as your neighbour and co-candidate. I am very happy that the wait is over for both of you," the minister said.
The Czech Republic has long supported the enlargement of the EU to include the Western Balkan countries. This is one of the important priorities of the Czech Presidency. "Personally, I am very happy that it is the Czech Presidency that is at the beginning of the launch of accession negotiations. The Czech Republic has also gone through this process. It has a very good perception of its complexity, but also of the benefits it ultimately brings," Minister Lipavský said at the opening of the conference.
Find out more information on the intergovernmental conference on the accession of Albania
Find out more information on the intergovernmental conference on the accession of North Macedonia
Statement by the European Council President Charles Michel |
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