COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest

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European Council     25/4/2019  Joint statement of the 26th EU-Japan summit President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe, met in Brussels on 25 April 2019 for the 26th EU-Japan summit. The leaders reaffirmed their strong support for the rules-based international order, for promoting multilateralism as well as free and fair global trade, and coordinated their positions in view of the G20 summit on 28-29 June in Osaka. The summit was also an opportunity to appraise the implementation of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). They issued the following joint statement.  European Union - Japan Summit Joint Statement European Council     25/4/2019  Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the EU-Japan summit in Brussels Dear Prime Minister, it is a great pleasure to once again welcome you in Brussels for the 26th EU-Japan Summit, not just because we are good friends, but also because of the deep bond between Japan and the EU. Our strategic partnership has never been stronger. It is built on shared values of liberal democracy, human rights and our commitment to openness, cooperation as well as free and fair trade. Only two months ago, our bond was further deepened by the entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, the largest trade deal in the world. By implementing it swiftly, we are boosting prosperity and quality of life of our people. This is a clear message to the world that Japan and Europe stand side by side. Today with Prime Minister Abe we discussed the G20 Summit in Osaka. I would like to express full European support for Japanese leadership. Japan can count on the EU. We will do our best to make the Summit a success for our people as well as for the whole global order, based on rules. Today we also discussed threats to peace and stability in our respective neighbourhoods. We continue to voice our full support for Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. And, together with Japan, we have a shared interest in lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. We call on DPRK to concretely engage on denuclearisation and the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all its nuclear weapons. We also expect a quick resolution of the abductions issue. We also look forward to intensifying security and defence cooperation, in the fields of counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security, and crisis management. The recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka are a reminder that the terrorist threat affects us all. Combatting it together remains a top priority. Let me conclude by wishing Japan and its people all the best with the inauguration of the new imperial era. The name of the new imperial era, Reiwa – and I know it's hard to find an accurate English translation of this word, but let's call it, 'Beautiful Harmony' – Reiwacould also be the motto of our EU-Japan relations. Thank you.

ΜΑΘΗΤΕΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΙΔΟΥΝ ΥΠΟΓΡΑΦΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΓΟΥΝΑ

ΜΑΘΗΤΕΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΙΔΟΥΝ ΥΠΟΓΡΑΦΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΓΟΥΝΑ

25/04/2019

Αντιπροσωπεία από μέλη της Ομάδας Δράσης Μαθητών για την Προστασία των Ζώων (Δίκτυο Τέχνης και Δράσης), του 7ου Δημοτικού Σχολείου Αγίου Δημητρίου και της Οργάνωσης VeGaia, παρέδωσαν στο Γραφείο του Πρωθυπουργού στο Μαξίμου κουτί με περισσότερες από 30.000 υπογραφές και έργα των παιδιών σχετικά με την προστασία των γουνοφόρων ζώων. Αιτήματα είναι να διακοπούν οι επιδοτήσεις προς τη γουνοποιία και να καταργηθεί σταδιακά η εκτροφή και η θανάτωση ζώων για τη γούνα τους. 

Η δράση αυτή αποτελεί συνέχεια επιστολών και κινητοποιήσεων από οργανώσεις και πολίτες, οι οποίοι ζητούν να σταματήσει η σπατάλη δημοσίου χρήματος για την ενίσχυση ενός κλάδου που σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο καταδικάζεται και καταργείται.

Υπενθυμίζουμε ότι πανελλαδική δημοσκόπηση που διεξήχθη τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο έδειξε ότι το 83% των πολιτών διαφωνεί με την εκτροφή και θανάτωση ζώων για τη γούνα τους, αλλά και με τις κρατικές ενισχύσεις προς τη γουνοποιία.

Η πολιτική τόσο της προηγούμενης όσο και της τωρινής κυβέρνησης, και η επιδότηση της γουνοποιίας με εκατομμύρια ευρώ από εθνικά και ευρωπαϊκά προγράμματα, οδήγησε στην αύξηση των εκτροφείων στη χώρα μας (από 43 το 2011 σε 131 το 2018), δεν αύξησε όμως ούτε τις εξαγωγές, ούτε τις θέσεις εργασίας. 

Σε μία περίοδο μάλιστα που άλλα κράτη μέλη θεσμοθετούν την κατάργηση των εκτροφείων γουνοφόρων ζώων, μεγάλες πόλεις απαγορεύουν την πώληση γούνινων ειδών, ενώ η γούνα καταργείται συνεχώς από μεγάλα ονόματα της μόδας και απορρίπτεται από τους καταναλωτές, η χρηματοδότηση του εν λόγω κλάδου δεν έχει λογική.

Ελπίζουμε ότι ο Πρωθυπουργός θα ανταποκριθεί στα αιτήματα και τις ανησυχίες της συντριπτικής πλειονότητας των πολιτών και θα παρέμβει, ώστε η φθίνουσα αυτή δραστηριότητα να μην ενταχθεί σε επόμενα χρηματοδοτικά προγράμματα και θα εξεταστεί η σταδιακή αντικατάσταση του παραγωγικού μοντέλου στην Περιφέρεια της Δυτικής Μακεδονίας.

ΒΕΓΚΑΙΑ ΜΚΟ

vegaiainfo@gmail.com

Russian-North Korean talks

Vladimir Putin arrived in China


Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a working visit, where he will attend the second Belt and Road International Forum.
April 25, 2019
15:50
Beijing
Arrival in Beijing.

The Russian President will also hold talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to discuss the further development of Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as current regional and international affairs.

In addition to this, a number of bilateral meetings are planned between the President of Russia and the leaders of the countries taking part in the forum.

News conference following Russian-North Korean talks


Following his talks with Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin answered media questions.
April 25, 2019
12:45
Russky Island, Vladivostok


News conference following Russian-North Korean talks.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon,

I suggest that we go straight to questions and answers. I will try to answer your questions. Go ahead, please.

Question: Mr President, this was your first meeting with Kim Jong-un. There is significant interest towards him as a person around the world. Could you share with us your impressions about him as a person and a politician, and whether you are satisfied with the outcomes of the talks?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, my colleagues and I are all satisfied with the outcomes of the talks. Chairman Kim Jong-un is quite an open person and speaks freely. We had a very detailed conversation on all items on our agenda and discussed them in various aspects, including bilateral relations, sanctions, United Nations, relations with the United States, and, of course, the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, which is the main subject. I can confirm that he is quite an interesting and substantive interlocutor.