Defence & Security

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell started his visit to the Western Balkans in Skopje, North Macedonia on 13-14 March. The visit came against the backdrop of the barbaric aggression by Russia to Ukraine. In his meetings, High  Representative Borrell expressed great appreciation to North Macedonia’s clear condemnation of the Russian aggression and firm support for Ukraine […]

G7 leaders and ministers have condemned Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. Profoundly concerned, in this context, by Russian attacks at and in the direct vicinity of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, and condemning any acts compromising the safety of nuclear installations devoted to peaceful purposes, Mindful that the risk to civilians from damage to a nuclear […]

The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures on an additional 15 individuals and 9 entities in respect of the ongoing unjustified and unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine, and of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. We are adding to our sanctions list even more oligarchs and regime-affiliated elites, their […]

Ukraine is being “decimated before the eyes of the world” with Russia’s military offensive against civilians “reaching terrifying proportions”, said the UN chief on Monday, warning that a resulting meltdown of the global economy is provoking a hunger crisis that is hitting the poorest, hardest. Secretary-General António Guterres addressed correspondents outside the Security Council chamber in New York, and […]

Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: fourth EU package of sectoral and individual measures Following up on the informal meeting of the EU heads of state and government on 10-11 March, the Council today decided to impose a fourth package of economic and individual sanctions in respect of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. As President Putin’s […]

My thoughts go first and foremost to the victims of Russia’s terrible aggression in Ukraine. The harrowing pictures of human suffering have touched us all. The European Union and our international partners have mobilised fully to support the people of Ukraine, to isolate Russia and to maximise the price that will be paid by Putin’s […]

Good evening. Exactly two years ago, in mid-March 2020, in the middle of the pandemic crisis we were taking important decisions. You may remember the first important decisions were taken exactly in mid-March by the ECB and the Commission on fiscal rules and on State-aid rules. Two years after we are facing a war on […]

Main results Russia’s aggression against Ukraine Safety of civilian population and nuclear facilities. EU leaders stressed that Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine “flagrantly violates international law” and undermines European and global security and safety. The EU leaders further stated that “full responsibility lies with Russia and its accomplice Belarus” and that those […]