This week, the Commission has proposed the digitalisation of the Schengen visa process, replacing the visa sticker, and introducing the possibility to submit visa applications online through the European online visa platform. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum set the objective to fully digitalise visa procedures by 2025. It is an opportunity to effectively improve […]
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Biodiversity and peace: joint EU cooperation priorities with Colombia
As part of his visit to Colombia to prepare for the Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity (COP 15), which will take place in the second half of 2022, the Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkeviĉius, has presented the joint priority areas of cooperation with Colombia. The European Union (EU) will provide […]
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Commission tackles abusive lawsuits against journalists and human rights defenders ‘SLAPPs’
27th April, the European Commission took action to improve protection of journalists and human rights defenders from abusive court proceedings. Strategic lawsuits against public participation, commonly known as ‘SLAPPs’, are a particular form of harassment used primarily against journalists and human rights defenders to prevent or penalise speaking up on issues of public interest. The […]
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Ukraine’s reconstruction: the messages of Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel
Both European leaders sent messages of encouragement to both the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people, hoping for a speedy recovery and restoration of the country after the Russian-initiated conflict. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began her remarks to the Ukrainian leader by referring to him by both his presidential title and his […]
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Commission proposes strengthening Eurojust’s mandate to collect and preserve war crimes evidence
25th April the Commission proposed to amend the Eurojust Regulation to give the Agency the legal possibility to collect, preserve and share evidence on war crimes. Due to the ongoing conflict, it is difficult to store and preserve evidence securely in Ukraine. To ensure accountability for the crimes committed in Ukraine, it is crucial to […]
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EU proposes to suspend duties on imports from Ukraine
The European Commission has proposed to suspend for one year import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the European Union. The proposal, which is an unprecedented gesture of support for a country at war, would also see the suspension for one year of all EU anti-dumping and safeguard measures in place on Ukrainian steel exports. […]
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Food security in Horn of Africa: EU steps up support to drought-affected countries
A devastating climate-induced drought is affecting the Horn of Africa. The situation is worsened by the impact of COVID-19, conflict and insecurity situation in the region, as well as the expected aggravation of food insecurity and nutrition due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission is therefore reinforcing its political and financial commitment to […]
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China’S Balancing Act On The Ukraine War
Chinese media and officials have made it clear: it is not Russia that is to blame for the military aggression against Ukraine, but the West and NATO’s eastward expansion of the past 20 years, ignoring Russia’s ‘legitimate security concerns’. At the same time, China ‘respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries’. Over the […]
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Statement by Von der Leyen following Gazprom’s announcement of gas supply disruption to Europe
The announcement by Gazprom that it is unilaterally stopping delivery of gas to customers in Europe is yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail. This is unjustified and unacceptable. And it shows once again the unreliability of Russia as a gas supplier. We are prepared for this scenario. We […]
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