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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Anniversary of the Chornobyl accident: Joint statement by Borrell and Simson
“Thirty-six years ago, the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant led to one of the most horrific nuclear incidents in history. This long-lasting tragedy has had widespread consequences in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and in other parts of Europe, causing fatalities, human suffering, long-term health damage, food shortages, and polluting the environment. Some 350,000 people […]
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The war in Ukraine: protection for refugee women from violence and sexual exploitation
The EU should protect women fleeing Ukraine from violence and trafficking, and women should have access to essential health services, say Gender Equality Committee MEPs. In a resolution adopted by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality on Monday by 29 votes in favour, 2 against and 3 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemn the use of sexual […]
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Josep Borrell on the alignment of certain countries to restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of Ukraine
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas On 13 April 2022, the Council adopted Council […]
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Josep Borrell on the alignment of certain countries to the restrictive measures taken in respect of actions threatening the integrity and independence of Ukraine
On 13 April 2022, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/6271. The Council decided to introduce certain exceptions to the prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to persons, entities and bodies designated under Decision 2014/145/CFSP, for exclusively humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania2 the country of the Stabilisation […]
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Spain and France arrest gang involved in trafficking and exploitation of South American victims
The French Border Police (Police National/Police aux frontiers) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal network involved in human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The investigation resulted in a simultaneous action day in France and Spain on 8 March 2022. The actions led to: 13 house searches (7 in France […]
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