Thursday 23rd, the Council adopted a sweeping 19th package of further 69 individual listings and numerous economic restrictive measures targeting key sectors which fuel Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, including energy, finance and the military industrial complex. The Council is also strengthening control over the movement of Russian diplomats across the EU and taking further measures against those responsible for the abduction of […]
Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, winners of Sakharov Prize 2025
The two journalists, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, are the winners of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025, which they will receive at a ceremony in the EP on 16 December. Announcing the award in the Chamber on Wednesday, EP President Roberta Metsola said: “By awarding this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of […]
Parliament approves new tariffs on Russian and Belarussian agricultural goods
MEPs backed increased tariffs on fertilisers and certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods on Thursday, seeking to reduce EU dependency on those imports. Plenary has endorsed the Commission proposal to increase by 50% EU tariffs on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus that were not yet subject to extra customs duties. The aim is to […]
Tariffs on agricultural products and fertilisers, new measures against Russia and Belarus
The European Commission has adopted a proposal to impose tariffs on a number of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as on certain nitrogen-based fertilisers. The agricultural products affected by the new tariffs constitute 15% of agricultural imports from Russia in 2023 that had not yet been subject to increased tariffs. Once adopted by the Council, […]
Belarus: Fourth meeting of the Consultative Group with democratic forces and civil society held in Brussels
The 4th meeting of the Consultative Group between the European Union and Belarusian democratic forces and civil society took place on 11 December, in Brussels. The meeting presented the opportunity to reaffirm the EU’s support to the brave Belarusian democratic forces in their quest for a democratic, independent, and sovereign Belarus. In the margins of […]
European Parliament adoptes 3 resolutions on human rights issues in Belarus, Iran and Nigeria
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on human rights issues in Belarus, Iran and Nigeria. New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members MEPs strongly condemn the recent wave of mass arrests in Belarus and urge the illegitimate Lukashenka regime to cease its repression, reminding the regime […]
Human rights breaches in Belarus, Tanzania and Tibet
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on the human rights situation in Tanzania, Belarus and Tibet. The Maasai communities in Tanzania MEPs urge the Tanzanian government to immediately halt ongoing forcible evictions of Maasai communities in the country’s Ngorongoro District due to, among other reasons, plans to turn large parts of traditional grazing […]
EU leaders agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova
At the EU summit in Brussels, leaders decided to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. They also agreed to start negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary conditions are met and granted Georgia candidate status. EU leaders discussed continued support to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, enlargement and reforms, the mid-term […]
European Parliament adopts three resolutions on respect for human rights in Algeria, Belarus and Myanmar
Media freedom and freedom of expression in Algeria, the case of journalist Ihsane El-Kadi Parliament urges the Algerian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and charged for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including prominent journalist Ihsane El-Kadi, who was convicted in April to a five-year sentence and hefty fines on unfounded […]