As of this past weekend, Cypriot mobile subscribers can use their telephones throughout the territory of Cyprus without interruption, as previously mobile services were cancelled when crossing the green line between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This confidence-building initiative was reconfirmed by the two leaders, President Nicos Anastasiades and […]
21st EU-Ukraine Summit: moving forward together in solidarity
The 21st bilateral summit between the European Union and Ukraine took place in Kyiv yesterday afternoon, with Ukraine’s progress in its reform path, supported by the European Union, high on the agenda. The summit is the first since the new President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, took office on 20 May, and follows his visit to […]
Illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol: EU extends sanctions by one year
On 20 June 2019, the Council prolonged the restrictive measures introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia until 23 June 2020. The measures apply to EU persons and EU based companies. They are limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol. The sanctions include prohibitions on: imports of products […]
Defining Europe’s role in a complex international order
The last decade has certainly not lacked for foreign policy challenges for the EU. On a global scale, these have included a more assertive Russia, a rising China that is becoming evermore confident in pursuing its interests, a United States that has begun a series of trade conflicts that many argue threaten the world’s economic […]
New ACP-EU Partnership: assessment of the progress made and move to the next stage
Following the recent consultations at regional level with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, Chief Negotiators Commissioner Mimica and Togolese Minister Robert Dussey met in Brussels recently to discuss the outline for the future ACP-EU agreement. Next steps While talks on the specific regional partnerships progress, the EU and ACP negotiating teams will continue their […]
European Border and Coast Guard: Launch of first ever joint operation outside the EU
Last 21st of May, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, in cooperation with the Albanian authorities, is launching the first ever joint operation on the territory of a neighbouring non-EU country. As of 22 May, teams from the Agency will be deployed together with Albanian border guards at the Greek-Albanian border to strengthen border […]
EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey: solid progress in supporting refugees
The Commission reported today good progress in the implementation and programming of €6 billion of the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. More than 80 projects are currently up and running delivering tangible results to refugees and host communities in particular on education and health. Out of the €6 billion, some €4.2 billion has been […]
EU reports on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2018
Trade, economic and cultural relations between the European Union and Hong Kong remained strong during the period covered by this annual report. The European Union remained Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner after mainland China, while Hong Kong was a major partner for the European Union as regards trade in goods and services and foreign investment […]
Venezuela: Statement from the Ministerial Meeting of the International Contact Group
The International Contact Group (ICG) met on 6 and 7 May in San José, Costa Rica, at ministerial level. Concerned by the recent events in Venezuela, the ICG members renewed their commitment to a political, peaceful, democratic and Venezuelan-owned solution, through the holding of free and fair presidential elections as soon as possible. The ICG […]