Spain rejects the decision taken by the Russian Federation to expel a total of 27 staff members of the Spanish Embassy in Russia. The Russian authorities justify this decision on the basis of reciprocity for the expulsion of 27 officials of the Russian Embassy in Madrid notified last April. However, the expulsion decided then by […]
Main results of the Foreign Affairs Council – 16 May 2022
Western Balkans During a working lunch EU Foreign Affairs Ministers were joined by their counterparts from the six Western Balkans partners, and discussed the future of the region on its path to the European Union. The Council welcomed the choice of those partners who aligned fully with the EU’s foreign policy and sanctions, and expressed its […]
Statement on Russia’s war against Ukraine – G7 Foreign Ministers
We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are steadfast in our solidarity with and our support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression, a war in which […]
Deeper cooperation between EU and Japan is a vital necessity
At the 28th EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, leaders discussed bilateral relations and how to coordinate their responses to Russia’s war against Ukraine and to important global and regional challenges. They also launched the digital partnership. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, representing […]
Commission approves 125 million Spanish scheme to support gas-intensive sectors
The European Commission has approved a 125 million Spanish scheme to help gas-intensive sectors cope with the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022, on the basis of Article 107(3)(b) TFEU, which aims to […]
The Broadband Platform discusses ways to improve digital cohesion in Europe
The European Committee of the Regions and European Commission held the 4th meeting of the Broadband Platform on 6 May, focusing on ways to improve the digital infrastructure in the European Union by adding the concept of digital cohesion to the ones of social, economic and territorial cohesion recognised by the Treaties. The Covid-19 pandemic and the […]
EU strongly condemns Russian cyber operations against Ukraine
The European Union and its Member States, together with its international partners, strongly condemn the malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which targeted the satellite KA-SAT network, operated by Viasat. The cyberattack took place one hour before Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 thus facilitating the […]
Speech of President Michel during his visit to Odessa
For Europe Day, President Michel visited Odesa where he met Ukraine’s Prime Minister Shmyhal. The discussions, which President Zelenskyy joined via video link, focused on how the EU would best continue its humanitarian, economic and military support to Ukraine. President Michel also visited the port of Odesa where he witnessed first-hand the impact of Russia’s […]
Council allows Eurojust Agency to preserve war crimes evidence
Today the Permanent representatives to the EU adopted a mandate on new rules to allow Eurojust to preserve, analyse and store evidence relating to core international crimes, such as war crimes. Following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, there is a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity and war crimes have been and are […]