In light of Russia’s escalating war of aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the Council decided yesterday to impose a new package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia. The agreed package includes a series of biting measures intended to reinforce pressure on the Russian government […]
EU renews economic sanctions over Russia for further six months
The Council decided to prolong by six months, until 31 January 2023, the restrictive measures targeting specific sectors of the economy of the Russian Federation. These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, were significantly expanded since February 2022, in light of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military […]
Commission adopts proposal for “maintenance and alignment” package
The European Commission has adopted a joint (High Representative-Commission) proposal for a new package of measures to maintain and strengthen the effectiveness of the EU’s six wide-ranging and unprecedented packages of sanctions against Russia. This “maintenance and alignment” package clarifies a number of provisions to strengthen legal certainty for operators and enforcement by Member States. […]
European Commission’s May infringement proceedings package against Spain
In its usual package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is taking legal action against Spain for failing to comply with its obligations under EU law in the following areas: Environmental impact assessment Maritime Spatial Planning Market Abuse Directive Internal energy market Energy efficiency Protection of workers from carcinogenic chemicals The main decisions adopted by […]
Commission refers five Member States to the Court of Justice of the EU
The European Commission decided yesterday to refer Czechia [INFR 2020/0510], Ireland [INFR 2020/0531], Romania [INFR 2020/0555], Slovakia [INFR 2020/0563] and Spain [INFR 2020/0521], to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the failure to transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (“AVMSD”, Directive (EU) 2018/1808), with a request to impose financial sanctions in accordance with Article 260(3) TFEU. The AVMSD governs EU-wide coordination of […]
EU adopts fifth package of sanctions against Russia
In light of Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine, and the reported atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine, the Council decided to impose a fifth package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia. The agreed package includes a series of measures intended to reinforce pressure on the Russian government and economy, and […]
President Metsola asks Russia to free protesters: truth is not easily suppressed
President Metsola called on the Russian authorities to free all anti-invasion peaceful protesters unjustly detained, at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg. As the shelling of Ukraine continues unabated and the number of civilian casualties increases, President Metsola said: “Our outrage grows with every shell that is fired, as does Ukraine’s defiance and […]
Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference after Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council
Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the press conference This is not the East against the West. This is not a remake of the Cold war. We are defending the sovereignty of the nations, all nations. Today’s extraordinary session of the Foreign Affairs Council has indeed been extraordinary. It […]
Commission suspends cooperation with Russia on research and innovation
Following the Russian invasion against Ukraine and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the Commission has decided to suspend the cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation. The Commission will not conclude any new contracts nor any new agreements with Russian organisations under the Horizon Europe programme. Furthermore, the Commission is suspending payments to […]