Foreign relations of the European Union

ESMA renews its decision requiring net short position holders to report positions of 0.1% and above

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Politics of the European Union, Foreign relations of Europe, European Free Trade Association, EFTA Court, European Economic Area

The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.

Key Points: 
  • The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.
  • Todays action extends the measure taken on 17 September and will expire on 19 March 2021.
  • ESMA believes that this decision will continue to support the ability of NCAs to deal with threats to the orderly functioning of markets and financial stability at an early stage.
  • The EFTA Surveillance Authority, in cooperation with ESMA, adopted a corresponding decision today, also effective as of 19 December, applicable to EEA EFTA States' markets.

Council endorses transport contingency measures in case of no-deal Brexit

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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Brexit, Organizations, United Kingdom and the European Union, Articles, Disaster preparedness, Negotiation, Foreign relations of the European Union, Brexit withdrawal agreement, European Union, Brexit negotiations

Member states' ambassadors in the Council today endorsed a series of legislative proposals aimed at preparing the transport sector for all possible scenarios on 1 January 2021.

Key Points: 
  • Member states' ambassadors in the Council today endorsed a series of legislative proposals aimed at preparing the transport sector for all possible scenarios on 1 January 2021.
  • Background

    The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020.

  • At the time, both sides agreed on a transition period until 31 December 2020, during which EU law continues to apply to the UK.
  • The EU and the UK are using this period to negotiate the terms of their future partnership.

EU regions and cities could help decarbonisation in the Western Balkans

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Saturday, December 12, 2020
Geography of Europe, Europe, Organizations, Confederations, European Union, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, Balkans, Foreign relations of the European Union, Eurosphere

European Commissioner Vrhelyi says EU municipalities and regions have role to play in encouraging the economic and energy transition in would-be member states.

Key Points: 
  • European Commissioner Vrhelyi says EU municipalities and regions have role to play in encouraging the economic and energy transition in would-be member states.
  • The European Union would like to enlist the support of regions and cities to help Western Balkan countries in their preparations for membership of the European Union and in developing relationships with other countries in the EU's neighbourhood.
  • He also said that the Commission is developing ideas for an Eastern Partnership Academy for Public Administration, again as proposed by the CoR.
  • Commissioner Vrhelyi said:"I believe European regions can play an important role in helping the Western Balkans to implement the Plan, for example by sharing the experience of coal and carbon-intensive regions in transition.
  • "North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo* and Bosnia-Herzegovina would, on joining the EU, be committed to contributing to the EU's goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050.
  • This would develop on a pilot project TAIEX Strategic support to local authorities that began in 2018 in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia.
  • Separately, the CoR has developed municipal and regional partnerships, matching requests from local and regional authorities in neighbouring countries with interest on the part of EU cities and regions.
  • It is important to continue working with local authorities to help improve their public service delivery capacities and foster stabilisation in the country.

Visa Information System: Council Presidency and European Parliament reach provisional agreement on main elements

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Wednesday, December 9, 2020
European Union, Human migration, Travel visa, Schengen Area, Continents, Europe, Visa Information System, Foreign relations of the European Union, Visa requirements for Indian citizens, Draft:Immigration Policy of the United Kingdom

The German Council Presidency and the European Parliament today reached a provisional agreement on the main political elements of a draft regulation amending the Visa Information System regulation.

Key Points: 
  • The German Council Presidency and the European Parliament today reached a provisional agreement on the main political elements of a draft regulation amending the Visa Information System regulation.
  • Registering these documents in a centralised database will help the authorities to verify their authenticity and validity.
  • Background

    The Visa Information System, which has been operational since 2011, is a database to facilitate the short-stay visa procedure.

  • It helps visa, border, asylum and migration authorities to check third-country nationals who need a short-stay visa to travel to the Schengen area.

Media advisory - Foreign Affairs Council of 7 December 2020

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Politics of the European Union, Foreign relations of the European Union, Council of the European Union, European Union, Josep Borrell, Foreign Affairs Council, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Indicative programme

Key Points: 
  • Indicative programme

    9.30 Beginning of the Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell

    - Current affairs and review of the latest international developments- Transatlantic Relations- Strategic Autonomy- Other business: Hong Kong Security Law

    At the end of the meeting (+/- 14.30) press conference inlive streaming.

  • Arrangements for the press conference

    Please note that there will be no physical press conference.

  • Journalists who already registered for previous FAC press conferences do not need to register again.
  • Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants approximately half an hour after the deadline.

Approved Oil Keeps Staff Safe with Increased COVID-19 Safety Measures

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 4, 2020
Brexit, Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom, Politics, United Kingdom and the European Union, Withdrawal from the European Union, Foreign relations of the European Union, Contactless, Chesnais, European Union (Withdrawal) Act, Water dispenser, Michel Barnier, Politics of the European Union

Our bathroom sinks have been converted to be touchless, and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers have also been installed throughout our facilities.

Key Points: 
  • Our bathroom sinks have been converted to be touchless, and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers have also been installed throughout our facilities.
  • We have moved away from our previous water dispensers, opting for contactless models that operate on a foot pedal.
  • We practice sanitary and safety measures as advised by the NYC Department of Health, including social distance markers, 6-foot distance, face masks, and restricted entry into our facilities.
  • We continue to work closely with the New York State Energy Coalition (NYSEC) to uphold all safety and service protocols.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against Belarus

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Trade blocs, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Free Trade Association, Organizations, International trade, International relations

On 6 November 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1650[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.

Key Points: 
  • On 6 November 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1650[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Council Decision decided that 15 persons should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania[2] and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway align themselves with this Council Decision.
  • They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Organizations, Politics of the European Union, Politics of Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Trade blocs, International relations, European Economic Area, European Free Trade Association, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Union, North Macedonia, Stabilisation and Association Process

The Council decided that six persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544.

Key Points: 
  • The Council decided that six persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544.
  • The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania[2], and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision.
  • They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
  • [2] The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Fifty countries gather for 2020 virtual Reitox week

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Organizations, Articles, Foreign relations of the European Union, Continents, European Neighbourhood Policy, European Union

Representatives of candidate, potential candidate and neighbouring countries of the EU are joining members of the EMCDDAs Reitox network this week (2327 November) for the agencys ninth Reitox week.

Key Points: 
  • Representatives of candidate, potential candidate and neighbouring countries of the EU are joining members of the EMCDDAs Reitox network this week (2327 November) for the agencys ninth Reitox week.
  • The 2020 Reitox week, taking place for the first time virtually, unites some 50 countries, including: 29 NFPs (EU 27, Turkey and Norway); six partners of the Western Balkans (beneficiaries of the European Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance/IPA7); 14 European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries participating under theEU4Monitoring Drugs project (EU4MD); Switzerland and Russia.
  • The week encompasses four events:

    23 November: Second meeting of the EU4MD advisory committee The week kicks off with a meeting of the EU4MDadvisory committee.

  • 2527 November: 63rd Heads of Reitox national focal point meeting The week will end with the regular Heads of focal point meeting (27 countries) and will focus on the joint EMCDDANFP routine network business.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures against Belarus

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Organizations, Politics of the European Union, Politics of Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Trade blocs, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Free Trade Association, European Union, European Economic Area

On 2 October 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1388[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.

Key Points: 
  • On 2 October 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1388[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Council Decision adds 40 individuals to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania[2], and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision.
  • They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.