Tag Archives: the european union

Ukraine sees first of new EU aid package worth about $50B

Ukraine received a new $1.6 billion tranche of financial support from the European Union on Wednesday and hopes to get another 10 billion euros later this year, officials said. Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said the EU, which has provided Ukraine with 31 billion euros, had become the biggest donor of budget financing to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion …

Read More »

EU unable to determine impact of refugee funds given to Turkey, auditors say

European Union auditors said on Wednesday that they are unable to establish whether some of the billions of euros the bloc has given to Turkey to help it cope with Syrian refugees is actually having any impact. Under a deal concluded between EU leaders and Turkey in 2016, the bloc committed to provide at least $6.4 billion to Turkey to …

Read More »

Georgian opposition parties urge mass protests against 'Russian' bill

Six Georgian opposition parties appealed on Thursday for mass protests against a government bill on “foreign agents” which they say aims to block the South Caucasus country’s path towards the European Union and NATO. The bill, which critics compare to legislation that Russia has used extensively to crack down on dissent, has already prompted three straight nights of demonstrations this …

Read More »

European nations hesitant to provide missile systems to Ukraine in war against Russia

European Union countries possessing Patriot air defense systems appeared hesitant on Monday to give any to Ukraine, which is desperately seeking at least seven of the missile batteries to help fend off Russian air attacks. Russia’s air force is vastly more powerful than Ukraine’s, but sophisticated missile systems provided by Kyiv’s Western partners can pose a major threat to Russian …

Read More »

Russia has grounds to seize Western assets after US legislative move, top lawmaker says

Russia now has grounds to confiscate Western assets after the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow the potential transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine, a top Russian lawmaker said on Monday. “Washington has passed a law on the confiscation of Russian assets in order to provoke the EU to take the same step, which will be …

Read More »

EU commission president urges unity as Finland closes Russian borders over migration surge

The head of the European Union’s executive branch said Friday that Finland’s decision to close its border crossings with Russia over a surge in migrants is a security matter for the whole 27-member bloc to consider. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks during a trip to the frontier, visiting a part of the border located in …

Read More »

EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission proposed Thursday to start negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.’s departure from the EU four years ago. According to the EU, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following a referendum in 2016 has damaged …

Read More »

NATO and the EU urge G7 nations to step up air defense for Ukraine and expand Iran sanctions

CAPRI, Italy (AP) — Top NATO and European Union officials urged foreign ministers from leading industrialized nations on Thursday to take quick, concrete steps to provide more air defense systems and artillery to Ukraine, warning that continued delays could tilt the war in Moscow’s favor. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell addressed a meeting …

Read More »

EU leaders mull tougher sanctions against Iran at a summit as Zelenskyy pleads for more support

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders debated ways to ramp up sanctions against Iran at a summit on Wednesday as concern grows that Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded the gathering that his country still badly needs support to combat Russia’s invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron urged …

Read More »

Georgia parliament advances controversial 'Russian law' targeting media organizations

Georgia’s parliament has voted in the first reading to approve a proposed law that would require media and non-commercial organizations to register as being under foreign influence if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Opponents say the proposal would obstruct Georgia’s long-sought prospects of joining the European Union. They denounce it as “the Russian law” because …

Read More »