European Union

1. The Council welcomes the publication by the Commission of preliminary information on 2014 EU Official Development Assistance(ODA), analysing the trends with regard to EU collective and individual ODA commitments. The Council stresses that ODA is an important and catalytic element in the overall financing available for developing countries most in need.
   
   
2. On 17 June 2010 the European Council requested the Council to make an annual report on the EU and Member States' commitments and delivery on ODA. This is the fifth such report to be submitted to the European Council.

 

1. 2015 is a pivotal year for gender equality, human rights and the empowerment of women and girls in the global context with the inter-governmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. In that context, particular focus must be put on promoting and fulfilling the rights of women and girls, notably in light of the 15th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Council reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Cairo Programme of Action, and the outcomes of their review conferences, and the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It further welcomes the Political Declaration adopted at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the calls for the full realisation of women's and girls' full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the achievement of  gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls throughout their life cycle.
   
   
2. The High Level Event on 'Women's Empowerment and Sustainable Development', hosted by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Riga on 2 March 2015 in the context of the European Year of Development, provided an opportunity to renew political momentum and to reaffirm the strong EU commitment on gender equality, social justice, non-discrimination and human rights.
   
   
3. The EU and its Member States remain committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights for all. The Council welcomes the leading role that the EU and its Member States are playing in supporting international initiatives to promote women's and girls' rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and calls for continued cooperation and coordination with UN bodies, notably UN Women, as well as with other relevant international fora and actors. Women's organisations are crucial partners of the EU with respect to the full realisation of women's and girls' rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

 

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

On Thursday, 28 May, the Minister for Economic Affairs, Dana Reizniece-Ozola chaired the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council (COMPET) in Brussels. During the meeting, the EU Member States expressed their views on the Digital single market, reached agreement on travel packages and Single-member private limited liability company.

On Thursday, 28 May, the Minister for Economic Affairs, Dana Reizniece-Ozola chaired the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council (COMPET) in Brussels. During the meeting, the EU Member States expressed their views on the Digital single market, reached agreement on travel packages and Single-member private limited liability company.

An EU-US trade deal should deepen EU access to the US market, but must not undermine EU standards or the right to regulate in the public interest, say Trade Committee MEPs in draft recommendations voted on Thursday. Tools for resolving disputes between investors and states should be reformed and improved, they add.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

An EU-US trade deal should deepen EU access to the US market, but must not undermine EU standards or the right to regulate in the public interest, say Trade Committee MEPs in draft recommendations voted on Thursday. Tools for resolving disputes between investors and states should be reformed and improved, they add.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : Millions of people are on the run in places such as Syria and Nigeria due to the rise of violent extremism, many of them receiving essential aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Its president Peter Maurer was in the European Parliament to meet the foreign affairs committee on 26 May and President Martin Schulz on 27 May. We talked to him to find out what life is like in these crisis-hit areas and how Europe could help to make a difference.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

General : Millions of people are on the run in places such as Syria and Nigeria due to the rise of violent extremism, many of them receiving essential aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Its president Peter Maurer was in the European Parliament to meet the foreign affairs committee on 26 May and President Martin Schulz on 27 May. We talked to him to find out what life is like in these crisis-hit areas and how Europe could help to make a difference.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

On 3-4 June, the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU will participate in the European Development Days (EDDs), the biggest annual development event in Brussels that brings together key development experts, opinion leaders and stakeholders. As part of the Presidency priorities in the field of development, the Latvian Presidency will draw attention to gender issues, focusing on Central Asian region.