European Union

Ukraine’s latest foray into Russian territory may provide a much-needed boost to Ukrainian morale, but is unlikely to last long or change the course of the war, according to defence analyst.

The French agriculture ministry sharply lowered its estimate of the country's 2024 soft wheat output, now expected 25% below last year's volume, making it one of the worst harvests of these past 40 years in the EU's largest grain grower.

Beijing said on Friday (9 August) it had filed an appeal with the World Trade Organization over the European Union’s imposition, effective on 5 July, of provisional tariffs of up to 38% on imports of electric vehicles from China.

The European Parliament is in recess over the summer from 29 July to 1 September 2024.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The EU has issued a statement marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, in which it reaffirms its commitment to supporting Indigenous Peoples around the world.

The Council has adopted an implementing decision authorising the first regular payment of grants and loans under the Ukraine Plan of the Ukraine Facility.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2012 of 22 July 2024 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2009 of 22 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on an additional 28 individuals for their role in the ongoing internal repression and human rights abuses in Belarus.

The EU issued a statement on post-election developments in Venezuela.

The European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States join forces to implement outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4).

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1970 of 15 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

The Council adopted decisions establishing the existence of excessive deficits for Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. In addition the Council established that Romania, which is under the excessive deficit procedure since 2020, has not taken effective action to correct its deficit and therefore the procedure should remain open.

The Council added one entity to the list of those subject to restrictive measures by virtue of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism.

The Council appointed four new EU Special Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, and extended the mandates of three EUSRs for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa.

The Council listed nine persons and one entity responsible for human rights violations and abuses and for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Mexican president on Thursday (8 August) rejected a request from Ukraine's government to arrest Vladimir Putin if the Russian leader defies an international arrest warrant and attends the inauguration of Mexico's next president in October.

Countries across eastern Europe struggle to sign up new soldiers and keep experienced ones in a region where Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia all share a border with Ukraine.

Israel kept up its bombardment of Gaza Thursday (8 August), killing more than 18 people in strikes on two schools, the emergency services said, as Iran accused it of wanting to spread war in the Middle East.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday (8 August) took tensions with social media platform X and its owner Elon Musk to new heights, banning the platform in the South American country for 10 days amid furore over a disputed presidential election.