European Union

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk 22-28 April 2019

The European Union issued a statement on Sudan.

President Donald Tusk congratulates Jüri Ratas on his re-appointment as Prime Minister of Estonia.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/416 of 14 March 2019 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/415 of 14 March 2019 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/354 of 4 March 2019 amending Decision 2014/119/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Ukraine.

Speech by Eurogroup President Mario Centeno at the London Business School on the role of the euro, 16 April 2019.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/468 of 21 March 2019 amending Decision 2011/172/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Egypt

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2019/351 of 4 March 2019 implementing Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.

In Strasbourg, President Donald Tusk expressed EU solidarity with the French nation in the aftermath of the burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral and addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament on the European Council discussions on the Brexit extension.

The Council approved mandates for the Commission to open negotiations with the United States on the removal of industrial tariffs and on conformity assessment.

The Council adopted conclusions on the mid-term review of the EU Forest Strategy.

The Council adopted a series of legislative acts.

The EU is better protecting consumers and businesses when they shop and trade online and offline.

The Council today agreed on key parts of the draft Council decision establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe.

The regulation adopted by the Council today aims to ensure that from 2030 onwards new cars will emit on average 37.5% less CO2 and new vans will emit on average 31% less CO2.

The rules governing the EU's internal gas market will in future apply to gas pipelines to and from third countries. The Council adopted an amendment to the gas directive.

The EU is taking steps to increase the number of TV and radio programmes available online for European consumers. The Council today adopted a directive which will facilitate the licensing of copyright-protected material contained in such programmes so that they can be made available throughout the EU.

Chile is a close partner of the EU in Latin America. The EU and Chile have a mutual interest in pursuing even closer ties, leading them to agree to upgrade and modernise the Association Agreement signed in 2002. They started negotiations on a modernised agreement in November 2017. President Sebastián Piñera's centre-right government took office in March 2018. Politically, the situation of the Mapuche indigenous community and stricter migration policies have dominated its first year. The government has also tabled comprehensive proposals for tax and pension reform but has found it difficult to implement its reform programme. This is largely because it lacks a majority in Congress and faces a much more diverse political landscape than in the past, making it more difficult to gain broad support for its proposals. However, it has benefited from a robust economic recovery that started in 2018 after two years of sluggish growth. Under President Piñera, Chile has adopted a tough stance against the Venezuelan government, in line with other centre-right governments in South America. Chile played a key role in the launch in March 2019 of the new organisation for regional cooperation, the Forum for the Progress of South America (Foro para el Progreso de América del Sur, PROSUR).
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The IS has claimed responsibility for the devastating series of attacks in Sri Lanka. More than 350 people died and around 500 were injured when eight bombs exploded in several churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday. Hatred of Christians is not taken seriously enough and must be fought with more resolve, commentators argue.