European Union

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 26 October, SEDE will discuss with an expert the study on “Security implications of China-owned critical infrastructure in the European Union”. The study analyses Chinese companies’ access to EU critical infrastructure and exposes how entities linked to the Chinese party-state can gain access to and exert influence on assets that are vital to Europe’s security and defence, including transport infrastructure, critical resources, telecommunications networks, defence sector.
Members will have the opportunity to discuss on the major security risks of the EU's interdependence with China, which is particularly important given the structural geopolitical changes, especially the fallout of the war in Ukraine, climate change and the transformative technological revolution that is underway. In addition, Members will discuss amendments tabled to two SEDE Own Initiative Reports on the subject of "The security and defence implications of China's influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union" and the Subcommittee's flagship Annual Report on the Implementation of CSDP.
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 26 October, a Hearing is organised on “Rising geopolitical tensions: the protection of subsea infrastructure, including communication cables and pipelines". As defence capabilities are connected digitally, undersea cables are vital for defence and security of EU Member States. The Hearing will therefore aim at assessing the current threat landscape and risks to subsea infrastructure, including different actors and their modus operandi to sabotage subsea infrastructure.
In the light of the recent reports of sabotage on the Finland/Estonia pipeline, the debate will also focus on possible ways to mitigate the risks, in particular via coordinated action with NATO to protect cross-border critical undersea infrastructure.
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

In the framework of a public Hearing on “Third state collusion with Russia: through arms export policy and the circumvention of EU policy and sanctions to prevent supplies to Russia’s military industry”, taking place on 25 October, Members will discuss how to prevent the circumvention, by Russia and its allies, of sanctions imposed in the aftermath of its war of aggression against Ukraine.
The debate focus on the scope and effectiveness of the EU anti-circumvention tool that was adopted with the EU's 11th package of sanctions designed to prevent Russia from acquiring goods for its defence industry. Members will also discuss additional measures to prevent Russia from accessing western military technologies, components and dual-use goods, via third countries, such as China.
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 23 October, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence will hold a hearing on "The situation in Syria 12 years after the revolution: Standstill, Dynamics, EU response, and Future Prospects?". It will provide a reflection on the political, social and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict, which has shaped the country's development in the twelve years since the Revolution. This hearing will take place during the EP Gender Equality week and
will give an opportunity to highlight the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women's contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace, in line with the UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Members will discuss with experts the geopolitics of the region under the changed circumstances, in which international and regional actors including Iran, Russia, Türkiye and the United States, but also local groups, are operating. The debate will also contribute to the upcoming AFET Recommendation on the situation in Syria for concretising political and diplomatic fine-tuning of the EU's Syria policy.
Programme and background documents
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Unresolved banking scandals threaten to derail closer cooperation with Europe's microstates, writes Martin Kreutner.

China, the world's top graphite producer, on Friday (20 October) announced new curbs on exports of certain types of graphite, key to making batteries for electric vehicles, in its latest move to control supplies of critical minerals in response to challenges over its manufacturing dominance.

The EU's reaction to the current inflationary episode shows that it still follows a macroeconomic paradigm that makes it unable to properly react to the climate crisis and will ultimately lead to economic and ecological misery.

NATO is stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region, the transatlantic military alliance said on Thursday (19 October).

European companies are among world leaders in energy saving solutions and are ideally positioned to reap the benefits of climate action, but they feel ignored by Brussels, which left aside the EU’s multi-billion energy efficiency sector in its recent Net-Zero Industry Act.

European Council President Charles Michel will visit Egypt on Saturday (21 October) and call for support for a country that may have to take in tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing war-torn Gaza, he said Thursday (19 October).

In today's edition of Capitals, find out more about Catalonia's Aragonès calling for a 'Scotland-style' referendum, French wine growers protesting against cheap imports by destroying crates at the Spanish border, and so much more.

This week, Max Schrems, an Austrian lawyer and activist who launched the not-for-profit organisation NYOB, standing for None-of-Your-Business, joins Euractiv Tech brief podcast to talk about the European Union – United States Data Privacy Framework, the new transatlantic agreement allowing...

Prospects dimmed on Thursday (19 October) for agreements ending long-running disputes between the United States and European Union over Trump-era tariffs and US green subsidies after negotiators failed to make any breakthroughs before a White House summit.

The EU Parliament called on EU member states to adopt targeted restrictive measures against EU candidate country Serbia in relation to the terrorist attack in north Kosovo on 24 September, carried out by Serbian paramilitaries. The attack left one Kosovo...

The Jarinje border crossing has reopened for movement from Serbia into north Kosovo after a 24-day blockade, a situation that arose following the Serb paramilitary terrorist attack in Banjska, while residents of villages along the border report some difficulties in...

Slovenia will reintroduce Police checks at the border with Croatia and Hungary from Saturday for at least ten days due to heightened security risks amid organised crime and the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. According to law enforcement...

UK military experts will be training Ukrainians in the Romanian bases next year, the British ambassador to Bucharest, Andrew Noble, said at a press conference at the end of his mandate on Thursday. The diplomat highlighted the very dynamic bilateral...

Polish President Andrzej Duda will begin consultations with parliamentary parties on forming a new government after Sunday’s elections saw a merger of the opposition do better than Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (PO), the...

Almost four-fifths of the population does not trust Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, according to a new survey published by CVVM agency. In terms of distrust, about 77% of Czechs distrust Fiala, which is the lowest number among any top...