European Union

Monday 27 March
11.00 Meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Tuesday 28 March 2017
12.30 Meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker
16.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili (press statements ± 16.30)
19.15 Phone call with UK Prime Minister Theresa May

Wednesday 29 March 2017
+/- 13:20 Handover of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's letter of notification (article 50) by Ambassador Tim Barrow - Photos will be made available (no video footage)
+/- 13:45 Press statement on the UK notification (Europa Building, press room)
17.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Pavel Filip
Malta
22.45 Bilateral meeting with Boyko Borissov

Thursday 30 March 2017
Malta
EPP Enlarged summit
10.30 Bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković
10.45 Bilateral meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
12.30 Speech at the summit

Friday 31 March 2017
Malta
09.15 Bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat (press conference ± 09.45)

https://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/Flag_of_Georgia_1_thumb_169_1403862673_1403862468_129_97shar_c1.png

Georgia is a priority country within the Eastern Partnership initiative and the wider European Neighbourhood Policy, launched in 2004 with the objective of bringing the enlarged EU and its neighbours closer to each other and to enhance prosperity, stability and security of all of those concerned. It has helped to build ties in new areas of cooperation and encouraged Georgia’s objective of further approximation with European structures.

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Anniversaries are special moments. They can be sombre affairs, such as the first anniversary of the Brussels terror attacks, an occasion made even grimmer by the 22 March tragedy in London.

Anniversaries can also be a time for reflection and sober deliberation. The European Union’s celebration of its 60th anniversary on 25 March was just such a moment.

And then there is 29 March. History is being made today as Britain triggers Article 50 and starts negotiations on its divorce from (sorry, its ‘new relationship’ with) the EU.

Brexiteers are in celebratory mood. After all, it’s not every day that a nation takes back control of its destiny, unshackles itself from 44 years of EU domination and morphs magically into an independent and intrepid world power (also known as ‘Global Britain’).

But pro-EU demonstrations in London are proof that not everyone is dancing with joy. Many share European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s description of Britain’s departure from the EU as a “tragedy”.

Not to be forgotten amid the Brexit focus is a simple fact: it’s not just Britain that is starting over.

29 March will also be remembered as the formal birthday of the new ‘EU-27’. Having renewed their vows in Rome, EU leaders embark on a new journey together, without Britain.

It will be a difficult voyage. Far-right populism, increased polarisation of minorities and unending economic problems are not going away anytime soon. Refugees and migrants will continue to knock on Europe’s doors, creating divisions and challenging EU solidarity. Difficult elections lie ahead in France, Germany and possibly Italy.

“29 March will be remembered as the formal birthday of the new ‘EU-27’”

The American and Russian presidents, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, now joined by Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have made no secret of their dislike of the EU and all it stands for.

But the conversation is changing. Thankfully last year’s talk of a ‘collective depression’ and ‘existential crisis’ is no longer making headlines. Instead, as Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian premier and host for the Rome celebrations underlined, “the EU is choosing to start again”.

This is good news. Starting over, as John Lennon sang to us all those years ago, can be exciting and exhilarating. EU-27 leaders would do well to take Lennon’s advice and put more poetry, emotion and imagination into their courtship of EU citizens.

The thousand-word Rome declaration is good enough, but won’t really do the trick. If Europeans are to fall in love again with the EU, leaders, ministers, politicians, even EU officials, must – as Lennon sings – “spread their wings and fly”.

Perhaps for the first time in recent history, the public in many parts of Europe wants the EU to soar.

Brexit, Trump’s election and just plain common sense about the need to work together in a difficult world have galvanised many Europeans into supporting the EU.

Importantly, there are European politicians who are passionate about countering the anti-EU message of xenophobic far-right politicians.

“We will miss Britain – but we can also make sure that the heartbreak of Brexit goes hand-in-hand with the emergence of a reinvigorated European Union”

Jesse Klaver, the charismatic young leader of the Dutch GreenLeft party, Emmanuel Macron in France, and Martin Schulz of the German Social Democrats are upfront about their support for the EU, embracing the vision of an open and diverse Europe.

Klaver, who increased his party’s seats in the Dutch parliament by a factor of four, has shown that being Dutch-Moroccan-Indonesian is not a barrier to success.  His advice to young people is to “never give up” in the face of challenges.

Others need to have a similarly positive message of inclusion and participation. A safe and secure Europe must also be an inclusive one, not one that fears diversity.

The EU in the 21st century may be ‘multi-speed’, with less being done in Brussels and more in capitals. It may or may not be able to become a more powerful global player and may or may not have a real common defence and security policy.

But what’s important is that the conversation about Europe’s future has started.

Indian author and diplomat Shashi Tharoor pointed recently to the “shambles of that original Brexit” when the British departed from India in 1947, leaving behind chaos and violence – and the birth of independent India and Pakistan.

This time it’s different. We will miss Britain – some of us very much. But we can also make sure that the heartbreak of Brexit goes hand-in-hand with the emergence of a reinvigorated European Union.

Related content:

• Friends of Europe: The awakening, by Etienne Davignon, President of Friends of Europe
• Europe’s World: 60 years after Rome: how is the EU really doing? By Jacques Bughin
• Debating Europe: What does the future hold for Europe?

IMAGE CREDIT: CC – Flickr / Number 10

The post Brexit and the joys of starting over appeared first on Europe’s World.

Let me welcome Prime Minister Kvirikashvili to Brussels today.

And today is not just any day. It is a very special day for both the European Union and Georgia, as your visit coincides with the entry into force of the visa-free regime between the European Union and Georgia.

It has been a long journey, but one that has brought us closer together. A journey, I believe, that also has helped to reform and develop Georgia itself. 

Georgia has done a great job and achieved much! Today is a historic day for all of us but especially the Georgian people who from now on will be able to travel freely to the Schengen area. It is an important step to building an even closer EU-Georgia relationship.

In our meeting, I praised Georgia for its ambition and dedication to implement the Association Agreement (AA).

We expect intensified growth in Georgia's trade with the European Union, which today accounts for a quarter of your country's  overall trade. The EU will continue to assist Georgia in making increasingly better use of the Association Agreement in order for citizens to enjoy its full benefits.

I also paid tribute to the government's strong engagement within the Eastern Partnership and its concrete contributions to exploring new areas of collaboration ahead of the Summit this autumn.

I was glad to hear about the government's commitment to media pluralism in Georgia, particularly in light of developments around the Rustavi 2 TV channel case. The EU attaches great importance to media pluralism and looks forward to seeing concrete steps taken to ensure it.

I also expressed to the Prime Minister my concerns about the latest developments regarding the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in particular the closure of two crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line with Abkhazia on 6 March.

I note, in this context, that while the European Union is opening its borders to Georgia, you have a neighbour that assists in creating new borders to limit your freedom, even inside your sovereign country.

I reaffirmed to the Prime Minister the EU's firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and our strong commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia, including through our co-chairmanship of the Geneva International Discussions and the EU Monitoring Mission. Continued efforts to engage with Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain crucial to achieving long-term solutions to these conflicts. 

The East and South China Sea is a strategic maritime link and a major trade route with rich fishing grounds and oil and gas reserves. Mounting conflicts between neighbouring countries (in particular China, the Philippines and Vietnam) have resulted in growing security tension and militarisation of the region. The hearing will therefore address security implications of the territorial disputes for global and European security, and the role the EU could play in easing tensions in the region.
Location : Paul-Henri Spaak 5B001
Further information
Draft programme
Presentation by Dr. Eva Pejsova, Senior analyst, EUISS
Presentation by Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael
Presentation by Prof. Bernard Oxman, University of Miami
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The East and South China Sea is a strategic maritime link and a major trade route with rich fishing grounds and oil and gas reserves. Mounting conflicts between neighbouring countries (in particular China, the Philippines and Vietnam) have resulted in growing security tension and militarisation of the region. The hearing will therefore address security implications of the territorial disputes for global and European security, and the role the EU could play in easing tensions in the region.
Location : Paul-Henri Spaak 5B001
Further information
Draft programme
Presentation by Dr. Eva Pejsova, Senior analyst, EUISS
Presentation by Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael
Presentation by Prof. Bernard Oxman, University of Miami
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

On 12 April, the SEDE committee will organise a workshop on the implementation of the EU's arms export control system, in the context of its work on the annual report on arms exports. The workshop will focus on the issues of strengthening compliance with the Council common position governing control of exports of military technology and equipment, compliance with reporting obligations, increasing transparency and public scrutiny, and the development of the EU's institutional framework.
Location : Altiero Spinelli building 3G-3
Further information
Programme
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : “Even though we may leave the European Union, we are not leaving Europe,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan visiting the Parliament on 28 March. “For issues from security and defence to finance and culture, we are still going to be a part of the European family.” Khan met Parliament President Antonio Tajani to discuss issues such as security and Brexit. “It’s in nobody’s interest for London or the UK to be punished,” said Khan. “Not in London’s interest, not the UK’s interest, nor the EU’s interest.”

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : “Even though we may leave the European Union, we are not leaving Europe,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan visiting the Parliament on 28 March. “For issues from security and defence to finance and culture, we are still going to be a part of the European family.” Khan met Parliament President Antonio Tajani to discuss issues such as security and Brexit. “It’s in nobody’s interest for London or the UK to be punished,” said Khan. “Not in London’s interest, not the UK’s interest, nor the EU’s interest.”

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

On 12 April, the SEDE committee will organise a workshop on the implementation of the EU's arms export control system, in the context of its work on the annual report on arms exports. The workshop will focus on the issues of strengthening compliance with the Council common position governing control of exports of military technology and equipment, compliance with reporting obligations, increasing transparency and public scrutiny, and the development of the EU's institutional framework.
Further information
Programme
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

In our research on UN budgeting (results and early insights published for example here, here, here), we follow budget procedures throughout the UN system, in particular in the UN proper and in the Specialised Agencies of the UN. This post will be updated continuously throughout 2017 to help you follow UN budgeting like we do.

Since UN budgets are under special scrutiny this year due to the Trump cuts announced earlier this month, I will help those of you interested to follow some of the procedures throughout this year.

The first and important insight from our ongoing research is that budget procedures in the UN system follow their own logic and timeline in each of the UN organisations, and few people actually follow them across the whole UN system.

Below you find some budget proposals from UN specialised agencies and the UN regular budget. These (preliminary) proposals or outlines are already published but not yet adopted. They are order by the expected month in which they’ll typically be adopted by the main assemblies of the respective  UN organisations, usually for the next two years (= biennium):

• May (3rd week): World Health Organization (WHO) – 2018-19 budget proposal
• June (3rd week): International Labour Organization (ILO) – 2018-19 budget proposal
• June/July: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - 2018-19 budget proposal
• September: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - 2018-19 draft budget (TBC)
• November: UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – 2018-21 preliminary draft budget
• December (first week): UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – 2018-19 draft budget (TBC)
• December (last week): United Nations (UN regular budget) – 2018-19 budget outline

I will update dates and add further organisations and additional documents in the coming weeks and months as these processes advance throughout 2017 and as I’m continuing our research.

Some organizations are missing because I simply haven’t added them to the list. Some of the organisations we study don’t actually provide updates on budgeting procedures on their websites. Others only provide final budgets or budget resolutions but not draft budgets, so it’s difficult to list those here.

One of the calls that I would have to the whole UN system is to make it easier for us, the public, to follow budgetary decision-making, for example by having dedicated budgeting and planning pages with all relevant documents, including for past years.

If you are interested in more details on our research on UN budgeting or if I’m missing something important in the list above, feel free to make me aware of it via Twitter or via email.

 

The post Budgeting in the UN system for the next biennium 2018-19 appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

AMENDMENTS 1 - 243 - Draft report Private Security Companies
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The Russian protests have taken many observers by surprise. For the first time in years, this weekend thousands of predominantly young people took to the streets of numerous cities to demonstrate against corruption. The Putin generation is rising up to fight for its future, commentators observe. But some voice doubts that it poses a real threat to the government.

After their clear victory in the Saaarland state election the conservatives are discussing a continuation of the grand coalition with the Social Democrats. Commentators assess what the election results in in one of Germany's smallest states augur for the German parliamentary elections this autumn.