European Union

Gülhan was a physics student in Syria when the civil war put paid to her promising future. Now 32 she has already spent four years living at Osmaniye refugee camp in southern Turkey, an existence that has become routine for her and her three young children. The conflict in Syria has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian disaster since World War II and last week two EP delegations led by Sylvie Guillaume and Jean Arthuis visited some of those whose lives have been upturned by the conflict.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Gülhan was a physics student in Syria when the civil war put paid to her promising future. Now 32 she has already spent four years living at Osmaniye refugee camp in southern Turkey, an existence that has become routine for her and her three young children. The conflict in Syria has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian disaster since World War II and last week two EP delegations led by Sylvie Guillaume and Jean Arthuis visited some of those whose lives have been upturned by the conflict.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Budgets

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

1. Recalling the Council conclusions of 31 January 2011, 20 June 2011, 23 March 2012 and 15 October 2012, the Council highlights the importance it attaches to relations with the Republic of Belarus and its people.
2. At the same time, the Council remains concerned with the situation of human rights in Belarus and recalls that EU-Belarus relations should be based on common values, especially respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
3. The Council acknowledges the steps taken by Belarus over the last two years that have contributed to improving EU-Belarus relations, such as the proactive participation of Belarus in the Eastern Partnership and in the Interim Phase on Modernisation Issues, the resumption of the EU-Belarus Human Rights Dialogue, the start of negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements and on a Mobility Partnership, the active pursuit cooperation in harmonisation of digital markets and the signature of a Cooperation Arrangement on an Early Warning Mechanism in the energy sector. The Council also values Belarus' constructive role in the region.
4. The release of all the remaining political prisoners on 22 August 2015 was a long sought step that the EU had consistently called for. In response to the releases and the presidential elections of 11 October 2015 that were held in an environment free from violence, and taking into consideration the overall state of EU-Belarus relations, the Council agreed in October 2015 on a four-month suspension of most of the restrictive measures.
   The Council recognises that there is an opportunity for EU-Belarus relations to develop on a more positive agenda and that progress in a variety of fields can better be achieved through enhanced channels of communication.
5. In this context, the Council agrees that the EU will not extend the restrictive measures for 170 individuals and three companies whose listings are currently suspended. The Council further agrees that the arms embargo and the restrictive measures related to the four individuals listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist, will be extended for a period of twelve months.
6. In view of the Belarusian 2016 parliamentary elections, the Council urges the Belarusian authorities to swiftly take forward the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR's final report on the conduct of the 11 October 2015 Presidential elections, including on the legal and procedural framework. The Council welcomes Belarus' growing openness to dialogue and cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR. The Council recalls the importance it attaches to improvements in this area and to respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Belarus.
7. The Council condemns the application of the death penalty in Belarus, and notably deplores the two recent death sentences pronounced, and urges the Belarusian authorities to set up a moratorium as a first step towards its abolition. The Council looks forward to forthcoming expert and public events on the death penalty planned to take place in 2016.
   The Council reiterates its call for the reinstatement of the civil and political rights of former political prisoners and highlights the need to ensure freedom of association and assembly, including by allowing the registration of political and civil society organisations. The Council stresses the importance of a vibrant civil society to the social and economic well-being of a country, and calls on the Belarusian authorities to allow civil society to be more involved in the discussions on government policy. The Council further urges the Belarusian authorities to eliminate all obstacles to the exercise of a free and independent media, including through the registration of new media outlets and the accreditation of journalists. The Council further calls on Belarus to respect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. The Council will continue to follow closely the situation in this regard.
8. The Council welcomes the resumption of the EU-Belarus Human Rights Dialogue and looks forward to its next round, which Belarus has offered to host in Minsk in late spring. Together with Belarus' engagement in the 2015 Universal Periodic Review these are positive steps and the Council encourages the Belarusian authorities to continue work in these areas and calls on Belarus to do so with the participation of civil society.
   The EU further calls on Belarus to follow up on recommendations made by UN treaty bodies and to cooperate fully with UN special procedures - including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus - and other mechanisms. The Council encourages increased cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe with a view to becoming a full member.
   The Council reiterates the EU's willingness to assist Belarus to meet its obligations towards democratisation and full respect for human rights, and looks forward to discuss these matters soon at a bilateral level.
9. The Council reiterates its firm commitment to strengthening the EU's engagement with the Belarusian people and civil society. The EU attaches great importance to enhanced people-to-people contacts with Belarus, to be encouraged through programmes such as Erasmus+, and looks forward to the swift conclusion of the negotiations and signature of the Visa Facilitation Agreement, the Readmission Agreement and the Mobility Partnership.
10. The Council reaffirms that good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are important elements for enhancing EU-Belarus cooperation. Recalling its conclusions of 20 July 2015 on Energy Diplomacy the Council reiterates the importance of ensuring nuclear safety beyond the borders of the EU and calls on Belarus to cooperate constructively with the relevant international authorities in this regard.
11. The Council remains open to the further development of EU-Belarus relations, and to taking further steps to enhance political relations and sectoral cooperation in the appropriate context. The Council welcomes the Commission's intention to start Twinning cooperation with Belarus this year. It underlines the importance of the ENP Review and notes that Belarus provides a good opportunity to apply a differentiated approach. The Council therefore decided to accelerate the implementation of measures aimed at enhancing EU-Belarus cooperation in a number of economic, trade and assistance related fields, with the goal of modernising Belarus and its economy and for the benefit of the Belarusian population, including in view of WTO accession and in cooperation with International Financial Institutions, in particular the EIB and the EBRD in line with their respective mandates. The Council also encourages Belarus to accelerate much needed economic reforms. Tangible steps taken by Belarus to respect universal fundamental freedoms, rule of law and human rights will remain key for the shaping of the EU's future policy towards Belarus.
12. The Council will remain seized of the work of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group as a follow-up to the Interim Phase on modernisation issues, including an agenda which contains human rights issues, and looks forward to the involvement of civil society.

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Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
EU law allows an asylum seeker to be detained when the protection of national security or public order so requires

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/consilium_16351_41300_29470_41.87_thumb_169_1455124211_1455124044_129_97shar_c1.jpg

EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries meet on 15 February 2016 in Brussels to have an exchange of views on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets, and to discuss animal welfare.

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General : Members of national parliaments from across Europe join MEPs in Brussels to discuss EU-wide budgetary coordination, while British Prime Minister David Cameron is to discuss his proposals for a reform of the UK's EU membership terms with Parliament's leadership. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets MEPs on Tuesday in the wake of sanctions against his country being lifted. Meanwhile international specialists debate the Zika virus epidemic with MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : Members of national parliaments from across Europe join MEPs in Brussels to discuss EU-wide budgetary coordination, while British Prime Minister David Cameron is to discuss his proposals for a reform of the UK's EU membership terms with Parliament's leadership. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets MEPs on Tuesday in the wake of sanctions against his country being lifted. Meanwhile international specialists debate the Zika virus epidemic with MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

1. The Council reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. It also confirms that all Member States have ratified the Association Agreement.
2. The Council closely follows the situation in the Republic of Moldova. The European Union is convinced that the current difficulties can be solved only via constructive dialogue among all political forces in the country, which takes into account the expectations of the people of the Republic of Moldova. Tangible results on reforms are needed to restore the trust.
3. To this end, the Council calls for an accelerated implementation of the Association Agenda. The European Union remains committed to supporting the reform efforts in order to bring about the benefits of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
4. The Government of the Republic of Moldova should prioritise reforms aimed at addressing the politicisation of state institutions, systemic corruption, public administration reform aimed inter alia at enhancing the effectiveness of regulatory bodies, transparency and accountability in the management of public finances as well as with regard to policy making.
5. The Council calls on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to strengthen corporate governance in the financial sector, as well as the independence and the supervisory powers of the National Bank and of the National Commission for Financial Markets. It stresses in particular the need to appoint the Governor of the National Bank on the basis of a non-politicised, transparent and credible process.
6. The Council calls on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to ensure that the cases of fraud that affected its banking system in 2014 are made subject to a thorough, impartial investigation, also with a view to recovering the diverted funds and to bringing those responsible to justice. It urges the authorities to undertake audits of the three banks under special supervision through high quality reports and appropriate follow-up action, in close collaboration with the IMF as well as consider a screening of the systemic risks in the banking sector. All appropriate legislative measures should be adopted, including alignment of the legal framework to counter money-laundering with the EU legislation, in order to mitigate the risk of further bank frauds.
7. The Council is concerned about the lack of independence of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. It underlines the importance of implementing reforms which ensure the independence, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the judiciary and of the anti-corruption institutions. The reform of the prosecution service as well as the fight against corruption within the judiciary should be addressed as priority matters, including through merit-based and transparent recruitment and promotion of judges.
8. The Council urges the Government of the Republic of Moldova to take steps to create a level-playing field for business and restore an attractive and stable investment climate, and to improve transparency and investment conditions in the energy sector. It further highlights the importance of following the obligations under the Association Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty, to adopt the relevant draft laws currently under consideration, and ensure implementation.
9. The Council reiterates the EU's readiness to assist the Republic of Moldova including through technical assistance and project support, such as peer-review missions and high level advisers. The resumption of budget support disbursements could be envisaged once political, financial and macro-economic conditions are fulfilled, including respect for budgetary oversight and transparency principles. The Council calls on the Government to inter alia establish a detailed roadmap towards an IMF programme, which is an important element in ensuring that macroeconomic concerns are addressed. The Council welcomes the invitation by the Government of the Republic of Moldova to the IMF to send a mission as soon as possible, so as to rapidly commit to establishing a comprehensive programme of stabilisation and structural reforms.
10. Effective, strategic communication, including in cooperation with civil society and independent media, on the reforms achieved and to be undertaken in the framework of the Association Agreement including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, is of key importance to raise awareness among the citizens of the Republic of Moldova about benefits expected from political association and economic integration with the European Union.
11. The European Union welcomes the recent discussions on constitutional reform in the Republic of Moldova with a view to preventing future political deadlock. The European Union also calls on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to address all OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, especially as regards the transparency of party financing and the accountability of elected candidates.
12. The Council recalls that the freedom of the media is an equally fundamental element of democratic life. It urges the Government of the Republic of Moldova to improve the national legislation in order to limit the concentration of media ownership and guarantee pluralism.
13. The Council welcomes the Republic of Moldova's commitment to handle the Transnistrian settlement process as a key priority, as well as the interest to resume the negotiations as soon as possible, including in the 5+2 format. The Council also welcomes the establishment of a permanent working group for cooperation between the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the Gagauz People's Assembly.

Rendón Marín
Citizenship of the Union
According to Advocate General Szpunar, a non-EU national having sole care and control of a minor child who is a citizen of the EU may not be expelled from a Member State or be refused a residence permit simply because he has a criminal record

This is Monday’s edition of our new Brussels Briefing. To receive it every morning in your email in-box, sign up here.

  © AFP photo

It was one of the most intriguing invitations of the year: would Greek premier Alexis Tsipras agree to meet The Visegrad Wall?

The Visegrad group — Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic — are leading the fightback against Germany’s open-door migration policy. Mr Tsipras’ attendance was intended to show he was “in the loop” on their push to seal the Macedonia border (and trap migrants in Greece in just the way Mr Tsipras is desperate to avoid).

First Mr Tsipras declined, then he said yes, then he backed out. At the very least, it’s a great loss to political spectacle.

Even without Greece there, the V4 meeting will tee-up another stormy week of migration politics in Europe.

Read more

Andromeda-D : the automatic control system
Ignatov also spoke at length about a new VDV automated C2 system called Andromeda-D, developed by the Scientific-Research Institute of Communications and Command and Control Systems (NIISSU or НИИССУ). He describes Andromeda-D as a division-to-soldier system, with stationary points for commanders down to battalion, and vehicle-mounted systems for tactical units. Andromeda-D has passed troop testing, has been deployed in the 76th DShD, and is in the GOZ to buy it for the 7th DShD, 98th VDD, and 31st DShBr, according to Ignatov. He told Krasnaya zvezda the existing Polet-K system will be integrated into the new Andromeda-D system. He also says the VDV plans to deploy GLONASS receivers in its vehicles as part of its C2 system.

In addition, following other trials and drills, including the Center-2015 command post event, the Andromeda-D ACS was evaluated by the military in the highest of terms. It was reported that the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation /UIMC, incorporated by the Rostec Corporation/ started, in 2015, lot supplies of the Andromeda-D ACS to the Russian Airborne Troops. Russia proposes creating an integrated system for controlling the Collective Security Treaty Organization /CSTO/ member states’ rapid response forces.
The Andromeda-D ACS is a complex of automatic devices for equipping stationary and mobile troop command posts. Depending on the task, it can be mounted on a chassis of a biaxial Kamaz truck, BTR-D armored personnel carrier and BMD-2 or BMD-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. Andromeda-D is developed specifically for airborne troops and is adapted to loading onto a plane, flying and landing. Andromeda-D offers a complete array of multimedia services like facsimile communications, video conferencing, data transmission and special purpose telephone communication.

Russia’s Airborne Assault Forces (AAF) will start taking delivery of new Andromeda-D automated command and control systems (CCS) next year, the Defense Ministry said on Monday. MOSCOW, December 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s Airborne Assault Forces (AAF) will start taking delivery of new Andromeda-D automated command and control systems (CCS) next year, the Defense Ministry said on Monday. The first Andromeda-D systems will be deployed in four AAF divisions across Russia: in Novorossiisk, Ivanovo, Tula and Ulyanovsk, ministry spokesman Col Alexander Kucherenko said. The system, which uses digital telecommunication equipment, can be deployed at fixed-site or mobile command and control stations and is geared to AAF specifics as a highly mobile military service.

Uran-9
The Uran-9 is a tracked unmanned combat ground vehicle (UCGV) being developed and produced by Rostec for the international market. According to a release by Rosoboronexport, the system will be designed to deliver combined combat, reconnaissance and counter-terrorism units with remote reconnaissance and fire support. The armament is 2A72 mod ABM M30-M3 from Impul's 2 (Sevastopol') along Russian artillery and other producers , four ATGM like Ataka or other , also Igla or Strela SAM , FCS , cam IR sensors NV laser and other for detection .

Platform-M

Argo Mobility Platform

Argo Mobility Platform combat robot
Russian, Syrian, Iranian and Hizballah troops were taking up positions Monday, Jan. 18, for a massive offensive to retake Aleppo, Syria’s second city. The rebel militias occupying different parts of the city have repulsed all previous assaults.
A victory in Aleppo (prewar population: 1 million) is expected in Moscow, Tehran and Damascus to reverse the tide of the war and force the Syrian rebels to accept that their insurgency is at an end and their only remaining option is to join the peace process initiated by Russia on Syria’s future.
Russian military intervention since late August has lifted the Syrian army out of its hopeless state and imbued its officers with fresh vigor and the troops with high morale. Bashad Assad’s army is not the same largely defeated one of five months ago. Russian air strikes have restored its commander’s confidence in their ability to win. Cutting-edge weapons are reaching combat units with Russian military advisers on hand to teach the Syrian army how to use them, along with exposure to advanced methods of warfare that have been developed by a world-class military.
DEBKAfile’s military sources add that the operational standards of Hizballah and the pro-Iranian Shiite militias fighting alongside the Syrian army have likewise been enhanced by their exposure to Russian tactics.
Those tactics have produced a substantial drop in Hizballah, Iranian and Syrian casualties in battle, contrary to reports of high casualties claimed in the Western mainstream press,
Robots, novel replacements for boots on the ground, recently made their debut appearance in the Syrian arena, our military sources have revealed. They are cast in a star role in the offensive for the recovery of Aleppo.
Heralding a revolution in modern warfare, the Russians are fielding two kinds of robots – the Platform-M combat robot and the Argo Mobility Platform, both heavily armored and capable of functioning day or night in a variety of battlefield conditions. Platform-M gathers intelligence, uncovers fixed and moving targets and destroys them. It also provides firepower support for forces on the move and secures military installations or routes traveled by the army. Platform-M is armed with semiautomatic or automatic control firing systems.for destroying enemy targets But extra fire power can be mounted on the system as required.
The Argo is designed for rough-country operations, especially on mountainous or rocky terrain. In recent battles, Syrian rebels were startled to find themselves under sudden heavy fire from the unmanned Russian robots.
Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov recently spoke of a plan to “completely automate the battle in Syria.” He added, “Perhaps soon we will witness robotic groups independently conducting warfare.” Our military sources comment that this vision is overly futuristic. No totally robotic battlefield exists anywhere in the world today outside sci-fi cinema.

For the first time in the history of the war, Russian troops conducted an attack on solid defense area of the terrorist gunmen with military robots. In the Latakia, Syrian troops under the cover of Russian robots and task success captured the strategic peak 754.5. Not long ago, the Chief of the Russian General Gerasimov, Russia claims are chemical robots war effort in the near future, the world will be witnessing, military units are robots, independently conduct the battle-and the prospect that happened a couple of days.
In 2013, Russian airborne forces were put on the payroll systems of automation of operations, Executive “Andromeda-D” on the platform C4I2 (command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, and information), with this software, the system can directly command, combat units operating branches form a complex with the involvement of modern weapons. Use the new high-tech equipment allows the levels command, combat operating can continually run the unit, perform the operations training exercise, ready to fight and fight on the battlefield is not familiar.

Private landing force command line can not perform operation on more than 5000 km of distance C4I2 to area, relaying the information not just through photos and satellite images, which also received both the entire battlefield surveillance videos, the real time combat. C4I2 combination “Andromeda-D” can be mounted on the command Bridge and two terrain as “KamAZ”, armored vehicle BTR-D, BMD-2 and BMD-4. In addition, with the particularity of the airborne forces, “Andromeda-D” can be transported by plane, flying and parachute landing. The command system, operating this warfare was brought to perform support tasks in the Syrian army mission is particularly important. Sources from the social networking site MaxPark said: during the battle of Latakia, the Russian Defence Ministry was dispatched to Syria a C4I2 “Andromeda-D”, 6 the complex military robot “Platform-M” and four “Argo” robot assemblage. Cover the robot attack combinations 152 mm self-propelled howitzer “Akatsiya”, the new field was taken to Syria not long ago, the Akatsiya is responsible AFTER the fire cover for the robot as required.

The battle to win the high score in Latakia started by diversion of the military robots, straight into the battlefield of the terrorist gunmen. On distance 100-120 m, the robot that dropped ammunition, attracted fire from the terrorist gunmen, the fire points identified are suppressed by enemy fire immediately after 152 mm self-propelled gun’s “Akatsiya”.
Followed by the robots fighting, on a distance of 150-200 m is the Syrian infantry force, whose mission is to cover robot, wipe out enemies on the peak. Though the high mountain terrain is really complicated, but the militants of terrorism completely without a chance to fight back. All of our moves were the military unmanned aircraft control closely and any risk would all be extinguished by howitzer Akatsiya. After only 20 minutes of military robots attack, the militants have fled the chaos, leaving the armament. On the high mountains of 754.5 Latakia, Syrian soldiers counted 70 gunmen killed, Syrian troops have no losses, 4 wounded.

The first time in the history, Russian army use military robots Argo and robots Platforma-M attack the mountain Latakia in Syria

Armored robot “Platforma-M”
Research and development corporations NITI Progress Izhevsk has designed and built the complex military robots Platforma-M based on the tracked chassis. Armored robot was equipped with 4 anti-tank grenade launcher or ammo 7.62 mm machine gun, pressure heat Kalashikov. The purpose of the tactical requirements of the Platforma-M is to attack the targets fixed and mobile military. In addition, the robot can perform other tasks such as reconnaissance and patrolling the area. The robot can also perform the duties of battalion, open road through the defensive minefields. The activities of research and development of robot combination lasts many years, robot pass every test and put into application in the test unit. We are prepared for the production order line.

Terrain military robot Argo.
Terrain military robot ArgoResearch Center-engineering design technology application study control and Russian robotist has developed robotic Argo military complexes. Argo is combination remote control. ARGO has the purpose required to conduct reconnaissance activities, support the troops. The car was equipped with weapons to destroy troops, the enemy’s fighting vehicles. In addition, Argo robot made light transport duties. ARGO weighs about a ton, length 3.4 m, width 1 m, height 1.65 m on land vehicles can run up to speeds of about 20 km/h, Wade at a speed of 4.6 km. reserve operating time of 20 hours. The vehicle can install the module contemporary weapons remote control: present module is using a mounted machine gun, 7.62 mm Kalasnhikov, 7 3 anti-tank grenade RPG-26, two grenade RSG-2.

Sources :
http://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technol...
https://russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com/tag/andromeda-d/
http://www.todaynews24h.com/russian-military-robots-join-against-terrori...
http://sputniknews.com/military/20121224/178372572.html
http://www.debka.com/article/25170/Russian-robots-on-the-ground-for-four...

Tag: Russian ArmyAndromeda-DUran-9