European Union

Ministers endorsed a Dutch plan to create targeted EU sanctions for human rights abusers on Monday, Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said. "We took an important step today," he said, with the EU foreign service to table a detailed proposal in the next few months. Britain spoke out in favour at Monday's meeting, while France and Germany made their assent known earlier and no member states criticised the idea.

British prime minister Theresa May has postponed a parliament vote on the Brexit deal scheduled for Tuesday. May told MPs she wants to "ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy" in the withdrawal agreement reached with the EU. The backstop is a guarantee mechanism that would keep the Irish border open. May also implied the Brexit vote in parliament could now be delayed until January.

The European Commission is struggling to respond to questions on how it can include the disputed territory of the Western Sahara into its aviation agreement with Morocco - following a recent order from the General Court of the European Union.

Almost 40 percent of European Jews contemplate leaving their home country because they no longer feel safe, and almost 85 percent say their number one concern in Europe is anti-semitism and racism, according to a new EU survey.

Morocco is a tree with its roots in Africa and its branches in Europe. So said the late King Hassan II of Morocco. That partly explains why hosting the UN migration summit in Marrakech, which formally adopted the UN’s contentious...

The European Council between 13-14 December will focus on the findings of the citizens’ consultations. French people dream of having a more ecological and more socially just Europe, where there is greater citizen participation. Can the EU meet their expectations? EURACTIV France reports.

The Council added nine persons involved in the so called ‘elections’ in the so called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ to sanctions list over actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Council confirms agreement with the EP on new rules on definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks.

The Council adopted conclusions on women, peace and security.

The Council adopted conclusions on an EU strategy on India.

The Council adopted conclusions on the situation in Myanmar/Burma, in particular regarding the human rights violations committed in the states of Kachin, Rakhine and Shan.

The Council adopted conclusions on Libya.

The Council extended the EU mission on maritime capacity building EUCAP Somalia, agreed on a budget and amended the mandate of the mission.

The Council has extended sanctions against 14 individuals in the light of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Will commissioners Phil Hogan and Vytenis Andriukaitis help consumers take cruelty away from the EU's Christmas buffet?Some 79 MEPs have asked the EU Commission to delete the requirement of minimum liver weights for foie gras

As it enters its fourth week of protest, France’s ‘yellow vest’ movement continues to be active on Facebook. While the social network has allowed the movement to grow, Facebook is struggling to create a structure for the movement. EURACTIV France reports.

Written by Enrico D’Ambrogio,

© mattiaath / Fotolia

The EU and Japan share the same basic values, including on democracy, market economy, human rights, human dignity, freedom, equality, and the rule of law. Against a background of increasingly assertive neighbours, they are also putting emphasis on security issues. The EU has adopted a Global Strategy placing security and defence as a key strategic priority, and conclusions on ‘enhanced EU security cooperation in and with Asia’. Japan has reformed its security policy, aiming at becoming a ‘proactive contributor for peace’. In order to enhance their relations, in July 2018 the EU and Japan signed a binding Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), along with an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), negotiated in parallel.

The SPA represents a framework strengthening the overall partnership, by promoting political and sectoral cooperation and joint actions in more than 40 areas of common interest. Once adopted, the EU-Japan strategic partnership will become more operational. The agreement will facilitate joint EU-Japan efforts to promote shared values such as human rights and rule of law, a rules-based international system, and peace and stability across the world. It will allow EU-Japan security cooperation to reach its full potential.

Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part Committee responsible: Foreign Affairs (AFET) Rapporteurs:

2018/0122 (NLE) Alojz Peterle (EPP, Slovenia)

 

 

Read the complete briefing on ‘The EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) – A framework to promote shared values‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Japan, its neighbours and territorial disputes

 

Portugal will use both electromobility and biofuels to decarbonise its transport sector by 2050, José Mendes, Portuguese First Secretary of State for Mobility - Environment and Energy Transition, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

EU judges have granted the UK the right to unilaterally stop Brexit - amid question marks on whether Tuesday's crunch vote in London will take place.

UK prime minister Theresa May will cancel a crucial vote in the British parliament on the draft Brexit deal, where she was expected to face a massive defeat, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The House of Commons was expected to vote on whether to approve the Brexit deal on Tuesday evening, but that will now be rescheduled. May has faced mounting rejection from her own Conservatives and the opposition Labour party.