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Whilst France is indeed grappling with a difficult security situation, it needs to find adequate long-term solutions, because the terrorist threat is likely to last, argued most MEPs in a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee debate on Thursday with Ambassador and France’s Permanent representative to the EU Pierre Sellal.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Whilst France is indeed grappling with a difficult security situation, it needs to find adequate long-term solutions, because the terrorist threat is likely to last, argued most MEPs in a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee debate on Thursday with Ambassador and France’s Permanent representative to the EU Pierre Sellal.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Whilst France is indeed grappling with a difficult security situation, it needs to find adequate long-term solutions, because the terrorist threat is likely to last, argued most MEPs in a Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee debate on Thursday with Ambassador and France’s Permanent representative to the EU Pierre Sellal.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

ÄNDERUNGSANTRÄGE 1 - 52 - Entwurf einer Stellungnahme zu einer EU-Strategie für Flüssigerdgas und die Speicherung von Gas
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2016 - EP

End of May, helicopter crews and military staff dealing with Composite Air Operations (COMAO) from across Europe met for an EDA-led Planning Course at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, United Kingdom. During a full week, participants went through complex mission planning exercises within a contested air and land scenario, led by the Chief Instructor, Sqn Ldr Mike Gallagher.

Composite Air Operations are interrelated and/or limited in both time and space, where units differing in type and/or role are put under unified control to achieve a common objective.

The need for organising the COMAO course arose from lessons identified during the previous Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC) and Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) exercise in Italy in 2015.  COMAO is a broad and complex subject and the number of military personnel with operational and training experience in this domain is shrinking across Europe.  This is especially pertinent to the rotary community which has limited access to existing organisations such as the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP).  Additionally, bespoke courses in which complex helicopter operations are the main focus currently do actually not exist.

The aim of the course at RAF Linton-on-Ouse was to increase participants’ knowledge of COMAO planning, using the so-called 4T’s (Task, Target, Threat and Tactics) process.  Equally important, the course allowed to create an environment in which numerous nations meet, work together and develop their capabilities while acquiring an in-depth knowledge and understanding of each other’s platforms.

The course was very well attended which is testimony for the high demand of COMAO planning trainings across Europe.  There were helicopter trainees from Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Belgium and the UK. Tactics and weapons instructors were provided from Sweden, the Dutch Weapons School and the UK.  Vitally, the course was supported by 8 Sqn AWACS from RAF Waddington and 100 Sqn Hawks from RAF Leeming bringing with them a wealth of knowledge concerning Air Battle Space Management and a remarkable breadth of fast-jet capabilities.  The UK provided a Ground Liaison Officer with comprehensive intelligence support.  In total, the platforms present at the course included the AB212, AS532, Mi-17, CH-47, CH-53, A-109, AH-64, Navy Lynx, E3-D Sentry and the numerous fast-jet platforms represented by the 100 Sqn pilots.

The course began with lectures and platform capability briefs and was followed by 3 days of scenarios with one mission being planned and briefed each day. As the course was progressing, the missions increased in complexity, running from the start of hostilities and covert insertions for bridge demolition and distraction operations to troop reinforcements and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO).  The final event culminated in a complex night mission to arrest a High Value Target (HVT).  The threat level was raised each day; therefore the tactics to deal with those threats had to be reconsidered too before being implemented.

The outcome of the course was praised as overwhelmingly positive by all the participants.  One of the key takeaways mentioned by them was that such courses need to be longer so that more time can be spent on the theoretical aspects and a deeper understanding of platform capabilities can be gained.  This recommendation will most likely be taken on board for the next edition, probably in 2017.

  More information:

• EDA Helicopter Initiative project page
• EDA Exercises and Training project page
• COLD BLADE Helicopter training 2016 (news, March 2016) 

 

Am 17. Juni hat der Rat hat die als Reaktion auf die rechtswidrige Annexion der Krim und Sewastopols verhängten restriktiven Maßnahmenbis zum 23 Juni 2017 verlängert.

Die Maßnahmen gelten für in der EU ansässige Personen und Unternehmen. Sie beschränken sich auf das Gebiet der Krim und Sewastopols. Die Sanktionen umfassen Verbote für

• die Einfuhr von Waren mit Ursprung auf der Krim oder in Sewastopol in die Union;
• Investitionen auf der Krim oder in Sewastopol, was bedeutet, dass weder Europäer noch Unternehmen mit Sitz in der EU Immobilien oder Einrichtungen auf der Krim erwerben, Unternehmen mit Sitz auf der Krim finanzieren oder damit in Zusammenhang stehende Dienstleistungen erbringen dürfen;
• Tourismusdienstleistungen auf der Krim oder in Sewastopol, wobei insbesondere europäische Kreuzfahrtschiffe keine Häfen auf der Halbinsel Krim anlaufen dürfen, es sei denn, es handelt sich um einen Notfall;
• die Ausfuhr bestimmter Güter und Technologien in den Bereichen Verkehr, Telekommunikation und Energie oder im Zusammenhang mit der Prospektion, Exploration und Förderung von Öl-, Gas- und Mineralressourcen, wenn diese für Unternehmen mit Sitz auf der Krim oder zur Nutzung auf der Krim bestimmt sind. Technische Hilfe sowie Vermittlungs-, Bau- oder Ingenieurdienstleistungen, die mit der Infrastruktur in den genannten Bereichen in Zusammenhang stehen, sind ebenfalls untersagt.

Wie die Hohe Vertreterin für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik am 13. März 2016 im Namen der EU erklärt hat, verurteilt die EU weiterhin die rechtswidrige Annexion der Krim und von Sewastopol durch die Russische Föderation und ist weiter fest entschlossen, ihre Politik der Nichtanerkennung uneingeschränkt umzusetzen.

Au Niger, le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) a lancé une opération de distribution de vivres pour les populations récemment déplacées par les attaques de Boko Haram à Bosso. C'est ce qu'a indiqué RFI qui précise que cette assistance d'urgence se poursuit et vise environ 30 000 déplacés qui se trouvent sur les routes où ils se sentent un peu plus en sécurité. La ration alimentaire distribuée par le CICR est composé d'huile, de haricots, mais aussi de mil, de riz et de sel. Quant aux enfants, ils bénéficient d'une ration spéciale, notamment de la bouillie riche en protéines.

Le 10 juin dernier était donné le coup d'envoi de l'Euro 2016 de football au Stade de France. Troisième évènement sportif mondial par son ampleur, l'Euro réunit pendant tout un mois des millions de supporters autour de leur équipe. Un mois de football, un mois de fêtes mais surtout un mois d'enjeux ! Sportifs, économiques, sécuritaires, sociaux, culturels ... les enjeux de cette compétition et plus largement du football européen sont immenses et invitent à de nombreuses questions.A l'occasion de l'Euro 2016, Toute l'Europe vous a proposé d'échanger sur le thème "Les enjeux du football européen", jeudi 16 juin, entre 13h et 14h, avec Albrecht Sonntag, spécialiste des politiques du football européen.

Les deux boîtes noires de l'avion EgyptAir, qui s'est abîmé en Méditerranée le 19 mai, ont été retrouvées par les équipes de recherche. Le contenu des enregistreurs devrait aider les enquêteurs à faire la lumière sur le drame.

Die Russland-Sanktionen stehen ganz oben auf der Agenda der EU-Botschafter der Mitgliedsländer, die in der nächsten Woche zusammenkommen.

Die Russland-Sanktionen stehen ganz oben auf der Agenda der EU-Botschafter der Mitgliedsländer, die in der nächsten Woche zusammenkommen. Danach…

Africa's best barista is about to take on all comers at the World Barista Championships in Dublin.

European Council meeting will take place on 28-29 June 2016 in Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. 

Now open for last-minute accreditation requests (online only)
Procedure

Please note that due to the current security situation in Belgium, specific security measures have been put in place for last minute accreditation requests. Media representatives applying for the first time or who have not been fully security screened in the last 18 months (i.e. have not attended a summit in the last 18 months or had registered last minute) will be the subject of a comprehensive and detailed verification by our security service. Considering the time and resources needed for these verifications, not all requests may be processed. Media are therefore advised to avoid sending representatives falling into these categories.

If this is your first registration, please make sure you have a recent ID-size photograph in JPEG format (.jpg) and the number of your passport or identity card ready before starting the online process.

You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email. Please read it carefully as it includes the list of original documents you will be asked to provide when collecting your badge. Depending on your profile, the requested document will include: Passport or ID card, press card and/or a letter from your editor-in chief as well as the signed original of your application for security clearance (only for media representatives of Belgian nationality or resident in Belgium). The press centre may contact you to request additional information if necessary. No accreditation badge will be issued if you cannot provide all required documents. 

Trainees with media organisations who do not possess a press card are not entitled to request accreditation. 

Journalists holding a 6-month badge (01.01.2016 - 30.06.2016) do not need to register

6-month badges can be collected at the accreditation centre of the LEX building during summits. Please ensure that you have all the required documents when collecting your badge.

Collection of badges

Accreditation badges must be collected in person from the LEX building (145 rue de la Loi, Brussels)  

• Monday 27 June  - 8.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 20.00
• Tuesday 28 June - 8.30 - 20.00 
• Wednesday 29 June , from 08.00 to the end of the final press conference (latest 22.00)

Practical information on the press centre and the media programme will follow.

For more details on the European Council meeting, see the meeting page.

Les aéronefs français de la force Chammal, stationnés en Jordanie et dans le golfe Arabo-persique, participent depuis plusieurs jours à l’appui des combats au sol pour la libération de la ville de Falloujah à laquelle participent des troupes formées par les militaires français à Bagdad.

The 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) started working in Russia on June 16. Putin is not going to make any concessions to the West to give another go to the stalled peace process in Ukraine. Russia did not intend to raise the issue of sanctions during the SPIEF, because it was not Russia that introduced them first

On 27 May 2016, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/849[1] concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The Council Decision adopted additional restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by prohibiting the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of further items, materials and equipment relating to dual-use goods and technology. In addition, it prohibits transfers of funds to and from DPRK unless specifically authorised in advance.

Furthermore, the Council Decision prohibits any aircraft operated by DPRK carriers or originating from DPRK from landing in, taking off from or overflying Member States' territory as well as any vessel that is owned, operated or crewed by DPRK from entering into Member States' ports. It introduces a prohibition on the import of luxury goods from DPRK, as well as prohibitions on all investment by the DPRK in the EU and the provision of financial support for trade with DPRK.

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro* and Serbia*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Armenia align themselves with this Council Decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

[1] Published on 28.5.2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 141, p. 79.

* - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

   

Lássuk be, a természet törvényei kegyetlenek. Főleg akkor, ha megnézzük az alábbi videót, melyben egy falkányi vadkutya cincál szanaszét egy szerencsétlenül járt impalát.

Az Európai Bizottság 2016 júniusában közös közleményt fogadott el az EU nemzetközi kulturális kapcsolati stratégiájáról.