Tag: Eu
Italy to wait on EU before decision on Libyan rebels
ROME - Italy will seek the opinion of other European countries before deciding whether to recognise Libyan rebels as the country's legitimate representatives, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday. Asked whether Italy would follow the French govt's lead on recognising Libya's opposition, Berlusconi told reporters at a press conference in Rome: "It's the view of a single government. "I think it is better for us to listen to the views of the entire European community," he
‘Talks on EU tariff cuts for Pakistan have failed’
BRUSSELS - Europe's top trade negotiator called for greater commercial ties with North African states making the transition to democracy, saying he will unveil new proposals to achieve this next week. But Karel De Gucht said he will not seek unilateral trade concessions or cuts to import tariffs such as those the European Union granted its war-ravaged Balkan neighbours in the 1990s.
He cited that the unsuccessful EU attempt to grant temporary duty-free access to imports from
He cited that the unsuccessful EU attempt to grant temporary duty-free access to imports from
Pakistan moves to address neighbours’ concerns over EU trade concessions
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has written letters to India and other countries addressing their concerns over a 900 million Euro unilateral trade concessions announced by the European Union in October last year after the devastating floods, which would again come under discussion at the Council for Trade in Goods of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva on March 21.
Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood told a meeting of the Senate body on commerce that the letter written by Commerce Minister
Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood told a meeting of the Senate body on commerce that the letter written by Commerce Minister
From the floor of the Sindh Assembly – EU to...
KARACHI - Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Bhurgari on Monday informed the Sindh Assembly that the government has renovated the Karachi Fish Harbour and the European Union (EU)'s might lift its ban on Pakistan's seafood soon. The EU had banned the country's seafood in 2007 causing massive losses to its industry. When an EU mission visited the harbour in 2007, they found some deficiencies both at the harbour and processing units.
Responding to a question asked by PPP lawmaker Shama
Responding to a question asked by PPP lawmaker Shama
EU considers Libya sanctions, evacuates thousands
BRUSSELS - European Union governments will meet on Wednesday to discuss imposing sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi's government, while evacuating thousands of their citizens from Libya, EU officials said. France and Germany have pushed for the 27-member EU to move quickly on measures against Libya, following a crackdown on protests against Gaddafi's 41-year rule that has killed, by some estimates, as many as 1,000 people.
The leader of Ireland's main opposition Fine Gael party
The leader of Ireland's main opposition Fine Gael party
EU readies to evacuate Libya, but divided over Qaddafi
BRUSSELS - European governments readied to evacuate thousands of citizens from Libya Monday as oil-rich Tripoli warned of a "fight to the last bullet", but cracks remained on how to handle Moamer Qaddafi. As British Prime Minister David Cameron made a surprise visit to Egypt, whose veteran leader Hosni Mubarak was toppled in the second Arab uprising after Tunisia, a deadly crackdown in Libya only emboldened protesters who stormed the state broadcaster and torched police stations in
Zardari urges UK to help Pakistan access EU markets
ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged British Cabinet Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to use her influence for setting up opportunity zones in the conflict-hit areas and pleading Pakistan's case for enhanced and preferential trade access to the markets of European Union countries for put the country's economy back on track.
Talking to Warsi, who called on him at the President's House, Zardari said it would help addressing the issues of poverty and unemployment
Talking to Warsi, who called on him at the President's House, Zardari said it would help addressing the issues of poverty and unemployment
Uncertainty over EU concessions continues
KARACHI - The World Trade Organization (WTO) has postponed its meeting, which would discuss EU concessions to Pakistan, till the third week of next month as EU is yet to form a consensus in WTO. Pakistani exporters are anxiously waiting for the approval of European Union's (EU) trade concession.
The WTO meeting, which was originally scheduled to be held on January 31, 2011, was postponed due to a lack of consensus over trade concession in the organisation, sources told Pakistan
The WTO meeting, which was originally scheduled to be held on January 31, 2011, was postponed due to a lack of consensus over trade concession in the organisation, sources told Pakistan
Five EU nations urge immediate transition in Egypt
PARIS - Five EU nations urged an immediate political transition to end violent unrest in Egypt, in a joint statement on Thursday by Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. "Only a quick and orderly transition to a broad-based government will make it possible to overcome the challenges Egypt is now facing," said the statement. "That transition process must start now."
Egypt's long-standing president Hosni Mubarak is facing mass protests calling for him to quit power, which
Egypt's long-standing president Hosni Mubarak is facing mass protests calling for him to quit power, which
EU energy chief says Egyptian regime ‘incomprehensible’
BRUSSELS - The EU's energy commissioner broke ranks on Monday when he labelled the Egyptian authorities' handling of mass street democracy protests as careless beyond belief. While European Union foreign ministers meeting at the same time deliberately shied away from criticising President Hosni Mubarak's regime, focusing on the need for elections, German commissioner Guenther Oettinger spoke bluntly.
"We are all very worried about what is happening in Egypt, with the images"
"We are all very worried about what is happening in Egypt, with the images"
EU urges Mubarak to immediately talk to opposition
BRUSSELS - EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to immediately hold talks with the opposition Monday and respond to the aspirations of anti-government protesters.
"The legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people should be responded to. Their aspirations for a just, better future should be met with urgent, concrete and decisive answers, and with real steps," Ashton said.
"There needs to be a peaceful way forward," she told reporters.
"The legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people should be responded to. Their aspirations for a just, better future should be met with urgent, concrete and decisive answers, and with real steps," Ashton said.
"There needs to be a peaceful way forward," she told reporters.
US assures Pakistan of supporting EU trade concessions from WTO
ISLAMABAD - The US has assured Pakistan of playing its due role in the approval of the European Union trade concessions from the next meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). An official source said Senior Adviser to US President on Economy David Lipton gave the assurance at a meeting with officials of the Commerce Ministry on Friday.
"We were asked to provide names of countries that were creating hurdles in the implementation of the concessions and we were assured that the
"We were asked to provide names of countries that were creating hurdles in the implementation of the concessions and we were assured that the
Approval of EU concessions imperative to sustain exports
KARACHI - Pakistan may lose the current trend of rising exports, primarily textile, if trade concessions proposed by the European Union (EU) are not approved in the forth-coming meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO). Disapproval of concessions would move foreign buyers, interested in the country's products, to other countries.
The second WTO meeting, scheduled to be held on January 31, 2011, would discuss the EU proposals following serious reservations expressed by few
The second WTO meeting, scheduled to be held on January 31, 2011, would discuss the EU proposals following serious reservations expressed by few
India on weak ground to oppose EU trade concessions
KARACHI - India, while opposing the trade concession to Pakistan granted by European Union (EU) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is in a weaker position to oppose the draft bill. According to experts, India which has shown serious reservations over the draft bill forwarded by EU for unilateral market access to Pakistan citing the contravention of World Trade Organization's (WTO) rules, could not muster adequate points to back up its position in the first session of WTO. Given
Hungary admits ‘bad start’ to EU presidency
BUDAPEST - Hungary stood firm against French and German criticism of its media law on Thursday, which threatened to tarnish its presidency of the European Union after an already less than ideal start.
"Yes this is a bad start, who would want to start like that?" Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. "We adopted a law that we consider perfectly OK and the world criticises it," he told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of the six-month EU presidency.
"Yes this is a bad start, who would want to start like that?" Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. "We adopted a law that we consider perfectly OK and the world criticises it," he told foreign journalists ahead of a ceremony to mark the start of the six-month EU presidency.
EU leaves it to IAEA to inspect Iran’s nuclear sites
BRUSSELS - The European Union's executive said on Wednesday it was up to the UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Iranian atomic facilities, after Tehran invited EU envoys to tour the sites this month. The European Commission said it had yet to reply to the invitation, sent to some ambassadors, including the EU's, accredited to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna just weeks before a second round of talks between Iran and six world powers on its disputed nuclear ambitions.
Pakistan should make inroads into EU via Turkey: APTMA, LCCI
LAHORE - The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Gohar Ejaz, while giving an SOS call to the government, expressed fears that the Punjab industry would wipe out if due facilitation in energy supply, cut in interest rates and a duty-free market access was not ensured at the earliest.
He said this while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday. The APTMA chairman claimed that the industry possessed the potential to create two million
He said this while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday. The APTMA chairman claimed that the industry possessed the potential to create two million
