Tag: Eu
EU could end China arms embargo early 2011
BRUSSELS - A European Union arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 following the Tiananmen crackdown could be lifted in early 2011, Brussels sources told Thursday's edition of France's Le Figaro daily.
The lifting of the embargo on all lethal weapons "could happen very quickly," a source close to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the paper.
An EU diplomat in Brussels refused to confirm the claim, but acknowledged that Ashton recommended as much in a report
The lifting of the embargo on all lethal weapons "could happen very quickly," a source close to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the paper.
An EU diplomat in Brussels refused to confirm the claim, but acknowledged that Ashton recommended as much in a report
EU imposes travel ban on Gbagbo, associates
BRUSSELS: European Union travel bans on defiant Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo and his powerful wife Simone entered force Wednesday, alongside another 17 influential figures.
A diplomatic source told AFP that ambassadors of the 27 EU nations completed legal procedures allowing the visa ban to take effect. Member states are looking at "lengthening the list" as well as extending sanctions to include asset freezes.
The action came as Ivory Coast's deadly political
A diplomatic source told AFP that ambassadors of the 27 EU nations completed legal procedures allowing the visa ban to take effect. Member states are looking at "lengthening the list" as well as extending sanctions to include asset freezes.
The action came as Ivory Coast's deadly political
Gbagbo defiant as UN, EU pile on pressure
ABIDJAN: Tension mounted between Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo and the international community on Monday, as the United Nations complained of rights abuses and the European Union slapped sanctions on him. Gbagbo has rejected demands he cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, and has instead ordered UN peacekeepers to leave the country, stirring fears the fragile West African state might plunge back into chaos. The United Nations has refused Gbagbo's order to withdraw its
EU leaders set crisis fund, ECB boosts capital
BRUSSELS - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to create a permanent financial safety net from 2013 and the European Central Bank moved to increase its firepower to fight the debt crisis that has rocked the euro zone.
But at Germany's insistence, the 27 leaders said the long-term crisis-resolution mechanism, to be added to the EU's governing treaty, could only be activated "if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro as a whole". They also decided there was no
But at Germany's insistence, the 27 leaders said the long-term crisis-resolution mechanism, to be added to the EU's governing treaty, could only be activated "if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro as a whole". They also decided there was no
Canada, EU likely to sign free trade pact
OTTAWA: Canada and the European Union are on track towards signing a free trade agreement by the end of 2011, trade representatives said Wednesday. After "taking stock of progress" made to date, Canadian Trade Minister Peter Van Loan and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said that they were "satisfied with the substantial progress that has been made in the negotiations."
Official talks for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU were launched in
Official talks for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU were launched in
Eurozone bond debate rages ahead of EU summit
BRUSSELS: A dispute over creating joint eurozone bonds to help weak European nations threatened Wednesday to creep into an EU summit aimed at preventing future debt crises amid fresh fears over Spain's economy.
The head of eurozone finance ministers, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, said he may raise the issue when European Union leaders hold talks in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Concerns about the eurozone's health deepened after Moody's ratings agency warned
The head of eurozone finance ministers, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, said he may raise the issue when European Union leaders hold talks in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Concerns about the eurozone's health deepened after Moody's ratings agency warned
EU trade concessions delayed till March
ISLAMABAD: Tariff concessions announced by the European Union (EU) on 75 Pakistani products will not be implemented from January 1, 2011 and the country will have to wait till March when the World Trade Organization (WTO) again takes up the proposed wavier, an official source said.
Opposition from South Asian competitors, India and Bangladesh at the WTO's council for trade in goods has forced the EU to delay the implementation of concessions announced for Pakistan. EU would again
Opposition from South Asian competitors, India and Bangladesh at the WTO's council for trade in goods has forced the EU to delay the implementation of concessions announced for Pakistan. EU would again
EU set to sanction I Coast’s Gbagbo
BRUSSELS: The European Union is set Monday to slap sanctions on Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo and any of his allies who dig in and refuse to recognise defeat at the polls last month.
A draft statement seen by AFP, penned by ambassadors of the 27-nation bloc and to be endorsed later in the day by foreign ministers, calls for a visa ban and a freeze on assets "against those obstructing peace" and "threatening the proper outcome of the electoral process."
These measures, it
A draft statement seen by AFP, penned by ambassadors of the 27-nation bloc and to be endorsed later in the day by foreign ministers, calls for a visa ban and a freeze on assets "against those obstructing peace" and "threatening the proper outcome of the electoral process."
These measures, it
Pakistan looks to US for EU concession approval
KARACHI: Islamabad would approach the US and ask for its help to persuade India, Bangladesh and Srilanka to support the additional autonomous trade preferences granted by the European Union (EU).
The EU trade concession bill would unanimously pass in the WTO if India supports the bill, as other member countries of the international organisation are in favour of the draft bill forwarded by EU, Federal Minister for Textile Industry Rana Farooq Saeed Khan told Pakistan Today.
The EU trade concession bill would unanimously pass in the WTO if India supports the bill, as other member countries of the international organisation are in favour of the draft bill forwarded by EU, Federal Minister for Textile Industry Rana Farooq Saeed Khan told Pakistan Today.
India, EU not eye-to-eye on trade-aid for Pakistan
BRUSSELS: India and the European Union are seeking a compromise on a controversial EU plan to offer flood-devastated Pakistan trade concessions as relief, both sides said at a summit on Friday.
Prompted by Britain, leaders of the 27-nation bloc have approved a scheme to offer two years of trade concessions to Pakistan - essentially on textiles - to ease its recovery from the floods, but need a waiver from the WTO in Geneva to kickstart the aid.
India however has expressed
Prompted by Britain, leaders of the 27-nation bloc have approved a scheme to offer two years of trade concessions to Pakistan - essentially on textiles - to ease its recovery from the floods, but need a waiver from the WTO in Geneva to kickstart the aid.
India however has expressed
EU, India agree to crank up anti-terror cooperation
BRUSSELS: The European Union and India agreed on Friday to intensify their cooperation against terrorism to deny safe havens to extremists in the wake of the Mumbai attacks and new threats against Europe.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the EU leadership issued a joint declaration in Brussels vowing to encourage "all" nations to dismantle "terror infrastructure on the territories under their control." They did not name any country but the West has been on high alert over fears
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the EU leadership issued a joint declaration in Brussels vowing to encourage "all" nations to dismantle "terror infrastructure on the territories under their control." They did not name any country but the West has been on high alert over fears
EU unlikely to lift ban on seafood imports from Pakistan
KARACHI: The European Union (EU) is unlikely to lift a ban on the import of seafood products from Pakistan since the Sindh government and the Karachi Fish Harbour authorities are seemingly reluctant to comply with the EU's instructions, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.
The EU had barred seafood imports from Pakistan in April 2007, an action taken following EU's inspectors visit to Pakistan. The inspectors had found the industry's food processing to be substandard, causing
The EU had barred seafood imports from Pakistan in April 2007, an action taken following EU's inspectors visit to Pakistan. The inspectors had found the industry's food processing to be substandard, causing
EU will assist Pakistani security agencies
ISLAMABAD: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the programme 'Civilian Capacity Building for Law-Enforcement in Pakistan' aimed at assisting Pakistan for capacity building of its law enforcement agencies and to enhance the capability of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) was signed between the European Union (EU) and Pakistan on Wednesday.
According to MoU, EU would provide technical assistance to build the capacity of provincial police forces in Khyber
According to MoU, EU would provide technical assistance to build the capacity of provincial police forces in Khyber
EU sets trade deal for Pakistan
BRUSSELS: European Union governments have approved a raft of trade concessions for Pakistan, diplomats said on Thursday, a move to help the South Asian country rebound from July floods which caused nearly $10 billion of damage.
The final package is less extensive than the EU had hoped to agree but still covers 75 Pakistani exports - from cotton sheets to clothing and ethanol -- which will be allowed to enter the EU duty-free from 2011, an EU spokesman said. The duty waiver now
The final package is less extensive than the EU had hoped to agree but still covers 75 Pakistani exports - from cotton sheets to clothing and ethanol -- which will be allowed to enter the EU duty-free from 2011, an EU spokesman said. The duty waiver now
Sindh seeks EU help to develop Thar coal
KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to approach the European Union (EU) to benefit from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) in its quest to develop the Thar and Badin coalfields and overcoming the persistent energy crisis, Pakistan Today has learnt.
It would also seek the latest research data and information on the underground coal gasification technology from the EU that would assist in harnessing the coalfields.
Direct funding from the RFCS is restricted to
It would also seek the latest research data and information on the underground coal gasification technology from the EU that would assist in harnessing the coalfields.
Direct funding from the RFCS is restricted to
Croatia moves toward finalising EU accession talks
BRUSSELS: Croatia took a step towards finalising its European Union accession negotiations on Friday, closing talks on three policy areas in hopes of becoming an EU member in the next two years.
Zagreb's chief EU negotiator, Vladimir Drobnjak, said after meeting EU officials in Brussels that the former Yugoslav republic should be able to complete accession preparations in the first half of 2011.
"Our goal is to close talks during the Hungarian presidency of the EU. This is
Zagreb's chief EU negotiator, Vladimir Drobnjak, said after meeting EU officials in Brussels that the former Yugoslav republic should be able to complete accession preparations in the first half of 2011.
"Our goal is to close talks during the Hungarian presidency of the EU. This is
German media sees partial victory for Merkel on EU
BERLIN: German media offered guarded praise for an agreement in Brussels to make limited changes to the EU treaty, describing it as a compromise that bought time to find a lasting remedy to debt woes that have plagued the bloc.
Under pressure from Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, EU leaders in Brussels agreed that changes were needed to create a permanent system to handle sovereign debt problems and endorsed tougher budgetary rules, including
Under pressure from Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, EU leaders in Brussels agreed that changes were needed to create a permanent system to handle sovereign debt problems and endorsed tougher budgetary rules, including
