European Union

According to the findings of a report compiled by the US intelligence agencies Putin personally ordered hacker attacks to manipulate the US election campaign. Some commentators say this sets a dangerous precedent through which Russia has undermined trust in US democracy. Others argue that the cyberattack allegations lack substance.

As of 2026 the number of teams participating in the World Cup will rise from 32 to 48, the international football association Fifa decided at a meeting on Tuesday. The expansion of the competition to mammoth proportions is the result of the unbridled greed of Fifa officials, some commentators rail. Others see certain advantages to the move.

This week the Turkish parliament is debating a constitutional amendment that would establish a presidential system in the country. Under the amended constitution the president would be head of government as well as head of state and the office of Prime Minister would be abolished. Commentators take different views of the ruling AKP's plans.

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The EU and New Zealand collaborate under the Joint Declaration on Relations and Cooperation, signed on 21st September 2007, in such areas as global and regional security, counter-terrorism and human rights, visas, development and economic cooperation, trade, climate change as well as science and technology.

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On 11 January 2017, the Council extended the mandate of the EU mission EUCAP Sahel Mali for two years, until 14 January 2019. The Council also allocated a budget of €29.7 million to the mission for the period from 15 January 2017 to 14 January 2018.

The EUCAP Sahel Mali civilian mission assists and advises Mali's internal security forces as they implement the reform in the security sector laid down by the government.

It provides training and strategic advice to the Malian police, gendarmerie and national guard, and to relevant ministries, in order to support the security sector reform.

The mission is part of the EU's comprehensive approach to security and development in the Sahel, which aims to support the Malian state in ensuring constitutional and democratic order, establishing the conditions for lasting peace and maintaining authority throughout the entire territory. There are two other CSDP missions underway in the region: EUTM Mali, which contributes to the restructuring and reorganisation of the Malian Armed Forces through training and advice, and EUCAP Sahel Niger, which supports the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Niger.

EUCAP Sahel Mali was launched on 15 April 2014. The Head of Mission is Mr Albrecht Conze, from Germany. On 14 December 2016, his mandate was extended until 14 July 2017. The headquarters of the mission are located in Bamako, Mali.

The decision was adopted by written procedure.

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A disaster at Christmas may have been averted, but don’t think Italy’s bank problems are over.

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Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Your Excellency, Federal Councillor,

We would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Swiss Confederation.

The European Union and Switzerland have a long-standing relationship. You may rest assured that it is our goal to continue to build upon this relationship, on a strong and stable foundation. The existing framework has allowed us to collaborate extremely closely in a way which has proven economically beneficial on both sides, for our businesses and citizens alike. In this context we believe it is important to endeavour, on the basis of contractual agreements providing legal certainty, to go beyond what we have already achieved and to open up new horizons.

We look forward to working towards this goal with you and the members of the Federal Council.

Yours sincerely,

The role of the United Kingdom’s permanent representative to the European Union has always been highly political one. Never more so than now, as the start of the Brexit negotiations approach.

Over 40 years, most of its occupants of the role have been highly skilled and very tough public servants – qualities now attributed to the new leader of the UK representation in Brussels, Sir Tim Barrow.

All have been neurotically sensitive to the attitudes to Europe of the prime minister of the day. One of Sir Tim’s illustrious predecessors confessed over a glass of whisky some decades ago that his main objective was “to reconcile the prime minister to membership of the European Community”. She was never fully converted.

Sir Tim is being parachuted into what is already the toughest job in British diplomacy; a job made all the more difficult by the laser-like focus from the British media and Brexit supporters across the political spectrum. The speed of his appointment – within hours of the explosive resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers – suggests that Prime Minister Theresa May was anxious to sidestep any attempt to establish clear support for Brexit as an indispensable qualification for the job.

An allegedly impeccable source told former Liberal MEP Andrew Duff that Sir Ivan resigned because Theresa May was no longer listening to his advice. The working relationship between May and Rogers is said to have been damaged by last month’s leak of his memo to Downing Street. The memo warned that it might take up to ten years to complete a new trading arrangement with the EU.

“For four decades the rules, regulations and political processes of the EU have shaped the policy thinking and actions of successive British governments”

Up to now Britain’s permanent representatives in Brussels have been dedicated to making EU membership as successful as possible for the UK. Since 23 June this role has been stood on its head, and Sir Ivan’s task had been to work for a successful withdrawal.

He clearly had little taste for it. The referendum result has imposed a physical and emotional toll on middle and senior managers at the Foreign Office and in the home civil service that should not be underestimated.

For four decades the rules, regulations and political processes of the EU have shaped the policy thinking and actions of successive British governments. More than a few civil servants have complained over the years that membership was a straitjacket around national policymaking. But as time has gone on very few of them either wanted Brexit, or thought it possible.

Now, UK civil servants are being forced to discard the political and intellectual framework that has shaped their careers and assumptions about the future. Worse, they will have to unpick regulations and obligations that have benefitted Britain for more than 40 years. Civil servants are also being encouraged to regard profound economic uncertainty at home and a loss of status and influence abroad as exciting opportunities.

The machinery of government is creaking badly in Britain, as demonstrated by Sir Ivan’s resignation. Dave Penman, head of the top civil servants’ trade union, said in early January: “If the civil service is to deliver a successful Brexit negotiation, the recipe for that success is unlikely to be to starve it of resources, lack clarity of objective and be surrounded with yes men and women who will not speak truth unto power,” he said.

“Conviction is not enough – without fact-based analysis, post-truth becomes no truth, no matter how uncertain the future”

There is too much work for too few people with the knowledge and experience to manage disengagement from the EU across the whole spectrum of government, from trade policy to research and innovation.

The situation is worsened by the Prime Minister and her senior colleagues consistently underestimating the challenges of Brexit. Understandably, by nature of their trade, ministers generally have to glow with optimism about changes they advocate. Whether it is transport or social policy or health and welfare reform, they must exhibit an evangelical conviction that they will make things better.

But conviction is not enough. Without fact-based analysis, post-truth becomes no truth, no matter how uncertain the future. Brexiteers float on a cloud of mindless (or, as Sir Ivan said, “muddle-headed”) optimism and a meretricious minimising of the dangers to Britain of its historic change of direction. The government’s political mindset is defensively blind to the possibility of Brexit failure because the alternative is the deafening sound of political careers crashing to the ground.

As the triggering of Article 50 looms and the process of departure becomes real, the United Kingdom is dangerously unprepared for the consequences. Second thoughts will come, and they will change the face of British politics.

IMAGE CREDIT: CC / FLICKR – European Council

The post Mindless optimism masks dangerous lack of preparation for Brexit appeared first on Europe’s World.

Good afternoon and Happy New Year! I warmly welcome Prime Minister Bill English to Brussels today on his very first trip abroad in his new position. And I can tell you that this is also the very first press point in our new Europa building.

New Zealand and the European Union remain close friends and partners. Today we reviewed our excellent bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen them even further.

This should also include a free trade agreement. From the European side, we hope to be able to launch negotiations this year, once all the preparatory work is completed. Such an agreement would not only boost sustainable economic growth, investment and job creation on both sides. It would also send a strong political signal of economic openness and trade at a time where protectionist pressures are on the rise. Not only on our continent but also around the world.

Turning to foreign policy and security, the EU appreciates the constructive role New Zealand has played in the UN Security Council over the last two years.

As I stressed before the United Nations General Assembly last September, the migration and refugee crisis is a global responsibility. The European Union will continue to work together with its partners, including New Zealand, in support of neighbouring countries. And we encourage our partners to increase humanitarian and development aid, as well as refugee resettlement, as New Zealand is doing. I know your personal sensitivity to this issue and thank you for your personal role in this dramatically difficult time for so many people around the world.

We talked about the conflict in Syria, and recalled the need for a political solution. The primary responsibility rests on the parties to the conflict to stop the suffering of the Syrian people; we will continue to use our influence to that end.

We discussed the crisis in Ukraine and the importance of full implementation of the Minsk agreements. The European Union's sanctions against Russia were extended for six months just before Christmas due to the lack of progress in implementing the Minsk Agreements. We reiterate our call on all sides to respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

New Zealand is an important partner of the EU in the security field, and we warmly welcome your country's participation in our Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations. I briefed the Prime Minister on our decisions at the December European Council to increase cooperation and to allocate more resources to security and defence.

Let me conclude by saying that our productive meeting today, confirmed the close ties that unite us. I thank the Prime Minister for the important contribution New Zealand is making globally and in fostering bilateral relations with the EU. I look forward to continuing our close partnership together.

Thank you.

General : Parlamentarium, Parliament's visitors centre, recently celebrated five years of being open to the public. To mark the occasion we have launched a special #ThisIsMy5 photo contest on Parliament's Instagram page. Everyone is welcome to take part and the winners will be treated to a trip to Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : Parlamentarium, Parliament's visitors centre, recently celebrated five years of being open to the public. To mark the occasion we have launched a special #ThisIsMy5 photo contest on Parliament's Instagram page. Everyone is welcome to take part and the winners will be treated to a trip to Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Gascogne Sack Deutschland and Gascogne v Union
Law governing the institutions
The EU is ordered to pay more than €50 000 in damages to the companies Gascogne Sack Deutschland and Gascogne as a result of the excessive length of the proceedings before the General Court