Latest news with #EUForeignAffairsCouncil
Channel 4
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
EU leaders need to ‘exert pressure' on Israel, says Irish minister
Last year, Ireland led the way in recognising a Palestinian state, along with Spain and Norway. Now it's pushing the EU to reconsider its trade agreement with Israel. The EU Foreign Affairs Council has been meeting today to discuss the possibility, and one of the participants there was the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Neale Richmond. We spoke to him and began by asking him what was decided.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Apart from 17th package of sanctions against Russia, EU to approve three more on 20 May
The EU Foreign Affairs Council is expected to approve the 17th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Tuesday 20 May, along with three additional sanction packages concerning Russia's hybrid activities, human rights violations and the use of chemical weapons. Source: EU official involved in preparing the packages who spoke to European Pravda on condition of anonymity Details: Several EU diplomats in Brussels also confirmed the plans in conversations with European Pravda. The source told European Pravda that the Council was planning to adopt a range of diverse sanctions packages on Tuesday, which would constitute the broadest ever simultaneous use of multiple EU sanctions against Russia, totalling four separate packages. The source added that over 130 individual sanctions are expected to be approved on 20 May, as well as measures targeting Russia's military industry, its suppliers from third countries, disinformation propaganda and the Russian shadow fleet. The first package to be approved on 20 May by the EU Council is the 17th package of sanctions introduced in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. According to the EU official, this package includes 75 listings and nearly 200 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, making it the biggest EU sanctions package against Russian vessels to date. The second package, he noted, focuses on Russia's hybrid activities under the hybrid sanction regime. It includes 27 entries and sectoral measures. The third package concerns violations of human rights in Russia and is expected to include 28 individual designations within the framework of the EU's human rights sanctions regime. The fourth package addresses Russia's use of chemical weapons as a method of warfare in Ukraine and will be implemented under the EU's chemical weapons sanctions regime. The EU official noted that all four packages had been agreed at the ambassadorial level and, as of now, no EU member state – including Hungary – had raised objections to their adoption. Background: As previously reported by European Pravda, the 17th sanctions package is expected to be adopted at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May. On 16 May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined potential measures to be included in the next, 18th, package of sanctions against Russia, which is already in development. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tanaiste calls for EU to start formal trade negotiations with US
Tánaiste Simon Harris has warned that there 'isn't a moment to lose' and called for 'formal' trade negotiations between the US and EU as the halfway point of Donald Trump's 90-day tariff pause approaches. Mr Harris, who is the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, also warned the US President that it would be 'bad faith' to implement sector-specific tariffs, such as on pharma, while negotiations are ongoing. In early April, Mr Trump announced that 20 per cent tariffs would be applied to all goods entering the US from the EU. He later announced a 90-day pause on these measures, with a 10% tariff applicable in the interim. The 90-day pause will expire on July 8. Mr Harris was in Brussels on Thursday for a meeting with other Foreign Affairs Ministers as part of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The Tánaiste was also scheduled to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. On his way into the meeting, Mr Harris told reporters that he believed it was time for formal negotiations between the US and the EU. He said: 'We're nearly at the halfway point of the [90-day] pause and, therefore, there isn't a moment to lose in terms of getting into substantive engagement between the EU and the US. 'I think the EU have shown real form in relation to this, in constructively engaging with the United States, in Maros Sefcovic staying in very close contact with his counterparts in Washington. 'But now I believe it's the time for formal engagement and negotiation to begin.' Mr Harris stated he held a roundtable meeting in Government Buildings earlier this week with the pharmaceutical industry. Mr Trump has regularly warned he would tariff the European pharma industry and earlier this week, ordered them to reduce drug prices in the US, even if it meant higher prices in the EU. The Tánaiste stated that the sector is 'very important' in both Ireland and the EU. He continued: 'It's really important that in our negotiations with the EU and the US that [pharma] is included. 'I think it would be extraordinarily bad faith if the US was to take any actions against a sector whilst the EU and the US are in a process of engagement. 'I would repeat my call that there should be no further escalatory actions by the US when we're trying to actually engage and find a way forward.' The Tánaiste said that Ireland is still analysing the list of EU countermeasures that will be implemented if no deal can be struck with the Trump administration, but stated that agrifood, medtech and aviation measures included in the plans are 'particular causes of concern and impact for Ireland'. Mr Harris said 10% tariffs 'cannot become the new norm' and that now that the US has negotiated with the UK and China, he hopes that 'bandwidth can now be applied, from a US point of view, to engaging in a substantive and meaningful way with the European Union'. He added: 'I find it somewhat concerning that when you do see deals that the US have cut in relation to trade, those deals might make a country better off in terms of their trading relationship with the US than they were two weeks ago, but objectively worse off than they were three or four months ago.' Mr Harris told Cabinet earlier this week that he believed the deal between the US and the UK would 'solidify and normalise' tariffs.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU ambassadors approve 17th package of sanctions against Russia
European Union ambassadors approved the 17th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday 14 May. Source: European Pravda, citing a diplomat from one of the key EU states familiar with the proceedings of the relevant meeting Details: The diplomat noted that the sanctions target Russia's shadow fleet in particular, with nearly 200 vessels, including oil tankers, subject to restrictions. The EU also approved the imposition of sanctions against about 30 new companies involved in the circumvention of sanctions (especially in relation to dual-use goods). The diplomat said that the EU also approved 75 new individual sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the Russian defence industry. In addition, the ambassadors also approved additional sanctions against Russia for human rights violations, hybrid interventions around the world and chemical weapons proliferation. Background: Notably, the 17th package of sanctions against Russia is to be approved by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May. On 6 May, EU representatives began discussing the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which focuses on Russia's military machine and shadow fleet. It was also reported that the European Commission intends to continue sanctions pressure on Russia. Therefore, once the 17th package of sanctions is approved, work will commence on the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The Journal
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
European leaders arrive in Kyiv in show of joint 'solidarity' with Ukraine
THE LEADERS OF France, the UK and Germany have arrived in Ukraine for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, promising to increase pressure on Russia until it agrees to a ceasefire. It comes a day after Russia held extravagant celebrations on its annual Victory Day marking the anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany in World War Two, where it hosted several foreign leaders – including the head of Slovakia, an EU member state. Meanwhile, Ireland's Minister of State for International Development Neale Richmond visited Lviv in Ukraine yesterday to attend an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived together by train from neighbouring Poland this morning and are due to be joined later by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. It is the first time the leaders of those four European nations have made a joint visit to Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a step to end the conflict but Putin has resisted so far. 'Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace,' the European leaders said in a statement ahead of their visit. Advertisement 'We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire, and prepare for a full peace deal,' they said. We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come 'We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine.' In an interview with ABC News today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said weapons deliveries to Ukraine from its allies end stop before Russia will agree to a ceasefire. After meeting Zelenskyy in the morning, the visiting heads are to host a virtual meeting to update other European leaders on the prospect of forming a European military force that could provide Ukraine with security after the war. The force 'would help regenerate Ukraine's armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace', the statement said. When he arrived in Lviv yesterday, Minister Neale Richmond said the visit 'sends a strong signal of solidarity and confirms the EU's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression'. 'As Russia continues with its attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and ports, the people of Ukraine have demonstrated outstanding courage, resolve and determination,' Richmond said. We are here to honour their heroic efforts to defend their country and our shared fundamental values. Ireland stands in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their quest for accountability. 'This is an important step forward as States come together with the express intention of prosecuting those responsible for a specific act of aggression.' Contains additional reporting by AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
