Latest news with #JozefSikela
Euronews
18-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Ukraine bags one third of EU's €300bn external action budget proposal
The European Union announced a 37% increase in its external action budget to €42.6 billion, citing growing challenges from climate instability, migration pressures and competition over critical resources. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela said during the budget presentation Thursday that the EU has "entered an era of growing challenges from climate driven instability and global migration pressures to rising competition over critical raw materials, global influence and market access." The external action budget forms part of the €2 trillion package announced Wednesday by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said the EU aims to extend its influence through the budget, stating, "global Europe empowers us to be a player, not just a payer." The enlargement and neighbourhood policy receives the increased funding to help candidate countries accelerate reforms. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said, "Accession talks with Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine have never progressed faster." Ukraine will receive €100 billion earmarked for reforms and reconstruction. "Whoever thought European support would weaken over time was wrong. Time is really not on Russia's side," Kos said. The Mediterranean region, including EU southern neighbours in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, will receive €42 billion designed to shape migration policy. "We will enhance investments in security and safe borders to better control smuggling and illegal migration," Šuica said, adding that the EU will also "develop legal pathways for migration." The EU's 2024 migration and asylum pact includes "talent partnerships" with Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco to promote legal migration. "We need people to fill in the labour shortages in the European market, but at the same time we will fight strongly against illegal migration and against smugglers," Šuica said.
Euronews
17-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Ukraine bags a third of EU's €300 billion external action budget bill
'We have entered an era of growing challenges from climate driven instability and global migration pressures to rising competition over critical raw materials, global influence and market access,' Jozef Sikela, European commissioner for international partnerships, said, during a presentation on the external action budget on Thursday. The budget for external action is part of the €2 trillion announced on Wednesday by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, said the EU hoped to extend its influence through the external action budget, adding: 'Global Europe empowers us to be a player, not just a payer.' The enlargement and neighbourhood policy — which has become geostrategic for the European Union — sees its funding increased by 37% to €42.6 billion. It should help candidate countries accelerate their reforms, the Commission said. "Accession talks with Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine have never progressed faster,' Marta Kos, European commissioner for enlargement said. The €100 billion earmarked for Ukraine targets reforms and reconstruction. 'Whoever thought European support would weaken over time was wrong. Time is really not on Russia's side,' Kos added. Of the total fund €42 billion has been earmarked for the Mediterranean region, including EU southern neighbours in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf, designed to shape migration policy. 'We will enhance investments in security and safe borders to better control smuggling and illegal migration,' Šuica said, adding: 'But we will also develop legal pathways for migration.' The EU pact on migration and asylum adopted in 2024 includes 'talent partnerships' with Egypt, Tunisia and Marocco to promote legal migration. 'We need people to fill in the labour shortages in the European market, but at the same time we will fight strongly against illegal migration and against smugglers,' Šuica said.
India Gazette
11-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
EAM Jaishankar interacts with EU top brass; discusses FTA agreement, IMEC
Brussels [Belgium], June 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic and European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela on Wednesday. The leaders held discussions on imperative issues such as the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) along with shipping and clean energy. Sharing the details in a series of posts on X, EAM said, 'Delighted to meet @MarosSefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security in Brussels this morning. Recognised the progress in our discussions for a comprehensive, balanced and meaningful FTA agreement between India and EU. Agreed that it would elevate our strategic partnership, that is rapidly acquiring new dimensions and facets.' 'Great meeting @JozefSikela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Our conversation focused on driving forward India - EU engagement in connectivity, IMEC, green shipping and clean energy. Today's signing of our trilateral cooperation arrangement will benefit the Global South', he wrote on X. The European leaders too expressed optimism on meetings with EAM Jaishankar. European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic wrote on X, 'A valuable meeting with @DrSJaishankar, covering our efforts to elevate the EU-India partnership to the next level - through a commercially meaningful trade agreement. We keep our strategic lenses firmly in place, and I'm looking forward to seeing @PiyushGoyal soon.' European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela in a series of posts on X mentioned, 'Following our recent mission to India, we keep pushing for stronger EU-India partnership. Today I had a meeting with India's Minister of External Affairs, @DrSJaishankar. We discussed: New EU-India Strategic Agenda; The progress of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor project. Our joint priorities under the Global Gateway, which include clean energy, sustainable urbanization and enhanced connectivity' 'To fully unlock the potential of the EU-India partnership, today we signed a Cooperation Agreement on Trilateral Cooperation with Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar. This new initiative will support pilot projects in third countries, focused on driving sustainable development with a strong emphasis on climate action and digital inclusion,' Jozef Sikela added. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed cooperation between India and Europe on several fronts, including trade, technology and security. (ANI)
Deccan Herald
11-06-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Jaishankar meets EU leaders; discusses ways to strengthen ties, progress in FTA
Great meeting @JozefSikela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Our conversation focused on driving forward India - EU engagement in connectivity, IMEC, green shipping and clean energy. Today's signing of our trilateral cooperation arrangement will benefit…
Voice of America
12-03-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
VOA Uzbek: EU boosts its Central Asia strategy
As the U.S. seeks to strengthen ties with resource-rich Central Asia, the European Union is also reaching out to the region. Having adopted a new strategy for Central Asia in 2019, the bloc appears to be making renewed efforts to implement it. EU Commissioner for External Relations Jozef Sikela has begun a tour of the region ahead of an EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan in April. Click here for the full story in Uzbek.
