Latest news with #LiliBayer
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
17 EU countries sound alarm over Hungarian LGBTQ+ laws
By Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary on Tuesday of contravening fundamental EU values by passing laws that target LGBTQ+ people, as tensions deepen between Budapest and a majority of member states. Hungary's parliament passed legislation in March that creates a legal basis to ban Pride marches there and lets police use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved constitutional changes in April stipulating that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights," the governments of the 17 countries said in a joint statement. They called on Hungary to revise the measures and asked the European Commission to make full use of its powers if Budapest does not do so. The Commission can take legal action against member states if it believes they are violating EU law. The statement was backed by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. The declaration came ahead of a hearing on Tuesday in a long-running process where EU ministers examine concerns that Hungary is at risk of breaching core EU values. The process could in theory lead to Hungary being stripped of its right to vote on EU decisions. But diplomats say there is not sufficient support among the 27 EU member states to take that step. 'MORE NUANCED VIEW' Arriving at the meeting, Hungary's Minister for European Union Affairs Janos Boka said: "There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban". "I hope that after these discussions my colleagues around the table will walk out with a more nuanced view on the Hungarian legislation," he said. But activists say the measures amount to a de-facto ban. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Pride organisers "should not even bother" this year, while his chief of staff Gergely Gulyas has said Hungary "does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest". Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly clashed with the EU and its member countries over democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy. Critics have accused Orban of undermining the rule of law, which the Hungarian government denies. His ruling Fidesz party has said the Pride march could be considered harmful to children and that protecting them would supersede the right to assemble. European Commissioner Michael McGrath, who oversees democracy, justice and rule of law issues, said on Tuesday there were serious concerns about the situation in Hungary. "Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right," he told reporters. "It is not a threat to children. It's not a threat to anyone, and it must be protected and upheld at all times, and so the Commission is examining all of its options," he said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greenland wants more out of US defence agreement, minister says
By Lili Bayer BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greenland wants to benefit more from a defence deal struck decades ago with the United States, the territory's foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, told Reuters on Thursday while also calling for closer cooperation with the European Union. U.S. President Donald Trump has floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, refusing to rule out taking the island by force. The idea has been rebuffed both by leaders in Greenland and Denmark, which governs the island. A 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark gave the U.S. the right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified. "We want to get more out of this agreement," Greenland's Motzfeldt said in an interview, adding that Greenland wants to expand cooperation with the U.S. on climate change, education and business. The minister, who was visiting Brussels for talks with senior EU officials, also said that Greenland wants to build stronger ties to the bloc and diversify its economy. "We want to have more bilateral and direct cooperation with the EU," she said, noting that she wants the relationship to be more visible and pointing to critical minerals as an area of cooperation. Greenland and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 on a strategic partnership to develop sustainable raw materials value chains. In March, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, on a visit to Greenland which stoked deep unease, accused Denmark of not doing a good job keeping the island safe and suggested the United States would better protect it. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this month the people of Greenland should be able to make their own choices free from external pressure. "Under the circumstances of what [is] happening in the United States, we have the EU that stands for us," Motzfeldt said. "The future of Greenland is up to the Greenlandic people," she said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU's Kallas proposes further loosening of Syria sanctions
By Lili Bayer and John Irish BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed a further loosening of European sanctions on Syria to allow funding for Syrian ministries in areas including reconstruction and migration, according to a document seen by Reuters. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria. European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss the relationship with Damascus at a meeting in Brussels next week. The EU has already eased sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction, as well as associated financial transactions, but some member states have pushed for further relief to help smooth Syria's transition. French President Emmanuel Macron said this month after hosting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that Paris would push for the EU to end its sanctions when they come up for renewal. The bulk of sanctions imposed since 2013 are renewed annually on June 1. With the World Bank estimating Syria's reconstruction costs at more than $250 billion, Syria's new authorities have been lobbying European countries for relief from the tough Western sanctions imposed on the former government of Bashar al-Assad. Under the new proposal, dated May 14, the EU would allow member states to provide funding to Syria's ministries of defence and interior for cooperation "in the areas of reconstruction, capacity-building, counter-terrorism and migration", the document said. A special provision would allow EU member states more room for manoeuvre in dealing with Syrian state-owned entities when it comes to the destruction of chemical weapons. The new proposal would lift sanctions on the Commercial Bank of Syria, while retaining measures targeting individuals linked to Assad's former administration. Officials are also discussing whether to lift sanctions on Syria's central bank, three diplomats said. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria have circulated a joint document, seen by Reuters, calling for lifting sanctions on Syria's central bank and financial institutions. "The objective is to provide additional space for socio-economic recovery," the four countries wrote.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU's Kallas proposes further loosening of Syria sanctions
By Lili Bayer and John Irish BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed a further loosening of European sanctions on Syria to allow funding for Syrian ministries in areas including reconstruction and migration, according to a document seen by Reuters. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria. European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss the relationship with Damascus at a meeting in Brussels next week. The EU has already eased sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction, as well as associated financial transactions, but some member states have pushed for further relief to help smooth Syria's transition. French President Emmanuel Macron said this month after hosting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that Paris would push for the EU to end its sanctions when they come up for renewal. The bulk of sanctions imposed since 2013 are renewed annually on June 1. With the World Bank estimating Syria's reconstruction costs at more than $250 billion, Syria's new authorities have been lobbying European countries for relief from the tough Western sanctions imposed on the former government of Bashar al-Assad. Under the new proposal, dated May 14, the EU would allow member states to provide funding to Syria's ministries of defence and interior for cooperation "in the areas of reconstruction, capacity-building, counter-terrorism and migration", the document said. A special provision would allow EU member states more room for manoeuvre in dealing with Syrian state-owned entities when it comes to the destruction of chemical weapons. The new proposal would lift sanctions on the Commercial Bank of Syria, while retaining measures targeting individuals linked to Assad's former administration. Officials are also discussing whether to lift sanctions on Syria's central bank, three diplomats said. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria have circulated a joint document, seen by Reuters, calling for lifting sanctions on Syria's central bank and financial institutions. "The objective is to provide additional space for socio-economic recovery," the four countries wrote.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU and UK to hold annual summits, draft statement shows
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and United Kingdom will agree to hold annual summits to take stock of their bilateral relationship, according to a draft statement prepared for an upcoming summit in London seen by Reuters. The EU and Britain are set to hold a summit in London on May 19, and the draft is the latest iteration of a joint text that leaders are set to agree at the gathering. "We agreed that a stable foundation for our relationship is vital, and, in this context, we reaffirmed our commitment to the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement," according to the draft, referring to texts related to Brexit. "We agreed to hold annual UK-EU summits to take stock of the bilateral relationship," said the text, dated May 6 and shared with EU delegations. The draft outlines the two sides' view on global priorities, including continued support for Ukraine and an agreement to remain ready to exert pressure on Russia. The EU and UK also said they recognised the shared challenge of irregular migration and that there is a need to address it with third countries. "We also recognised the need to do more to secure our respective external borders, while remaining committed to ensuring international protection for those who need it," the draft said. The draft noted that "we recognised the importance of transatlantic cooperation in addressing global challenges, fostering economic growth, and ensuring peace and security." (Reporting by Lili Bayer, editing by GV De Clercq)
