European Commission
EU proposes 10th sanctions package against Russia
A ban on the export of dual-use and advanced tech goods to Russia is also part of the new sanctions package. The Commission proposes controls on 47 new electronic components that could be used in Russian weapons systems, as well as on specific rare earth materials and thermal cameras.
EU economy set to avoid recession but headwinds persist
The growth outlook for 2023 is raised to 0.8 percent for the EU and 0.9 percent for the eurozone, according to the document, which was presented by European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni. This is respectively 0.5 and 0.6 percentage points higher than in the Autumn Forecast, Xinhua news agency reported.
EU new sanctions target Russia's armed forces, drone supply.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday in a statement that the eight packages of sanctions introduced so far were "biting hard" but the Commission was "stepping up the pressure on Russia". The ninth package proposes adding nearly 200 additional individuals and entities to the sanctions list, including the Russian armed forces, as well as individual officers and defence industrial companies, among others.
EU plans to criminalise violation of sanctions against Russia
It proposes to establish the same level of penalties in all member states to close existing legal loopholes and increase the deterrent effect of violating EU sanctions, reports Xinhua news agency. It aims to establish "common basic standards" for penalties, the Commission said in statement.
There can be no hard border on Ireland: Von der Leyen
"Ireland can always count on the EU to stand by the Good Friday Agreement, there can be no hard border on the island of Ireland," von der Leyen said on Thursday while addressing the Irish parliament in Dublin on a visit to mark Ireland's 50 years of European Union (EU) membership. "Joining the EU has unleashed Ireland's immense potential and has profoundly transformed this country," she said.
EU tightens visa rules for Russians
On Friday, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said the guidelines come in response to the recent escalation in Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine, reports Xinhua news agency. "The EU will protect itself and our citizens. We are making sure to have a coherent and united approach at EU external borders vis-a-vis Russian citizens and also when it comes to applying strict rules on issuing short-stay visas for Russian citizens," she said.
President Putin will fail and Europe will prevail: EU chief
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, European Commission President Leyen issued a rallying call intended to unite member states grappling with an energy crisis as winter draws near, The Guardian reported. Leyen described the Russian invasion as not only a war on Ukraine, but "a war on our economy, a war on our values and a war on our future".
EC chief urges international community to support sanctions on Russia for long period
During the Raisina Dialogue here, Leyen said what happens in Ukraine will have an impact on the Indo- Pacific. "In many ways, it already has. We, therefore, want a targeted vision for a free, resilient, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region," she said. She said that images coming from Ukraine have shocked the whole world.
NATO approves deployment of four new battle groups
The four new battle groups deployed along eastern part of the NATO alliance were approved on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. In total, there will now be eight NATO battle groups deployed along the eastern flank of the alliance, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
The organisation's heads of states were called for an extraordinary meeting to discuss further support for Ukraine, in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that started in February.
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