European Union

15 oil vessels blocked at Turkish Straits amid EU sanctions on Russian oil
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The Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance of these ships is invalid due to the EU sanctions and such insurance cannot be compensated in the event of an accident, the Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said on Thursday in a statement. "Crude oil tankers that cannot offer valid P&I insurance are not allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits and this rule has been in effect since 2002," said the statement, adding it would continue to block the passage of oil tankers without appropriate insurance letters.
EU plans to criminalise violation of sanctions against Russia
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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 
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"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 regulator warns of Covid spike in winter
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"Over the last weeks we have not seen a major increase in Covid-19 case rates in the EU as a result of rising immunity following vaccinations and natural infections," Marco Cavaleri, head of Health Threats and Vaccines Strategy of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), told a press briefing. "However, this could change rapidly as we are getting into the cold winter months," Cavaleri said.
Russia bans more EU figures from entry
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Among the newly blacklisted are representatives of European manufacturers of weapons and military equipment supplied to Ukraine and some lawmakers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the ministry. The Russian side did not specify who are subject to the travel ban.
Hungary stays out of EU Ukraine military training mission: Minister
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"Hungary chose the option of a constructive abstention, meaning it did not hinder it, but it did not support it either," Szijjarto added on Monday in a video message on social media following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. "Anything leading to escalation is not something we think is a good idea," he said.
EU slams sanctions on Iran's morality police, Minister
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The death of the 22-year-old Iranian woman made international headlines this month and triggered social unrest and fierce protests across Iran, killing scores of people, Xinhua news agency reported. EU sanctions were issued on Monday against those believed to be responsible for Amini's death: Iran's Morality Police and two of its key figures, Mohammad Rostami and Hajahmad Mirzaei. The EU has designated the Iranian LEF and a number of its local chiefs, and listed Issa Zarepour, Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology.
Russia ready to resume gas supplies to EU via Nord Stream 2: President Putin
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The Russian leader said gas could still be supplied by one remaining intact part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The ball was in the EU's court on whether it wanted gas supplied via the pipeline, he said. President Putin said, "Russia is ready to start such supplies. The ball is in the court of the EU. If they want, they can just open the tap."
Russia will lose when our peace formula prevails: Zelensky tells summit
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On Thursday, leaders from the European Union (EU), the UK, Turkey, Norway and the Balkans met at the first European Political Community in Prague, during which they discussed energy, migration and security, with a particular focus on the war in Ukraine. Congratulating on the formation of the Community, the President said that due to this initiative, "we have received not just another format of cooperation in Europe, but an extremely powerful opportunity to restore peace in Europe", according to a statement issued by Zelensky's office.
EU adopts 8th package of sanctions against Russia
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The eighth round of EU sanctions came in response to "the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions," the statement added on Thursday. The new measures incorporate the G7 (Group of Seven) price cap into the existing sanctions on Russian oil, expand the restrictions on services, exports and imports and add further individuals and entities to the sanctions list, Xinhua news agency reported.
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