Contents tagged with EU

  • European Commission postpones decision on visa-free regime for Ukraine

    The European Commission will submit a legislative initiative to abolish visas for Georgia.  This will be submitted to the Council of the EU next week.  Such an initiative for Ukraine, however, has been postponed.  This was reported via Twitter by a correspondent of Radio Liberty in Brussels, Ricard Yozvyak.

    “The proposal for the visa liberalization of Georgia will be made by the European Commission next week.  Ukraine will probably have to wait until after the referendum on the Association …

  • 49% of Dutch people aren't aware of upcoming vote on Ukraine-EU Association Agreement

    Almost half of Dutch citizens do not know about the referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (EUAA), which will take place on the 6th of April 2016, according to the results of a TNS Nipo poll, as reported by the daily publication De Telegraaf.

    The researchers found that 49% of the residents of the Netherlands do not know about the referendum.  "It seems that too few people will vote," the edition notes.  In particular, only 21% of the respondents said that "of course" they will vote …

  • EU expects Ukraine to implement two more reforms before visa-free regime can be established

    The European Union expects full implementation of two out of five commitments in the so-called “visa-free” package from Kiev. 

    A European diplomat said this to the correspondent of UKRINFORM in Brussels, commenting on the package of "visa-free" legislation approved by the Verkhovna Rada last week.

    "Yes, indeed, there are still two important questions left: the National Anti-Corruption Agency and the law on electronic declarations," the diplomat said.

    At the same time, he believes that the …

  • European Council formally lifts sanctions against Belarus

    The European Council formally lifted sanctions against Belarus on February 25th, citing improvements in the country’s human rights situation.

    In particular, asset freezes and travel bans were lifted against 170 individuals, including President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as three Belarusian companies.

    EU Foreign Ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released several political prisoners in August of 2015. The appropriate legislation was approved on February 25th. …

  • The EU is not satisfied with Ukraine's progress in fulfilling obligations for visa-free regime

    The EU is dissatisfied with Ukraine’s fulfillment of all legal obligations concerning the adoption of visa-free regime in 2016, according to a Facebook post by Sergey Leshchenko, member of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, after a meeting with the diplomats of the EU agencies in Brussels.  

    “More precisely, Ukraine has fulfilled three of the five requirements for adoption. The EU considered the amendments to three acts made last week but the EU did not consider a declaration law, according to …

  • Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada calls on foreign governments to continue pressuring Russia

    The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted an appeal to the parliaments of foreign countries with regard to Russia and the threats of pro-Russian separatists to execute prisoners held in the Donbas region.  This was stated in two resolutions, which were approved by 236 out of 239 deputies on the 18th of February.

    The Ukrainian parliament has called on foreign countries to “use all available mechanisms at governmental, parliament and non-governmental levels.  They should also give a clear signal …

  • European Commission Makes Plans to Reduce Dependence on Russian Gas

    The European Commission has introduced a new version of the proposal to create an Energy Union designed to reduce European dependence on Russian gas, as reported in a press release from the European governing body.

    The proposal calls for the provision of several standards to ensure the security of the energy supply. In particular, it is proposed that the principles of solidarity are imposed, if necessary, to provide an emergency energy supply. This would involve the improved coordination of …

  • Dutch company receives grant to print anti-EU-Ukraine AA ad campaign on toilet paper

    A private company in the Netherlands, Raspoetin BV, has received a €50,000 grant from Dutch authorities to produce toilet paper with calls to vote against the referendum of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

    The company is one of 72 organizations and individuals to whom the Commission for the Referendum has provided grants from a total fund of €2 million.  An amount of €47,973 has been allocated for the "manufacture, transportation and distribution of the toilet paper, which is printed with …

  • EC wants access to Gazprom's contracts with European companies

    In an effort to enhance cooperation on the energy market, the European Commission (EC) is seeking to study the contracts between Russia and European companies with regard to gas supplies.  In the future, contracts longer than one year should be automatically disclosed to the EC if they are critical for ensuring gas supply to the European Union (EU).  

    This legislative initiative was proposed by officials in Brussels on the 16th of February.  The European Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias …

  • EU lifts most sanctions against Belarus

    The European Union (EU) has finally lifted the sanctions against 170 citizens of Belarus, as well as three Belarusian companies.  The decision was adopted by the Foreign Ministers of 28 countries at a scheduled meeting of the EU Council.  This was reported by the Brussels correspondent of Radio Liberty, Rikard Jozwiak, via Twitter.

    "The Foreign Ministers of the EU have decided to exclude 170 people and three Belarusian companies from the sanctions list.  The embargo on arms supplies still …