Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following the disruption of pirate logistical dumps in Somalia by EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta

Council conclusions on Syria

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 3166th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 14 May 2012 The Council adopted the following conclusions: "1. The EU reiterates its call on the Syrian authorities to fully and immediately comply with the Joint UN-League of Arab States Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s plan as endorsed by UNSC... 

Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 3166th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 14 May 2012 The Council adopted the following conclusions: 1. "The EU reaffirms its commitment to a two-state solution and its conviction that the ongoing changes across the Arab world make the need for progress on the Middle East... 

Council conclusions on Afghanistan

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 3166th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 14 May 2012 The Council adopted the following conclusions: "1. The Council welcomes the progress made in Afghanistan's transition process. The upcoming international meetings in Chicago on 20 and 21 May, Kabul on 14 June and Tokyo on 8... 

Syria: Council strengthens EU sanctions once more

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 14 May 2012 9816/12 PRESSE 202 In view of the gravity of the situation in Syria, the Council today reinforced once more EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime. It froze the assets of two entities financially supporting the regime and targeted three additional persons... 

Catherine Ashton, on arrests of opposition leaders in Moscow

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: “The High Representative is concerned about the arrests of opposition leaders in Moscow and the 15-day prison sentence imposed on... 

Joint statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the elections in Algeria

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 12 May 2012 A 222/12 Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement: "We welcome the... 

Statement by the EU High Representative on recent attacks in Syria

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 11 May 2012 A 221/12 The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, issued the following statement today: "I join the UN Security Council in condemning the recent attacks in Syria in the southern town of Deraa and... 

EU and Iraq: signature of historic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 11 May 2012 A 216/12 Brussels, 11 May 2012 - Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission today signed the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the Foreign Minister of Iraq, His Excellency Hoshyar Zebari.... 

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on Europe Day – 9 May 2012

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made today the following statement: «Today is the 62nd anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Every year we celebrate Europe Day by looking back at the history of European integration and the... 

Statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, Welcoming the Adoption of Security Council Resolution on the Roadmap for Sudan and South Sudan

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 5 May 2012 A 210/12 Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "I warmly welcome the resolution unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on 2 May endorsing a... 

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the Elections in Serbia

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 5 May 2012 A 209/12 Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The EU looks forward to the upcoming elections in Serbia on Sunday. This will be an important... 

Declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2012

“Freedom of expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights entails everyone’s right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. On the occasion of World Press Freedom day, the European Union recalls these principles... 

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Syria

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 27 April 2012 A 201/12 Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: “I am extremely concerned about the continued violence in Syria in violation of the ceasefire which... 

Council conclusions on Syria

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 3159th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting Luxembourg, 23 April 2012 The Council adopted the following conclusions: "1. The EU welcomes the unanimous adoption of the UNSC resolution 2042 on 14 April authorising the immediate deployment of an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military ... 

Council strengthens EU sanctions against Syrian regime

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Luxembourg, 23 April 2012 8957/12 PRESSE 163 In view of the gravity of the situation in Syria, the Council today reinforced once more EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime. The Council decided to adopt restrictive measures on the export to Syria of additional equipment, goods and... 

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg, 23 April 2012

EUROPEAN UNION Luxembourg, 23 April 2012 A 187/12 Today we started our discussions with Burma/Myanmar and welcomed the truly remarkable changes we have seen in the country in recent months, including the by-elections, the release of some of the political prisoners and efforts that are being made for national reconciliation.... 

Informal Defence Ministers meeting: towards a sustained policy of military capabilities Brussels, 19 April 2012

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 19 April 2012 A 185/12 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, chaired yesterday an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers. Ministers were meeting for the last time before the NATO Chicago summit in May. Building on the work of recent... 

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the ‘5+2’ meeting in Vienna on 17-18 April 2012

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 18 April 2012 A 183/12 Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:  "I welcome the break-through achieved today in Vienna by the participants of the 5+2... 

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the attacks in Afghanistan

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 15 April 2012 A 175/12 The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative condemns in the strongest terms the coordinated attacks... 

Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the E3+3 following the talks with Iran, Istanbul, 14 April 2012

EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 14 April 2012 A 173/12 The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, together with the Political Directors of China, France, Germany, Russian Federation, United States and the United Kingdom, met on 14 April 2012 in Istanbul with the Iranian nuclear negotiator Dr. Saed Jalili in order to address the ... 

EU sanctions against Iran: full effect as of 24.03.2012

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 23 March 2012 7854/12 PRESSE 120 The Council today approved the implementing legislation for the most recent EU restrictive measures in response to the Iranian nuclear programme. Its publication in the Official Journal tomorrow will ensure the full effect of the sanctions... 

Human rights violations: Council tightens sanctions against Iran

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 23 March 2012 7853/12 PRESSE 119 The Council today reinforced EU restrictive measures adopted in response to serious human rights violations in Iran and prolonged them by 12 months. The Council added 17 persons responsible for serious human rights violations to the ... 

More EU support for the victims of Syria's humanitarian crisis

Brussels, 22 March 2012 - Responding to the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria and on its borders, the European Commission is allocating an additional €7 million to finance life-saving assistance to those who have been wounded or forced to flee the ongoing violence in the country. This brings the overall... 

Declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the World and European Water Day, on 22 March

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 22 March 2012 8018/12 PRESSE 132 Safe drinking water and sanitation are crucial for a healthy and dignified life. Yet millions of people worldwide are still without access to clean drinking water and thus deprived of a basic human right. Every day, more than 4000 people die of...