Page 31 - European Union

'India, EU to discuss preventing banned goods from going to Russia'

Kimmo Lähdevirta, Finland's ambassador to New Delhi, said Indian cos should not circumvent sanctions on providing Russia with items such as electronics that have commercial and military applications

India-EU trade talks: Tariffs, market access, regulatory clashes in focus

Talks for an India-EU free trade agreement, stalled for eight years, resumed in 2021, now cover investment protection and geographical indications.

EU signals no concession for India on CBAM, deforestation regulation

Calls some of India's concerns on carbon tax 'illegitimate'

US to announce EU tariffs very soon, says Trump at cabinet meeting

Trump said that US administration would soon be announcing tariffs on EU

EU pushes for tariff cuts on whiskey, wine, cars in India trade talks

The EU seeks lower tariffs as India's biggest FTA nears finalisation after nine rounds of talks, with the next set for March 10-14, boosting access for textiles, leather, and marine exports

EU seeks stronger commitment from India on reducing 'high' import tariffs

The discussion on the FTA will signal the 'broader political commitment' from both leaders and set the stage for the 10 round of negotiation in Brussels during 10-14 March, after a six months hiatus

US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies

In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three UN resolutions Monday seeking an end to the three-year war. In the UN General Assembly, the US joined Russia in voting against a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution that calls out Moscow's aggression and demands an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. The US then abstained from voting on its own competing resolution after Europeans, led by France, succeeded in amending it to make clear Russia was the aggressor. The voting was taking place as Trump was hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington. It was a major setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. The US then pushed for a vote on its original draft in the more powerful UN Security Council, where resolutions

Who is Friedrich Merz, Germany's conservative leader and next chancellor?

Friedrich Merz's party and its ally, the Christian Social Union, won 28.5 per cent in Germany's general election, defeating Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats

EU, Israel to revive discussions on Gaza's future, regional politics

Ahead of today's meeting, the European Union's 27 member countries negotiated a compromise position that praises areas of cooperation with Israel while also raising concerns

EU Commission prez, top Europe leadership to visit India from Feb 27-28

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen accompanied by the College of Commissioners will visit India next week, during which she is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the EU delegation said here on Friday. "The unprecedented visit, one of the first by the College of Commissioners early in the new mandate, highlights the strong momentum in EU-India relations," the Delegation of the European Union to India said in a statement. On February 27 and 28, President von der Leyen will visit New Delhi accompanied by the College of Commissioners, it said. "It follows President von der Leyen's announcement of a new strategic agenda with India to be presented this year at the EU-India Summit. The visit emphasises the importance of strengthening ties in key areas vital to the prosperity and security of both Europe and India," the statement said. During the visit, the College of Commissioners and the Indian government will hold a plenary ...

European troops, US support for Ukraine plan faces many challenges

As the US and Russia push ahead so far without Ukraine at the table on talks to end the war, political and military leaders in Europe are fleshing out details of a plan for European forces to help ensure Moscow does not attack again. After months of quiet discussions, the proposal has become increasingly public. It will likely be on the agenda when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, two major backers of the idea, visit Washington on separate days next week for talks with President Donald Trump. Starmer, who will visit Thursday, has stressed that the force won't work without US military might to back it up. Persuading Trump to provide it could be a tall order. What is the plan? The security guarantee that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy really wants is NATO membership. European members of the military alliance still back that goal, but the US looks to have taken it off the table, along with Ukrainian hopes of regaining the fifth of its territor

Illegal immigration is the 'greatest threat' to Europe and US: JD Vance

For decades, the issue of illegal immigrants has been a major concern in the US, shaping political debates, influencing elections, and driving policy changes on border security

EU ready to discuss lower auto tariffs with US, says bloc's trade chief

The EU commissioner said the bloc will do its "utmost" to avoid an escalatory tariff clash

EU envoys okay more sanctions on Russia on 3rd anniversary of Ukraine war

European Union envoys have approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a top EU official and diplomats confirmed on Wednesday. The move comes with the Europeans sidelined from US-led talks to end the war. The EU has slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 24, 2022. More than 2,300 officials and entities usually government agencies, banks and organizations have been hit. The diplomats confirmed approval of the sanctions the 16th package of measures including travel bans, asset freezes and trade restrictions on condition that they not be named. The measures are still not entirely finalised until EU foreign ministers endorse them on Monday, allowing them to enter force. Among the latest sanctions are measures targeting Russia's so-called shadow fleet of ships that it exploits to .

Meta's WhatsApp faces tougher EU rules as monthly users top 45 million

The commission, which is the EU's executive arm, has been increasing scrutiny of social media in an attempt to rein in the power of predominantly American tech companies

German elections: Who are the top candidates & what are their priorities

Originally scheduled for September 28, the German elections were advanced following the dramatic collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition government in November

European leaders hold emergency talks, fear Trump leaving age-old allies

European leaders sought to form a united front Monday at emergency talks in Paris, called after a US diplomatic blitz on Ukraine which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key transatlantic partner. Shortly before the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with US President Donald Trump, but Macron's office would not disclose details about the 20-minute discussion. Leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the European Union met at the Elysee Palace for talks on Europe's security quandary. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also there. Since last week, top US officials from the Trump administration, on their first visit to Europe, left the impression that Washington was ready to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies. The US to leave Europe out of the negotiating table Gen Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy fo

China lauds EU ties as Trump's peace plan with Russia chills continent

In contrast, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi used his address to say that all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine war should participate in any peace talks, including the European Union

European leaders regroup in Paris after Trump's push to end Ukraine war

French President Emmanuel Macron called leaders from key European Union nations and the United Kingdom to his ornate Elysee Palace on Monday for an emergency meeting on how to deal with the US, a once rock-solid partner. The move follows a weeklong diplomatic blitz on Ukraine by the Trump administration that seemed to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies. Despite belligerent warnings for months ahead of Donald Trump's reelection as US president, EU leaders publicly ignored the ominous forebodings and somehow hoped Trump would stand side by side with Europe, as it would finally start to act on beefing up its defences and become less reliant on the firepower of Washington. But a flurry of speeches by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during their initial visits to Europe last week questioned both Europe's security commitments and its fundamental democratic principles. Macron said their stinging rebukes and threats of

EU, Ministry of Textiles launch 7 projects in 9 states to boost industry

According to the press release, as many of these projects will also support local communities and industries, they are expected to economically empower around 200,000 women