Page 68 - European Union

India, European Union speed up work on free trade agreement negotiations

The fifth round of negotiations will be held in New Delhi from June 19-23, 2023

EU lashes out at China for extending support to Russia in Ukraine war

The European Union's foreign policy chief on Tuesday lashed out at China for its support of Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine and called it a blatant violation of Beijing's United Nations commitments. There cannot be siding with the aggressor, Josep Borrell said. There is a clear expectation from a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council to stand up in defence of international rules-based order and China as a moral duty to contribute to a fair peace. Standing alongside visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Borrell was forceful in his condemnation of a nation that has increasingly moved from being a partner to being a rival on the global stage. The comments come just ahead of a visit of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen together with French President Emmanuel Macron to China, where both will press the point that EU-China relations will pivot on Beijing's friendship with Russia. Macron and von der Leyen are set to warn China against sending weapons to Russ

EU's population projected to drop by 6% by 2100, shows Eurostat data

The European Union's population will decrease by 6 per cent between 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2100, equivalent to 27.3 million fewer people, according to the latest population projections

India, Denmark exchange views on G20 presidency, India-EU FTA, Ukraine

India, Denmark exchanged views on multilateral, regional issues including India's G20 presidency, India-EU Free Trade Agreement, Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, co-operation at the UN, and climate change

As Finland plans to join Nato, a look at how countries join the alliance

Nato's membership has increased from 12 to 30 countries through eight rounds of enlargement. The Republic of North Macedonia became the latest country to join Nato on March 27, 2020

Ukraine seeks to join EU within year after start of membership talks

Ukraine is performing the tasks put forward by the EU for the membership "much faster than anyone expected", the minister stressed

India falls 6 spots to rank 144 in Passport Index 2023: All you must know

The sharp fall in India's ranking has been attributed to the change in European Union's policy

EU mulls banning new gas, diesel cars by 2035 despite divisions

European Union (EU) energy ministers have approved a ban on the production and sale of new cars using traditional fossil fuel engines by 2035

European Union takes key step toward ending era of combustion-engine cars

The last-minute deal is a concession to high-end sports car brands like Germany's Porsche, but is expected to have little effect on the plans of most major manufacturers.

European Union leaders grapple with banking crisis as economy weakens

European Union leaders gathered Friday to gauge the risk of a banking crisis developing from recent global financial turbulence and hitting the economy even harder than the energy crunch tied to Russia's war in Ukraine. The deliberations by EU government heads in Brussels follow US regulators shutting down two US banks, including Silicon Valley Bank, and a Swiss-orchestrated takeover of troubled lender Credit Suisse by rival UBS. The emergency actions on both sides of the Atlantic revived memories of the 2008 global financial meltdown and the ensuing EU sovereign debt crisis, which almost broke apart the euro currency now shared by 20 European countries. For the moment, we see no reason to be worried, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told reporters on his way to the EU meeting. But we monitor it really closely, almost on a daily basis, because no one knows what can happen. The European economy has been slowing rapidly since Russia invaded Ukraine 13 months ago to the day, .

EU to propose clampdown on firms using fake 'green' claims on products

The European Union is set to propose on Wednesday new requirements on companies seeking to promote goods sold in Europe with labels like "natural", "climate neutral" or having "recycled content"

European Commission proposes rules to protect consumers from greenwashing

The European Union's executive arm proposed rules on Wednesday to protect consumers from businesses selling goods labelled as green which actually aren't. The European Commission said greenwashing was a notable problem, with 53 per cent of green claims on products or services making vague, misleading or unfounded information. About 230 sustainability labels are in use across the 27-nation EU, with vastly different levels of transparency, according to the commission. With its green claims directive, the commission wants to set common criteria that would bring more clarity. The European Parliament and EU member countries need to approve the initiative for it to take effect. Under the proposal, companies that claim the packaging for their products is made of 30 per cent recycled plastic would have to prove it with scientific evidence. EU countries would be in charge of setting up verification processes overseen by independent bodies. Businesses based outside the EU making environmen

EU condemns gender-based discrimination by Taliban in Afghanistan

Where activities cannot be continued in line with the EU's principled approach, the EU support to those activities will be reconsidered, the statement said

Ahead of Xi's visit to Russia, Putin accuses West of fueling Ukraine crisis

Putin also said that the international security and cooperation architecture is being dismantled. Russia has been labeled an 'immediate threat' and China a 'strategic competitor'

Ban on women's education in Afghanistan increases gender violence risk: EU

Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement for women and girls

India, EU conclude another round of talks for proposed trade agreement

India and the European Union (EU) on Saturday concluded the fourth round of talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement in Brussels, a move aimed at further strengthening economic ties between the two sides. The next round of the talks is planned for 12-16 June here. India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations on June 17 last year after a gap of over eight years on the proposed agreements on trade, investments and Geographical Indications (GI). "Round 4 of India EU-FTA negotiations held at Brussels," Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce has said in a tweet. She is India's chief negotiator for the agreement. India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007 but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits and the movement of professionals. India's merchandise exports to EU member countries stood at about USD 65 billion in 2021-22, while

Ukraine, EU extend deal on road transport liberalisation till June 2024

Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have extended a deal on road transport liberalisation for one year till June 30, 2024, the Ukrainian government press service has reported

EU asks UEFA to ban Belarus from Euro 2024 due to its human rights record

A group of more than 100 European Union lawmakers is urging European soccer's governing body to ban Belarus from qualifying for the 2024 European Championship. MEPs from across the political spectrum wrote in a letter sent to UEFA president Alexander Ceferin that the Belarusian national team should not be able to compete because of the country's terrible human rights record. "These are not only UEFA values at stake, but also UEFA's reputation and image within democratic societies and international community," they said. Last week, a court in Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government, the latest move in a months-long effort by the government to suppress dissent. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. Russia used Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine more than

EU closer to end trade dispute with US, moves on Green Deal funds

The European Union moved closer to ending a trade dispute with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday following months of wrangling over the billions of America-first incentives in his clean technology plans and said it would ramp up a similar subsidy-laden effort at home. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the parliament plenary that in its attempt to produce at least 40 per cent of the clean tech needed by 2030 in the 27-nation bloc, it would allow for the tax breaks and the flexible use of EU funds on top of simplifying and speeding up industrial approvals. She spoke of a striking symmetry between the US efforts and the European Green Deal plans. Both of them are simultaneously a climate strategy and a strategy for investment and growth, von der Leyen said. Her upbeat comments came on the eve of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, tabling plans for the Net-Zero Industry Act on industrial incentives and a Critical Raw Materials Act, which seeks to .

Credit Suisse leads Europe bank stock rout after short-lived SVB respite

A fresh 18% drop in embattled Swiss lender Credit Suisse led the wider European banking index lower