European Union Live Blog

1 week 2 days ago - Greece

More than a week after inconclusive elections left no party with enough votes for a majority in parliament, party leaders have been unable to agree on power-sharing amongst themselves.

On Monday they lurched lurched towards a ninth day of talks to try to form a government that could handle the country's acute financial crisis, stave off default and ensure Greece stays in the euro.

The leader of Greece's Democratic Left party said on Monday that he will not join a coalition that doesn't include the radical left and that any other governing deal would be a "government of technocrats".

Fotis Kouvelis was speaking following a meeting with New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras, socialist PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos and Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

-- The Associated Press

Tags European Union, eurozone
1 week 3 days ago - European Union

EU foreign ministers have agreed on a fresh set of sanctions against Syria. Ministers also urged a quick deployment of ceasefire observers under the peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

The ceasefire is not being fully implemented ... There continues to be killing, torture, abuse in Syria. So it's very important we keep the pressure on the Assad regime." British Foreign Secretary William Hague
We must maintain political pressure." Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn
I hope all of them [observers] will come in as soon as possible ... We do see that that leads to a sort of reduction in violence and repression in areas where they are able to be." A failure of the Annan plan would be "a rapid descent into sectarian civil war. That would be profoundly devastating for Syria and the entire region." Sweden Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
Tags sanctions, syria
1 week 5 days ago - Syria

Twenty-four armoured vehicles donated by the European Union arrived in Syria on Saturday.
  
Vassilis Bontosoglou, the EU's ambassador to Syria, said the cars were to help the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).
 
"This is part of a more important assistance which the European Union is providing to Kofi Annan and to his team - 24 armoured cars to help the observers mission," he said.
 
"You saw the first cargo arriving, there will be two others coming later today. And I as I said already this is an expression of commitment of the European Union to the Kofi Annan plan."
 
New observers for UNSMIS were still arriving in the Syrian capital on Saturday - bringing the total number to around 100.
 
While the violence in the country continues, world powers are backing the peace plan presented by international envoy Kofi Annan that calls for a cease-fire to allow for talks on a political solution to the conflict.

Tags European Union, UN observers, UNSMIS, Vassilis Bontosoglou
4 weeks 3 days ago - Europe

The European Union has agreed to slap new sanctions on the Syrian government, banning luxury goods exports and further restricting the sale of items used to repress dissidents, a diplomat told the AFP news agency.

"These sanctions will be put in place against Syria," the diplomat said after EU ambassadors endorsed the measures ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

The extent of the luxury ban has yet to be defined but the aim is to deliver a symbolic blow against the lavish lifestyle of President Bashar al-Assad and his British-born wife Asma, another diplomat said.

"The Assad couple, as well as his inner circle and leaders of the regime must be made to understand that events in Syria will also impact their personal lives," the source added.

Brussels also decided to expand the blacklist of dual-use goods which can be used for internal repression or for the manufacturing of equipment used for internal repression.

The 14th round of EU sanctions comes as violence continues in Syria despite the presence of UN truce observers in the country.

[The EU a month ago tightened the noose on Assad's family, slapping a travel ban and asset freeze on his wife, mother and sister in the 13th round of EU sanctions in a year - Photo: EPA]

Tags Asma al Assad, Bashar al Assad, EU sanctions, European Union, syria
4 weeks 6 days ago - Syria

The Assad couple's lifestyle is the next  target of EU sanctions on the Syrian regime, with the bloc ready to ban exports of luxury items, diplomats said Friday.

"Sanctions are ready," said an EU diplomat who asked not to be named.

"We will see Monday, depending on the situation on the ground, if European Union foreign ministers decide to adopt them or not" at talks in Luxembourg.

This 14th round of EU sanctions would concern luxury goods and so-called dual-use goods which can be used for internal repression or for the manufacturing of equipment used for internal repression, a senior EU diplomat said.

By targeting luxury items, the EU is "symbolically" targeting the lifestyle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his British-born wife Asma, said a European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The Assad couple, as well as his inner circle and leaders of the regime must be made to understand that events in Syria will also impact their personal lives," the source told AFP news agency.

The EU a month ago tightened the noose on Assad's family, slapping a travel ban and asset freeze on his wife, mother and sister in the 13th round of EU sanctions in a year.

His immediate family were among 12 people and two oil companies added to an existing EU blacklist totalling 126 people and 41 firms or utilities.

Tags Asma al Assad, Bashar al Assad, European Union, sanctions
4 weeks 6 days ago - Brussels

The European Union is preparing a fresh round of sanctions against the Syrian regime, banning exports of luxury items
and goods which can be used for internal repression, diplomats said on Friday.

"The sanctions are ready," said an EU diplomat who asked not to be named.

The timing for their adoption however "will depend on the situation on the ground."

A decision could be made at talks in Luxembourg on Monday between foreign ministers from the 27 EU nations. [AFP]

 

Tags European Union, sanctions, syria
5 weeks 5 days ago - Brussels

The European Union welcomed the UN Security Council vote authorising an observer force to Syria and urged the regime to cooperate with the mission.

"I call on the Syrian Government to take this opportunity to change course, and fully cooperate with the initial observation team," Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief said in a statement on Saturday.

[Source: AFP] 

Tags European Union, syria, UN security council resolution
8 weeks 13 hours ago - Belgium

Belgium has closed its embassy in Damascus because of deteriorating security in the Syrian capital and in protest at the government's use of violence against civilians, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.


Belgium is immediately recalling its ambassador to Brussels together with two other staff members, the ministry said. It will retain one diplomat in the country, based in the European Union's offices.


Countries including France, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States have already closed their embassies in Syria.

 
Turkey, Syria's one-time ally, shut its mission there on Monday.

Tags Brussels, European Union, syria
9 weeks 1 day ago - Syria

European Union states are set to ban Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife Asma from travel to and shopping in the EU, diplomats said, cranking up pressure on his government to end a bloody crackdown on popular unrest.

A British-born former investment banker who had once cultivated an image of a woman inspired by Western values, Asma al-Assad has become a hate figure for many Syrians. 

In recent weeks she became the focus of media attention when a trove of emails between her and her husband obtained by Britain's Guardian newspaper appeared to show them shopping for pop music and luxury items while Syria descended into bloodshed.

The EU has responded to Syria's violence with a broad range of sanctions, which include a ban on Syrian oil imports to
Europe and measures against the Syrian central bank and other companies and state institutions.

On Friday, it is expected to take new steps. For Asma, they will mean she will no longer be able to travel to the EU or buy
products from EU-based companies, in her own name.

Foreign ministers of EU member states are set to agree on a new round of measures, the bloc's 13th, and impose asset freezes and bans on travel to the EU against 12 people, include Asma.

A prohibition for European companies to do business with two more Syrian entities is also planned.

"The text (of sanctions) has gone through," said one EU diplomat, referring to an agreement reached by EU envoys in
Brussels to a list of new sanctions. Another diplomat confirmed Assad's wife is included in the list of sanctioned individuals. 

The list still needs formal approval from ministers. It will become public on Saturday when new sanctions are due to go into effect. 

[Reuters]

Tags Asma al Assad, European Union, reuters
12 weeks 3 days ago - Brussels

European foreign ministers increased the pressure Monday on Syria's regime to stop its crackdown on opponents, freezing the assets of several Syrian government officials and imposing sanctions on the country's central bank.

They also banned the purchase of gold, precious metals and diamonds from the country, and banned Syrian cargo flights from the European Union.

The EU had previously imposed several rounds of sanctions on Syria, freezing the assets of 100 people and 38 organisations, and trying to cut the country's supply of equipment for its oil and gas sectors.

So far the EU sanctions have had little effect on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Activist groups estimate nearly 7,500 people have died in 11 months of unrest.

The names of the Syrian officials sanctioned on Monday will be made public Tuesday in the EU's official journal. The new sanctions were adopted Monday morning by the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries, meeting in Brussels, said an EU spokeswoman.

Tags European Union, sanctions, syria

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