Category Archives: Politics

Political Press Releases & News distributed via EuropaWire

Ceremony at Dublin Castle marks three important EU milestones for Ireland

2013 to bring seventh Irish EU Presidency, 40th anniversary of EU membership and EU Year of Citizens. 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — This morning at a ceremony at Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister of State for European Affairs marked the … Read the full press release

‘Olympic’ sustainable awards for Ireland’s Presidency headquarters

Ireland is the first Presidency to be awarded the sustainable and environmental certifications that were also awarded to the London Olympic Games venues. 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Certification Europe has awarded double certification for Event Sustainability (ISO 20121) and Environmental Management … Read the full press release

Speech: Review of the Cyprus Presidency – closing statement

Maroš Šefčovič — Vice-President of the Commission EP Plenary debate/Brussels Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Madam President, I think we would all agree – as was very well testified to in this debate – that 2012 was one of the most difficult years … Read the full press release

Catherine Ashton travels to Latin America

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, travels to Peru and to Chile this week for a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of Latin American countries and … Read the full press release

EU leading action to boost literacy in developing countries

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — In addition to efforts to improve levels of literacy in the EU through its ‘Europe Loves Reading’ campaign, the European Commission is also at the forefront of action to tackle the problem in the world’s developing countries. … Read the full press release

State aid: Commission temporarily approves rescue recapitalisation of Portuguese bank Banif

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has temporarily approved, under EU state aid rules, a recapitalisation totalling €1.1 billion granted by Portugal to Banco Internacional do Funchal S.A. (Banif) for reasons of financial stability. Portugal committed to provide a far-reaching … Read the full press release

EU steps up support for resolution of the crisis in Mali

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — At the meeting today of the Foreign Affairs Council called by the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, the European Union decided to allocate €50 million from the Peace Facility for Africa to support the deployment of the African-led … Read the full press release

Commission welcomes new global agreement to tackle mercury

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Today the European Commission welcomed the successful conclusion of the multilateral negotiations to address the global threat posed to human health and the environment by mercury. This follows the decision of the Governing Council of UNEP in … Read the full press release

Declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the EU on the impeachment of Sri Lankan Chief Justice

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The EU has followed with considerable concern the recent impeachment process against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. The separation of powers is inherent in any democracy which respects the rule of law. It follows that the independence … Read the full press release

EU Council President calls for EESC’s proposals on the social dimension of the EMU

During the European Economic and Social Committee’s plenary session on 17 January, EU Council president Mr Van Rompuy and EESC members held a debate on the current guidelines of the European Council and future efforts to reinforce the social dimension of the … Read the full press release

Speech: Justice for Growth makes headway at today’s Justice Council

Viviane Reding – Vice-President of the Commission, European Justice Commissioner Press Conference, Informal Justice Council / Dublin Dublin, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Today, we have had a very important discussion on how justice policies can help to reinforce stability, jobs and growth … Read the full press release

Press statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, following his meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dačić

Brussels, 19-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — It was good to meet again with Prime Minister Ivica Dačić only a day after the latest round of discussions between Belgrade and Priština in the EU facilitated dialogue. In our discussions today, I welcomed the … Read the full press release

Human rights: violence against women in India; crackdown in Bahrain; insecurity in Central African Republic

18-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Parliament called on Thursday on the Bahraini authorities to stop their violent crackdown against peaceful protestors; condemned sexual violence against women and girls in India and demanded new laws to tackle it; and sounded the alarm at … Read the full press release

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the bombing at the University of Aleppo and the mass killing of women and children in Homs, Syria

Brussels, 18-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — 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 is deeply shocked by the attack at … Read the full press release

L’UE accélère son soutien à la résolution de la crise au Mali

Bruxelles, 18-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — A l’occasion du Conseil des Affaires étrangères convoqué par la Haute Représentante de l’UE Catherine Ashton au sujet du Mali qui s’est tenu aujourd’hui, l’Union européenne a décidé de réserver un montant de € 50 millions au … Read the full press release

Speech: Inauguration of the ITER Headquarters Building in Cadarache

Günther OETTINGER – EU Commissioner for Energy Inauguration of the ITER Headquarters Building/Cadarache 18-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Dear Director General Motojima, Madame le Ministre, Dear Senators, Mayors, Prefects, Dear representatives of our ITER Partner Countries, Dear ITER staff and everybody involved … Read the full press release

EU must require “made in” labels on imports from third countries, say MEPs

18-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The EU must make the use of “made in” origin labels on goods imported from third countries mandatory, MEPs reiterated in a plenary debate and vote on Thursday. They objected to the Commission’s plans simply to withdraw … Read the full press release

Parliament backs historic EU partnership agreement with Iraq

17-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — MEPs backed the EU’s first-ever partnership deal with Iraq on Thursday, aimed at helping it complete the transition to democracy, rebuild and normalise relations with the international community. In a separate resolution, MEPs raise concerns about continuing … Read the full press release

EU to open Delegations to Myanmar and to the United Arab Emirates

Brussels, 17-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Following a decision of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, the EU is to open a Delegation to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) … Read the full press release

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the terrorist attack near In-Amenas, Algeria

Brussels, 17-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today: “It is with the greatest concern that I learned about the terrorist attack … Read the full press release