European Commission head: We were inspired by Armenia’s developments

July 13, 2018 By administrator

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels.

The interlocutors discussed prospects of Armenia-European Union relations in the context of democratic transformations in Armenia. Jean-Claude Juncker noted that the peaceful and democratic bias of Armenia’s developments had inspired them, and expressed readiness to continue supporting the reform process in our country, Armenian government said in a statement.

Thankful for the assistance provided over the past several years, Nikol Pashinyan assured that from now on EU’s institutional, financial and advisory support will be used more effectively.

“The continuity of the anticorruption campaign in Armenia, which has lasted for more than two months now, is high on our government’s policy agenda,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

European Parliament votes in favor of Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement

July 4, 2018 By administrator

The European Parliament has voted in favor of the consent of Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEDPA) and the resolution relating to the Armenia-EU relations, MP Armen Ashotyan said on Facebook, reports Armenpress.

He informed that 573 MPs voted in favor of the CEPA’s consent, 50 voted against and 45 abstained. “598 MPs voted in favor of the resolution relating to the Armenia-EU relations, 52 voted against and 27 abstained”, Ashotyan said.

The lawmaker said that during the July 3 session the European Parliament discussed giving consent to the CEPA.

“The agreement was assessed as a success story and a historic opportunity, it was stated that it became possible and was signed under the previous government, Mogherini stated that it has no geopolitical nature and is not a confrontation.

The session also touched upon Armenia’s domestic political life, the recent developments, specific attention was paid to the peaceful and constitutional nature of the power change, importance was attached to ensuring the inclusive mechanism of reforms of the Electoral Code, the engagement of opposition in the process of reforms and the implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. The European Parliament also expressed readiness to send observer mission in possible elections”, Ashotyan said.

The issue of visa liberalization was also discussed. Federica Mogherini linked the solution of this issue with the full implementation of Visa facilitation and readmission agreement, expressed satisfaction over the process and stated that the respective decision to launch dialogue on visa liberalization must be made by the European Council.

The peaceful and quick settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was highlighted.

Visa facilitation and readmission with Armenia is being well implemented, says Federica Mogherini

June 22, 2018 By administrator

Visa facilitation and readmission with Armenia

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini has praised the EU’s visa facilitation and readmission process with Armenia.

Mogherini was speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan in Brussels.

“We discussed the launching of visa liberalisation dialogue during our Council, and I know how important this is for not only the government, but for the citizens of the country, and I understand it fully.

As you know very well, we have two different phases. Today, we discussed the implementation of the visa facilitation and readmission that we have in place. This is a technical requirement to more forward to the next step. This was a good and useful exercise we did today, in presence of all the Member States that joined – as always – for our Council meetings.

That technical precondition then could lead to start a visa liberalisation dialogue with visa-free regime as the final goal. This is a decision in the hands of the Council that requires a Council decision as you know, it is a question to be put more to Member States than to myself.

What I can say is that, again, the visa facilitation and readmission with Armenia is being well implemented; there are always margins for improvement – we discussed them today – and overall, I think that this is a positive area for our cooperation”, she said.

Bulgaria torn between Russia and the West

May 31, 2018 By administrator

Bulgaria is dependent on Russian gas, but it is also a member of NATO and the European Union. Straddling the gap between Moscow and Brussels has put the country in a foreign policy quagmire.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s recent visits to Russia have fueled speculation that Sofia may be turning its back on the West and aligning with Moscow. Bulgaria, which is a European Union member state, is dependent on Russian gas, and there has even been talk of reviving Bulgaria’s Belene nuclear power plant project using Russian technology. Economic ties aside, Bulgaria and Russia also have much in common historically, linguistically and culturally. This longstanding relationship has made Bulgaria reluctant to freeze out Moscow since joining NATO and the EU.

Parts of Bulgaria’s political establishment insist the country could act as a mediator between Russia and the West, or at least capitalize on its good ties with Moscow. It’s in this context that the name of Bulgaria’s World War II-era leader, Czar Boris III, often comes up. In 1942, he allegedly told Nazi Germany’s foreign minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, that “[Bulgaria] will always be on Germany’s side and never against Russia.”

A flawed historic example

Yet perpetually citing this problematic ― and historically unverified ― quote belies the true nature of the EU. The bloc is not, as the quote may be used to imply, a product of great power politics, thrust onto others by Germany, France, the United States or Russia. Indeed, Bulgaria is not being forced to ally with one side or another, unlike in World War II, when Boris III found himself weighing up whether German or Russian troops presented the greater threat to his country.

The EU is about voluntarily engaging in European integration. No country was ever forced to join the bloc, and some member states are even reluctant to enlarge it. Countries are also free to leave, as Brexit demonstrates.

Bulgaria is not somehow under pressure to distance itself from Russia. If, however, you have made the sovereign decision to join the EU and partner with its 27 member states, then you must also accept its policies. If there is an agreed EU approach towards Russia, then it must be followed. But this is not, as some may claim, an instance where policy is somehow being “dictated by others.”

The EU-Russia relationship

Present-day apologists for Boris III’s quote would probably argue that it is proving prescient, as Germany and Russia are seemingly growing closer. Indeed, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both traveled to Russia in May for talks with President Vladimir Putin. But given the EU’s resolute stance on key issues like the Ukraine conflict, Syria, Iran and the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, it is in fact is doubtful that Germany and Russia are truly strengthening their ties. Recent talks with Russia have only gone forward in order to save the Iran nuclear deal and discuss economic matters.

None of this signals a strategic reorientation of the EU towards Russia, as is often claimed in Bulgaria. NATO and the US remain the guarantors of EU security and that is not set to change anytime soon, because despite the rocky relations between Washington and Brussels of late, both sides benefit from this strategic alliance.

Bulgarian politicians must honor the responsibilities that come with being a NATO and EU member, instead of trying to capitalize on the strained EU-Russia relationship. Membership in those Western organizations continues to pay off, which is why Bulgaria should not play diplomatic Russian roulette.

Daniel Smilov is a Bulgarian political and legal researcher at the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia.

How much does the EU care about human rights?

March 23, 2018 By administrator

EU care about human rights

Human rights groups have criticized the European Union for failing to uphold its values while tackling the migrant crisis. Where are its red lines? Conflict Zone meets European Parliament Vice President Ioan Pascu.

Populist success at the polls across Europe. Brexit. Disunity. The European Union continues to face serious problems on many issues, including its handling of the migrant crisis that began in 2015.

But despite its humanitarian rhetoric, the EU has come under fire for its interventions, most recently in Libya.

In December, Amnesty International published a damning report, criticizing EU member states for “actively supporting a sophisticated system of abuse and exploitation of refugees and migrants by the Libyan Coast Guard, detention authorities and smugglers in order to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean.”

Is the European Union failing to live up to its founding values of “human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity” that each of its members are bound by?

Red lines

This week on Conflict Zone, DW’s Tim Sebastian met European Parliament Vice President Ioan Pascu in Strasbourg and began by asking him why the EU spent so much time talking about human rights but did less to uphold them.

“It’s a question of values of a club,” Pascu told DW’s Sebastian. “They were posted at the entrance door, whoever wanted to become a member of the club would have to abide by them.”

Responding to the suggestion that member states were failing to abide by these rules, Pascu said: “I would agree with you that the attractiveness of the European Union has been affected by the crisis, by the conflicts around, and today there is not so much enthusiasm as there used to be in the late 90s, beginning of the 2000s.”

But Pascu dismissed that there was anything new in Greece’s decision in June 2017 to block EU criticism of China’s human rights record. China has a 51% stake in Greece’s largest port.

Pascu disagreed too that the EU was failing to offer help beyond its own borders: “We see countries which up until now did not pay too much attention to the EU, being interested in relations with the EU, take India for instance, take Mexico for instance.”

But wasn’t this only driven by trade interests?

“Who is going to come only for values? Who is going to come only for that?” said Pascu, a former defense minister of Romania.

‘Not a great democrat’

On criticism of a recent agreement with the Philippines, Pascu questioned waiting for another leader: “Because they elected Duterte as president and Duterte is not a great democrat we should say, ‘no deals with you until you elect somebody else’?”

Human Rights Watch has saidPresident Rodrigo Duterte has “plunged the Philippines into its worst human rights crisis since the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.”

“We do have to take into account much more than that. What if we don’t have such a treaty with Philippines tomorrow when they elect somebody else than Duterte?” said Pascu.

On the EU’s statements championing human rights, Pascu said: “It does not mean that the world revolves around only about one action or one leader, and then we have to give up everything else because that leader is not a democrat.”

So does it have limits in its dealings with other countries?

“We do have red lines … In February this parliament was very critical to the human rights records of Egypt.”

The European Parliament issued a statement in February condemning Egypt’s use of the death penalty.

In January, the former president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, said “the EU is a fair-weather friend to human rights: emphasizing them when there’s little risk, de-emphasizing them when interests come into play – often when it is in the interest of individual member states not to raise issues, primarily for commercial reasons […].”

Pascu, a European Parliament vice president since 2014, questioned this view as too generalized: “Not everything in the European Union is bad. Not everything in the European Union, equally, is not to be criticized. So that’s the way we move forward.”

‘Violence can be provoked’

But if there are many matters of division within the Union, one moment of recent unity has arguably been its silence over Spain and Madrid’s response to Catalonia’s failed independence bid.

Human Rights Watch said the Spanish police had used excessive force as they tried to stop the referendum in Catalonia.

Pascu told DW’s Tim Sebastian: “I side with the [Spanish] government because the government has the responsibility to make their constitution respected by their citizens. If that happens in another country the same situation will happen. Why do you think that these separatists have not been supported in Europe?”

However, Pascu insisted that support for Spain was not about the country’s importance to the EU: “It’s the symbolism of it. If you let these things happen and go around, then you never have the member states existing in the European Union.”

And if there was more violence in Spain over an independence vote?

“Sometimes violence can be provoked. Sometimes it can,” said Pascu.

Armenia, EU Have never been closer, says Mogherini

March 9, 2018 By administrator

Armenia, EU

Armenia and the European Union have never been closer than today, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a video address to participants of the European Planning Meeting being held in Yerevan these days, the Armenian service of RFE/RL (Azatutyun.am) reports.

The annual event held in the Armenian capital for the first time has brought together 220 youth workers from 24 European countries.

“I know this is the first time that you hold your annual meeting in this part of Europe. And the moment you’ve chosen is just perfect,” Mogherini, who is also vice-president of the European Commission, said in her address to the young people.

“Last November we had a very important summit in Brussels with our six partners in Eastern Europe, and with Armenia, in particular, we signed three groundbreaking agreements.

We signed a new partnership agreement that we hope can make the lives of our citizens much easier both in Armenia and the European Union.

“For instance, if you are a young Armenian engineer, it will be much easier for you to work inside the European Union and vice versa. Armenian universities will now have access to the European Union’s programs for research and innovation that is the biggest international research program in the world. We also signed new agreements to improve connections between the European Union and Armenia both by plane and on the road.”

In her remarks addressed to the young participants of the forum in Yerevan Mogherini stressed that the EU dreams of “a European continent where borders are not an obstacle, but a gateway for young people like you.”

EU expresses concerns over Turkey’s Invasion in Syria’s Afrin

February 7, 2018 By administrator

EU expresses concerns

The European Union (EU) warned on Tuesday that Turkish military offensive against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin in the northern Syria could derail a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

“The Afrin offensive could have political consequences on the internal balances inside the future Syria at large and on the potential of political negotiations because the new escalation of violence can push away the chances for a political solution to the conflict,” said Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, according to Stockholmcf.org.

“We need to concentrate all of us in supporting the UN-lead negotiations in Geneva. The war in Syria is not over yet,” said Mogherini during a speech in the debate on current human rights situation in Turkey and the situation in Afrin at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

“We are deeply worried about the new front opened in Syria. We are worried first of all for humanitarian reasons. The people of Syria cannot afford a new front and a new crisis,” she said. Mogherini has also stressed that dialogue with Turkey today “is more important than ever,” and noted that “Turkey is facing enormous challenges.”

Turkish warplanes began striking Afrin on January 20, as dozens of civilians, including children and women, were reported to have been killed by air raids and shelling.

The campaign dubbed “Operation Olive Branch” by Turkish autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is meant to clear Syria’s Kurdish-held northwest district of People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters who Turkey claims are an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara has labeled the US-backed Kurdish forces a “terrorist organization” and has been infuriated by Washington’s support for the YPG.

The US, which is backing the Kurds in the ongoing battle against ISIL in Syria, said it was concerned and has called on Turkey to limit its military offensive in the Kurdish region.

Typical of Turks first they try to kill you then they extend friendship hand

December 28, 2017 By administrator

Turkey’s Erdogan has said there is “no problem” with the EU and Germany after a rough-and-tumble year. He also commended EU countries for their stance against the US decision on Jerusalem.

“We certainly desire good relations with the EU and EU countries,” Erdogan told journalists aboard a flight back from a four-day trip to Sudan, Chad and Tunisia.

Ties between the Brussels and Ankara have steadily deteriorated over the past two years, with Turkey’s morbid EU accession process all but halted over deteriorating human rights and rule of law.

Turkey and Germany careened from crisis to crisis in 2017 as relations hit rock bottom over a series of issues.

“There is an expression that I always say. We need to reduce our enemies and increase our friends,” Erdogan said.

“We don’t have a problem with Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium. It’s exactly the opposite, the leaders of those countries are old friends of mine,” Erdogan said. “They did some wrong things to me, but that’s a different matter.”

Tensions between Berlin and Ankara have eased somewhat recently after the release from prison of a number of German nationals. But relations are still plagued by a war of words earlier this year and serious disputes, including the continued detention of Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel on trumped-up terrorism charges in Turkey.

Erdogan said that he may visit Germany, the Netherlands, France and the Vatican.

Focus shifts to Jerusalem

Erdogan said there were problems with the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium but “our last discussions have been quite good.”

Uber drivers to face new regulation after ruling from Europe’s top court

December 20, 2017 By administrator

Uber can be regulated as a taxi service and not as a digital app following a European Court of Justice decision. Traditional taxi firms, whose drivers have protested in dozens of cities, have welcomed the ruling.

The European Union’s top court ruled on Wednesday that EU member states can regulate the ride-hailing app Uber like a normal taxi company, after judges decreed the US-headquartered firm cannot claim to be merely a provider of digital services.

“The service provided by Uber connecting individuals with non-professional drivers is covered by services in the field of transport,” the European Court of Justice said.

The Luxembourg-based court was ruling on a case brought by a Spanish taxi drivers’ association which complained that Uber is able to circumvent expensive licensing requirements imposed on traditional taxi services by local authorities.

The association, based in Barcelona, sought to prevent Uber from setting up in the city.

In response to Wednesday’s ruling, one Barcelona-based taxi firm, Elite Taxi BCN, tweeted: “Today is a great day, we trust in justice to declare Uber a transport company.”

Drivers signed up to the ride-hailing app could now be forced to obtain similar licenses and authorizations to carry passengers.

New thorn in Uber’s side

Uber claims it is a mere service provider, connecting consumers with drivers in more than 600 cities. It argued that it should be regulated under the EU’s digital services laws.

The ruling is yet another setback for the biggest name in the sharing economy, whose entry into many markets has led to angry protests and strike action from licensed taxi drivers.

But Uber downplayed the impact of Wednesday’s decision, saying that it will continue to find was to operate in Europe.

The decision “will not change things in most EU countries where we already operate under transportation law,” the San Francisco-based company said in a statement. Uber will “continue the dialogue with cities across Europe” to allow access to its services.

In 2014, a Spanish judge ruled that the “Uberpop” service risked breaking the law which led Uber to offer a limited version of its “Uber X” service across the country, which uses licensed professional drivers, rather than amateurs.

Uberpop is banned in Germany and the firm has been forced to redesign its business model in France. Last month, a labor court in London ruled that the ride-hailing app’s drivers were employees, rather than self-employed, and ordered the firm to pay them the minimum wage and paid leave.

Uber is also facing the possible permanent loss of its license to operate in London, after transport regulators ruled that the service wasn’t “fit and proper.”

European right-wing leaders meet in Prague, slam EU and immigration

December 17, 2017 By administrator

Meeting in Prague, right-wing leaders from across Europe have praised Austria’s anti-immigration party joining the new coalition government. The politicians are seeking to build cooperation among populists.

Meeting under the banner of the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedoms (MENL) the conference was hosted by Tomio Okamura, whose anti-Islam and anti-EU Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party won 10.6 percent of the Czech vote in October’s parliamentary elections.

“In Europe or in our country people should behave as European or he should leave,” said Okamura, who was born in Japan to a Czech mother and Japanese-Korean father. “We want a Europe which respects national individuality, national identity and freedom.”

The European Parliament grouping brings together right-wing parties, including Marine Le Pen’s National Front in France, the Freedom Party of Heinz-Christian Strache in Austria, Italy’s Northern League and the Dutch Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders.

Praise for Austrian right-wing populists

They met as Austria’s Freedom Party became the junior coalition partner alongside Sebastian Kurz’s center-right People’s Party in Vienna.

The Freedom Party picked up several cabinet posts including the interior, defense and foreign ministries.

Holland’s Wilders called the Freedom Party’s entry into the Austrian government a sign that a “sister party” in the European Parliament group was “being taken seriously.”

Le Pen said it was “very good news for Europe” that the Freedom Party became the first right-wing populist party to enter government in the EU.

Wilders: EU an ‘existential threat’

Le Pen insisted that none of the parties were xenophobic.

“We are in opposition to the European Union because we believe it is a catastrophically disastrous organization. Migration is close to being unbearable, our respected cultures are being destroyed. We like diversity. I like the Dutch to be Dutch, I like the Czech to be Czechs, I like the French to be French, I like the Italians to be Italian.”

Wilders called Brussels an “existential threat to nation states” while praising eastern EU member states for closing the door to migrants.

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic’s refusal to accept EU migrant quotas have put them at odds with Brussels.

Okamura was able to tap into Czech fears by taking a hardline against immigration and Islam, even though the country has only taken in 12 refugees under the EU’s migrant sharing scheme.

Saturday’s meeting did not include the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

However, former AfD member Marcus Pretzell did attend the meeting. He split from the AfD after the September election to join the Blue Party, founded by the former AfD co-chair who is also his wife, Frauke Petry.

cw/jm (AFP, AP, dpa)