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Decision-making is key because the EU now requires unanimity on foreign and security policy, taxes, EU finances, some areas of justice and home affairs and social security and protection. EU agriculture policy would need to be revamped because the admission of agriculture powerhouse Ukraine would dramatically change current EU direct payments to farmers. A similarly major change would happen to the EU's regional policy, under which poorer EU members receive money to raise their standard of living. The agriculture and regional funds make up two thirds of the EU budget, which totals roughly 1% of the bloc's gross national income a year. The paper, which polarised EU governments when first discussed on Sept. 19, said some countries in the EU should be allowed to form closer cooperation than others, forming four tiers of European integration.

Persons: Laurence Boone, Anna Luhrmann, Tiago Antunes, Jan Strupczewski Organizations: Union, EU, Guiding, Franco, Political, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Spanish, Murcia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Kosovo, EU, France

[1/2] A general view of Polish shoe retailer CCC shop is pictured, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Warsaw, Poland, September 8, 2020. "Let me tell you, there was a time when I couldn't even afford to buy salmon, for example. Buczek has benefited from the fact that PiS has raised her pension as part of hefty welfare spending moves which, opinion surveys show, are easing Poles' concerns over high inflation. The Polish minimum wage, already the highest in central Europe, will rise by nearly a fifth next year. With many houseowners on variable loan rates, Warsaw recently extended a scheme for mortgage repayment holidays into next year.

Persons: Kacper, Jadwiga Buczek, Buczek, PiS, Steffen Dyck, Adam Glapinski, Fitch, Federico Barriga Salazar, Andrzej Kuzniak, Moody's Dyck, Kacper Pempel, Jan Strupczewski, Gergely, Mark John, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Justice, European Union, European Commission, National Bank of, Sovereign Risk, Moody's, International Monetary Fund, Civic Coalition, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, WARSAW, Poland's, Europe, NBP, Brussels

☆ Analysis: EU, Italy talk tough on migration but action won't be easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes between tourist boats, on Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy. Well over 10,000 migrants reached the Italian island - whose permanent population is about 6,000 - last week. Lampedusa sits in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta and the larger Italian island of Sicily and is a first port of call for many migrants seeking to reach the EU. In 2020, it was discontinued as other EU nations balked at Italian requests to have them redistributed around the bloc. Other EU states have not commented publicly on the idea of a naval blockade, which Italy says would also need the consent of North African states.

Persons: Yara, Sophia, Giorgia Meloni, Lampedusa, Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Ferruccio Pastore, Pastore, von der Leyen, Maurizio Ambrosini, Jan Strupczewski, Gavin Jones, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, EU, European Union, European, International, European Forum, Research, Immigration, Human, Reuters, Dublin, University of Milan, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, North Africa, ROME, Tunisia, Malta, Sicily, Europe, Albania, Italian, Rome, Tirana, France, Austria, Dublin, EU, Germany, Brussels, repatriations

☆ EU urges Poland, Hungary, Slovakia to be constructive on Ukraine grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The European Commission called on Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Sunday to be constructive after they unilaterally declared they would continue to ban grain imports from Ukraine despite the Commission's decision to end the ban. What is important right now is that all countries work in the spirit of compromise and engage constructively," a Commission spokeswoman said. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighbouring countries. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary all announced on Friday they would keep their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, European Union, EU, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, States, Black

☆ EU urges Iran to reconsider barring of IAEA inspectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Iranian flag flutters in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organisation's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The European Union urged Iran on Sunday to reconsider its decision to bar multiple International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors assigned to oversee Tehran's atomic activities, noting such oversight was part of the Iran nuclear deal. "The European Union is highly concerned by the ... decision by Iran to withdraw the official designation of several experienced IAEA inspectors to monitor and verify its nuclear programme," the spokesman for EU foreign affairs Peter Stano said in a statement. The EU urges Iran to reconsider its decision without delay," the statement said. Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Iran's, Peter Stano, Jan Strupczewski, Louise Heavens Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Atomic Energy, Union, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, Rights BRUSSELS, Iran, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Tehran, EU

☆ EU Urges Iran to Reconsider Barring of IAEA Inspectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union urged Iran on Sunday to reconsider its decision to bar multiple International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors assigned to oversee Tehran's atomic activities, noting such oversight was part of the Iran nuclear deal. Iran's move was a response to a call led by the United States, Britain, France and Germany at the IAEA last week for Tehran to cooperate immediately with the IAEA on issues including explaining uranium traces found at undeclared sites. "The European Union is highly concerned by the ... decision by Iran to withdraw the official designation of several experienced IAEA inspectors to monitor and verify its nuclear programme," the spokesman for EU foreign affairs Peter Stano said in a statement. The EU urges Iran to reconsider its decision without delay," the statement said. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Editing by Louise Heavens)

Persons: Iran's, Peter Stano, Jan Strupczewski, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Union, Atomic Energy, IAEA, Union Locations: BRUSSELS, Iran, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Tehran, EU

Workers are seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 28, 2018. "This will skyrocket our demand for lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and electrolysers, which is expected to multiply between 10 and 30 times in the coming years," the paper, prepared by the Spanish presidency of the EU, said. While the EU has a strong position in the intermediate and assembly phases of making electrolysers, with a more than 50% global market share, it relies heavily on China for fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries crucial for electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells were not the only area of EU vulnerability, the Spanish presidency paper said. "The EU has a relatively strong position in the latter, but it shows significant weaknesses in the other areas," it said.

Persons: Stringer, Jan Strupczewski, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European, EU, Reuters, European Commission, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, Rights MADRID, Russia, Ukraine, Granada, Spain, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Spanish

☆ EU Urges Poland, Hungary, Slovakia to Be Constructive on Ukraine Grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission called on Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Sunday to be constructive after they unilaterally declared they would continue to ban grain imports from Ukraine despite the Commission's decision to end the ban. What is important right now is that all countries work in the spirit of compromise and engage constructively," a Commission spokeswoman said. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighbouring countries. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary all announced on Friday they would keep their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, European Union, EU, Ukraine Locations: BRUSSELS, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, States, Black

As part of a review of the EU's 2021-2027 budget, the European Commission in June proposed 50 billion euros in grants and loans for Ukraine to keep Kyiv financed as it fights off Russian aggression. This year, the EU will pay out 18 billion euros to Ukraine in highly concessional loans, but, if the proposed 50 billion total stays, Ukraine will only get 12.5 billion annually from 2024 to 2027. She said the EU budget review should also add money for military mobility -- roads, ports, bridges and airports that allow armed forces to move around quickly -- as the 1.7 billion euros originally allocated for the purpose was insufficient. "We see the need for military mobility infrastructure increasing. It exceeds one billion euros just for Lithuania," she said.

Persons: Gintare Skaiste, Skaiste, Jan Strupczewski, Jason Neely Organizations: Infantry Brigade, Armed Forces, SANTIAGO DE, European, European Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Reuters, Eurostat, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Lithuania

☆ Lithuania Calls for More Money for Ukraine in EU Budget Review
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Jan Strupczewski SANTIAGO, Gintare Skaiste, Skaiste, Jan Strupczewski, Jason Neely Organizations: Jan Strupczewski SANTIAGO DE, European, European Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Reuters, Eurostat Locations: Jan Strupczewski SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Ukraine, Lithuania

EU fiscal rules underpin the value of the euro used by 20 countries and set a limit on budget deficits of 3% of GDP and a public debt limit of 60% of GDP. However, most EU countries exceed these limits as two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy price crisis have both required massive government spending. The main clash is between Germany, which wants annual debt reduction benchmarks that are the same for all, and France, which believes individually negotiated debt reduction paths are the way to go and that one-size-fits-all policies do not work. She said 70% of the text of the new rules has been agreed in technical work over the summer. Reporting by Maria Martinez, Belen Carreno and Jan Strupczewski, writing by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, Dombrovskis, James, Nadia Calvino, Calvino, Maria Martinez, Belen Carreno, Jan Strupczewski, Jason Neely Organizations: SANTIAGO DE, Union, Saturday, Spanish, Thomson Locations: SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Spanish, Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Germany, France, Ukraine

☆ EU chief to visit Italy's Lampedusa amid protests over migrant numbers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Yara Nardi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] A child looks on as migrants are seen inside the hotspot, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 16, 2023. Nearly 126,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, almost double the figure by the same date in 2022. Lampedusa has recently borne the brunt, with thousands of landings this week, more than the island's permanent population. ISLANDERS' PROTESTDozens of Lampedusa residents held protests on Saturday against a plan to build new tent camps to host migrants. Earlier this week, a five-month-old baby boy drowned off Lampedusa after a boat carrying migrants across the sea from North Africa capsized.

Persons: Yara, Ursula von der, Giorgia Meloni, Lampedusa, Von der, Eric Mamer, Gerald Darmanin, Nancy Faeser, Elisabeth Borne, BFM, Emmanuel Macron, Gianluca Semeraro, Ludwig Burger, Jan Strupczewski, Gus Trompiz, Toby Chopra, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Italy's, European Union, EU, Twitter, ISLANDERS, Italian Coast Guard, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Italian, North Africa, France, Germany, Rome, Europe, Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris

☆ ECB's Lagarde defends bank supervisor pick after pushback
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde defended on Friday the bank's pick to head its bank supervision arm, despite the European Parliament's preference for a rival candidate to oversee a 26 trillion euro banking sector. Lagarde said that the 26-member Governing Council, who selected Buch, took the committee's opinion into account but noted that the committee had no veto but merely an opportunity to formulate an opinion. Once that opinion was received, policymakers followed the letter of the law in the selection process, Lagarde added. The key point of contention is that Buch has relatively limited experience in bank supervision, having joined the ECB's Supervisory Board only this year, while Delgado has spent decades in the field. Buch must now go back to the same committee for a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for 0800 GMT on Wednesday.

Persons: SANTIAGO, Christine Lagarde, Claudia Buch, Margarita Delgado, Buch, Lagarde, Delgado, Jan Strupczewski, Balazs Koranyi, Chizu Organizations: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA, Central Bank, ECB, Bank of Spain, Economic, Monetary Affairs, ECB's, Thomson Locations: Bank

An aerial view shows trees as the sun rises at the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday threw its weight behind a plan to protect the Amazon rainforest, pledging to coordinate financial contributions from EU members and making sure the money was spent as intended under its Global Gateway investment scheme. On top of that, the EU will add an undisclosed amount to protect the forest from logging from the EU's Global Gateway scheme of investment in Latin America, where Amazon rainforest protection is one of the flagship projects. More than half of global destruction of old-growth tropical rainforests has taken place in the Amazon and bordering forests since 2002. Rainforests, in particular the Amazon, absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and are key in shaping the Earth's climate, making them vital to prevent climate change.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Belén Carreño, Jan Strupczewski, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, SANTIAGO DE, European Union, Friday, EU, Global, Team Europe, European Investment Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, Santiago de, Thomson Locations: Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Italy, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands, Latin America, America, Santiago de Compostela, Santiago

[1/4] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 13, 2023. Von der Leyen, who has been at the head of the bloc's executive Commission since the end of 2019, also said she would appoint an envoy to help small and medium-sized enterprises tackle red tape to make it easier to do business. Lawmakers gave a standing ovation after von der Leyen recounted the fate of Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian writer and activist who was killed in a Russian attack on Ukraine. An upcoming package to support Europe's wind industry would be aimed at helping the sector as renewable energy companies struggle with steep inflation, von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen also said the wealthy bloc must engage more with African countries and accused Russia of stirring chaos in the Sahel region of the continent.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Victoria Amelina, Héctor Abad, Yves Herman, Jan Strupczewski, Marine Strauss, Foo Yun Chee, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Ingrid Melander, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: European, European Union, REUTERS, EU, STRASBOURG, EU Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Lawmakers, Thomson Locations: Strasbourg, France, Europe, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Colombian, China, Russia, Sahel, Africa, Brussels

☆ EU Commission cuts euro zone growth forecast as Germany in recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Commission forecast euro zone consumer inflation of 5.6% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024, both well above the European Central Bank's target of 2.0%. Inflation this year is to be lower than the 5.8% forecast in May, but higher than previously forecast in 2024, as the May forecast was for 2.8%. The ECB has been rapidly raising rates since the middle of 2022 to stem record price growth, making credit for the economy more expensive - a factor that hit the growth forecast. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, will shrink 0.4% this year, the Commission forecast, revising down a 0.2% growth prediction from May. But France and Spain will grow faster than previously expected in 2023 , the Commission said, projecting 1.0% and 2.2% growth respectively instead of the previously seen 0.7% and 1.9%.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Philip Blenkinsop Organizations: ECB, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Germany, Europe, Europe's, Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain

The logo of the European Investment Bank is pictured in the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, March 25, 2017. Also interested are the politically non-affiliated Italian central banker Daniele Franco, Poland's right-wing former Finance Minister and current EIB Vice President Teresa Czerwinska, and Sweden's socialist former Energy Minister and also current EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros. "We can say we are really spoilt for choice because all the candidates are excellent," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters on Thursday. The EIB is the lending arm of the EU and is active in 160 countries offering loans, guarantees, equity investments and advisory services. Germany's Deputy Central Bank Governor Claudia Buch and her Spanish counterpart Margarita Delgado are both in the running.

Persons: Eric Vidal, Vincent van Peteghem, Germany's Werner Hoyer, Margrethe Vestager, Nadia Calvino, Daniele Franco, Poland's, Teresa Czerwinska, Thomas Ostros, Christian Lindner, Central Bank Governor Claudia Buch, Margarita Delgado, Buch, Vestager, Emmanuel Macron, Richard Chang Organizations: European Investment Bank, Reuters, Rights, Belgian, Union, European Commission, Finance, Energy, European Central Bank, Germany's, Central Bank Governor, SSM, Thomson Locations: Luxembourg, Rights BRUSSELS, Italian, Spanish, EU, Paris, Spain

☆ Exclusive: New rules would give Europe more scope for military spending post-Ukraine invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

EU fiscal rules underpin the euro currency used in 20 nations by limiting government borrowing. Currently only nine EU members meet a NATO alliance defence spending goal of 2% of national output, with four - Finland, Romania, Hungary and the Slovak Republic - above that only in 2023. After Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, many European countries neighbouring Russia called for military spending to be excluded outright from EU deficit calculations. 'NOT HEARD A NO'Opposition to a full exemption from EU calculations stemmed from concern that military spending could be a very broad category that could help hide a lot of ordinary expenses. By stipulating that military spending would only be a "relevant factor" that could help avoid disciplinary action, the new rules would leave it to the Commission's judgement what spending would be eligible.

Persons: Valentyn, Deal, Jan Strupczewski, Mark John, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Union, NATO, REUTERS, European, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, BRUSSELS, EU, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Slovak Republic, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, Russia, U.S

☆ Analysis: A year on, Europe less fearful of U.S. green subsidies push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Solar panels are seen atop a hops plantation in the Bavarian Holledau region in Au, Germany, June 19, 2023. And already, those subsidies are flowing: German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp (TKAG.DE) will invest around 3 billion euros ($3.27 billion) in a proposed green steel plant in Duisburg, Germany, including over 2 billion euros in state subsidies given EU approval in late July. But it noted the U.S. model also had uncertainty built in because a change of administration could end IRA subsidies. The complexity of EU financing through the recovery fund means it is available only to bigger companies, leaving smaller firms struggling to benefit. ($1 = 0.9184 euros)Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Mark John and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Louisa, Joe Biden's, Biden, Niclas Poitiers, Jan Strupczewski, Mark John, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, United States, Union, Biden, EU, Zero Industry, European Commission, Sovereignty Fund, Ukraine, Russian, EV, Zero, Thomson Locations: Bavarian, Au, Germany, EU, BRUSSELS, United, Europe, Ukraine, Brussels, United States, Duisburg, U.S, France, China

☆ Euro zone swings into trade surplus in June as Russia imports plummet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hugo Correia/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The euro zone swung back into a large trade surplus in June from a similar size deficit 12 months earlier, as imports from both Russia and China fell sharply, data showed on Thursday. The European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, said the unadjusted external trade surplus of the 20 countries sharing the euro was 23.0 billion euros ($25.01 billion) in June, compared with a 27.1 billion-deficit in June 2022. Adjusted for seasonal swings, the trade surplus was 12.5 billion euros in June, up from 0.2 billion euros in May and compared with a 7.9 billion-euro deficit in April. The trade gap with Russia was down to 8.7 billion euros in the first six months of this year from 92.1 billion euros in the same period of 2022. With China, the EU's trade deficit fell to 148.7 billion euros in the first half of the year from 189.3 billion euros in the same period a year earlier.

Persons: Hugo Correia, Jan Strupczewski, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Port, REUTERS, Rights, Eurostat, Thomson Locations: Port of Lisbon, Portugal, Russia, China, Ukraine

☆ EU ready to re-engage with Turkey, but sets conditions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed on Thursday that the bloc should re-engage with Turkey, but set some conditions and did not endorse Ankara's calls to revive its moribund membership bid. Turkey has been an official candidate to join the EU for 24 years, but accession talks have stalled since 2016 over the bloc's concerns about human rights violations and respect for the rule of law. "We discussed how to re-engage with Turkey," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a press conference after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels. "We are convinced there is a reciprocal interest to develop a stronger relationship between Turkey and the European Union." But he noted the EU wanted Turkey to show movement too, especially on the issue of EU member Cyprus, the northern part of which was invaded by Turkey in 1974 and has since been under occupation.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Jan Strupczewski, Andrew Gray, Paul Simao Organizations: Union, EU, NATO, European Union, European Convention of Human, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Turkey, Turkish, EU, Brussels, Cyprus, Nations, Ankara

BRUSSELS, July 19 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss a proposal on Thursday to spend up to 20 billion euros ($22.4 billion) on weapons, ammunition and other military aid for Ukraine over four years. The fund has already allocated more than 5 billion euros in support for Ukraine since February last year. An EU official said the aim was to provide more military aid to Ukraine "on a more predictable and sustainable basis". The Peace Facility is used to reimburse EU countries for at least part of the cost of weapons, ammunition and other military aid they give to nations outside the bloc. Diplomats said they expect EU governments to consider the plan alongside a proposal from the European Commission, the bloc's executive, to provide 50 billion euros in economic aid to Ukraine over the same four-year period.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Borrell, Andrew Gray, Jan Strupczewski, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Union, Kyiv, NATO, Peace, Ukraine, EU, Ukraine Defence Fund, Diplomats, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Vilnius, EU, Kyiv, Spain

BRUSSELS, June 29 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will on Thursday debate the repercussions of the aborted mutiny in Russia as they pledge further support for Ukraine in its war against Moscow's invasion. Like several other EU leaders, Kallas said the mutiny showed cracks appearing in Russia's leadership. She said she had seen different views on how the mutiny could affect the Ukraine war and the risk Russia poses to the West. The West should not be swayed and continue to support Ukraine and bolster its own defences, Kallas said. Charles Michel, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, struck a similar note.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Kaja Kallas, Wagner, Kallas, Charles Michel, ”, John Irish, Julia Payne, Kate Abnett, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczewski, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Union, Ukraine, NATO, Estonian, European Council, EU, Kyiv, Diplomats, Peace, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Russia, Brussels, China, Ukraine, Western, France, United States, U.S, Britain, Germany, Vilnius, Lithuania, Kyiv

☆ EU leaders push to fund Ukraine with proceeds from Russia's frozen assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 29 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will push senior officials on Thursday to find legal ways to funnel proceeds from billions of dollars of frozen Russian assets into projects helping rebuild Ukraine, papers showed. The bloc has said it froze more than 200 billion euros ($218.2 billion) of Russian central bank assets in reaction to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Another 30 billion euros of Russian oligarchs' private assets were also immobilised. The EU also needs to establish where to keep any proceeds from the Russian assets and how to disburse them. Belgium's Euroclear, which settles transactions and safeguards assets, said blocked coupon payments and redemptions boosted its balance sheet by 88 billion euros year-on-year by the end of March to 140 billion euros.

Persons: Kaja Kallas, Belgium's, Ursula von der Leyen, Jan Strupczewski, Philip Blenkinsop, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Union, Kremlin, European Council, High Representative, Commission, EU, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Russian, Brussels, Estonian, Russia, EU, United States, Canada, Britain, Japan

☆ Factbox: EU targets sanctions circumvention with 11th package against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

- The EU is banning the transit of certain sensitive goods like advanced technology or aviation-related materials, exported from the EU to third countries, via Russia. - Some companies, unable to sell sanctioned goods to Russia, sold Moscow the production rights to these goods so that Russia can produce them locally. The EU has now banned the sale, licensing, transfer or referral of intellectual property rights to Russia for the manufacture of sanctioned goods outside the EU. ENERGY MEASURES- The EU package ends the possibility of importing Russian oil by pipeline to Germany and Poland. OTHER- The EU extends a ban on Russian media broadcasting in the EU to five additional channels.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Susan Fenton Organizations: European, Russia, EU, United Arab, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Ukrainian, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Russia, China, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Armenia, EU, Moscow, Russian, Germany, Poland, Japan

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