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He lost his case in October 2020 and, the following March, was issued an order to leave Belgium. With at least three EU countries involved, the case points up the challenges the EU faces tracking people across the bloc's Schengen open-travel zone that is mostly free of border checks. Proponents of the EU's new migration pact - which has been tentatively agreed by most EU countries and is now being further negotiated with the European Parliament - say it would support returns by shortening time for migration and asylum procedures. "Those who are not allowed to stay in the EU must leave Europe. "This is a wake-up call for those who are not ready to accept ... the migration pact."

Persons: Alexander de Croo, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Manfred Weber, Marine Strauss, Bart Meijer, Angelo Amante, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Belgium Case, EU, Immigration, Belgian, Frontex, Eurostat, Reuters, European People's Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, Sweden, Belgium, BRUSSELS, ROME, Tunisia, Europe, Israel, Germany, Brussels, Tunis, ITALY, SWEDEN, BELGIUM, Lampedusa, Poland, Hungary, East, Africa, Rome

☆ Two Swedes shot dead in Brussels; Belgium raises terror alert to top level
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The likely motive for the attack was the Swedish nationality of the victims, the prosecutor said. The suspected assailant, calling himself Abdesalem Al Guilani, claimed in a video on social media that he was a fighter for Allah. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the victims were Swedish. "I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," de Croo said on X. France is tightening controls at the border with Belgium after the deadly attack in Brussels, Belgian media said.

Persons: Abdesalem Al Guilani, Alexander de Croo, de Croo, Gunnar Strommer, King, Yves Herman Acquire, Ulf Kristersson, Emmanuel Macron, Allahu Akbar, Al Guilani, hamdoulelah, Salam Aleykoum, Philip Blenkinsop, Marine Strauss, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik, Richard Lough, John Cotton, Gabriela Baczynska, Stephanie Lecocq, Tassilo Hummel, Benoit van Overstraeten, Tommy Lund, Jan Strupczewski, Silvia Aloisi, Hugh Lawson, Matthew Lewis, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Islamic State, Palestinian, European Commission, Belgian, Twitter, PM, Sweden's, Reuters, Swedish, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgium, Sweden, Belgian, Israel, Swedish, France, Islamic State

Word "Sanctions" is displayed on EU and Russian flags in this illustration taken, February 27, 2022. The United States and Britain last month signalled support for an EU plan to tax windfall profits generated by frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance Ukraine as Kyiv battles a full-scale Russian invasion that started in February 2022. EU members Germany and France are part of the G7 club, where the EU executive European Commission is also represented. The EU's own work among its 27 member states on harnessing frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine has been repeatedly delayed due to legal concerns, among others, after the bloc's sanctions on private Russian wealth were challenged in courts. Belgian clearing house Euroclear manages some 125 billion euros of frozen Russian central bank assets.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Thomson, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, European, Reuters, Friday, Diplomats, European Commission, EU, Deutsche Boerse's Eurex, London Stock Exchange, Thomson Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights BRUSSELS, Ukraine, United States, Britain, Kyiv, Morocco, Germany, France, Brussels, Belgium, EU, Belgian, Euroclear, Europe, Frankfurt, London, LSEG

☆ EU Looks to the Future at Summit on Migration and Enlargement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Other central and eastern EU countries have also put up border controls inside what is normally a zone of open travel, citing the need to crack down on people smugglers and migrants who avoid regular border crossings and arrival procedures. But the matter is politically sensitive and anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are on the rise in some EU countries ahead of continent-wide European Parliament elections next June. From economic aid transfers to decision-making to maintaining cohesion, EU leaders will look on Friday at what needs to change inside their union to allow for another enlargement. Such debates highlight a tough dilemma the EU faces in trying to bring in new members while deepening existing integration. "Enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity ... both the EU and future member states need to be ready."

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska GRANADA, Gabriela Baczynska, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: GEO, Reuters, EU, Kyiv, European Union Locations: Spain, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Europe, Bavaria, Poland, East, Africa, Russia's, Grenada, China, Moldova, Western Balkans, Britain, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary

☆ EU looks to the future at summit on migration and enlargement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Jon Nazca, Gabriela Baczynska, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Lions, Alhambra, Political Community Summit, REUTERS, Rights, GEO, Reuters, EU, Kyiv, European Union, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights GRANADA, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Europe, Bavaria, Poland, East, Africa, Russia's, Grenada, China, Moldova, Western Balkans, Britain, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary

Not only in the EU but in all of Europe," Zelenskiy said on his arrival, warning of Russian "disinformation attacks". "It does worry me," Biden said on Wednesday, though he added that a majority of U.S. lawmakers continued to support funding Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a parliamentary election on pledges of halting military aid to Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Warsaw was no longer arming Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday he was "very confident" that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue. Many EU leaders have condemned the Azerbaijani operation, which triggered an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Spain Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, U.N, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sanchez, Ilham Aliyev, Belen Carreno, Andreas Rinke, Anna Pruchnicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: Political, EU, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, European Commission, Kyiv, Polish, European Union, NATO, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Europe, Balkans, Caucasus, Granada, GRANADA, Kyiv, Spanish, Ukraine, Norway, Albania, Russia, Poland, Brussels, U.S, Slovakia, Warsaw, EU, East, Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Berlin

☆ EU states try to seal migration deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Migrants arrive on an Italian Coast Guard vessel after being rescued at sea, near the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. Envoys were meeting at 0730 GMT on an amended text of the tentative agreement proposed by Spain, which chairs EU talks until the end of the year, sources said. The meeting is the last chance to seal a deal before the bloc's 27 national leaders meet in Spain's Granada on Thursday and Friday, where they are due to discuss irregular migration amid increased arrivals across the Mediterranean, including to the Italian island of Lampedusa. A dispute over NGOs picking up people in the sea prevented an deal among the EU's migration ministers last week but the bloc is still keen to get it done ahead of key elections in Germany, Poland and a pan-European parliamentary vote in 2024. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Bart MeijerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yara, Gabriela Baczynska, Bart Meijer Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Rights BRUSSELS, Brussels, Rome, Berlin, Spain, Granada, Germany, Poland, Hungary, East, Africa

☆ EU States Try to Seal Migration Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Envoys of the European Union's 27 member states were meeting in Brussels on Wednesday hoping to overcome a latest spat between Rome and Berlin over charity ships to finalise an agreement on sharing out the task of caring for refugees and migrants. Envoys were meeting at 0730 GMT on an amended text of the tentative agreement proposed by Spain, which chairs EU talks until the end of the year, sources said. The meeting is the last chance to seal a deal before the bloc's 27 national leaders meet in Spain's Granada on Thursday and Friday, where they are due to discuss irregular migration amid increased arrivals across the Mediterranean, including to the Italian island of Lampedusa. A dispute over NGOs picking up people in the sea prevented an deal among the EU's migration ministers last week but the bloc is still keen to get it done ahead of key elections in Germany, Poland and a pan-European parliamentary vote in 2024. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Bart Meijer)

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Bart Meijer Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Rome, Berlin, Spain, Granada, Lampedusa, Germany, Poland, Hungary, East, Africa

☆ Billions in frozen funds for Hungary on table as EU seeks Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"I can't imagine Hungary agreeing without there first being a solution to the blocked funds," said the official. A second EU official confirmed there was a link between releasing funds to Hungary and EU plans requiring unanimity, including in the enlargement and budget talks. The Commission needs Hungary to lift its vetoes on a number of issues in return," said an EU diplomat. For Ukraine, which applied to join the EU just days after Russia's invasion in February 2022, the West's support is existential and EU membership is a major national goal. Speaking to the Hungarian parliament last week, he drew a line between supporting Ukraine and unlocking EU funds.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski, Andrew Gray, Gareth Jones Organizations: Budapest, Ukraine, Hungary BRUSSELS, European, Kyiv, EU, Reuters, Financial, European Union, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Ukraine, Brussels, EU, European Union, Russia, Budapest, Krisztina

☆ EU talks migration as Italy, Germany worry over increased arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes near a tourist boat, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi Acquire Licensing Rightsサマリー Higher arrivals, looming elections put migration high on agendaFocus on whether Berlin backs proposed new EU 'crisis mechanism'Some propose Egypt for next migration deal after TunisiaBRUSSELS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The European Union's migration ministers meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to handle migrants arriving by sea as Italy and Germany worry over increased immigration, with Berlin launching border controls inside Europe's zone of open travel. "There is a lot of unrest in (the) direct neighbourhood of Europe," said one senior EU diplomat. The EU has been pushing tougher anti-immigration policies since more than a million people reached its southern shores in 2015, catching the bloc by surprise and overwhelming security and reception capacities in countries including Italy. The 27-member governments have since struggled to modernise their shared asylum and migration rules - including the "crisis mechanism" - especially as they want to look in control for their voters ahead of a pan-EU parliamentary election in 2024.

Persons: Yara, Giorgia Meloni, Nancy Faeser, Faeser, Gabriela Baczynska, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, REUTERS, Berlin, Italy's, EU Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Egypt, Tunisia BRUSSELS, Brussels, Germany, Berlin, Tunisia, Europe, EU, Poland, Czech Republic, Bavaria, East, Africa, Asia

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 23, 2023. 'NOT REALISTIC'In a letter to Lavrov last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined four measures the U.N. could immediately move on if there was an understanding that Russia would agree to a resumption of the Black Sea grain deal. They cannot be implemented," Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations after his General Assembly address. Ukraine and Russia are both major grain exporters and Moscow is also a big supplier of fertilizer to the world. Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Alistair Bell and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Eduardo Munoz, Lavrov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.N, Antonio Guterres, They're, Moscow, Guterres, Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Michelle Nichols, Gabriela Baczynska, Alistair Bell, Josie Kao Organizations: Russia's, General Assembly, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Saturday, United Nations, Kyiv, General, Security, North, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, United States, Europe, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, New York, Pyongyang, Russian

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 23, 2023. Lavrov added that Moscow left the Black Sea grain initiative because promises made to Russia - including on removing sanctions on a Russian bank and reconnecting it to the global SWIFT system - had not been met. Asked if Russia would send more peace-keepers to Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, Lavrov said that would be decided on the ground. Lavrov accused the West of a neo-colonial mindset in its overtures to the Global South to win backing for Ukraine in the war. Instead, Lavrov spoke of a "global majority" that was being duped by the West, which he described as an "empire of lies".

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Eduardo Munoz, Lavrov, Antonio Guterres, They're, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Gabriela Baczynska, Alistair Bell, Josie Kao Organizations: Russia's, General Assembly, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Saturday, West, Kyiv, . Security, Moscow, North, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Moscow, U.N, New York, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Turkey, Nagorno, Karabakh, Armenian, Azerbaijan, Pyongyang

☆ Germany's Baerbock Joins Chorus Criticizing EU Migration Deal With Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined a growing chorus of critics of the European Union's new migration deal with Tunisia, saying human rights and procedural faults ruled it out as a blueprint for the future. Her letter to the EU executive European Commission highlights the EU's inner conflict between those pursuing ever-tougher policies to stop illegal immigration and others who emphasize humanitarian considerations and labor market gaps. But in her letter dated Aug. 2, Baerbock expressed "incomprehension" at what she said were insufficient consultations with other countries in the 27-nation bloc. 'SERIOUS VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES'Asked to comment on the letters, a European Commission spokeswoman said the EU executive consulted member states enough. On Friday, the EC announced 60 million euros ($64 million) in support for the Tunisian budget and a further 67 million euros ($71 million) in assistance on migration.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Annalena Baerbock, Kais, Giorgia Meloni, Baerbock, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Oliver Varhelyi, Viktor Orban, Meloni, Howard Goller Organizations: Gabriela Baczynska UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, EU, Commission, European Commission, EC, Human Rights Locations: Tunisia, Italy, Netherlands, EU, Tunis, Africa, Egypt, Hungary, East, Geneva, Ukraine

☆ Germany's Baerbock joins chorus criticizing EU migration deal with Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Migrants rescued at sea walk after disembarking from a vessel, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. "Democracy, human rights and the rule of law must guide us in our cooperation - something that was not given suitable consideration, in the agreement with Tunisia," she wrote. "The MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Tunisia cannot become a template for further agreements," she added. 'SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES'Asked to comment on the letters, a European Commission spokeswoman said the EU executive consulted member states enough. On Friday, the EC announced 60 million euros ($64 million) in support for the Tunisian budget and a further 67 million euros ($71 million) in assistance on migration.

Persons: Yara, Annalena Baerbock, Kais, Giorgia Meloni, Baerbock, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Oliver Varhelyi, Viktor Orban, Meloni, Gabriela Baczynska, Howard Goller Organizations: Migrants, REUTERS, UNITED, EU, Commission, Reuters, European Commission, EC, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Germany, EU, Tunisia, Netherlands, Tunis, Africa, Egypt, Hungary, East, Geneva, Ukraine

"There's a trip next week to India, a number of countries are going to sort of verify certain elements of implementation. Belgium, which is not in the G7 but is a member of the European Union, has been blocking any sanctions on Russian diamonds sought by hawks in the EU. A leading Russia critic, Poland this week launched a fresh call for EU sanctions on Russian diamonds, the sales of which brought Moscow more than $4.5 billion in 2022. The EU bought some $1.5 billion worth of Russian diamonds last year. Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Washington imposed sanctions on Alrosa and barred the import of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin into the United States.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk, Gabriela Baczynska, Howard Goller Organizations: Biden, Reuters, U.S, United Nations, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: India, United States, Belgium, Mumbai, Surat, Russia, New York, Antwerp, Ukraine, Moscow, Poland, Washington

☆ Exclusive: EU to ask China at UN to push Russia towards 'just peace' in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - European Council President Charles Michel will ask China directly at the United Nations Security Council to do more to push Russia towards a "just peace" in Ukraine, according to his draft speech seen by Reuters at the UNGA. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also expected to attend the council meeting. China has abstained from votes by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly that overwhelmingly demanded that Moscow withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop fighting. China's abstentions appeared to reflect a bid to stay on the diplomatic fence over the war in Ukraine. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Michelle Nichols and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Charles Michel, Michel, let's, Han Zheng, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.N, Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: UNITED, United Nations Security Council, Reuters, Security, General Assembly, Moscow, Thomson Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, New York, Beijing

☆ 'Stop the war' and Zelenskiy need not speak, UN Security Council chair tells Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the United Nations Security Council during a ministerial level meeting of the Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023. "There is a solution for this," Rama continued, addressing Nebenzia directly: "If you agree, you stop the war and President Zelenskiy will not take the floor." After the session, Zelenskiy thanked Rama on social media, saying the Albanian, who is both an artist and former basketball player, "showed the world how to correctly handle Russia, its lies, and its hypocrisy." When given the floor after the back-and-forth, Zelenskiy asked Russia be stripped of its veto right as one of five permanent members of the post-World War Two U.N. Security Council as punishment for attacking Ukraine. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mike Segar, Volodomyr Zelenskiy's, Vassily Nebenzia, Rama, Nebenzia, Zelenskiy, Sergei Lavrov, Gabriela Baczynska, Howard Goller Organizations: United Nations Security Council, Security, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Albanian, Edi Rama, NATO, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.N, New York, Moscow, Russia

☆ Notable remarks on Ukraine at UN Security Council
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has his address to the United Nations Security Council laid out on the desk in front of him as he attends a ministerial level meeting of the Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN:"It's hard to imagine a country demonstrating more contempt for the United Nations and all that it stands for - this from a country with a permanent seat on this council. "The war is having an increasingly devastating toll on the people in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. "The only pathway for a comprehensive peace ... is one that must be just and based on the charter of the United Nations, and international law." SWISS PRESIDENT ALAIN BERSET:"With Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the (U.N.) Charter has been violated on a massive scale.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Brendan McDermid, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, BLINKEN, Putin, SERGEI LAVROV, GUILLERMO LASSO, NANA AKUFO, ALAIN BERSET, FUMIO, Gabriela Baczynska, Humeyra Pamuk, Don Durfee Organizations: United Nations Security Council, Security, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Wednesday, Security Council, Russia, OF STATE, United Nations, UN, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.N, New York, Russia, Soviet Union, .

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends the 78th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Bing Guan Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine urgently needs air defenses, including ammunition, spare parts and maintenance for the systems the Ukrainian military already has, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters on Tuesday. "There is an urgent need for air defense, not only new systems, but also ammunition, maintenance, spare parts ... We see that air defense is saving lives every day in Ukraine and we need to sustain the air defense systems of Ukraine." He spoke after a senior State Department official said earlier on Tuesday that reinforcing Ukraine's air defenses was key, including to protect critical infrastructure as winter descends. Stoltenberg declined to say how many rounds of munitions NATO allies can deliver to Ukraine each year, or when exactly F-16s would be delivered to Kyiv.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Bing Guan, Stoltenberg, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Gabriela Baczynska, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: NATO, United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Headquarters, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, Russian, State Department, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Ukraine, New York, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow

He accused Russia of manipulating global food markets to seek international recognition of ownership of land it seized from Kyiv. [1/5]Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. We must act united to defeat the aggressor and focus all our capabilities and energy on addressing these challenges," he told the General Assembly. Zelenskiy accused Russia of kidnapping Ukrainian children. In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of illegally deporting children from Ukraine.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Caitlin Ochs, Vladimir Putin, Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller Organizations: UNITED, General, United Nations General, General Assembly, REUTERS, Kremlin, . Security, Thomson Locations: Moscow, New York, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Morocco, Libya, New York City, U.S

☆ EU executive says aid payments for Somalia 'temporarily suspended'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ayenat Mersie//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive said on Tuesday that disbursements of humanitarian aid in Somalia were "temporarily suspended" after a U.N. probe found widespread theft and misuse of support meant to avert famine. Quoting senior EU officials, Reuters reported exclusively on Monday that the European Commission had temporarily suspended funding for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia because of the U.N. findings. Donors boosted funding to Somalia last year as humanitarian officials warned of a looming famine due to the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades. The U.N. humanitarian aid budget for Somalia is envisaged at 72 million euros ($77 million), of which 10 million euros ($10.68 million) are earmarked for the WFP. Three months ago the WFP and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended food aid to neighboring Ethiopia in response to a widespread diversion of donations.

Persons: Ayenat, Balazs Ujvari, Gabriela Baczynska, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, European, Reuters, European Commission, Food Programme, WFP, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Thomson Locations: Dollow, Somalia, Muri, Mogadishu, United States, Ethiopia

The second senior EU official confirmed that. A third source, also an EU official, said the Commission was "cooperating actively with WFP to resolve systemic defects" but said no aid was suspended at this stage. Last year, it contributed more than half of the $2.2 billion of funding that went to the humanitarian response there. The U.N. report did not attempt to quantify the amount of aid that was diverted but said its findings "suggest that post-delivery aid diversion in Somalia is widespread and systemic". In all, investigators collected data from 55 IDP sites in Somalia and found aid diversion in all of them, the report said.

Persons: Ayenat, Balazs Ujvari, Antonio Guterres, Devex, Jessica Jennings, gatekeepers, Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Aaron Ross, Emma Farge, Daphne Psaledakis, Joe Bavier, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, European Union, Food Programme, Reuters, European Commission, EU, WFP, U.N, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, European, Somali Disaster Management Office, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Dollow, Somalia, NAIROBI, GENEVA, Ethiopia, United States, Nairobi, Geneva

☆ EU to investigate 'flood' of Chinese electric cars, weighing tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Global markets are now flooded with cheaper electric cars. It is also unusual in that it is brought by the European Commission itself, rather than in response to an industry complaint. GRINDING GEARSThe influx of cheaper Chinese electric vehicles has already prompted some European carmakers to take action. At the same time Von der Leyen stressed the importance of electric vehicles to the EU's ambitious environmental objectives. The founder of Nio warned in April that Chinese EV makers should brace for the possibility that foreign governments would impose protectionist policies.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, BYD, EVs, Nio, Mercedes Benz, Stellantis, France's, Tesla, VDA, Von der Leyen, Simone Tagliapietra, Kingsmill Bond, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Kim Miyoung, Brenda Goh, Anne Marie Roantree, Nick Carey, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Louise Heavens Organizations: EU, Investigation, European EV, European Commission, European Union, Renault, BMW, HK, China Passenger Car Association, Dynamics, Volvo, EV, VW, France's Renault, Japan, Rocky Mountain Institute, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, China, Moscow, Ukraine, Germany, France, Europe, U.S

☆ EU to assess whether to hit Chinese electric cars with tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

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. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission started an investigation on Wednesday to assess whether the European Union needs to impose tariffs to protect itself against Chinese electric vehicle producers benefiting from state subsidies. And their price is kept artificially low by huge state subsidies," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual address to the bloc's parliament. Von der Leyen stressed the importance of electric vehicles to the EU's ambitious environmental objectives. "So I can announce today that the Commission is launching an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles coming from China.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, Von der Leyen, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Gabriela Baczynska Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Strasbourg, France, Rights BRUSSELS, China, Europe

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacts on the day of the annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 13, 2023. European Commission President von der Leyen told the European Parliament that Ukraine had already made "great strides" since being designated a membership candidate last year, even as it fights to repel Russia's invasion. But candidate countries have to meet a string of political and economic criteria to begin membership talks - and must fulfil more stringent conditions on democracy, the rule of law and economic standards - before they can actually join the EU. "For Ukraine, the biggest obstacle is Hungary and the discussion around national minorities," a senior EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, von der Leyen outlined a vision of a European Union that would include not only Ukraine, but also Moldova and countries of the Western Balkans.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Peter Szijjarto, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Nick Macfie Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, ., EU, European Commission, Kyiv, OTP Bank, West, European, Thomson Locations: State, Strasbourg, France, Rights BRUSSELS, EU, European Union, Ukraine, Hungary, Germany, Kyiv, Hungarian, Moscow, Budapest, Moldova, Western Balkans

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