Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Agenda

Key talks with Russia over European security This WEEK

  • EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell in Ukraine last week, in a show of support for the eastern European country (Photo: European Commission)
Listen to article

As the 'Brussels Bubble' comes back to life, the EU and the council's new French presidency are facing several crucial issues right from the start.

In Geneva, US and Russian officials began talks over Europe's security, in an effort to de-escalate the situation on Ukraine's eastern border - where Russian troops have amassed for weeks.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Moscow has demanded security guarantees that Nato will not expand eastwards and that it will get a say in the alliance's military presence in eastern Europe.

Talks in Geneva are without Europeans - which several European leaders have warned against, arguing that talks about Europe's security cannot happen without Europeans.

US deputy state secretary Wendy R. Sherman said after the talks with Russian officials that the US will not discuss European security without its allies.

French president Emmanuel Macron last Friday said that the EU should come up with its own proposals on a new security architecture.

In Brussels, Nato foreign ministers are meeting on Monday (10 January), and Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg will receive Ukraine's deputy prime minister Olga Stefanishyna.

The Nato-Russia council in Brussels will take place on Wednesday (12 January) and separate talks under the framework of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) will go on in Vienna on Thursday (13 January).

The week will be key on how Western allies can manage the Russian security and political challenge.

French connection

France in the meantime has begun its EU council presidency.

Among other things, France is aiming to get EU governments to agree on a 15-percent global minimum tax rate, the Fit-for-55 climate package, migration and new digital rules.

Paris will also push ahead with a stronger common EU defence, and work on a proposal to allow the EU secure its own revenue streams, the so-called "own-resources" which are intended to back up the EU's Covid-19 recovery fund.

EU budget commissioner Johannes Hahn on Thursday will be in the parliament's budget committee to discuss the own-resources package with MEPs.

On the same day, the development committee in the parliament will hear from the commission on the Global Gateway plans, an EU investment initiative that aims to counter China's massive global investments.

MEPs on the development committee will also discuss access to Covid-19 vaccines in developing countries.

Still on Thursday in the civil liberties committee, MEPs will hear from commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas and commissioner Ylva Johansson on plans to provisionally ease migration rules over the Belarus crisis.

EU warns against Ukraine talks without Europe

The German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock warned in Washington that "it is out of the question, and let me make this very clear - there cannot be a decision on the security in Europe without Europe."

EU unveils plan to repay Covid recovery-fund borrowing

The European Commission has presented three new sources of revenues for the EU´s coffers aimed at repaying the emergency coronavirus recovery fund and supporting vulnerable households in the transition towards climate neutrality.

Environment, Ukraine imports, fish and Easter this WEEK

This week, expect no more than talks on environment, agriculture and fisheries, including discussions between the Polish and Ukrainian governments over angry protests by Polish farmers objecting to cheap grain imports from Ukraine.

EU summit, Gaza, Ukraine, reforms in focus this WEEK

This week, EU leaders come together in Brussels for their usual two-day summit to discuss defence, enlargement, migration and foreign affairs. EU ministers for foreign affairs and EU affairs will meet earlier in the week to prepare the European Council.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us