Mediaboss Marketing

BRUSSELS - The European Union's top diplomat said Tuesday that since the United States has already withdrawn from an international agreement curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, it can't now use its former membership of the pact to try to impose a permanent arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

The accord, which Iran signed with the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia in 2015, has been unraveling since President Donald Trump pulled Washington out in 2018 and reinstated sanctions designed to cripple Tehran under what the U.S. called a "maximum pressure" campaign.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft have said that extending a permanent U.N. backed arms embargo against Iran is now a top priority for Washington.

But speaking to reporters Tuesday after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell insisted that since the U.S. has pulled out of the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it can no longer claim to have a role in it.

"The United States has withdrawn from the JCPOA, and now they cannot claim that they are still part of the JCPOA in order to deal with this issue from the JCPOA agreement. They withdraw. It's clear. They withdraw," Borrell said.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Trump administration of unleashing a politically motivated campaign against Iran and he called for "universal condemnation" of the U.S. attempt to get the U.N. Security Council to impose a permanent arms embargo.

The EU sees the nuclear deal as a key pillar of regional and world security and has struggled to keep the pact alive despite U.S. pressure. Borrell is tasked with supervising the way the pact is applied and to help resolve disputes between the parties.

Read more:
EU Rejects Any US Attempt to Invoke Iran Nuclear Deal - VOA News

Financing from European Union funds to support disabled children and their families will be distributed among 17 associations or foundations in the second project selection process, as reported by the Central Financing and Contracting Agency (CFLA).

After the initial project selection process, the previously approved rehabilitation centre Poga and 16 other projects have been approved under conditions. If project authors fulfil conditions, eight projects will be implemented in Riga, three in Pieriga, four in Kurzeme and two in Vidzeme. 15 submitted projects were not approved over reasons of insufficient funding or quality criteria.

Project implementers associations or foundations will have access to funding of EUR 206 750 to organize support activities for disabled children and their families. This includes social rehabilitation, daycare services and moments of respite or short-term social care services. Funding as part of the project is also intended to procure equipment and train specialists.

Project proposals were submitted to CFLA between 30 December 2019 and 2 April 2020. Information about approved projects will be published on CFLA website once projects have been approved.

32 projects for a total amount of EUR 5 279 352.31 were received in the second stage of the selection process. This amount includes EUR 4 487 551.87 from European Social Fund and EUR 791 800.44 from the state budget. The available funding is EUR 3 114 303.50, which includes EUR 2 647 157.97 from the EU and EUR 467 145.53 from the state budget, which means the requested funding amount exceeds the amount that is readily available. 85% of projects costs will be covered by the European Social Fund and 15% will be covered by Latvias state budget.

14 projects are implemented in the first stage, providing assistance to disabled children and their families.

Originally posted here:
EU finances to be used to finance projects to assist disabled children - bnn-news.com

During the three years of the visa-free regime with the European Union, Ukrainian citizens have made almost 49 million trips to the EU countries.

"Today, exactly three years ago, Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports were granted the right of visa-free travel to the European Union (except Ireland), as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland which are members of the Schengen area but are not the EU members... Since the beginning of the visa-free regime (from June 11, 2017 till April 2020), Ukrainians have made a total of almost 49 million trips to EU countries with both biometric and non-biometric documents," the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine informs on the occasion of the third anniversary of the introduction of visa-free travel.

According to the State Border Guard Service, Ukrainians most often cross the border with Poland. The areas of the border with Hungary and Romania were also active, and to a lesser extent the border with Slovakia.

As noted, Ukrainians increasingly used air travel, while sea travel was the least popular.

According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the flow of Ukrainians to the EU is growing every year. In particular, in 2018, the number of trips was 17.5 million, and in 2019 it was 18.65 million. The first months of 2020 were no exception, but the situation was affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why most countries have restricted entry and scheduled international air service was suspended. According to the analysis, in January and February this year, Ukrainians travelled to the EU 3 million times, while for the same period in 2019 2.3 million times.

"In the second year of visa-free travel, the number of Ukrainians who preferred visa-free travel (exclusively with biometric passports) increased 4.2 times compared to the first year," the State Border Guard Service noted.

As reported, the visa-free agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was signed in Strasbourg on May 17, 2017.

On June 11, 2017, visa-free travel for Ukrainians was launched.

ol

See the rest here:
Three years of visa-free travel: Ukrainians have made almost 49 million trips to EU - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

Minister stressed the need to consolidate efforts to prepare an ambitious Joint Declaration of the upcoming summit.

REUTERS

On Wednesday, Kuleba held a video conference call with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, MFA Ukraine's press service reports.

On the eve of a video conference of the Eastern Partnership foreign ministers, scheduled for June 11, the interlocutors discussed issues of Sweden's support for Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

Kuleba noted the importance of consolidating efforts to prepare an ambitious Joint Declaration of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit on the principles of joint ownership and strategic nature of the initiative, taking into account the interests of Eastern partners.

Ukraine's top diplomat briefed his Swedish counterpart on the security situation in the country's temporarily occupied territories, about the developments in the Normandy Four negotiations, and the process of the implementation of Minsk agreements.

Read alsoNo constructiveness on Russia's side to achieve peace in Donbas FM Kuleba

The foreign minister also noted that the issues of combating armed aggression by the Russian Federation and joint steps to de-occupy Crimea should remain a priority on the OSCE agenda.

"I am convinced that the high level of Swedish diplomacy will effectively and consistently protect the principles and norms that underpin the architecture of European security and the activities of the OSCE during the Swedish chairmanship in 2021," Kuleba emphasized.

In turn, the Swedish foreign minister noted progress in reform implementation in Ukraine, including the adoption of a law on the land market. The entry to the Ukrainian market of major Swedish brands, such as IKEA, is a testament to Ukraine's success on this path.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Sweden expressed their intention to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries and make efforts to minimize the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the international economy.

As UNIAN reported earlier, foreign ministers of the six members of the Eastern Partnership and the leadership of the European Union will hold an informal video conference on June 11.

In turn, the leaders of 27 countries members of the European Union and six states that are part of the Eastern Partnership will hold a video conference on June 18. At the same time, an in-person meeting of leaders within the summit's framework is scheduled for early 2021.

On April 21, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the Eastern Partnership initiative of the European Union should contribute to Ukraine's gradual integration into the EU's internal market.

Here is the original post:
EU should take into account interests of partners, including Ukraine, withing Eastern Partnership initiative Kuleba - UNIAN

BRUSSELS (AP) Europe could have its free travel zone up and running again by the end of this month, but travelers from further afield will not be allowed in before July, a European Union commissioner said Friday after talks among the blocs interior ministers.

Panicked by Italys coronavirus outbreak in February, countries in the 26-nation Schengen travel zone where people and goods move freely without border checks imposed border restrictions without consulting their neighbors to try to keep the disease out. The moves caused massive border traffic jams and blocked medical equipment.

Free movement is a jewel in Europes crown that helps its businesses flourish and many European officials feared that the very future of the Schengen area was under threat from coronavirus travel restrictions. These added to border pressures already caused by the arrival in Europe of well over 1 million migrants in 2015.

I personally believe that we will return to a full functioning of the Schengen area and freedom of movement of citizens no later than the end of the month of June, European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said Friday after the video-conference meeting.

All but essential travel into Europe from the outside is restricted until June 15, but many ministers suggested Friday that they want this deadline extended until early July.

The meeting came as the Czech Republic was easing restrictions with some of its neighbors; Austria, Germany and Hungary. Also Friday, Switzerland said it plans to lift restrictions on travel from EU nations and Britain on June 15. Switzerland is not an EU member but is part of the Schengen travel zone.

READ MORE: EU proposes 750 billion-euro coronavirus recovery fund

Johansson said Europes Centre for Disease Prevention and Control believes that confinement, social distancing and other health measures are working. More than 175,000 people have died in Europes coronavirus outbreak, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, mostly in Britain, Italy, France and Spain.

Physical distancing and other health-related measures are still needed, of course. But health authorities are clear that there is no longer a clear justification for either travel restrictions or border measures within the EU Schengen area, Johansson said.

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, whose country plans to lift its remaining border checks on June 15 like many other EU countries, said the internal border controls will be over in all of Europe at the end of June.

The news should come as a relief to millions of Europeans still trying to work out their summer vacation plans which begin for many in July once the school year is over and who are anxious to know whether they will be allowed to head to the continents beaches or mountains.

Its also good news for European countries whose economies have been ravaged by the spread of COVID-19 and are hoping for a much-needed boost from their decimated tourism industries.

But the perception that Italy is still dangerous is weighing heavily on its tourism sector, which along with related industries accounts for 13% of Italys gross domestic product.

In an apparent reference to Austria and Greece, which have not fully opened to Italian tourists, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio denounced the ad hoc measures put in place by some countries as a violation of the European spirit that has always distinguished us.

Di Maio said Rome would provide regular infection data to Austria so they can have certainty about Italys numbers. Last week, he said Italy refused to be treated as a leper after Greece announced a list of 29 countries whose citizens could visit without testing or quarantine requirements, but excluded Italians, Britons and residents of other hard-hit countries.

READ MORE: EU warns of recession of historic proportions this year

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte have sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen urging the lifting of restrictions at our internal borders () in a coordinated, non-discriminatory manner. The letter was shared with media in Spain on Friday.

The government leaders of the eurozones third- and fourth-largest economies want the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to play a leading role in defining as soon as possible these criteria together with the member states.

Spain, which relies on tourism for 12% of its GDP, plans to wait until July 1 to drop its 14-day quarantine requirement for everyone who crosses its borders, Spaniards included.

Many of our member states are approaching the date when they are going to reopen their borders to tourist mobility, Snchez and Conte wrote. How this process is carried out will largely determine our citizens perception of the centrality of the European Union in tackling this crisis.

Germanys Seehofer said most of the EUs interior ministers want to extend the current entry ban on outside travelers by 14 days until July 1.

Visitors from the United States, Russia or Brazil, for example, would only be allowed back into Europe on based on how those nations have brought the spread of the virus under control, he said. Those three nations account for 44% of the worlds confirmed infections and nearly 38% of the worlds confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

Worldwide, 6.6 million people have been confirmed infected by the virus and over 391,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins, but experts say the tally understates the true toll of the pandemic due to limited testing, missed mild cases and deliberate government undercounts.

Read more:
European Union wants borders free of virus restrictions by end of June - PBS NewsHour