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The European Union denies relaxing its travel ban on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe despite reports Tuesday that the recently elected African Union chairman would be allowed to travel into the EU. The longstanding visa ban that prevented Mugabe from traveling to Europe remains in place, but exemptions could be granted allowing him to visit for special circumstances, EU spokeswoman Catherine Ray said Wednesday.

"Member states may grant exemptions ... where travel is justified on the grounds of urgent humanitarian need, or in exceptional cases on grounds of attending intergovernmental meetings and those promoted or hosted by the European Union, Ray told International Business Times. But just a day earlier, she told reporters:"This ban will be lifted when he is traveling under his African Union chairmanship capacity."

The statement was interpreted by some as a departure from the blocs longstanding travel ban on the Zimbabwean ruler, who has been criticized by Western countries for his governments human rights abuses and repression. The EU invited Mugabe last year to attend an Africa summit in Brussels, but he declined after his wife was denied a visa to accompany him, according to AFP.

Catherine Bearder, a member of the European Parliament from Britain, tweeted Tuesday that she was unhappy about the travel ban change.

Mugabes government has been the target of EU sanctions since 2002, when his government was linked to widespread abuses around an election. While some of these sanctions, including asset freezes on prominent Zimbabweans, have been eased in recent years to promote reform, Mugabe and his wife Grace remained on the EU blacklist, according to the Associated Press.

The appointment of Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since the end of white rule in 1980, to the chairmanship of the 54-nation African Union caused some consternation among Western governments last week, with some warning that it could tarnish the continental blocs relations with the West. While the role is a largely ceremonial one, Mugabe is now in a position to influence topics of debate within the AU.

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EU Says It Didn't Relax Travel Ban On Zimbabwe's Mugabe After African Union Chairmanship Election

Newly-formed Bioeconomy Alliance Calls for EU Action

The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EBA) calls for more predictable policies leading to a long-term strategy for a competitive, dynamic and sustainable bioeconomy in Europe.

Feb. 4, 2015 - Creating a world-leading bioeconomy in the European Union requires bold political moves. On the occasion of its launch at the European Parliament on 4 February, the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EBA) calls for more predictable policies leading to a long-term strategy for a competitive, dynamic and sustainable bioeconomy in Europe.

Developing the bioeconomy is only feasible if the European Union provides a holistic, coherent and harmonised framework in a range of policy fields: agriculture, forestry, marine, industrial, climate, environment, energy, research, innovation and regional development. The EU needs to act on the following four main fronts in particular, in order to help Europe become a leader in the bioeconomy:

EBAs vision is to help establish a more competitive, innovative, energy-secure and sustainable Europe, separating economic growth from a reliance on imported fossil sources, resource depletion, and environmental impact. EBA fully supports both the European Commissions work on developing an EU bioeconomy as well as on-going efforts at member state and regional level to implement local strategies. In addition, EBA entirely supports the recent establishment of the European Parliament intergroup on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development and its subgroup on the bioeconomy.

Over the next decades, the bioeconomy will play an increasingly important role in boosting Europes economy by revitalising rural and coastal areas and disused industrialised sites while providing more growth and jobs. According to the European Commission, the European bioeconomy is worth nearly EUR 2 trillion and provides more than 22 million jobs to EU citizens.

The bioeconomy is not a niche sector; it encompasses the sustainable production of renewable resources and their conversion into food, feed, fibres, materials, chemicals and bioenergy through efficient and/or innovative technologies, which provides widespread economic, environmental and societal benefits.

Therefore, the EBA calls for the bioeconomy development to be set as a priority in the Commissions new EUR 315 billion investment plan as well as in national and regional measures, to help ensure Europes sustainable economic recovery.

Note: The EBA is an informal alliance of leading European organisations active in the bioeconomy. Its members are:

SOURCE: Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI)

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Newly-formed Bioeconomy Alliance Calls for EU Action

South Africa-European Union Summit
This year #39;s South Africa-European Union Summit will be taking place in July with a focus on job creation, economic growth, investment and skills.

By: CNBCAfrica

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South Africa-European Union Summit - Video

Book Review | The Nordic Regions And The European Union By Henrik Halkier
BOOK REVIEW OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOK =--- Where to buy this book? ISBN: 9780754638209 Book Review of The Nordic Regions and the European Union by Henrik Halkier If you want to...

By: Heavy truck

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Book Review | The Nordic Regions And The European Union By Henrik Halkier - Video

Model European Union 2015 - Rules of Procedure

By: Avarie Cook

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Model European Union 2015 - Rules of Procedure - Video