Tag: Sanctions

European Union governments agreed yesterday (22 April) to ease sanctions on Syria to allow purchases of oil from the opposition, in the hope of throwing a financial lifeline to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

European Union governments plan to ratchet up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme today (15 October), approving new sanctions against Tehran's banks, industry and shipping.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched three-day drills yesterday (2 July) to test missiles capable of hitting targets as far away as Israel, one day after the European Union put into effect its embargo of Iranian oil.

European governments have agreed in principle to ban imports of Iranian oil, EU diplomats said, dealing a potentially heavy blow to Tehran just months before an Iranian election.

The United States, Britain and Canada yesterday (21 November) announced new sanctions on Iran's energy and financial sectors, steps analysts said may raise pressure on Tehran but were unlikely to halt its nuclear program.

The EU’s High representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, announced toughened sanctions against Syria yesterday (1 August) in the wake of Sunday’s reported massacre in Hama and the regime's ongoing crackdown against protesters.

The EU condemned yesterday (20 June) repression of opposition leaders and the media perpetrated by the regime in Belarus and imposed additional sanctions on the country's president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, known as Europe's last dictator. 

In a televised speech announcing changes to his government, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday (27 February) that Paris is calling for an EU summit meeting to discuss the consequences of events in Libya. Meanwhile, the bloc adopted sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi and his supporters today.

EU diplomats are considering imposing sanctions against the top leaders of Belarus, where President Aleksander Lukashenko, known as 'Europe's last dictator', ordered a violent crackdown on opposition candidates and protesters. EurActiv Germany contributed to this article.

France and Germany called on European Union member states yesterday (18 October) to draw up proposals by next March for a permanent system to handle crises in the euro zone by suspending voting rights, admitting that it would mean changing the EU treaty.

The EU imposed tougher sanctions on Iran yesterday (26 July) over its disputed nuclear programme, approving measures to block oil and gas investment and curtail the country's refining and natural gas capabilities. Hours later Tehran said it was ready to return to negotiations on a nuclear fuel swap, which stalled last year, "without conditions".

Bulgaria is trying to overcome a communication problem with the Commission while struggling hard to deliver on commitments to fight corruption and organised crime, the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin says in an interview with EurActiv.

European Commission officials are to visit Sofia and Bucharest this week to assess judicial reforms, EurActiv Romania reports. The visit takes place amid mounting pressure in Brussels to invoke so-called "safeguard clauses" against the two countries, which could result in EU funds being slashed.