About: Josep Borrell
EU will resolve embassy row with UK despite ‘unfriendly signal’, says Borrell
The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, insisted on Monday (25 January) that the EU and UK would resolve a diplomatic row over the status of the bloc’s ambassador to London, though he warned that the UK’s intransigence was “not a friendly signal”.
EU refrains from Russia sanctions over Navalny arrest, for now
Despite calls from Baltic countries, Italy and Romania, EU foreign ministers on Monday (25 January) decided to hold off from imposing fresh sanctions on Russian officials in response to the detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
EU deplores ‘widespread detentions’ in Russia protests
The European Union’s foreign policy chief expressed concern over Russia’s response to mass protests on Saturday (23 January), saying he deplored “widespread arrests” and the “disproportionate use of force”. “Following unfolding events in #Russia with concern,” Josep Borrell wrote on...
EU states should recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s leader, MEPs say
The European Parliament called on EU governments to recognise Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president in a resolution on Thursday (21 January), after a downgrade of his status by the bloc earlier this month.
Georgian president visits Brussels in push for 2024 EU membership application
The President of Georgia Salome Zourabishvili is paying a visit to all three on European institutions Thursday and Friday (21-22 January) to cement Georgia’s bid for an EU membership in 2024. The visit of the Caucasian country’s head of state...
Turkish FM on charm offensive in Brussels
The European Union will on Thursday (21 January) press Turkey to make good on recent gestures from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to calm tensions, as Ankara's foreign minister visits Brussels.
EU warns Iran nuclear deal at ‘critical juncture’
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned the Iran nuclear deal is at a "critical juncture", as Tehran's moves to breach it threaten efforts to get the US back on board.
Navalny arrest could prompt inauguration of EU Magnitsky-style sanctions regime
The EU's recently approved Magnitsky-style law allowing the 27-member bloc to impose sanctions on human rights abusers could soon come to life as calls grow in Europe to apply the new punitive measures to Russia over the detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
US Capitol siege a ‘wake-up call’ for democracies, Borrell says
The European Union's top diplomat said on Sunday (10 January)that last week's siege of the US Capitol exposed the dangers of allowing the degradation of democratic values to go unchecked and disinformation to spread on social media.
Migrants in limbo in Bosnia after camp fire
A thousand migrants from a burned-out camp were in limbo in Bosnia on Thursday (31 December), struggling with freezing temperatures and snow as efforts by local authorities to re-house them sparked protests from locals.
EU urges China to free rights lawyers
The European Union on Monday (21 December) called for China to release jailed lawyer Li Yuhan and other human rights defenders, as the bloc closes in on a major investment pact with Beijing.
EU hopes for Eastern Mediterranean conference fritter away
The EU push for a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean to ease tensions in the region has reached deadlock, diplomatic sourced told EURACTIV.com.
EU top diplomat keeps mum over Turkey arms embargo
The EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell clearly dodged a question on Monday (7 December) over the possibility to impose an EU arms embargo on Turkey as a means to convince Ankara to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Spanish...
Iran watchdog passes law on hardening nuclear stance, halting UN inspections
Iran’s Guardian Council watchdog body approved a law that obliges the government to halt UN inspections of its nuclear sites and step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit set under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not eased.
Renewed EU-US alliance to focus on climate, digital, ‘strategic autonomy’
The EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell proposed a plan on Wednesday (2 December) for a renewed alliance between the EU and the US under President-elect, Joe Biden, based on greater climate cooperation and new efforts to smooth out commercial and digital friction.
Dutch left red-faced after EU video conference ‘hack’
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned his cabinet Friday to beef up online security after a journalist logged into a confidential EU videoconference using information posted on a minister’s Twitter account. RTL Nieuws said reporter Daniel Verlaan logged into a...
EU, Central Asia touch base virtually in turbulent times
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen held a teleconference on Tuesday (17 November) with ministers from the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, with which the EU is trying to forge closer relations.
Erdogan says Cyprus to stay divided, visits ‘ghost town’ in Turkish-held north
Turkey's president said he favours a permanent "two-state" division of Cyprus during a visit Sunday to the breakaway Turkish-held north condemned as a provocation by the internationally recognised Greek-speaking south.
Borrell urges return to talks following renewed Western Sahara tensions
The Polisario Front said Sunday (15 November) it was mobilising "thousands of volunteers" to join its fighters, on the third day of a crisis in the disputed Western Sahara that pits the Sahrawis against Morocco.
EU threatens new Belarus sanctions after opposition activist death
The EU warned Friday (13 November) it could impose further sanctions on targets in Belarus and condemned the death in police custody of an opposition activist.
Russian peacekeepers head to Nagorno-Karabakh after peace deal
Russian began deploying 2,000 peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday (10 November) after Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed a peace deal to end weeks of fierce fighting over the disputed region.
Borrell: EU must improve its offer to Africa to remain its ‘first partner’
The EU will need to significantly improve its offer to the African continent if it is succeed in maintaining its position as its “first partner”, the EU’s chief diplomat said on Thursday (29 October).
EU seals accord to let third countries into future joint military projects
EU member states agreed on late Wednesday (28 October) on conditions to allow countries outside the bloc to participate in joint defence projects, according to a draft agreement document obtained by EURACTIV.