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Presentation of the European Council's Conclusions
Speaking at the European Parliament, Commission President José Manuel Barroso stressed that "The main purpose of this European Council was to show joint determination to tackle persisting market tensions by consolidating these achievements and reinforcing them even further. And indeed, during Thursday night an agreement was reached to create a genuine fiscal stability union, a new fiscal compact." Read more; European Council Conclusions
President Van Rompuy Meets with President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas
"We touched upon the developments in the Middle East Peace Process. I emphasized how the EU remains committed to the two-state solution. I underlined that the best way to achieve this is through direct negotiations between the Parties. The EU is actively pursuing this through the Middle East Quartet. President Abbas also informed me on the current developments in the Palestinian request for membership in the United Nations." Read more
South Sudan: EU Announces Priority Support to Agriculture and Food Security
On the eve of the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan, which will take place in Washington on December 14-15, European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, announced that the European Commission will focus its aid on the agriculture and food security sector. €80 million will be allocated to improving rural infrastructure; boosting productivity by providing easier access to services and land; support to small-holders and strengthening water management for sustainable use. New jobs and growth in agriculture will also contribute to the much-needed diversification of South Sudan's oil-dependent economy. It is expected that some Member States will announce support in complementary sectors. Read more
Arab Spring Wins Sakharov Prize
The 2011 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought is awarded in Strasbourg today, December 14, 2011, to five representatives of the Arab people, in recognition and support of their quest for freedom and human rights. The prizes go to Ms. Asmaa Mahfouz, an Egyptian Youth activist who used social media to organize protest in Tahrir Square; Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi, a Libyan ‘prisoner of conscience’ for 30 years who is now a member of the National Transitional Council; Ms. Razan Zaitouneh, a Syrian human rights lawyer and blogger who remains in hiding; Ali Farzat, a Syrian political satirist and cartoonist; and (posthumously) Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian market trader whose self-immolation in January began a wave of protest that would become the Arab Spring. Read more
EU-Russia Summit
The 28th EU-Russia summit takes place in Brussels on December 15, 2011. The EU will be represented President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will also attend. At the head of the Russian delegation will be President Dmitry Medvedev. Factsheet; EU High Rep. Ashton on the EU-Russia Summit
Justice and Home Affairs Council Conclusions
The Council decided on the signing of the EU-US PNR agreement which will take place on 14 December 2011. The European Parliament will now be requested to give its consent to the
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 15 December 2011 16:20 |
