Tag: European Union
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Europe and the US strengthen their ties with the Philippines as China keeps encroaching on the Philippine’s Maritime Waters
During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial in Manila last week, both the United States and the European Union reaffirmed and strengthened their relations with the Philippines as China continued its increasingly belligerent activities in the maritime territory of the Philippines. Chinese Coast Guard personnel confronted Philippine Navy personnel…
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EU Council approves 21st sanctions package: EU High Representative says EU mission in the Red Sea will protect commercial shipping
The EU Council has adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia after agreeing to a derogation addressing Greece’s objections to the proposed restrictions. Greece opposed the ban on EU operators transferring Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Under the final rules, such transfers may continue temporarily under qualifying long-term contracts concluded before 24 February…
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The EU boards its first Russian shadow fleet tanker
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced that on Monday 20th July, the EU has boarded the vessel, South Star suspected of carrying a false Cameroonian flag and conducted an inspection of the vessel. However, the EU did not seize the vessel. The vessel is suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet network and was…
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Malta keeps failing rule-of-law test as EU Commission highlights decade-long trials and corruption backlog
Malta has once again received a negative assessment from the European Commission, which found that the country had made no progress on several long-standing rule-of-law reforms and only limited progress in tackling high-level corruption, protecting journalists and opening the legislative process to public scrutiny. The Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, published on 17 July,…
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European Union extends security agreements with Djibouti
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas travelled to Djibouti and extended the EU’s security and economic agreements with the host country. These agreements are essential to ensure that one of the world’s most important chokepoints — the Bab al-Mandab Strait — remains open for international shipping. The High Representative signed the EU-Djibouti Status of Forces Agreement…
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Europe to defend its skies with Ukrainian drones
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv yesterday, where she and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched a new EU–Ukraine Defence Industrial Partnership and signed a letter of intent marking the first step towards a broader Drone Deal between Ukraine and the European Union. The partnership aims to import and integrate Ukraine’s battlefield-tested expertise…
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No change of Malta’s foreign policy with the new Foreign Minister
So far, there seems to be no change in Malta’s foreign policy as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chris Fearne, takes on his role. At the conclusion of this week’s EU Council meeting, the Foreign Minister delineated Malta’s foreign policy positions, all of which are aligned with the previous foreign policy adhered to by…
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EU sanctions on Sudanese gold miss their point because Sudanese gold is imported and sold by the United Arab Emirates
The EU has imposed sanctions on gold imports from Sudan, seemingly to help cut off revenue streams to the warring parties in the country. However, these sanctions are one-sided and are more harmful to the Sudanese government than to the Rapid Support Forces, which the EU has recently proposed designating as a terrorist organisation. The…
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EU Council meeting concludes with decision on new Russian sanctions: new partnership with Bahrain announced
Yesterday’s EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting concluded with the adoption of several new sets of sanctions targeting Russian individuals and entities involved in cyberattacks, human rights violations and the repression of civil society. High Representative Kaja Kallas said that the measures adopted yesterday, together with the forthcoming 21st sanctions package, comprise more than 250 listings,…
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Foreign Minister in Brussels for Council Meeting and Palestine Donor Meeting
Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Chris Fearne, met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa ahead of the Palestine Donor Meeting, which is being held in Brussels today. The Foreign Affairs Minister also attended the morning session of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. The Palestine Donor Group brings together European, Arab and other international partners to…
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The EU’s condemnation of the RSF is a step in the right direction: but failure to mention the UAE is conspicuous
At the end of last week, the European Parliament approved a resolution condemning the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan and called for a halt to weapons shipments to the genocidal organisation currently besieging El Obeid. The resolution also proposes designating the RSF as a terrorist organisation. This is a step in the right direction, and…
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MEPs reject “Chat Control”, but law survives after vote falls short of absolute majority
A majority of voting Members of the European Parliament opposed the revival of the controversial “Chat Control” legislation on Thursday, with 314 MEPs voting to reject the Council’s position, 276 voting against rejection and 17 abstaining. Despite winning a clear majority among those who cast a vote, the attempt to block the legislation failed because…
