Belgium

BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The European Union executive will recommend suspending billions of euros earmarked for Hungary over corruption woes, two officials told Reuters on Wednesday, in what would be the first such move against Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The head of the executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual policy speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday she would freeze funding for members damaging democracy, and singled out corruption.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission's new "emergency intervention" plan aims to tackle the soaring energy costs for both households and businesses across the European Union (EU) through exceptional electricity demand reduction measures, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said here on Wednesday.

The plan also seeks to redistribute the energy sector's surplus revenues to final customers.

BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Fossil fuel firms may have to share their excess profits to help European households and industries cope with red-hot energy bills, a draft European Union plan showed on Monday as the cost of the West's "energy war" with Russia took a growing toll.

Energy prices and inflation have surged as Moscow slashed gas supplies in response to Western sanctions imposed over its actions in Ukraine, prompting France to tell consumers they would have to share some of the pain while Britain is among countries facing the threat of recession.

10 Sep 2022; MEMO: Following tirades of strong remarks, on Friday, the US and NATO called on Turkiye and Greece to use dialogue and diplomatic means to end the mutual tension.

In a joint press conference held by US Secretary Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg expressed: "Turkiye and Greece are two highly valued allies."

BRUSSELS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged allies on Friday to supply Kyiv with winter gear such as clothing, tents and generators to enable Ukrainian troops to keep on fighting Russia's invasion in the cold season.

Average winter temperatures are below freezing for much of the country and it is not unusual for temperatures to drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius.

BRUSSELS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - European Union energy ministers on Friday tasked Brussels with drafting proposals within a few days to cap the revenues of non-gas energy producers and help power firms stay afloat.

But as they sought to protect citizens from soaring energy prices that have driven inflation across the continent to record highs, the ministers backed away from more divisive proposals to cap Russian gas prices.

BRUSSELS/VLADIVOSTOK Russia, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The European Union proposed a price cap on Russian gas on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin threatened to cut off all energy supplies if it took such a step, raising the risk of rationing in some of the world's richest countries this winter.

The escalating standoff could drive up sky-high European gas prices further, adding to already eyewatering bills EU governments are paying to stop their energy providers collapsing and prevent cash-strapped customers freezing in the cold months ahead.

BRUSSELS, September 6. /TASS/: The price of Schengen visas for Russians will rise from 35 euros to 80 euros and the processing time will increase from 10 days to 45 days after the visa facilitation agreement is canceled, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

Also, the approval requirements for multiple-entry visas will get stricter and the list of required documents will expand.

The price of visas can be reduced due to humanitarian reasons.

BRUSSELS, September 4. /TASS/: The European Union changed its ambassador to Moscow on a scheduled basis and German diplomat Markus Ederer, who has already left Moscow, will be succeeded by Roland Galharague of France, a diplomatic source in Brussels told TASS on Sunday.

"The rotation of the head of the EU delegation to Russia is carried out on a schedule basis. Markus Ederer has left Russia and this post will soon be taken by France’s former Ambassador to Malaysia Roland Galharague. His appointment was endorsed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in June," the source said.

BRUSSELS, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The European Union condemned on Sunday the sentencing of Myanmar's deposed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi to jail with hard labour, after she was found guilty of electoral fraud.

A source familiar with the proceedings told Reuters on Friday that Suu Kyi had been found guilty and sentenced to three years in jail with hard labour. Her lawyers gave the same information to the BBC.