Belgium

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s head office on Wednesday proposed that member states cut their gas use by 15% over the coming months as the bloc braced for a possible full Russian cutoff of natural gas supplies that could add a big chill to the upcoming winter.

While the initial cuts would be voluntary, the Commission also asked for the power to impose mandatory reductions across the bloc in the event of an EU-wide emergency caused by what Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saw as a deliberate attempt by President Vladimir Putin to weaponize gas exports.

BRUSSELS, July 19. /TASS/: The European Union has launched membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday.

"Today, Albania and North Macedonia open accession negotiations with the EU. This historic moment is your success," she told the two countries’ premiers.

BRUSSELS, July 19 (Reuters) - The European Union will amend its sanctions on Moscow on Wednesday by allowing the unfreezing of some funds of top Russian banks that may be required to ease bottlenecks in the global trade of food and fertilisers, a draft document showed.

The move comes amid criticism from African leaders about the negative impact of the sanctions on the trade, which may have exacerbated shortages chiefly caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its blockading of ports in the Black Sea.

BRUSSELS, July 18. /TASS/: The EU sanctions do not and will not contain any direct restrictions on Russian exports of fertilizers and foodstuffs and any bans on their payment, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union foreign ministers are zooming in Monday on tightening the extensive package of sanctions on Russia and looking at ways to add a ban on gold exports in hopes that the measures might finally start to have a decisive impact on the war in Ukraine.

15 July 2022; MEMO: Negotiations to bring Iran back into compliance with a landmark 2015 nuclear accord are coming to an end, but it is not clear if they will result in an agreement between Tehran and world powers, a senior EU official said on Friday, Reuters reports.

In 2018, then-US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, calling it too soft on Iran, and re-imposed harsh US sanctions, spurring Tehran to breach nuclear limits in the pact.

BRUSSELS, July 15. /TASS/: The European Commission (EC) offered a new package of sanctions against Moscow, including the embargo on Russian gold imports, and extend them until next January, the EC said in the statement on Friday.

"Therefore, we are proposing today to tighten our hard-hitting EU sanctions against the Kremlin, enforce them more effectively and extend them until January 2023," EC President Ursula von der Leyen said.

14 July 2022; MEMO: The European Union's Foreign Relations Committee yesterday adopted a set of recommendations in favour of Palestine.

The Committee called on the European Commission to continue providing financial support to the Palestinian Authority in a timely manner in order not to obstruct the work of its institutions.

BRUSSELS, July 13. /TASS/: The European Commission (EC) released on Wednesday the guidance on sanctions against Russia, indicating that rail transit to Kaliningrad is allowed with certain conditions.

"This guidance confirms that the transit of sanctioned goods by road with Russian operators is not allowed under the EU measures. No such similar prohibition exists for rail transport, without prejudice to Member States' obligation to perform effective controls," the EC said.

BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) - The European Union told Hungary and Poland on Wednesday to improve judicial and media independence, as well as anti-graft safeguards, saying conditions to unlock billions in aid for the two remain unaddressed and serious concerns persist.

The assessment came in the EU executive's new rule of law report, which includes tips for democratic improvements in all of the bloc's 27 member states, from better financial disclosure by officials to digitalisation of public administration.