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Features
Have your say: New EU guidelines on Freedom of expression 
17/06/2013
The EU is committed to promote human rights in all areas of its external action without exception, in particular, using the link between new technologies and human rights as important avenues for promoting democracy.
First EU-Central Asia Security Dialogue in Brussels - Agreement to hold next round in Tajikistan
14/06/2013
The inaugural round of the High Level Security Dialogue took place on 13 June 2013 in Brussels, between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
Catherine Ashton visits EU Satellite Centre
13/06/2013
On 13 June 2013 High Representative Catherine Ashton is visiting the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) – an EU Agency based in Torrejón de Ardoz near Madrid.
Turkey and review of the EEAS among debates in European Parliament
13/06/2013
The latest developments in Turkey and a review of the EU's foreign policy service, the European External Action Service (EEAS) were two key issues debated in the European Parliament this week.
World Congress against Death Penalty, Madrid 12-15 June
12/06/2013
The 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty will take place in Madrid, on 12-15 June 2013. It is organised by ECPM (Ensemble contre la Peine de Mort), under the sponsorship of Spain, Norway, Switzerland and France and in partnership with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Previous World Congresses had taken place in Strasbourg (2001), Montreal (2004), Paris (2007) and Geneva (2010).
Yekaterinburg hosts EU Russia Summit 3-4 June
03/06/2013
The European Union and Russia are not only neighbours, but also strategic partners. The 31st EU-Russia summit bears witness to the importance both sides attach to this strategic partnership.
The EU as a Peacemaker: enhancing the EU’s mediation capacity, 28th May 2013
30/05/2013
The promotion of peace and the prevention of conflict have been key drivers in the development of the European Union, as recognised by the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.After preparatory workshops in Paris, Berlin and Sofia, top policy makers and practitioners from the EU, the United Nations and civil society gathered at the European Parliament on May 29th for a high level conference to examine the specific contribution of the European Union to peace mediation.
Syria crisis dominates May meeting of EU Foreign Ministers – 27 May 2013
28/05/2013
The crisis in Syria and whether to lift the EU arms embargo against Syria dominated the monthly meeting of 27 EU Foreign Affairs Ministers chaired by Catherine Ashton. They discussed the latest developments with respect to the Syrian crisis and repeated the EU's call for the end of all violence.
The EU meets Eastern Partnership foreign ministers ahead of November summit
17/05/2013
2013 is expected to be a significant year for the Eastern Partnership. Ahead of the summit in November, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle together with foreign ministers of Visegrad countries met foreign ministers from the Partnership countries in Krakow on 17 May to discuss progress towards key milestones.
'Together for a New Mali' Brussels, 15 May 2013
16/05/2013
An International Donors Conference in Brussels on 15 May 2013 brought together the International community to help rebuild Mali. After the conference the organisers, the European Union, French President François Hollande and Mali's acting President Dioncounda Traoré set out the steps ahead for the trouble country.
Pakistan Election Observation Mission
08/05/2013
Following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the European Union has established a mission to observe the general elections scheduled for 11 May 2013.
EU Rendez-Vous: Transatlantic Symposium on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy
07/05/2013
The symposium "Transatlantic Partners in Global Security: The EU's Common Security & Defence Policy" takes place on Wednesday May 8, 2013 in Washington, DC, in partnership with the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
World Press Freedom Day
03/05/2013
Today, Friday 3rd May is World Press Freedom Day. The EU pays tribute to journalists worldwide who dedicate their lives - sometimes at great personal cost - to reporting events or expressing views that many might prefer to silence.
Europe Day, 9 May
01/05/2013
On 9 May 2013 Europe will celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Sixty-three years ago, on 9 May 1950, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made the first move towards the creation of what we now know as the European Union (EU).
General & Foreign Affairs Councils: Serbia-Kosovo deal welcomed, Syria sanctions eased
23/04/2013
The General Affairs Council (GAC) and the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) were held in Luxembourg on Monday 22 April. High Representative Catherine Ashton briefed EU Foreign Ministers on last week's Serbia – Kosovo deal. The agreement paves the way for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Serbia and Kosovo reach landmark deal
19/04/2013
After ten rounds of often grueling talks in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, the breakthrough that many had hoped for came on Friday 19 April. Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative who has chaired the talks, announced that Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi had reached a landmark agreement.
EU Election Observation Mission in Paraguay
19/04/2013
Following an invitation from the Government of the Republic of Paraguay and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the European Union has sent a mission to observe the 21 April elections in Paraguay.
Conference on Women’s Leadership in the Sahel Region stresses political participation
10/04/2013
Getting more women involved in the political process and raising awareness of the Sahel region are just two ideas that came out of a high level EEAS-UN conference held in Brussels on 9 April.
World Water Day 2013 - International Year of Water Cooperation
22/03/2013
World Water Day 2013 complements the International Year of Water Cooperation, by focusing on the theme of cooperation around water
Gymnich: Informal meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Dublin
21/03/2013
European Union foreign ministers will gather at historic Dublin Castle on Friday and Saturday (22 and 23 March) for their biannual informal meeting – also known as the 'Gymnich', after the castle in Germany where the first such informal was held in 1974.
Key Foreign Policy debates in the European Parliament
14/03/2013
Egypt, North Korea, Syria, Mali, Ukraine and the EU-China relations were amongst the key foreign policy items on the European Parliament's plenary agenda this week.
The European External Action Service mourns the loss of a colleague in Syria
13/03/2013
It is with the greatest sadness that EU Delegation in Syria informs European External Action Service staff that their dear colleague and friend Ahmad Shihadeh passed away on Tuesday 12 March 2013. Ahmad was tragically killed during a rocket attack on the Damascus suburb of Deraya, where he lived.
A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women - Women's day 2013
08/03/2013
March 8 marks International Women's Day. This year Women's Day recognizes global commitment to put an end to violence against women, with the theme: "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women".
EU's growing relationship with Burma/Myanmar
06/03/2013
The relationship between Burma/Myanmar and the European Union seems to be entering a new and more fruitful phase. Not so long ago the military run regime was the subject of EU sanctions but a new reformist president U Thein Sein has opened Burma/Myanmar to the world.
EU-Ukraine Summit, Brussels 25 February 2013
25/02/2013
The 16th European Union-Ukraine Summit took place in Brussels today, Monday 25 February 2013.
Human Rights discussed in Geneva
22/02/2013
The United Nations Human Rights Council gathers for the 22nd session on Monday 25 February. The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them.
Ashton pledges strong EU support for UN in Security Council speech
15/02/2013
A comprehensive approach to international issues that encompasses many development, security and political tools,
Involvement in international negotiations and working closely with global partners are at the heart of the EU's support for the UN. That was the message Catherine Ashton delivered to the Security Council on Wednesday 13 February.
EU support to children affected by armed conflict
12/02/2013
Children affected by armed conflict remain among the top human rights priorities of the European Union in the 2012 Human Rights Strategy and its Action Plan 
. The main reason is that armed conflicts still affects a great number of children and pose serious threats to their survival, development and life opportunities.
EU Cyber Security Strategy – open, safe and secure
07/02/2013
A free and open Internet is at the heart of the new Cyber Security Strategy by the High Representative Catherine Ashton and the European Commission. The new Communication is the first comprehensive policy document that the European Union has produced in this area. It comprises internal market, justice and home affairs and the foreign policy aspects of cyberspace issues.
1-3 February: The World looks towards Munich at Munich Security Conference 2013
01/02/2013
The weekend 1 to 3 February, 2013 marks the 49th Munich Security Conference. On top of this year's agenda are current crises such as in Mali and Syria, transatlantic cooperation in NATO, the role of rising power in international security, cyber security and the responsibility to protect.
Mali, Somalia, Syria debated at Foreign Affairs Council
31/01/2013
The February meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels discussed the situation in Europe southern neighbourhood and the crisis in Mali and reconstruction efforts in Somalia. Speaking after the meeting Catherine Ashton said she had invited Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to speak at the next meeting of foreign ministers.
Summits in Latin America this week
25/01/2013
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is in Peru and Chile this week for a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of Latin American countries and to participate in the EU-CELAC* Summit in Santiago de Chile on 26-27 January 2013.
Extraordinary Foreign Ministers meeting supports Mission to Mali
18/01/2013
An extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers held on Thursday on the crisis in Mali, condemned Jihadist aggression, supported France and other member states and agreed to set up a training mission for the Malian Armed Forces. The EU also agreed to accelerate its work to support the African-led military mission to Mali, and offered financial support to it through the African Peace Facility. The EU also agreed to appoint a Special Representative for the Sahel and support Humanitarian efforts to help the stricken civilian population. They also reiterated their support for the EU's strategy for the Sahel.
Fourth meeting in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue
17/01/2013
On Thursday 17 January High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton, met with Prime Minister Dačić and Prime Minister Thaçi for the fourth time to discuss the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Key Foreign Policy debates in the European Parliament
17/01/2013
Once again foreign policy took up most of the European Parliament's agenda this week in Strasbourg. Indeed Members debated topical issues such as the situation in Mali and in Syria but also deliberated on the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as on the recent casualties in textile factory fires, notably in Bangladesh and on the Non-proliferation Treaty Review regarding the establishment of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.
European Endowment for Democracy – additional support for democratic change
11/01/2013
Late last year saw the establishment of a new Foundation – the European Endowment for Democracy. The aim of the EED will be to direct grant-making towards pro-democracy activists and organisations in Europe's Neighbourhood and beyond. A joint project by the European Union and its Member States, the idea originated in a May 2011 Neighbourhood communication and was backed by Foreign Ministers at their meetings in June and September. The Foundation was established in October 2012 and will become operational in Spring 2013.