European Security and Defence Policy

Latest news about EU initiatives relating to a common security policy for Europe

Kaspersky finds 'Red October' virus targeting Eastern Europe — 14 January 2013, 23:16 CET

Kaspersky Lab says it has identified a new computer virus it dubbed "Red October" targeting eastern European countries that appeared to be collecting classified files using NATO and EU encryption.

EU tightens noose on Iran with new sanctions — 21 December 2012, 19:25 CET

The EU has agreed new sanctions against Iran, adding 18 companies or institutions and one person to a blacklist aimed at forcing stalled talks on Tehran's contested nuclear drive to resume.

US expects Romania to avoid 'replay' of political crisis — 15 December 2012, 11:34 CET

Washington expects strategic ally Romania to stick to its rule of law and IMF commitments in order to avoid a "replay" of the political crisis last summer, the US ambassador to Romania told AFP.

EU to take closer look at defence as costs soar — 14 December 2012, 16:50 CET

EU leaders said Friday they will look more closely at defence as a changing world and tight budgets force member states to cooperate in search of a bigger bang for their euros.

EU funds frozen for Lithuanian nuclear decommissioning — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

European Union funding for the decommissioning of Lithuania's Soviet-era nuclear reactor has been frozen to raise pressure to wrap up talks on the operation.

EU praises new Mali PM but warns military against meddling — 12 December 2012, 17:16 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday welcomed the naming of Mali's new premier Diango Cissoko as a man of consensus, while warning the Malian military against further meddling.

Sweden probes how its arms ended up in Myanmar — 12 December 2012, 11:58 CET

Sweden's export control agency said Wednesday it was investigating how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Myanmar soldiers in breach of European Union sanctions.

Poland set to become last EU state to ratify landmine pact — 03 December 2012, 15:43 CET

Poland is set to become the final member of the European Union to join the Ottawa Convention banning landmines, organisers said as a global conference on the deadly weapons opened here on Monday.

Prototype of European combat drone makes maiden flight — 01 December 2012, 13:11 CET

A prototype of a European combat drone, the Neuron, made its maiden flight Saturday from a base in the south of France, project leader Dassault Aviation announced.

Angry Serbs burn EU flags after Kosovo ex-PM cleared — 30 November 2012, 17:17 CET

Angry Serb ultra-nationalists on Friday burned flags of the EU, US, NATO and Kosovo, protesting a UN court's acquittal of ethnic Albanian former rebel chief Ramush Haradinaj on charges of war crimes against Serbs.

Powers eye December talks with Iran in Turkey — 28 November 2012, 16:45 CET

World powers are proposing to Iran to hold their first round of talks in six months on Tehran's nuclear programme already in the first half of December in Istanbul, diplomatic sources say.

Swiss experts to clear Philippine bombs — 15 November 2012, 09:59 CET

Swiss experts will soon begin clearing unexploded bombs in the southern Philippines, after Muslim rebels and the government signed a peace pact, the European Union said Thursday.

Syrian opposition leader calls for arming of rebels — 13 November 2012, 16:44 CET

The leader of Syria's new main opposition coalition called on world powers on Tuesday to arm rebels with "specialised weapons" as European Union and Arab League ministers met in Cairo.

Clinton to push Balkans for greater integration — 28 October 2012, 21:04 CET

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves Sunday on a trip to the Balkans where she will urge Serbia and Kosovo to overcome bitter differences and integrate fully with the EU and NATO.

EU contacts Iran over nuclear dispute — 25 October 2012, 19:41 CET

The EU, leading diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, has talked to Tehran to bring it up to date on the latest discussions, officials said Thursday.

NATO, EU praise Georgia's democracy after vote — 18 October 2012, 17:14 CET

NATO and the EU praised Georgia on Thursday for elections which saw a peaceful power transfer from President Mikheil Saakashvili's party to a coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

BBC services jammed in Middle East, Europe — 18 October 2012, 17:04 CET

The BBC said Thursday its services in the Middle East and Europe were being deliberately jammed, along with those of other broadcasters.

Russia says November Iran nuclear talks 'realistic' — 18 October 2012, 12:03 CET

Russia said Thursday it was "realistic" to hold direct talks next month between Iran's chief negotiator and six-nation representative Catherine Ashton over the Islamic republic's nuclear drive.

Russia says 'very concerned' by new EU Iran sanctions — 17 October 2012, 22:09 CET

Russia said Wednesday it is "very concerned" by new EU sanctions against Iran, which it claimed will work against talks on Tehran's contested nuclear programme.

Iran slams EU satellite bans as illegal — 16 October 2012, 16:47 CET

Iran on Tuesday slammed a decision by France's Eutelsat and Arqiva of Britain to stop broadcasting Iranian state television channels as "without legal justification."

Israel PM welcomes fresh EU sanctions on Iran — 16 October 2012, 22:27 CET

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the European Union on Tuesday for the latest round of sanctions imposed on Iran, but reserved judgement on whether it would halt its nuclear drive.

Iran won't capitulate in nuclear talks: Khamenei — 16 October 2012, 13:41 CET

Iran will not give in to "bullying" at the negotiating table with world powers over its disputed nuclear programme despite new economic sanctions, its supreme leader said on Tuesday.

EU blacklists Iran energy minister under new sanctions — 16 October 2012, 13:41 CET

The European Union on Tuesday froze the assets of Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjoo as part of a series of tough new sanctions against Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme.

Iran says new EU sanctions 'inhumane' — 16 October 2012, 13:38 CET

Iran said Tuesday the latest round of EU economic sanctions imposed over the country's disputed nuclear programme are "inhumane" as they target its general population.

US charges Iran with 'economic mismanagement' — 16 October 2012, 10:28 CET

The United States on Monday accused Iran of extreme economic mismanagement as biting sanctions wreak havoc on the Iranian economy, and the European Union agreed a new slew of moves against the regime.