European Security and Defence Policy

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

Germany says will 'respect' move to lift Syria arms embargo — 21 April 2013, 15:41 CET

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Sunday said Berlin will have no choice but to accept the lifting of an EU arms embargo on Syria if other European countries push for it.

NATO hails Serbia-Kosovo accord, ready to help — 19 April 2013, 20:56 CET

NATO, whose troops help maintain security in Kosovo, hailed an EU-brokered normalisation accord Friday between Belgrade and Pristina and said it stood ready to help implement it.

EU foreign ministers want West Bank settlement goods labelled — 19 April 2013, 20:57 CET

EU foreign ministers, among them Britain's William Hague and Laurent Fabius of France, have said they will back EU efforts to label products from Israel's settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a letter obtained by AFP on Friday.

Mauritania to send 1,800 troops to Mali: France's Fabius — 18 April 2013, 21:48 CET

Regional military power Mauritania is ready to send 1,800 soldiers into neighbouring Mali as part of an incoming UN peacekeeping force as France and Chad phase in troop drawdown, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Thursday.

EU mulls help to Syria opposition by easing oil embargo — 17 April 2013, 19:38 CET

The European Union is considering a case-by-case easing of its oil embargo against Syria in order to help the opposition, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

EU, NATO react with horror at Boston attacks — 16 April 2013, 11:16 CET

EU and NATO leaders reacted with revulsion Tuesday to the twin bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon that killed at least three people.

Israel trying to deport hunger-strike Palestinian — 12 April 2013, 19:29 CET

Israel has told the European Union and UN it can deport a Palestinian prisoner on a life-endangering long-term hunger strike to one of their member states, an Israeli official told AFP on Friday.

EU tells North Korea it sees no need to quit embassies there — 10 April 2013, 17:59 CET

The European Union said on Wednesday that the seven EU countries with embassies in North Korea did not need to be evacuated, despite increasingly bellicose rhetoric from Pyongyang.

EU trainers bring ragtag Malian troops up to speed — 10 April 2013, 10:19 CET

At the foot of a hill by the banks of the Niger River a ragtag company of Malian soldiers crouch on the baked earth, Kalashnikov assault rifles poised.

EU pledges EUR 50 m to African Mali force — 09 April 2013, 21:33 CET

The European Union on Tuesday pledged 50 million euros in support for the African force tasked with helping fight Islamist rebels in Mali.

EU could tighten sanctions if North Korea stages new weapons tests — 09 April 2013, 15:24 CET

The European Union would consider tightening sanctions on North Korea if it stoked already high tensions with more missile or nuclear weapon tests, a senior EU official said Tuesday.

Still room for nuclear talks with Iran: diplomat — 08 April 2013, 20:25 CET

There is still room for talks with Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme but the run-up to Iranian presidential elections in June complicates the situation, a Western diplomat said Monday.

No EU poll observers for restive Pakistan regions — 08 April 2013, 18:00 CET

European Union monitors will not observe upcoming polls in Pakistan's most restive regions including the Taliban-infested northwest tribal zone because of security fears, officials said Monday.

Cyprus eyes NATO's Partnership for Peace — 08 April 2013, 18:00 CET

Cyprus said on Monday it aims to join NATO's Partnership for Peace rather than remain the only EU country which does not have a cooperation programme with the Western military alliance.

World powers, Iran 'far apart' in nuclear talks: Ashton — 06 April 2013, 16:09 CET

The positions of world powers and Iran remain "far apart" in talks seeking to end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said after the latest meeting wrapped up in Almaty on Saturday.

EU diplomats in Pyongyang in 'constant contact' — 05 April 2013, 22:54 CET

The diplomats of the seven EU countries with embassies in North Korea are in close and constant contact after Pyongyang's warning they may have to leave, diplomatic sources said Friday.

North Korea warns it cannot protect embassies after April 10 — 05 April 2013, 15:49 CET

North Korea has said it cannot assure the safety of embassies in Pyongyang after April 10, and has urged Britain, Russia and other European nations to evacuate diplomatic staff amid soaring nuclear tensions.

EU calls on North Korea to return to talks — 04 April 2013, 10:47 CET

North Korea must stop stoking tensions and instead re-engage with the international community, the European Union said Thursday after Pyongyang warned it is ready to launch a nuclear attack on the United States.

Ashton 'cautiously optimistic' on Iran nuclear talks — 03 April 2013, 18:56 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday she was cautiously optimistic over the outcome of talks this week between Iran and world powers on Tehran's nuclear drive.

France undecided over EU arms embargo on Syria — 03 April 2013, 11:35 CET

France has not decided whether to support the lifting of an EU arms embargo on Syria, its foreign minister said Wednesday, in a u-turn from its previous stance favouring the supply of weapons to the war-torn country's rebels.

EU troops begin Mali training mission — 02 April 2013, 17:42 CET

The EU began a top-to-toe overhaul of Mali's ragtag army on Tuesday to help its soldiers take the place of foreign troops defending the west African nation against an Islamist insurgency.

Tough EU mission to overhaul Mali army kicks off — 31 March 2013, 14:17 CET

The EU begins an ambitious top-to-toe overhaul Tuesday of Mali's ragtag army, far from ready to take the place of foreign troops to defend the West African nation against fresh attacks by Islamist insurgents.

EU to start training first batch of Mali soldiers on April 2 — 27 March 2013, 21:46 CET

EU military instructors will start training their first battalion of Malian soldiers next week, in a bid to get the army ready to defend the crisis-torn country once French troops withdraw, the head of the mission said Wednesday.

Russia, Georgia peace talks constructive: mediators — 27 March 2013, 21:45 CET

Russia and Georgia have edged closer to a joint declaration on renouncing the use of force, mediators said Wednesday, almost five years after Moscow defeated its former satellite in a lightning war.

EU says C. Africa coup 'unacceptable', urges talks — 25 March 2013, 18:18 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday dubbed a weekend coup in the Central African Republic "unacceptable" and urged all sides to end hostilities and begin talks.