European Security and Defence Policy

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

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.

Cameron urges Israel to give Iran sanctions time — 16 October 2012, 00:09 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday urged Israel not to launch a military attack on Iran over its contested nuclear programme and said sanctions should be given time to work.

US welcomes new EU sanctions on Iran — 15 October 2012, 19:29 CET

The United States Monday welcomed new European Union financial and trade sanctions slapped on Iran over its nuclear program, saying they deepened the Islamic republic's isolation.

EU tightens financial noose on Iran, Syria with new sanctions — 16 October 2012, 00:14 CET

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed tough sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing a breakthrough in talks on Tehran's nuclear programme, and also the regime in war-ravaged Syria.

EU unwilling to take in Syria refugees but will help Turkey — 15 October 2012, 13:41 CET

The European Union said Monday it would continue assisting Turkey in coping with an influx of more than 100,000 refugees from Syria but made no offer to take them in.

EU agrees new Syria sanctions, makes no progress with Russia — 15 October 2012, 17:32 CET

EU foreign ministers imposed fresh sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime Monday but failed to iron out differences with Russia over ending a conflict threatening to spill across Syria's borders.

International sanctions on Syria — 15 October 2012, 12:22 CET

An overview of the main international sanctions imposed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime, after the adoption by the European Union on Monday of new sanctions.

EU sanctions 30 Syrian individuals and firms — 15 October 2012, 11:09 CET

The European Union slapped fresh sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime Monday, agreeing an assets freeze and travel ban on 28 Syrians and two firms at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Turkey asks Europe for help with Syrian refugees — 15 October 2012, 11:09 CET

Turkey's Europe minister Monday called on Europe to do more to help his country tackle the more than 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, accusing the bloc of being fixated on its debt crisis.

EU to 'intensify' pressure on Iran failing progress: Hague — 15 October 2012, 11:08 CET

The European Union, about to ratchet up sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear drive, will keep up the pressure on Tehran failing a breakthrough in talks, British Foreign Secretary William said Monday.

NATO military alliance hails EU Nobel peace award — 12 October 2012, 13:31 CET

NATO, the military alliance set up by the United States after World War II, on Friday saluted the award of the Nobel Peace Price to the European Union for promoting stability on the continent.

Nuclear safety upgrade needed 'nearly everywhere' in Europe — 04 October 2012, 19:41 CET

Immediate safety upgrades costing billions of euros are needed in nuclear power plants "nearly everywhere" in Europe, according to the results of EU "stress tests" released Thursday.

Nuclear stress tests - EU Communication — 04 October 2012, 14:27 CET

The standards of safety of nuclear power plants in Europe are generally high but further improvements in the safety features of almost all European nuclear power plants are recommended. Nevertheless national safety authorities came to the conclusion that no closure of Nuclear Power Plants was warranted. This is the main message of the European Commission communication on results of the nuclear stress tests, published on 4 October. These tests have established that not all safety standards promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and not all international best practices are applied in all Member States. The Commission will follow closely the implementation of the recommendations and will at the same time propose legislative measures to further enhance nuclear safety in Europe.

Europe's nuclear plants need EUR 25bn upgrade — 02 October 2012, 17:21 CET

Europe's nuclear power plants face hundreds of problems requiring billions in new investment, a European Union report said on Tuesday.

Kosovo PM rejects partition of northern region — 01 October 2012, 19:41 CET

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Monday said there would be no partition of his country's northern, Serb-majority region.

EU vows 'no complacency' on nuclear plant defects — 01 October 2012, 15:27 CET

The European Commission has vowed there will be "no complacency" when it comes to nuclear safety in Europe despite "hundreds of defects" revealed by stress tests especially in France.

Extra sanctions aim to punish Iran and restrain Israel — 30 September 2012, 13:10 CET

The European Union and United States are set to toughen nuclear sanctions aiming to punish Iran while seeking to hold back Israel from a military strike, as the showdown enters a critical phase.

Major powers demand urgent Iran action on nuclear fears — 28 September 2012, 11:03 CET

Iran must take urgent action to allay mounting international concerns over its nuclear drive, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday after talks among the major powers.

Germany ends its peacekeeping presence in Bosnia — 27 September 2012, 21:32 CET

Germany on Thursday ended its 17-year-long peacekeeping presence in Bosnia as its last two soldiers serving with the European Union's military force (EUFOR) left its base here, a spokesman said.

Germany charges two alleged Russian spies — 27 September 2012, 19:15 CET

Two suspected Russian spies alleged to have been operating in Germany for more than 20 years have been charged with espionage, federal prosecutors said Thursday, in the first case of its kind since German unification.