February 2018 – B2 Pro The daily life of geopolitical Europe

First anti-IED engineering course for the Somali army in Mogadishu

February 28st, 2018 B2 Writing mine clearance, EUTM Somalia, Genius, IED 1 min read

(B2) Twenty-four soldiers from the 32nd Engineer Battalion of the Somali National Army have just completed training, focusing particularly on mine clearance and the defusing of improvised explosive devices. The…

Notebook (28.02.2018). CAF (absent). CPCC/CMPD (mercato). Mogherini (weakened). COPS (Agenda). Russia (sanctions). EUTM RCA (outside area). Sophia/Sea Guardian (coordinator). Jordan (capacities). Ukraine (demining). USA (FN Herstal). Germany (A400M). Belgrade-Pristina (dialogue). JCPOA (no comment). OCHA (contact). Migration crisis (EIB loans, trust fund Africa). Gaza (help). UNRWA (advance). NGOs (EU aid). Selmayr (bronca). ECB (swirl)

February 28st, 2018 B2 Writing A400M, ECB, AT, COPS, CPCC, migration crisis, Mine clearance, Belgrade Pristina Dialogue, EUTM RCA, FAC, Federica Mogherini, Gaza, JCPOA, Jordan, martin selmayr, Operation Sea Guardian, Operation Sophia, Russia, Sanctions, Trust fund Africa, Ukraine, UNRWA 13 min read

(B2) Recently published: (exclusive) Serial withdrawals from EUTM Somalia Middle East. The EU has a unifying role (Mogherini) Morocco and the Commission bury the hatchet The…

European reactions, rather measured, after the assassination of Jan Kuciak (V2)

February 28st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Antonio Tajani, Fundamental rights, Frans Timmermans, Jan Kuciak, Jean-Claude Juncker, Freedom of press 3 min read

(B2) Several European figures have reacted to the assassination of Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak. But these reactions remain rather measured... They reflect more the time of emotion than a greater commitment....

Serial withdrawals at EUTM Somalia

February 27st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Numbers, EUTM Somalia 2 min read

(B2 – Exclusive) Germany, France, and the Netherlands will soon withdraw from the European Union Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia), according to our information. Three countries are withdrawing. The withdrawal…

Federica Mogherini speaks to the press ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers. (Council)

Middle East. The EU has a unifying role (Mogherini)

February 27st, 2018 B2 Writing Ayman Safadi, Foreign Affairs Council, United States, Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, Israel-Palestine, Jean Asselborn, Jordan, Arab League, Morocco, Nasser Bourita, Middle East peace process 5 min read

(B2) "We have always been asked to play a role and not just pay the bills" in the Middle East peace process. This is what the Union is now doing, because it...

Morocco and the Commission bury the hatchet

February 27st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde EU-Morocco 1 min read

(B2) The European Commission and Morocco intend to move beyond their past quarrel and the legal dispute arising from the legal challenge by the Sahrawi movements to the agreements of…

Sahrawi waters are excluded from the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, says the Court

February 27st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Fishing agreements, International law, Polisario Front, Western Sahara, occupied territories, EU-Morocco 3 min read

(B2) The Court of Justice of the EU ruled on Tuesday (February 27) on a major dispute concerning Morocco and Western Sahara. A true Solomonic judgment. Seized in…

On the agenda of defense ministers (March 6, 2018) (V2)

February 27st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde calendar, EUTM Mali, European Defense Fund, NATO-EU, PESCO 5 min read

(B2 – exclusive) The European Union's defence ministers will meet in Brussels on 6 March with four main topics on their agenda: cooperation…

Ján Kuciak murdered by whom? Why ? (V2)

February 27st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Fundamental rights, Freedom of press, Robert Fico 3 min read

(B2) A young journalist (27 years old) from the online media Aktuality (Springer group), Ján Kuciak, died at home between Thursday and Sunday, in Velka Maca, a small town between Bratislava…

Frenchman Fabien Clain blacklisted by EU

February 26st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Paris attacks, Daesh, freezing of assets 1 min read

(B2) The Frenchman from Toulouse, Fabien Clain (alias Omar), born on January 30, 1978, was placed on the European Union's anti-terrorist list this Monday (February 26), held…

Two Syrian ministers blacklisted by the EU

February 26st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Syrian conflict, freezing of assets, government, Syria 1 min read

(B2) EU foreign ministers have decided to blacklist two ministers from Bashar al-Assad's regime. Industry Minister Mohammed Mazen...

Labor positions themselves for a customs union with the EU

February 26st, 2018 B2 Writing Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn, Customs Union 1 min read

(B2) The British Labour Party supports the conclusion of a new customs union with the EU after Brexit. This position was formalized by Labour leader Jeremy…

(credit: RP Romania)

Moldova called to order on reforms

February 26st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Andrey Galbur, democracy, elections, Rule of law, Freedom of press, Fight against corruption, Moldova, Economic reforms, Transnistria 3 min read

(B2) The objective of the breakfast meeting held with the Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Galbur, as well as the conclusions adopted by the 28 EU Foreign Ministers this Monday (26…

North Korea. The European Union completes its system of economic sanctions

February 26st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde North Korea, freezing of assets, merchant navy, oil, Economic sanctions 2 min read

(B2) The European Union decided on February 26 to impose new restrictive economic measures against North Korea. This decision, adopted as point A of the Council of Foreign Ministers…

A new Force Commander at EUFOR Althea (V2)

February 26st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Austria, Biography, Chief of the force, EUFOR Althea 2 min read

(B2) A new commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR Althea) will take up his duties. According to our information, Austrian General Martin Dorfer will replace his compatriot, General Anton…

Notebook (26.02.2018). Disarmament (decisions). COPS (Agenda). Ministerial Defense (diary). Belarus (sanctions). Venezuela (appeal). DR Congo (Recourse). Jobs. EUTM Somalia (withdrawal). EUTM Mali (deficit). EULEX Kosovo (Sanction). Milex 2018 exercise. MFF (budget). United Kingdom (air strategy). Rep. Czech (satellite center). South Ossetia (death). Türkiye-EU (Tusk). Foreign fighters (returns). Syria (Ghouta, Macron). Radicalization (France). MFF (Tajani). Czechia (coalition). Media (Anti-Slapp)

February 26st, 2018 B2 Writing Belarus, satellite center, Foreign fighters, COPS, Disarmament, Emmanuel Macron, Eulex Kosovo, EUTM Mali, EUTM Somalia, the ghouta, relations, MFF, milex 2018, South Ossetia, Radicalization, DR Congo, Czech Republic, Sanctions, Syria, EU-Turkey, Venezuela 11 min read

(B2) Recently published: (blog) Renewed tension in South Ossetia, Syria. A 30-day humanitarian truce voted by the UN Security Council (blog) Ghouta…

Georgian President Margvelashvili, visiting Archil Tatunashvili's parents in the Tsilkani IDP camp, expressed his sadness (credit = Georgian Presidency)

Renewed tension in South Ossetia. A Georgian who died in prison

February 25st, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde EUMM Georgia, Prison 5 min read

(B2) The death of a Georgian citizen, Archil Tatunashvili, aged 35, on Friday 23 (February), in Tskhinvali in South Ossetia, has caused renewed tension in this republic of…

Syria. The G3 agrees to the continuation of joint efforts

February 25st, 2018 B2 Writing Syrian conflict, United Nations Security Council 1 min read

(B2) Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel called for the "continuation of joint efforts" to implement the truce in Syria and...

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