The leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe García Pérez, says she is “appalled by the violent attack against Cristina Fernández Kirchner”. Speaking from Buenos Aires, only a few hours after having met the Argentinian vice-president, García said: “hate and polarisation generate violence, which only democracy and dialogue can stop.” García also…
Law and Justice
Russia’s Great Grain Grab
Russia has plundered an estimated 650,000 tonnes of Ukraine wheat since the start of the current war, it has been claimed. The claim was made by a leading Ukrainian activist, Dmytro Zolotukhin, at a conference in Brussels. Zolotukhin, Director of the Institute for Postinformation Society in Ukraine, appealed to the West to “do more” to…
Shipping and Anti-trust
The European Commission has launched a “call for evidence” inviting feedback on the performance of the EU legal framework which exempts liner shipping consortia from EU antitrust rules. The Commission has also sent targeted questionnaires to interested parties in the maritime liner shipping supply chain (i.e. carriers, shippers and freight forwarders, port and terminal operators)…
Russian Passport as a Tool of Annexation
Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine is testing a new form of “legitimate” annexation – a voluntary and forced passportisation of Ukrainians. Putin is artificially setting a precedent to justify interference in the affairs of a sovereign state under the pretext of protecting the interests of “Russian people. The Russian president has repeatedly stated…
Pseudo-Referenda in Ukraine To Be Condemned
Europe must take harsh measures for Russia’s pseudo-referenda in Ukraine’s occupied territories In the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, human rights are systematically violated, extrajudicial executions, murders of civilians, torture and rape are carried out, filtration camps are created, payments assigned by the Ukrainian state (salaries, pensions, allowances, social payments) are stopped, the evacuation of civilians…
Shutting Down The Russian Laundromat
Russian businessmen, oligarchs and officials often use Western banks to store and “launder” the money they have illegally earned in Russia. In the past this was overlooked, but it is now necessary to act and restrict the money flows of Russian citizens. Cyprus was often used by Russians as a springboard for conducting international business…
Russian Army Treatment of Ukrainian Civilians
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the Russian invading army has continuously violated the basic norms and principles of international and humanitarian law, including the general provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, writes Bogdana Bondarenko According to the Convention, its application is envisaged…
Hungarian PM Orbán Branded Racist
European parliament political group leaders have adopted a statement condemning what they called the “openly racist” declarations by Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and underlined that these declarations are in breach of EU values. A strongly worded statement of the Conference of Presidents – group leaders – was issued on Saturday. It reads, “We, the leaders…
EU Report on Rule of Law
The European Commission has released its third annual Rule of Law Report. The report focuses on justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks, media freedom and pluralism, and institutional checks and balances. For the first time, the report contains country specific recommendations on the rule of law and suggests concrete actions to be taken by Member States. However,…