Why Does Ukraine Matter to the EU?
Some adults turn their noses up at the question of “why,” believing it to be childish. And when it comes to the EU’s foreign policy, especially in its Eastern neighborhood, the question is considered simply inappropriate. That the EU will engage with its Eastern neighbors is just a given today. Take Ukraine. The EU has made a significant political investment in Kyiv over the years but has not given much thought to why Ukraine matters. READ MORE
EU travel restrictions will be eased for Ukrainians and Moldovans
Travel to the EU is set to become easier for people from Ukraine and Moldova after MEPs approved plans for visa exemptions for holders of biometric service passports and a simplification of requirements demonstrating the purpose of their journey. EU citizens are already exempt from visa requirements when travelling to these countries. We talked to Claude Moraes and Marian Jean Marinescu, the two MEPs in charge, about why they support these amendments to the existing visa facilitation agreements. READ MORE
Nordic-Baltic Security and The Role of Poland as a Regional Actor
The workshop organized by the GMF Warsaw Office and the Embassy of Sweden in Poland on March 26th 2013 entitled: “Nordic-Baltic Security and the role of Poland as a regional actor,” was a follow up event on two reports issued by the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI): “Polish security today and tomorrow” and “The Security and Defensibility of the Baltic States”. READ MORE
Sino-European ties benefit from in-depth talks
In-depth party-to-party exchanges and dialogue between China and Europe should play a unique role in narrowing differences and enhancing the Sino-European comprehensive strategic partnership, a senior official of the Communist Party of China said on Thursday. READ MORE
France on high security alert after Boston bombs
In the wake of the Boston marathon bombs, French interior minister Manuel Valls has asked French police and security forces to increase their vigilance immediately and reinforce preventative operations, especially around public buildings, as a priority. READ MORE
In Vilnius, Lithuanian And Serbian Foreign Ministers Sign A Memorandum For Cooperation In The Field Of European Integration
On 16 April, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius and the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkić signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of European integration on behalf of the Governments, which, according to Linkevičius, should further the mutually beneficial cooperation. READ MORE
South Stream shapes European Energy Security, Nabucco Falls Behind EU-, US-backed Nabucco gasline project trails Russia's South Stream
The Eastern Europe unanimously placed its bet on the South Stream. Plain fact is that the new Europeans chose to protect their national interests in spite of all temptations and threats from Brussels and Washington. Now the South Stream business blueprint is complete and it is entering construction stage. By the end of 2018 the pipeline is planned to reach a transport capacity of 63 billion cubic meters per year – enough gigajoules to supply energy needs of 38 million households. What has encouraged the pro-South Stream choice of Eastern European political elites presuming their frosty relations with Russia? Why did they not resort to broadly advertised alternatives? READ MORE
Georgia to host large military games with region partners next year
Next year, Georgia will host large-scale military exercises in which, perhaps, will participate region partner countries, said on Friday Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania after the demonstration exercises at a military base in Vaziani. READ MORE
US Urges Balanced Economic Approach in Europe
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is telling Europe it needs to adopt new policies to boost economic growth, but his advice has been met coolly in Germany. READ MORE
Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Improving Russian-Polish relations
Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the former Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Poland and former speaker of the Sejm, gives his views on current Russian-Polish and Belorussian-Polish relations and areas for their improvement. This interview was conducted on the sidelines of the international conference: “Russia and the European Union: Partnership and Potential” organized by RIAC. READ MORE
