Europe
EU diplomats did not mention the word "sanctions" at Russia meeting
European Union diplomats yesterday agreed to increase assistance to Georgia but shied away from threats to impose sanctions against Moscow as a result of continuing divisions over the approach to take to Russia. There was no consensus on whether to postpone discussions on a new partnership agreement with Russia, scheduled for September 16. A diplomat told the IHT that the word "sanction" had not been used at the meeting. "We don't want to give [Russia] the stick with which to beat us," a French diplomat told the WSJ.
The IHT reports that former Communist EU states will push for visa restrictions on Russian citizens. "We cannot pretend to behave as if nothing has happened, as if this was just a bad dream," Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins said. "Leaders have to come up with something concrete." Russia mocked talk of sanctions however. "I think it's a manifestation of the complete embarrassment at the fact that the favorite pet of Western capitals...didn't justify their hopes," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a reference to Georgia and its President, Mikheil Saakashvili.
The Charlemagne page of the Economist discusses the forthcoming EU leaders' summit on 1st September, arguing that "the rhetoric seems largely empty...The summit is not expected to agree to make any big changes to the status quo... weakness, selfishness and division will continue, however many fingers wag in Brussels on September 1st."
EUobserver notes that "Germany's close relations with Russia are the main obstacle to signing a major EU-Ukraine treaty at the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit in France", citing Ukrainian diplomats. Kiev is concerned that if this deal falls through, it will signal to Moscow that it can veto EU policy towards ex-Soviet states.
Russia has claimed that the US started the war in Georgia as an election ploy to strengthen John McCain's Presidential bid. "The suspicion arises that someone in the United States especially created this conflict to make the situation more tense and create a competitive advantage for one of the candidates fighting for the post of US president," Putin said in an interview on CNN. Meanwhile, the WSJ reports that the Bush administration has placed under review talks with Moscow focused on missile defence and nuclear-weapons disarmament, according to US. officials - which could cast uncertainty over the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
El Pais notes that Moscow is facing international isolation, even amongst its own allies. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which Russia, China and ex-Soviet central Asian states are members, issued a bland statement on the war in Georgia, and did not recognise the two breakaway republics.
Economist Economist 2 Economist 3 WSJ WSJ 2 EUobserver EUobserver 2 IHT FT FT leader El Pais Independent Guardian BBC Today Programme Telegraph Economist Certain Ideas of Europe blog
EU exports to Iran increase despite sanctions
As large European companies scale down operations to avoid sanctions, they are being replaced by small and medium-sized enterprises entering Iran's market. According to Eurostat, this change has led to a rise in EU exports to Iran of 17.8 percent in the first four months of this year. Although smaller companies are not breaching any legal ban on trade, one Western diplomat called the rise in figures "politically embarrassing" whilst another added that "the new figures encourage more EU sanctions".
New EU pesticide norms that ban three quarters of pesticides come under heavy criticism
New EU pesticide rules are to come into force from September 1, in the face of protests claiming that they would have a significant negative impact on the economy and on agriculture. It is feared they might reduce yields of cereals, potatoes and field vegetables during a time of increasing food prices and fears of food shortages, but not have any major reduction in the public's overall exposure to chemicals. Environmental lobby groups furthermore allege they violate food safety, announcing their intention to challenge the law in court. Developing countries are also concerned they might harm their exports.
Yorkshire Post Euractiv Mondaq Cattle Network
Javier Solana's think-tank calls for direct elections of Commission President
In Le Monde Thomas Ferenczi looks to the 2009 European Parliament elections, for which preparations have already begun, in France and elsewhere. He reports that (EU-funded) think-tank La Fondation Madariaga, whose President is the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has suggested that voters should be asked to vote for the President of the Commission at the same time as choosing an MEP - an idea defended by Jacques Delors ten years ago.
The European Parliament wants to "enforce its presence" in Vienna by paying 23 million euros for a building that will host an information and visitors centre amongst other things.
Commission welcomes French plan to close consulates within the EU
In a speech to French ambassadors and ministers, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has revealed plans to close French consulates within the EU. He notes that France last year made a joint decision with Spain and Italy to close several of their consulates, a move that was "welcomed by the President of the European Commission as a profoundly European gesture." He said "It should be done everywhere. We are going to do it everywhere."
Andrew Duff: Irish misgivings about neutrality in Lisbon Treaty "insignificant"
In the FT, Lib-Dem MEP Andrew Duff argues, "Faced with Europe's dramatic security crisis, the Irish position looks increasingly preposterous. Viewed from the perspective of Gori or Tskhinvali, Irish misgivings about neutrality rather pale into insignificance. Lisbon gives the European Union the wherewithal to do good in world affairs. If Ireland really wants to play no part in that effort, it should say so and depart." On his Telegraph blog, Dan Hannan picks up on Duff's comments and notes, "any Irish voters reading this, here's another reason to vote for Lisbon: so that your sons can be sent to fight in Tskhinvali."
FT Dan Hannan's blog Open Europe's blog
One of Turkey's most senior army commanders, General Kosaner alleged that law changes to aid Turkish entry to the EU had made the fight against terrorist organisations in Turkey less effective.
In the New York Sun, Jagdish N. Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya of Columbia University argue that a successful conclusion to the Doha world trade talks is still possible and urge the US to reduce its level of trade-distorting farm subsidies.
The Irish Referendum Commission - set up prior to the Lisbon Treaty referendum to inform the public about the Treaty - has been sharply criticised for misspending its 5 million euro budget.
Angela Merkel has been named the world's most powerful woman by Forbes.
Posts
