![]() WorldA 12-strong delegation of MEPs will take part in the UN climate conference in Lima, Peru, from Monday to Friday. The 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) aims to set out the structure of a global and binding climate agreement to be concluded in Paris in 2015. In a resolution voted last month, the European Parliament reiterated the EU commitment to getting on track for a below 2°C climate warming scenario, and pledged to step up European contributions to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Lebanon, a country of just over four million inhabitants, is struggling to shelter 1.5 million Syrian refugees. "They are sharing our water, electricity, schools and hospitals with us," said Lebanese prime minister Tammam Salam. "The country was not programmed for this. It was barely programmed to handle its own needs." Salam was in the European Parliament on 2 December to discuss his country's most pressing issues, including efforts to deal with the spill-over of the conflict in Syria. Russia's "neo-totalitarian regime" leaves open no legitimate means for a "sober-minded" and "pro-European" opposition to come to power. So the opposition needs strong support from the EU, which must understand that Russia does not equal Putin, Russian businessman and philanthropist Mikhail Khodorkovsky told Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs on Tuesday. MEPs asked him to say how they could help the cause of democracy in Russia and to explain his controversial views on developments in Ukraine. The crisis in Ukraine and an update of EU data protection legislation were two of the main topics during the March plenary session in Strasbourg. MEPs also concluded the assessment of the Troika's work during the financial crisis and adopted tougher rules to fight money laundering. Meanwhile, the campaign for the European elections on 22-25 May is heating up as the political parties name their candidates. New Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Keit Pentus-Rosimannus paid a visit to Lithuania on Friday. The Lithuanian and Estonian foreign ministers said they believe in the prospects of the European Union (EU) Eastern Partnership programme despite of the war in Ukraine and problems that Moldova and Georgia face. Parliament passed three resolutions on Thursday, calling on the Pakistani government to review its blasphemy laws; condemning atrocities by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq; and calling for action against the "wartime rhetoric" and hate speech of provisionally released Serbian war crimes suspect Vojislav Šešelj. In its official website, the daily UK broadsheet Telegraph has recommended the Christmas market in Vilnius for holiday makers and Christmas enthusiasts. The U.S. Army plans to deploy about 150 tanks and armored vehicles to NATO countries next year and some of the heavy armor may be stationed in Eastern Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Commander of U.S. Army Europe, said on Tuesday. On 25 November, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius started a two day working visit to the Czech Republic and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomír Zaorálek to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and security, and geopolitical situation in neighbouring countries. Pope Francis delivers a message "to all the citizens of Europe" at the European Parliament2014-11-25, 14:35Safeguarding human dignity was a key theme of the formal address delivered by Pope Francis to Members of the European Parliament on Tuesday. Immigration, protecting the environment, and promoting human rights and democracy were among the topics stressed in a speech that enjoined "Europe to rediscover the best of itself". |
|
© 2013 All rights reserved to the public enterprise ‘L24plius’. |