According to European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud Algirdas Semeta, the European Commission (EC) is preparing the package of the economic sanctions against Russia, if the conflict continues escalating in Ukraine.

Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, met with Edi Rama, Albanian Prime Minister, in Brussels today.

MEPs vote on a proposal to ease access of Ukrainian goods into the EU and will also consider capping bank card payment charges across Europe and finally abolishing roaming charges during a plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday. Outside plenary business, the economic committee votes on Tuesday on the informal deal struck with EU governments on how to deal with failing banks, while Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the EP on Monday.

"EU-China relations are key for the stability and prosperity of the world economy," EP President Martin Schulz said, welcoming Chinese president Xi Jinping during his official visit to the European Parliament on 31 March.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement to day:

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff.

The fourth EU-Africa summit will take place in Brussels on 2-3 April under the theme "Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace". Building on the spirit of their 2007 Joint Strategy, Africa and the European Union will discuss as equal partners how to deepen cooperation under these three areas.

International foreign policy and the Ukraine crisis

Recent events in Ukraine have confirmed that strong cooperation between the European Union and the United States on peace and security is of critical importance.

US President Barack Obama arrived in Belgium on 25 March and will be meeting the presidents of the Commission and the European Council on 26 March.

In the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with prime ministers of Canada, Japan and Georgia, the Ukrainian foreign minister, and delivered a speech at a plenary session.