foreign affairs ministers exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East; farm ministers debate the EU Bioeconomy strategy; the Commission convenes a strategic dialogue over the forthcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism; the European Parliament holds a plenary session to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27 January; and MEPs in committee adopt their position on a bill designed to protect the EU steel industry from sustained import pressure, and discuss EU-US relations, working conditions in Amazon warehouses, defence issues with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Hungary’s frozen funds and the rule of law.
The EU decided to suspend a number of sanctions on Syria, aiming to facilitate engagement with the country, its people and businesses in key areas such as energy and transport.
Poland took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January promising to strenthen European security in its external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health dimensions.
The European Parliament gave formal approval Wednesday to the new team and programme of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, with her College of Commissioners expected to take office on 1 December.
The European Parliament gave its green light Tuesday to an extraordinary loan of up to EUR 35 billion to Ukraine, to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets.
The European Union issued a strong condemnation Tuesday of Russia’s intensifying campaign of hybrid activities against the EU such as cyber-attacks and information manipulation. These activities illustrated Russia’s reckless and…














