Tag Archives: EU
13 February 2014
Over the next two and a half years, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will provide technical assistance to Belarus in managing its stocks of obsolete pesticides. The effort is part of a joint plan with the European Union, launched in 2012 throughout the former Soviet Union, to build capacity to minimise the threats from hazardous waste to human health and the environment, as well as to strengthen legislation and build capacity in the management of pesticide containers.
An estimated 200,000 tons of obsolete pesticides (around 40 per cent of the world’s stockpiles) can be found in thousands of unprotected sites in Belarus and the 11 other former Soviet republics, according to the FAO. These sites “pose a serious threat to peoples’ health and the environment”. According to the World Bank, there is significant risk that pesticides could pollute the groundwater in parts of Belarus, affecting well water, along with rivers and other bodies of water in the entire region.
The UN agency will first identify and assess the most highly contaminated sites in the country. In addition to also mobilising resources for risk reduction, the plan also promotes alternatives to the most hazardous chemicals in use.
Source: UN News Centre | UN agency, EU partner to reduce risks from pesticides in Belarus
Source: FAO | FAO and EU to help Belarus reduce risks from dangerous pesticides
29 January 2014
The Security Council Resolution 2134 extended the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office (BINUCA) mandate in the Central African Republic through 31 January 2015. Additionally, the Security Council ordered the authorisation of EU troops to use force, travel bans, and asset freezes to a currently existing arms embargo. Such decision was a result of the ‘continuing deterioration of the security situation in the CAR’ and the ‘total breakdown in law and order, the absence of the rule of law, religiously motivated targeted killings and arson.’ (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Security Council authorizes EU force, new sanctions regime in Central African Republic
23 January 2014
The Council of the European Union ‘reached political agreement on a future CSDP military operation’ in Central African Republic (CAR) on 20 January 2014.
The operation will provide support to the African Union-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). It will be composed of 500 troops and last for a period of up to 6 months.
Source: Council of the European Union | Press Release | Council conclusions on the Central African Republic | 20 January 2014
Source: The Independent | EU to deploy 500 troops in Central African Republic following ‘genocide’ warning
20 January 2014
On 16 December 2013, the fourth SHARES Debate entitled Protecting the Arctic area – a responsibility of the Netherlands? was held in Amsterdam. The panel consisted of three speakers: Louwrens Hacquebord, René Lefeber, and Daniel Simons. André Nollkaemper acted as moderator. This blog post highlights the main parts of the debate.
Background – changes and threats
Through the melting of the ice of the Arctic, as a consequence of global warming, new economic opportunities for states and businesses arise. Areas that until recently were covered in ice are now opening up, creating, for example, permanent navigational routes between Asia and Europe, and enabling the exploitation of oil and gas resources that had been previously located in inaccessible areas. The Netherlands, as well as companies incorporated in the Netherlands, are among the many actors that want to capitalise on these new opportunities. The increase of economic activities can pose significant risks to the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic. This raises a fundamental question: who is responsible for the management, use and protection of the Arctic area? In this complex situation, question arise over the role and responsibility of the Netherlands and other actors, including Dutch companies such as Van Oord, Boskalis and Shell. (more…)
10 December 2013
In the midst of inter-religious conflicts and widespread human rights abuses, French troops have been deployed in Central African Republic (CAR) to provide operational support to the new International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA, also referred to as AFISM-CAR).
The MISCA, under the command of the African Union (AU), is replacing and reinforcing the Mission for the consolidation of peace in Central African Republic (MICOPAX) led by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and launched in 2008. Authority over the forces of the MICOPAX is to be transferred to the MISCA on 19 December 2013, and the mission is expected to be strengthened by additional troops contribution from African states. (more…)
Source: United Nations Security Council | Resolution 2127 (2013) | Adopted by the Security Council at its 7072nd meeting | 5 December 2013
Source: The Guardian | French troops sent into Central African Republic in effort to stop bloodshed
Source: The Independent | US to fly African troops to Central African Republic
Source: European Commission | Press Release | EU commits to funding the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic