Tag Archives: EU
27 September 2013
There is a growing number of European Union member states that use private security firms to guard migrant detention centres. The largest market is found in the United Kingdom, but other countries, such as Greece, are increasingly contracting private security firms as well.
The outsourcing of such services leads to a blurring of the division of tasks between private security firms and the national police and may therefore raise questions about accountability if things go wrong.
Source: EU Observer | Private security firms cash in on guarding EU borders
15 September 2013
The General Court of the European Union held that the European Union must unfreeze the funds of a number of Iranian banks, companies and one individual that were hit by EU sanctions, aimed at restraining Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Court held that there was not enough evidence that these banks and corporations were involved in nuclear proliferation. Asset freezes imposed on two banks (e.g. Bank Melli Iran, Iran’s biggest bank) were however found to be justified by the Court.
Source: BBC | Iran nuclear: Firms' asset freeze annulled by EU court
Source: General Court of the European Union | PRESS RELEASE No 99/13 | Luxembourg, 6 September 2013
9 September 2013
US Secretary of State John Kerry called on the European Union to suspend its restrictions on financial assistance to Israeli institutions in territories occupied by Israel after the 1967 war. Kerry argued that suspending the restrictions would show the Israeli public the benefit of pursuing a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
A contrary opinion was expressed by Alon Liel, former high ranking official at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former ambassador in South-Africa, who wrote in the Dutch newspaper Trouw that the EU guidelines should be kept in place, so as to maintain pressure on Israel.
Source: The New York Times | Kerry Asks European Union to Halt Ban on Aid to Israeli Institutions
Source: Trouw | Europa, zet Israël flink onder druk, dat is in Israëls belang (in Dutch)
27 August 2013
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the Dutch Foreign Ministry has warned the Dutch engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV not to participate in a sewage construction project in East Jerusalem because it would violate international law.
The warning comes after the publication of new EU guidelines in July that ban union funding of Israeli institutions operating in the occupied territories. According to Haaretz, EU officials are considering warning companies about contacts with the settlements, and an Israeli official was reported stating that such a decision would be a serious escalation in EU measures against the settlements.
Source: Haaretz | Dutch government urges local firm to cancel East Jerusalem project
29 July 2013
The Guardian reported that Israel has frozen cooperation with the European Union on work in the occupied Palestinian Territories. The move comes after the adoption of new EU guidelines last week that explicitly ban union funding of Israeli institutions operating in the occupied territories.
According to The Guardian, the freeze affects all projects that require civil administration permits, diplomatic access or joint meetings, and no permits have reportedly been issued to EU humanitarian aid workers for several days. The EU provides aid and equipment to the affected Palestinian communities and trains Palestinian security forces.
Source: The Guardian | Israel freezes co-operation with EU in Palestinian territories