Belgium

Silk Road passenger train planned between Antwerp, Shanghai

ANTWERP, Belgium, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Several organizations and institutions on Thursday signed an ambitious agreement to jointly work to introduce train services between this Belgian port and the Chinese port of Shanghai.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Antwerp among the World Free & Special Economic Zones Federation, Brussels-based magazine Diplomatic World and the Antwerp-based non-profit European Federation of Traditional Chinese Culture (EFTCC).

European Court of Justice rejects Russian corporations’ request to repeal EU sanctions

LUXEMBOURG, September 13. /TASS/. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed a motion filed by Russian companies and banks - Sberbank, VTB, Vnesheconombank, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Almaz-Antey – to annul the EU’s sanctions, TASS reports from the courtroom.

"The court dismisses the action [for annulment of sanctions]," the judge announced.

Russian banks and companies, whose actions to cancel EU sanctions were dismissed by the European Court of Justice, can appeal against the court decision in two months, a court spokesperson told reporters.

EU prolongs sanctions against Russia for six months

BRUSSELS, September 13. /TASS/. The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia, which expire on September 15, for another six months, the EU Council press service reported on Thursday.

"The Council has prolonged the restrictive measures over actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for a further six months, until 15 March 2019," the press service said in a statement.

According to the statement, the sanctions apply to 155 persons and 44 entities.

European Parliament questions U.S. "America First" policy

STRASBOURG, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The members of European Parliament regret the United States "America first" policy, which has led to withdrawal from international agreements and launched trade wars, they said in a resolution adopted Wednesday.

Approved by 490 votes to 148, with 51 abstentions, the resolution affirms that the EU-U.S. relationship is a key guarantor of global stability, but that the choice of a one-sided "America first" policy has eroded relations between the two powers, and harmed the interests of both parties.

EU Parliament votes to trigger Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary

12 Sep 2018, DG: In a tense vote, a majority of EU lawmakers backed a motion that opens the door to sanctions against Hungary. Orban's government is accused of silencing independent media, targeting NGOs and removing independent judges.

Members of the European Parliament voted to censure the Hungarian government on Wednesday for eroding democracy and failing to uphold fundamental European Union values.

Uncertainty prevails as EU, U.S. trade chiefs meet in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one and half month after the signing of the trade truce between the European Union (EU) and the United States, the two sides finally launch their first high-profile meeting, as U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer is set to land here Monday.

Reached between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and U.S. President Donald Trump in late July, the truce has somewhat eased trade tensions between the two sides in recent weeks, but it doesn't mean they are over.

Disagreements are already obvious.

EU has profound disagreements with U.S. on trade policy: EU trade commissioner

BRUSSELS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has profound disagreements with the United States on trade policy, the European Commissioner in charge of trade Cecilia Malmstrom said on Thursday.

Malmstrom made the remarks when exchanging views with members of the European Parliament during the meeting of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) in Brussels.

"We are not negotiating anything, we have a working group. We have profound disagreements with the United States on trade policy," said the trade chief.

Iran nuclear deal survives after US’ exit - Russian diplomat

BRUSSELS, August 15. /TASS/. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iran nuclear program continues to exist after the US ceased to be a part of it, Russia's Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told journalists on Wednesday, commenting on the measures taken by the EU to protect European businesses from US sanctions.

EU's updated Blocking Statute to take effect as countermeasure to U.S. re-imposed sanctions against Iran

BRUSSELS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s updated Blocking Statute will enter into force Tuesday as a countermeasure to Washington's re-imposed sanctions against Iran, the European Commission announced it on its website on Monday.

The statute, introduced in 1996 in response to U.S. extra-territorial sanctions legislation, was amended on June 6 by adding within its scope the list of extra-territorial U.S. sanctions on Iran.

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