France and Europe - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/?xtor=RSS-1 en Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/local/cache-vignettes/L144xH72/visuel_defaut_une_fd-44916-890bc.jpg?1702480411 https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr?xtor=RSS-1 OSCE – France joins in invoking the Moscow Mechanism in connection with Russia's arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians (29 Feb. 2024) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/osce-france-joins-in-invoking-the-moscow-mechanism-in-connection-with-russia-s?xtor=RSS-1 On February 29, France and 44 other Participating States belonging to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) invoked the Moscow Mechanism for the purpose of investigating allegations of serious human rights violations by OSCE Participating States. An independent mission of experts will be tasked with establishing the facts with regard to Russia's arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians. The report's conclusions will contribute to ongoing investigations, with the (…) 2024-03-01 16:39:40 58335_277901 Council of Europe – Michael O'Flaherty elected to serve as Commissioner for Human Rights (24 Jan. 2024) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/council-of-europe-michael-o-flaherty-elected-to-serve-as-commissioner-for-human?xtor=RSS-1 France commends the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on its election of Michael O'Flaherty as the organization's Commissioner for Human Rights on January 24, 2024. Commissioner O'Flaherty can count on France's support as he carries out his mandate of promoting respect for human rights in the 46 Council of Europe member States, beginning on April 1, 2024. France would like to offer Dunja Mijatović its sincere thanks for her steadfast commitment to human rights on the European (…) 2024-01-29 10:41:26 58335_277464 Death of Jacques Delors (27 Dec. 2023) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/death-of-jacques-delors-27-dec-2023?xtor=RSS-1 We were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Jacques Delors, former French Economy and Finance Minister and former President of the European Commission. A founding figure of European integration, Jacques Delors left his mark on Europe's destiny. Through his contribution to such milestones of European construction as the Maastricht Treaty, the Schengen Agreement, the launch of the Erasmus programme and the implementation of Economic and Monetary Union, which enabled the creation (…) 2023-12-28 11:32:15 58335_277022 Report by the independent Franco-German group of experts on EU reforms https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/report-by-the-independent-franco-german-group-of-experts-on-eu-reforms?xtor=RSS-1 At the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 19 September 2023, a Franco-German working group made up of independent experts presented its report on institutional reforms of the European Union. The French Minister of State for Europe, Laurence Boone, and her German counterpart, Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate, tasked the group of experts in January 2023 with opening reflection among the Member States as to institutional reforms ahead of future enlargements. (…) 2023-12-14 11:54:52 58335_276842 Catherine Colonna's participation in the informal meeting of European Union foreign affairs ministers in the Gymnich format (30-31.08.23) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/catherine-colonna-s-participation-in-the-informal-meeting-of-european-union?xtor=RSS-1 Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is participating today and tomorrow in the informal meeting of European Union foreign affairs ministers (Gymnich) in Toledo. She will be accompanied by her Ukrainian counterpart, Mr Dmytro Kuleba, who participated as guest of honour in the Ambassadors' Conference. On the eve of the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Week, the Minister will call for us to maintain our efforts to convince third countries by supporting the (…) 2023-08-30 13:51:28 58335_274914 European Parliament - Osmose building - Strasbourg (19.07.2023) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/european-parliament-osmose-building-strasbourg-19-07-2023?xtor=RSS-1 The French authorities welcome the decision by the European Parliament authorities, members of its Bureau and MEPs from the Committee on Budgets to rent the Osmose building in Strasbourg. The signing of a long lease of 99 years between the French Government, Grand-Est region, Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, European Collectivity of Alsace and city of Strasbourg on the one hand, and the European Parliament on the other, consolidates Strasbourg as the seat of the European Parliament and (…) 2023-07-20 12:22:02 58335_274370 EU - Q&A - (18.07.23) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/eu-q-a-18-07-23?xtor=RSS-1 Q- Do you have any comment on Fiona Scott Morton's decision to withdraw from consideration as chief economist at the European Commission? A- We took note of today's announcement by Fiona Scott Norton that she was withdrawing from consideration as chief economist of the European Commission's Directorate General for Competition. Questions raised by France, particularly by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and Laurence Boone, Minister of State for Europe, attached to the (…) 2023-07-19 17:00:09 58335_274325 Women's Rights – EU joins the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention (1 June 2023) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/women-s-rights-eu-joins-the-council-of-europe-s-istanbul-convention-1-june-2023?xtor=RSS-1 France welcomes the EU's accession to the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. France, which chairs the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention, is waging a determined campaign, alongside its partners, for the universal ratification of this convention and its effective implementation, as President Macron noted at the Reykjavik Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe this past (…) 2023-06-05 10:17:50 58335_273635 Catherine Colonna's participation in the Gymnich meeting and the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (12-13 May 2023) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/european-meetings/informal-meetings-of-eu-foreign-ministers-gymnich/last-meeting/article/catherine-colonna-s-participation-in-the-gymnich-meeting-and-the-indo-pacific?xtor=RSS-1 On May 12 and 13, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna will take part in the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers known as the “Gymnich,” and on May 13, she will attend the second edition of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm. At the Gymnich, the minister will emphasize the need for us to provide support for Ukraine over the long term by boosting the production capacities of European defense industries and instituting a European war economy. She will (…) 2023-05-12 08:24:43 59739_273168 OSCE – Deep concern regarding the human rights situation in Belarus (11 May 2023) https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/france-and-europe/events-and-news-relating-to-france-s-european-policy/news/article/osce-deep-concern-regarding-the-human-rights-situation-in-belarus-11-may-2023?xtor=RSS-1 France was deeply concerned to learn the conclusions of Professor Hervé Ascensio's report. It highlights the growing number of restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the ways that crackdowns have grown over the past two years as the Belarusian government has sought to maintain its control over all of Belarusian society and silence any opposition to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The report warns of the especially large number of political prisoners and the Belarusian (…) 2023-05-12 08:21:34 58335_273167