Barroness Ashton responds to Mubarak’s resignation, EU countries continue to shun Lukashenko’s regime, and Deutsche Bundesbank President Axel Weber announced he would step down on April 30.

HEADLINES:

EU Shuts Belarus Out of Eastern Partnership (Voice of Russia) – Entire Article Below

The European Union has suspended Belarus’ participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Program for persecuting the opposition in the wake of the presidential elections in December.

European Parliament speakers are to meet in Brussels in March along with representatives of the legislative assemblies of the other Eastern Partnership members which include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

The EU’s Eastern Partnership Program is targeted at political and economic rapprochement with six post-Soviet republics.

World reacts as Mubarak steps down (Al Jazeera English)

World leaders have begun reacting to the announcement that Hosni Mubarak has resigned as Egypt’s president and handed over power to the armed forces.

Bundestag shows solidarity in opposition to Belarus’ Lukashenko (Deutsche Welle)

The regime of President Lukashenko in Belarus was universally condemned by the German parliament on Thursday. Speakers from all parties said Lukascheno’s crackdown on opposition parties could not be tolerated.

EU diplomatic service ‘hostage of budget constraints’ (EurActiv)

The newly-formed European External Action Service is at risk of falling short of its promises if negotiations on the EU budget post-2013 do not manage to increase the European Union’s financial means, said MEPs yesterday (10 February).

Greece needs to make faster reforms, says IMF (BBC News)

Greece is making economic progress but needs to carry out reforms faster, the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have said after approving their latest tranche of aid to the country.

Weber To Leave Bundesbank April 30 (Wall Street Journal)

Deutsche Bundesbank President Axel Weber, until recently the most likely man to take over the European Central Bank from Jean-Claude Trichet, is to step down from his duties April 30, the German government said Friday.

Outcry at EU plan to mix aid and foreign policy (EUobserver)

Discussions are under way for a potential merger between the EU’s humanitarian aid and crisis management budgets after 2013, raising concerns among a number of NGOs and MEPs that EU aid could become increasingly politicised.

Switzerland freezes assets of Mubarak, Swiss officials say (globalpost.com)

Switzerland’s government moved to freeze any assets of Hosni Mubarak, Swiss officials said Friday.

EDITORIALS AND COLUMNS:

William Hague jaw jaws, but who will listen? (The Telegraph)

As Foreign Secretary William Hague completes his whirlwind tour of the Middle East, Con Coughlin asks whether Britain can still influence political events abroad.

Compiled with the assistance of Klee Aiken.

Image: transatlantic.jpg