International Organizations

Serbia bows to EU, softens stance on Kosovo

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Serbia made a major concession to the European Union on Wednesday by agreeing to soften a draft U.N. resolution on the future of Kosovo and seek dialogue with the breakaway country. "We have found a formula to open a dialogue on future solutions," President Boris Tadic said in a statement. … Belgrade said […]

EU Financial Supervision Framework Passed

By James Joyner

The EU’s finance ministers agreed this morning to submit the outlines of their budget plans for approval by the European Commission.  The hope is that this will forestall another Greek-style bailout and the collapse of the euro. Jan Strupczewski for Reuters ("Ministers agree to EU vetting future budget plans"): The process, called the European Semester, […]

Europe and Benign Neglect

By Roger Cohen, the New York Times

From Roger Cohen, the New York Times:  “Europe is the object of benign U.S. neglect,” said Camille Grand, a prominent Paris-based defense analyst. “Obama has not established or re-established a strategic relationship with any single European country or with Europe as a whole.”

Russia, EU to establish defense and security coordination group – General Staff

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti: Russia and the European Union are set to establish a joint defense and security working group, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, said on Friday. "We held a detailed, frank dialogue, and shared opinions on European security and outlined the steps to be taken, including the establishment […]

Lavrov declares Afghan drug trade most important question in NATO-Russian relations

By Sergey Lavrov,  Russian Foreign Ministry

From Sergey Lavrov,  Russian Foreign Ministry:  We expect greater intelligibility from our partners in NATO. The dual existence of the alliance – between the past and the future – has become protracted too long.

West gives Serbia tough message on Kosovo

By Adam Tanner and Ivana Sekularac, Reuters

NATO Flagship ESBERN SNARE Disrupts Pirate Attacks

By Allied Maritime Command Headquarters Northwood

From Allied Maritime Command Headquarters Northwood:  NATO flagship HDMS ESBERN SNARE, in cooperation with international counter-piracy forces successfully disrupted multiple piracy attacks on Panamanian flagged MV Caribbean Carrier and Norwegian flagged Hoegh Oslo who were transiting in the Gulf of Aden.

Will the European Union fall to nationalism?

By Charles Kupchan, the Washington Post

From Charles Kupchan, the Washington Post:  The European Union is dying — not a dramatic or sudden death, but one so slow and steady that we may look across the Atlantic one day soon and realize that the project of European integration that we’ve taken for granted over the past half-century is no more.

Sarkozy to propose new ties between Russia, EU, NATO, OSCE

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  France intends to make specific proposals on Russia’s relations with the European Union, NATO and OSCE in September to secure stability in the Euro-Atlantic zone. French President Nicolas Sarkozy made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening of the 18th Ambassadors’ Conference held at the Elysee Palace in Paris. "Our common interests […]

EU Gets Tough on Iran

By Emanuele Ottolenghi

The European Union sometimes earns well-deserved criticism for its foreign policy. But praise should be given where praise is deserved – and the EU’s latest effort to target Iran with tough autonomous sanctions is one such case. Clearly, the measures the EU adopted on July 26 can be further expanded. More can be done. But […]