Latest news with #RadosławSikorski
Saba Yemen
17 hours ago
- Business
- Saba Yemen
European Union Funds Ukraine's Arms
Warsaw - Saba: During the first six months of 2025, the European Union provided Ukraine with €1.9 billion in proceeds from frozen Russian assets, to support the purchase and production of weapons. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said during a press conference to review the results of Warsaw's presidency of the Council of the European Union, "During our presidency, we were able to transfer the second tranche of aid to Ukraine, amounting to €1.9 billion in interest on frozen Russian assets." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Poland ends its EU presidency, leaders take stock of successes
The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will officially end on 30 June. At a press conference in Brussels, Donald Tusk summed up the six months of the Presidency, referring above all to defence. European and Polish politicians also commented on the Presidency. Donald Tusk on Europe without war: naïve European faith Donald Tusk summed up the six months of the Polish Presidency, drawing attention above all to defence. As he stated, during the presidency Poland managed to "convince Europe that the current geopolitical situation requires bold and unprecedented decisions", crediting Poland with changing the EU paradigm. "The European Union came into being as a great dream of a continent without war, without confrontation, without the need to use force. The European Union was a response to war and expressed the belief of Europeans that there would never be war again. Do you know how difficult it was to break this paradigm? This naive European faith?" - he said. Some of the biggest successes, he stressed, include obtaining 150 billion euros for defence under the SAFE programme to support the arms industry in EU countries, or obtaining financial support for 'Shield East'. During Poland's EU presidency, Donald Tusk also signed a controversial law that gives the possibility to temporarily suspend the ability to apply for asylum, which was heavily criticised by humanitarian organisations. They claim that this law can be abused and that human rights violations continue on the Polish-Belarusian border. However, the Polish Prime Minister maintains that the fact that Poland has proposed an "unprecedented solution" will allow Europe to confront illegal migration. "War at the borders, but also a crisis in the Middle East." The geopolitical tensions happening during Poland's EU presidency were alluded to by the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski, among others. In an interview with the Polish Press Agency, he said that the Polish presidency took place at a critical moment for the world. "The Polish presidency took place at a time of exceptional unrest. War at the borders, but also the crisis in the Middle East," he said. "It seems to me that we have achieved a lot. It's not only about continuing to put pressure on Russia on Ukrainian issues, but, above all, creating European instruments for greater resilience and security." The increase in defence spending was alluded to on several occasions by Donald Tusk himself, who stressed that Alliance member states had committed to increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP. 3.5% is to be used for basic defence and 1.5% for defence-related investments. According to government sources, Poland is to spend 4.7% of GDP on defence by the end of 2025. "Your presidency was difficult, but you managed it." The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Antonio Costa drew attention in their comments primarily to the legislative initiatives that Poland pushed through during its presidency. They also praised the determination behind sanctions against Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine, which were maintained throughout the six months of the Polish Presidency. During the speech, Donald Tusk also referred to the new 18th sanctions package that is to focus on the Russian shadow fleet, which he called a gigantic threat, including environmentally. "This is not only a threat to our infrastructure in the Baltic, but it can also be - it is already - a gigantic environmental threat," he said. Antonio Costa stressed that Ukraine is pursuing reforms under difficult circumstances, and now is the time to accelerate community action on this issue. Ursula von der Leyen addressed Donald Tusk directly, saying: "Your presidency has been difficult, but you have done well". She pointed to 37 pieces of legislation and the negotiation of an agreement on 18 more, saying that these were impressive figures.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
E.U. Makes It Easier To Tighten Visa-Free Travel In Schengen Area
Schengen Visa and Passport getty The European Parliament and Council have agreed on a provisional new system to restrict visa-free travel in the Schengen zone of free movement. With citizens of 61 non-EU countries currently enjoying visa-free travel, the proposed changes, which still need to be formally adopted, could have a significant impact on millions of prospective travelers, particularly those from countries who fall out with the EU over human rights and visa policy. What has been agreed is meant to make it easier for the EU to suspend visa-free travel for a particular third-country if there is some suspicion that country is abusing the 'privilege' or in some other way not honoring the agreement. The can include, according to the text from the Parliament, 'security concerns and human rights violations.' This security and human rights focus seems to be of particular concern for European policymakers. 'Visa-free travel to the EU benefits foreign citizens and the EU alike,' said Radosław Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Poland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. 'But if citizens of third countries abuse this advantage, the EU must have all necessary tools in place to correct the situation.' The text of the agreement appears to allude to the concept of migration as a form of 'hybrid warfare,' meaning it is worried that some countries with visa-free travel may become the source of an increase in irregular migration, deliberately provoked by countries looking to overwhelm the EU's asylum system and sow political disunity. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense given that Belarus - the current source of irregular migration as alleged 'hybrid warfare' - has had its visa-free travel suspended, and it is unclear how or why any other country which does enjoy the privilege would use their own citizens in such a way. More broadly, the new system would also make it easier to trigger a suspension if there is a sharp increase in asylum applications from citizens of a given country. It would also clamp down if a country has a so-called 'Golden Visa' system, where wealthy foreign nationals (i.e. Russians) can effectively buy citizenship of a country with visa-free travel and then get into the EU that way. Vanuatu, which has such a scheme, saw its visa-free travel exemption suspended in 2022, and subsequently revoked. The reformed system will also make it easier to suspend visa-free travel for citizens of countries involved in human rights breaches or non-compliance with international court decisions. According to Euronews, it is suspected this mechanism may be invoked against Israeli citizens, amid the ongoing war in Gaza, and also possibly against Serbia due to human rights issues there. Notably, part of the mechanism appears to allow for visa restrictions to be targeted against specific individuals, namely officials or legislators of a given country that may hold responsibility for human rights abuses. 'Visa policy can contribute to upholding EU values by ensuring that there are consequences when a foreign government breaches human rights and international law,' said Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, after the new measures were provisionally approved. "In such cases, their government representatives and diplomats should have their visa-free access to the EU revoked, and this agreement makes that more likely.' The provisional visa agreement still needs to be formally adopted by the European Parliament and Council.
Arab Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
EU agrees to stricter controls on visa-free travel for third countries
BRUSSELS, June 17: The European Council and the European Parliament announced Tuesday that they have reached a provisional agreement to amend the European Union's visa waiver suspension mechanism for third-country nationals. The move is intended to strengthen the EU's ability to address the abuse of visa-free travel and respond more effectively to associated threats and irregular migration. The revised legislation broadens the scope of conditions under which visa-free travel can be temporarily or permanently suspended. According to an official EU statement, the new rules allow the suspension of visa exemptions in cases where a third country's visa policy is not aligned with that of the EU — particularly when that country is geographically close and may be used as a transit point for unauthorized migration into the Schengen area. Additional grounds for suspension include the operation of investor citizenship schemes that grant nationality in exchange for payments without any genuine ties to the country, the emergence of hybrid threats, deficiencies in document security procedures, and significant deterioration in bilateral relations, particularly when involving human rights violations or breaches of the United Nations Charter. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski welcomed the reform, stressing the importance of protecting the EU's visa-free policy from misuse. 'Visa-free travel to the EU benefits foreign citizens and the EU alike. But if citizens of third countries abuse this advantage, the EU must have all necessary tools in place to correct the situation,' he said. To enhance transparency and consistency, the updated mechanism introduces clearly defined thresholds to trigger a suspension. These include a 30 percent increase in asylum applications, entry refusals, overstays, or serious criminal offences, as well as an asylum recognition rate of less than 20 percent. The duration of a temporary suspension will be extended from the current nine months to 12 months, with the possibility of a further 24-month extension—an increase from the current 18-month cap. During this period, the European Commission may engage in dialogue with the third country to address the underlying issues. If corrective actions are not taken, the EU will have the authority to permanently revoke the country's visa-free status. A key feature of the revised framework is its targeted application. Unlike the current system, which applies to an entire population once the second phase of suspension is triggered, the new rules permit selective suspension of visa waivers specifically for decision-makers—such as government officials or diplomats—responsible for violating human rights or undermining EU external relations. The agreement now awaits formal adoption by both EU legislative bodies before it enters into force. The EU's visa suspension mechanism, originally established in 2013, serves as a safeguard against the abuse of visa-free travel. It allows the EU to respond to sharp increases in irregular migration, unfounded asylum claims, or other risks stemming from third countries. Amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing security concerns, the reform reflects the EU's effort to balance openness with the need for stronger external border controls and responsible visa policy enforcement.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poland believes Türkiye talks tested Russia's intentions
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski holds out little hope for a breakthrough in the Russo-Ukrainian war after talks between the delegations of the two nations took place in Türkiye on 16 May, though he believes that it was a test of Russia's intentions. Source: Sikorski in an interview with German newspaper Tagesspiegel, as reported by European Pravda Details: When asked to comment on the talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Türkiye, Sikorski noted that he was not very hopeful that they would "lead to a breakthrough". "But you never know," he said. "This is a test of Russia's intentions. If Russia doesn't agree to a ceasefire or makes outrageous demands, it will only confirm our view that Putin is not ready for peace." Sikorski also believes that Türkiye, which hosted the first Russo-Ukrainian talks since 2022, is playing a "very clever game". While supplying Kyiv with military aid, it simultaneously hosts "millions of Russian tourists". Background: On 16 May, talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations were held in Istanbul. Media reports indicated that Moscow had demanded the absence of US representatives from the negotiations with Ukraine and had presented a number of unacceptable conditions to Kyiv. Following the meeting, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov noted that the discussions had covered a ceasefire, humanitarian issues and the possibility of a leader-level meeting. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
