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Council of the European Union      15/3/2018 | PRESS RELEASE Syria: Declaration by the High Representative Federica Mogherini on behalf of the EU Seven years ago, what began as a peaceful demonstration in the midst of the promise of the so-called Arab Spring quickly became a full-scale civil war in Syria that has left more than 400 000 people dead, more than 11 million displaced and close to 19 million Syrians in need of assistance. Neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey struggle to cope with the largest exodus in recent history.  Pro-democracy protests started in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa and soon expanded to the entire country, only to be met with brutal repression by the Syrian security forces. The regime's merciless violence and brutal war against its own people has not only led to civil war, chaos and destruction, it also paved the way to the rise of extremism and terrorist groups such as Da'esh and Al-Nusra.  Today the conflict takes civilian lives every day despite the promises of de-escalation and countless calls by the international community to silence the guns.  Saving lives in Ghouta and everywhere in Syria as well as protecting civilians must be paramount. Humanitarian needs exist across Syria but are especially critical in Eastern Ghouta, Idlib and Afrin right now. UNSC resolution 2401 is the international community's unanimous response to address the violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation throughout Syria, but it remains largely unobserved due to the continued ground offensive and aerial bombardment, as well as the deliberate targeting of civilians and medical infrastructures in Eastern Ghouta by the regime, supported by Russia and Iran. We deplore also the impeded access to humanitarian assistance due to the regime, and the consistent removal of medical items from humanitarian convoys. The EU also expresses deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afrin following the Turkish military operation. The implementation of the UNSCR 2401 by all parties is necessary to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and medical evacuation which are urgently needed across Syria, but particularly in Eastern Ghouta and Afrin.  Today, we reiterate our call to all parties for the immediate and full implementation of UNSC Resolution 2401 demanding a ceasefire without delay and call again on Russia, Iran and Turkey, as the EU did in the HR's letter to their respective ministers after the 26 February Foreign Affairs Council, to fulfil their obligations and responsibilities as Astana guarantors.  From the very beginning the European Union was clear that there can be no military solution to this conflict. We reiterate that this horrific humanitarian crisis can only be brought to an end by a sustainable political solution. This can only be achieved through a genuine and inclusive political process that meets the democratic aspirations and needs of the Syrian people in line with relevant UNSC Resolutions, including the 2012 Geneva Communique and the UNSC Resolution 2254. The EU reiterates its support for the work of the UN Special Envoy and the UN-led Geneva process in this regard. The EU played its part in the fight against Da'esh and now that this terrorist organisation is almost defeated in Syria we believe that a political agreement remains the only way towards a sustainable solution to the conflict, including the lasting eradication of violent extremism.  Reaching a meaningful and inclusive political agreement, which meets the aspirations of all Syrians and includes with adequate representation of women in intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, is vital.  Democracy, human rights and rule of law are fundamental principles and the European Union is working to translate them into concrete initiatives. There can be no meaningful transition in Syria without justice and fair representation of all communities. We commend the constructive role played by the Syrian Negotiation Commission and its engagement in the process. We call on the regime to engage meaningfully in talks and on its backers to use their influence to ensure this.  We will pursue accountability for war crimes relentlessly; this is the indispensable basis for national reconciliation. We also condemn the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and Da'esh confirmed in the reports of the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism and stress our grave concern at continued reports of chemical weapons use. These recent reports need to be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators of these horrendous crimes need to be brought to justice. The international community cannot tolerate impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity.  The EU will continue to support the resilience of the Syrian population. In opposition held areas the local administrative structures will continue to profit from the EU support. Syria has to be brought back together as a sovereign and undivided country. In this regard, the EU will be ready to assist in the reconstruction of Syria, only once a comprehensive, inclusive and genuine political transition is firmly in place in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2254 and the 2012 Geneva Communique and will keep supporting the neighboring countries.  The European Union is the leading donor in the international response to the Syrian crisis with an overall total of over €10.6 billion since 2011. The Brussels II conference on 24-25 April 2018 will be another step taken by the EU and the UN to ensure that the international community remains focused on the Syria conflict and to address the urgent humanitarian needs of those affected by it as well as supporting the resilience of refugee-hosting countries.  Syria's destiny lies in peace, democracy, equal citizenship and the rule of law. The European Union will continue to work for this with determination and with consistency, for the Syrian people.  The EU will continue to stand with the Syrians. 15/3/2018 | PRESS RELEASE Use of chemical weapons in Syria: EU adds 4 persons to sanctions list On 19 March 2018, the Council added 4 persons to the list of those targeted by EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime. The EU added these 4 persons for their role in the development and use of chemical weapons against the civilian population, in line with the EU's policy to fight the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. These persons include a high-ranking military official and 3 scientists working at the Scientific Studies and Research Centre, the government entity responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons, including chemical weapons, and the missiles to deliver them. This entity is under EU restrictive measures since 1 December 2011. The EU already imposed restrictive measures on Syrian persons specifically for their role in the development and use of chemical weapons on 17 July 2017. Today’s decision brings to 261 persons the total number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an assets freeze for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons. In addition, 67 entities are targeted by an assets freeze. More broadly, sanctions currently in place against Syria include an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank held in the EU, export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression as well as on equipment and technology for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications. These measures were last extended on 29 May 2017 and are in place until 1 June 2018. The EU remains committed to finding a lasting political solution to the conflict in Syria under the existing UN-agreed framework. As stated in the EU strategy on Syria adopted in April 2017, the EU believes that there can be no military solution to the conflict and strongly supports the work of the UN Special Envoy and the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

16/3/2018 | PRESS RELEASE

	Declaration by the High Representative Federica Mogherini on behalf of the EU on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
	Four years on from the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the European Union remains firmly committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The European Union reiterates that it does not recognise and continues to condemn this violation of international law. It remains a direct challenge to international security, with grave implications for the international legal order that protects the unity and sovereignty of all States. The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures. The EU calls again on UN Member States to consider similar non-recognition measures in line with the UNGA Resolution 68/262. The European Union does not recognise the holding of elections by the Russian Federation in the Crimean peninsula. The ongoing militarisation of the peninsula continues to impact the security situation in the Black Sea region. In violation of international humanitarian law, Russian citizenship and conscription in the armed forces of the Russian Federation have been imposed on Crimean residents. The European Union condemns the construction of the Kerch Bridge without Ukraine's consent and the limitations it has already imposed on the freedom of transit.   Since the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation, the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula has deteriorated further. Residents of the peninsula face systematic restrictions of fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, religion or belief and association and the right to peaceful assembly. The rights of the Crimean Tatars have been gravely violated through the shutting down of Crimean Tatar media outlets, the banning of the activities of the Mejlis, their self-governing body, and the persecution of its leaders and members of their community. Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and all ethnic and religious communities in the peninsula must be ensured the possibility to maintain and develop their culture, traditions, education and identity.  The EU reiterates its call for the immediate release of Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Mykola Semena and all those who have been detained and sentenced in breach of international law. Journalists, human rights defenders and defence lawyers should be able to work independently and without undue interference. The EU calls for full compliance with international human rights standards in the peninsula. All pending cases of human rights violations and abuses, such as enforced disappearances, torture and killings should be thoroughly investigated. Full, free and unrestricted access for international human rights actors to the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and Sevastopol, continues to be paramount. The EU recalls UNGA Resolution 72/190 of 19 December 2017, and calls for its full implementation, including the Russian Federation's obligations under applicable international humanitarian law. This declaration is issued on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation (18 March 2018). Συμβούλιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης      16/3/2018 | ΔΕΛΤΊΟ ΤΎΠΟΥ Δήλωση της Ύπατης Εκπροσώπου, κας Federica Mogherini, εξ ονόματος της ΕΕ σχετικά με την Αυτόνομη Δημοκρατία της Κριμαίας και τη Σεβαστούπολη Τέσσερα χρόνια μετά την παράνομη προσάρτηση της Αυτόνομης Δημοκρατίας της Κριμαίας και της Σεβαστούπολης από τη Ρωσική Ομοσπονδία, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση παραμένει σταθερά προσηλωμένη στην κυριαρχία και την εδαφική ακεραιότητα της Ουκρανίας. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση επαναλαμβάνει ότι δεν αναγνωρίζει και εξακολουθεί να καταδικάζει αυτή την παραβίαση του διεθνούς δικαίου, η οποία εξακολουθεί να αποτελεί άμεση απειλή για τη διεθνή ασφάλεια, με σοβαρές επιπτώσεις στη διεθνή έννομη τάξη που διαφυλάσσει την ενότητα και την κυριαρχία όλων των κρατών. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση παραμένει προσηλωμένη στην πλήρη εφαρμογή της πολιτικής της μη αναγνώρισης, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω περιοριστικών μέτρων. Η ΕΕ απευθύνει νέα έκκληση προς τα κράτη μέλη του ΟΗΕ να εξετάσουν το ενδεχόμενο να λάβουν παρόμοια μέτρα μη αναγνώρισης, σύμφωνα με το ψήφισμα αριθ. 68/262 της Γενικής Συνέλευσης του ΟΗΕ. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση δεν αναγνωρίζει τη διεξαγωγή εκλογών από τη Ρωσική Ομοσπονδία στη χερσόνησο της Κριμαίας. Η συνεχιζόμενη στρατιωτικοποίηση της χερσονήσου εξακολουθεί να επηρεάζει την κατάσταση της ασφάλειας στην περιοχή του Ευξείνου Πόντου. Κατά παράβαση του διεθνούς ανθρωπιστικού δικαίου, στους κατοίκους της Κριμαίας έχει επιβληθεί ρωσική ιθαγένεια και επιστράτευση στις ένοπλες δυνάμεις της Ρωσικής Ομοσπονδίας. Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση καταδικάζει την κατασκευή της γέφυρας του Κερτς χωρίς τη συγκατάθεση της Ουκρανίας και τους περιορισμούς που έχει ήδη επιβάλει στην ελευθερία της διέλευσης. Μετά την παράνομη προσάρτηση από τη Ρωσική Ομοσπονδία, η κατάσταση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στη χερσόνησο της Κριμαίας έχει επιδεινωθεί περαιτέρω. Οι κάτοικοι της χερσονήσου αντιμετωπίζουν συστηματικούς περιορισμούς θεμελιωδών ελευθεριών, όπως της ελευθερίας της έκφρασης, της θρησκευτικής ελευθερίας, της ελευθερίας των πεποιθήσεων, της ελευθερίας του συνεταιρίζεσθαι και του δικαιώματος της ειρηνικής συνάθροισης. Τα δικαιώματα των Τατάρων της Κριμαίας έχουν παραβιαστεί σοβαρά με το κλείσιμο μέσων ενημέρωσής τους, με την απαγόρευση των δραστηριοτήτων του «Mejlis», του αυτοδιοικούμενου φορέα τους, και με τη δίωξη των ηγετών του και μελών της κοινότητάς τους. Πρέπει να εξασφαλιστεί η δυνατότητα των Τατάρων της Κριμαίας, των Ουκρανών και όλων των εθνοτικών και θρησκευτικών κοινοτήτων της χερσονήσου να διατηρήσουν και να αναπτύξουν τον πολιτισμό, τις παραδόσεις, την εκπαίδευση και την ταυτότητά τους. Η ΕΕ επαναλαμβάνει την έκκλησή της για την άμεση απελευθέρωση των Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko και Mykola Semena καθώς και όλων των προσώπων που έχουν συλληφθεί και καταδικαστεί κατά παράβαση του διεθνούς δικαίου. Οι δημοσιογράφοι, οι υπερασπιστές των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και οι δικηγόροι υπεράσπισης θα πρέπει να μπορούν να εργάζονται ανεξάρτητα και χωρίς αδικαιολόγητες παρεμβάσεις. Η ΕΕ ζητεί να τηρηθούν πλήρως στη χερσόνησο οι διεθνείς κανόνες για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα. Όλες οι εκκρεμείς υποθέσεις παραβίασης και καταπάτησης ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, όπως αναγκαστικές εξαφανίσεις, βασανιστήρια και δολοφονίες, πρέπει να διερευνηθούν διεξοδικά. Η πλήρης, ελεύθερη και απεριόριστη πρόσβαση των διεθνών φορέων προάσπισης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων σε ολόκληρη την επικράτεια της Ουκρανίας, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Κριμαίας και της Σεβαστούπολης, εξακολουθεί να έχει υψίστη σημασία. Η ΕΕ υπενθυμίζει το ψήφισμα αριθ. 72/190 της Γενικής Συνέλευσης του ΟΗΕ της 19ης Δεκεμβρίου 2017 και ζητεί την πλήρη εφαρμογή του, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των υποχρεώσεων της Ρωσικής Ομοσπονδίας δυνάμει του εφαρμοστέου διεθνούς ανθρωπιστικού δικαίου. Η παρούσα δήλωση δημοσιεύεται με αφορμή τη συμπλήρωση 4 ετών από την παράνομη προσάρτηση της Κριμαίας και της Σεβαστούπολης από τη Ρωσική Ομοσπονδία (18 Μαρτίου 2018). 15/3/2018 | PRESS RELEASE Quality and effective apprenticeships: Council adopts European framework The Council today adopted a recommendation on a framework for quality and effective apprenticeships which will help young people to enter the world of work. The recommendation encourages the development of a highly skilled and qualified workforce which is responsive to the needs of the labour market. By applying common criteria for the quality and effectiveness of apprenticeships, member states will be better able to develop and promote their national apprenticeship schemes. "It’s very positive that is a short period of time the Council managed to reach a common understanding for the quality and effectiveness criteria to be used to maintain and develop the national apprenticeship schemes. It’s a step in the right direction to support further young people's entry in the labour market, as well as adults’ career progression and transition into employment." Biser Petkov, Minister for Labour and Social Policies of Bulgaria and President of the Council Apprenticeships are an essential element in vocational education and training systems. They are of benefit to both employers and learners. They strengthen the link between the world of work and the world of education and training. In addition to providing a pathway to excellence, quality apprenticeships also help encourage active citizenship and social inclusion by integrating people of different social backgrounds into the labour market. The recommendation foresees different criteria for learning and working conditions, including the following: - a written agreement should be concluded to define the rights and obligations of the apprentice, the employer and, where appropriate, of the vocational education and training institution within a clear and consistent regulatory framework, - there should be clear results leading to recognised qualifications, - apprentices should be paid or otherwise compensated, - apprentices should be entitled to social protection, - career guidance, mentoring and learner support should be provided to apprentices both before and during the apprenticeship in order to ensure a successful outcome, - pedagogical support should be provided to teachers, trainers and mentors, specially in micro-, small and medium-sized companies. The framework is a follow up to the Council declaration on the 'European Alliance for Apprenticeships' of October 2013. Council declaration on the 'European Alliance for Apprenticeships' of October 2013 Council recommendation on a European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships