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European Council      17/4/2018 G7 Leaders' Statement on Syria We, the G7 Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union, are united in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons in the April 7 attack in Eastern Ghouta, Syria. We fully support all efforts made by the United States, the United Kingdom and France to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to use chemical weapons and to deter any future use, demonstrated by their action taken on April 13. This response was limited, proportionate and necessary – and taken only after exhausting every possible diplomatic option to uphold the international norm against the use of chemical weapons. Use of chemical weapons is a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention and constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The repeated and morally reprehensible use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in the past has been confirmed by independent international investigators. We condemn this deliberate strategy of terrorizing local populations and forcing them into submission. Syria’s possession of chemical weapons and their means of delivery are illegal under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention. We stand together against impunity for those who develop or use these weapons, anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances. We remain committed to a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria. We commend and support UN Special Envoy de Mistura’s efforts towards an inclusive and credible political transition in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the Geneva Communiqué. Council of the European Union      16/4/2018 Syria: Council adopts conclusions EU foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in Syria, including following the targeted US, French and UK airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities. They discussed the need to relaunch a political solution to the conflict in the framework of the UN-led Geneva process, ahead of Brussels II conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region. The Council adopted conclusions on Syria. Read the full text of the conclusions Syria: Council response to the crisis Supporting the future of Syria and the region - Brussels conference of 24-25 April 2018 Council of the European Union      16/4/2018 Council adopts its position on a new legal framework against unfair trade competition The Council adopted today its position on the regulation modernising the EU's trade defence instruments, following the political agreement reached with the EP in December 2017. This step clears the way for the final adoption of the text by the Parliament in the coming weeks. The regulation amends the existing legal framework which allows  higher tariffs to be imposed on dumped or subsidised imports in order to improve the protection of EU producers from damage caused by unfair competition.  The new regulation makes EU trade defence instruments more predictable, transparent and accessible, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “The adoption of these new trade defence instruments is particularly timely. In the face of protectionist pressures and growing threats to the values and principles of the rules-based trading system, it is all the more important for the EU to have  the right tools, whilst at the same time supporting free and fair trade." said Emil Karanikolov, the minister responsible for trade matters of Bulgaria, which currently holds the Council presidency The proposed regulation will: Increase the transparency and predictability of provisional anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures. This includes a pre-disclosure period of three weeksafter the information is made public during which provisional duties will not be applied, as well as additional safety nets related to stockpiling. Enable investigations to be launched without an official request from industry when there is a threat of retaliation by third countries. Enable trade unions to submit complaints together with industry and to become interested parties in the proceedings. Reduce the normal investigation period to a period of 7 months, with a maximum period of 8 months. Definitive duties will have to be imposed within 14 months. Enable higher duties to be imposed where there are raw material distortionsand where these raw materials, including energy, account individually for more than 17% of receipts. This would allow for the level of duties imposed under the "lesser duty rule" to be adapted if it is in the interest of the EU. The imposition of higher duties will include a target profit set at a minimum of 6%. Enable importers to be reimbursed of duties collected during an expiry review investigation in cases where trade defence measures not being upheld. Take into account social and environmental standards when assessing the acceptability of an undertaking and when establishing the injury elimination margin. The Council's position was adopted by a qualified majority, with Ireland abstaining and Sweden and UK voting against. The European Parliament is now expected to vote in plenary on the final text of the regulation, thereby completing the legislative procedure in second reading. The formal signature of the regulation is foreseen in Strasbourg in late May. The regulation should be published in the Official Journal shortly thereafter. TDI regulation: Text of the Council's position TDI regulation: statement of the Council's reasons on its position at first reading Council of the European Union      16/4/2018 Malicious cyber activities: Council adopts conclusions On 16 April 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on malicious cyber activities which underline the importance of a global, open, free, stable and secure cyberspace where human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law fully apply. The Council expresses its serious concern about the increased ability and willingness of third states and non-state actors to pursue their objectives by undertaking malicious cyber activities. The EU will continue to bolster its capabilities to address cyber threats. The Council firmly condemns the malicious use of information and communications technologies (ICTs), including in Wannacry and NotPetya, which have caused significant damage and economic loss in the EU and beyond. It stresses that the use of ICTs for malicious purposes is unacceptable. The EU expresses its willingness to continue working on the further development and implementation of voluntary non-binding norms, rules and principles for the responsible state behaviour in cyberspace within the UN and other appropriate international fora. Read the full text of the conclusions Cyber attacks: EU ready to respond with a range of measures, including sanctions, press release of 19 June 2017 ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ Συμβούλιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης      16/4/2018  Κακόβουλες δραστηριότητες στον κυβερνοχώρο: το Συμβούλιο εγκρίνει συμπεράσματα Στις 16 Απριλίου 2018, το Συμβούλιο ενέκρινε συμπεράσματα σχετικά με τις κακόβουλες δραστηριότητες στον κυβερνοχώρο όπου υπογραμμίζεται η σημασία που έχει ένας παγκόσμιος, ανοικτός, ελεύθερος, σταθερός και ασφαλής κυβερνοχώρος, στον οποίο εφαρμόζονται πλήρως τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, οι θεμελιώδεις ελευθερίες και το κράτος δικαίου. Το Συμβούλιο εκφράζει τη σοβαρή ανησυχία του για την αυξημένη ικανότητα και προθυμία τρίτων κρατών και μη κρατικών παραγόντων να επιδιώκουν τους στόχους τους αναλαμβάνοντας κακόβουλες δραστηριότητες στον κυβερνοχώρο. Η ΕΕ θα εξακολουθήσει να ενισχύει τις ικανότητές της για την αντιμετώπιση των απειλών στον κυβερνοχώρο. Το Συμβούλιο καταδικάζει απερίφραστα την κακόβουλη χρήση τεχνολογιών των πληροφοριών και των επικοινωνιών (ΤΠΕ), όπως στα περιστατικά με το Wannacry και το NotPetya, τα οποία έχουν προκαλέσει σοβαρή βλάβη και οικονομική ζημία εντός και εκτός των συνόρων της ΕΕ. Τονίζει δε ότι η χρήση ΤΠΕ για δόλιους σκοπούς είναι απαράδεκτη. Η ΕΕ δηλώνει πρόθυμη να συνεχίσει να εργάζεται, εντός του ΟΗΕ και άλλων κατάλληλων διεθνών φόρουμ, για την περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη και εφαρμογή των εθελοντικών μη δεσμευτικών προτύπων, κανόνων και αρχών υπεύθυνης κρατικής συμπεριφοράς στον κυβερνοχώρο. Διαβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο των συμπερασμάτων Κυβερνοεπιθέσεις: Η ΕΕ είναι έτοιμη να αντιδράσει με σειρά μέτρων, μεταξύ των οποίων και κυρώσεις, δελτίο Τύπου της 19ης Ιουνίου 2017 Council of the European Union      16/4/2018 Chemical disarmament and non-proliferation: Council adopts conclusions On 16 April 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on chemical disarmament and non-proliferation with a view towards the fourth special session of the conference of the states parties to review the operation of the chemical weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction. This session will take place in The Hague on 21-30 November 2018. The Council recalls that the European Union stands united in its support for the total prohibition and elimination of chemical weapons worldwide and that it strongly believes that use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons, by anyone, be it a State or a non-State actor, anywhere, and under any circumstances is abhorrent and must be rigorously condemned. The Council reaffirms that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, constitutes a breach of international law and may amount to a war crime or a crime against humanity and that there can be no impunity and those responsible for such acts must be held accountable. It underlines that the most recent reports from Syria, which are truly shocking and must be urgently and independently investigated, only serve to reinforce the EU's shared determination. Furthermore, the Council welcomes the upcoming fourth review conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention and expresses its commitment to contributing constructively to its successive outcome. Read the full text of the conclusions Disarmament, non-proliferation and arms export control (EEAS website)