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ISLAMABAD: The European Union&nbsp;and&nbsp;China have&nbsp;called for calm and restraint in Venezuela following the aftermath of the US intervention in the country.&nbsp;The statement, issued by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, is supported by 26 EU member states, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.&nbsp;Kallas shared the statement on her social media account, X, on Monday.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2007902058876448897&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=e7b973618ac13baeaa9694f9063a7a18ae1fa8fe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> In the statement, the EU emphasized that all actors must avoid escalation and work toward a peaceful resolution to the crisis. It reiterated the importance of upholding international law and the UN Charter, noting that members of the United Nations Security Council bear a particular responsibility in maintaining the international security framework. Blatant use of forceChina condemned the &ldquo;blatant use of force against Venezuela&rdquo;, which&nbsp;&ldquo;violates international law and basic norms in international relations&rdquo;, said the China Foreign Office Spokesperson in a statement on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 775px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2008131825722601581&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard&sessionId=f576ada351bffaf2abd0c5d850ae9b1d9fee840d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;It said that the move &ldquo;infringes upon Venezuela&rsquo;s sovereignty and threatens peace and security&rdquo; in Latin America and the Caribbean region.&nbsp;&ldquo;China calls on parties to respect Venezuela&rsquo;s right to independently choosing development path, and work for stability and the return of order in Venezuela&rdquo;, said the statement.&nbsp;The statement added that it supports the UN Security Council &ldquo;in holding an emergency meeting to discuss the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela&rdquo; and supports the &ldquo;Council in playing its due role according to its mandate.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;China is ready to work with the international community to firmly defend the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international justice&rdquo;, concluded the statement.&nbsp;Venezuelan-led transition to democracyThe EU has consistently stated that Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader and has advocated for a Venezuelan-led transition to democracy that respects the country&rsquo;s sovereignty. The statement stressed that the Venezuelan people&rsquo;s right to determine their own future must be respected. The EU also highlighted the importance of combating transnational organized crime and drug trafficking while stressing that such challenges must be addressed in full respect of international law, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Unconditional release of political prisoners&nbsp;Kallas&rsquo; statement noted that the EU is in close contact with the United States, as well as regional and international partners, to support dialogue with all parties, aiming for a negotiated, democratic, inclusive, and peaceful solution led by Venezuelans themselves. The statement underlined that respecting the will of the Venezuelan people is essential for restoring democracy and resolving the ongoing crisis. It also called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners currently detained in Venezuela and confirmed that EU Member States&rsquo; consular authorities are coordinating efforts to protect the safety of EU citizens, including those detained illegally in the country.

Americas

Europe

China, EU reiterate the importance of upholding international law and the UN Charter, noting that members of the United Nations Security Council bear a particular responsibility in maintaining the international security framework

China, EU call for calm in Venezuela following US intervention

MOSCOW: Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Saturday he was heading to Miami, where another round of talks to settle the Ukraine war was set to take place. Ukrainian and European teams were also in the sunny American city for the negotiations mediated by Donald Trump&#39;s envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president&#39;s son-in-law Jared Kushner. &lsquo;On the way to Miami&rsquo;&ldquo;On the way to Miami,&rdquo; Dmitriev wrote in an X post, adding a pigeon emoji and attaching a short video of a morning sun shining through the clouds on a beach with palms. &ldquo;As warmongers keep working overtime to undermine the US peace plan for Ukraine, I remembered this video from my previous visit -- light breaking through the storm clouds,&rdquo; he added.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2002247452825440352&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=1de18ebc49bf61c3bd3b6890b602e575d3f1e94b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 875px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Russian and European involvement in the talks marks a step forward from an earlier stage, when the Americans held separate negotiations with each side in different locations. However, it is unlikely Dmitriev would hold direct talks with Ukrainian and European negotiators as relations between the two sides remain extremely strained. &lsquo;Pro-war&rsquo; leaders&nbsp;Moscow, which sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, argues that Europe&rsquo;s involvement in the talks would only hinder the process and tends to paint the continent&rsquo;s leaders as pro-war. The weekend talks come after President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing Moscow&rsquo;s battlefield gains nearly four years into his war in an annual news conference on Friday. Trump&rsquo;s envoys have pressed a plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv will likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians.

Trump’s envoys have pressed a plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv will likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians.

Russian envoy to join Ukraine talks in Miami

BRUSSELS: EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for a make-or-break summit on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine -- with key player Belgium under pressure to drop its opposition. The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to strengthen Kyiv&#39;s hand as Russia&rsquo;s war drags towards the four-year mark and US President Donald Trump pushes for a quick deal to end the fighting. Officials have insisted the talks will last as long as it takes to hammer out an agreement, saying both Ukraine&#39;s survival and Europe&#39;s credibility are at stake. &ldquo;If we do not succeed in this, then the European Union&#39;s ability to act will be severely damaged for years,&rdquo; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned this week. &ldquo;We will show the world that we are incapable of standing together and acting at such a crucial moment in our history.&rdquo; Extra 135 billion eurosThe EU estimates that Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will join the meeting, needs an extra 135 billion euros ($159 billion) to stay afloat over the next two years, with the cash crunch set to start in April. In a bid to plug the yawning gap, the European Commission, the EU&#39;s executive, has put forward a plan to tap some 210 billion euros of Russian central bank assets frozen in the bloc. The scheme &mdash; which would initially provide Kyiv with 90 billion euros over two years &mdash; involves an untested financial switcheroo in which the funds are lent to the EU, which then loans them to Ukraine. Kyiv would then only pay back the &ldquo;reparations loan&rdquo; once the Kremlin coughs up for all the damage it has wrought. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Belgium blocking&nbsp;</h2>Belgium, where the international deposit organization Euroclear holds the vast bulk of the funds, has been firmly opposed, citing fears it could face crippling financial and legal reprisals from Moscow. Russia has already fired a shot across the bows by announcing it was suing Euroclear. Belgium&rsquo;s outspoken prime minister Bart De Wever will be in the spotlight as his EU counterparts -- most of whom back the plan -- try to cajole him to accept. EU officials say they have gone out of their way to allay Belgian concerns and that multiple layers of protection, including guarantees from other member states, mean the risks are minimal. But so far Flemish nationalist De Wever has only dug in further, insisting that any guarantees must be unlimited and assets frozen in other countries should be used too. In theory, other EU countries could override Belgium and ram the initiative through with a weighted majority, but that would be a nuclear option that few see as likely for now. &ldquo;These are complex decisions that cannot be forced,&rdquo; said Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, who could offer key political cover for Belgium. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Plan B? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>The commission has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend to Ukraine. But officials say that scheme has been shelved as it requires unanimous approval from the EU&rsquo;s 27 leaders, and Hungary has ruled it out. De Wever nonetheless looks set to try to revive that idea, and other countries may be open to his arguments. &ldquo;It is on the shelf, not in the bin,&rdquo; said one EU diplomat, speaking like others on condition of anonymity. &ldquo;But we are focused now on the reparations loan.&rdquo; Bubbling close to the surface of the EU&rsquo;s discussion are the US efforts to forge a deal to end the war. Ukraine has said Washington was &ldquo;pressuring&rdquo; the EU not to use the assets, as they view them as a vital bargaining chip in winning over Russia. But EU officials deny that and say that, if anything, the push for peace has spurred the efforts to tap the Russian funds. Given that Ukraine has only months before the shortfalls bite, diplomats and officials insist leaders will find a way to keep funds flowing -- even if this week yields only a loose deal with details to be hammered out later. &ldquo;We need to find a solution,&rdquo; said a second EU diplomat. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d be surprised if they break up on Saturday or Sunday without a decision.&rdquo;

The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to strengthen Kyiv's hand as Russia’s war drags toward the four-year mark and US President Donald Trump pushes for a quick deal to end the fighting.

EU holds crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Brussels on Thursday to convince European partners to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, despite Washington pressuring EU countries against the plan, a Ukrainian official told AFP. The European Union has laid out a plan to use the frozen assets to harness 90 billion euros ($105 billion) for a loan to help Ukraine repel Moscow&#39;s forces, with the money to be paid back by any eventual Russian reparations to Ukraine. &quot;The US administration is pressuring European countries to abandon the idea of using Russian assets to support Ukraine,&quot; a senior Ukrainian official said Wednesday. The plan has the strong backing of many member states, including Germany, but has drawn opposition from others, including Belgium -- home to international deposit organisation Euroclear, which holds most of the assets -- whose leaders fear Russian reprisals. The Ukrainian official said that seven countries so far opposed the plan. Zelensky &quot;is going to Brussels to motivate European countries to adopt this decision&quot; and tap the frozen assets, the source said. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has been in the spotlight over his opposition to using Russian assets for Ukraine, but there had been speculation that US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration was also weighing in on the debate. Washington appears to view the assets as a key bargaining chip and has looked to tempt Moscow to play ball by dangling the prospect it could get back some of the cash. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Wednesday that the Europeans were &quot;quietly asking us to intervene on this matter as they do not want to be publicly against it&quot;. &quot;They are afraid of the long-term damage it will do to long-term investments in their system and the credibility of their institutions,&quot; they added. A previous version of Trump&#39;s plan to end the war also provided for Washington to use some frozen Russian assets for a US-led reconstruction of the war-torn country. Around 200 billion euros in Russian central bank assets were frozen over Moscow&#39;s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: &quot;Both the Ukrainians and the Russians have clearly stated positions regarding the frozen assets, and our only role is to facilitate a back-and-forth that can ultimately result in a deal.&quot;

President Zelensky seeks EU support to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, despite reported US pressure opposing the plan over fears of retaliation, investment risks, and use of assets as leverage

US 'pressuring' EU not to use frozen Russian assets for Kyiv: senior Ukraine official

STRASBOURG:&nbsp;EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the bloc must take a decision on financing Ukraine at a crunch summit this week, with leaders under pressure to agree a plan to use frozen Russian assets. &ldquo;There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine&#39;s defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine&#39;s fight,&rdquo; von der Leyen told EU lawmakers. &ldquo;We know the urgency. It is acute. We all feel it. We all see it.&rdquo; 90B Euro loanVon der Leyen is pushing a plan to use frozen Russian central bank assets to provide Kyiv a 90-billion-euro loan over the next two years -- but that move faces fierce opposition from Belgium, which hosts most of the funds. Belgium fears the scheme could open it up to Russian reprisals and is insisting on rock-solid guarantees from other EU countries that they will share any legal and financial liabilities. Attempts to reassure the Belgian government have so far failed to break the deadlock, setting up a potentially marathon round of wrangling at the summit starting Thursday. In theory other EU leaders could override Belgium and ram the initiative through with a weighted majority -- but that would be a nuclear option that few see as likely for now. Fallback plan&nbsp;Von der Leyen&#39;s executive has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend Ukraine. Diplomats have said that scheme appears to be a non-starter as it requires unanimous approval from the EU&#39;s 27 leaders and Hungary has ruled it out. &ldquo;We will have to decide which way we want to take, which route we want to take -- but one thing is very, very clear, we have to take the decision to fund Ukraine,&rdquo; von der Leyen said. &ldquo;This is also about strengthening Ukraine&#39;s ability to secure a real peace, one that is just, one that is lasting, and one that protects Ukraine and Europe.&rdquo;

Ursula von der Leyen tells EU lawmakers, ‘There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine's defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine's fight.’ 

Coming days crucial for keeping Ukraine funded: EU chief

BRUSSELS: European Union countries and lawmakers reached a final deal Wednesday on an ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, allowing carbon credits bought outside the continent to help reach the goal. A number of countries, led by Italy, had expressed concern at the target of reducing the 27-nation bloc&rsquo;s emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1998540028562280579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a56c84d1349c2ce33f4f9df3bd5228288bc9bdcc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 898px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The final deal allows for five percent of cuts to be accounted for through carbon credits acquired for projects outside Europe.&nbsp; &lsquo;Sending campaign offshore&rsquo;Activist groups have accused the EU of simply sending the climate change campaign offshore. Further down the road, the EU could if needed eventually allow member states to make up a further five percent of their targets via credits from international carbon markets. Under pressure from Poland and Hungary, the deal also put back by one year to 2028 an emissions trading system for road transport and heating buildings. Most committed&nbsp;Behind only China, the United States and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels. The deal still has to be given formal approval by the 27 EU states and by the EU parliament.

Behind only China, the US and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels.

EU agrees deal for 90% emissions cut by 2040

BRUSSELS:&nbsp;EU countries on Monday are expected to approve a significant tightening of Europe&rsquo;s immigration policy, including endorsing the concept of setting up &ldquo;return hubs&rdquo; for migrants outside the 27-nation bloc. Fearful of far-right parties making gains at the ballot box, governments across Europe are scrambling to take a tougher stance. Interior ministers meeting in Brussels will vote for the first time on a series of measures presented this year by the bloc&rsquo;s executive to more strictly regulate the arrival and return of migrants. &lsquo;Return hubs&rsquo;If adopted, these measures would notably allow: -- The opening of centers outside the EU&rsquo;s borders to which migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected would be sent, the so-called &ldquo;return hubs&rdquo;. -- Harsher penalties for migrants who refuse to leave European territory, including through longer periods of detention. -- Returning migrants to countries that are not their countries of origin, but which Europe considers &ldquo;safe&rdquo;. A decline in irregular entries to Europe -- down by around 20% so far in 2025 compared to last year -- has not eased the pressure to act on the politically explosive issue. The latest proposals come just a few months after the EU adopted a mammoth new migration law that will come into effect in June. &ldquo;We have to speed up,&rdquo; said EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner, &ldquo;to give the people the feeling that we have control over what is happening.&rdquo; &lsquo;Legal limbo&rsquo;The new initiatives have caused consternation among activists working with migrants. &ldquo;Instead of investing in safety, protection, and inclusion, the EU is choosing policies that will push more people into danger and legal limbo,&rdquo; said Silvia Carta of PICUM, an NGO that provides protection to undocumented migrants. But under the impetus of Denmark, which holds the EU&#39;s rotating presidency and has long advocated for these measures, member states are moving forward at a rapid pace. &lsquo;Widely shared political wish&rsquo;An EU diplomat told AFP that there was &ldquo;a widely shared political wish&rdquo; among leaders in the bloc to press ahead with these additional steps. &ldquo;We&#39;ve been moving forward very quickly,&rdquo; the diplomat said, speaking as others on condition of anonymity. But some in the bloc remain sceptical. France is questioning the legality and effectiveness of some of the proposals, while Spain is not convinced that &ldquo;return hubs&rdquo; work after several unsuccessful trials by other countries. Despite the concerns, there is backing from center-right and far-right lawmakers, who already gave an initial green light in the European Parliament. If these three proposals are approved on Monday by the EU member states, officials say the aim will be to immediately begin negotiations with the parliament as the next step towards approval. Taking in asylum seekers?&nbsp;While much of the focus on Monday will be on the new proposals being pushed, there will also be tricky talks on distributing at least 30,000 asylum seekers under the recent legal changes. That move is part of a new &ldquo;solidarity&rdquo; system to help relieve pressure on countries that see large numbers of arrivals, such as Greece and Italy. Other EU countries are expected to accept asylum seekers or to contribute 20,000 euros ($23,000) per person to the countries under pressure. But with governments across the bloc being urged to tighten immigration policies, putting a hand up to take in extra asylum seekers is fraught with political risk. &ldquo;There are few interior ministers who will want to come out in front of the press and say: &lsquo;OK, I&rsquo;ve taken 3,000&rsquo;,&rdquo; a European official told AFP. The EU is nevertheless under pressure to hammer out a compromise on resettlement, with the clock ticking to come up with a final decision by the end of the year.

Interior ministers meeting in Brussels will vote for the first time on a series of measures presented this year by the bloc’s executive to more strictly regulate the arrival and return of migrants.

EU set to back migrant ‘return hubs’

DOHA: European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Saturday that the United States was still Europe&#39;s main ally as she sought to downplay a new US National Security Strategy critical of European institutions. &quot;Of course, there&#39;s a lot of criticism, but I think some of it is also true,&quot; Kallas told the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference in Qatar&rsquo;s capital, in response to a question about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/new-trump-strategy-says-us-to-readjust-global-presence-pakistan-tv-digital" style="color:#0073e6;">US strategy</a>. The &ldquo;US is still our biggest ally... I think we haven&rsquo;t always seen eye to eye on different topics, but I think the overall principle is still there. We are the biggest allies, and we should stick together.&rdquo; &lsquo;Civilizational erasure&rsquo;Washington&#39;s new National Security Strategy, published early Friday, took aim at Europe, calling it over-regulated, lacking in &ldquo;self-confidence&rdquo; and facing &ldquo;civilizational erasure&rdquo; due to immigration.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/c0f9405b-600c-4d8d-89bb-2747ed92c15c-Untitled(4).jpg" alt="Untitled(4).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">DOHA: EU Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (3rdL) speaks during a panel session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. -- Photo by AFP</figcaption></figure>The document puts into writing the offensive launched months ago by US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration against Europe, which the US has accused of taking advantage of American generosity, a radical departure from previous US policy. &lsquo;More self-confident&rsquo;&ldquo;Europe has been underestimating its own power. Towards Russia, for example... we should be more self-confident,&rdquo; Kallas said. Ukrainian and US officials will hold a third straight day of talks in Miami on Saturday, in discussions aimed at ending over three years of war with Russia. Washington&rsquo;s plan involves Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not been able to win on the battlefield in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv&#39;s aspirations to join NATO. &lsquo;Not only in Ukraine or Gaza&rsquo;&ldquo;Putting limitations and stress on Ukraine actually does not bring us long-lasting peace,&rdquo; Kallas told the Doha Forum. &ldquo;If aggression is rewarded, we will see it happen again, and not only in Ukraine or Gaza, but all around the world,&rdquo; she added.

Says ‘US is still our biggest ally... I think we haven’t always seen eye to eye on different topics, but I think the overall principle is still there. We are the biggest allies.’

US still EU’s ‘biggest ally’, says Kaja Kallas

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;The European Union (EU) and Pakistan pressed Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to take &ldquo;constructive&rdquo; steps on regional security as cross-border tensions rose in October, according to a joint communiqu&eacute; issued this week by Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office following the seventh EU&ndash;Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Brussels.&nbsp;Co-chaired by Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, the meeting reviewed progress under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan and reaffirmed what both sides called a &ldquo;shared commitment&rdquo; to regional peace, stability and the rules-based international order.&nbsp;Dar said Pakistan remained committed to &ldquo;resolving issues through dialogue between neighbors,&rdquo; while Kallas underscored the EU&rsquo;s emphasis on &ldquo;peaceful solutions, full respect for international law and close cooperation on security challenges.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to help &ldquo;root out terrorism from Afghan soil,&rdquo; warning that regional stability hinged on effective counterterrorism efforts.&nbsp;The communiqu&eacute; noted concern over Afghanistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;deteriorating socio-economic conditions&rdquo; and backed a &ldquo;credible political process&rdquo; aligned with the UN-led Doha framework and the Taliban&rsquo;s previous commitments to the international community.&nbsp;Acknowledging Pakistan&rsquo;s decades-long role in hosting millions of Afghans, the EU stressed that any returns must be &ldquo;safe, dignified and in line with international standards.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides also called on Kabul to ensure protection of human rights, &ldquo;especially for women, girls and vulnerable communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;The dialogue also covered trade, migration, climate, food and energy security, and education cooperation through Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe.&nbsp;Both reaffirmed strong political commitment to the Generalized Scheme of Preferences, described as a key pillar of EU&ndash;Pakistan relations, while the EU briefed Pakistan on the process toward adopting a new GSP framework.&nbsp;The delegations exchanged views on Ukraine, Jammu and Kashmir and the Middle East.&nbsp;They welcomed the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict, urging all parties to respect the ceasefire, implement subsequent phases and allow unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.&nbsp;According to the Foreign Office, the EU and Pakistan agreed to hold the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad.

Foreign Affairs

Two sides urge Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to curb terrorism, protect rights and support regional stability, the Foreign Office says after their Brussels strategic dialogue.

EU, Pakistan push Afghanistan to curb terrorism, safeguard human rights commitments

BRUSSELS: The European Union&#39;s 27-member states struck a deal Wednesday on the bloc&#39;s next big emissions-cutting targets, after making overnight concessions to win over reluctant capitals in time for the UN&#39;s COP30 summit. EU countries have been haggling for months over two separate targets for slashing greenhouse-gas emissions: a 2040 goal intended as a milestone towards carbon-neutrality, and a related target that they must bring to the climate talks next week in Brazil. In marathon negotiations that ran most of the night, the bloc finally agreed to target a 90% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, but countries will be allowed to count international carbon credits towards up to 10% of that goal. Major polluter&nbsp;Behind only China, the United States, and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels. But after blazing a trail, the EU&#39;s political landscape has shifted right, and climate concerns have taken a backseat to defense and competitiveness -- with concerns in some capitals that greening Europe&#39;s economy is harming growth. Denmark, which holds the bloc&#39;s rotating presidency, worked through the night to win over the countries most skeptical of the proposed targets -- notably Italy. Unanimous deal&nbsp;The EU needed to win the support of a weighted majority of capitals for the 2040 climate target set out by the European Commission -- which implies sweeping changes to industry and daily life at a time of growing concern over adverse impacts on Europe&#39;s economy. Ministers also needed a unanimous deal on the EU emissions target for 2035, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which Paris Agreement signatories are supposed to bring to the COP30. That objective, set at between 66.25% and 72.5%, was also agreed overnight. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Not pretty&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>To win over the staunchest skeptics, Tuesday&#39;s talks covered a range of &quot;flexibilities&quot; for member states, including letting countries count carbon credits purchased to finance projects outside Europe. A commission offer for credits to account for up to three percent of a nation&#39;s 2040 emission cuts failed to win over hardliners, with countries eventually securing a higher threshold of 10%. Countries including Poland and Hungary also secured backing for a one-year delay, from 2027 to 2028, to the launch of a new EU carbon market for the road transport and industrial heating sectors -- which critics fear will drive up fuel prices. And in a further big concession, EU countries agreed for the overall 2040 objective to be reassessed every two years. &lsquo;Muddy, messy, nasty real world&rsquo;Environmental groups have accused countries of undermining the bloc&#39;s climate ambitions by pushing for a series of loopholes. But an EU diplomat, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations, had defended the compromise taking form in Brussels, although it was &quot;not necessarily pretty&quot;. &quot;In the muddy, messy, nasty real world out there, we are trying to achieve something good,&quot; said the diplomat.

In marathon negotiations, the bloc finally agreed to target a 90% cut in emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, but countries will be allowed to count international carbon credits towards up to 10% of that goal.

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