As of this Sunday, victims of violence – notably those who have suffered domestic violence or stalking – will be able to guarantee themselves better protection in any EU Member State. The new rules mean that restraining, protection and barring orders issued in one Member State are now quickly and easily recognisable across the EU through simple certification.
To mark the day of national mourning that was observed in France on 08/01/2015 in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack at the headquarters of the French satirical weekly newspaper “Charlie Hebdo” in Paris the day before, the European Comission decided to fly the European flags at half-mast on all Commission buildings in Belgium, its host country.
The European Union stands with the Government and people of Turkey following the appalling act of terrorism yesterday in Istanbul, which led to the death of a policeman.
On 1 January 2015, Lithuania adopted the euro as its official currency andthe changeover is running smoothly and according to plan. The previous national currency – the litas – will be phased out during a transitional two-week dual circulation period when both currencies have legal tender status in Lithuania. By Saturday, 3 January, 89% of customers were getting their change in euro. No major problems were observed in banks or in the retail sector.
On 7-8 January, the College of Commissioners will travel to Riga for its traditional visit to the incoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The rotating Presidency will be held by Latvia for the first time, from January until June 2015.
After Lithuania adopted the euro at midnight – on the 15th anniversary of the launch of the single currency in 1999 – some 337 million Europeans in 19 Member States now share the same currency. This is a major achievement for Lithuania and for the euro area as a whole. As of 1st of January Lithuanians start withdrawing euro cash and paying for their purchases in euro.
As of 1st of January, Latvia took over as European Union president, putting it on the front line of negotiations with neighbouring Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Latvia will be presiding over the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2015. The Presidency is an s opportunity for every member state, regardless of its size or length of membership, to influence the EU agenda and guide EU endeavours.
The EU welcomed Azerbaijan President’s New Year pardon for some prisoners, including journalists and opposition activists, but urged Baku to comply with its international commitment to protect media freedom following the decision to close Radio Free Europe bureau, a spokesperson of the High Representative Federica Mogherini said in a statement.
The guilty verdict delivered today, Tuesday 30 December, by the Zamoskvoretsky Court against Alexey Navalny and his brother Oleg Navalny appears to be politically motivated, the spokesperson of the High Representative for Foreign policy and Security said in a statement.
Following Moscow’s December 25 decision on the inclusion of the Sakharov centre in the country’s “Foreign Agents Registry,” the EU called Russia to suspend the practice of branding country’s NGOs as “foreign agents” as it affects the fundamental freedoms of association and expression, a spokesperson of High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a statement.
