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EU foreign relations
Mediator, trading partner, political player
There is no doubt that the European Union is a big player on the world stage. But what role does it play? And what role should it play? The EU, which started as a trading bloc, still has a major economic role. But today it is trying to mediate in the Middle East and take a stance on international politics and human rights.
2008-07-16 09:58 TU
Middle East
Israel rejects 48-hour truce proposal
Israel has rejected a French proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire in its offensive on the Gaza Strip, saying that it will only consider a permanent truce with the Palesitnian Hamas movement. On the fifth day of air raids, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that he opposes a ground offensive.
2008-12-31 15:05 TU
Middle East
Divided world leaders debate Gaza fighting
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner hosts European foreign ministers in Paris today, after a conference call with world leaders about the Israeli air-raids on the Gaza Strip. As the reported death toll rises to at least 363, international politicians call for a ceasefire with Germany and the US blaming the Palestinian Hamas movement for the violence.
2008-12-30 16:30 TU
Middle East
France promises Gaza aid, protests at Israeli raids worldwide
As the estimated death toll from Israeli air-raids on Gaza rises to 345, France has promised to increase aid shipments to the embattled area. Thousands protested against the attacks in the Middle East and Europe, while the US government blame the attacks on rocket attacks on Israel by "thugs" from Hamas, which controls the area.
2008-12-29 16:49 TU
EU/Brazil
Sarkozy attends last summit as EU head
Climate change and the global financial crisis are the focus of a summit between the EU and Brazil which opens Monday in Rio de Janeiro. This is French president Nicolas Sarkozy's final summit as head of the EU before handing over to the Czech Republic.
2008-12-22 11:27 TU
EU/Somalia
EU launches anti-piracy operation as pirates increase territorial waters
As the European Union officially launched an operation on Monday in the Gulf of Aden against the growing problem of piracy, Somali pirates have been moving further south along the African coast. British Admiral Philip Jones is in charge of six European warships, taking over from Nato vessels currently patrolling the Gulf.
2008-12-08 13:02 TU
World financial crisis
Europe will not leave behind poor countries, says Sarkozy at aid conference
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the European Union would not “sacrifice” poor countries in this time of financial crisis. He is one of the only representatives from a major developed region to attend a four-day UN aid conference.
2008-11-29 15:53 TU
EU/Russia
EU and Russia to resume negotiations
Russia and the European Union will resume strategic partnership talks on 2 December, three months after they were suspended because of the Georgian war. The EU agreed to resume talks over the objections of Lithuania and Georgia, which is not a member state.
2008-11-15 09:53 TU
DRC/EU
Kouchner says the UN needs soldiers, rules in DRC
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday that the Democratic Republic of Congo needs different soldiers and different rules in order to combat the unrest in the restive Nord-Kivu area.
2008-11-03 17:10 TU
World financial crisis
Asia-Europe united call for regulation
Asian and European leaders have issued a joint call for financial reform and regulation in response to the crisis shaking world markets. At the end of the Asia-Europe summit in Beijing, China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao backed calls for more regulation and pledged to back them at the world summit on 15 November, as did India's Manmohan Singh.
2008-10-28 16:11 TU
EU/China
Chinese dissident awarded top EU prize
Chinese dissident Hu Jia has won the Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament's prestigious award for those who fight oppression and injustice. Hu is currently in a Chinese jail charged with "inciting subversion".
2008-10-23 12:03 TU
Georgia
Donors pledge 4.5 billion for Georgia
State and private donors gathered in Brussels committed to 4.55 billion dollars (3.53 billion euros) in aid to Georgia Wednesday, including total of 2.8 billion euros that came from public coffers, an impressive sum "especially in difficult times", said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
2008-10-22 14:48 TU
World financial crisis
New tax haven blacklist to be created
Countries refusing to work with regulators will be put on a new blacklist of tax havens in an effort to improve global finance regulations, French Budget Minister Eric Woerth announced Tuesday.
2008-10-25 12:05 TU
France/World financial crisis
Sarkozy says world must change, ahead of Bush meeting
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a "new world" in response to the international financial crisis. Ahead of a meeting with US President George Bush on Saturday, he told the Quebec National Assembly in Canada that regulation is necessary to avoid "a world of selfishness, fanaticism and confrontation".
2008-10-18 13:53 TU
France
Francophone summit set to open in Quebec
Friday sees the official opening of the 12th Francophone summit which is being held this weekend in Quebec City, Canada. David Coffey takes a look at what it means to be a member of the francophonie and how it all began.
2008-10-17 08:06 TU
World financial crisis
Unity at Eurozone meeting in Paris?
Leaders from the 15 countries that use the euro, plus Britain, are meeting in Paris Sunday to try to agree on a European response to the financial crisis. Coordinating the response is seen as crucial to keep one country’s actions from harming another and causing more problems.
2008-10-12 15:50 TU
World financial crisis
Eurozone leaders face choice: British or American?
After one of the worst weeks in world markets since the Great Depression, leaders of the countries that use the euro will meet on Sunday in Paris to discuss their plan of action. Britain and the US, which have already announced their rescue plans, will serve as competing models for the European program.
2008-10-12 08:54 TU
World financial crisis
Europe reacts to financial crisis
Emergency measures are being taken across Europe to stabilize the effects of the global financial crisis. The Spanish government has approved a 30 billion euro bank fund, whilst the Danish parliament has passed a bill worth 4.37 billion euros to help banks and their customers.
2008-10-10 16:29 TU
World financial crisis
EU struggles to unite to protect bank deposits
In an effort to forge a united reaction to the global financial crisis, the European Union announced new measures on Tuesday. Ministers have agreed to more than double bank deposit guarantees to at least 50,000 euros.
2008-10-07 16:09 TU
World financial crisis
EU ministers meet to take emergency action
European finance ministers meet on Tuesday in Luxembourg to debate an action plan to protest savers. Share prices in Asia and Europe saw a slight recovery after Monday's huge fall. As Iceland takes over its second-biggest bank, Russia promised a four-billion-euro loan to the country.
2008-10-07 11:09 TU
Finance
European leaders meet in Paris
Saturday's meeting brought together French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
2008-10-04 15:26 TU
World Financial Crisis
How will Europe react?
Europe is breathing a sigh of relief after the US Senate agreed Thursday to bail out US banks. But how will European banks respond to the crisis? With EU countries clashing over solutions to the financial crisis, the head of the Eurogroup insists that European banks can weather the storm.
2008-10-02 13:13 TU
EU/Georgia
Ceasefire monitors enter buffer zone
European Union ceasefire monitors entered the buffer zone of Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia on Wednesday after ten minutes of discussions with Russian soldiers at a checkpoint.
2008-10-01 11:10 TU
US/France
Petraeus praises French role in Afghanistan
The US's incoming Middle East commander on Thursday commended France for strengthening its military presence in Afghanistan and for taking a leading role in trying to resolve other regional conflicts. He was speaking at the US embassy in Paris during a two-day visit for talks with French military officials.
2008-09-26 12:08 TU
China/EU
Europe prepares milk products ban
The European Commission is preparing a "total ban" on products from China which contain milk and are destined for consumption by children. India on Thursday became one of the more than a dozen countries which have banned Chinese dairy products. Beijing says it has launched a drive to set up food-testing centres and replace outdated equipment.
2008-09-26 06:03 TU
France/Afghanistan
Families of dead French soldiers visit Kabul
Families of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan visited the country on Friday. They were accompanied by French Defence Minister, Hervé Morin.
2008-12-04 11:19 TU
Caribbean/US
France doubles Haiti aid, as Ike heads for US
France has promised to double the amount of aid it gives to Haiti this year, after recent devastating tropical storms. Hurricane Ike ravaged Cuba on Monday and Tuesday, killing four people there after causing 66 deaths in Haiti.
2008-09-17 09:09 TU
EU/Georgia/Russia
Tbilisi welcomes Moscow pullout pledge
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says Russia's agreement to withdraw its troops from all regions of Georgia except South Ossetia and Abkhazia is a start. Saakashvili met with EU officials led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Tbilisi Monday evening. This followed Sarkozy's talks earlier Monday with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev.
2008-09-09 09:07 TU
France/Russia
Sarkozy meets Medvedev on Georgia peace mission
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other EU officials held talks with his Russian counterpart in Russia as part of a European Union effort to persuade Moscow to withdraw troops from Georgia.
2008-09-08 16:11 TU
EU/Russia/Georgia
Russian newspapers claim victory as EU dodges economic sanctions
Russian newspapers on Tuesday claimed victory after Monday's European Union summit refrained from slapping sanctions on Moscow over its military presence in Georgia. EU leaders have frozen talks with Russia and French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to head a mission to Moscow on Monday.
2008-09-02 10:32 TU
France/Afghanistan
Defence Minister slams Taliban interview
France's Defence Minister has accused Paris-Match magazine of falling for a "public relations offensive" in running an interview with by Taliban fighters who claim to have killed ten French soldiers in an ambush in Afghanistan last month. The fighters threaten to kill all the French soldiers in the country.
2008-09-05 07:49 TU
EU/Russia/Georgia
EU holds emergency summit
The European Union is meeting in Brussels today to discuss the Georgian crisis and the response it should take.
Meanwhile, Georgians are holding mass rallies to condemn Russia's actions.
2008-09-01 13:37 TU
Afghanistan/France
French troops were betrayed, says paper
The French weekly paper Le Canard enchainé claims that the French troops caught in a deadly ambush in Afghanistan were betrayed, either by their interpreter or by Afghan soldiers or police. The claim comes the day after French ministers defended the mission in front of MPs.
2008-08-27 13:15 TU
Russia/Georgia
France and Britain step up pressure on Moscow
Britain's Foreign Minister David Milliband warned of a possible new Cold War on a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday, while France's Bernard Kouchner said that Russia might confront the west over other countries on its borders. Georgia on Wednesday announced that it will reduce its diplomatic representation in Moscow.
2008-08-27 14:59 TU
Afghanistan
Sarkozy vows French will stay after attack
President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Afghanistan a day after one of the deadliest attacks on France's forces abroad. Ten French soldiers were killed and 21 injured in an ambush by Taliban fighters east of the capital, Kabul.
2008-08-20 17:17 TU
France/China
Kouchner to meet Dalai Lama in government U-turn
French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner is to meet the Dalai Lama, according to the Buddhist leader's interpreter on his visit to France. The announcement comes after Socialist former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal said that she would meet the Dalai Lama this weekend.
2008-08-15 13:41 TU
Russia/Georgia
Explosions in Gori, France calls for UN resolution
Explosions are reported in the Georgian town of Gori, as Georgia accuses Russia of breaking its promise to pull out. France has called on the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on peace in the area as soon as possible, as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads for the Caucasus.
2008-08-14 12:41 TU
France/China
Dalai Lama tells senators Beijing breaks Olympic "truce"
The Dalai Lama has accused China of "breaking the Olympic truce" in Tibet, according to French parliamentarians who attended a private meeting with the Tibetan Buddhist leader at the French Senate on Wednesday. The meeting is the only political event during a 12-day visit to France which came straight after President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to the opening of the Olympic Games.
2008-08-13 14:09 TU
Russia/Georgia
Georgia and Russia agree truce
Georgia and Russia have agreed to a French-brokered peace plan after Moscow ordered a halt to its military operations. The six-point plan is set to be reviewed by EU foreign ministers on Wednesday, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but Georgia has already claims that the Russians have broken the ceasefire.
2008-08-13 12:06 TU
Mauritania
Sarkozy threatens international isolation
The French presidency of the European Union warned Wednesday that the junta that toppled the Mauritanian President earlier this month may face isolation from the international community.
2008-08-13 15:21 TU
WTO
World Trade talks collapse
Talks on a new world trade pact broke down without an agreement in Geneva Tuesday evening. Ministers at the talks, aimed at reaching a global trade pact, were struggling to settle differences on subsidies and import tariffs.
had ran into a ninth day today and ministers were struggling to settle differences on subsidies and import tariffs.
2008-07-30 10:46 TU
EU/South Africa
Europe backs Mbeki's mediation on Zimbabwe
The European Union on Friday supported South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy describing them as "courageous". At its first-ever summit with South Africa, held in south-west France, the EU also called on Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to respond to the international court case against him.
2008-07-28 10:10 TU
EU/South Africa
South African-EU summit begins in Bordeaux
South African President Thabo Mbeki is in Bordeaux to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Borroso, for a one-day South Africa-EU summit.
2008-07-25 17:31 TU
Iran/US
Iran, EU and US begin direct nuclear talks
Iran, the European Union and the United States are united for talks on Iran's nuclear issue in Geneva Saturday, the first time Washington has directly joined the talks.
2008-07-19 13:12 TU
Agricultural aid
EU plans to donate spare 1bn to African farmers
The European Commission proposed Friday to donate one billion euros left over from its budget to farmers in African countries to help them tackle skyrocketing food prices. The money is not humanitarian aid, but an act of "solidarity" said commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, though the plan faces some opposition in the EU.
2008-07-18 16:50 TU
Iran/France
Total says Iranian investment too risky, missile tests continue
French oil and gas giant Total has declared that investment in Iran is too risky, striking a blow to an important gas project. The move is a boost to US efforts to economically isolate the country and push for an end to its nuclear expansion. Defying Western calls to disarm, Iran test-fired more ballistic missiles Thursday.
2008-07-10 12:55 TU
France/China
Sarkozy to attend Olympics opening in Beijing
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games next month in Beijing, it was announced Wednesday.
2008-08-06 14:10 TU
China/France
Chinese tour operators drop France boycott
Chinese tourism websites are once again offering trips to France, after a month-long boycott. France disappeared from destination options at the end of May.
2008-07-04 13:50 TU
EU/Cuba
EU drops sanctions against Cuba
EU nations have lifted all sanctions against Cuba definitively, diplomats announced at the EU summit in Brussels. The decision makes permanent the suspension of sanctions started in 2005.
2008-06-20 13:38 TU
US/Europe
Air Force to review European tanker deal after auditors' report
The price of shares in European aerospace company EADS fell Thursday after the US Air Force said it would review a 35-billion-dollar (23 billion euro) tanker deal which Congress's investigators said resulted from "significant errors". The drop had a knock-on effect on the Paris Bourse.
2008-06-20 10:21 TU
Bush in London
Brown announces more troops for Afghanistan
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised to send more troops to Afghanistan at a joint press conference with US President George Bush, who is visiting London. The two leaders claimed that there is progress in both Afghanistan and Iraq and said that troops would be pulled out "based on success".
2008-06-16 13:59 TU
Iran
Iran dampens hopes of new nuclear deal
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana offered a package of incentives Saturday in Tehran in exchange for Iran suspending uranium enrichment. Iran has dampened hopes that a new offer to end the stand-off over its nuclear programme could work.
2008-06-15 10:15 TU
France / US
Sarkozy, Bush hold talks in Paris
President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted bilateral talks with his US counterpart Saturday on President George W Bush's farewell trip to Europe. At a press conference Saturday Sarkozy spoke about the EU failed reform treaty, while Bush addressed Middle East peace.
2008-06-14 11:01 TU
United States/Europe/Iran
Bush urges unity on Iran
US president George Bush has arrived in the French capital on the penultimate stage of a farewell trip to Europe.
2008-06-13 21:30 TU
China
World powers and Asia rally to help after quake kills thousands
Global powers and Asian countries have pledged aid and support after the most powerful earthquake to hit China in 30 years killed at least ten thousand people. Rescue workers are racing to dig survivors out of the rubble and President Wen Jiabao has called for urgent efforts to reach isolated areas.
2008-05-14 06:19 TU
Europe - economy
Airbus announces yet another delay to A380 delivery
In yet one more delay that puts production 18 months behind schedule, European aviation giant Airbus admitted Tuesday that it would not be able to meet its delivery schedule of 45 A380 superjumbo jets by 2010.
2008-05-14 09:50 TU
Syria/Iran
UN nuclear chief calls for full disclosure from Iran
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed ElBaradei demanded 'full disclosure' from Iran on its nuclear programme and announced he was sending experts to Syria to investigate an alleged secret nuclear reactor.
2008-06-02 13:11 TU
Iran
Tehran still withholding nuclear information, UN agency says
Iran is holding back information regarding its nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency claims in a report published late Monday. The country has not done enough to disprove allegations that it is developing a nuclear weapons program, says the report.
2008-05-27 10:53 TU
European Union
Commission unveils proposed new farming measures
The European Commission unveils recommendations today for further reforms of Europe's farming measures, known as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
2008-05-20 16:21 TU
China
May Day anti-French protests as torch arrives
Hundreds of protesters rallied outside five Carrefour stores on 1 May despite efforts by the government to stave off anti-French sentiment.
2008-08-06 14:12 TU
France/China
France seeks to mend Olympic torch relay wounds
Protests against France and French interests in China have been growing ever since the Olympic torch's relay through Paris was disrupted by violent protests.
2008-08-06 14:15 TU
France/China
Anti-French protests hit businesses, embassy
Hundreds of Chinese protested across the country on Saturday against France's attitude towards Tibet and the Olympic Games being held in Beijing this summer.
2008-12-12 17:29 TU
Listen
Focus on France 25 September 2008
Can Europe's banks escape the financial crisis?
2008-09-29 11:27 TU
Focus on France 10 August 2008
Dalai Lama's visit provokes questions about French/Chinese relationship
2008-08-11 09:23 TU
Focus on France 8 August 2008
Tibetan independence protest coincides with opening ceremonies
2008-08-08 15:31 TU
Focus on France 6 August 2008
Rwanda accuses France of complicity in 1994 genocide
2008-08-06 16:36 TU
