Euromed News
19 July 2019
Lebanese Parliament approves the financial law
On 19 July, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced that the Lebanese Parliament approved the budget law for 2019 with 83 votes in favor, 18 against and 1 abstention.
19 July 2019
The EU and Egypt launched a new round of energy dialogue
On 19 July, the EU ambassador in Egypt met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in order to launch a new round of the energy dialogue between the EU and Egypt.
18 July 2019
UN calls the EU to return to save lives in front of Libyan coasts and Italy to stop criminalizing migrant rescuers
IOM, UNHCR and UN Human Rights, with two statements asked a radical change to the international approach towards refugees and migrants in Libya and condemned the criminalisation of migrant rescues and threats to the independence of judiciary in Italy.
17 July 2019
Haftar’s forces announce a final offensive over Tripoli and six countries call for the end of hostilities in Libya
The governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have released a joint statement calling Libyan contenders to find a political solution to the conflict days after General Khaifa Haftar’s forces announced the “launch of the latest operations to liberate Tripoli” in a message on Facebook.
17 July 2019
Environment and climate change at the centre of UfM Senior Official Meeting
On 17 July, the second Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of 2019 of the Union for Mediterranean (UfM) took place in Brussels. The 43 Member States representatives discussed about ongoing preparations of the Third Regional Forum scheduled in Barcelona on 10 October.
16 July 2019
Jordan sends a new ambassador to Qatar after two years of absence
On 16 July, Jordanian Government decided to nominate a new ambassador in Qatar. In 2017 Amman had withdrawn its ambassador in solidarity with Gulf Arab allies (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain). It is the first step toward restoring normal relations with Doha.
16 July 2019
European Parliament elects Ursula von der Leyen as the first female President of the European Commission
On 16 July, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission, approving the European Council’s proposal. Von der Leyen, former Defence Minister of Germany, has been elected in a secret ballot with 383 votes.
16 July 2019
Turkey continues drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean despite EU’s measures
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on 16 July that EU’s punitive measure will not affect its “determination to continue hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean”, after that on 15 July the EU Foreign Affairs Council strongly condemned Turkish drilling activities in Cyprus’ maritime zone.
15 July 2019
Tensions in the Gulf, Iraq, external aspects of migration and Turkey’s drilling activities, on the agenda of EU Foreign Affairs Council
The last meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, held on 15 July in Brussels, tackled, among other issues, some pressing challenges on the Mediterranean, including the rising tensions in the Gulf and their impact on the JCPOA, which the EU is trying to preserve despite increasing pressure from the US and Iran.