EU finally appoints new religion freedom special envoy
The Cypriot Christos Stylianides has experience in the field of human aid. The EU confirmed the position ten months after announcing the appointment. BRUSSELS · 06 MAY 2021 · 10:34 CET Christos Stylianides, the newly appointed Special Envoy to Promote Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the European Union. / Photo: Twitter Christos Stylianides.
The European Commission has announced the appointment of its new Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) outside the European Union.
Christos Stylianides will be in charge of using the European Union’s ‘soft power’ to help produce changes in the protection of
European trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Tuesday (4 May) that efforts to win approval for a proposed massive investment deal with China were effectively “suspended” after tit-for-tat sanctions were imposed by both sides.
“We have … for the moment suspended some efforts to raise political awareness on the part of the Commission,” said Dombrovskis who is in charge of spearheading the agreement’s approval process in the EU.
“It’s clear in the current situation, with the EU sanctions in place against China and Chinese counter-sanctions in place, including against members of European Parliament (that) the environment is not conducive for ratification of the agreement,” Dombrovskis told AFP in an interview.
Rising Concern Surrounding EU Economy Due to Deteriorating Tourism, Aviation Sectors albawaba.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from albawaba.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
EU Trade Chief: Efforts to Ratify China Deal ‘Suspended’
The European Commission has put efforts to ratify a investment agreement with China on hold, after tit-for-tat sanctions imposed over the Beijing regime’s human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, the EU’s top trade official said on May 4.
“We now in a sense have suspended … political outreach activities from the European Commission side,” Valdis Dombrovskis, EU trade commissioner, told French news agency AFP on May 4.
The deal, commonly known as the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), was approved in principle last December after seven years of negotiation, with the last push by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. To pass, the CAI needs to be approved by EU councils and the European Parliament, where it faces massive opposition.