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The Georgian Parliament adopted on 30 September legislative amendments aimed at reviewing the selection process of Supreme Court judges. The European Union and other key observers had repeatedly expressed concerns over the shortcomings in this selection process.

It is regrettable that the Parliament did not await the publication of the urgent Venice Commission Opinion on this legislation, which it had itself requested, and which is expected in the coming days. This was a missed opportunity to create greater public trust in this process.

The European Union will assess the legislation and its implications, taking into account the upcoming Opinion of the Venice Commission, and expects that Georgia will further consider the rules of the selection process in light of the Venice Commissions recommendations.

Upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in its judiciary is key for Georgias credibility in the eyes of its citizens and international partners, and for the advancement of the EU-Georgia partnership.

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Georgia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the selection process of Supreme Court judges - EU News

In the run-up to the election on 18October, the EU shares the concerns already expressed by regional and international actors regarding the conditions under which it is being organised.

The EU deplores the violence and clashes that accompanied the elections in March2020, claiming several lives, and calls on the authorities to carry out independent and thorough investigations so that those responsible can be prosecuted. The EU calls for respect for civil liberties, in particular the right of every citizen to demonstrate peacefully and in a law-abiding way, without interference, and to express political opinions without being arrested or imprisoned. Following the Constitutional Courts approval of the candidates on 9September 2020, it is now imperative that the competent authorities and institutions in Guinea guarantee that the electoral process is impartial, transparent, inclusive and fair, that it is supported by the citizens, and that the results of the election are credible and accepted by all.

It is important to avoid violence and a deterioration of the situation before, during and after the election. In this context, the EU reaffirms its full support for all initiatives by ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations and the International Organisation of La Francophonie which aim to defuse tensions and re-establish dialogue between the parties with a view to strengthening the electoral framework. In this context it welcomes the tripartite mission by ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations to Conakry on 1and 2October.

The EU therefore calls on all of the political class and of civil society, as well as the relevant administrations, to engage with one another in a constructive and peaceful way in order to ensure that this electoral process is consensual and transparent and contributes to lasting reconciliation among all Guineans. In particular it encourages the authorities to take initiatives to help to calm the political atmosphere. In that context, measures such as the resolution of the disputed local elections held in February2018 and the release of all jailed opponents would create an atmosphere that is conducive to dialogue.

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Republic of Guinea: declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the presidential election on 18 October 2020 - EU News

29 September 2020, New YorkThe United Nations and the European Union signed an agreement today in the margins of the 75thsession of the General Assembly to enhance cooperation and strengthen collective response in peace operations and crisis management.

The Framework Agreement Between the United Nations and the European Union for the Provision of Mutual Support in the context of their respective missions and operations in the field was signed by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, and the Head of EU Delegation to the United Nations, Ambassador Olof Skoog. Building on the success of our joint achievements, this Agreement reaffirms that partnerships are essential to address the growing scale and complexity of challenges to international peace and security.

The Agreement will facilitate operational alignment and enhance complementarity between EU and UN field missions in the areas of logistics, medical, and security support. In particular, this Agreement will enable the UN and EU to expand co-operation in operational support services by building mutual understanding of our respective procedures and structures for the planning and execution of logistics support in missions and operations in the field.

This is also a concrete step forward in advancing the UNs Action for Peacekeeping Initiative (A4P) and the Declaration of Shared Commitments on UN Peacekeeping Operations, reinforcing the principle that strengthened partnerships are vital to effective and efficient mandate delivery.

The Framework Agreement complements existing cooperation arrangements between the two organisations and reflects the mutual commitment of the EU and the UN to multilateralism and a rules-based order. Our joint resolve serves to strengthen strategic and operational collaboration in response to global crises, threats, and challenges that cannot be addressed by individual nations acting alone. Furthermore, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of multilateral action, and how this maximises impact on the ground.

The United Nations and the European Union have progressively increased collaboration in peacekeeping and crisis management and fostered innovative approaches to co-operation. Initiated in the Western Balkans in 2003, co-operation has since expanded to include a number of theatres in Africa and the Middle East. Today, we closely coordinate our activities i.e. in Somalia, Central African Republic, Libya and Kosovo, and work side-by-side in support of the G5 Sahel Joint Force.

Media inquiries:

For the European Union (Brussels):Nabila.MASSRALI@ec.europa.eu

For the European Union (New York):Christopher.matthews@eeas.europa.eu

For the United Nations Department of Operational Support:DOS-comms@un.org

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UN and EU sign agreement to enhance cooperation and strengthen response in peace operations - EU News

05 October 2020

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We are pleased to share with you an article from the Managingdirector of Axis fiduciary Ltd, Mr. Assad Abdullatiff, on theimplications with regards to the Global business sector followingthe insertion of Mauritius on the European Union blacklist. You mayaccess the article HERE.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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European Aviation industry has called on the European Commission to replace quarantine measures with the testing process, in order to help families get together for the winter holiday season.

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, a large number of persons have been stranded and separated in different countries for more than six months now. The Aviation industry is urging for this problem to be terminated within these less than 90 days so the families can reunite for the year-end holiday season, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

This will provide far greater assurance and the ability for cross-border travellers to plan family reunions or vacations during this important holiday period. It will also serve as a lifeline to the millions of workers in the travel and tourism sectors whose jobs remain at risk, IATAs statement reads.

In September, the European Travel Commission (ETC), together with 20 travel and tourism associations addressed an open letter to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, calling to test persons upon their arrival, instead of imposing quarantine rules, amid the ongoing decrease marked in air passenger traffic due to the Coronavirus travel restrictions.

Up to 27 million persons who work in this sector, risk losing their jobs, amid the current COVID-19 situation.

Aviation bodies ACI Europe, together with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines for Europe submitted a framework explaining how a testing process could work, in the letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, on September 17.

According to the recent data published by IATA, the situation in the aviation industry is worsening. IATAs statement shows that air traffic to and within Europe marked a 66.3 per cent decline, year to date. Other figures published by ACI Europe, stressed that passenger traffic in the European Union has decreased to -78 per cent, as of September 27.

Figures published by Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) show that nearly 7 million jobs could be lost due to the collapse of air traffic, or 52 per cent decline in the number of employment, supported by aviation in Europe. ATAG also emphasized that nearly 450 billion in economic activity will be lost.

We need to learn to live and travel with the virus. Re-establishing the free movement of people and air connectivity across our continent in a safe way must be a priority, the letter reads.

As per July figures, IATA previously revealed that passenger demand was critically low in July, compared to the same period one year earlier, at only 79.8 per cent.

The International Air Transport Association together with other associations has been continuously urging European governments to lift the imposed border restrictions and find other alternatives for quarantine rules, to save Europes economic sector which has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Aviation Bodies Call on EU to Replace Quarantine With Testing, to Help Families Reunite for Winter Holiday Season - SchengenVisaInfo.com