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The European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union (EU) reached an agreement on a revised Trade Enforcement Regulation to strengthen the protection of the EU trade interests in World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes. The new Trade Enforcement Regulation would allow the EU to retaliate against trade partners before the completion of WTO disputes.

On 28 October 2020 the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a political agreement (Agreement) to amend Regulation (EU) 654/2014 (Trade Enforcement Regulation), which will boost the EU trade retaliatory powers where a trade partner blocks the dispute settlement mechanism under the WTO or bilateral treaties. The Agreement will have to be approved by member states by qualified majority in accordance with the rules on the ordinary legislative procedure (Article 16 of the Treaty on the European Union and Article 238 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union).

On 12 December 2019 the European Commission released a proposal (COM(2019) 623 final) to amend the Enforcement Regulation, to respond to the risk that the blockage of the WTO Appellate Body would render the Trade Enforcement Regulation ineffective. Following the end of the term of two WTO Appellate Body members on 10 December 2019 and the blockage to replace them, the WTO Appellate Body has been unable to hear new appeals since then.

Currently, the Trade Enforcement Regulation allows the EU to apply countermeasures in three scenarios: (i) following a binding adjudication in favor of the EU in the context of WTO or other international trade agreements; (ii) in reaction to safeguard measures adopted by a third-country; or (iii) in case of a modification of WTO concessions by another WTO member.

The revised Trade Enforcement Regulation would allow the EU to adopt countermeasures against countries that block the conclusion of dispute settlement proceedings under the framework of the WTO or bilateral treaties. In particular, it would allow the EU to adopt countermeasures in spite of the lack of a binding adjudication. For example, if the United States were to adopt measures against EU products in breach of its WTO obligations, the EU would first trigger a dispute before the WTO dispute settlement. If the United States were to block a binding adjudication by appealing before the inoperative Appellate Body, the EU would be able to adopt countermeasures against the United States without further delays.

The revised Trade Enforcement Regulation also extends the scope of possible countermeasures currently provided for in the areas of customs duties, quantitative restrictions on imports or exports of goods, and measures in the area of public procurement to services and certain areas of intellectual property rights.

The inclusion of intellectual property rights at the EU level in the Agreement was very contentious and a major win for the European Parliament. The suspension of obligations regarding trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights would allow for a more effective enforcement of the EU's trade rights. Intellectual property rights account for a growing share of world trade and are covered by international trade agreements, including regional or bilateral EU agreements.

Further, the European Parliament secured a commitment that the European Commission will draft a new "anti-coercion" tool, which would allow retaliation, even in the absence of a first-instance Panel WTO ruling by the end of 2021.

We will be following the next stage in the legislative process.

[View source.]

Original post:
European Union reaches agreement to boost its trade retaliatory powers - JD Supra

We call upon all Georgians who plan to exercise their right to assembly on 8 November to do so peacefully and with respect to COVID-19 precautions, and call on the Georgian authorities to assist in providing for such an environment.

With regard to the ongoing electoral process, we encourage political parties to continue addressing allegations of electoral violations by using the legal means within the democratic processes that Georgia has built over the past 20 years.

A credible and inclusive legal process for remedying substantiated electoral violations is necessary to ensure that the will of the voters is respected, that public confidence in the electoral process is assured, and to ensure the public can accept the election results as legitimate. We stand ready to contribute as required to achieving these objectives.

Georgia needs a parliament able to play its role to address the immediate challenges of economic turmoil, a pandemic and regional tensions, as well as to enact additional reforms to improve the countrys democratic, legal and electoral processes for the future. All political sides need urgently to take responsibility for ensuring such an outcome.

By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 7 November, 2020 | Topics: Health Issues, News

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Statement by the United States Embassy and the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia - US Embassy in Georgia

Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has claimed the EU may see growing Euroscepticism in the near future which could potentially spark a crisis within the bloc. During an interview with Express.co.uk, Mr Habib hinted member states, Spain, Greece, Italy and France could one day push to try to leave the European Union. He insisted this was due to the bloc's initial handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

He added if Britain makes a success of Brexit, other countries may want to follow in the UK's footsteps.

Mr Habib said: "The EU fears greatly that other countries will wish to leave.

"That is one of the reasons why it cannot allow the UK to have a successful Brexit.

"Countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain and even France, France is in real trouble, these countries have significant Eurosceptic movements and they are growing.

DON'T MISS:EU attacked for punishing Britain as bloc warned France will leave

"The pandemic has accelerated those groups and that scepticism because they look at the EU and its inability and hostility at the outbreak of the pandemic."

Mr Habib criticised the EU for their initial treatment of member states at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.

He highlighted how this behaviour would not be forgotten by these nations and could later cause issues for the EU.

He continued: "The EU's had a desire to control member states from doing what was right for member states at that time.

"For example, countries needed to close their borders and the EU was up in arms about it because of freedom of movement.

"They eventually came around to it because they saw that they had to but you could see in the onset of the virus how awful the EU was in its attitude towards member states' interests.

"Ultimately the pandemic has fueled Euroscepticism across Europe, particularly across the weaker parts of the European Union."

Mr Habib noted another reason why the European Union wants Brexit to go poorly for Britain.

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He said: "There is another reason why the EU cannot allow Britain to have a successful exit.

"It is because you will then see the Eurosceptic movements in France, Italy, Greece, Spain and eastern parts of the European Union grow.

"They will really be banging the drum saying we need to get out of the EU."

See original here:
Oh dear, Brussels! EU terrified as Greece, Italy, Spain and France could spark crisis - Daily Express

The Tanzanian National Electoral Commission and Zanzibar Electoral Commission have declared the results of the elections.

Election day was well organised and peaceful in many parts of the country.Nonetheless, the European Union (EU) notes with regret the disruption of social media before, on and after election day, claims of opposition candidates that they did not benefit from a level playing field during the electoral process, as well as the limited possibilities for electoral observation. Reports of irregularities in some districts are also raising concern. These serious allegations have an impact on the transparency and overall credibility of the process.They should be processed through legal means of redress.

In Zanzibar, tensions were reported, with deadly violence,including allegations of excessive use of force by State organs. The EU hopes that it will be possible to lay the foundation for a sustainable reconciliation between all stakeholders, in order to contribute to long-lasting peace and stability in the archipelago.

The EU encourages an open, constructive and inclusive dialogue between the Government of Tanzania, opposition political parties and civil society, and recognises peaceful expressions of opinions as essential to multi-party democracy and civic freedoms.

Tanzania has a strong record of stability, peaceful cohabitation and tolerance among its people. The EU and Tanzania have a long history of good relations, and the EU reaffirms its preparedness to contribute to joint next steps for political dialogue and economic cooperation.

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Tanzania Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the elections in Tanzania - EU News

The European Union (EU) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will expand the Cuban health systems capabilities in terms of protection, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

At the end of October, the EU and Cuba signed a cooperation agreement, which includes a financial contribution to the island by the European bloc of one and a half million euros, the Agencia Cubana de Noticias news agency reported.

The head of cooperation of the EU Delegation in Havana, Juan Garay, said this Thursday that the agreement seeks to strengthen the production of protective equipment for health personnel and risk groups, expand national capacity with a view to carrying out diagnostic tests and continue the development of pulmonary ventilators that can prevent critical stage and invasive ventilation, according to the source.

The collaboration project involves the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) and five entities of the state group BioCubaFarma, and foresees the exchange of knowledge between Cuban and European specialists regarding the treatment protocols for COVID-19.

Unin Europea respalda a Cuba frente a la pandemia

During a press conference, Garay said it is an honor to be able to collaborate with a country that continues to set an example in the world in terms of respect for the right to health and that in the pandemic has had as a priority to safeguard the lives of its population.

The representative of PAHO, Jos Moya, for his part said that the agreement with the EU will benefit Cuban health and also that of Latin America, within the framework of solidarity and Pan-Americanism.

Renowned Cuban Doctor Francisco Durn, National Director of Epidemiology of the MINSAP, stressed that Cuba owes its favorable results in the confrontation against the COVID-19 pandemic to the efforts of scientists, work that will be supported by the new agreement, he added.

Durn thanked the international cooperation, which he described as essential in the midst of the economic crisis and the worsening of the U.S. blockade.

The MINSAP reported 44 new cases of COVID-19 at the end of this Thursday, a day in which 40 patients were discharged and one person died on the island due to the disease.

Thus, since last March, Cuba already has detected a total of 7,228 cases, as well as 6,542 recovered patients90.5% of all casesand 130 deaths, for a fatality rate of 1.8%. In addition, 3,736 patients remain hospitalized for clinical epidemiological surveillance.

See the article here:
European Union, PAHO and Cuba to expand cooperation against the pandemic - OnCubaNews