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On 16 June 2017, the EU - U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs took place in Malta. The meeting reaffirmed the strong and historical bonds of partnership between the United States of America and the European Union, and the commitment to continue working closely together in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs.

The European Union, hosting the meeting in Valletta, was represented by the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality VraJourov, the Union Security Commissioner, Julian King, by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove and by Malta's Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Michael Farrugia and Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The United States of America was represented by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and by Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine C. Duke.

The European Union and United States of America underlined the critical importance of their cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs and the need to sustain and deepen cooperation while facing shared security challenges, for the benefit of the security of citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.

The European Union and the United States of America discussed their common efforts to fight terrorism. The discussion focused specifically on working together to address the issue of foreign terrorist fighters through improved information sharing, and addressing the challenge of radicalization, particularly on the internet, as well as the role of anti-money laundering legislation in tackling terrorist financing. The two sides also exchanged views and took stock of recent European Union actions in the areas of migration, border management and its role in ensuring internal security.

The discussion further covered the implementation of the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the question of access by law enforcement authorities to electronic evidence.

Both sides welcomed the entry into force of the EU-U.S. Data Protection "Umbrella" Agreement and reiterated their commitment to ensure its full implementation.

The European Union and the United States of America also discussed the threats from terrorism to aviation security and working together to raise global aviation security standards to protect passengers.

The European Union and the United States of America agreed on the importance of advancing towards reciprocal visa free travel under their respective legal frameworks. Both sides endorsed a cooperative approach to assisting Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania in advancing more rapidly towards the fulfillment of the requirements for designation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, consistent with U.S. law.

The sides reaffirmed the need to step up joint work on cybersecurity and cybercrime in all its dimensions including with the private sector. They also agreed to continue the good cooperation on fighting illicit drugs and to consider joint efforts on fighting smuggling and trafficking of migrants.

Reiterating the progress made and the need to face global challenges together, the European Union and the UnitedStates of America remain committed to reinforce their partnership and meet again in the second half of 2017 in Washington.

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Joint EU-US press statement following the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting, Valletta, 16 June 2017 - EU News

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Google gets a wrist slap from German court over European Union privacy law - Mashable

On 16 June 2017, the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs took place in Malta. The meeting reaffirmed the strong and historical bonds of partnership between the United States of America and the European Union, and the commitment to continue working closely together in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs.

The European Union, hosting the meeting in Valletta, was represented by the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality VraJourov, the Union Security Commissioner, Julian King, by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchoveand by Malta's Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Michael Farrugia and Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The United States of America was represented by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and by Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine C. Duke.

The European Union and United States of America underlined the critical importance of their cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs and the need to sustain and deepen cooperation while facing shared security challenges, for the benefit of the security of citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.

The European Union and the United States of America discussed their common efforts to fight terrorism. The discussion focused specifically on working together to address the issue of foreign terrorist fighters through improved information sharing, and addressing the challenge of radicalization, particularly on the internet, as well as the role of anti-money laundering legislation in tackling terrorist financing. The two sides also exchanged views and took stock of recent European Union actions in the areas of migration, border management and its role in ensuring internal security.

The discussion further covered the implementation of the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the question of access by law enforcement authorities to electronic evidence.

Both sides welcomed the entry into force of the EU-U.S. Data Protection "Umbrella" Agreement and reiterated their commitment to ensure its full implementation.

The European Union and the United States of America also discussed the threats from terrorism to aviation security and working together to raise global aviation security standards to protect passengers.

The European Union and the United States of America agreed on the importance of advancing towards reciprocal visa-free travel under their respective legal frameworks. Both sides endorsed a cooperative approach to assisting Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania in advancing more rapidly towards the fulfilment of the requirements for designation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, consistent with U.S. law.

The sides reaffirmed the need to step up joint work on cybersecurity and cybercrime in all its dimensions including with the private sector. They also agreed to continue the good cooperation on fighting illicit drugs and to consider joint efforts on fighting smuggling and trafficking of migrants.

Reiterating the progress made and the need to face global challenges together, the European Union and the UnitedStates of America remain committed to reinforce their partnership and meet again in the second half of 2017 in Washington.

For More Information

Joint Statement by Commissioner Avramopoulos and Elaine C. Duke, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, on advancing towards full visa waiver reciprocity between the EU and the US

Excerpt from:
Joint EU-US statement following the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting - EU News

Berlin: Germany today accused Washington of hurting European power companies through its new sanctions against Russia that target the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe.

The new measures, approved by the US Senate on Thursday,include a threat to penalise companies that provide "goods,services, technology, information or support" for the construction of Russian energy export pipelines.

Berlin noted that this would directly impact European companies involved in the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline which would pump Russian gas under the Baltic Sea directly to Germany.

"It is strange that in the sanctioning of Russia's behaviour, with regards to the US elections for instance, the European economy should become a target of American sanctions," said Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert.

"That must not happen."

He added that Merkel shared the concerns raised by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, who charged in a joint statement Thursday that the measure brings a "completely new and entirely negative quality to European-US relations".

They also accused Washington of using the sanctions to squeeze Russian gas supplies out of Europe in favour of USenergy exports.

Separately, France's foreign ministry called on Washington to respect the need for coordination with itsEuropean allies before deciding new sanctions.

"For several years, we have stressed the difficultiesthat extra-territorial legislations could generate," said aspokesman at the French foreign ministry, referring tomeasures that could have a spillover effect to countriesbesides the one directly sanctioned.

"On issues linked to security and European industrialpolicies, we hope that the United States respect necessarycoordination, including within the framework of the G7."

Russian energy giant Gazprom is building Nord Stream 2 incooperation with Anglo-Dutch Shell, Germany's Uniper andWintershall, Austria's OMV and France's Engie.

The project bypassing conflict-torn Ukraine and alsoPoland would double the flow of the Nord Stream pipelinecurrently linking Germany and Russia.

But it has sparked criticism within the EU, with members including Italy and Poland accusing Germany of selfishly seeking a reliable energy supply route from President VladimirPutin's Russia while pressuring other countries to backsanctions against Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine.

Former US vice president Joe Biden has also called theplanned pipeline a "fundamentally bad deal for Europe" as itlocks in greater reliance on Russia.

But Germany's Gabriel and Austria's Kern saidWashington's intention was purely economic.

"The aim is to secure jobs in gas and oil industries inthe US," said Gabriel and Kern.

"Political sanctions should not be mixed up with economicinterests," they warned, stressing that "Europe's energysupply is Europe's business and not that of the UnitedStates".

"We decide who delivers energy to us and how, according to rules of openness and economic competitiveness," said Gabriel and Kern.

"We cannot accept the threat of extra-territorialsanctions against European companies that participate in the expansion of European energy supplies", they said, adding that this would "violate international law".

Gazprom's vice president Alexander Medvedev also charged that the US had a vested interest in hurting the project.

"With regards to the introduction of sanctions, they don't hide the fact that it's an anti-competition tool tofavour US gas deliveries in Europe," he said according to Russian news agencies.

The US bill as originally introduced was exclusively about slapping new sanctions on Iran. But lawmakers attached a bipartisan amendment on Russia to it early this week.

Read more from the original source:
Germany claims US harming European Union firms with Russia sanctions - ETEnergyworld.com

Saturday, 17 June 2017, 1:53 pm Press Release: UNHCHR

UN rights expert to assess impact of unilateral sanctions imposed by the European Union

GENEVA (16 June 2017) United Nations Special Rapporteur Idriss Jaizairy will carry out his first official visit to the European Union from 19 to 22 June, travelling to Brussels to gather first-hand information on the negative impact on human rights of unilateral coercive measures imposed by EU members on other States.

I want to examine, in the spirit of co-operation and dialogue, whether and to what extent the adoption, maintenance or implementation of sanctions hinders the full realization of the human rights of individuals, said the expert, who will meet representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament and European External Action Service.

I will focus in particular on any negative impact that EU sanctions may have on the enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to life and development as identified in my reports to the Human Rights Council, stressed Mr. Jazairy, who will also make recommendations on how any negative effects can be mitigated or eliminated.

The UN Human Rights Council established the Special Rapporteurs mandate in September 2014, following concern by the UN human rights system and the international community about the negative impact of unilateral sanctions on the human rights of the civilian population.

Mr. Jazairy will submit a report on his visit to the EU to the Human Rights Council in September 2017.

ENDS

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Impact of unilateral sanctions imposed by the European Union - Scoop.co.nz (press release)