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BRUSSELS/ATHENS Greece has blocked a European Union statement at the United Nations criticizing China's human rights record, a decision EU diplomats said undermined efforts to confront Beijing's crackdown on activists and dissidents.

The EU, which seeks to promote free speech and end capital punishment around the world, was due to make its statement last week at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, but failed to win the necessary agreement from all 28 EU states.

It marked the first time the EU had failed to make its statement at the U.N.'s top rights body, rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said.

A Greek foreign ministry official said Athens blocked the statement, calling it "unconstructive criticism of China" and said separate EU talks with China outside the U.N. were a better avenue for discussions.

An EU official confirmed the statement had been blocked.

Presented three times a year, the statement gives the EU a way to highlight abuses by states around the world on issues that other countries are unwilling to raise.

The impasse is the latest blow to the EU's credentials as a defender of human rights, three diplomats said, and raises questions about the economically powerful EU's "soft power" that relies on inspiring countries to follow its example by outlawing the death penalty and upholding press freedoms.

It also underscores the EU's awkward ties with China, its second-largest trade partner, diplomats said.

Brussels has welcomed Beijing as an ally against U.S. President Donald Trump in the fight against climate change and trade protectionism. But as business ties grow, the bloc is struggling to speak out against a Chinese government crackdown on human rights lawyers and other activists since 2015.

China's COSCO Shipping, owner of the world's fourth-largest container fleet, took a 51 percent stake in Greece's largest port last year.

Hungary, another large recipient of Chinese investment, has repeatedly blocked EU statements criticizing China's rights record under communist President Xi Jinping, diplomats said.

One EU diplomat expressed frustration that Greece's decision to block the statement came at the same time the International Monetary Fund and EU governments agreed to release funds under Greece's emergency financial bailout last week in Luxembourg.

"It was dishonorable, to say the least," the diplomat said.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Mark Potter)

MOSUL, Iraq Iraqi forces began storming the Islamic State-held Old City of Mosul on Sunday, in an assault they hope will be the last in the eight-month-old campaign to seize the militants' stronghold.

BEIRUT Iran fired missiles on Sunday into eastern Syria, aiming at the bases of militant groups it holds responsible for attacks in Tehran which left 18 dead last week, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported.

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Greece blocks EU statement on China human rights at UN - Reuters

Brexit talks are set to begin on Monday, nearly a year after the historic vote which saw the UK opt to leave the European Union.

The Governments Brexit secretary David Davis will meet the EUs top negotiator, Michel Barnier, in Brussels for phase one of negotiations.

It is the beginning of a long slog for both Theresa Mays Government and the EU, with the talks expected to last until October 2018 before a deal can be agreed.

Here is everything you need to know and some of the key dates in the 15-month talks.

Negotiations between David Davis and European Commissions negotiator Michel Barnier will begin on Monday, June 19 in Brussels. It is just four days short of being exactly one year to the date of the EU referendum.

Brexit minister David Davis will be in Brussels for the first day of formal negotiations. (AFP/Getty Images)

There were fears the talks could be delayed after the Tories disastrous election results earlier this month which left them busy negotiating with the DUP toform a Government.

But Mrs May confirmed the timetable remains on course and will begin next week.

The first issues likely to be discussed by Mr Davis and Mr Barnier will include the rights of EU citizens in the UK and of Brits living in Europe, as well as the Northern Irish border.

EU Commission negotiator Michel Barnier. (AFP/Getty Images)

Also up for discussion is how big the so-called divorce bill will be. So far this has been estimated at anything from 11 billion up to 100 billion euro, which works out as 88 billion.

The possibility of any trade deal is not expected to be up for discussion just yet. The EU insists that phase one of talks will focus only on the terms of withdrawal, and not on a future trade relationship.

The Queens Speech will be delivered on Wednesday, setting out details of the laws which the Government will want to bring in over the coming two years.

Included in the speech will be details on any legislation the Government requires to put Brexit into effect.

It is expected to include a Great Repeal Bill bringing EU laws and regulations onto the British statute book, as well as bills on issues including immigration and customs.

There will be a two-day summit of the European Council on June 22 and 23, which will be attended by all 28 EU leaders including Theresa May. This is set to focus on migration and security.

PM Theresa May signing the letter to the EU triggering Article 50. (Getty Images)

On Thursday, EU negotiator Mr Barnier will report back to leaders about relocating EU agencies based in the UK.

David Davis and Michel Barniers teams will meet for one week every month. They will then return to their bases across the Channel to develop their positions.

In October this year, EU negotiator Mr Barnier is due to report back to EU leaders on whether sufficient progress has been made to move on to phase two.

Phase two of the talks will cover the UKs future trade relationship with the EU.

If talks are on course, towards the end of this year the negotiators will be discussing the possibility of a transition period following Brexit during which new trade arrangements can be finalised and phased in.

The EU hopes to finish withdrawal talks around October 2018. This will allow them time to be ratified before the end of the two-year Article 50 deadline.

Later that year the European Court of Justice could be asked to rule on whether the deal requires approval by each EU state. If so, it could have to be ratified by up to 38 national and regional parliaments, with any of them effectively holding a veto.

Mrs May has promised MPs a "take it or leave it" vote on whether to accept the deal or take Britain out of the EU without agreement and fall back on World Trade Organisation rules.

The Westminster vote will take place before the European Parliament debates and votes on the deal, effectively giving MEPs the final say on whether it will go ahead.

The UK will stop being a member of the union on March 29, 2019, two years after Article 50 was triggered.

On this date Britain will be out of the EU whether or not a withdrawal agreement has been reached.

Because the exact moment of exit is midnight Brussels time, the UK is due to leave at 11pm on March 29.

This date can be extended by agreement between all member states. It is not yet clear whether the exit clock can be stopped by the UK withdrawing its Article 50 notification.

The EU insists that a trade deal can only formally be adopted after withdrawal, though the UK hopes this will happen very swiftly, with necessary negotiations completed before Brexit day.

Originally posted here:
Brexit talks timeline: David Davis and European Union's Michel Barnier to meet in Brussels on Monday for day one of ... - Evening Standard

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

Mashable

Google gets a wrist slap from German court over European Union privacy law Mashable For now, doing so costs Facebook almost nothing, but privacy violations for Facebook, Google and other internet companies could cost them as much as four percent of their yearly revenue when new E.U. privacy regulations become the rule of law next year.

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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