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By: ANI | Brussels | Published:July 26, 2017 8:08 am During the India EU Summit, key agreements will be signed to take the current cooperation further. (Representational image)

Gaitri Issar Kumar on Tuesday presented credentials as Head of Indias Mission to the European Union. The letter of credence was received by European Council President Donald Tusk. Last month Kumar was appointed as the Ambassador of India to Belgium. She will also take up the role of Indian ambassador to the European Union.

Meanwhile, Tusk along with European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker, will lead the EU delegation at the India-EU Summit meetings to be held in New Delhi in October 2017. India and the EU are currently working together to broaden their cooperation and strengthen their strategic partnership. The EU is Indias largest trade partner (about USD 80 billion in 2016) and the biggest source of FDI inflows into India (USD 81.52 billion).

In the run up to the forthcoming India EU Summit, coordination meetings have been held including the meeting of the India-EU Joint Commission on July 14. In the coming weeks, high level consultations will take place on a range of subjects on the India-EU Summit Agenda including foreign policy and security issues, India EU cooperation to address the impact of climate change, sharing of technology and best practices for clean energy, urban development, innovation, research & training and cooperation in the field of aviation among others.

During the India EU Summit, key agreements will be signed to take the current cooperation further. Chief Negotiators of India and EU are presently discussing the options for the way forward for re-launching negotiations for concluding an India EU Trade and Investment Agreement.

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Gaitri Issar Kumar presents letter of credence to European Union - The Indian Express

By: AFP | Brussels | Published:July 25, 2017 8:26 pm It is not an issue of compromise, we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations,Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told a press conference.

Egypt warned the EU today that four Arab states would accept no compromise in their dispute with Qatar over allegations that the gas-rich emirate supports terrorism. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, speaking after talks with European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels, said Qatar must accept in full the demands by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

It is not an issue of compromise, we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations, Shoukry told a press conference.

It is only once the necessary measures are undertaken by Qatar, that goes towards truly accepting to be a partner in the fight against terrorism, that this crisis will be resolved, he said. Shoukry said Qatar was harbouring elements associated to terrorist ideologies, to radical ideologies, that they have utilised their media outlets to promote and to justify and to glorify terrorist activity.

The four Arab states have demanded that Qatar stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood movement, end ties with their Shiite rival Iran, and close broadcaster Al-Jazeera which they accuse of inciting unrest in their countries. But they face mounting international pressure to compromise in their weeks-old boycott against Qatar, particularly from the United States.

Mogherini who at the weekend met Kuwaits emir, a key figure involved in trying to mediate the crisis in turn reiterated calls for talks to resolve the crisis We in Europe see this as a need not just for one country but for all countries, she said, adding that the EU shared with Egypt a clear commitment to fight terrorism.

But she added that the EU believed the Kuwaiti-mediated talks can and should start as a matter of urgency, if only to head off fresh tensions which undermine the fight against terrorism, she said. The EU will continue to have good relations with all the countries involved, the former Italian foreign minister added.

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Egypt tells European Union no 'compromise' over Qatar - The Indian Express

European Union authorities have increased pressure on Facebook , Twitter, and Google to amend their user terms to bring them in line with EU law after proposals submitted by the tech giants were considered insufficient.

The European Commission and consumer protection authorities in the bloc wrote to the three companies in June, asking them to improve their proposed changes to user terms by the end of September, according to letters sent to the companies and seen by Reuters on Monday.

The authorities have the power to issue fines if the companies fail to comply.

Twitter ( twtr ) did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment and a Google ( googl ) spokesman declined to make immediate comment.

Facebook ( fb ) said it believes that the company is compliant with EU law but recognized that its terms could be made easier to understand and would work to meet the authorities' concerns.

The concerns center mainly on procedures the social media companies proposed to set up for the removal of illegal content on their websites , terms limiting their liability and terms allowing them unilaterally to remove content posted by users.

The U.S. trio were given until July 20 to submit new proposals, which need to be implemented by the end of September, the letters said.

A person familiar with the matter said that two of the companies had submitted amended proposals, while a third had asked for more time, declining to specify which one.

The companies had first proposed changes to their terms and conditions in March to assuage the regulators' concerns in March. The sticking points were terms such as those that forced European consumers to seek redress in California, where the companies are based, instead of the consumer's home country.

U.S. technology companies have faced tight scrutiny in Europe for the way they do business, from privacy issues to how quickly they remove illegal or threatening content .

The authorities and the Commission asked the companies to provide more detail on the timeframe and deadlines they would apply to dealing with notifications of content deemed illegal under consumer law, as well as dedicating a page or email address to notifications from consumer authorities.

In addition, the bodies are pressing for a procedure whereby consumers would be notified before their content is removed or given an opportunity to challenge it.

In the case of Alphabet's Google unit, the concerns were about its social network Google+.

See more here:
Europe Puts More Pressure on Facebook, Google, and Twitter - Fortune

With its new Delegation in Ulaanbaatar, the EU will have a total of 140 Delegations around the world.

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said: "The European Union is delivering on a promise to open a fully-fledged delegation in Mongolia a democratic country strategically located between China and Russia and an important partner for us. I have visited Mongolia three times, the first in 1998 and most recently in 2016. The wonderful progress of this country and its development deserves our warmest congratulations, and certainly merits a full-time European Union presence."

The High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini said: "Mongolia has an important role in a complex region, with a unique geostrategic position. This Delegation represents an investment for the European Union in view of strengthening our relationship with Mongolia, and a commitment to the people of the country. Soon we will also conclude* our new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which is a further demonstration of the importance we place on developing our close ties."

The decision by the High Representative/Vice President follows the agreement of the Commission and the Council of the European Union and will be implemented in the course of 2017.

The decision to open a Delegation in Ulaanbaatar underscores the significant progress that has been made in developing EU-Mongolia relations. The establishment of an EU Delegation in Ulaanbaatar will allow both sides to step up their political dialogue and cooperation and will pave the way for the further strengthening of the partnership.

Further Information

Website of the Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia

Factsheet on the EU-Mongolia Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation

*Updated on 24/07/2017 at 16:30 for clarification

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EU to open Delegation to Mongolia - EU News

In recent years, Afghanistan has been confronted with a number of challenges that threaten the progress made in its economic and social development and its democratic institutions. The European Union recognises that the delicate security situation and the fragile economic situation the country is facing, combined with a clear determination on the part of the Afghan authorities to implement much-needed reforms necessitates renewed attention from the international community. Today, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission have set out their vision for how the European Union can support Afghanistan both to address its challenges and to bring about positive change for the Afghan people.

The Joint Communication on elements for an EU strategy on Afghanistan is available online.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, said: "The Afghan people deserve peace and prosperity. As the European Union, we have been standing by them and will continue to do so, in support of the reform process, of Afghanistan's democratic path, of the rule of law and human rights, and of bringing peace to the country, to the benefit not only of all Afghans but also of the entire region and the international community as a whole. This work towards peace needs to be led by Afghans and owned by Afghans, but the active support of the region and of the international community is crucial. The Afghan people can count on the European Union to accompany this process.

Neven Mimica, the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, said: "Afghanistan is not alone. We will continue the support which we have been providing since 2002 to make sure that the development achievements of the last years are not lost. With the EU's support, more Afghan women are actively participating in the country's politics. Access to health care has increased, and farmers are better supported to improve agricultural production than before. Moving forward to help Afghanistan overcome its many challenges, we will renew our engagement and focus on supporting good governance and the justice sector, creating sustainable growth and jobs, and ensuring basic social services for the Afghan people."

The Joint Communication sets out ways in which the European Union can work, in close cooperation with civil society, the Afghan authorities, and all stakeholders, towards lasting peace, a consolidated democracy, equitable development and social justice in Afghanistan. It proposes concrete actions, focussing on five priority areas:

Peace, stability and regional security:

Democracy, rule of law and human rights:

Economic and human development:

Migration:

Empowering Women:

The Joint Communication is the latest illustration of the European Union's strong engagement in and strong commitment to Afghanistan. Notably, it follows the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, held in October 2016 in Brussels, the signing of a new EU-Afghanistan Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development in February 2017, and the appointment of a Special Envoy to Afghanistan in June.

The actions proposed in the Joint Communication will be discussed with the EU Member States and the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and will contribute to a new EU Strategy on Afghanistan, to be finalised soon afterwards.

Further Information

Joint Communication: Elements for an EU Strategy on Afghanistan

Factsheet: EU-Afghanistan relations

Website: Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan

Website: International Cooperation and Development - Afghanistan

Press Release: European Union strengthens engagement with Afghanistan through the appointment of a Special Envoy

Press Release: Brussels Conference on Afghanistan: realising Afghanistan's economic potential and reinforcing the role of women

Press Release: Brussels Conference on Afghanistan: continued international support for Afghanistan's political and economic stability and development

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Proposal for a new EU strategy on Afghanistan: in support of peace and prosperity - EU News