All articles tagged with #eeas
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas quietly scrapped a newly announced high-level defence advisory group after opposition from several member states, shelving the plan before any participants were named; the move highlights tensions over EU foreign policy leadership and the EEAS's role amid broader disagreements with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas canceled the planned launch of a high-level group of former political and military leaders meant to brainstorm defense improvements, after pressure from several member states and amid friction over Franco-German EEAS reform plans that could shift power toward the Commission. The initiative, headed to be chaired by Anders Fogh Rasmussen and potentially include figures like Jüri Luik and Florence Parly, was scrapped in favor of exploring other ways to engage member states.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said there are signs Russia and Israel spread disinformation about Madrid’s migration policy during the Ceuta border crisis, though there is no evidence of Moroccan involvement; EU EEAS researchers linked Russian and Israeli networks with far-right groups seeking to criticize Spain over Ukraine and Gaza. The July 30–31 surge saw about 72,000 irregular migrants cross from Morocco, triggering protests and a deadly crossing, while Madrid announced an additional €168 million to revive Ceuta’s economy after about €180 million pledged previously. Authorities also reported arrests of three Moroccans linked to attacks on security forces.
The EU plans its most sweeping sanctions on Russia, proposing roughly 1,600 additional individuals and entities—mostly tied to the military-industrial complex—with travel bans and asset freezes, to be fast-tracked for adoption by October after EU diplomacy sources said the EEAS will present the list in September. No sectoral measures are expected initially. The effort would raise the total sanctioned to about 3,000 targets, with further listings planned later for human-rights abuses (trafficking Ukrainian children) and hybrid warfare activities like cyberattacks and misinformation.