EU foreign ministers today agreed to expand travel restrictions and asset freezes against members of the Lukashenko regime in Belarus in response to the continuation of the poor human rights situation in the country. The Greens believe the measures will not be effective and have called for wider economic sanctions to be imposed. Commenting on the outcome, Green foreign policy spokesperson Werner Schulz said:

New York, London, Moscow — The PBN Company, the preeminent strategic communications firm in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS is merging with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, the global strategic communications firm with 83 offices in 44 countries.  Hill+Knowlton Strategies will operate in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and throughout the CIS under the brand name PBN Hill+Knowlton Strategies.  

23 January 2012 Brussels: At their first plenary meeting, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) and FoodDrinkEurope signed today a joint agreement to start social dialogue in the European food and drink industry, under the auspices of the European Commission.

"The Croatian Yes vote in favour of membership of the European Union strengthens Europe and strengthens Croatia. We welcome the clear message of the Croatian people that they want to take part in the common efforts to develop a free and open Europe," commented the Chairman of the European Parliament's Joint Parliamentary Committee for Croatia, Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group.

Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire Général de la Francophonie, qui suit avec une très grande attention l’évolution du processus électoral en République Démocratique du Congo, recommande, conformément aux dispositions de la Déclaration de Bamako, que toutes les dispositions soient prises par les institutions concernées pour que ce processus se poursuive dans les meilleures conditions de rigueur, de transparence et d’équité.