EU-DIGEST

Iran says Europe no longer qualified to conduct nuclear talks- by Lucia Kubosova

Iran says Europe is no longer qualified to hold nuclear talks due to its meddling with the post-election protests in the country, with Sweden, as the new EU presidency, calling up officials from the 27-member bloc to discuss the next diplomatic move. The EU has played a significant part in international efforts to make Tehran comply with the world's rules on nuclear power. Three EU states - Germany, France, and the UK - have been leading the negotiations along with the US, Russia and China. Speaking to journalists at the official opening of the presidency, Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeld made clear that Europe wants to support the democratic forces in Iran but also avoid isolating the country from the rest of the world. "That's the balance we need to strike," he said.

EU-Digest: Mr. Fredrik Reinfeld is certainly capable in coming up with a stronger comment than this "wishy-washy" statement he made on Iran?

Labels: Democracy, EU, Iran, Nuclear proliferation, Sanctions, Sweden

EU readies sanctions against Intel - by Brooke Crothers

The European Commission is moving toward punitive action against Intel for violating antitrust law, according to reports.In the draft decision, the Commission states that Intel abused its market power in violation of EU antitrust law.The 500-page draft was circulated to 27 "national competition authorities" over the past few weeks.Intel has been wrangling with the EU since 2001, when AMD filed a complaint. Last July, the Commission made additional charges against Intel for abusing its dominant position in the chip market in Europe. The charges include offering inducements to European retailers for not buying processors from AMD.

Labels: EU, Intel, Sanctions

EU sanctions on Zimbabwe will stay until govt formed

European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe will remain until rival parties there break an impasse and form a government, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday. In a written answer to parliament, Miliband said that positive momentum built up when President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to a power-sharing deal was "fast evaporating." The deal was signed in Harare on September 15, but Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change have been deadlocked since then, and a failure to reach an accord on the cabinet has delayed the formation of a unity government.

"Until a new Zimbabwean government are appointed and that government show by their action their commitment to reform, EU targeted measures will remain in place," Miliband said. The British minister added that though humanitarian assistance would continue, "it is not the long-term solution in Zimbabwe." He said that he would discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with his EU counterparts on October 13.

Labels: Council of Europe, Sanctions, Zimbabwe

U.S. move on Iran alienating for Europe - by Paul Richter

The Bush administration's new package of sanctions against Iran widens the gap between the United States and its European allies over how to confront Tehran. For two years, the administration has sought to work closely with Europeans and other world powers, convinced that collective action offered the best chance to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. But efforts to push through a third round of United Nations sanctions snagged and prospects for a new international coalition to impose economic penalties appear unlikely, so the administration decided to strike out on its own Thursday.

U.S. officials have been frustrated recently by the Europeans' reluctance to impose sanctions through the European Union. At a meeting last week in Brussels, Britain and France showed support for the idea, whereas Italy and Austria opposed it and German officials were lukewarm.

Labels: EU, Iran, Sanctions, USA