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Tag: EU

  • Putin extends Russian-counter sanctions on EU till 2018

    President Vladimir Putin has extended Russian counter-sanctions on the European Union until the end of 2018, according to a presidential decree published on Friday.

    On Wednesday the EU formally extended its economic sanctions on Russia, imposed in July 2014 in response to Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

    NAN reports that the EU formally extended its economic sanctions on Russia, imposed in July 2014 following Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

    Moscow denies direct involvement in the conflict despite NATO’s assertions its troops are supporting the rebels.

    Russia banned wholesale imports of fresh food products from many Western countries in 2014 in retaliation for the EU sanctions.

    Moscow says the counter-sanctions are helping spur the development of Russian agriculture.

     

  • Google to pay $2.7 billion for abusing its dominance

    Google to pay $2.7 billion for abusing its dominance

    The European Union (EU) has fined Google a record-breaking 2.4 billion-euro ($2.7 billion) in what is just a fraction of the costs from the EU’s demand that the Internet giant stop skewing search results to favour its own shopping site gaining ‘undue’ dominance in so doing.

    To some smaller businesses, this might mean ‘torn apart’, but for the search engine giant, the penalty will barely make a dent in its cash hoard of $90 billion in ad revenue.

    According to a latest PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Entertainment and Media Global Outlook, two-thirds of all global ad dollars this year will go to Google, Facebook, Tencent, Baidu and Alibaba, that have been tagged the Big Five.

    The Big Five are reportedly crushing everyone else in the new media world, and this has raised a lot of concerns.

    While European politicians have called on the EU to sanction Google or even break it up for the undue dominance, US critics claim EU regulators are targeting successful American firms.

    A ruling by EU antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, has now put an end to concerns in Europe, and raised eyebrows in the US.

    “Vestager gave Google a 90-day ultimatum to find ways to give equal treatment to smaller price-comparison services that compete with the Google Shopping ads that appear when people search for products.

    “The EU will also monitor Google for five years and can force the company to pay additional fines of up to 5 percent of its daily revenue if it doesn’t comply,” according to Bloomberg.

    Meanwhile the search engine giant is to pay a fine towering $2.7 billion to the European Commission.

    Vestager’s decision marks the end of a seven-year probe fuelled by complaints from small shopping websites as well as bigger names, including News Corp., Axel Springer SE and Microsoft Corp.

    A lawyer for Norton Rose Fulbright in Brussels, Jay Modrall said Google will have “the sword of Damocles hanging over its head” further stressing that this is because it is no longer the firm’s choice on how it makes changes to allay EU concerns. Instead, according to the legal practitioner, Google is “under a legal requirement to do so and under notice that if its commitments are not sufficient, it’ll be fined even more”.

    And according to a binding order from the European Commission, Google must “stop its illegal conduct” and give equal treatment to rival price-comparison services.

     

     

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  • Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube form grand alliance

    A host of Internet tech giants have teamed up to form a grand alliance known as Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism with the aim to help make their hosted consumer services hostile to terrorists and violent extremists.

    The spread of terrorism and violent extremism has become a pressing global problem and a critical challenge for all.

    “We take these issues very seriously, and each of our companies have developed policies and removal practices that enable us to take a hard line against terrorist or violent extremist content on our hosted consumer services.

    “We believe that by working together, sharing the best technological and operational elements of our individual efforts, we can have a greater impact on the threat of terrorist content online,” a statement released by the forum of the tech giants read.

    The new forum builds on initiatives including the EU Internet Forum and the Shared Industry Hash Database; discussions with the UK and other governments; and the conclusions of the recent G7 and European Council meetings.

    The forum said the scope of its work will evolve over time as there would be need for it to be responsive to the ever-evolving terrorist and extremist tactics.

    It said, initially, the scope would include technological solutions that will involve the tech firms working together to refine and improve existing joint technical work such as the Shared Industry Hash Database; exchange best practices as well as develop and implement new content detection and classification techniques using machine learning; and define standard transparency reporting methods for terrorist content removals.

    Also, the grand alliance said it will adopt knowledge-sharing in its modus operandi by working with counter-terrorism experts including governments, civil society groups, academics and other companies to engage in shared learning about terrorism, and through a joint partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (UN CTED) and the ICT4Peace Initiative, it will establish a broad knowledge-sharing network to engage with smaller companies, develop best practices and counter-speech.

     

     

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  • EU expresses concern over G20 countries’ imposition of 372 trade barriers

    The European Union, Eu, has expressed worry over 372 trade barriers against its exporters in 2016 largely by some of the G20 countries.

    The union in its annual report published on Monday stated that largest share of the barriers came from Russia, Brazil, China, India and Indonesia.

    The EU expressed concern that Russia introduced the largest number of new trade barriers faced by European exporters in 2016.

    H horrendous

    According to the report, the measures introduced by Russia could potentially affect trade flows worth up to 12.26 billion euros (13.71 billion dollars).

    The report stated that along with Russia, the other countries topping the list of places that have introduced the most new protectionist measures in 2016 include Switzerland and Algeria.

    “We clearly see that the scourge of protectionism is on the rise. It affects European firms and their workers.

    “Wines and spirits, agriculture as well as fisheries were the sectors recorded with the highest number of new reported barriers.

    “It is worrying that G20 countries are maintaining the highest number of trade barriers,” Cecilia Malmstroem, the EU Trade Commissioner said.

  • Google faces record EU antitrust fine

    The European Union’s antitrust watchdog in the coming weeks is set to hit Google with a record fine for manipulating its search results to favour its own comparison-shopping service, according to people familiar with the matter.

    Wall Street Journal reports the penalty against Google is expected to top the EU’s previous record fine of €1.06 billion (about $1.18 billion) levied on a company allegedly abusing its dominance in 2009.

    The fine could reach as high as 10% of the company’s yearly revenue, which stood at $90.27 billion last year, WSJ reported.

    But more painful to Google than a sizable fine could be other consequences that come with the European Commission’s decision, including changes not only to the tech giant’s business practices but with other services as well.

    The EU’s decision could also embolden private litigants to seek compensation for damages at national courts.

    Google’s general counsel Kent Walker had previously argued that forcing the company to place competitors’ product ads in its search results “would just subsidize sites that have become less useful for consumers”.

    The regulator’s move would come as welcome relief to a range of web companies, large and small and both European and American, and even Nigerian who have been urging the EU for years to take antitrust action against Google.

     

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  • We’ll sanction countries rejecting migrants – European Union

    The European Commission has decided to launch infringement procedures against countries that refused to accept migrants, the commission said on Tuesday.

    The action is expected to be taken against Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for their refusal to accept migrants from other EU member states under an EU relocation agreement.

    The infringement package would be adopted officially on Wednesday.

    The commission has repeatedly called on the three countries to comply with a September 2015 decision by majority of member states represented at the European Council to relocate asylum seekers from Italy and Greece.

    Hungary and Poland had refused to take asylum seekers, while the Czech Republic accepted 12 relocations from Greece.

    “When it comes to relocation, let me be crystal clear.

    “The implementation of the decision of the council on relocation is a legal obligation, not a choice,’’ Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU commissioner for migration said.

    In its monthly report, the commission said a total of 20,869 people had been relocated from Italy and Greece since the beginning of the programme, including more than 2,000 refugees in May.

  • Okowa urges EU to ensure relocation of oil firms to areas of operations

    Okowa urges EU to ensure relocation of oil firms to areas of operations

    Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has urged the European Union (EU) to prevail on multinational oil companies the need to domicile their headquarters in their areas of operations.

    Governor Okowa made the call yesterday when the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Michael Arrion paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

    According to Governor Okowa, locating headquarters of multinational oil companies in their host communities would boost relationship between the companies and such communities and also, ensure that the host states are not shortchanged in terms of revenue generation.

    “Most of the multinational oil companies do shortchange us as a people and as a state, they operate in this state but, their head office and their managenent staff are outside the state, there is the need for them to relocate to where they have their operations,” the Governor said, adding, “if all their operations are in the state, it is comfortable for our people and enables true partnership between the oil company, government, and the people when you domicile in the area where you make your money.”

    He continued, “we hope they will listen to the voice of reasoning and relocate to areas where they have their operations.”

    Senator Okowa also, used the occasion to appeal to the EU to assist Nigeria by encouraging its teeming youths to be positively engaged for them to be assets rather than liability to the society.

    He stated that the youths could be encouraged to acquire skills or be engaged in the agro-value chain, disclosing that his administration had recorded successes in the skill acquisition programmes for youths and the empowerment of the youths though agriculture.

    “We have willing youths who are ready to partner with the EU in the development of the agro-value chain,” the Governor assured, reiterating that despite financial challenges, his administration had revived technical education in the state and has continued to provide basic social amenities for the people.

    While stating his administration’s readiness to partner with the EU, individuals and corporate organizations that desires to do business in the state, Senator Okowa commended the stabilizing roles the EU is playing in Nigeria and sub-saharan Africa.

    Earlier, Mr Arrion had said he was on working visit to the state, noting that the EU has been in the country for 40 years with fruitful partnership with Nigeria and Delta State in particular.

    He disclosed that the EU was interested in assisting the country in tackling terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal migration and ensuring that EU states invest in the country asserting, “we see Nigeria as a market to invest much more in, we believe that the European investments can lead to the diversification of the economy.”

     

  • EU rejected 24 Nigerian products in 2016 – NAFDAC

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says European Union (EU) rejected 24 exported food products from Nigeria in 2016 for failing to meet standards.

    The NAFDAC spokesperson, Dr Abubakar Jimoh made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    According to Jimoh, the five major products are groundnut, palm oil, sesame seed and beans that were illegally exported to the EU.

    He noted that from the information made available to NAFDAC, groundnut was rejected because it contained aflatoxin, which made the quality substandard.

    “The exported palm oil did not scale through the EU’s test because it also contained a coloring agent that was carcinogenic.

    “Beans was banned by EU sometime ago but it was illegally exported to European countries.

    “Beans was initially banned for one year, when EU was not satisfied with our exported beans in terms of quality assurance, it extended the ban by another two years, which expires next year.

    “NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies of the government are working round the clock to ensure that when the ban is lifted, we can then begin to export more agricultural products to EU,” Jimoh, who is also the NAFDAC Director Special Duties, said.

    He said most of the products that were smuggled out were not certified by the agency and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services at the ports.

  • EU, AU reaffirm commitment to Paris Agreement

    EU, AU reaffirm commitment to Paris Agreement

    The European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) have reaffirmed their strong commitment to full implementation of the Paris agreement, and call on all partners to keep up the momentum created in 2015.

    Ahead of the COP23 in November they pledge to work together to finalize the Paris Agreement work programme.

    Climate change and renewable energy will figure on the agenda of the upcoming Africa-EU Summit in Abidjan on 29/30 November.

    This will be an opportunity to confirm the strong solidarity with those most vulnerable to climate change and the determination to work together to build strong and sustainable economies and societies resilient to climate change.

    The European Union and the African Union reaffirm their commitment to continuing to address the adverse effects of climate change on human and animal health, natural ecosystems and other social and economic impacts that threaten our developmental gains as a global community.

    Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States of America from the agreement.

    In a nationwide broadcast, President Trump said the US would either seek re-negotiation or remain withdrawn from the agreement that went into effect on November 4, 2016.

    The President of the US has, however, faced much criticism on home soil and abroad for backing out of the agreement, with the United Nations calling his withdrawal a “great disappointment”.

    “Fortunately, the Paris Agreement is bigger than any one nation or any one government. We can still achieve the promise of Paris, but we have no time to lose.

    “Countries around the world must seize the opportunity to unleash this potential, invest in renewable energy that eliminates harmful carbon pollution, and build economies that are more resilient, inclusive and prosperous,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, World Wildlife Fund’s Global Climate & Energy Practice Leader.

     

  • Social media firms have increased removal of Hate Speech, says EU

    Social media firms have increased removal of Hate Speech, says EU

    Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google’s YouTube have stepped up both the speed and number of removals of hate speech on their platforms in response to pressure from the European Union to do more to tackle the issue, according to the results of an EU evaluation.

    Facebook won particular praise for reviewing most complaints within a 24-hour target timeframe set down in a code of conduct agreed in December by the European Commission, Facebook, Microsoft , Twitter and YouTube.

    Calling the results “encouraging” for the Commission’s push for self-regulation, Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said the proportion of offending items taken down had doubled and action was being taken more quickly than when the EU checked six months ago.

    “This … shows that a self-regulatory approach can work, if all actors do their part. At the same time, companies … need to make further progress to deliver on all the commitments,” Jourova said in a statement, adding that firms should provide more feedback to people who brought abuses to their attention.

    Facebook scored highly on this, Twitter and YouTube less so.

    The voluntary code of conduct obliges firms to take action in Europe within 24 hours, following rising concerns about the proliferation of racist and xenophobic content on social media triggered by the refugee crisis and attacks in Western Europe.

    This included removing or disabling access to the content if necessary, better cooperation with civil society organizations and the promotion of “counter-narratives” to hate speech.

    Facebook assessed notifications of hateful content in less than 24 hours in 58 percent of cases, up from 50 percent in December, according to the report.

    Twitter also sped up its dealing with notifications, reviewing 39 percent of them in less than 24 hours, as opposed to 23.5 percent in December, when the Commission first reviewed the companies’ progress and warned them they were being too slow.

    YouTube, on the other hand, slowed down, reviewing 42.6 percent of notifications in less than 24 hours, down from 60.8 percent in December, the results showed.

    “IT companies have all been improving time and response to notifications on manifest illegal hate speech,” Jourova said at a meeting of the EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance on Wednesday.

    “There are differences among the companies … but we can objectively say that all have improved.”

    All the companies significantly increased the number of removals. Overall, content was removed in 59.2 percent of cases, more than double the rate in December which was 28.2 percent.

    The proliferation of hate speech on social media has increased pressure on the companies to remove the content swiftly as they face the prospect of legislation at both EU and national level.

    Last week EU ministers approved plans to force social networks to take measures to block videos with hateful content while the German government approved a plan in April to fine companies up to EUR 50 million if they fail to remove hateful postings quickly.

    The most common ground of hate speech the Commission identified was xenophobia, including expressions of hatred against migrants and refugees, together with anti-Muslim hatred, followed by ethnic origin.

    The spread of fake news and racist content has taken on more urgency in Germany after the arrival of about a million migrants over the last two years.