Jul242017

EU to open Delegation to Mongolia

EU

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 sign 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

Jul242017

83/2017 : 21. Juli 2017 – Beschluss des Präsidenten des Gerichts in den Rechtssachen T-849/16 R,T-883/16 R,T-130/17 R

EU

Roaming charges ended in the European Union on 15 June 2017. Europeans travelling within EU countries will ‘Roam Like at Home’ and pay domestic prices for roaming calls, SMS and data.  …

On 23 June 2016 citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the European Union (EU). On 29 March 2017 the UK formally notified the European Council of its intention to leave the EU by…

Over the past 20 years, the European Union has put in place some of the highest common asylum standards in the world. And in the past two years, European migration policy has advanced in leaps and…

‘Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan.It will be built through concrete achievementswhich first create a de facto solidarity.’Robert Schuman9 May 1950On 25 March 2017,…

In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and deliberate destabilisation of a neighbouring sovereign country, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.Overview…

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his annual State of the Union speech at the European Parliament on 14 September 2016, just two days ahead of the informal meeting of 27…

Enlargement is the process whereby countries join the EU. Since it was founded in 1957, the EU has grown from 6 member countries to 28.Any European country that respects the principles of liberty,…

Jul242017

On the submission to the State Duma of a draft law on combatting corruption crimes during international business transactions

Russia

The draft law provides for spreading the types of punishment stipulated in the Code of Administrative Offences for crimes of illegal gratification by legal entities to the cases when such crimes are committed not only on behalf or in the interests of a legal entity but also in the interests of other legal entities connected with it, such as affiliated or subsidiary companies. The adoption of this bill would create conditions for the further implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

Reference

The draft law on amendments to article 19.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences (thereinafter referred to as the draft law) has been prepared by the Justice Ministry of Russia in keeping with the Action Plan for Cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2017−2018.

Article 19.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences stipulates administrative liability for legal entities found guilty of intentionally offering, promising or giving, on behalf or in the interests of these entities, gifts of money, securities, other property or property services tо an official, to persons involved in management activities in a commercial or any other organisation, to foreign officials or to public officials of international organisations (hereinafter referred to as the official) in order that the official act (or refrain from acting) in relation to the performance of official duties in the interests of said legal entity. In other words, the current wording of Article 19.28 stipulates administrative liability only for crimes committed by legal entities on their own behalf or in their own interests.

Under the draft law, the individuals and legal entities who are offered, promised or given property, property services or property rights on orders from officials, persons involved in management activities in a commercial or any other organisation, foreign officials or public officials of international organisations shall be also considered beneficiaries of corruption crimes committed in the interests of a legal entity or legal entities concerned.

The draft law provides for augmenting Article 19.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences in order to stipulate administrative liability for legal entities when they commit such crimes not only on their own behalf or in their own interests, but also in the interests of legal entities connected with them, such as affiliated persons or subsidiary companies.

The adoption of this draft law will create conditions for the further implementation of OECD recommendations based on the performance of the Russian Federation as assessed during the second round of monitoring of Russia’s compliance with the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, which was signed on 21 November 1997. Russia joined the Convention in 2012.

The draft law was discussed and approved at a Government meeting on 13 July 2017.