EU at OSCE 🇪🇺

Today, I am highlighting the cases of these 5 political prisoners in Belarus, who are persons with disabilities. Show your support: share this post and call for their immediate and unconditional release ✊🏼

In the lead-up to the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus on May 21, I will highlight Prisoners in particularly vulnerable situations. Show your support: share this post to call for their immediate and unconditional release. ✊🏼

Today, I am highlighting the cases of these 9 political prisoners in Belarus with severe health conditions. Show your support: share this post and call for their immediate and unconditional release. ✊🏼

Equality, participation and non-discrimination are at the heart of democracy. Yet across the world, too many LGBTIQ+ persons still face violence, discrimination, hate speech and stigmatisation simply for being who they are. In more than 65 countries, consensual same-sex relations remain criminalised. Where discrimination persists, democracy cannot fully thrive. The EU remains committed to defending the human rights of all LGBTIQ+ persons and to promoting inclusive and democratic societies for all. Read the statement by HR/VP @kajakallas: link.europa.eu/CDFdwW

Taking a decisive step for justice 🇺🇦 We are joining the Special Tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine and ratifying the International Claims Commission to ensure victims are compensated. Holding Russia accountable is the only path to peace.

ZMINA highlighted digital threats to 🇺🇦 civil society during the @OSCE #SHDM. 🇷🇺 poses majority of them. ZMINA's @Zhukova_Tetiana & Anastasiia Soloviova joined pre-event by @HRHFoundation & @NHC_nl, #SHDM panel sessions, held meetings & a side event supported by @EUOSCE ⬇️

41 @OSCE participating States, including all 🇪🇺 Member States, together w/ #Ukraine, activated #MoscowMechanism to investigate #Russia’s policy of indoctrination & militarization of Ukrainian children — both in 🇷🇺 & in temporarily occupied territories of 🇺🇦. @eu_eeas @UKRinOSCE

Following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the HR/VP @kajakallas is co-hosting the High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children Watch HR/VP Kaja Kallas remarks here:

An estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia. This is criminal and wrong. We are co-hosting the High-Level Meeting for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Alongside Ukraine, Canada, and EU countries, our goals are clear ↓

Read HR/VP Kaja Kallas full remarks here: link.europa.eu/b4x4x7

Today, 11 May, EU foreign and defence ministers are gathering in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council #FAC. Watch HR/VP @kajakallas doorstep ahead of today's meeting twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Russia unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred more than 20,000 Ukrainian children, while depriving millions more of safe childhoods since the start of the invasion. Russia’s systematic violations of children’s rights make a coordinated international action more urgent than ever. On 11 May, the EU, Ukraine and Canada will co-host a High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels, bringing together Coalition members and partner countries that share our commitment to trace, return and reintegrate every child, and to ensure accountability for Russia’s crimes. Find out more: link.europa.eu/B8XNwr

Of all the horrors inflicted by Russia’s war, the abduction of Ukrainian children is one of its worst. Stealing children is a calculated Russian attack on Ukraine’s future. Bringing them home is a priority. We support this with funding, aid and sanctions. The EU today imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities in Russia for the systematic ‌unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. My press remarks ahead of the Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children with @andrii_sybiha, @AnitaAnandMP and @MartaKosEU ↓

'I want Russia to return every child so they can go home where they belong.' Watch the full story on 11 May.

What a wonderful #EuropeDay at the @EUCouncil ! Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate Europe’s unity, diversity, and shared future. And to all the Council staff who made this day a great success.

Happy Europe Day! 🇪🇺❤️ Unity. Solidarity. Cooperation. Let’s celebrate what Europe has achieved. Looking back to 9 May 1950, when Europe turned a corner, shaping the EU we know today ➡️ link.europa.eu/3VWVGh

In uncertain times, you find out what truly matters. Freedom. Peace. A place to call home. The EU has delivered on that promise for over 75 years. Not perfect. But reliable. And that is the whole point. Happy Europe Day. 🇪🇺 @kajakallas

It was good to meet with @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte today to speak about our support to Ukraine, Iran’s latest unprovoked attacks, and European defence readiness. NATO is the cornerstone of European defence. We agree that we must work together on strengthening Europe's contribution to NATO. A more European NATO is long overdue. EU Defence Ministers will discuss this in Brussels next week, including how to ramp up the European contribution.

Our first EU-Armenia summit is a landmark diplomatic moment, and I thank Armenia for hosting us in Yerevan. Armenia is a key pillar in our relationship with the South Caucasus. Today we forged closer ties on trade, energy, and digital. The EU will support the Armenian people in choosing their own destiny, including with a new EU mission to counter foreign interference and strengthen resilience.

The first-ever #EUArmenia summit will take place on 4 and 5 May in Yerevan, Armenia. It will be a key opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations, in particular connectivity, energy, transport and digital cooperation. Read the agenda → link.europa.eu/gRKvTF