GENERAL REVISION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE IN THE EP

In December 2014, the AFCO committee established a Working Group to proceed to a general review of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. The Working Group was composed of one MEP from each political group and chaired by Mr Wieland, Vice-president of the EP. In July 2016, the Working Group presented the outcome of its deliberations to the AFCO committee. Mr Corbett was appointed as rapporteur. The report was adopted by the AFCO committee on 8 November 2016 and submitted to plenary during the part-session of December 2016.

VIEWS OF THE WORLD OF SECRETARY OF STATE DESIGNATE REX TILLERSON

The Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson described the findings by the intelligence agencies as “clearly troubling,” and called cyber attacks from foreign actors such as Russia “the greatest and most complex threat” facing the country today.

The Secretary of State-designate labeled Russia’s annexation of Crimea to be “illegal” and proposed tougher measures to combat the Kremlin’s invasion of eastern Ukraine, vowing that he would advocate providing Ukrainian soldiers with weapons.

DIPLOMACY IS ILL-SERVED BY NAME CALLING

 

Author: JONATHAN CLARKE a member of the British diplomatic service for 20 years,

Edited

Senator Marc Rubio during recent confirmation hearings challenged the Secretary of State designate Mr. Rex Tillerson for his views on President Vladimir Putin demanding to know whether he thought the Russian President was a war criminal. Mr. Rex Tillerson answered that he "wouldn’t use that term. Those are very, very serious charges to make and I want to have much more information." He was right.

PERCEPTIONS OF RUSSIA

Tensions between Russia and the European Union, the United States and others have been high since the Russian annexation of Crimea in February-March 2014.

A March 2016 survey by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and its Polish partner, the Institute of Public Affairs (ISP), found that while a large minority of Germans polled (38 percent) perceived Russia to be a military threat, the majority (56 percent) did not.

UNDERSTANDING RUSSIA BY HENRY KISSINGER

THE VIEWS OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DESIGNATE

At the confirmation hearings, General Mattis said Russia aggression, China aggressiveness in the South China Sea and Islamist militants were presenting the biggest challenge to the U.S.-led world order since World War Two, and called for Congress to lift spending caps undermining military readiness. General Mattis believes the main threat to U.S. interests is Russia.

EXPERTS CHALLENGE TRUMP’S ETHICS PLAN

There is a common thread in the ethics plan outlined by President-elect Trump: His pledge to separate his private interests from public policy depends almost entirely on him and his team following their own rules with almost a total absence of public disclosure, outside oversight or independent verification.

OPENING STATEMENT OF SECRETARY OF STATE-DESIGNATE

Extract

"I come before you at a pivotal time in both the history of our nation and our world.

Nearly everywhere we look, people and nations are deeply unsettled. Old ideas and international norms which were well-understood and governed behaviors in the past may no longer be effective in our time.

PRAISES ABOUT REX TILLERSON DURING CONFIRMATION HEARINGS

  1. Has the potential to be an outstanding Secretary of State
  2. Well prepared to do what is essential for the security of the United States
  3. Knows crucial regions. He knows the leaders and he understands the challenges and the risks
  4. Experience and knowledge of Russia an asset not a liability
  5. Superbly qualified and the right person at the right time
  6. An inspired choice by President-Elect Trump for this critical position. Uniquely qualified to serve in this important office

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRANSITION

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