Tag: News Story

STORY

The European Union has urged Israel and Lebanon to use the latest ceasefire agreement as an opportunity to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace and security. The statement was issued by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on 6 June, following the agreement brokered by the United States.

The EU said all military action should cease immediately, called for Hezbollah to withdraw from the South Litani Sector and urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Brussels also said it was ready to support implementation of an agreement between the two countries and repeated its backing for Lebanon’s Government.

The statement also linked the diplomatic process to the EU’s wider support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, after the Council adopted a €100 million European Peace Facility assistance measure on 4 June. The EU said the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remained essential and condemned attacks on UNIFIL personnel, including the killing of another peacekeeper on 4 June.

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The Council has authorised the European Commission to open negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on extending the EU’s Roam Like at Home scheme to the Western Balkans. The decision would eventually allow travellers to use calls, texts and mobile data without extra roaming charges under the same conditions as at home.

The current roaming area covers the European Union, the European Economic Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as Moldova and Ukraine. Extending the scheme to the Western Balkans is being presented by the Council as a practical sign of the region’s closer integration with the EU.

The Commission will now negotiate sectoral agreements with each of the six partners. Before any market opening takes place, each country will need to align with EU roaming rules and be assessed as meeting the necessary conditions, with the agreements tied to existing stabilisation and association arrangements.

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The Council of the European Union has approved a framework to implement the EU drugs strategy and endorsed a new EU action plan against drug trafficking. The decision was taken at the Justice and Home Affairs Council and is intended to strengthen the EU response to organised crime, drug use and the wider security risks linked to trafficking.

The action plan will run from 2026 to 2030 and will focus on practical action by member states, EU agencies and international partners. It includes a stronger follow the money approach, work through the European Ports Alliance and an expanded maritime role through the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics.

The Council said the measures would also improve cooperation with postal and parcel companies, technology firms, customs authorities, police and judicial bodies. EU leaders are expected to discuss the challenge of drug use and trafficking at the European Council meeting on 18 and 19 June, the first time the issue has been placed before leaders in this way.

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The UK has used an OSCE statement to reject Russian claims about civilian casualties caused by Ukraine. Deputy Ambassador James Ford said Russia lacked credibility given its continuing aggression and the civilian harm caused by its own actions.

The statement said Russia had criticised other states for not responding to its accusations, but argued that Moscow’s invasion remained the cause of the conflict and the associated civilian suffering. The UK also pointed to wider support for Ukraine and accountability for abuses.

The intervention forms part of the Government’s continuing diplomatic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It comes as foreign policy, defence spending and the credibility of international institutions remain central to Westminster’s security debate.

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The Security Industry Authority has set out the next phase of work to prepare for Martyn’s Law. Laura Gibb, the SIA’s executive director for Martyn’s Law, said the regulator was working at pace ahead of the new regime coming into force.

The update said recruitment was progressing for new inspectors and assessors, with regional inspection teams being built across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The SIA said those roles would help premises and events understand guidance and proportionate, risk-based decisions.

Martyn’s Law is intended to strengthen security at publicly accessible premises and events in response to the Manchester Arena attack. The SIA said it wanted organisations to engage with the process and prepare for their responsibilities under the new law.

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The Avian Influenza Prevention Zones in place across Great Britain have been lifted from noon on 4 June. The Chief Veterinary Officer announced the change after the risk level reduced.

The zones had imposed additional biosecurity requirements to limit the spread of bird flu. DEFRA said the lifting of the measures reflected the latest assessment of risk, although poultry keepers and bird owners are still expected to maintain good standards of biosecurity.

The decision will be watched closely by rural communities and the poultry sector after repeated outbreaks placed

pressure on farmers, regulators and animal health services. The Government said vigilance remained important despite the easing of restrictions.

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The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has warned that Palantir’s growing role in the UK public sector represents an “unacceptable point of weakness”. The committee said the company was the most concerning example of dependence on a small number of major technology providers.

MPs urged the Government to exercise the 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform contract with Palantir and either develop an in-house replacement or seek an alternative UK provider. The report also raised concerns about wider reliance on Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

The committee called for a clearer definition of technological sovereignty, a strategy to reduce supplier lock-in and stronger leadership for digital transformation across Government. It also warned that proceeding with digital ID would be irresponsible unless data hygiene and public trust were improved.

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International Development Committee chair Sarah Champion has criticised the Government for failing to give a firm commitment on aid spending. She had sought reassurance that official development assistance would remain at 0.3% of gross national income for the duration of the spending review period.

Development Minister Baroness Chapman said the Government’s commitment to international development remained important and that FCDO allocations had been set out for three years. However, she also said future plans remained subject to revision because of changing global needs and other allocation decisions.

Champion said the response did not fill her or the committee with confidence. She argued that if the UK wanted to deliver its new approach to global partnerships, it needed to ensure aid spending did not fall below 0.3% of GNI.

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Members of the House of Lords have debated the Sporting Events Bill at second reading. The legislation is intended to give the UK Government and devolved administrations a legal framework to fund and deliver major sporting events.

The Bill is linked to future events including Euro 2028 and support for the bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup. Peers used the debate to raise concerns and discuss areas where amendments may be needed.

Baroness Twycross opened the debate for the Government and responded to contributions from members including Lord Addington, Baroness Davies of Devonport and Baroness Grey-Thompson. Committee stage has been scheduled for 22 June.

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The Cabinet Office has accepted a recommendation from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to amend the Ministerial Code. MPs had examined whether major Government announcements were being made to Parliament first, as required by convention.

The committee said the existing code did not adequately capture the relationship between ministers and Parliament. In its response, the Government accepted that the general principle should be rewritten to remove ambiguity over ministerial responsibilities during major announcements.

PACAC chair Simon Hoare said the current situation had been untenable and welcomed the Government’s willingness to adapt the code. The committee said it would monitor the changes to ensure Parliament continued to play a central role in the process.