News in brief

Election in Ukraine

The leader of Ukraine’s opposition, Viktor Yanukovych, won the second round of the country’s presidential election on Sunday (7 February) by a margin of 3%. Aides to the defeated candidate, Yulia Tymoshenko, the current prime minister, have suggested she will challenge the result in the courts, despite a positive assessment by international monitors. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief, on Monday praised the conduct of the election.

Tuna ban

The European Parliament yesterday (10 February) gave its conditional consent to a proposed international ban on trade in bluefin tuna due to be debated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) on 13-25 March. However, the Parliament wants exemptions for traditional coastal fishing and compensation for fishermen. It voted to add polar bears – together with certain types of tigers, sharks, crocodiles and coral – to a CITES list of protected species, and to extend a ban on trade in African ivory.

Germans in Afghanistan

The German government decided on Tuesday to send an additional 850 troops to Afghanistan, bringing the total German deployment there to 5,350. Germany is a leading contributor to international efforts to build up Afghanistan’s security forces. The German parliament is expected to give its consent this month.

Organic logo

The European Commission on Monday (8 February) announced the winner of a competition to design a new EU-wide logo for organic food – a leaf formed from the stars of the EU. The logo, known as the Euro-leaf, will be compulsory on all EU pre-packaged organic foods from 1 July.

Solana at Brookings

Javier Solana, the EU’s former foreign policy chief, has joined the Brookings Institution, a think-tank in Washington, DC. Solana, who will be based in Spain, will serve as an adviser on two of the organisation’s programmes, on foreign policy and on the global economy and development.

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