5 February: Russia and China joined in a double veto of a Western and Arab-driven resolution on Syria at the U.N. Security Council endorsing the Arab League plan for President Assad to hand power to a deputy to make way for a transition towards democracy.

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.

Today (10 October), the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for the Nobel Peace Prize. In the speech, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said that “she won for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”. Machado was among 338 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize and has become its 20th female laureate.