Responding to Ursula von der Leyen’s address today, Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the pan-European think-tank, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), commented: “Last year, Ursula von der Leyen promised Europeans a geopolitical commission that would have a stronger and more unified voice in the world and that could protect European strategic sovereignty. It…
In a plenary debate on Wednesday, the Socialists and Democrats strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The S&D Group will support a resolution on Thursday calling for strong EU reaction and support for an international investigation into the attack. S&D vice-president responsible for foreign affairs and negotiator of the resolution on…
On 16 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave her first State of the Union address in the European Parliament. In a health and economic crisis-stricken Europe, the President of the European Commission rightly reminded us that COVID-19 “laid bare the strains on our health systems and the limits of a model that values…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today mapped out in her first annual State of the Union Address to the European Parliament a path for the European Union to overcome the fragility laid bare by the coronavirus crisis and build a union of vitality. The President stressed that with NextGenerationEU, Europe has a once in a…
Due to the ongoing health pandemic we are all having to readjust to the “new norm”. The “new way” of doing things has, of course, very much impacted on restaurants, which were only recently allowed to open their doors again after the long lockdown. One eating place that has, so far, managed to adapt well…
“Don’t leave Belarus alone!” That was the message of a conference organised by New Europeans with human rights campaigners from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia to mark International Democracy Day, 15 September, writes Roger Casale. In a moving address from her home outside Minsk, Olga Zubrilova, explained how she had become involved in the democratic movement…
The Greens have sent a letter to the EU calling for urgent action to help victims of the migrant camp fire in Greece. It was sent to Vice-President Margaritis Schinas Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson Federal Minister for the Interior, Horst Seehofer It reads, “After Moria burnt down, more than 12.000 people are now…
On 20 and 21 September, regional elections are taking place in seven Italian regions. These elections will be of particular importance for a country that has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Italy is now engaged in the long and difficult path to recovery and needs progressive green forces to successfully emerge from the…
The Council issued a statement after this week’s EU/China video conference. Council President Charles Michel stated, “I’m pleased that we could speak by video conference with President Xi, with Ursula von der Leyen and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Unfortunately, our physical meeting in Leipzig wasn’t possible. Europe needs to be a player, not a playing field….
