Ukraine’s Game of Monopoly

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus crisis has forced countries to join forces to overcome the consequences.  This is especially true for countries with small budgets which have already had financial problems. The EU has joined forces and extended a helping hand to non-member countries, including Ukraine. Financial assistance, though, is not only intended to…

COVID-19 Test Centre opens at Brussels Airport

The Test Centre at Brussels Airport for COVID-19 will open on Monday 14 September. At this Test Centre, passengers can get a COVID-19 test on site at the airport. The Test Centre will also be open to those who are not travelling but need to have a test taken for contact tracing purposes. From 14th of…

Aung San Suu Kyi Stripped of Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents decided yesterday, (Thursday 10th September) to formally suspend Sakharov Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from the Sakharov Prize Community. The decision by the conference of presidents (President and political group leaders) to exclude Aung San Suu Kyi formally from all activities of the Community of Sakharov Prize laureates…

African Wildlife Agency Receives Protection Boost

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the agency tasked with the safekeeping of wildlife in some of Africa’s most iconic protected areas, has received a boost to its operations with the handover of new equipment worth over US$50,000 from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The items have been purchased with support from the TUI Care Foundation and the African…

Virus Threat to Democracy

MEPs and representatives of institutions, governments and NGOs will gather on 14-17 September to debate the challenges the pandemic poses to democratic systems. The spread of COVID-19 in 2020 has not only put people’s lives in danger, but has also transformed how they work, communicate and make political decisions. International Democracy Week comprises a series…

Remembering 9/11

On Friday, 11 September 2020, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will join U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison at the 9/11 and Article 5 Memorial at NATO Headquarters to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Attendees will include permanent representatives of Alliance nations as well as…

Perfidious Albion

Polish EPP MEP Danuta Hübner, a former EU commissioner, issued the following statement on Thursday. “As Chair of the AFCO Monitoring group on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, I am deeply concerned by the proposed measures of the UK government. We are in the process of negotiating the most important agreement on our future…

Sanctions Against Russia Extended

EU member states have decided to extend the sanctions targeting persons and entities that continue to undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, for a further 6 months until 15 March 2021. The existing restrictive measures provide for both travel restrictions and the freezing of assets, and will continue to apply to…

European Climate Law

Following a vote on Thursday in the European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) on Climate Law, the S&D Group stressed its “satisfaction for the important outcome achieved.”  The EU Parliament’s chief negotiator and committee on environment S&D coordinator, Jytte Guteland, commented: “This is a significant improvement of the Commission’s proposal and makes the European Climate Law fit for purpose….

Importance of a Diversified Banking System for Europe

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) points out that a strong, diversified banking system with regional and community banks is essential for Europe’s future, stressing that European banks will play a key role in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. The EU’s Banking Union has to be in line with the social inclusion and sustainable development…