The Cat is Roaming

Le Chat

Philippe Geluck’s famous cat character Le Chat has been on the move for several months.  It appeared in the form of giant sculptures on the Champs Elysées in Paris, and can currently be seen in Bordeaux, from where it will head for Caen, Saint-Tropez, Milan and then Geneva. In short, “the Cat is roaming”, as…

Sassoli: “The Rights of the People are the Measure of all Things”

Pope Francis and Sassoli

On June 26, the President of the European Parliament went to the Holy See to meet Pope Francis and the Vatican Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The conversation with the Holy Father, focused on the need to protect the weakest and most vulnerable: the rights of people are the measure of all…

Short Sighted Spanish Resolution in Parliament Escalates Bilateral Tension with Morocco

Spain Morocco relations

Parliament has adopted a resolution on the human rights situation at the Spanish/Moroccan border, alleging that the Moroccan authorities created an artificial migratory crisis in Ceuta. The Resolution alleges Morocco has used border control and migration, and unaccompanied minors in particular, as deliberate political pressure against Spain.  The resolution stated that an unprecedented surge in…

High Court in London quashes extradition order for Gabriel Popoviciu, as his “extraordinary” Romanian conviction was a “flagrant denial of justice”

On 11 June 2021, the High Court in London handed down judgment quashing an order for the extradition to Romania of Mr Gabriel Popoviciu, a high-profile, successful Romanian businessman. The Court described Mr Popoviciu’s case as “extraordinary”. The Court found that there was credible evidence to show that the trial judge who convicted Mr Popoviciu…

First arrest of the Kremlin hacker?

Kremlin, Moscow

On 8th June, Gotham City media outlet reported that on 21 March Russian businessman Vladislav Klyushin was arrested in Switzerland at the request of the American authorities. Moreover, it took the US authorities only 24 hours to secure his arrest. Shortly afterwards, Ingrid Raiser, a spokeswoman for the Federal Office of Justice, told Agence France-Presse…

Defending CAR, or Guarding King Solomon’s Mines?

UN Troops in CAR

The hottest topic in the Central African Republic (CAR) with local residents and the concerned international community alike is the continued need for the presence of UN troops in the CAR.  Pundits have slammed the inefficiency of UN peacekeeping missions, since those deployed to conflict-torn countries generally fail to deliver on the main aim of…

Eurobarometer Survey Marks Public Health as Top Priority for Parliament

European Parliament

Parliament’s latest public opinion survey shows support for EU remains high, despite the pandemic, but COVID-19 impact on personal finances felt or expected by more than half of Europeans. A new Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament and conducted between March and April 2021 shows the increasingly felt impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on…

Phone Call Between Michel and Putin

Michel calls Putin

On 7 June 2021, Council President Michel spoke with Russian President Putin on the phone. President Michel conveyed the European Council’s position on EU-Russia relations and that in their May discussions, EU leaders condemned the illegal, provocative and disruptive Russian activities against the EU, its member states and others.The EU stands united and in solidarity…

Parliament Takes Action on Rogue State Belarus

Sandra Kalniete

Tomorrow, 8 June, the European Parliament will strongly condemn systematic repression in Belarus and the consequences for European security and freedom following the abduction of Roman Protasevitch and Sofia Sapega from a hijacked EU Rynair flight. “If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Nearly all men can stand adversity,…

Vespa: La Dolce Vita

Vespa

It’s synonymous with freedom, joie de vivre, youth, nimbleness, adventure and independence. In town it weaves in and out allowing one and all to enjoy the pleasures of the open air. Yes, the Vespa is a true feature To this day both young and old still dream about the Vespa, which is 75-years-old this year….