Photo by Fred Moon on Unsplash The European Commission has updated its list of “high risk” third country jurisdictions presenting strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes. Two third-country jurisdictions were added to it: Nigeria and South Africa, while two other jurisdictions were taken off the list – Cambodia and Morocco. This list takes into account the changes decided at…
Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash The Russian State Duma committee for state building and legislation has reviewed draft laws that introduce amendments to martial law. These amendments give the Russian authorities freedom of action regarding the occupied territories of Ukraine and their residents. Declaratively, they refer to the possibility of holding elections under martial law, which was…
Photo by Roger Bradshaw on Unsplash The next General Election in the UK is likely to be at least a year away, but already the two major political parties are moving into overdrive with national conferences and pronouncements from senior party figures. After their successful local Council election results in early May Labour is increasingly occupying the centre…
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash The EU admits there is “persistent uncertainty” stemming from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. But it also says that the European economy “continues to show resilience in a challenging global context.” Lower energy prices, abating supply constraints and a strong labour market supported moderate growth in the first quarter of 2023, it…
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash MEPs are in the United States this week for meetings with their U.S. counterparts working on EU-US cooperation on justice and home affairs. The delegation in Washington D.C. includes LIBE chair Juan Fernando López Aguilar and S&D spokesperson for justice and home affairs Birgit Sippel. They will speak to counterparts about the…
Photo by Georgi Kyurpanov on Unsplash Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has praised outgoing EU commissioner Mariya Gabriel following her shock resignation. Gabriel, the European Commissioner for innovation and research, quit on Monday to focus on helping to form Bulgaria’s next coalition government. She had served as European Commissioner since 2017, when she replaced Kristalina Georgieva, now…
Photo by Timon Gschwind on Unsplash MEPs have underlined the need for a coordinated humanitarian response to help those already in need in Sudan. They say this is also needed to prevent the conflict from spreading over into neighbouring countries. Members have now called on European authorities and leaders to do their utmost to push both parties in…
Clouds and silver linings spring to mind in describing the fortunes of one Brussels restaurateur. The recession, coupled with the lingering impact of the health pandemic, sadly put paid to one of the restaurants launched by Renaud Waeterloos. The cost of living crisis finally put paid to Il Gastonomico, probably one of the smallest restaurants…
Photo by Daria Volkova on Unsplash Throughout modern history, the Russian Federation has carried out numerous armed conflicts on the territory of other states and republics: the two Chechen wars, the occupation of Transdnistria, the war in Abkhazia, the Russian-Georgian war, and the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The war in Ukraine shows that the Russian authorities are trying to…
As the world enters the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is gradually improving. Most border restrictions have been lifted and global health governance has shifted from pandemic response to postpandemic recovery. Countries worldwide have stepped up efforts to achieve health and well-being for all and further the realization of United Nations Sustainable…
