Campaigning for Local Green Deals

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Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash Local government and community groups have called for a “stronger and just “ EU Green Deal. The message was made when nearly 500 European policymakers, community-led initiatives, scientists and civil society organisations came together this week. They took part in a policy event “Making the European Green Deal Strong and Real: Harnessing the…

Leaders, Politics and Optics

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Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash The practice of politics always has challenges. Such challenges are magnified when confronted with the optics: the perception of the people. Not all political Leaders seem to realise this…. While more UK small businesses are going bust than any year since the financial crisis of 2009, with mortgage interest doomed to remain…

World Scouting Ambassador Blazing a Trail for Adventure

Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls is a famous British adventurer who is well known for his daring and often highly dangerous escapades. His survival mantra is “if it can keep you alive, eat it” and he has eaten deer droppings, yak’s eyeballs, goat testicles and giant larva worms. But it is less well known that his big “fear” is….Brussels sprouts….

EU Enlargement for Ukraine and Moldova

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Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash MEPs say “it is with great satisfaction” that the European Commission has recommended to start EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. This comes after the European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package. It provides a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,…

EU Business Faces Labour and Skills Shortages

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Photo by Kumpan Electric on Unsplash Companies throughout Europe are facing growing labour and skills shortages, it has emerged. The issue was highlighted by BusinessEurope, the organisation that represents the business community in Europe. The Brussels based group published the results of a new survey of European companies which, it says, “underscores the skills and recruitment challenges that…

EESC Delegation Visit to Ukraine

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Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash A leading EU organisation has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and European aspirations. This comes after  European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Oliver Röpke led a delegation to Ukraine. The visit, which took place ahead of the European Commission’s Enlargement Package, provided an opportunity for Röpke to discuss…

Human Rights in Uzbekistan

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Photo by AXP Photography on Unsplash Uzbekistan supports the UN Call to Action for Human Rights. The importance of human rights is at the forefront of the continuous efforts to modernize the political, legal, and socio-economic aspects as outlined in the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy. This Strategy aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and…

Taiwan Under Threat from China

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Photo by Lisanto 李奕良 on Unsplash Taiwan’s foreign minister says the island is gearing up for what he calls a “real threat” from China. Joseph Wu also said that “lessons could be learned”  by both Taiwan and China from the still unfolding Ukraine conflict. Speaking from Taipei, Wu said, “It is hard for most to understand the decision…