Photo by Dawid Małecki on Unsplash The European Parliament elections with their low turn outs, unknown politicians, and use as a protest vote against incumbent governments have exploded into life with the decision of President Macron to dissolve the French Parliament, writes Denis MacShane. In effect he is holding a plebiscite asking the French people and indirectly the…
Photo by Kristina V on Unsplash The restoration of the press must be included in the programmes of economic and social restoration of Ukraine. That is a demand made by the organisation representing media in the war torn country. The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) recently held a joint round table at…
Photo by Thomas Bennie on Unsplash Europe is retreating from Africa in what seems likely to be the greatest shift of all in the 21st century’s new era of tectonic geo-political change, writes Giles Merritt. It is five hundred years since Henry the Navigator’s explorers set up Portuguese trading posts that eventually led to European colonialism. Africa was…
A special event takes place in Brussels all this week which aims to showcase the best of the Caribbean and foster closer ties between the region and Belgium. Called “Caribbean Week” (17 to 23 June), the various activities seek to raise the profile of the Caribbean. The initiative is the brainchild of the Brussels-based Caribbean Chamber of…
A delegation from the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) Japan traveled to France to highlight the ongoing crisis of religious freedom in Japan and brought to light the severe social, political, and legal challenges facing the organisation, writes Peter Zoehrer. President Tomihiro Tanaka, who did not travel to France, sent a compelling…
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash Cohesion Policy, the bedrock of Europe’s regional development, stands at a crucial crossroads. For decades, it has been instrumental in reducing economic, social, and territorial disparities across the EU. However, recent challenges demand urgent attention and adaptation, writes Thomas Schwab. Firstly, Cohesion Policy operates in a shifting global landscape. The Russian invasion…
The recent Global Peace Summit has proven to be a pivotal event in the ongoing struggle for international stability, particularly in the light of Russia’s aggressive actions. Despite Russia’s attempts to derail the summit, including efforts to forge alliances with China and Brazil and propose alternative peace plans, the gathering saw the participation of leaders…
Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash Gains by the far right in last week’s EU elections are “deeply concerning”, says former UK MEP Claude Moraes The far right held their positions in Italy and the Netherlands (with swings between far-right parties rather than to them). But they failed to make headway in other countries where they were predicted…
The historic battlefield site of Waterloo is now home to a thriving multi-activity business Battlelines will be drawn next weekend (22/23 June) when Napoleon and Wellington again go head to head on the fields of Belgium. Throughout the weekend, more than 300 re-enactor troops will camp in bivouacs at Napoleon’s last headquarters and in the…
Initiating the Peace Summit today in Switzerland, Ukraine has taken a significant step towards intensifying its contacts with countries of the Global South, which are increasingly playing a prominent role in the contemporary world order. Under President Zelenskyy, Ukraine has notably entered into a competition with Moscow for the favour of African and Latin American…
