On June 18th, for the first time in 24 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on a two-day visit to North Korea. This move, which has stirred concerns among the global community and democratic nations, was anticipated. The Russian leader chose a strategic moment to expand military and economic ties with Pyongyang, using the recent…
Year: 2024
Hong Kong: Erosion of Rights and Freedoms
Photo by Manson Yim on Unsplash The EU’s outgoing foreign affairs chief says there has been a “continuous erosion of the rights and freedoms” of people in Hong Kong. Josep Borrell was reacting to the release of the EU’s 2023 annual report on Hong Kong. The former Spanish MEP said the report “illustrates in great detail the continuous…
Protection of Minors
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash The EU is stepping up its ongoing efforts to protect children from potentially harmful online porn sites. It is asking online platforms to spell out what measures they are taking about the dissemination of “illegal and harmful” content. The sites have until early next month to respond. Failure to do so could…
Will France Return to the Politics of Hate, Nationalism and Xenophobia?
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…
Restoring an Independent Media Sector in Ukraine
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…
Europe’s Declining Influence in Africa
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…
Best of the Caribbean
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…
Religious Freedom Crisis in Japan
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…
Quo Vadis, Cohesion Policy?
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…
Actions to Restore Peace and Overcome Russia
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…