On 7 October Russia once again demonstrated complete disregard for international norms by striking civilian vessels transporting food. This time, Russian forces attacked port infrastructure in Odessa using ballistic missiles, damaging a Palauan-flagged ship, “OPTIMA,” which was waiting to load agricultural products. As a result of the attack, a 60-year-old Ukrainian was killed, and five…
The new UK government’s goals are modest. But economic reality may force it to follow changing public opinion, writes Richard Corbett. In its campaign for the general election in the United Kingdom in July, Labour generally kept a low profile on the UK’s departure in 2020 from the European Union. In government, the party said,…
On the night of 7 October Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in occupied Feodosia, the largest oil transfer facility in Crimea. This attack, which caused a massive fire and forced the occupying authorities to declare a state of emergency, underscores that Ukraine is not only successfully holding its ground but also actively targeting critical…
MEPs have agreed on the calendar for the hearings of the EU commissioners-designate. The hearings will start on 4 November and take place until 12 November. The Conference of Presidents also decided on a division of duties among committees for the confirmation hearings. The detailed schedule of which Commissioner-designate will be heard and at what time…
Russian interference in the affairs of sovereign nations poses a serious threat to the stability of global democracy. One of the latest examples involves Moldova, where Russian forces attempted to disrupt a referendum on joining the European Union. The Kremlin employed bribery, disinformation, and provocations, demonstrating its intent to undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries…
The UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after their meeting this week that they have agreed on the importance of the unique relationship between the European Union and Britain. They said that in line with our shared values they wanted to strengthen ambitiously…
Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash Disturbing footage of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Army surfaced online on 1 October. In the vicinity of Pokrovsk, 16 Ukrainian POWs were coldly executed, marking one of the largest acts of killing of prisoners of war since the onset of Russia’s…
Photo by Tom Ritson on Unsplash Taiwan’s ambassador to the EU and Belgium has hit out at what he calls distorted claims about the island by China. Ambassador Roy Chun Lee, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the European Union and Belgium, was speaking on Wednesday. He told an audience in Brussels…
Photo by Matt Brown on Unsplash MEPs and an ex UK government minister have joined forces in appealing to both the EU and UK to tackle growing public intolerance of the fall-out from Brexit. The appeal coincided with a visit, his first as PM, by Sir Keir Starmer to Brussels on Wednesday. The…
EU Political Report has been privileged to hold an exclusive meeting with the successful international businessman from Georgia, Tamaz Somkhishvili, and this interview divided into two parts faithfully records a description of his career. Part One – The Formative Years Tamaz Valeryanovich Somkhishvili was born on 22 June 1957 in Tbilisi into the family…
