Photo by Konrad Koller on Unsplash Under increasing pressure to maintain political control, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán seems ever more willing to deploy a wide arsenal of tools to retain power, ranging from legislative restrictions and information control to aggressive rhetorical campaigns. His recent political strategy strikingly resembles the approach of Russian President Vladimir…
Year: 2025
Result of Romanian Election Welcomed by MEPs
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash MEPs have broadly welcomed the outcome of Romania’s presidential election. The liberal, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, fought off a strong challenge from a Romanian right-wing nationalist to win the presidency after months of political turbulence. Dan swept to victory with 53.6% of the vote. He campaigned on…
EU-UK Relations Open New Chapter Post-Brexit
Photo by Rocco Dipoppa on Unsplash MEPs have broadly welcomed a new set of agreements thrashed out at an EU/UK summit in London on Monday. The summit, attended by, among others, two EU leaders and the UK PM, aims to strike a re-set in post-Brexit relations between the two. It was attended by Sir Keir…
Belgian SME Commended on Anniversary
The Mayor of Waterloo in Belgium has praised a local SME for helping to boost the local economy. Florence Reuter was speaking at a special event to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of Caspian Tradition, based in Waterloo. From relatively humble beginnings, the business has grown to become a leading player in its…
Brussels Think Tank Fights for Free Speech
A debate at a leading Brussels hotel had to be rearranged after what the organisers called a “cowardly” attack. The discussion about the new Donald Trump era and geopolitics was due to be held at the Stanhope hotel near the city’s EU Quarter on Wednesday evening. But, after eggs were thrown at the hotel,…
EU Increases Aid to Caribbean and Latin America
Photo by Richard Lu on Unsplash The European Commission says it will provide €120 million in new humanitarian aid to several Latin American and Caribbean countries this year. This, it says, is to help the region’s most vulnerable, in view of the recent natural disasters and armed conflicts. Part of the aid will also bolster…
MEPs Back New Measures Against Russia
Photo by Roger Starnes on Unsplash The EU parliament’s International Trade Committee has approved a 50% increase in tariffs on certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods to further reduce EU dependency. MEPs on Thursday backed a Commission proposal to increase EU tariffs by 50% on those agricultural products from Russia and Belarus that are still…
Too Many Europeans Facing Evictions
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash A new study calls for regulation in the short term housing rental sector across the EU but in a balanced manner. The legislative proposal aims to fill the regulatory gap in an industry that is having real-world impacts, including housing shortages, rising rents, resident displacement, online discrimination, and a…
New Man at the Top of Brewers of Europe
The Brewers of Europe’s General Assembly has elected as its new President, Christian Weber, CEO of the Karlsberg brewery and current President also of the German Brewers’ Association, the Deutscher Brauer-Bund. Weber is the fifth generation of his family to run the Karlsberg Brauerei KG Weber, to give the brewery its full name. He is…
New Quality Wine Label Launched in Belgium
The Belgian wine sector is joining forces to launch BelBul: the first official quality label for sparkling wines produced on Belgian soil. This joint initiative by the non-profit Belgische Wijnbouwers – Vlaanderen and the Association des Vignerons Belges – Wallonie marks a major milestone in the professionalisation of the sector and affirms Belgium’s position as an…