Photo by syahmi syahir on Unsplash The EPP Group in the EU parliament says it “firmly rejects any approach that undermines global trade rules or threatens Europe’s key industries.” This comes in llight of the recent announcements by US President Trump on tariffs. The Group is now urging the European Commission to stand firm and…
Photo by Adrien Wodey on Unsplash In announcing the latest EU package of sanctions against Russia, Kaja Kallas High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and chair of the Foreign Affairs Council said: “The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date. Each sanction weakens Russia’s ability to wage…
Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash The European Committee of the Regions, is critical of the EU’s new long term budget plans. Speaking after they were unveiled this week, its president Kata Tutto said: “After months of unjustified secrecy, the European Commission has delivered a complicated and divisive proposal that puts at risk the role…
The EU must take responsibility for its own security and strengthen its competitiveness. That was the key message to emerge from the July plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The Brussels-based EESC, which represents civil society at EU level, hosted a debate on the political priorities of the current Presidency of…
Photo by Tayla Kohler on Unsplash The North Atlantic Council says it strongly condemns Russia’s malicious cyber activities. It says these constitute a threat to Allied security. The council issued a statement which says, “We stand in solidarity and recognise that Estonia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States have recently attributed malicious cyber…
Photo by Marcus Loke on Unsplash The BD Comic Strip Festival returns from 26 to 28 September in Brussels at Tour & Taxis’ Gare Maritime. The poster for this new edition has been designed by Alix Garin, the award-winning Belgian writer and illustrator of the graphic novel Impénétrable. The novel is on the shortlist of two…
Photo by Masood Aslami on Unsplash The European Conservatives and Reformists Group says it has reservations about several key elements of the European Commission’s proposal for the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). While acknowledging the need for a more responsive and strategic EU budget, the group is cautioning against a shift that could increase uncertainty…
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash On 9 July the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia is fully responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, which resulted in the deaths of all 298 onboard, most of them Dutch citizens. The ruling was part of a…
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash The Association de la Presse Internationale – International Press Association (API-IPA) marked its 50th anniversary this week (10 July), celebrating five decades of supporting journalists in Brussels. “We honour 50 years of API’s volunteer-driven efforts to defend correspondents’ interests,” said Dafydd ab Iago, API-IPA president. “Brussels is kinder…
Photo by CrowN on Unsplash Meeting in Strasbourg on 9 July, they expressed firm support for the investigations of the International Criminal Court. The text, approved on Wednesday by 507 votes in favour, 77 against, and with 45 abstentions, states that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022, has shattered peace…
