Romanian businessman Gabriel ‘Puiu’ Popoviciu’s lengthy legal battle has reached a final conclusion with a robust and final decision in his favour. On 15 January 2025, Romania’s High Court of Cassation and Justice, Romania’s equivalent of a Supreme Court, upheld an earlier decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal in July 2024 to completely acquit…
Year: 2025
Trump Returns to the White House
Donald Trump’s return to the US White House is widely seen as a good thing for peace in the world, American influence, and dialogue between leading powers, says a new study. But it also says this feeling is not shared by some of Washington’s closest allies, including citizens from the United Kingdom, the EU and…
Middle East Peace Deal
Photo by dadalan real on Unsplash MEPs have been quick to respond to news of the tentative peace deal in the Middle East. On Thursday, the European Green Party (EGP) said it welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, marking a step that will hopefully end the cycle of violence that…
Cybersecurity
Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash On 10 January, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested that the recent cyberattack on Slovakia’s land registry may have originated from Ukraine. Similarly, Slovakia’s Interior Minister, Michal Š. Eštok noted that the attack could potentially involve cybercriminals operating from Ukraine, referring to a similar breach in Russia. While these…
Zhanna Shamalova, Mastering The Art of Reinvention
Zhanna Shamalova represents a notable example of entrepreneurial success in the post-Soviet era, having transformed early adversity into opportunity through strategic vision and adaptability. Her journey from late Soviet Moldova to becoming a sophisticated London-based investor and healthcare innovator illustrates the possibilities that talented individuals may exploit in a period of profound global change. I…
Surviving Crisis and War
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash It is everyone’s right to know how to prepare for and survive crisis and war when the unthinkable happens, writes Maria Martisiute. As security is the foundation of everything, according to the recent high-level EU report by the former Finnish President Niinistö, then civil preparedness is the foundation of…
The Defence of Europe
Photo by Arkana Bilal on Unsplash MEPs have discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. In his first public discussion with MEPs since taking office as NATO Secretary General, former Dutch PM Rutte said he is deeply concerned about…
China Accused of Discrimination Against EU
Photo by CDC on Unsplash A key report published on Tuesday (14 January highlights what it calls continued discrimination against EU medical devices in China’s public procurement market. The report will feed into the EU Commission’s assessment on what measures should be taken to restore the EU-China level playing field in this area. The EC…
The Battle Between Truth and Deception
Photo by Myko Makhlai on Unsplash Russia’s persistent efforts to undermine trust in Ukraine are playing out both domestically and internationally, with the Kremlin deploying a range of propaganda tactics aimed at distorting reality. From claims about Ukraine’s alleged failure to manage effective mobilisation to the unfounded fears of Western support being cut off, the…
New EU Cash Aid for War-torn Ukraine
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash As Russia’s war of aggression continues to hit Ukraine, approximately 12.7 million people are in need of urgent assistance. New European Commission funding will be used to provide life-saving support and ensure that essential aid reaches the most vulnerable populations in Ukraine. The €148 million in new funding will continue to…