Photo by Despina Galani on Unsplash The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has just held the 9th edition of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum on (19-20 October). It comes a few weeks ahead of the European Commission’s Enlargement Package and the New Growth Plan. The Forum signalled a renewed momentum for the region to join the…
Author: Our Staff Correspondent
Commission Approves Pfizer Takeover of Seagen
Photo by pina messina on Unsplash The European Commission has unconditionally approved the proposed acquisition of Seagen by Pfizer, under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns in the European Economic Area (‘EEA’). Seagen and Pfizer are pharmaceutical companies. In the EEA, the companies’ marketed and pipeline products overlap in the treatment of several…
Romania-Ukraine MOU
Photo by Olga Prudnikova on Unsplash The European Commission says it welcomes the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Romania and the Government of Ukraine. The executive said on Wednesday this will further contribute to increasing the capacity of “Solidarity Lanes”, especially considering the damage caused to the transport infrastructure of Ukraine due to the…
Overseas Constituencies for UK Voters?
The interests of Britons living abroad would be better represented by constituencies representing their region of the world. That is one of the messages to emerge from campaigners who are pressing for the creation of overseas constituencies The reason is that this is where people are likely to have aligned interests and similar issues around matters such…
Interview with MP Sabir Rustamkhanli
Q: There are many claims that in September 2023, the Armenian population of the Garabagh region was subjected to “ethnic cleansing” by Azerbaijan. What is your comment on these statements? A: These are completely fabricated and claims of parties interested in maintaining tension in the region. Think for yourself, Azerbaijan has used all political and…
EP Hearings for Hoekstra and Šefčovič
Photo by Nauris Pūķis on Unsplash Members of the European Parliament have assessed the written answers of Commissioner-designates Wopke Hoekstra (Climate Action) and Maroš Šefčovič (Executive Vice-President in charge of the Green Deal). The EPP Group said it “fully” endorses the nomination of Hoekstra as the new European Commissioner for Climate Action while the Socialists and Democrats have say…
New European Prosecutor Appointed
Photo by Joel & Jasmin Førestbird on Unsplash Member states have appointed a new European prosecutor to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Miranda de Meijer will serve a term for a non-renewable period of six years which will start on 1 November. This appointment takes place in the context of the partial renewal of the EPPO College. As…
Green Growth in France
Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash The European Green Party have congratulated the French Green Party Europe Écologie Les Verts (EELV) with its “impressive” growth in this week’s Senate elections. “Never before have there been so many Green members of parliament in France,” said the Green Party in a statement. Monday’s projections show a jump from 12 to…
Violence Against Roma in Italy
Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash Concern has been voiced after a Roma camp has come under suspected far-right attack. The incident comes in the light of increasing social tensions in Italy, A Molotov bomb was reportedly thrown from a slowly moving Fiat Punto that drove past the Sinti village in San Giorgio a Colonica a Prato near Florence, in Italy. The bomb…
University Students Feel the Pinch
Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash New data reveals that more than seven in 10 (71%) university students in the UK in 2023 hold part-time jobs, compared to six in 10 (60%) former students. As a result, students in the UK are managing to save an average of £399 of their annual loan for the future, with more than…