Delivering Cleaner Cars and Trucks in the EU

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Photo by Bro Takes Photos on Unsplash MEPs have adopted radical proposals to lower pollutant emissions and set battery durability requirements for passenger cars, vans, buses and trucks. The new rules have been passed by the EU parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Members adopted the so called “Euro 7” proposals with 52 votes…

Taiwan A Beacon of Democracy in Asia

Taiwan National Day

Taiwan’s Representative to the EU and Belgium says his country is “a reliable, trustworthy” partner for the West. Alexander Tah-ray Yui was speaking at an event at Brussels’ Autoworld car museum to celebrate Taiwan’s 112th National Day. He said, “I must admit that the venue is quite a peculiar setting to host a National Day…

Renewed Momentum for Balkan Enlargement

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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…

Commission Approves Pfizer Takeover of Seagen

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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

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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?

New Europeans

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

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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

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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…