Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash Hungary has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at one of the most difficult periods for the EU and rest of the world in recent times. It took charge of steering the EU for the next six months on July 1. Belgium had been in holder of the…
The North Atlantic Council has decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s next Secretary General. He takes over at a critical point in the future of the alliance and with the bitter war in Ukraine still rumbling on. Rutte, long time PM in the Netherlands, succeeds Jens Stoltenberg. Rutte will assume his…
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash EU leaders converged on Brussels on Thursday for a key summit. They will discuss the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, the next institutional cycle, Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence and competitiveness. EU council president Charles Michel said this will be a “particularly significant meeting”. Speaking just ahead of the meeting, he said it…
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash At this moment of great instability, the European Union is looking for new leaders, writes Andrew Duff. The decisions it faces are delicate and critical. With the national elections for the European Parliament taking place in 27 member states on 6-9 June, the question is: Can they deliver the leadership the EU…
Photo by Keszthelyi Timi on Unsplash Concerns have been expressed about Hungary’s upcoming presidency of the EU. On July 1 Hungary takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time. The Hungarian presidency comes at a crucial time for the EU, with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, a migration crisis and an economy under pressure. …
Photo by Renee Van Wesep on Unsplash Belgium will be targeting the teen vote in the upcoming Euro elections. For the first time in the country, 16 and 17 year olds will be allowed to vote in the poll which runs from 6 to 9 June. It is seen as an innovative move by and EU member state…
Photo by Christian Dubovan on Unsplash Campaigners have applauded a decision to escape “the sinking ship of a treaty.” This comes after the Council of the EU – Member States – on Thursday adopted a “historic decision” to withdraw the European Union from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The ECT is an international investment treaty from the 1990s…
Photo by Rostislav Artov on Unsplash A petition has been delivered to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo calling on the Belgian Government to take a leading role in providing air defence systems to Ukraine. In delivering the open letter, a campaign spokesperson said, “The Russian central bank holds approximately €210 billion in assets within the European Union,…
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash The European Parliament has approved the creation of a new EU body to help strengthen integrity, transparency, and accountability in European decision-making. The agreement was reached between Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the…
Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash EU leaders have given their “full unwavering support to Ukraine.” This came on the first day of a two days summit in Brussels. On Thursday, a statement was issued which also sought to underline EU “determination to closely monitor and contain any risks stemming from disinformation, including through artificial intelligence, as well…
