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…
Council
Concerns about Hungary’s Presidency of Council
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. …
Belgium Targets Teenage Vote
EU to leave Energy Charter Treaty
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…
Use Frozen Russian Assets to Purchase Air Defence for Ukraine
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,…
Ethical Standards in the EU
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…
EU Summit Unwavering in Support for Ukraine
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…
Encouraging Ethical Conduct
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash The EU has moved a step closer creating an ethics body for all the EU institutions. This comes after the European Commission officially approved the agreement resulting from the negotiations among the EU institutions and bodies for the creation of the first ever interinstitutional ethics body. On Wednesday, it said this was an…
Environmentally Friendly Skies for EU?
Photo by Géraud Gordias on Unsplash The EU Council presidency and European Parliament’s negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the reform of the Single European Sky. The aim of the reform is to try to reduce aviation’s impact on environment and climate. It also hopes to improve the performance, organisation and management of European airspace. The legislative package consists of an amended proposal for the recast of the Single European Sky regulation and a proposal for a regulation amending the EU Aviation Safety Agency basic…
Taiwan Earthquake: EU Response
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash The EU has offered to provide aid to Taiwan after the island suffered a major earthquake. The powerful 7.4 magnitude tremor shook the island’s east coast, hitting on Wednesday morning, some 18 kilometers south of Hualien city and at a depth of 34.8 kilometers. This is the strongest quake to hit…