Bütikofer Appeals for Co-ordinated Humanitarian Action in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

German Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer has voiced concern at the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan. The MEP, foreign policy coordinator of the Greens/EFA group, was speaking in the context of frantic international efforts to airlift as many endangered individuals as possible out of Afghanistan before August 31. Said Bütikofer “President Biden is not only encountering severe domestic criticism over his…

How to Protect those fleeing the Taliban?

Afghan women and children fleeing the Taliban

The head of a leading NGO has voiced concern at the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. Alva Finn, Director of Social Platform told this website, “As the world watches helplessly as the horrifying situation in Afghanistan unfolds, the EU must do whatever it can to protect those fleeing the Taliban – especially women and children.” This includes:…

NATO Concern As Afghanistan Government Collapses

Afghan Collapse

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has voiced concern at the current situation in Afghanistan. On Monday, he said, “NATO Allies met in the North Atlantic Council today to consult on the situation in Afghanistan. We continue to assess the developments on the ground, and we are in constant contact with the Afghan authorities and the…

Giegold Calls for Protection of Afghan Employees of EU Missions

Sven Giegold MEP

German Greens MEP Sven Giegold has called on the EU to offer protection for locally employed civilians in Afghanistan. He said, “The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has also put the local personnel of EU missions in the country at imminent risk. At least 600 local staff and their close family members of the EU Police…

Defending CAR, or Guarding King Solomon’s Mines?

UN Troops in CAR

The hottest topic in the Central African Republic (CAR) with local residents and the concerned international community alike is the continued need for the presence of UN troops in the CAR.  Pundits have slammed the inefficiency of UN peacekeeping missions, since those deployed to conflict-torn countries generally fail to deliver on the main aim of…

Parliament Takes Action on Rogue State Belarus

Sandra Kalniete

Tomorrow, 8 June, the European Parliament will strongly condemn systematic repression in Belarus and the consequences for European security and freedom following the abduction of Roman Protasevitch and Sofia Sapega from a hijacked EU Rynair flight. “If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Nearly all men can stand adversity,…

Is France Trying to Destabilise the CAR?

French Troops in CAR

The security forces of the Central African Republic  (CAR) detained a French citizen this week and seized an impressive cache of weapons and intelligence equipment. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the suspect Mr. Quignolot had been in the CAR since 2013. He took part in the organisation of a coup in the CAR…

EU Cybersecurity Strategy

cybersecurity

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes the proposed new package of EU cybersecurity measures but points to weaknesses in addressing Europe’s huge cyber skills gap. Critical entities also need streamlining, simplification and clearer application guidelines, in the EESC’s view. Overall, the EESC hails the new EU cybersecurity strategy as a positive step towards…

Russia’s militant policy in the post-Soviet space

Russia's Militant Policy

The dominant role of Russia in the post-Soviet space is an illusion and a delusion. Moscow is no longer seen by its neighbours as a centre of political, military and economic integration. Over the past 30 years, the Kremlin has not provided a viable ideological basis for unification. Russia considers the post-Soviet countries to be…

EU Condemns Russian Terrorist Acts in Czech Republic

Russian Secret Service Operatives accused of terrorist act in Czech Republic

Today, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs briefed the North Atlantic Council on activities by Russian operatives inside the Czech Republic, which resulted in the explosions in 2014 of ammunition storage depots at Vrbetice.  The explosion caused the deaths of two people who worked at the site as well as very substantial material damage. The…