The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) and the European Policy Centre (EPC) have launched a joint report, titled ‘Marching home? Why repatriating foreign terrorist fighters is a pan-European priority.’ The report is co-authored by Prof. Ian Acheson, Senior Advisor to CEP and Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst at EPC. The report examines why Europe needs to…
Defence
Safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy bolsters Taiwan-EU common values and interests
On September 14, the same day of the EU-China leaders’ meeting, Nathalie Loiseau, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defense, and Reinhard Bütikofer, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China, together with seven other prominent European political leaders, scholars, and experts, wrote to mainstream newspapers…
The responsibility of leadership
In the history of warfare, from time immemorial, the leaders of the participating countries take responsibility for their deeds, whether this means exulting in victory and triumph, or falling on their swords in bitter defeat, writes Philippe Jeaune. Such has been the case during the times of Alexander the Great, Tamerlane, Bonaparte and even Stalin….
Third Armenia-Azerbaijan Ceasefire Risks Collapse
A ceasefire brokered by the USA in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the mountainous frontier territory of Nagorno Karabakh has broken down in acrimony minutes after it came into effect earlier today. This is the third negotiated ceasefire in the dispute to risk collapse. Two earlier attempts failed to hold. Armenia has accused…
Belgium Remembers
It is feared that the health pandemic could affect this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Belgium. The coronavirus crisis is likely to have a financial impact on the local Poppy Appeal, given that it is feared the public may well be cautious about the risks of touching collection tins and the poppies themselves. Even so, the…
Nagorno Karabkh Fighting Flares up as World Leaders call for Peace
The United Nations Security Council met earlier today for an emergency debate called by Belgium and supported by France, Germany and Britain on the military conflict in Nagorno Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries have been locked in dispute for decades over the region, which belongs to Azerbaijan but is administered by Armenia. Following…
PKK’s Involvement in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict would Jeopardise European Security
The alarming reports that Armenia has been relocating Kurdistan Working Party (PKK) terrorists from Syria and Iraq to the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh to prepare for future hostilities and train Armenian militias is news of the sort that should keep you awake at night, not only in Azerbaijan but also in Europe. Changing the demographics…
Prohibit Nuclear Weapons
Fifty-six former presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers from 20 NATO member states, as well as Japan and South Korea, have issued an open letter calling on current leaders to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and two former NATO secretaries-general are among the co-signers. …
Control of EU Arms Exports
The European Parliament has called for stricter EU-wide controls on EU arms exports, better end-use control of exported arms, more coordination of national decisions on arms exports, a publicly accessible database on national arms exports and, for arms subsidised through the European Defence Fund, a sanctions mechanism for breaches of the eight EU export criteria….
Remembering 9/11
On Friday, 11 September 2020, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will join U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison at the 9/11 and Article 5 Memorial at NATO Headquarters to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Attendees will include permanent representatives of Alliance nations as well as…