Photo by Lukas S on Unsplash President of the EU Council Antonio Costa says now is the time to strengthen Ukraine for all scenarios. He was speaking at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, the last such summit of the year. His comments come with the bitter war in Ukraine grinding on…
Foreign Affairs
€4.1 bn Approved For Ukraine Facility
Photo by Glib Albovsky on Unsplash The EU Commission says it is allocating a further €4.1 billion under its Ukraine Facility to support the functioning of Ukraine’s public administration during the ongoing bitter war with Russia. This will bring to €16.1 billion the total funds disbursed in 2024 in support of the EU’s Ukraine Plan….
Manipulating Reality
Photo by Julius Drost on Unsplash Russia is waging war against Ukraine in the forests of Kharkiv, the steppes of Kherson, and the coal dumps of Donbass. However, the battlefield extends beyond Ukraine’s east and south. Russia’s use of rockets, guided bombs, tanks, and artillery is matched by its strategic war on the information front,…
Hundreds of UNHWRA Staff are Hamas Members
Israel clearly believes that there is an alternative to UNWRA. “Only 13 of the humanitarian aid trucks to Gaza enter through UNWRA. It is false to say that UNWRA is the backbone of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The majority of aid is going through other agencies and NGOs,” says a senior Israeli official who met…
Iratxe García Meets Zelenskyy
A senior MEP has used a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to warn that the West is facing a critical geopolitical period. S&D leader in the EU Parliament Iratxe García met with Zelenskyy on 11 December and reiterated her group’s continued full support to Ukraine for whatever it takes to win the war. The…
Kazakhstan Strengthening Human Rights
Photo by Joel Heard on Unsplash As the Vice Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan, I am proud to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to advancing human rights and adhering to international standards, writes Botagoz Zhakselekova. One of the key mechanisms through which we pursue these goals is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a process under…
Russia’s Strategic Withdrawal from Syria
Photo by Ahmad Sofi on Unsplash In a surprising development, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has announced his decision to step down and leave Syria, directing the government to transfer power peacefully. This unexpected move marks a dramatic shift in the political landscape of the Middle East. It raises questions about Syria’s future stability and the…
Mogherini appointed Rector of College of Europe
Photo by Hongbin on Unsplash The former EU foreign affairs chief has been elected for a second term at the helm of the College of Europe in Bruges. Francesca Mogherini has been the Rector of the College of Europe since September 2020. She has also been director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy, implemented by…
Georgian Struggle for Freedom
Photo by Tbel Abuseridze on Unsplash The European Union says it regrets the Georgian Dream’s decision not to pursue the opening of EU accession negotiations and rejecting EU financial support until 2028. A statement from the EU said the announcement marks a shift from the policies of all previous Georgian governments and the European aspirations…
Hong Kong Violating Human Rights
Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash MEPs have raised concerns over Hong Kong, notably the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law. The Hong Kong government must, say Euro members, immediately and unconditionally release all pro-democracy politicians, activists and journalists sentenced on national security charges and drop…