Energy Assistance for Ukraine

Photo by Andrey Zaychuk on Unsplash

Photo by Andrey Zaychuk on Unsplash Ukraine’s power supply has suffered significant damage following a series of targeted missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russia over the past weeks,  Responding to this crisis, the EU has swiftly mobilised emergency energy assistance which is on its way to Ukraine. Austria, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands have…

Morocco-EU Partnership “More Crucial Than Ever”

Josep Borrel

The partnership between Morocco and the European Union is “more crucial than ever in the current geopolitical context”, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borell. The strengthening of this strategic partnership was the focus of a meeting on Wednesday between Borrell and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan…

Taiwan Earthquake: EU Response

Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash

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…

EU Solidarity with Taiwan

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Photo by Vas on Unsplash A top level delegation of MEPs, MPs and other officials is in Taiwan this week in order to “express solidarity” with the nation. The trip comes amid mounting tension between Taiwan and China. There are concerns in some quarters that China is set on a military showdown with Taiwan which it (China) claims…

Russian Sabotage of Dnipro Dam

Photo by Igor Lavrov

Less than a week ago, Russia held a so-called “presidential election” that once again confirmed that Putin’s rule poses a real threat to millions of people both inside and outside Russia.  On 22 March, Russia launched one of the largest attacks on Ukraine, using 151 aerial attack weapons: 63 strike UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type,…

EU-Ukraine Transport Dialogue

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Photo by Viktor Bystrov on Unsplash The third high-level meeting of the EU-Ukraine Transport Dialogue has taken place in Kyiv. The meeting on 21 March focused on efforts to keep Ukraine’s exports and imports moving via the Solidarity Lanes, improving connectivity, safety and security as well as sustainability. Reaction to the meeting came from the  EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean. The…

Visit of Jens Stoltenberg to Baku

Welcoming the Secretary General of NATO to Azerbaijan on 17 March, President Ilham Aliyev said that the NATO-Azerbaijan partnership has more than 30 years of good partnership. Azerbaijan participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Afghanista and is today modernizing its defense capability demonstrating a high level of professionalism. During many years of our discussions,…

Gaza Crisis

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Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash MEPs say they are “deeply concerned” about what they call “the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza. They say this includes the risk of imminent starvation. In a resolution adopted by 372 votes in favour, 44 against and 120 abstentions, MEPs called on Israel to immediately allow and facilitate full aid delivery…

Swedish accession to NATO widely welcomed

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Photo by Linus Mimietz on Unsplash A senior MEP has welcomed Sweden’s accession to NATO. Danuta Hubner, a Polish member, told this site: “Back in the 16th century Poland and Sweden acting together deprived Russia of its access to the Baltic Sea.” The former EU commissioner and Government Minister, added, “Now we have a chance again to be together in…

Freedom is Not a Word in China

A Brussels Conference has been told there is allegedly “no freedom of assembly, no freedom to protest, no freedom of religion in China.” Speaking at the event veteran rights campaigner Willy Fautre also warned that “the path forward is uncertain.” Fautre opened the conference “Unveiling Authoritarianism: Assessing China’s Governance and Human Rights Landscape”, at the Press…