Did you know that about 6,000 British servicemen wed Belgian women and settled here after WW2? Or that Princess Margaret’s divorcee lover Peter Townsend was unceremoniously packed off to Brussels to avoid a scandal? If such things are new to you, then fascinating new research by Belgium-based UK expat Dennis Abbott will be right up…
Two Britons, killed during the WW2 Blitzkrieg, rest in the pretty Flemish cemetery of Peutie, among countless Belgian ex-combatants. Former UK journalist Dennis Abbott recently put crosses on the graves on behalf of the Royal British Legion during the Armistice commemoration week in November. But he is also looking for answers. What were those two…
The personal meeting of the presidents of Russia and Belarus in Sochi on September 14 showed that the Russian authorities were ready to provide Lukashenko with assistance in order to rapidly replace him with a more acceptable candidate for Moscow within the framework of the “Union State of Russia and Belarus”. The only public signal…
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…
On 4 September 1970, exactly 50 years ago, the Socialist doctor Salvador Allende won the presidential elections in Chile. It was a victory against the backdrop of the cold war and despite heavy meddling of US state agencies and private companies. And it was the first time in Latin America that a Socialist came to…
On the occasion of the anniversary of Nazi genocide of Roma 76 years ago, Roma activists call for a robust fight against the rise of far-right populism. They implore that Roma history and Roma genocide be taught across schools in Europe so that young people can understand and fight against existing fascism and racism in society. …
A new report by the charity Waterloo Uncovered reveals how archaeological work on the battlefield of Waterloo is helping Veterans and Serving Military Personnel with recovery from some of the mental and physical impacts of their service. Published to mark the 5th anniversary of the charity, and coinciding this week with the 205th anniversary of…
Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the last major war in Europe, paving the way for the great peace project of the European Union which has stood firm for seven decades. On his Twitter account Guy Verhofstadt states, “Today we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and to secure peace on our…
When you hear “Cyprus”, one of the things that comes to mind is the word “conflict.” Then, its beautiful beaches, paradise-like nature, and warm island culture. But you could not guess that this island nation, which is also part of the European Union, has been ruled against its constitution for more than half a century….
This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Revolution in Romania, an event that put an end to the communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu. The European Parliament has now recognised its significance in Europe’s common history. During a debate in Strasbourg, MEPs shared their views on the topic, ahead of the vote on a resolution…
