Photo by Tam Minton on Unsplash Outrage. Disbelief. Mockery. Pity. These are some of the emotions stirred by the announcement by Donald Trump with the imposition of tariffs on every country in the world except Russia and North Korea. It is not immediately clear why he has decided to exempt the two most hated dictatorships…
Politics
Keir Starmer is a Modern Clement Attlee
Listening to Sir Keir Starmer explaining why standing up to Russian tyranny and bending over backward to get the United States to stay engaged in Europe is like reliving the early dramas of post-war Europe 1948-51, writes Denis MacShane. Starmer’s flat, uninspiring style is almost a parody of Clement Attlee’s dull clipped upper-middle class tones…
Kremlin Threat to Europe
Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash The Kremlin has long been playing a dangerous game, not only in Ukraine but across the broader European continent. With a clear goal to manipulate political processes and weaken Ukraine’s leadership, Moscow has been actively undermining President Zelensky’s legitimacy and pushing for his removal. This is no longer just…
Man Without Suit Meets Suit Without Man
Here in Belgium we think that we understand surrealism. But it can still be confusing, it can shock and it can also lead to the discovery of unexpected and unwelcome interpretations that change our view of the world. In my opinion there are four clear outcomes from last Friday’s highly publicised shouting match televised at…
Shortcomings in UK Voting System
A survey has uncovered alleged shortcomings in the UK’s voting system. Britons who live overseas were surveyed about their experience in receiving voting ballots in order to participate in last year’s UK general election. The aim was to see how well, or otherwise, the postal vote system performed for Britons living and working abroad. The…
Fight For The Soul Of Europe
The Left group in the European Parliament has warned it is getting ready for a fight for the soul of Europe. It says this comes with the new Arizona government in Belgium, conservatives cosying up to the AfD in Germany, and Meloni cracking down on the right to protest. The blunt message from the group…
European Green Party Elections
Vula Tsetsi and Ciarán Cuffe have been elected as co-chairs of the European Green Party (EGP), receiving near unanimous support from the Green parties across Europe. They supported their vision to take on the extreme right, and to bolster a green and just transition that benefits everyone. Reaction came from Tsetsi who said: “Politically, we are…
The Imperial Threat
Photo by Jacob Thorson on Unsplash Europe, a continent that has endured centuries of war, change, and struggles for peace, now faces challenges that seem eerily familiar. These challenges come from ideologies disregarding democratic principles, aligning with authoritarianism, and seeking to revive imperialistic narratives. The greatest threat to Europe today is not just external forces…
President Trump’s Second Term
Photo by Kowshik Roy sagor on Unsplash The United States is Europe’s closest and most important ally and partner. During a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, the transatlantic relationship remains indispensable, writes David McAllister. President Trump’s first term in office was characterised by unpredictability and a discrepancy between what he said and what his administration…
And So It Begins…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The European Union has been told it must stand on its own two feet, to fight both climate collapse and the rise of autocrats. The blunt message came from the European Greens as Donald Trump started his 2nd term as US president on Monday. It also follows President Trump’s…