Photo by Mika Baumeister 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…
Politics
UK Citizens’ Rights
Photo by Toni Pomar on Unsplash The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Citizens’ Rights, which looks at issues facing EU citizens in the UK and Britons abroad, is being relaunched and will meet for the first time next week. It will be hosted at the House of Commons by British MP Manuela Perteghella. Once MPs…
Peter Mandelson Appointed UK Ambassador to US
Photo by Harold Mendoza on Unsplash Europe finally has a heavyweight ambassador in Washington. A man who knows many of Europe’s leaders, he has devoted his adult life to arguing that the European Union needed more unity, more common purpose and can be a power for good for the world, writes Denis MacShane. Unfortunately the new…
Citizens’ Rights in the UK
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Citizens’ Rights, which looks at issues facing EU citizens in the UK and Britons abroad, will relaunch in the new year. New Europeans UK, which acts as the secretariat of the APPG, will hold the inaugural meeting at the House of Commons on 15 January, which will be hosted…
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…
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…
New European Commission Under Fire from Left
Some MEPs have signalled their strong disapproval of the new team of EU commissioners to serve under Ursula von der Leyen. MEPs voted to back the new team, or college, at the plenary in Strasbourg. The mainstream parties voted in favour of the new look commission. But the Left Group is particularly scathing, branding the…
Polish Presidency January to June 2025
Photo by Maksym Harbar on Unsplash Poland has outlined the political direction of the rotating presidency the country will hold from January to June 2025. Details were unveiled by the Polish Undersecretary of State, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. The central theme of the presidency is ‘security’, structured around seven key pillars: external, energy, economic, food, climate, health and information. This comprehensive…
Whatever it Takes, As Long as it Takes.
The European Parliament yesterday held an extraordinary plenary session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 1000 days of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Opening the sitting, its President Roberta Metsola said that Parliament would continue standing with Ukraine until it has “freedom and real peace, for as long as it takes.” Speaking in Brussels, she…
Trump Is Back
Irishman Pat Cox, a former President of the European Parliament, has two words for it: “Buckle up.” That is his short, sharp and sweet reaction to Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S election, one which has confounded many, including pollsters who got their predictions badly wrong. The result was confirmed on Sunday when Arizona, the…