Photo by Laurentiu Morariu on Unsplash The landmark Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has now been signed by almost half of all countries. This comes after a ceremony at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York where Sri Lanka acceded to the treaty and the Bahamas signed it. This means 97 states…
Politics
European Political Community
Photo by Danielle Rice on Unsplash A former Europe Minister in the UK has cast doubt on the new European Political Community (EPC). Denis MacShane is a widely respected political observer and served under Tony Blair’s premiership. The Labour veteran politician is partly dismissive of the EPC, the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. It is, says MacShane,“basically…
In the Frontline Against Authoritarian Expansion
October 2023 marks the 112th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and to celebrate Taiwan’s National Day it was my privilege to interview Taiwan’s new Head of Mission in Brussels, Mr Alexander Tah-ray Yui. Prior to his posting to Belgium, he was Taiwan’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. Q) 2024 will be…
Overseas Constituencies for UK Voters?
The interests of Britons living abroad would be better represented by constituencies representing their region of the world. That is one of the messages to emerge from campaigners who are pressing for the creation of overseas constituencies The reason is that this is where people are likely to have aligned interests and similar issues around matters such…
Will Sunak Drive Change?
Green Growth in France
Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash The European Green Party have congratulated the French Green Party Europe Écologie Les Verts (EELV) with its “impressive” growth in this week’s Senate elections. “Never before have there been so many Green members of parliament in France,” said the Green Party in a statement. Monday’s projections show a jump from 12 to…
Brexit Back to the Future
Photo by Andy Newton on Unsplash In 2020 the UK finally left the EU, three years after the referendum and nearly fifty years since it joined what was then called the European Economic Community. Nigel Farage confidently forecast that other Member States would soon follow suit, and that “after Brexit, the EU will no longer exist”. As…
Anti-terrorist Action by Azerbaijan in Karabakh
Photo by Orkhan Farmanli on Unsplash In a lightning operation earlier this week Azerbaijan disarmed the military infrastructure in Karabakh and dissolved the political system, describing the action as a solution to the peaceful reintegration of Armenians from Karabakh into the political and economic system of Azerbaijan. Very soon after the first military engagements began the EU issued…
“Our Star” Exhibition in European Parliament
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash A new exhibition will be held in the European Parliament this week as part of an ongoing campaign for the UK to re-join the EU. The “Our Star” exhibition takes place in the balcony area of the parliament’s Spinelli building from 19 to 21 September. The exhibition consists of…
Electoral Franchise to be Broadened in UK
Photo by Noah Peterson on Unsplash According to an article published in the UK Daily Telegraph, Sir Keir Starmer the leader of the UK Labour Party will extend the vote in the UK to millions of EU citizens if Labour wins the next general election. Under manifesto plans for the biggest expansion of the franchise…