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…
Politics
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…
Free Belarus!
Photo by Andrew Keymaster on Unsplash The EU parliament is currently staging an exhibition on Belarusian political prisoners. The exhibition ‘Belarusian martyrology – political prisoners in Belarus’ invites visitors to get acquainted with the life stories, portraits and voices of the people who chose democracy over dictatorship. Belarusian artist Xisha Aniolowa started creating portraits of political prisoners in 2020. She…
The Proof of the Pudding
Photo by Ian Dooley on Unsplash It is said that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill clearly endorsed this when he sent back to the kitchen a dull dessert, complaining that the pudding had no theme. It raises the question as to which pudding best represents the…
UK National Rejoin March
Democracy Under Threat in Africa
Photo by Random Institute on Unsplash MEPs have voiced concern at the “alarming” situation in west and central Africa for democracy. On 30 August, immediately after ballots closed in Gabon and President Ali Bongo was officially elected for a third term, a group of military officers announced his removal from office, his arrest and the…
European Parliament 2024 Elections
Photo by Yellow Cactus on Unsplash MEPs will vote this week on the composition of the European Parliament for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term. Taking into account demographic changes in the Member States, Parliament initially proposed an updated distribution that would provide for a minimum of additional seats. This is also said to respect the principle of “degressive proportionality” without…
EU Condemns Sham Elections as Illegitimate
Photo by Lukáš Lehotský on Unsplash The European Union says it “strongly condemns” the holding of local elections in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has “temporarily” occupied. A strongly worded statement issued on Monday called the elections “illegitimate”. They were held at the weekend in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol and in…