The new-look European Commission has been unveiled by its President Ursula von der Leyen. Outlining the new team to MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the German official told deputies that gender balance had been uppermost in her thoughts. The college, as it is formally called, comprises 11 women, 40 per cent of the…
Photo European Parliament Press Service European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented to the European Parliament her proposal for the new European Commission. On Tuesday, speaking in Strasbourg to MEPs, she told MEPs her thoughts on the new line up. The former German defence minister said, “We do not have the…
New French PM Michel Barnier will give “some much-needed ballast to France’s somewhat unstable leadership”. That is the view of a former vice president of the European parliament. Edward McMillan-Scott was speaking to this website after Barnier’s appointment on Thursday. Known in France as Monsieur Brexit, Barnier, who is 73, is France’s oldest prime minister since…
The centre-right European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament has been constituted. Nicola Procaccini (Fratelli d’Italia, Italy) and Joachim Brudziński (PiS, Poland) are the new joint leaders Assita Kanko (N-VA, Belgium), Hermann Tertsch (Vox, Spain), Alexandr Vondra (ODS, Czech Republic) and Charlie Weimers (Sverigedemokraterna, Sweden) are its deputy leaders. Meanwhile, Denis Nesci (Fratelli d’Italia) and Kosma Złotowski (PiS, Poland) have been elected as co-treasurers. …
The Left Group in the European Parliament has decided to welcome Movimento 5 Stelle to its ranks. The Left and M5S say they have agreed to join forces with what they call “a reciprocal observer status.” A statement confirming the move said, “We are confident that we will cooperate in a constructive and productive way…
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash Russia’s war against Ukraine and the need for continuous EU support for Ukraine has again come under the spotlight for MEPs. The topic was debated by the European Parliament. S&D leader Iratxe García reaffirmed the EU’s “full support for Ukraine, denounced Russia’s violation of international law and the UN Charter, and…
Photo by SnapSaga on Unsplash After the military clashes of 2020 and 2023 and numerous diplomatic meetings in different formats, the longest-running conflict in the post-Soviet space is closing. Azerbaijan and Armenia are ready to sign a peace treaty. Work on the text of the agreement continues, but in the latest, tenth version, Baku explicitly called for the…
In what some have called a “pivotal moment” for the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as the President of the European Commission. With 401 votes in favour, von der Leyen (VDL) will serve once more as the head of the EU’s executive. She was re-elected by MEPs in Strasbourg a secret ballot on…
MEPs will vote today to decide if Ursula von der Leyen serves another term as EC president. The former German defence minister has served as head of the Commission since 2019. The result of the keenly awaited vote by MEPs will be known later today. She faces competition from other candidates, including ECR Co-Chairman Nicola…
Photo by Eduard Delputte on Unsplash The European Union this week decides on its leaders and who will steer the 27-strong bloc for the next five years. With bitter wars still waging in Ukraine and the Middle East and countless other crises, the votes on EU leaders come at a pivotal time for both the Union and wider…
