Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash Local government and community groups have called for a “stronger and just “ EU Green Deal. The message was made when nearly 500 European policymakers, community-led initiatives, scientists and civil society organisations came together this week. They took part in a policy event “Making the European Green Deal Strong and Real: Harnessing the…
Regions
EU Enlargement for Ukraine and Moldova
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash MEPs say “it is with great satisfaction” that the European Commission has recommended to start EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. This comes after the European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package. It provides a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,…
EU Business Faces Labour and Skills Shortages
Photo by Kumpan Electric on Unsplash Companies throughout Europe are facing growing labour and skills shortages, it has emerged. The issue was highlighted by BusinessEurope, the organisation that represents the business community in Europe. The Brussels based group published the results of a new survey of European companies which, it says, “underscores the skills and recruitment challenges that…
Protecting the Quality of Life of Rural Populations
Photo by Adele Payman on Unsplash Europe’s local and regional leaders have warned that the EU’s long-term sustainable development cannot be achieved without strong and sustainable rural areas and the complete integration of rural communities into the European project. A declaration adopted on 31 October at the European Committee of the Regions’ Bureau meeting in Logroño, Spain, stresses that…
Protecting Democracy
Photo by Fred Moon on Unsplash President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has voiced concern at the rise of disinformation. The MEP said it was “an absolute danger.” She was speaking at the University of Sorbonne in Paris on Monday. The Maltese deputy said, “Disinformation has affected our liberal democracies and societies since the turn of the…
Search and Rescue in the EU
Photo by Neil Mark Thomas on Unsplash MEPs say they want to “underline” that the EU border force Frontex could do more to increase the EU and member states’ capacity to carry out search and rescue operations. It could do this, they say, by investing in appropriate assets for such operations. Regarding the shipwreck off the coast of…
MEPs Call for “De-Oligarchisation” in Moldova
Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash MEPs want the EU to push for accession talks with Moldova. In a parliamentary resolution, MEPs have voted to reaffirm their commitment to Moldova’s future EU membership and want accession talks with Chişinău to launch before the end of the year. The Moldovan government has, MEPs say, “demonstrated its determination and ability”…
Renewed Momentum for Balkan Enlargement
Photo by Despina Galani on Unsplash The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has just held the 9th edition of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum on (19-20 October). It comes a few weeks ahead of the European Commission’s Enlargement Package and the New Growth Plan. The Forum signalled a renewed momentum for the region to join the…
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…
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…










