On 20 and 21 September, regional elections are taking place in seven Italian regions. These elections will be of particular importance for a country that has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Italy is now engaged in the long and difficult path to recovery and needs progressive green forces to successfully emerge from the…
Mikhail Khodorkovsky has published a book presenting his vision of reform in a post-Putin Russia. “What is the Russia of my dreams? It is a country with national interests that lie in a speedy integration into the world economic system, with the opportunity to play a worthy role. It is a democratic state that observes…
The European Commission granted €211.7 million from the EU solidarity fund to Italy following the extreme weather damages in late October and November 2019. This EU assistance will contribute to alleviate the extraordinary financial burden of the severe damages caused by floods and landslides, including the flooding in Venice. It will finance retroactively the restoration of…
The pandemic caused by the coronavirus crisis has forced countries to join forces to overcome the consequences. This is especially true for countries with small budgets which have already had financial problems. The EU has joined forces and extended a helping hand to non-member countries, including Ukraine. Financial assistance, though, is not only intended to…
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) points out that a strong, diversified banking system with regional and community banks is essential for Europe’s future, stressing that European banks will play a key role in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. The EU’s Banking Union has to be in line with the social inclusion and sustainable development…
Brussels observers of the fight against corruption in Ukraine have expressed deep concerns about the efficiency of policies put in place in the last five years, during an online dialogue organised by the Brussels Press Club on 2 September, writes Willy Fautré. On 28 August 2020, the Constitutional Court declared a decree by President Petro…
Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament say they are following the developments of the political crisis in Bulgaria with “great concern.” S&D MEPs state their solidarity with the protesters and their demand for fair elections and upholding the rule of law. This is why the S&D Group will call for a plenary debate in the Parliament. S&D…
The European Commission has presented a proposal to the council for a decision to grant €5.9 billion in financial support to Portugal under the SURE instrument. This follows Monday’s proposals to the Council for decisions to grant financial support of €81.4 billion to 15 Member States under the SURE instrument. Including Portugal, the Commission is now proposing…
The European Commission has approved an investment of over €234 million from the cohesion fund to upgrade almost 117km of the Skawina-Zakopane railway line in Southern Poland. The project will improve the quality, efficiency and safety of railway transport between the towns of Skawina and Zakopane, and more generally on the Kraków-Zakopane corridor. Commissioner for…
Except for Captain Tom Moore, who recently captured the nation’s hearts for his fundraising efforts at the height of the pandemic, the most famous living son of the Yorkshire town of Keighley (the area I represented in Parliament from 2017 -2019) is probably Alistair Campbell, writes John Grogan. Whilst working for Tony Blair as Director of…
