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…
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…
Photo by Maximalfocus on Unsplash The EU Commission said it welcomes Monday’s agreement by G7 leaders on International Guiding Principles on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a voluntary Code of Conduct for AI developers under the “Hiroshima AI process.” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was among those who subscribed to the G7 leaders’ statement issued by the 2023 Japan G7 presidency….
Photo by NEOM on Unsplash The EU has pledged to plush for “unprecedented” protection for the world’s oceans. This comes after EC President Ursula von der Leyen signed, on behalf of the EU, a new “Treaty for the High Seas.” The document is also known as the ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction’ (BBNJ) treaty. The EC calls it a “landmark treaty”…
Photo by Gian Luca Pilia on Unsplash The return of the wolf to EU regions where it has been absent for a long time is increasingly leading to conflicts with local farming and hunting communities, says the EU Commission. It says this especially so where measures to prevent attacks on livestock are not widely implemented. EC President Ursula von…
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash The European Commission has defended the appointment of Frans Timmermans’ successor to the college. This comes in the wake of criticism from some quarters about the choice of Wopke Hoekstra for the post. In a statement, President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she had interviewed Hoekstra, the candidate put…
Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash The European Commission has agreed to pay a sixth tranche of €1.5 billion under the macro financial assistance Plus package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. With this instrument, the EU says it seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with “stable, predictable and sizeable” financial support in 2023. With the latest payment, Ukraine has received…
Photo by Jannik on Unsplash The EU and NATO share a common interest in preventing disruptions to critical infrastructure that provides essential services to citizens and supports their economies. Russia’s war against Ukraine has, says the EU and NATO, brought “new risks, physical and cyber-attacks, often combined as a hybrid threat.” The EU and NATO have now announced…
Photo by Luis Vidal on Unsplash The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Mexico on Thursday (15 June) to meet President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This was the first visit of the head of the European Commission to Mexico in 11 years and it aimed to relaunch the bilateral relationship and the Strategic Partnership…
The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has proposed a further €5 billion in macro-financial assistance (MFA) loans to Ukraine. It says this is the second part of the exceptional MFA package of up to €9 billion announced by the Commission of 18 May 2022 and endorsed by the European Council of 23-24 June. The…
