Georgi Gotev
Slovak president sees security risk in ‘Putin’s motorcycle club’ activity
Slovak President Andrej Kiska says a recently established base in his country for a Russian motorcycle club known for its allegiance to the Kremlin presents a security risk for the EU and NATO country.
Trump predicts Iran talks ‘pretty soon’
US President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday (31 July) talks with arch foe Iran were imminent, despite silence from the Islamic republic's leaders to his offer for a meeting.
Belgium introduces security check fee for EU journalists
Belgium has introduced an unprecedented fee of €50 per semester for the security check of journalists attending EU summits. Moreover, the fee discriminates against journalists permanently residing in Belgium since those from abroad don’t need to pay the fee.
France, Spain, Portugal up energy links
France, Spain and Portugal agreed on 27 July to build an undersea power line in the Bay of Biscay as they up electricity links aimed at helping the Iberian peninsula out of its energy isolation.
Istanbul Convention ‘unconstitutional’ in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian Constitutional Court voted on Friday (27 July) to declare the Istanbul Convention unconstitutional. The Convention is the first instrument in Europe to create a comprehensive framework for the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence.
Russia tests the waters for Donbas referendum
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said on Thursday (26 July) that the question of holding a referendum in eastern Ukraine was touched upon at a meeting of representatives of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, the RIA news agency reported.
Trump pumps up the volume ahead of Juncker visit
US President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday (24 July) that imposing tariffs forces other countries to negotiate with Washington, a day before the European Union chief visits trying to prevent an all-out trade war.
Bannon to establish Brussels headquarters, targeting EU election
As EURACTIV wrote last March, an ‘agent provocateur’ has entered European politics, and his name is Steve Bannon, former senior advisor to President Donald Trump.
Roses instead of opium: Afghan farmers enjoy sweet smell of success
Standing in a field of roses in eastern Afghanistan, former poppy grower Mohammad Din Sapai quickly but carefully plucks the delicate petals that will be turned into rose water and oils for sale around the world.
Irish PM tours EU capitals as fears of hard Brexit grow
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar begins a tour of three European capitals to discuss Brexit and other issues on Monday (23 July), amid signs of continuing division between London, Brussels and Dublin on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit next year.
Prankster strikes again, catches Juncker out on Putin, Trump
In a recorded telephone call with a prankster impersonating Armenia's new prime minister, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker described Russian President Vladimir Putin as his friend but said US President Donald Trump couldn’t understand what the world is about.
Trump, Putin blame ‘forces in US’ for undermining Helsinki summit ‘success’
In separate statements on the same day (19 July), US President Donald Trump and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin blamed forces within the United States for marring what they called the success of their first summit.
EU Commission: Keep calm and brace for hard Brexit
The European Commission published on Thursday (19 July) a 17-page communication to businesses in the EU warning them of the consequences of a 'no deal' Brexit if the UK crashes out of the bloc next March .
Radio Free Europe resumes broadcasts for Bulgaria, Romania
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has announced plans to re-launch news services in Bulgaria and Romania in a bid to strengthen the media landscape in both countries. In both cases, it marks a return for RFE/RL: the company previously served...
EU to deploy border guards in Macedonia to curb migrants
The European Union said it struck a deal on Wednesday (18 July) with Macedonia to deploy border guards to the non-EU Balkan state to help cope with any migrant surges. Serbia and Bosnia are expected to follow.
EU and Ukraine in tug of war over Naftogaz unbundling
The European Commission has repeated its insistence on breaking up the Ukrainian national gas and oil monopoly Naftogaz, separating transmission from production and supply, which the country had agreed to as a condition for receiving massive Western financing.
EU begins screening Macedonia, Albania for mid-2019 accession talks
The European Union began screening the readiness of Balkan neighbours Macedonia and Albania yesterday (17 July) to start negotiations by June next year on joining the EU.
Why die for Montenegro, Trump asks
Answering a journalistic question, President Donald Trump yesterday (17 July) appeared to put in doubt the United States' obligation to defend all NATO allies.
Cypriot minister: We hope for resumption of reunification talks
Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Tuesday (17 July) there was new hope of resuming talks on Cypriot reunification, with a new UN envoy about to start meetings with all parties in an effort to relaunch the talks.
Trump’s submission to Putin stuns EU allies
The political class in the US, as well as many of Washington's European allies were astonished to watch Donald Trump playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands at the Helsinki summit on Monday (16 July).
EU and China get cozy, call to ‘improve’ world order
EU leaders in Beijing today (16 July) sought to offer an alternative to the disruptive international policymaking of US President Donald Trump, who called both EU and China ‘foes’.
On eve of Russia summit, Trump calls EU ‘a foe’
On the eve of his meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump rattled allies once more by labeling the European Union a "foe" with regard to trade.
Kremlin accuses Trump of trying to bully Europe into buying US LNG
The Kremlin yesterday (12 July) rejected US President Donald Trump's description of Germany as a "captive" of Russia due to its energy reliance, saying his statement was part of a US campaign to bully Europe into buying American energy supplies.