Georgi Gotev
The Brief, powered by VDMA – Back to the Future of Europe
As soon as the EU has a new set of leaders, it stages its traditional extravaganza in the form of a big conference to discuss the ‘Future of Europe’. Every 10 years, there is a new one. Contrary to its...
The Brief – Travel in EU, the obstacle course
Travel has become a nightmare lately. In my journalistic capacity, I still do some travel in the EU during COVID-19, although sometimes I come to regret it. Because every country has its own rules. One requires that you bring a...
The Brief – The new fascism?
Last week's storming of the Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters calls for serious reflection. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has already published a blog post to that effect, titled “The events in Washington and what it means for Europe”.
Ruling party sweeps Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections
Kazakhstan’s ruling party Nur Otan looks set to sweep the parliamentary election held on Sunday (10 January), according to preliminary results, which show only two other parties passing the threshold to be represented in the next Mazhlis, the lower house of parliament.
Kazakhstan holds parliamentary elections
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree scheduling the parliamentary elections for the Majilis for 10 January 2021. The elections are seen as another step in the process of “controlled democratisation” of the former Soviet republic.
Bulgaria holds its horses with Pfizer, Moderna vaccines, puts hopes in AstraZeneca
For mass vaccination, Bulgaria's strategy appears to rely on a new vaccine by AstraZeneca, rather than on those by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, already approved in the EU, EURACTIV Bulgaria reported on Friday (8 January), based on leaked documents and unofficial information.
Kazakhstan abolishes capital punishment
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree abolishing the death penalty in Kazakhstan, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday (2 January).
Russian court sentences Kazakh kleptocrat to 15 years in prison
A Russian court sentenced on Tuesday (29 December) the former chairman of Kazakh BTA Bank's board of directors, Mukhtar Ablyazov, to 15 years in prison, Russian media reported. The story of Ablyazov, a fugitive for years, has been turned into a book as a striking example of the ability of post-Soviet kleptocrats to benefit from Western “hospitality”.
Georgia gets important designation in International Criminal Court
A Georgian national was elected for the first time as judge at the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) - an important designation for a country awaiting investigation of alleged war crimes committed during a short war with Russia in 2008.
How COVID changed geopolitics in 2020
Before winter holidays put an end to a very unusual year, EURACTIV takes a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the bigger picture of international relations.
EU summit aftermath: Slovak PM diagnosed with COVID
Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič has tested positive for COVID-19, the government office said on Friday (18 December). The announcement comes after the French presidency said that Emmanuel Macron had been diagnosed with coronavirus, which he might have contracted at an EU summit both leaders attended the previous week.
Sanchez, Michel isolate following Macron’s COVID diagnosis
Council President Charles Michel and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez entered self-isolation after the announcement on Thursday (17 December) that French President Emmanuel Macron had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Climate, Eurasian Union presidency among Kazakhstan’s 2021 priorities
Virtual conferences held in the run-up to Kazakhstan’s Independence Day on Wednesday (16 December) revealed the country’s priorities for 2021, including tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering on the Paris climate agreement and presiding over the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Putin congratulates Joe Biden on US election victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (15 December) congratulated Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election, after Biden won the state-by-state Electoral College vote that officially determines the US presidency, the Kremlin said.
Turkey ‘upset’, but undeterred by US sanctions and EU threats
Turkey will not abandon its rights and interests in the eastern Mediterranean because of possible European Union sanctions or criticism, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Monday (14 December), the day when the US effectively sanctioned Ankara.
The Brief, powered by Goldman Sachs – Where have the populists gone?
Where have Europe’s far-right populists disappeared to? Where are Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, Matteo Salvini and the others? There has not been a peep from them for a long time – almost since COVID-19 came about.
Borrell dreams of ‘making multilateralism great again’
In a strategic article published on Monday, the EU chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, depicts the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world affairs, warning of growing divergences between world players, backsliding in terms of global poverty and strengthening of the authoritarian regimes.
Kazakhstan seeks to improve its human rights record
Kazakhstan, a post-Soviet country which has been repeatedly criticized by Western rights group, is passing legislation to improve its standing on human rights.
US Senate backs massive arms sales to UAE
An effort to stop President Donald Trump’s high-tech weapons deals with the UAE fell short in the US Senate as Trump’s fellow Republicans opposed resolutions of disapproval seeking to block the sale of drones and advanced F-35 fighter jets.
The Brief, powered by Facebook – EU summits as storms
There are several established methodologies to measure tropical storms and hurricanes, but none for measuring EU summits. Most summits will not be remembered in EU history, Some bring memories thanks to anecdotes outside the summit room, like Jacques Chirac answering...
The Brief, powered by Facebook – Journalism from the couch
Nine months have elapsed since journalists have had no other choice but to exercise their profession from the couch. Press briefings are held online, leaders speak in front of a microphone with no one behind it. Even institutional leaks are...
Commission welcomes arrival of ‘Caspian gas’ to EU countries
The European Commission welcomed on Friday (4 December) the start of the operations of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the last stretch of the Southern gas corridor, thanks to which gas pumped from the Shah Deniz offshore gas field in Azerbaijan started reaching Italy.
Michel says Turkey should stop playing ‘cat and mouse’ with EU
Turkey has not de-escalated its stand-off with Greece in response to diplomatic outreach, European Council chief Charles Michel said on Friday (4 December) and warned that EU member states would now consider “the means at our disposal”, which most probably means sanctions.