Europe's East
Czech analyst: Eastern Europeans have lost faith in the EU
When countries in Central and Eastern Europe joined the EU, their expectations were high. Above all, they thought that they would quickly reach a Western standard living, Irah Kučerová told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Germany’s Free Democrats may stall EU reform hopes
A week before German elections, the storied Free Democratic Party looks set to recover from a historic 2013 defeat and return to parliament - where it could make Berlin a much more awkward partner for its European neighbours.
No compromises on Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea
Last week, EURACTIV.com published Here’s what a realistic Ukraine settlement may look like, an opinion editorial by Josh Cohen first carried by Reuters. Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, Mykola Tochytskyi, responded in kind.
Report: EU capacity to promote ‘values’ in the developing world declining
To say the EU’s ability to promote values through external action is declining may be an understatement. This time the observation is made in a report aimed at improving and making more coherent Union diplomacy and the way the bloc's taxpayer money is spent.
Russia sanctions should be phased out if Ukraine ceasefire holds: Germany’s Gabriel
European sanctions imposed on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis should be phased out gradually if an internationally agreed ceasefire deal was implemented, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said yesterday (11 September). The conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists has claimed more than 10,000 lives since it erupted in 2014. Germany and France have …
Here’s what a realistic Ukraine settlement may look like
The idea of Ukraine joining NATO should be taken off the table, but the issue of Crimea may be hardest to solve, writes Josh Cohen.
Russia asks UN to set up mission for east Ukraine
Russia asked the UN Security Council on Tuesday (5 September) to authorise the deployment of a lightly-armed mission to protect OSCE observers dispatched to monitor the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Minister: Multiculturalism flourishes in Kazakhstan
Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, spoke to EURACTIV.com about nuclear disarmament, relations with the big powers and his country’s example when it comes to multiculturalism.
Kazakh minister: Two ‘revolutionary’ stories are happening in Central Asia
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vassilenko, sheds light on important new developments in Central Asia, little known in the EU, and on the role of his country in major international issues.
US ‘actively reviewing’ lethal defensive arms supply to Ukraine
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday (24 August) stressed Washington's commitment to helping Ukraine's military, and said sanctions against Russia would remain in place until Moscow reversed its policy on Ukraine.
Gallup poll: Eastern Europe tops anti-migrant list
Nine out of the world's ten countries that are the least welcome to migrants are in Eastern Europe, according to the latest Gallup poll on migration published on Wednesday (23 August).
Ukraine sees itself victim of Russian ‘provocation’ in North Korea missile row
Ukraine called allegations about the use of Ukrainian technology in the North Korean missile program a “Russian provocation” on Tuesday (22 August).
Russian court rejects Siemens’ plea to seize its turbines in Crimea
A Moscow court has rejected a request by Siemens to seize its gas turbines, which have turned up in Crimea contrary to EU sanctions, and to ban their installation ahead of preliminary hearings next month, the court's ruling showed on Sunday (20 August).
Three risks and three scenarios for Ukraine
Between 2014 and 2017, Ukraine's leadership failed to transform the country's old post-Soviet Russia oligarchic system into a European and Western-style democracy. The transformation is inefficient and slow, and this entails risk, writes Roman Rukomeda.
German ex-Chancellor Schröder hits back in Russia row before vote
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder hit back at criticism of his planned new job at Russian oil producer Rosneft on Thursday (17 August), accusing his foes of political manoeuvring to help get Angela Merkel re-elected.
Astana Syria talks show Kazakhstan’s political independence from Moscow
In proposing Astana as the venue for the Syrian peace negotiations, Kazakhstan’s president Nursultan Nazarbayev certainly wasn’t expecting Turkey, one of the main regional players and a NATO member, to block the adoption of documents aimed at establishing the so-called “de-escalation zones” plan in Syria. Nevertheless, the temporary failure to achieve a result is rather a setback for Moscow, not for Astana.
US sanctions and Nord Stream 2: Every dog has its day?
The US’ new Russia sanctions only added fuel to the EU’s divisions over how to deal with Russian energy, write Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk, Bartosz Wiśniewski.
EU sanctions Russian deputy minister over Siemens turbines to Crimea
The European Union on Friday (4 August) imposed sanctions on three more Russians, including Deputy Energy Minister Andrei Cherezov, and three Russian companies over the delivery of Siemens' turbines to Moscow-annexed Crimea.
Europe should stop following US
President Trump walks the talk with his "America First". But US Congress also supports this mantra. It is high time that the EU defends its own legitimate interests, including with respect to trade and energy relations with Russia, writes Tom Sauer.
US House votes new sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea
The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday (25 July) to impose tough new sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia, a move that will antagonise the Kremlin as well as European nations fearing economic ramifications.
The Brief: Ukraine needs more than Normandy
The Normandy group of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine is failing to secure any kind of lasting ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. That's why the format needs to be extended to include the entire EU.
No end in sight to Ukraine fighting as Normandy format stumbles
The phone call lasted two hours. Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin on Monday (24 July) tackled the question of how to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, with little success. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Estonian ambassador: Trump is right, Europe should pay for own defence
Estonian Ambassador to Poland Harri Tiido explained the priorities of his country’s EU Presidency and talked about the current challenges facing Europe, in an interview with EURACTIV.pl.
Rebel leader: New state of ‘Malorossiya’ will replace Ukraine
The pro-Russian rebel leader of a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine proposed on yesterday (18 July) replacing Ukraine with a new federal state Malorossiya (Little Russia), in comments that could further undermine a 2015 peace deal that is already faltering.