Global Europe

Global Europe Brief: Pandemic Fears

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU in the global perspective from our foreign affairs news team: Georgi Gotev and Alexandra Brzozowski.

Coronavirus threat hangs over Europe’s military exercises

As the coronavirus spreads in Europe, the US military is bracing for a possible spike in cases in Germany, which might put thousands of troops on lock-down or restricted movement across the continent, the head of the US European Command, Tod Wolters, announced.

Zelenskiy signals government reshuffle as experts warn against reform backpedal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signaled a potential reshuffle of his government on Wednesday (26 February) that local media said could include axing Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk in favor of businessman and veteran politician Serhiy Tihipko.

Serbia is a captured state

President Aleksandar Vučić alleges that democracy in Serbia is under attack by the opposition's decision to boycott the elections. On the contrary, writes Sergej Trifunović, we believe that Serbian democracy is under attack by the president and his party, whose actions have thrown Serbia into a political crisis.

Activists warn over slavery as Mauritania joins UN human rights council

Mauritania is backsliding in efforts to eliminate descent-based slavery, an activist and opposition member has warned, as the West African country joined the UN Human Rights Council for the first time this week.

Europe’s spy network kicks off in Zagreb

Twenty-three European countries signed a letter of intent for the Intelligence College in Europe in Zagreb on Wednesday (26 February), completing the creation of a network of intelligence agencies on the continent. EURACTIV Croatia reports.

Serbian democracy is under attack, indeed

The united front held by Serbia’s mainstream democratic opposition to boycott Vučić’s sham election at all levels is the only honorable and practical course of action, wrtites Vuk Jeremić.

Microsoft ‘in discussions’ with Germans on Gaia-X participation

Microsoft has revealed it has been holding talks with the German Economy Ministry over whether the company could be contracted as a supplier for Gaia-X, the ambitious European cloud network infrastructure initiative.

Serbia’s government simulates democracy

The key obstacle to free and fair elections is widespread voter repression by the regime of President Aleksandar Vučić, writes Nebojša Zelenović.

Crimean experts warn Russia has appetite for Black Sea, more Ukrainian land

Increasingly grandiose Russian military exercises in the Black Sea, compounded by the impending water crisis and a burgeoning defence industry in the Crimea, indicate that the security situation in Southern Ukraine may soon deteriorate, Ukrainian experts from Crimea warn.

EU voices concern about China’s jailing of bookseller

The EU criticised China on Tuesday (25 February) over the jailing of a Swedish book publisher, saying his rights were not respected.

US upbeat on Taliban peace, warns Afghan leaders

The United States voiced optimism Tuesday (25 February) about reaching an accord to end the war in Afghanistan as a partial truce held with the Taliban, warning rival leaders in the Kabul government not to scuttle the "enormous opportunity."

Europe’s military mobility: latest casualty of EU budget battle

The Commission's latest budget non-paper threatens to hamper flagship defence initiatives more than previous proposals. It was put forward on Friday (20 February) in an attempt to bridge the growing differences among EU leaders over the bloc's next seven-year budget.

Francophone group in warning over Guinea election

The international association of French-speaking countries warned on Monday (24 over the credibility of the electoral register in Guinea's upcoming votes.

EU hopefuls up climate game in Western Balkans

Montenegro and North Macedonia have both pledged to cut emissions and put a price on pollution, as new initiatives in the two Western Balkan countries aim to align climate policies more and more with EU norms and standards.

‘Partnerships’ to be at heart of EU-Africa strategy, leaked paper reveals

The EU will seek to put a series of policy-themed ‘partnerships’ at the heart of its EU-Africa strategy which will be formally launched in early March, according to a leaked draft obtained by EURACTIV.

Poroshenko fights selective justice ‘at the orders of Zelenskiy’

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is fighting a court decision to have him brought in by force for questioning by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). Poroshenko's lawyers and his party said this latest development illustrates what the West calls “selective justice” in Ukraine.

Erdogan announces Syria summit with France, Germany and Russia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday (22 February) said he would hold a summit with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany on 5 March to discuss the escalating violence in Syria's last rebel enclave of Idlib.

New Kosovo PM ready to revoke tariffs for Serbian goods

A few years ago, the newly elected Kosovo prime minister overturned Serbian trucks. But Albin Kurti now says he is ready to revoke tariffs introduced by his predecessor on Serbian goods.

Iran’s leader says enemies tried to use coronavirus to impact vote

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday (23 February) Iran's enemies tried to put people off voting in Friday's parliamentary election by exaggerating the threat of the new coronavirus but that participation had been good.

Global spread of coronavirus raises pandemic fears

Fears mounted on Monday (24 February) that the coronavirus outbreak in China will grow into a pandemic with disruptive and deadly consequences for countries around the world, after sharp rises in infections in South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Civil Society – the EU’s best partner in Central Asia

The EU needs to put civil society at the heart of its strategy to rebuild its political presence in Central Asia, writes Barbara von Ow-Freytag.

At EU summit, Merkel and Macron call Putin over Syria crisis

The leaders of Germany and France called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (20 February) to express their concern about the humanitarian situation in Syria’s Idlib region, expressing their readiness to meet in an effort to defuse the conflict.