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Global Europe Brief, powered by FACEBOOK: Central Asia in the shadow of Afghanistan
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU from a global perspective. You can subscribe to receive our newsletter here. In this week’s edition: Central Asia focus, AUKUS fallout and dissecting SOTEU on defence. /// As Afghanistan...
Central Asia in EU’s spotlight as region faces stability question over Afghanistan
As Afghanistan faces a looming humanitarian crisis following the Taliban's takeover, the country's neighbours are worried about security threats and increased refugee waves coming across their borders.
MEPs prepare the ground to cut ties with Russia’s parliament
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday (16 September) making a clear distinction between the Russian people and the regime of President Vladimir Putin, which it called a “stagnating authoritarian kleptocracy led by a president-for-life surrounded by a circle of oligarchs”.
Georgieva pressured World Bank employees to favor China in report
World Bank leaders, including then-Chief Executive Kristalina Georgieva, applied "undue pressure" on staff to boost China's ranking in the bank's "Doing Business 2018" report, according to an independent investigation released Thursday (16 September).
Google, Apple remove Navalny app from stores as Russian elections begin
Alphabet's Google and Apple have removed jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's tactical voting app from their stores, his team said on Friday, after Russia accused the US tech firms of meddling in its internal affairs.
France says Biden acted like Trump to sink Australia defence deal
France accused US President Joe Biden on Thursday (16 September) of stabbing it in the back and acting like his predecessor Donald Trump after Paris was pushed aside from a historic defence export contract to supply Australia with submarines.
Taiwan calls for quick start to trade talks with EU
Taiwan’s government called on the European Union to quickly begin trade talks after the bloc pledged to seek a trade deal with the tech-heavyweight island, something Taipei has long angled for. The EU included Taiwan on its list of trade...
Ryanair eyes aggressive expansion in Ukraine, banks on migrant workers
Ryanair is planning aggressive expansion in Ukraine if the country joins the European Union's Open Skies deregulated aviation market in the coming months, Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on Thursday (16 September).
EU aims for bigger diplomatic weight on Indo-Pacific matters
The European Union outlined on Thursday (16 September) a new strategy for raising its presence in the Indo-Pacific and counter China's increasing influence in the region, which has become the latest arena of the international geopolitical race.
Von der Leyen offers African energy investment and more vaccine promises
Investment in green energy and new promises on vaccine supply were the only offers to Africa made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week, as the EU’s plans to boost relations with its southern neighbour continent continue to sit on the back burner.
Brussels should follow Biden’s lead in engaging Russia
Putin's Russia is a consistent source of tension among EU countries, but a certain degree of engagement with this country could deliver tangible benefits for the EU on increasingly urgent issues such as climate change, the Arctic, and cybersecurity, writes Nick Lokker.OpinionPromoted content
The stability question: EU’s foreign policy choices
On June 26th, a visit mandated by the EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Joseph Borrell, took place in Georgia. Vlad Olteanu is the founder of I3pact EU. Alexander Schallenberg, Minister for European and International Affairs...Editor's picks
Macron says French forces killed Islamic State leader in Sahara
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (15 September) that French military forces had killed Islamic militant Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the leader of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.
Germany, France warn Mali over Russian mercenary deal
Germany warned Mali on Wednesday (15 September) that a deal with Russian private security group Wagner would "call into question" its deployment in the West African country as part of United Nations and European Union missions.
Von der Leyen rides two horses on EU defence
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a pitch on Wednesday (15 September) for stronger European defence, saying the bloc needs to boost its own military capacity but fell short of setting out clear proposals, particularly on how this...
Will the World Tourism Organization leave Madrid for Riyadh?
Will the World Tourism Organization leave Madrid for Riyadh? Stricken at the thought, Spain is making major diplomatic efforts to prevent Saudi from snatching the only UN agency headquartered in the Iberian peninsular.
A giant leap towards energy sustainability: The African single electricity market
Creating a single electricty market across Africa is an immmense task, but will mean cheaper, reliable and renewable electricity, increasing the number of people who have access to power, writes Johan van den Berg.
US says nearly 500 Afghan citizens evacuated from Uzbekistan
The United States said Tuesday (14 September) it had evacuated nearly 500 "military and civilian" Afghans from Uzbekistan, while the Central Asian country declared there were now no Afghan refugees on its territory.
African Union slams vaccine manufacturers for restricting access
The African Union on Tuesday (14 September) accused manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines of denying African countries a fair chance to buy them, and urged manufacturing countries - in particular India - to lift export restrictions on vaccines and their components.
Putin meets Assad, takes swipe at US and Turkish forces in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin received his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad for the first time since 2018 and criticised foreign forces that are in Syria without permission or a UN mandate - a rebuke of the United States and Turkey.
Deal allowing Russian mercenaries into Mali is close – sources
A deal is close that would allow Russian mercenaries into Mali, extending Russian influence over security affairs in West Africa and triggering opposition from former colonial power France, seven diplomatic and security sources said.
How Paris attacks prompted tougher Greek migrant checks
In a tented courtyard in the migrant camp on Greece's Leros island, a dozen new arrivals await registration after two weeks in COVID-19 quarantine.
Donors pledge $1.1 billion for ‘collapsing’ Afghanistan
Donors have pledged more than $1.1 billion to help Afghanistan, where poverty and hunger have spiralled since the Islamist Taliban took power, and foreign aid has dried up, raising the spectre of a mass exodus.