Global Europe
Kazakhstan president visits Brussels in effort to deepen relations
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, paid a rare official visit to Belgium on Thursday and Friday (25-26 November) in an effort to present his country as a reliable partner to the EU and open the door to new opportunities.
Burned by Bulgaria veto, North Macedonia to ‘act more carefully’ on EU integration narrative, justice minister says
Partially attributing his party’s crushing defeat in the recent municipal elections to the stalling EU accession negotiations, North Macedonia’s justice minister Bojan Marichikj told EURACTIV the government in Skopje would be more careful in the future. The stand-off between Bulgaria...
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Fortress Europe
The mood on migration in Europe has changed, perhaps decisively. Whether at Greece’s sea border in the Aegean, the Polish frontier with Belarus, or the Channel, barriers are going up, physical or otherwise, and the prevailing mood among politicians, with strong public support, is to keep people out.
EU officials fear Ethiopian collapse amid ‘dramatic situation’
As European governments urge their citizens to leave Ethiopia and critical diplomatic staff are expelled, the EU is becoming increasingly concerned that the escalating civil conflict there risks unravelling the country entirely.
Ukraine president says coup plot thwarted involving Russians; Kremlin denies role
Ukraine has uncovered a plot for an attempted coup with the involvement of Russians, due to have taken place next week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (26 November) at a press conference.
Merkel in Poland: Russian aggression against Ukraine should lead to EU sanctions
The European Union must be prepared to enact more sanctions against Russia if the situation in and around eastern Ukraine or on the Belarus-Poland border escalates, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (25 November).
Italy, France sign ‘Quirinale Treaty’ as Merkel’s exit tests European diplomacy
The leaders of Italy and France will sign a treaty on Friday (26 November) to strengthen bilateral ties at a time when European diplomacy is being tested by the departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Over a coffee with Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana
In this Over a Coffee, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi and EURACTIV editor Benjamin Fox talk about his government’s handling of the pandemic and its economic and social effect, Botswana’s plans to overhaul its economy and EU relations.
Erdogan unbowed by critics, leaving little stopping lira’s collapse
Little stands in the way of Turkey's currency collapse expanding into a deeper economic crisis after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ignored appeals, even from within his government, to reverse policy, according to top officials and analysts.
Germany to remain part of NATO’s nuclear sharing under new government
Germany will remain part of NATO's nuclear sharing agreement under its new government, according to the coalition deal, a move that will prevent a rift in the Western military alliance at a time of rising tensions with Russia.
Serbian activists rally against laws on expropriation and referendum
About 2,000 protesters rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday (24 November) over the planned adoption of laws on expropriation and a referendum they say is designed by the government to help investors speed up their mining projects in Serbia.
Ukraine launches ‘special operation’ on Belarus border, holds anti-tank drills
Ukraine, which has accused Russia of massing troops and says Belarus could send migrants over its borders, launched an operation on Wednesday (24 November) to strengthen its frontier, including military drills for anti-tank and airborne units.Editor's picks
Putin tells EU chief concerned about Ukraine ‘provocations’: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (24 November) told European Council President Charles Michel he was concerned by Kyiv's "provocations" to inflame tensions in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
EU enlargement chief in Bosnia in effort to keep crisis from boiling over
European Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi travels to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday and Thursday (24-25 November) in an effort to defuse the ongoing political crisis in the country that is once again cracking along ethnic lines after a bloody 1992-95 war.
EU-Uzbekistan relations on the move
Uzbekistan held presidential elections on Sunday (24 October) amid little doubt that incumbent Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has opened the Central Asian country to the world in recent years, will be re-elected for another five-year term.
A new republic is born: Barbados celebrates ditching Britain’s queen
Barbados, a former British colony, will next week ditch Queen Elizabeth as head of state, breaking its last remaining imperial bonds with Britain nearly 400 years since the first English ship arrived at the Caribbean island. Barbados casts the removal...
Moscow says US rehearsed nuclear strike against Russia this month
Russia's defence minister on Tuesday (23 November) accused US bombers of rehearsing a nuclear strike on Russia from two different directions earlier this month and complained that the planes had come within 20 km (12.4 miles) of the Russian border.
Central Asia will not be involved in human trafficking to Belarus, Borrell says
The reach out by the EU in Central Asia on preventing human trafficking into Belarus has been 'fruitful' in the region, EU officials told reporters in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Wednesday (24 November).
Biden invites around 110 countries to virtual summit on democracy
President Joe Biden has invited around 110 countries to a virtual summit on democracy in December, including most of Western allies but not Hungary and Turkey, according to a list posted on the State Department website on Tuesday (23 November)....
EU observers report irregularities in Venezuela vote
An EU observer mission on Tuesday (23 November) reported irregularities in Venezuelan elections for governors and mayors over the weekend, in which opposition parties participated for the first time since 2017.
US imposes further sanctions on Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russia calls them ‘illegal’
The Kremlin on Tuesday (23 November) said new sanctions imposed by the United States in connection with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline were illegal and wrong, especially at a time when Moscow and Washington are attempting to rebuild dialogue.
Sanctions are now necessary to avert crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Union's failure to take a stronger stance against Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik risks deepening the political crisis engulfing Bosnia and Herzegovina, write Tineke Strik and Dietmar Köster.
Only nine EU countries still escape the US ‘Do Not Travel’ COVID-19 warning
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department added Germany and Denmark to a list of European countries where US nationals are advised not to travel, because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases.