Global Europe
China’s Xi meets top EU leaders to strengthen ties
The leaders of China, France, Germany and the EU were set to meet in Paris on Tuesday (26 March) for "unprecedented" talks on how to improve ties, despite growing jitters over Beijing's massive investments in Europe.
US calls Russia deployment of planes to Venezuela ‘reckless escalation’
The United States on Monday accused Russia of “reckless escalation” of the situation in Venezuela by deploying military planes and personnel to the crisis-stricken South American nation that Washington has hit with crippling sanctions.
Estonians pay homage to victims of Soviet deportations
Thousands of Estonians lit candles across the Baltic state on Monday (25 March) in memory of the victims of Soviet mass deportations launched 70 years ago that saw tens of thousands sent to labour camps in Siberia, where many of them died.
Jordan’s king cancels Romanian trip over Jerusalem row
Jordan's King Abdullah II cancelled a visit Monday (26 March) to Romania after its prime minister vowed to move her country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, his office said.
Upping the ante on human rights due diligence
The question of how companies carry out due diligence to ensure that human rights abuses are not taking place in their supply chains, is becoming increasingly prominent. The EU has a patchwork of laws promoting transparency and supply chain due...
EU waits for Tanzania to back up change of heart on stalled trade deal
An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and six East African countries has been stuck for several years. When President John Magufuli’s Tanzanian government suddenly announced it was reviewing its position on the EPA with a view to endorsing it, EU officials were taken aback.
Mueller finds no Trump-Russia conspiracy but some questions left unresolved
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of collusion between US President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, but left unresolved the issue of whether Trump obstructed justice by undermining the investigations that have dogged his presidency.
EU social-democrats and a new ‘sustainable equality’ model
In light of the rise of extreme-right populism, S&D has been pushing progressive political forces across Europe to stick together ahead of the crucial EU elections in May.
Romania to move embassy to Jerusalem, premier Dancila pledges
The Romanian prime minister promised Sunday (25 March) in Washington that her country would move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, breaking with both the European position and apparently with her own country's president.
Serbia marks 20 years since NATO bombing campaign
Serbia on Sunday (24 March) marked 20 years since the NATO air strikes that forced Belgrade to withdraw its troops from Kosovo, ending a conflict that claimed more than 13,000 lives.
Oettinger calls for EU veto on Italy-China deal
Italy's participation in China's giant "Silk Road" infrastructure project sparked an outcry in Germany on Sunday (24 March), including a call for the European Union to block such deals with a veto.
Xi, Macron hold talks as France seeks EU unity on China
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron are due to hold talks in Paris on Monday (25 March) with the host leader seeking to forge a united European front to contend with Beijing's advances.
EU to drop threat of Huawei ban but wants 5G risks monitored
The European Commission will next week urge EU countries to share more data to tackle cybersecurity risks related to 5G networks but will ignore U.S. calls to ban Huawei Technologies, four people familiar with the matter said on Friday (22 March).
Russia angry at Poland over WWII anniversary snub
Russia expressed anger on Wednesday (20 March) that President Vladimir Putin has not been invited to ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II in Poland later this year.
The puzzle of the European aircraft carrier
A proposal by the heir apparent to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to develop a European aircraft carrier with France would be a first. But the subject seems too sensitive and complex to open the door to advanced cooperation anytime soon. EURACTIV France's partner Bruxelles2.eu reports.
China’s new Silk Road gets bumpy as Xi visits Italy
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off a whistlestop European tour in Rome on Friday (22 March) amid growing Western unease over Italy joining the ever-expanding Asian giant's new Silk Road project.
Macron, Merkel and Juncker to meet China’s Xi on Tuesday
French President Emmanuel Macron invited German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to join a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next Tuesday (26 March), in a bid to forge a united front in European efforts to rebalance relations with Beijing.
Does Italy’s economic recession hinder the EU’s China strategy?
The global political debate about Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecommunications company, and its involvement in the next generation of Internet networks has forced the European Commission to rethink its China Strategy, writes Marcus Walsh-Führing.
Arctic black carbon work hampered by US and Russia, says Finland
The Arctic region’s co-operation in the battle against global warming by reducing black carbon emissions is being hampered by the United States and Russia, the Finnish foreign ministry said on Wednesday (20 March).
US may pause preparations for delivering F-35s to Turkey
The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, officials told Reuters, in what would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the advanced aircraft and Russia’s S-400 air defence system.
Transatlantic economy faces adverse conditions and slower growth in EU
The transatlantic economy of the US and the EU has been increasingly stressed by potential tariffs on imports and changes in global stability, according to a new report by the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, released on Wednesday...
Kazakhstan stunned: President Nazarbayev surprisingly resigns
Kazakhstan's first and only president so far, Nursultan Nazarbayev, surprisingly resigned on Tuesday (19 March) and announced that the Speaker of the Senate, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will serve as interim leader before the next presidential election.
North Macedonia minister: NATO, not EU, saved name change deal
Without the prospect of joining NATO, the North Macedonia name change deal with Greece (Prespa Agreement) would have been dead because the EU side has not been delivering on its promises, North Macedonian deputy PM and defence minister, Radmila Šekerinska, has said.