Med & South
Ennahdha politician: Tunisia deserves enhanced neighbourly relations with the EU
The EU needs to adapt its approach vis-à-vis the different partner countries in the Mediterranean, and pay more attention to his country, which he described as a “success story”, a Tunisian politician visiting Brussels told EURACTIV.
Abandon Iran nuclear deal, Pence tells EU allies, Merkel disagrees
US Vice President Mike Pence urged European allies once again on Saturday (16 February) to follow Washington's lead and withdraw from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying the regime there "openly advocates another Holocaust".
An opportunity for transatlantic unity on Iran
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Shah in Iran and created the Islamic Republic. It is a good time to review the position of the European Union and its member states towards this totalitarian theocracy, argues Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
MEPs stir north Africa’s frozen conflict
European Parliament endorsed the new EU-Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement on 12 February. Although it's a triumph for Morocco and its lobbying efforts in Brussels, it is unlikely to do anything to resolve a long-running legal and political saga in North Africa.
No more ships to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean
Italy’s decision to block the ship of German NGO Sea-Watch in the port of Catania, Sicily, means that there are currently no ships from humanitarian organisations to rescue migrants in the Mediterannean. EURACTIV’s media partner Euroefe reports.
As EU-Arab summit approaches, more headaches than planned
When plans for a summit between the European Union and the Arab League were first hatched last year, it was envisioned as the start of a new friendship across the Mediterranean. What a difference a few months makes.
Europeans open new trade channel to Iran, bypassing US sanctions
Britain, France and Germany on Thursday (31 January) launched a trade mechanism to bypass US sanctions on Iran, drawing praise from Tehran – and a warning from Washington.
To help save the Yemen Peace Deal, the international community needs to act now
The EU should lead the international community in ensuring that the Yemen Peace Deal is not allowed to collapse, argues Mohamed Issa Abushahab. H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Issa Abushahab is the UAE’s Ambassador to the EU. The adoption of the Stockholm agreement,...
Putin pushes Erdogan to fight Al-Nusra in Syria’s Idlib province
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday (23 January) after which the Russian leader said the two men had discussed how they planned to stabilize the situation in Syria’s Idlib province.
Tsipras kills three birds with one stone with North Macedonia deal
With the North Macedonia name change deal recently reached between Athens and Skopje, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has achieved more than improving his international image, by putting pressure on his domestic opponents, writes Nikolaos Koutsimpogiorgos.
Trump threatens Turkey with economic devastation if it attacks Syrian Kurd militia
President Donald Trump threatened Turkey with economic devastation if it attacks a US-allied Kurdish militia in Syria, weakening Turkey's currency and prompting sharp criticism from Ankara on Monday (13 January).
Malta disembarks migrants sparking Italy government clash
Forty-nine migrants disembarked in Malta on Wednesday (9 January) after spending more than two weeks stranded on board rescue ships, ending a standoff in which EU countries had refused to offer them a safe port.
Erdogan rebukes Trump’s top security adviser over Kurds in Syria
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rebuked Washington's national security adviser on Tuesday (8 January) for demanding that his country not attack Kurdish fighters in Syria, accusing him of complicating President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw US troops.
How a gas pipeline to Europe is transforming the Turkish-Israeli relationship
The discovery of massive natural gas fields off Israel’s northern coast more than a decade ago and subsequent attempts to export this gas to Europe have highlighted the true fault lines in the Turkish-Israeli alliance, writes Joseph Dana.
Under Dutch and Danish pressure, EU hits Iran with sanctions after murder plots
The EU hit Iran’s intelligence services with sanctions on Tuesday (8 January) after accusing Tehran of being behind plots to assassinate regime opponents on Dutch, Danish and French soil. The move by the 28-nation bloc was announced as the Dutch government said it...
US troop departure from Syria can improve Turkish-Kurdish relations
Has America used the Kurds in Syria only now to dump them? Observers who believe in moral debt, rather than the cold logic of realpolitik, understandably are concerned about the implications for the Kurds of an immediate US withdrawal from Syria, writes Ömer Taşpınar.
After America’s retreat, an Arab NATO could serve the region
With the United States' withdrawal from the Middle East, a proposed Arab security alliance could be a good start on the path to self-reliance, argues Jonathan Gornall.
With climate change, life in the Gulf could become impossible
In the second half of the century, most of the territory bordering the Gulf, Red Sea and Arabian Sea could experience “wet bulb temperatures” making outdoor activities practically impossible, writes Jonathan Gornall, warning this could create social upheaval on the grandest of scales.
Russia’s Chechnya model for Syria will only deepen the conflict
Today, Chechnya is a police state, likely the most brutal anywhere in Europe, that rules through extreme repression. The same future is reserved to Syria, writes Neil Hauer.
Human rights violations in Egypt: EU must speak out!
The EU should be aware of plans to amend the Egyptian Constitution that could extend the power of the President indefinitely, showing the true intentions of an authoritarian state, writes Wahid Al-Asmar.
Angela Merkel’s legacy in the Middle East
German Chancellor Merkel's momentous 2015 decision to accept asylum-seekers from the region fell flat: the Chancellor did not rise to the occasion and chart a new course for both Europe and the Middle East, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Culture is the bridge to humanity
We need alternative narratives to tackle extremist discourses and radicalisation, and this is why we have to invest more in culture, writes Stavros Papagianneas.
Spain returns migrants to Morocco after storming of Melilla enclave
Spain sent 55 migrants back to Morocco on Monday (22 October), a day after they forced their way into the Spanish territory of Melilla during an assault on the border in which two migrants died and 19 were injured.
Northern Africa: Europe’s new border guard?
As another EU summit gets underway, Leïla Bodeux and Davide Gnes wonder what values Europeans are willing to give up in order to stop migration.