Med & South
Mogherini’s tarnished legacy
Paradoxically it was the EU’s closest partner, the United States, that has done most to damage Federica Mogherini's legacy as High Representative with a full-scale assault on the EU’s commitment to multilateralism, writes Fraser Cameron.
EU voices concern as Libya strongman Haftar orders ‘advance’ on Tripoli
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops Thursday (4 April) to "advance" on Tripoli, seat of the internationally-recognised unity government, as world powers warned of consequences for military action.
UN head ‘shocked’ by suffering at migrant camp in Libya
UN Secretary General António Guterres said Thursday (4 April) he was "shocked" by the level of suffering of migrants at a detention centre in Tripoli which he visited during a visit to the Libyan capital.
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.
Here’s what the Brussels conference can do for Syria’s children
The Brussels III Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the region kicks off today in Brussels. Delphine Moralis explains why education must be top of the agenda.
Local and geopolitics intrude in Israel’s attempt to supply Europe with gas
Israel is moving quickly with the help of the US in a bid to transform Europe’s energy market. But geopolitics – and a large dose of local activism – could change the economic calculation for the EastMed pipeline, writes Joseph Dana.
Migration crisis is ‘over’, says EU chief
Europe’s migration crisis is over, the EU’s migration chief said on Wednesday (6 March), blaming "misinformation, untruths and fake news" for clouding the debate on the issue, which he said could dominate campaigning for the European elections in May.
Trouble ahead as Tunisia eyes elections in autumn
As Tunisians go to the polls later this year to elect a new president and parliament, they are confronted by a confluence of factors that could seriously threaten the viability of their young democracy, writes Dnyanesh Kamat.
‘Respect’ for Luxembourg PM after he challenges Arab leaders on gay rights
Several top European politicians backed Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on Thursday (28 February) after he told Arab leaders he was gay and could be condemned to death in some of their countries.
A divided EU and a divided Arab League put on a fragile show of unity
Neither the EU nor the Arab League really knows where it is going. Yet, divided as they are, both sides also face harsher and more cohesive adversaries: China, Russia and the US, writes Fiasal Al Yafai.
The Brief – Migration deals with despots
Expectations for the EU-Arab League summit in Sharm el-Sheik had been downplayed so much that everyone was prepared for the final press conference and communique to be the dampest of damp squibs. Having to deal with despots and dictators must...
‘Ballot box’ to decide if ailing Algeria president gets 5th term
Algeria's prime minister on Monday (25 February) insisted voters would determine if ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika gets a fifth term at the ballot box, after major protests against his candidacy.
Arab League, EU seek synchrony on regional crises in first summit
Arab and European states sought common ground on security threats and regional crises including Yemen, Syria and Libya on Sunday at their first joint summit held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
First Arab-EU summit billed as chance to cooperate in troubled region
European and Arab leaders are to hold their first summit Sunday (24 February), in what the top EU diplomat sees as a chance to boost cooperation across a troubled Mediterranean region.
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.
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.
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.