Neighbourhood policy
Tsipras goes against all in Greek parliament on North Macedonia name deal
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is likely to survive a confidence vote on Wednesday (16 January). But his party Syriza is alone defending the historic name change deal reached between Athens and Skopje.
Merkel to press Greece on reforms, Macedonia name deal, during rare Athens visit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will urge Greece to press on with tough economic reforms and maintain strict fiscal discipline when she visits Athens on Thursday (10 January) for the first time in nearly five years.
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...
Macedonia’s Zaev sees ‘existential dangers’ outside of Euro-Atlantic institutions
The name-change deal reached between Athens and Skopje does not turn against any other country, including Russia, and its only objective is to establish peace and stability, the prime minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Zoran Zaev, said on Friday (4 January).
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.
EU counter-terrorism chief: Europe ‘may see something like Daesh 2.0’
The level of terrorist threat remains "pretty serious" in several EU countries, Gilles de Kerchove, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, told EURACTIV.com in an interview hours before the latest attack in Strasbourg on Tuesday night (12 December).
Mitsotakis calls on Greek parties to reject Macedonia name change deal
The leader of the main Greek opposition party, New Democracy (EPP), called on Wednesday (5 December) on Greek political parties to block the name change deal recently reached between Athens and Skopje after almost thirty years of dispute.
EU should sanction Iran over missile tests, US says
The United States is pressing the European Union to consider economic sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles, a senior US official said on Tuesday (4 December), warning of a wider regional conflict if Tehran's ambitions remain unchecked.
EPP’s Weber under pressure to break his silence over Macedonia name deal
Manfred Weber, the European People’s Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidat for the EU elections, has been silent over the name change deal reached this year between Athens and Skopje. The deal has been generally endorsed by the EPP but rejected by some of its members, including those from the two countries involved.
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
US belittles EU’s ‘special purpose vehicle’ as companies flee Iran
The United States is not too concerned by Europe's idea for a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to get around US sanctions with Iran as companies are already withdrawing from the country in droves, the senior official for financial intelligence said.
Morocco pushes development in disputed Western Sahara
Building roads and expanding cities, ports and industrial parks -- Morocco is pressing ahead with economic development in Western Sahara without waiting for a political settlement on the disputed territory.
S&D chief: ‘Political suicide’ for Europe to ignore Africa
Europe has to tackle the root causes of migration and better manage population flows by investing in people rather than walls, Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Athens and Skopje break ‘air embargo’ after 15 years
The first direct flight from Skopje to Athens took place on Thursday (1 November) after a 15-year “air embargo” in a sign that the two countries are determined to turn a new page in Balkan politics, after being locked in a diplomatic dispute over Skopje's official name.
Netanyahu lashes at ‘hostile’ EU, but finds friends on Bulgaria trip
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the EU's "hypocritical and hostile attitude" on Thursday (1 November) as he left for talks with four eastern European leaders in Bulgaria.
Iranian spy service suspected of assassination plot in Denmark
Denmark said on Tuesday (30 October) it suspected an Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition figure on its soil.
Russia, Germany, France and Turkey call for lasting ceasefire, constitutional meeting for Syria
The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey stressed the importance on Saturday (27 October) of a lasting ceasefire in Syria, and said a committee to create a new constitution should meet by the end of the year.
France expels Iranian diplomat over planned terrorist attack
France has expelled an Iranian diplomat in response to a failed plot to carry out a bomb attack at a rally near Paris organised by an exiled Iranian opposition group, diplomatic and security sources say.
Macron, Trump confer ahead of Istanbul Syria summit with Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone Thursday (25 October) with US counterpart Donald Trump about strategy ahead of a four-way summit on Syria in Istanbul this weekend, the Élysée palace said.
EU mechanism for Iran trade to be symbolically ready on 4 November
A new European Union mechanism to facilitate payments for Iranian exports should be legally in place by 4 November, when the next phase of US sanctions hit, but will not be operational until early next year, three diplomats said.
Commission asks Turkey to respect international agreements after new spat with Greece
The European Union remains committed to good neighbourly relations and respect of international agreements, an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV.com following tensions between Athens and Ankara on the expansion of territorial waters in the Aegean.