Politics

The Brief – Sun, sand, sea … staycation

The Brief takes its own summer holiday from today. In practice, few will be jetting off to somewhere warm. COVID-19 case rates are still stubbornly high, travel restrictions are still tight and most of us will be staying at home, again.

Little known businessman Plamen Nikolov nominated as Bulgaria’s prime minister

The political force that won the 11 July election ‘There is Such a People’ of TV showman Slavi Trifonov nominated on Friday (30 July) Plamen Nikolov, a little-known businessman, to be the next Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

COVID in continuum: EURACTIV’s 2021 summer review

Even journalists need holidays, though whether we can use them to go anywhere these days is more complicated. As we pack our real and metaphorical bags for the summer recess, we offer a look back at some of the headlines that have dominated the first seven months of 2021

EU pushes Iraq to stem migrant flights to Belarus

The European Union said on Thursday (29 July) it was pressing Iraq to help stem the flow of migrants to Belarus who are then smuggled across the border into Lithuania.

Slovenian opposition calls for independent probe into Pegasus concerns

Slovenia's opposition Social Democrats have called on Prime Minister Janez Janša to initiate an independent, voluntary forensic investigation of mobile devices of political leaders, journalists and civil society in the face of the Pegasus surveillance scandal.

Polish minister says European rights law breaches constitution

Poland's justice minister on Thursday (29 July) asked its Constitutional Tribunal to examine whether an article of the European Convention on Human Rights breaches the constitution, deepening an international row over the country's judicial reforms.

Italy government reaches accord on contested justice reform

The Italian government has reached an accord over a contested reform of the judicial system, a government spokesperson said on Thursday (29 July), apparently putting an end to weeks of friction in Mario Draghi multi-party coalition.

The Brief – Waiting for the next wave

There is news you want to hear, and news you will ignore. These days, Europeans are packing for their summer vacations. The news we don’t want to hear is that by the time we return from well-deserved holidays, the next wave of COVID-19 will have gathered force.

Turkey courts Biden with Kabul airport offer

Turkey is offering to protect Kabul's strategic airport after US forces leave in what experts view as a high-risk bid to improve Ankara's strained ties with Washington.

Turkey detains over 200 migrants in Aegean

Turkey's coast guard has detained more than 200 migrants, including Afghans and Syrians, who were crossing the Aegean Sea on a fishing boat in an attempt to reach Greece, local media reported.

The Brief – There is no medicine for regret

As Germany settles in for the summer and a heavy heat blanket slows political activity in Berlin down to a near standstill, many die-hard Green voters eyeing September's election are heading to their vacation destinations - by train, of course - in a sombre mood.

Far-Right Parties in the European Parliament Explained

Far-right and conservative parties from 16 EU countries, including France’s Rassemblement National, Poland’s PiS, Hungary’s Fidesz, and Italy’s Lega, have decided to join forces to make their voice heard in the European debates. Together, they signed a document calling for...

Interpol nets 286 in global operation against human trafficking

Criminal groups behind human trafficking and migrant smuggling have been hit hard in a 4-day operation coordinated by Interpol with 286 suspects arrested worldwide, the international criminal police organization announced on Tuesday (27 July).

French ex-minister charged with corruption in Ghosn case

France's financial crimes unit said Tuesday (27 July) it had charged prominent rightwinger Rachida Dati, a former cabinet minister and close ally of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, over her dealings with disgraced former Renault chief Carlos Ghosn.

French equality body sounds alarm over extension of COVID-19 pass

France's equality agency, Défenseur des droits, has published a 10-point opinion paper raising concerns about the controversial extension of COVID-19 pass, which is now pending approval by the Constitutional Council on 5 August following approval by the French parliament.

9 in 10 hate crimes go unreported, EU fundamental rights agency finds

Up to 9 in 10 hate crimes and attacks in the EU still go unreported because victims face difficulty reporting them, do not trust the police and believe that nothing would change if they report it, according to a new study by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

EU Commissioner rejects Janša’s accusation of ‘harming’ Slovenia

European Commissioner Janez Lenarčič has rejected an accusation by PΜ Janez Janša that he was acting against Slovenia's interests saying "Slovenia is being harmed by those who undermine the rule of law and media freedom".

Protesters opposed to COVID measures clash with police in Paris

French anti-riot police fired teargas on Saturday (24 July) as clashes erupted during protests in central Paris against COVID-19 restrictions and a vaccination campaign, television reported.

Thousands march for LGBTQ rights in Budapest’s biggest Pride

Thousands of Hungarians marched in Budapest's biggest Pride parade on Saturday (24 July), amid tension sparked by a series of anti-gay steps by prime minister Viktor Orbán.

The Brief – It takes EU to tango

As EU officials prepare for their holidays, they have an extra reason to pack their bags faster than usual; to avoid the siren call of British politicians haranguing them to reopen parts of the Brexit settlement. It would be easy,...

Kaczynski and Putin’s alliance without friendship

It is wrong to assume that Europe's far-right are divided in their attitudes to Putin's Russia, writes Maciej Kisilowski.

Renew MEP: Racism is an everyday phenomenon in our societies

Europe needs to face the fact that racism is not something that only happens in the US or elsewhere, but is an everyday phenomenon in our European societies, Hungarian MEP Anna Júlia Donáth (Renew Europe) told EURACTIV. She spoke about...

MEP: Diversity is ‘severely missing’ in European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by citizens to represent them and accordingly should reflect European society, an MEP from the Parliament’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) told EURACTIV.

US warns Warsaw over licence renewal of top private broadcaster

In today's edition of The Capitals, find out more about the Czech Republic amending its gun laws, Ireland preparing its ICU's for a new surge in COVID-19 cases, and so much more.