About: Saudi Arabia
As the sun sets on oil, the sun will rise on solar power
When shares in Saudi Aramco eventually go public, there will doubtless be a feeding frenzy on what promises to be the largest initial public offering ever seen. More significantly, the move would also signal Saudi Arabia’s recognition that sunset for fossil fuel is just over the horizon, writes Jonathan Gornall.
Mogherini cautions against ‘dangerous adventures’ in the Middle East
The European Union fully backs Iraq's efforts to de-escalate growing tensions between the United States and Iran because conflict will have dire consequences for all sides, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday (13 July).
UN climate talks end amid major questioning of landmark 1.5C IPCC report
Climate negotiations ended in Bonn, Germany on Thursday (27 June), with oil-dependent Saudi-Arabia insisting on questioning the scientific value of the UN's 1.5 °C IPCC global warming report. No agreement has been reached on the carbon mechanisms enshrined in article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Trump warns he could order the ‘official end of Iran’
US President Donald Trump issued a new threat to Tehran on Sunday (19 May), tweeting that a conflict would be the “official end” of Iran, as Saudi Arabia warned it stood ready to respond with “all strength” and said it was up to Iran to avoid war.
Iran seeks to prove it can disrupt oil and gas exports from Arab Gulf States
A recent attack on Saudi oil facilities west of Riyadh were designed to demonstrate Tehran’s ability to target all of the region’s oil and gas exports and raise exponentially the cost of military conflict for the US and its allies in the Gulf region, writes Hasan Alhasan.
EXCLUSIVE: Germany blocking EU plans to stop spyware trade with dictators
EU proposals to establish export restrictions on spyware are being held back by Germany, which has adopted an ambiguous stance on the plans, EURACTIV has learnt.
Member states reject Commission’s blacklist of money launderers
EU member states rejected on Thursday (7 March) the European Commission’s blacklist of countries unwilling to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing, as they blamed the EU executive of not being transparent during the drafting process.
After Saudi king’s letter, EU states move to block Commission’s dirty-money list
The adoption of a European Union money-laundering blacklist, which includes Saudi Arabia as well as Puerto Rico and three other US territories, is likely to be blocked by EU states under a procedure launched on Thursday (28 February), two EU sources said.
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.
Allies fume at German ban of arms exports to Saudi Arabia
Germany said Wednesday (20 February) it would hold firm on its decision to halt weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, shrugging off British warnings that the embargo could hurt European credibility and efforts to bring peace in Yemen.
Commission adopts stricter blacklist of money launderers
The European Commission has included Saudi Arabia and Panama in an extended ‘blacklist’ of uncooperative jurisdictions in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, in an effort to regain citizens’ trust in the fight against financial crimes.
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.
COP24 diary – day #11
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: climate ambition at last, UN Secretary-General pounding on the table, Portugal getting carbon neutral, 630 brackets, and more.
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).
With Trump absolving the Saudis, Europe must defend its own interests
Europe's leaders must fill the void left by Donald Trump and take a tough stance against the Saudi government, writes Nicolas Tenzer.
COP24 dairy – day #9
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: An update on the negotiations, postponing climate ambition, 415 institutional investors, a climate damages tax, and more.
‘God help us’: Khashoggi’s hacked WhatsApp messages provide clues about killing
Messages obtained from the WhatsApp account of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi shine a light on the possible reasons behind his death, depicting the full extent of his animosity towards Saudi Arabia and his plans to establish an "electronic army" of activists against the regime.
Austria calls for EU-wide halt in arms sales to Saudi Arabia
The European Union should halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl told a German newspaper, saying such action could also help end "the terrible war in Yemen".
France weighs interests in Khashoggi crisis, Saudi sanctions an option
France said on Wednesday (24 October) it could impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia if its intelligence services find the kingdom was behind the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, even as Paris worked to maintain important business and strategic ties with Riyadh.
US-Saudi Arabia alliance: Cracks or overhaul of the global rule of law regime?
The confusion and indecisiveness surrounding Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance epitomises more than just an international diplomatic hesitancy. It raises important questions regarding the validity of the global rule of law regime, writes Yana Popkostova.
Merkel: No arms exports to Saudi Arabia until ‘monstrous’ killing cleared up
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (22 October) called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a "monstrosity" and vowed to halt all German arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the case is cleared up.
EU demands full probe, accountability after Khashoggi death
The EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini called Saturday (20 October) for a thorough investigation into the "deeply troubling" death of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi and full accountability for those responsible.
MEPs call for EU to stand with Canada amid Saudi rights row
The foreign minister of Canada, which is embroiled in a diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia, called for German support on Monday in Ottawa’s campaign to promote human rights around the world.