About: Syria
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).
Takács: Hungary is a successful member state
Just because Hungary has different ideas about issues like migration does not mean it should be perceived negatively. This is exactly why we are fed up, Szábolcs Takács told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Belgian mayor: ‘Discrimination and racism is anti-western’
Bart Somers is an anomaly: A well-liked Belgian mayor of international standing, who built his reputation on promoting diversity. Mechelen told EURACTIV Slovakia the secrets to his success, and why tolerance is a positive social value
Czech deputy PM: A ‘different’ migration is needed
We have to change NATO from a defence pact to tan offensive pact, Andrej Babiš, the Czech minister of finance, who also serves as deputy premier, told Euractiv Poland.
Mediterranean Union chief: We promote regional cooperation
Following the recent political chaos in the Mediterranean region, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) group is now focussing on collaborative local projects rather than large-scale regional policy.
UNICEF deputy chief: 2016 was ‘one of worst years in history for children’
UNICEF organised a campaign event at the European Parliament on Tuesday (6 December), highlighting the plight of tens of millions of children in conflict and emergency situations going without schooling.
EU Syria aid manager: ‘We started two years too late’
The manager of the EU’s Trust Fund for Syria, Nadim Karkutli, told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview at this year’s AidEx conference that the fund – helping the five million refugees in neighbouring countries – probably should have started in 2012.
Red Cross: Yemen situation ‘is probably as bad as Syria’
Unseen and unheard crises, such as in Yemen and in the Lake Chad basin in Africa, are probably as bad as in Syria - where the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has already lost 57 aid workers, Jemilah Mahmood says.
Spanish ex-foreign minister: ‘Either we defend ourselves or there is no defence’
Spain's former foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, told EURACTIV Spain that now is not the time for alarmist reactions to Donald Trump's US election victory and that Brexit could provide Spain with an opportunity to increase its international standing.
Middle East expert: ‘Syrian war is only going to get bloodier’, ‘no end in sight’
The conflict in Syria is only going to get worse. Middle East expert Günther Meyer explained to EURACTIV's partner Wirtschaftswoche why Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad must stay in power , how the US is primarily to blame and why a no-fly zone would be ineffective.
Helen Clark: UN needs a well-established leader, not a technocrat
The United Nations need a "well-established leader" capable of working across divisions, and able to mobilise people around the aspirations the member states themselves have expressed for a more inclusive, sustainable world, Helen Clark said in a wide-ranging interview with EURACTIV.com's editor-in-chief Daniela Vincenti.
Lamy: Declustering policies will alleviate tensions with the EU’s neighbours
Changing geopolitics in Europe’s neighbourhood, to the east and in the south, call for a further declustering of a number of policies, going beyond bilateral trade agreements and security measures, Pascal Lamy, former Commissioner and WTO chief told EURACTIV.com.
Terror expert: Europe can survive ISIS without electing nutjobs
Terrorism is not new to Europe, despite the recent Islamic State inspired attacks that have rocked France and Germany, Alexander Ritzmann has said. The terror and radicalisation expert said it was vital that the outrages did not lead to policy decisions confusing migration with terrorism ahead of crunch elections in Germany and France next year.
Rebecca Harms: ‘Possibility of Turkey sanctions has to be considered’
The leader of the Green-European Free Alliance group spoke to EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel about the EU’s refugee deal with Turkey and its current chances of EU membership in the aftermath of the attempted coup.
World Bank: Libya and Jordan ‘have got into serious debt’ to host refugees
Four million people have fled the violence in Syria seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Refugees now make up 20% of the population in Jordan and 30% in Lebanon, as national debts have climbed to unsustainable levels.
German public ‘misled’ on weapon exports
Germany recently released its report on arms exports, which showed that sales have nearly doubled, despite promises to scale back the number and value of weapons being sent abroad. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Sachs: ‘China’s development strategy is more successful than Europe’s’
One of the world's leading economists, Jeffrey Sachs, has told EURACTIV's partner WirtschaftsWoche why Africa needs more development aid. He also urged Europe to be more like China.
Turkish minister: Anti-terror law amendment ‘not on the agenda’
The granting of visa liberalisation, and to a lesser extent the German parliament’s expected recognition of the Armenian genocide, could threaten to derail the EU’s refugee pact with Turkey. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel spoke with the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sport, Çağatay Kılıç.
Aid agency denounces ‘politicisation’ of humanitarian assistance
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi invited representatives from 92 countries to a special summit in Geneva to address the ongoing crisis. EURACTIV Germany spoke to Oxfam’s Robert Lindner, who presented an update on the current situation at the event.
Russian withdrawal from Syria is ‘good timing’
Following Russia's announced partial withdrawal of troops from Syria, Margarete Klein from the German institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) analysed the reasons behind Moscow's decision and what it means for future peace talk prospects. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Richard Beddock: Female migrants in an ‘impossibly vulnerable situation’
Global instability and the migration crisis have combined to undermine the security of women's sexual health and reproductive rights, according to the vice-president of the NGO Gynocology Without Borders (GSF).
Chizhov: I wonder why people think Russia wants to break up EU
There are people who believe that everything that happens in the world should be attributed to the Kremlin and personally to President Vladimir Putin, but this is not the case on many occasions, the Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizov told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Oettinger: Summit is not EU’s last chance
Ahead of the European Summit tomorrow (18 February), EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger told EURACTIV's partner Tagesspiegel that a lower number of refugees than last year has to be the target.