Region

EU plus

Stories in this section cover the EU-27 countries plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and the Balkan Countries (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia).

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News
EU to push for sanctions on Israel ministers and suspend bilateral support

EU to push for sanctions on Israel ministers and suspend bilateral support

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated she would push to sanction "extremist" Israeli ministers and curb trade ties over Gaza, as she warned famine should not be used as a "weapon of war". Addressing the European Parliament on 10 September in the annual State of the Union, von der Leyen lamented that divisions among member states were holding back a European response but insisted the European Commission "will do all that it can on its own". "What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic," von der Leyen said. The German politician said the Commission would put its bilateral support to Israel on hold, stopping all payments, but without affecting work with civil society groups and Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
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Opinion
What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

The agreements reached in the US-mediated summit of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington on August 8 are poised to fundamentally reshape the region's future. Particularly, the deal concerning the Zangezur corridor – rebranded as the “Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) – holds significant geopolitical importance. If implemented, the TRIPP agreement would deal a severe blow to the regional standing of Russia and Iran. More importantly, it would pave the way for a strategic U.S. presence in this critical geography. This outcome represents a success that few would have predicted for the United States, especially for the Trump administration, given the region's notoriously complex and volatile geopolitics.

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EU reviews strategy on Central Asia
EU reviews strategy on Central Asia

EU reviews strategy on Central Asia

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, representing the 28 member states, has reviewed the EU's strategy towards Central Asia. The EU financial commitment for bilateral and regional cooperation with Central Asia for 2014-20 is 1.068 billion euros.
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Well done Armenia! Well done Azerbaijan!
Well done Armenia! Well done Azerbaijan!

Well done Armenia! Well done Azerbaijan!

The presence of an Armenian team at the 1st European games in Azerbaijan is noteworthy and commendable and could only happen with the support of the two governments at the highest political level.
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Baku 2015 - a tale of two cities.
Baku 2015 - a tale of two cities.

Baku 2015 - a tale of two cities.

The 1st European Games in Baku have brought out the stark contradictions in modern day Azerbaijan. In that sense they have become a defining moment for the country.Beyond the fun and games the government of Azerbaijan has some difficult decisions to make.