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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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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European Parliament sends first official delegation to Taiwan

European Parliament sends first official delegation to Taiwan

Despite strong warnings from China of possible consequences, the first official delegation of European Parliament arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday (3 November). The group MPs from the special committee on foreign interference will meet high-level political leaders, including President Tsai Ing-wen and Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang, during the three-day visit in Taiwan.
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Europe will become first climate-neutral continent according to Von der Leyen

Europe will become first climate-neutral continent according to Von der Leyen

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in her speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that the European Union will do everything in its power to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. She therefore stressed that there must be a global price for greenhouse gas emissions. She said there must be a clear price for carbon dioxide emissions, "because nature can no longer pay it".
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Borrell: Gas cannot be used as a geopolitical weapon

Borrell: Gas cannot be used as a geopolitical weapon

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Thursday (28 October) that in Moldova, the EU sees attempts by Gazprom to put political pressure in return to lower the gas prices. He said he had agreed with the Moldovan Prime Minister on the importance of strengthening resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical weapon. "Gas is a commodity. It has been bought and sold, sold and bought but it cannot be used as a geopolitical weapon", Borrell stated.
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Imprisoned Navalny awarded prestigious Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament

Imprisoned Navalny awarded prestigious Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament

The imprisoned Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has won the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded annually by the European Parliament. The award was announced on Wednesday (20 October). Parliament awards the honorary prize to people and institutions that promote human rights and fundamental freedom of thought.
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Opinion
Opinion: Josep Borrell on the Conference on the future of Europe and what citizens want for Europe’s global role

Opinion: Josep Borrell on the Conference on the future of Europe and what citizens want for Europe’s global role

"The 'Conference on the Future of Europe' was launched in Spring this year to open a new debate with citizens to address Europe's challenges and priorities. Listening to citizens and giving them a say is also highly relevant when it comes to foreign and security policy. Citizens are expecting more from us, so we should heed their call for action and results", EU High Representative Josep Borrell wrote on his blog