RSS Parrot

EU leaders mull ways to arrest bloc's economic decline

https://euobserver.com/green-economy/158364?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 16, 2024 18:33

With Europe falling behind the US and losing ground to China, the special European Council will focus mainly on Europe's economic competitiveness in the global arena. But talks will also cover Ukraine, Turkey and the Middle East.

Police ordered to end far-right 'Nat-Con' Brussels conference

https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/158362?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 16, 2024 14:08

The controversial far-right "National Conservatism" conference taking place in Brussels was ordered to halt at the behest of the local neighbourhood mayor — in what critics described as a publicity victory for the populist right.

[Opinion] How Hungary's teachers are taking on Viktor Orban

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158348?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 16, 2024 10:52

Orban and his administration are pursuing a strategy of running-down public education in Hungary. They have been explicit in their aims and how their assault on 'non-Christian' teachers is a small price to pay for the cultural shift they want.

[Column] What do we actually mean by EU 'competitiveness'?

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158358?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 16, 2024 10:52

Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi are coming up with reports on the EU's single market and competitiveness — but although 'competitiveness' has become a buzzword, there's no consensus on a definition for what it actually means.

New EU envoy Markus Pieper quits before taking up post

https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/158360?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 16, 2024 07:20

Markus Pieper has decided not to take up his role as the EU's small and medium-sized enterprises envoy, in a surprise U-turn following strong criticism over his appointment.

EU puts Sudan war and famine-risk back in spotlight

https://euobserver.com/africa/158357?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 14:13

The EU is hoping to put the international spotlight back on Sudan amid a war where half the population is at risk of famine. And Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, also warned of Russia's presence in the country.

EU to blacklist Israeli settlers, after new sanctions on Hamas

https://euobserver.com/world/158356?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 13:24

EU states are planning to impose, for the first time, visa-bans and asset-freezes on six extremist settlers on Friday (19 April) in a bid to chill Israeli aggression.

[Opinion] Private fears of fairtrade activist for EU election campaign

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158323?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 13:00

I am not sleeping well, tossing and turning at night because I am obsessed about the EU election campaign, worried by geopolitical tensions, a far-right next parliament, and a backlash against the Green Deal, writes Sophie Aujean of Fairtrade…

Brussels venue ditches far-right conference after public pressure

https://euobserver.com/eu-political/158355?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 10:55

The Concert Noble venue pulled out of the conference featuring far-right figureheads like Eric Zemmour and Viktor Orbán after public pressure from activists

[Feature] How German police pulled the plug on a Gaza conference

https://euobserver.com/world/158354?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 09:20

Within hours of the Palestine Congress opening in Berlin, police armed with pistols and batons imposed a ban on the congress — lasting the entire weekend.

[Agenda] EU special summit, MEPs prep work, social agenda This WEEK

https://euobserver.com/agenda/158349?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 15, 2024 05:00

EU leaders gather in Brussels for a special two-day summit this week, while MEPs will prepare for the last plenary session of the legislature. In Italy, G7 foreign affairs ministers will convene from Wednesday to Friday.

EU leaders condemn Iran, urge Israeli restraint

https://euobserver.com/world/158353?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 14, 2024 21:00

Major Western nations have condemned Iran's retaliatory strike on Israel, with EU foreign ministers to hold snap talks on Tuesday amid fears of escalation.

UK-EU deal on Gibraltar only 'weeks away'

https://euobserver.com/eu-political/158352?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 17:37

EU and UK negotiators said that a new post-Brexit settlement for Gibraltar was just weeks away from completion following four-way talks in Brussels on Friday (12 April).

Belgium declares war on MEPs who took Russian 'cash'

https://euobserver.com/world/158351?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 17:30

Belgian spies have evidence MEPs took Russian money, Belgium's prime minister has said, while announcing a potentially explosive judicial inquiry.

[Opinion] Brussels Dispatches: Foreign interference in the spotlight

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158350?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 16:37

Less than 10 weeks away from the European elections, the integrity of public debate is even more in the spotlight.

[Opinion] Calling time on Amazon's monopolism and exploitation

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158341?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 10:02

As Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos just reclaimed the title of the richest person on Earth, its workers cannot even take a bathroom break under the pressure of meeting inhumane performance targets.

Resist backlash on deforestation law, green groups tell EU

https://euobserver.com/green-economy/158346?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 09:18

European environmental groups have urged the EU Commission to stand firm on implementing the bloc's landmark anti-deforestation legislation — despite a backlash from governments in South America, Africa and some EU ministers.

[Stakeholder] China's high-quality development brings opportunities to the world

https://euobserver.com/stakeholders/158347?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 12, 2024 08:42

China's Two Sessions provided an important window into Chinese economic resilience and opportunities in the global market, with a strong message for more cooperation among trading partners.

Ukraine tops aid list again, but EU spending slumps

https://euobserver.com/ukraine/158345?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 16:11

Ukraine was the biggest single recipient of international aid in 2023 for the second year in a row, but EU aid spending dropped by nearly 8 per cent, according to new data published on Thursday.

Who did Russia pay? MEPs urge spies to give names

https://euobserver.com/world/158344?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 13:13

MEPs have urged intelligence services to publish the names of who was paid by Russia, while pointing fingers at the EU's far right.

[Analysis] 'PieperGate' crisis re-opens doubts on von der Leyen's future

https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/158343?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 12:53

A majority of MEPs call for U-turn on Markus Pieper's controversial appointment as SME envoy and a new, more transparent process — raising questions about the leadership style and re-election chances of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

[Opinion] The Bolsonaro-Orbán far-right nexus

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158329?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 10:16

Defeated far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has given various reasons for sheltering at the Hungarian embassy in Brasilia — none of them make sense.

[Stakeholder] Don't kill cohesion policy

https://euobserver.com/stakeholders/158340?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 09:57

Some groups on the right of the EU political spectrum are openly questioning the need for this major investment instrument, risking depleting cohesion funds aimed at investment for the future, writes Marcos Ros Sempere of the Socialists & Democrats.

[Investigation] Rural Europe's turn to far-right triggered by 'political neglect'

https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/158336?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 06:00

Far-right parties are set to win big in June's European elections. Populist support is on the rise, not least in rural communities, as a "geography of discontent" sweeps the continent.

[Interview] EU should use 'all means' to end war in Gaza: Belgian minister

https://euobserver.com/world/158333?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 05:20

The EU should use "all means" possible to end the violence in Gaza, including sanctions, a peace conference, and a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, Belgian development cooperation minister Caroline Gennez told EUobserver.

EU loses €33m an hour in super-rich's unpaid taxes

https://euobserver.com/green-economy/158338?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 05:00

Oxfam demands more action from MEPs, as the EU governments lose €33 million every hour in unpaid taxes from Europe's super-rich.

Price-cap could slash 60 percent of Russian LNG earnings: report

https://euobserver.com/green-economy/158337?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 11, 2024 05:00

According to a new report, Russian overseas gas exports could be cut by 60 percent without endangering European energy security.

Migration pact hailed as 'huge' EU win, amid human-rights fears

https://euobserver.com/migration/158339?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 10, 2024 17:52

MEPs have given their final approval to the EU's long-delayed immigration and asylum pact, which EU Commission president von der Leyen heralded as a "huge achievement for Europe".

Two Russian bankers left in EU limbo, despite court win

https://euobserver.com/world/158335?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 10, 2024 13:12

Two Russian bankers have come closer to wriggling off the EU blacklist due to flimsy evidence, auguring badly for similar court rulings expected before summer.

[Podcast] Polish elections, education in Africa, Germany's day in court

https://euobserver.com/euroscopic/158334?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 10, 2024 10:52

This week, local elections in Poland, the EU's role in education across Africa and, of course, Germany's day in the International Court of Justice over Gaza's genocide claim.

[Opinion] The problem of corruption in Ukraine — and a solution

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158325?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 10, 2024 10:36

Sunlight is the best disinfectant— so in a way, it is encouraging to see corruption scandals coming to the fore, as this may deter potential future graft, a key prerequisite for Kyiv's eventual EU accession.

EU losing China tech-race, as Beijing prepares to host German CEOs

https://euobserver.com/world/158332?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 18:30

China's clean-tech hegemony poses a threat to Western security, the EU's anti-trust tsar has warned — in a dig at Germany.

[Analysis] Economic plans of EU 'Big Three' are evidence of low ambition

https://euobserver.com/eu-political/158328?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 16:29

The economy ministers of the EU's 'Big Three' — France, Germany, and Italy — have set their sights on slashing red-tape to boost small businesses. But their broader policy agenda lacks ambition.

Ukraine's farmers slam EU import controls on food products

https://euobserver.com/eu-political/158331?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 15:19

The paradoxical move to tighten EU import controls on agricultural goods from Ukraine, despite the EU's vocal support for Kyiv, has sparked criticism from Ukrainian farmers. Overall, it is estimated the new measures could cost the Ukrainian economy €330m.

Germany tells ICJ Gaza hearing arms sales to Israel 'defensive'

https://euobserver.com/world/158330?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 12:38

German lawyers rebutted responsibility for war crimes in Gaza at the second day of the hearing at the International Court of Justice, and said that nearly all its arms sales to Israel were "defensive in nature."

[Opinion] This 'deregulation' lobbying now threatens EU economy

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158324?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 11:06

Next week's EU summit (17-18 April) will discuss the strategic agenda for the next five years. The current "competitiveness agenda" is to a large extent driven by a big lobbying campaign — so far, not well covered by the media.

[Analysis] MEPs set to rubber-stamp new restrictive phase of EU asylum

https://euobserver.com/migration/158318?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 10:19

The European Parliament is set to rubber stamp a new internal EU management system on asylum. Years in the making, the overhaul has been described as a game-changer by EU institutions determined to reach an agreement ahead of June's elections.

[Opinion] Why ‘war’ makes Europeans bury their head in the sand

https://euobserver.com/opinion/158311?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss

Published: April 9, 2024 09:07

When it comes to war, Europeans perfect the art of denial. They refuse to think about it, let alone anticipate. They even conduct the "war on terror" half-heartedly because it is a war.