European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker underlined the importance of offering West Balkans countries the prospect of EU membership, but insisted they must resolve all border disputes before joining the bloc. The declaration shows the evolution of views of the EU institutions, in the past being overly confident about its powers to enhance conflict resolution. Brussels has…
Category: Europe
Fajon: Western Balkans are Europe
Tanja FAJON MEP, the vice-chair of Socialists and Democrats group of the European Parliament, reflects upon future of Western Balkans and the EU new strategy towards the region, pointing out the necessity to keep a right balance between enhancing reform without losing a perspective of membership in view or compromising criteria. A credible enlargement perspective…
De Graaff on elections 2019 Spitzenkandidaten
Marcel De Graaff, MEP, ENF group Dutch co-president comments on the 2019 upcoming European election procedures and traditions. The elections of the EU leading candidates for the institutions president’ posts will develop merely in accordance with existing traditions of the bloc, mostly behind closed doors in deals between leading European political forces. After Brexit the…
MEPs considering vacant UK seats
The European Parliament began to consider British seats that will be left empty post-Brexit from 2019 with Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands scooping up most initially. (Image: illustration). Those who want to distribute EP seats after #Brexit make the "fair representation" point f MS w/increased population but those w/ declining population shouldn't lose any…
Zaharieva optimistic over Western Balkans EU membership
Today MEPs had an exchange of views with Ekaterina Zaharieva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, at the hearing of the Committee of Foreign Affairs (AFET). The issue of Western Balkans has evoked keen attention of MEPs, both for its paramount importance for the EU, but also for its special place for…
Macron admits possibility of Frexit in referendum
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the BBC’s “Andrew Marr Show” for an interview recorded a few days earlier and released on January 21. With startling openness President admits there is a possibility of Frexit vote, in case France to hold a referendum on EU membership. If France had held an EU referendum it "probably" would…
MEPs debate with Borisov Bulgaria’ plans
MEPs discussed the priorities of the incoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. https://twitter.com/EP_President/status/953550449927442432 MEPs welcomed the Bulgarian Presidency’s intention to concentrate on the EU perspective of the Western Balkans and the future of young people in Europe. 'When Bulgaria joined the EU, I felt, like the…
Tusk and Warsaw trading barbs over #Polexit
President of EU Council Donald Tusk’s comments on possible #Polexit were a clear sign of “ill will and false care” towards Poland’s Government. Secretary of State for European Affairs Konrad Szymański, said, blaming Brussels apparatchik on throwing fuel to the fire. “This is an absurd thesis. It looks as if he is praying for this to…
Swiss reconsider CHF1,3 billion pledge to EU
In the aftermath of the EU decision to limit the access to financial exchanges to Swiss , the Alpine country plunged into serious reflection over the future of the relations between the neighbours. The new President of Swiss Confederation Alain Berset said there was a presumption Brussels will also make a gesture towards the Helvetic…
‘Nutcracker’ magic in Brussels BOZAR
The performance of ballet-féerie Nutcracker in BOZAR is a presentation of a new interpretation of Tchaikovsky masterpiece by Mikhail Venshchikov, Saint-Petersburg choreographer and a star dancer, a magnificent gift of Russian and Belgium artists to Brussels audiences during Christmas week. A special charm of the performance of Saint-Petersburg Arts-Michel Centre staged by Venshchikov is in return to its original…
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