EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Russian journalist self-immolation protest

2.10.2020 “I ask you to blame the Russian Federation for my death” wrote journalist Irina Slavina,47, on her Facebook page. Today she committed self-immolation in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Nizhny Novgorod in protest against persecutions she has been through for last years. A man, passing by, has tried…

#EUCO: EU reiterates call for digalogue with Turkey

Brussels 2.10.2020 “…The EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. Pursuing dialogue in good faith and abstaining from unilateral actions which run counter to the EU interests and violate international law and the sovereign…

BRAFA Art Fair postponed to 2022

On 1 October 2020, the members of the not-for-profit organisation the Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique (organiser of the BRAFA Art Fair) held an Extraordinary General Meeting during which they decided to postpone the 66th edition of BRAFA to January 2022. The members of the not-for-profit organisation the Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique, organiser of…

EU-UK first lawsuit in view

Brussels 1.10.2020 Today the European Commission has sent to the United Kingdom a letter of formal notice for breaching its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. This marks the beginning of a formal infringement process against the United Kingdom. It has one month to reply to today’s letter. We sent today to the United Kingdom a…

#EUCO Leaders Summit in Brussels

Brussels 1.10.2020 The Special European Council (#EUCO) takes place in an effort to continue a strategic discussion on Turkey. During the EU leaders’ video conference of 19 August 2020, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey were raised by some member states. The leaders expressed their concern about the growing tensions and…

Europol dismantles smugglers network

Brussels 30.09.2020 A major operation involving law enforcement authorities from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, supported by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of a large network of criminals smuggling migrants in life-threatening conditions through the English Channel. 12 arrested for smuggling migrants in small boats from the north coasts of…

Hungary dabs HR Report “absurd”

Brussels 30.09.2020 Immediately after the Rule of Law presentation by the European Commission, the Hungarian government issued a communication, providing an assessment of the document, viewing it as highly subjective, and politically motivated tool serving other purposes than declared. 1/2 The official account of the Hungarian Government, @AboutHungary, has been suspended by @Twitter without any…

European Liberals welcome new Belgium PM

Brussels 30.09.2020 Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Development Cooperation in the Wilmès Government has been nominated the next Prime Minister of Belgium today, 30 September. De Croo is a former leader of the ALDE Party member Open VLD. 👏I warmly welcome nomination of @alexanderdecroo of @ALDEParty member @OpenVld as…

Review: RULE Of LAW culture in EU

Brussels, 30 September 2020 The European Commission has today published the first EU-wide report on the rule of law. Today’s report includes input from every Member State and covers both positive and negative developments across the EU. It shows that many Member States have high rule of law standards, but important challenges to the rule…

#EUCO: Michel invites to Summit

The president of the EU Council Charles Michel has issued the invitation letter to the head of states and governments ahead of their meeting on 1-2 October 2020. (Image above: archive). My invitation letter #EUCO https://t.co/DbkOrsBYH4 — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) September 29, 2020 “Our special meeting on Thursday and Friday will primarily focus on Europe’s…