EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

NATO-EU: Rutte aims at 5% defense spending

Brussels 03.02.2025 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged the EU member states of the Alliance to increase the defence spending beyond their common goal of 2% of national output set in 2014, insisting this was now too low because of new challenges, namely Russian war in Ukraine. .@SecGenNATO participated in an informal meeting of…

EU increases defence spending

Brussels 03.02.2025 At the informal European Council meeting on defence, the European Parliament President Metsola outlined her vision on how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. “More action, more financing and more cooperation”, must be the EU’s goals, she argued. “First, we need to do more to protect Europe.” “Russia can…

COSTA INVITES EU LEADERS TO CONVENE INFORMALY

Brussels 02.02.2025 Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council: “As I have already indicated to you, I would like to invite you to an informal retreat that will take place on 3 February in the Château de Limont, close to Brussels, dedicated to the topic of European defence. On…

EU-Jordan: €3bn in macro-financial assistance

Brussels 30.01.2024 Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, signed the Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership with Jordan, officially elevating the EU relationship with the country. The signature follows a bilateral meeting between President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and King Abdullah II of Jordan. The ceremony took place in…

EU-US relations vector

Brussels 29.01.2025 The Secretary Rubio’s Call with European Union High Representative and Vice President Kallas:The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas. Secretary Rubio underscored the need to strengthen transatlantic…

Ukraine: EU to discuss further support

Brussels 24.01.2025 The EU aid to Ukraine shifted to the third place on the list of the bloc’s priorities. During the press-conference in Ankara, Türkiye, the top diplomat Kaja Kallas said: ‘Third, Ukraine. Russia’s invasion will soon enter its fourth year. Our priorityis to strengthen Ukraine’s position, because there are no signs that Putin wants…

BRAFA 2025: Magic of feminine

Brussels 23.01.2025 The Brussels Fine Arts and Antique Fair – BRAFA – is becoming ready to unveil its 70th show. This anniversary edition promises to be a milestone, celebrating seven decades of quality, excellence and eclecticism. Since its beginnings in 1956, the Fair, which was previously known as the Foire des Antiquaires, has enlarge its…

EU: €235M for Syria humanitarian funding

Brussels 18.01.2025 The European Commission will provide new humanitarian support to Syrians, both inside Syria and in neighbouring countries, for an amount of €235 million for 2025. Following the collapse of the former government in Damascus, the EU is working at all levels to boost humanitarian aid delivery, including through launching Humanitarian Air Bridge flights….

EU demands release of Navalny lawyers

Brussels 17.01.2025 The Petushinsky District Court of the Vladimir Region, Russia, sentenced defence lawyers of late Alexei Navalny for performing their professional duties defending Alexei Navalny in the farcical justice system in Russia. Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Liptser and Igor Sergunin were respectively sentenced with 5 and a half, 5 and 3 and a half years…

EU calls Taipei to abandon death penalty

Brussels 16.01.2025 On 16 January, Huang Lin-kai was executed in Taipei. He was convicted of murdering two people. The European Union condemns this crime in the strongest terms and expresses its sincere sympathy to the family of the victims. At the same time, the EU recalls its opposition to the capital punishment in all cases…