A fresh proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reform digital laws on Wednesday was welcomed by lawmakers on the right but shunned on the left. It signals a possible repeat of a pivotal parliamentary clash last week in which von der Leyen's center-right European People's Party sided with the far...
EU’s latest Palestine Initiative lacks real influence
A new EU-led effort to raise funds for Palestinian reconstruction and claim a role in Gaza’s peace process has drawn criticism for exposing the bloc’s limited political weight in the region. The Palestine Donor Group meeting held on Thursday — announced earlier this year by the European Commission president —...
Berlin and Athens to build migrant return hubs in Africa
Greece and Germany aim to create facilities in African countries to receive migrants deported from Europe, Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said. In a televised interview, Plevris explained that discussions are underway with African states considered safe, which would agree to accept migrants who cannot be returned to their countries...
Kosovo in crisis: President Osmani dissolves Parliament, triggers snap elections
With the country under a caretaker government since February, the snap vote looms as a pivotal test of its polarized political landscape Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani has signed a decree dissolving the country’s parliament, clearing the path for early legislative elections on 28 December after the second nominee for prime...
Protests escalate in Bulgaria over judicial abuse against Varna mayor
Supporters plan to occupy parliament as political tensions sharpen around the case of Blagomir Kotsev, detained without conviction. Public anger over the nearly five-month detention of Varna mayor Blagomir Kotsev is intensifying, triggering demonstrations in several Bulgarian cities last evening, with the largest taking place in the capital Sofia. Kotsev,...
Germany, Poland and France push EU to tighten action against Russia’s shadow fleet
European efforts to curb Russia’s shadow fleet will take centre stage at the 20 November meeting of EU foreign ministers, after Germany, Poland and France circulated a set of proposals aimed at closing loopholes that allow sanctioned oil tankers to continue operating. According to one diplomat, the first proposal is...
Greece on a tightrope as U.S. and China duel over port of Piraeus
A sharp diplomatic clash between Washington and Beijing has put Greece in an uncomfortable position, with the strategically vital Port of Piraeus at the heart of the dispute. Guilfoyle described China’s majority ownership of Piraeus as “unfortunate,” noting that China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) was the only bidder during Greece’s...
Poland to close Russian consulate, deploy soldiers after railway sabotage
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said up to 10,000 soldiers will be deployed to help protect critical infrastructure such as railways. Poland said on Wednesday it would close the last Russian consulate in its territory and deploy thousands of soldiers to protect infrastructure in response to a railway explosion it...
Serbia nears end of Russian era in key oil giant
The prospective buyer remains under wraps, with the Serbian side emphasizing the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations. In a pivotal move amid escalating U.S. sanctions, Russia’s Gazprom Neft and Gazprom have agreed in principle to sell their combined 56.15% controlling stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), the state-linked oil and gas...
Romania pivots to accelerated sale of Lukoil assets amid U.S. sanctions pressure
Bucharest abandons temporary nationalisation and opts for a fast-tracked two-stage divestment to safeguard energy security. Romania has abandoned the option of temporarily nationalising the Lukoil-Petrotel refinery, concluding that the state lacks the approximately €200 million in immediate liquidity required to restart operations under public control. After weeks of political and...