Opinion
Why the EU asbestos directive revision ... needs revising
The lead rapporteur on asbestos, Danish MEP Nikolaj Villumsen, responds to EUobserver's two-part investigation.
Swedish EU presidency: 'Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine'
Ukraine and a looming economic recession is set to dominate the upcoming Swedish EU presidency, which takes over at the start of next year. Sweden's ambassador to the EU, Lars Danielsson, laid out some of its priorities.
Mysterious Atlantic cable cuts linked to Russian fishing vessels
Few took notice when a 4.2-km subsea cable in the Arctic Ocean vanished without trace in April 2021, but these days undersea infrastructure security has become a hot topic.
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News in Brief
- 'Pro-Kremlin group' in EU Parliament cyberattack
- Ukraine will decide on any peace talks, Borrell says
- Germany blocks sale of chip factory to Chinese subsidiary
- Strikes and protests over cost-of-living grip Greece, Belgium
- Liberal MEPs want Musk quizzed in parliament
- Bulgarian policeman shot dead at Turkish border
- 89 people allowed to disembark in Italy, aid group says
- UN chief tells world: Cooperate on climate or perish
Sweden says 'no' to EU asylum relocation pledges
Sweden won't make any pledges to relocate asylum seekers under a French-inspired EU plan because there is no legal basis, says Sweden's ambassador to the EU. But Sweden's new right-wing government is also tightening migration rules.
Investigation
Asbestos — two to three times more deadly than known
Where once working men in heavy industry were diagnosed with cancers related to a more direct exposure to asbestos, now women in professions such as teaching, nursing and other occupations are being diagnosed, as well as young people.
Erdoğan to Sweden: Extradite newspaper editor, or no Nato
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has turned the thumbscrews on Sweden by personally naming who he wants Swedish judges to hand over in return for Nato membership.
Investigation
EU lawmakers under pressure to act on 90,000 asbestos deaths
The EU Commission has watered-down a broad political initiative —but now governments of member states hold the key to what the EU should do. Some member states and regions have adopted asbestos strategies of some kind, from Poland to Flanders.
Denmark's flawed mission to the Gulf of Guinea
Denmark's anti-piracy mission in Gulf of Guinea was launched with such haste that no protocols were made with the Nigerian government. So no plan was in place if Denmark killed or captured pirates — likely to be Nigerian nationals.
Norway rejects EU price cap proposal
Norway opposes the EU proposal to set a dynamic price ceiling for natural gas transactions, instead strongly advocating for commercial agreements to tackle the energy crisis, the country's minister of oil and energy Terje Aasland said.
Orbán keeping Nato in the dark on Finland and Sweden
Concern is growing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán is delaying ratification of Finland and Sweden's Nato accession for the sake of "dirty political games".
Opinion
Russian media 'censorship' overrules Swedish & Danish constitution
Sputnik and Russia Today can be accessed from any computer via a virtual private network. The problem is that the European Court of Justice is deciding what we — as European citizens — should have access to.
Underwater explosions were detected near Nord Stream leaks
Measuring stations connected to the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN) detected powerful underwater explosions close to the leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. Poland has already declared it "sabotage".
Finnish border guards will allow fleeing Russians to enter
Finland says there has not yet been a dramatic increase in Russian nationals trying to enter Finland from Russia, noting just over 4,800 Russian nationals crossed the land border on the day of Vladimir Putin's announcement of the draft.
Sweden taking Turkey 'seriously' on Nato demands
Sweden and Finland are counting on further talks with Turkey to unlock their Nato accession, as Western diplomats wonder what Ankara really wants.
Which way will Sweden turn on Sunday?
During the election campaign, Sweden has taken a sharp and surprising turn to the right. Keen on seizing power from the ruling Social Democrats, the conservative block has sought the aid of a far-right party, the formerly neo-Nazi Sweden Democrats.
Opinion
EU needs to act on the science to preserve oceans
As a Green MEP, ex-environment minister and former vice prime-minister of Sweden, Isabella Lovin spent many years advocating for ocean conservation and the welfare of fisheries dependent communities. The UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon was all words, no action.
Column
Give Russians more visas — not fewer
It would be unwise to stop letting Russians in. Europe's aim is to stop the war in Ukraine and for Russia to withdraw completely from Ukraine. And that can only happen if Russian citizens start resisting the war.
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- A lot more needs to be done to better protect construction workers from asbestos
Latest News
- EU Commission proposes suspending billions to Hungary
- EU: Russian assets to be returned in case of peace treaty
- Frontex leadership candidates grilled by MEPs
- Portugal was poised to scrap 'Golden Visas' - why didn't it?
- Why the EU asbestos directive revision ... needs revising
- Nato renews membership vow to Ukraine
- Catalan spyware victims demand justice
- Is the overwhelming critique of Qatar hypocritical?
Finland restricts Russian tourist visas
Russian citizens were circumventing the European airspace ban by driving to Helsinki airport, which was being used as a hub to fly to other tourist destinations. Finland is now restricting those border crossings.
Germany rejects visa ban for Russian tourists
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said a total ban on tourist visas will not be supported by Berlin — adding that many refugees do not agree with the Russian regime.
Sweden to extradite man wanted by Turkey
The Swedish government has agreed to extradite a Turkish citizen with Kurdish roots wanted for credit card fraud to Turkey, amid the backdrop of Turkey's Nato threat.
EU urged to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians
Finnish and Estonian leaders want EU countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens in protest at the war against Ukraine.
Column
Global hunger crisis requires more than just the Odessa deal
International donors are playing hide and seek. Instead of stepping up their assistance programmes, richer nations are cutting overseas aid, or reallocating funds from other parts of the world towards the Ukraine crisis.
Opinion
Finally, the victims of Utøya got a memorial
A legal battle between locals on the one hand and the state and the labour youth organisation on the other side postponed the inception of the memorial in remembrance of the victims of Anders Behring Breivik.
Turkey sends mixed signals on Sweden's entry into Nato
Turkey has let Sweden advance toward Nato despite an escalating dispute about extraditions and arms sales.
Nato expands and reinforces on Russian flank
Nato leaders have agreed a new wave of enlargement and to pile troops onto their Russian flank in response to its rampage in Ukraine.
EU ministers sign off on climate laws amid German infighting
German infighting and divisions between Nordic EU members and the rest over the Social Climate Fund nearly scuppered a crucial set of climate laws.
Finland and Sweden to join Nato, as Erdoğan drops veto
Turkey has agreed to let Finland and Sweden join Nato after a deal on Kurdish separatists and arms exports.
Finland optimistic in Turkey talks over Nato
Finland, Sweden, and Turkey are edging toward a deal on the Nordic countries joining Nato, Helsinki has indicated.
Sweden supports Ukraine's 'European choice'
Sweden has voiced support for Ukraine's "European choice" as diplomacy gathers pace ahead of an EU summit on its first-ever wartime enlargement decision.
EU flags absent in Danish referendum campaign
The EU flag is nowhere to be seen, when Danish voters head to the polls on Wednesday — in the ninth referendum on the country's relationship to the European Union since 1972.
Opinion
Southern Europe needs a 'V4' equivalent
The Visegrád Group, the New Hanseatic League, the Benelux or the Nordics have frequently worked together — however, southern European member states have frequently found themselves in loose cooperation or, worse, competition.
Stakeholder
Nordic Bridges unveil latest highlights of Spring programme
The Nordic Bridges cultural initiative is now in full swing in Canada — an initiatives of the Nordic ministers for culture, to showcase interaction between their cultures and the rest of the world.
Opinion
Sweden and Finland Nato decision is right for Baltic
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a threat to all Europe, particularly the Baltic. Sweden and Finland must join Nato to secure peace in the Baltic Sea, write the leaders of the EPP Nordic and Baltic delegations in European Parliament.
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