Friday

8th Dec 2023

Tusk's difficult in-tray on Poland's judicial independence

What is obvious is that PiS put in place a set of interlocking safeguards for itself which, even after their political defeat in Poland, will render it very difficult for the new government to restore the rule of law.

Can Green Deal survive the 2024 European election?

Six months ahead of the EU elections, knocking an 'elitist' climate agenda is looking like a vote-winner to some. Saving the Green Deal and the EU's climate ambitions starts with listening to Europeans who are struggling to make ends meet.

Latest News

  1. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  2. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  3. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  4. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?
  5. Crunch talks seek breakthrough on EU asylum overhaul
  6. Polish truck protest at Ukraine border disrupts war supplies
  7. 'Green' banks lend most to polluters, reveals ECB
  8. Tense EU-China summit showdown unlikely to bear fruit
Why EU's €18m for Israel undermines peace

The optics of a nine-fold increase of annual funding for Israel, in the middle of its devastating military campaign in Gaza, stands in contrast with the attempted suspension, delaying and constraining of EU development aid for the Palestinians.

'Pay or okay?' — Facebook & Instagram vs the EU

Since last week, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta corporation is forcing its European users to either accept their intrusive privacy practices — or pay €156 per year to access Facebook and Instagram without tracking advertising.

The EU's 'no added sugars' fruit-juice label sleight-of-hand

The Food Information to Consumers package would have finally regulated the health or nutrition claims companies make on their products, claims like "heart-healthy" "30-percent less fat" or "no added sugar". Legislation on these claims is now 15 years overdue.

Dubai's COP28 — a view from the ground

Discussion of the biggest existential threat humanity has ever faced is barely mentioned on billboards or signage in Dubai — yet visitors are made aware quite quickly that t world rugby sevens tournament is imminent.

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My experience trying to negotiate with Uber

After working with people in unusual employment situations for a decade, I thought I had seen it all as a union organiser. Then I began dealing with Uber.

What's Slovakia's Fico up to over Ukraine?

It is high time for Slovak PM Robert Fico to realise that any display of compliance or even understanding towards Moscow constitutes a threat to what Fico calls the "national-state interest of Slovakia", writes the former prime minister of Slovakia.

'Loss and Damage' reparations still hang in balance at COP28

There is still work to be done — especially when it comes to guaranteeing the Global North's participation in financing Loss and Damage, and ensuring the Global South has representation and oversight on the World Bank's board.

Will EU climate chief Hoekstra come clean before COP28?

As the new EU climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, heads to COP28, three senior MEPs question his ties to the fossil-fuel industry — and call for him to disclose all his ties while working for 11 years for McKinsey.

As EU visits Havana, five truths about human rights in Cuba

On Wednesday, EU special representative for human rights, will arrive in a country in turmoil. Eamon Gilmore's visit risks legitimising the Cuban regime if he does not take a firm public stance on the human rights situation.

Beyond Ukraine and Gaza, an overlooked genocide in Darfur

Bordering Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Eritrea and Egypt, Sudan is in the immediate vicinity of the European neighbourhood and the ongoing war in Africa's third-largest country, could have worse repercussions than the Libyan collapse for the EU.

What's actually happening with EU aid for Palestine?

In spite of backtracking by the European Commission, few realise that the EU's funding to Palestine for the year 2024 is effectively on hold, just as the commission advances €18m for Israel, writes Irish MEP Barry Andrews of Renew Europe.

Will EU give greenlight to finance industry to fuel climate crisis?

While the EU makes efforts to reduce emissions at home, progress is dwarfed by the EU's financial sector's climate-harming, profit-seeking investments outside of its own borders, write the directors of Climate Action Network, Friends of the Earth, and Action Aid.

Belgium, France, Spain must halt their Kremlin gas deals

What remains baffling, to Ukrainians fighting for their country and environmental NGOs fighting to save the planet, is that terminals in Belgium and France continue to serve as transshipment points for Russian LNG cargoes destined for India and China.

S&D urges EU plan to address housing crisis for young people

The Socialists & Democrats are gathering in Málaga to prepare their manifesto for the 2024 European elections. With house prices doubling in countries like Latvia, Luxembourg, Czechia, and Austria, the S&D is calling for affordable housing for young Europeans.

Peaceful Israel/Gaza protests are not 'national security' threat

Over the last month, moves by several European governments to curb expression and protest in response to the unprecedented violence in Israel and Gaza/West Bank appear designed stifle dissent, deny collective grief, and create a 'chilling effect', writes Amnesty International.

85 years after the Nazi November pogrom

I am uncomfortable with historical analogies to describe periodic spikes in antisemitism — but images of mobs storming an airport in Dagestan in search of Jews, crowds yelling "Gas the Jews!" in Sydney come 85 years after the Nazi 'Kristallnacht'.

Column

The truth about The Other Ukraine political party

The Other Ukraine party presents itself as the peace party, but its actual role is not to represent any sort of 'Ukrainian government-in-exile', but to function as a front for Russian disinformation offensives targeting Western countries providing support for Ukraine.

Is EU nature restoration law at risk of becoming a lame duck?

As negotiations on the hotly-contested EU Nature Restoration Law enter the endgame, one key amendment on making restoration rules work with fisheries policies will determine whether the law can bring biodiversity back to European seas.

Ukraine's EU accession will be tricky - but start with defence

The EU is faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, geopolitical considerations are prompting it to hasten Ukraine's integration. On the other hand, many in the EU and Ukraine believe in merit-based progression — conditional on Kyiv's reforms.

Some uncomfortable truths for EU's 140 ambassadors this week

Some 140 EU ambassadors meet their boss in Brussels this week. Unfair though it may seem, Europe's global credibility depends on how strongly it pressures Israel on agreeing to a humanitarian ceasefire, protecting civilians and allowing more aid into Gaza.

It's time to open up the European Court of Justice

At present, the ECJ considers documents about ongoing proceedings to be confidential and only makes them available once the proceedings have concluded. Arguments submitted by parties are never published, blinding the public to the full picture.

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