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Selection of EU special representative to the Gulf: Risky business for the EU’s High Representative

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

The EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell is set to finalize the appointment of a Special Representative to the Gulf region in the coming days. The role of the EU Special Representatives is to promote the EU’s policies and interests in their designated regions. They are key to European efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law.The four candidates being considered at the EEAS Are Luigi Di Maio, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Markos Kyprianou, and Jan Kubis – with Di Maio being the frontrunner after intense pressure by specific quarters led to him landing on Borrell’s desk as the preferred nomination of the EEAS services.Di Maio, is the former Foreign Minister of Italy who was the leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.  Most problematically, Di Maio enacted an embargo of arms sales to Saudia Arabia and the UAE while he was foreign minister, which all but makes him a persona non grata in the region. But his candidacy is not without problems at home as we...

Indonesia Shows Why the EU Needs More Focus on G20

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

The G20, on the face of it, is a slightly odd institution. Founded recently – in 1999 – in response to the then-emerging markets debt crisis, its goal was to usher developing democracies such as Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa into a global leadership role. Ironically, since that time most of the economic crises the world has faced have started in the rich world of G7 nations – the 2008 financial crash; the US-China trade war; the COVID pandemic. There was a concern that the G20 could fade into irrelevance.This year’s Presidency under Indonesia has shown why the institution still matters – and should give a wake-up call to EU leaders. We must move away from our G8-centric worldview, where all foreign and trade relations are seen through the prism of America, Russia and China. The G20’s emerging powers – especially Indonesia, India and Brazil – will be major economic players and Brussels needs to prepare for this new reality.Under President Joko Widodo, Indonesia has supercharged ...

G20: European Commission announces €210 million in food assistance for most vulnerable worldwide

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

Ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, the Commission is stepping up support to help those most affected by the devastating effects of rising food insecurity globally. A new humanitarian aid package of €210 million will be provided in 15 countries to meet their growing needs. This brings the EU's overall support for global food security to up to €8 billion between 2020-2024. In 2022, food insecurity reached unprecedented levels, both in scale and severity with at least 205 million people currently acu... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

FIFA World Cup 2022: MEPs to discuss workers’ rights with Qatari Labour Minister

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

On Monday, 14 November in the afternoon, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights will assess conditions for foreign workers in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup.The world football body FIFA’s decision to grant Qatar the right to host the 2022 World Cup in men’s football has sparked controversy among human rights organisations and football fans alike. Data cross-checked by several human rights organisations with diplomatic missions in Doha indicate that thousand... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Fit for 55: Deal on carbon sinks goal will increase EU 2030 climate target

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

On Thursday night, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the third file of the Fit for 55 package. The revision of the Regulation on the land use, land use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) seeks to improve natural carbon sinks to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and improve biodiversity in line with the European Green Deal.Boosting EU carbon sinks by 2030The EU 2030 target for net greenhouse gas (GHG) removals in... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Commission proposes new Euro 7 standards to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles and improve air quality

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

On Thursday, 10 November, the Commission presented a proposal to reduce air pollution from new motor vehicles sold in the EU to meet the European Green Deal's zero-pollution ambition, while keeping vehicles affordable for consumers and promoting Europe's competitiveness.Road transport is the largest source of air pollution in cities. The new Euro 7 standards will ensure cleaner vehicles on our roads and improved air quality, protecting the health of our citizens and the environment. Euro 7 s... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

“Putin must pay”: The British politician-turned-Philanthropist building a humanitarian empire in Ukraine

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

In the same week that European leaders began discussions for a “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine, former Minister Brooks Newmark spoke in favour of a Multilateral Action Model on reparations which could secure over £500bn in compensation to help rebuild the nation of Ukraine.Newmark was one of the numerous experts consulted by the New Lines Institute to develop the legal framework by which Russian assets can be seized, oil revenues charged and dirty money confiscated to build a Ukraine Compensatio... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Cyber Defence: EU boosts action against cyber threats

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

On Thursday, November 10, the Commission and the High Representative put forward a Joint Communication on an EU Cyber Defence policy and an Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0 to address the deteriorating security environment following Russia's aggression against Ukraine and to boost the EU's capacity to protect its citizens and infrastructure.With its new cyber defence policy, the EU will enhance cooperation and investments in cyber defence to better protect, detect, deter, and defend agai... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Ukraine Reconstruction: Commissioner Simson visits the country to boost the support for Ukraine’s energy system

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson visited Ukraine on 1 November to discuss with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and international partners the immediate concrete support for its battered energy sector. Russia's persistent and deliberate targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the past weeks and months has affected more than 30% of the country's energy system.The EU has, together with the Member States and private companies, delivered million... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Putin Must Pay: Call for reparations to Ukraine

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:45:07 GMT

On Tuesday, October 25th a group of international legal experts, economists, and scholars presented for the first time a model through which reparations could be legally demanded from Russia to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine and the mental rehabilitation of its people.The Multilateral Action Model, presented by experts from the New Lines Institute to the European Parliament, is ground-breaking in the way that it would make use of the seized and frozen Russian assets while keeping in l... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑