European Union

December 4, 2024 6:53 PM

Crunch time in France as lawmakers look set to oust Barnier’s government

French lawmakers are all but certain to oust the governmentwith a no-confidence motionon Wednesday, plunging the euro zone's second-biggest economic power deeper into political turmoil. Barring a last-minute surprise, Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government will be France's first to be forced out by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years, at a time when the country is struggling to tame a massive budget deficit. That would leave a hole at the heart of the European Union at a time when G...

October 28, 2024 8:22 PM

“Spain is an important partner within European Union”: MEA

India on Monday emphasized its deepening partnership with Spain, particularly in trade, investment, and defense, describing Spain as a key partner within the European Union (EU). Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted Spain’s strategic importance while addressing a special briefing during the official visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to India. "Spain is an important partner within the European Union. It held the EU presidency last year, is ...

October 17, 2024 4:44 PM

Zelenskiy pitches ‘victory plan’ to EU, says it could end war by 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presented his "victory plan" to the European Union on Thursday (October 17), pitching for a NATO membership invitation and a major increase in military support for Kyiv's campaign against Russia's invasion. Addressing leaders of the European Union's 27 member countries at a summit in Brussels, Zelenskiy also called for more military aid for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion. Zelenskiy's plan contains requests that Ukraine's allies have so far dec...

October 16, 2024 6:36 PM

Italy delivers first migrants to Albania under new deal

A ship carrying the first group of migrants to be processed in Albania under a deal with Italy arrived in the port of Shengjin on Wednesday morning, setting in motion Rome's controversial plan to process thousands of asylum seekers abroad. Italy has built two reception centres in Albania, in the first scheme by a European Union nation to divert migrants to a non-EU country. The plan aims to deter irregular arrivals to Italy, but has been criticised by rights groups who say it restricts migrants...

October 16, 2024 11:18 AM

What’s at stake in Moldova’s election and referendum on Oct 20?

Moldova's pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, is seeking a second term in a presidential election on Oct. 20, when the country will also hold a referendum on joining the European Union. Here's a look at what's at stake. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN MOLDOVA? Moldova is a small southeast European republic of under 3 million people located between Romania and Ukraine. It has a Romanian-speaking majority and a large Russian-speaking minority, and since the breakup of the Soviet Union has alternated betw...

September 24, 2024 5:09 PM

Fashion suppliers want brands to help with EU green regulations

As the global fashion industry braces for new green supply-chain regulations, clothing makers in low-income countries like Bangladesh expect major international brands to share the burden. The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), adopted in July, requires corporations to make their global value chains more sustainable. The new rules on workers’ rights and emissions could transform the way clothing is made and sold, most significantly in the garment fac...

July 25, 2024 10:25 PM

Why does Nepal suffer so many air crashes?

Eighteen people were killed in Nepal when a small passenger plane crashed while taking off from the main airport in the capital Kathmandu, drawing attention once again to the Himalayan nation's poor record on air safety. Here is a look at why Nepal, where more than 360 have died in airplane or helicopter crashes since 2000, is particularly susceptible. TERRAIN Wedged between India and China, landlocked Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, and its planes often have to servic...

July 9, 2024 6:00 PM

UN probing reported mass grave on Libya-Tunisia border

The U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday that his office was following up on reports of a mass grave in the desert along the Libya-Tunisia border, after the bodies of at least 65 migrants were found at another site earlier this year. In a speech, Volker Turk denounced widespread violations against migrants and refugees in Libya, which straddes a dangerous transit route that runs through the Sahara Desert and across the southern Mediterranean. Abuses against migrants were being "perpetrated ...

July 4, 2024 3:40 PM

EU imposes duties on China-built EVs, leaving four months for talks

The European Union will impose tariffs of up to 37.6% from Friday on imports of electric vehicles made in China, EU officials said on Thursday, ratcheting up trade tension with Beijing. There is however a four-month window during which the tariffs are only provisional and intensive talks are expected to continue between the two sides. The European Commission's provisional duties of between 17.4% and 37.6% without backdating are designed to prevent what its president Ursula von der Leyen has sa...

July 4, 2024 12:09 PM

As France votes, Europe holds its breath

When President Emmanuel Macron shocked France last month by calling a snap election, he was gambling with the future of Europe as well as his own country. While much depends on the second round of voting on Sunday, it already seems clear that Macron's role as a driver of European integration will be significantly diminished. The two most likely scenarios – a government led by the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen or a hung parliament – would present unprecedented challenges fo...