European Union | DD News

June 6, 2024 4:06 PM

Netherlands launch four-day European Union elections across 27 nations

The Netherlands initiated voting Thursday in the European Union's parliamentary elections, setting the stage for a crucial democratic exercise expected to highlight the rise of far-right parties across the 27-nation bloc. Polling stations opened across the Netherlands, marking the start of four days of voting for the 751-seat European Parliament. The Dutch are the first to cast ballots, with the rest of the EU following with votes stretched over the remaining three days through Sunday. Irish v...

June 5, 2024 11:14 AM

Slovenian Parliament approves recognition of an independent Palestinian state

The Slovenian Parliament approved the recognition of an independent Palestinian state with a majority vote on Tuesday (June 4), following in the steps of Spain, Ireland and Norway. Of the 27 members of the European Union, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have already recognised a Palestinian state. Malta has said it could follow soon. Israel has repeatedly condemned moves to recognize a Palestinian state, saying they bolster Hamas, the militan...

June 3, 2024 2:58 PM

European Union maintains ban on Pakistani air carriers after safety review

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its decision to maintain the ban on Pakistani air carriers, including the flagship Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), following a comprehensive safety review. This decision follows an extensive assessment by the EU Air Safety Committee, which included an on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and sample assessments of two Pakistani carriers, Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd. "Safety is our top priority," said a high-ranking EU of...

May 27, 2024 8:58 PM

EU clears law to increase domestic green tech production

European Union governments formally cleared on Monday a new law designed to ensure the bloc produces 40% of its solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps and other clean tech equipment and to help European industry compete with U.S. and Chinese rivals. The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) will enter force next month or early July once it has been signed by the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council and is published in the EU's official journal. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The act is a centrep...

May 16, 2024 1:01 PM

Slovak leader Fico stable after surgery but condition ‘very serious’, PM Modi condemns the attack

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was in "very serious" but stable condition on Thursday, a hospital official said, after he was shot five times in an assassination attempt that laid bare deep political divisions in the country. Condemning the shooting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a "cowardly and dastardly act" and wished the Slovak PM a speedy recovery. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Deeply shocked at the news of the shooting at Slovakia's Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Robert Fico....

May 15, 2024 3:28 PM

EU urges Georgia to withdraw ‘foreign agent’ bill

The European Union urged Georgia on Wednesday to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" law and warned that the measure would set back the country's ambitions to join the bloc. "The adoption of this law negatively impacts Georgia's progress on the EU path," said a statement from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. "The choice on the way forward is in Georgia's hands. We urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law." Georgia's parliamen...

May 10, 2024 9:29 AM

EAM Jaishankar says, India-European Union relationship consequential for world also

Describing the relationship between India and the European Union as "consequential for the world as well," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the EU is not only "our largest economic partner," but the ties run "very deep, spanning many domains." Extending felications to EU's Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, Jaishankar said, "I think today the relationship between India and the European Union is not only consequential for each one of us but also for the world as well. The EU is our l...

May 8, 2024 4:31 PM

Whooping cough epidemic sweeps Europe, health agency says

European countries have reported a surge in whooping cough cases in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, with 10 times as many identified as in each of the previous two years. In total, nearly 60,000 cases were reported by European Union and European Economic Area countries over the period, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Wednesday, with 11 deaths in infants and eight among older adults. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airwa...

April 25, 2024 5:39 PM

EU launches probe into China’s medical device procurement practices

The European Commission has launched an investigation into China's alleged practice of favoring domestic companies in tenders for medical devices. This move comes amid longstanding grievances from the European Union (EU) regarding discriminatory practices that hinder European companies from accessing China's lucrative medical device market. Brussels has long accused Beijing of employing distorting and discriminatory practices, including stringent certification processes, opaque approval systems...

April 19, 2024 3:19 PM

Tehran plays down reported Israeli attacks, signals no further retaliation

Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war. The limited scale of the attack and Iran's muted response both appeared to signal a successful effort by diplomats who have been working round the clock to avert all-out war since an Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. Ir...