Author: EU News

Spain’s flood death toll expected to rise Spain is grappling with its worst flooding in decades, with at least 95 confirmed dead and dozens still missing after torrential rains devastated the eastern province of Valencia and beyond. Flash floods struck on Tuesday, sweeping away buildings, bridges, and forcing residents to seek safety on roofs and trees. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning as search and rescue operations face challenges from ongoing extreme weather. Most of the deaths were recorded in Valencia, with additional casualties in Castilla-La Mancha and Málaga. In some areas, including Chiva near…

Rescue efforts continue after deadly flash floods in Spain Flash floods from intense rain have caused devastation in southeastern Spain, especially in the Valencia region. Several bodies have been found, though officials are withholding details out of respect for families. Six people remain missing in the small town of Letur, Albacete. Rescue operations are ongoing, with footage showing floodwaters demolishing bridges, sweeping away cars, and forcing people to cling to trees for safety. Emergency services, overwhelmed with calls, are using drones in their search efforts. A red alert is active in Valencia, with schools, parks, and events closed. Prime Minister…

UN experts call France’s hijab ban in sports ‘discriminatory’ UN human rights experts have criticised France’s decisions to ban women and girls wearing the hijab from participating in sports competitions, labelling these moves “discriminatory” and calling for their reversal. In preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, France is enforcing strict secularism laws that prevent athletes from displaying religious symbols, including the hijab. This restriction extends to football and basketball federations, affecting players who wear the hijab even at the amateur level. The UN experts, a group of eight independent specialists, expressed concern that these measures disproportionately impact Muslim women and…

Bulgarians head to the polls again amid political deadlock Bulgarians will vote in their seventh general election in just over three years this Sunday, as the country grapples with ongoing political instability. Since 2021, only two of the six elections have resulted in a working government, but each coalition soon collapsed over attempts to tackle corruption, reduce Russian dependence, and push reforms. June’s election yielded no clear winner, leaving a divided parliament with no stable coalition. Analysts predict this election will likely yield similar results, with low voter turnout and further gains for pro-Russian and far-right factions. Voter fatigue is…

Lithuania’s crucial parliamentary elections: What to watch for in the final round On Sunday, Lithuanians will head to the polls for the second and final round of parliamentary elections, with the conservative ruling party still in the race following the first round, which saw gains for the left-leaning opposition. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s government, in power since 2020, has faced challenges from strict COVID-19 measures, political scandals involving key cabinet members, and an influx of migrants from neighbouring Belarus, all of which have impacted its popularity. The elections take place against the backdrop of heightened tensions due to Russia’s war…

France hosts Lebanon aid conference in Paris France is hosting an aid conference in Paris to support Lebanon, aiming to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid. The conference, taking place Thursday, comes as the country faces Israel’s attack on Hezbollah. So far, 1,500 people have been killed and more than 700,000 displaced. Around 70 countries and 15 international organisations are attending, though key players like Iran and Israel are absent. French President Emmanuel Macron will open the event, with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati also present. While expectations for a political breakthrough are low, France’s Foreign Minister…

Moldova’s EU referendum too close to call with 98% of votes counted Moldova’s referendum on joining the EU remains undecided, with Yes votes at 50.08% and No at 49.92% after 98% of ballots were counted. The tight race has sparked tension, as many expected the pro-EU vote to pass in the country of 2.6 million, which borders Romania and Ukraine. President Maia Sandu, a strong EU supporter, claimed foreign interference influenced the narrow results, accusing Russia of paying voters—an allegation Moscow denies. Sandu called it an “unprecedented assault on democracy” and cited evidence of vote-buying. Alongside the referendum, Moldova held…

Ukraine strikes oil depot in occupied Crimea Ukraine’s military has launched a missile strike on the Feodosia oil terminal, the largest oil processing facility in Crimea, in the latest wave of attacks targeting Russian-controlled energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials confirmed the strike, saying the terminal supplies fuel to Russian occupation forces. While Russian-installed officials in Crimea did not confirm the attack, they acknowledged a fire at the facility, prompting the evacuation of 300 people. Videos circulating online showed smoke rising from the terminal, and firefighting efforts are underway. Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry reported that it shot down 12 out of 21…

Violent killings shake the French city of Marseille Two shocking killings involving teenagers have rocked the French city of Marseille, highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with drug-related violence. Last week, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed a taxi driver in a failed revenge attempt for the brutal murder of a 15-year-old. Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone warned that drug lords are recruiting young boys to kill without remorse. The 15-year-old’s murder, described as “unprecedented savagery,” was linked to a feud between the “DZ Mafia” and “Blacks” gangs. The teenager, hired by a gang member for €2,000, was stabbed 50 times and…

Macron calls for arms sales ban on Israel French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a halt on arms deliveries to Israel, which has been bombing Gaza for over a year and recently expanded military operations into Lebanon. In an interview with France Inter, Macron emphasised the need for a political solution, urging a stop to weapon supplies fueling the conflict. He reiterated France’s stance, stating that the country is not currently supplying weapons to Israel. Macron expressed deep concern over Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, warning that the violence is escalating hatred and undermining Israel’s long-term security. He also…

3 children injured in knife attack at Zurich daycare centre A knife attack at a daycare centre in Zurich has left three children injured, one of them seriously. A 23-year-old man reportedly attacked a group of children as they were being escorted to the daycare by a staff member—fortunately, a daycare worker and a bystander managed to subdue the attacker before the police arrived. The most seriously injured is a five-year-old boy, who is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while two other boys of the same age sustained minor injuries. The motive behind the attack remains unclear as police…

Marine Le Pen on trial for EU embezzlement case  Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is on trial in Paris for allegedly misusing European parliamentary funds. Alongside more than 20 senior party members, Le Pen is accused of hiring parliamentary assistants who were paid by the European Parliament but worked on party-related matters. If convicted, Le Pen could face fines, imprisonment, and a ban from running for office for up to 10 years, potentially derailing her 2027 presidential bid. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that she and her colleagues did not violate any political rules.…

Sweden accuses Iran of hack inciting revenge for Quran burnings Sweden’s security service, Sapo, has accused Iranian intelligence of hacking into a Swedish text messaging service to send 15,000 inflammatory messages. The breach, which occurred last summer, involved SMS messages urging “revenge against Quran-burners” after several activists set fire to copies of the Quran during anti-Islam protests in Sweden. The Iranian embassy in Stockholm denied the accusations, calling them “baseless” and damaging to diplomatic relations. However, Swedish authorities claim that their investigation traced the attack to a cyber group called Anzu, allegedly linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The group…

Quick View – Contents France has unveiled its new government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The country had been plunged into chaos after a snap election – called by President Emmanuel Macron – saw a surge in far-right support, that then led to the then Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stepping down. The decision to call a snap election – just ahead of the Paris Olympics – led to widespread backlash and political upheaval across France. Despite a new cabinet, stability and calm are not guaranteed. Most of the newly appointed cabinet members come from Emmanuel Macron’s centre-right camp and the…

“Barnier’s cabinet is likely to reassure the business world. … First in terms of method: the prime minister is consulting experts widely and has undertaken to continue doing so in preparation for his government policy statement. This marks the beginning of a culture of compromise that is quite foreign to France. And secondly in the choice of personnel: there are few or no big names in this team, but the ministers are experts in their fields and will be careful not to break with the dynamic created over the past seven years. … With the cast, the method and the direction now set, the 2025 budget will be the acid test.”

“Barnier and Macron want to accommodate French voters on the right and prevent them from voting for far-right parties in even greater numbers in future elections. But paradoxically, the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National must also be secured. The RN is the second-most important opposition party in parliament after the left-wing camp, and will play a crucial role in determining how long the new government remains in office. This shows, in turn, how powerful Le Pen’s party has become in France – even if it is still being kept out of the centre of power.”

“If you zoom out of France and look at the whole of Europe, you see that by appointing Michel Barnier as prime minister the once moderate Emmanuel Macron has brought his country into line with many of its neighbours. On the same weekend, the AfD only narrowly lost to the SPD in the Brandenburg elections. … In Belgium, a poll published on Saturday showed a Flanders that is further to the right in its voting preferences than ever before – Vlaams Belang is on form. … Above all, these events mark the end of a week in which the new EU Commission has been dominated by the right.”

Zelensky prepares victory plan to present to Joe Biden Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to present his “plan for victory” during a visit to the US this week, where he will meet with President Joe Biden. Following his meeting with Biden, Zelensky aims to share the plan with Congress and the two leading figures in the upcoming US election—Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Trump has been critical of US support for Ukraine and has spoken favourably of Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he has indicated he may meet with Zelensky. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s trip aligns with efforts…

Scholz’s SPD narrowly defeats far-right AfD in crucial Brandenburg election Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz narrowly avoided a significant political setback as exit polls suggest his Social Democratic Party (SPD) managed to hold off the far-right in his home state of Brandenburg. In Sunday’s regional election, Scholz’s centre-left SPD reportedly won by a slim margin, securing just one or two percentage points more than the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to exit polls from the country’s two main public broadcasters. The SPD was projected to receive 31-32% of the vote, with AfD close behind at 29-30%. Brandenburg, governed by the…

France on the verge of naming new government France is on the verge of unveiling a new government, with the final decision awaiting approval from President Emmanuel Macron. After months of political manoeuvring and a snap legislative election that left more questions than answers, Prime Minister Michel Barnier was seen heading to the Élysée Palace on Thursday evening to present his cabinet to President Macron. This follows weeks of difficulty in forming a government in a fractured political landscape. The prime minister’s office has confirmed that a deal has been reached, though it remains unclear how Barnier, a conservative, will…

Storm Boris batters Italy after causing devastation throughout central Europe Storm Boris continues to wreak havoc across northeastern and central Italy, just days after causing devastating flooding throughout central Europe. In the northeastern region of Emilia Romagna, over 1,000 residents have been evacuated, while severe flooding and disruptions have been reported in the central Marche region. Authorities have confirmed that two people are missing. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday that the European Union would provide €10 billion (£8.4 billion) in funding to help the affected countries. She made the announcement following a meeting with leaders…

Editorial 18.09.24 Thursday’s front pages report on a variety of domestic and international stories with the attack against Hezbollah being one of the most popular stories splashed on the front. ‘Shocking attack against Hezbollah,’ writes Le Monde. The main story on the front page of Le Monde discusses a ‘shocking attack’ in Lebanon involving booby-trapped pagers targeting Hezbollah members. The incident took place on Tuesday, September 17, where hundreds of pagers exploded simultaneously, resulting in at least nine deaths and 2,800 injuries, according to the current report. The attack specifically targeted Hezbollah personnel, with Israel being attributed responsibility due to…

Quick View – Contents Ursula von der Leyen unveils new European Commission teamEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced her long-awaited list of nominees to make up the next European Commission. Her new team are tasked with challenges including wars on our European doorstep, as well as in the Middle East. Other pressing issues include migration, climate change and economic competitiveness. Ursula von der Leyen’s list of 27 candidates still needs to be approved by the EU Parliament. Each member state of the EU has been assigned a post, but from the initial reaction of the media, it doesn’t…

“Forget the soothing diplomatic tones from Dublin – justice is a portfolio nobody wanted. Justice means guaranteed (and often personalised) conflict with states such as Hungary and Slovakia. … The reality is that in a decade Ireland has gone from holding agriculture and rural development (a third of the EU budget), to trade (the crown jewel of the EU’s competencies) via financial services (stripped of the important bits) to the thankless task of policing wannabe European dictators under a ‘democracy shield’.”

“The post-fascist has managed to place one of her loyal followers, Raffaele Fitto, in one of the most influential posts in the Commission. He will become vice-president and commissioner for cohesion and reforms. This means he will be responsible for the European Social Fund and a fund for regional development, among other things. Meloni is over the moon about this decision, as it secures her additional power and influence in Brussels. However with this appointment, Ursula von der Leyen has lodged a political time bomb in her own Commission. Many members of the European Parliament are quite rightly appalled and have announced their opposition to the far-right Italian.”