Author: EU News

Haiti’s foreign minister on Thursday summoned the French ambassador to protest “unacceptable” comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron was filmed calling Haiti’s leadership “completely stupid” while speaking to a bystander about the current political and humanitarian situation in the Caribbean nation. In an official statement obtained by the French news agency AFP, Haiti’s transitional presidential council expressed its “indignation at what it considers unfriendly and inappropriate remarks which ought to be rectified.” It added that it was lodging an official protest with France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. What did Emmanuel Macron say? At the center of the…

Marine Le Pen criticises French prosecutors for seeking a ‘political death sentence’ The French far-right leader says her embezzlement trial is “politicised” and denounces prosecutors for seeking to ban her from public office. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she is facing a “political death sentence” in her embezzlement trial with prosecutors seeking an immediate five-year ban from public office, a punishment that would bar her from running in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen, her National Rally (RN) party, and 24 others—party officials, employees, ex-lawmakers, and parliamentary assistants—are accused of using EU funds to pay staff who worked…

President Metsola opened the 13-14 November plenary session in Brussels with a minute of silence for the victims of the flood tragedy in Spain. Following the devastating floods that swept through towns in Valencia and other regions in Spain two weeks ago and have taken at least 223 lives, President Metsola led MEPs in a minute’s silence in honour of the victims. She said that Europe was in shock and in mourning, and that the EU was ready to help in any way during the process of recovery and rebuilding, including through more flexibility to get financial assistance moving. Changes…

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Morocco on Thursday for a “brief visit,” according to Moroccan state media. Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, which Morocco’s state news agency MAP called a reflection of strong bonds of friendship, cooperation and solidarity between the two countries. Xi then met Aziz Ajanuch, head of the Moroccan government, and went on to receive honors by the Royal Guard. The Chinese president made the visit after his trip to Brazil for the G20 Summit. China eyes Morocco for investment It comes as a time when China has stepped up its investments in Morocco’s…

Equal pay for equal work is one of the EU’s founding principles. And yet, imagine if you stopped getting paid for the year today? Instead of getting paid for a full year, you only get paid for 10 and a half months. For women in the EU, who earn on average 13% less than […] Pay attention to the gender pay gap

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a censure motion against Iran on Thursday, ordering it to immprove its cooperation with the agency and requesting a “comprehensive report”  into Tehran’s efforts early next year. Iran and the IAEA have been at loggerheads on a range of issues including Tehran’s failure to explain traces of uranium at two undeclared locations, the barring of some of the agency’s leading uranium-enrichment experts and its refusal to facilitate expanded IAEA monitoring. What does the resolution ask of Iran? Like previous iterations from November 2022 and June 2024, the latest resolution repeats the “essential and urgent” need for…

The announcement, which Boris Pistorius made in a video posted to SDP social media channels, clears the way for incumbent chancellor Olaf Scholz to run for a second term. Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said he is “not available” to run as a candidate for chancellor in February’s snap election, saying he would instead support Olaf Scholz’s re-election bid. The announcement, which Pistorius made in a video posted to social media channels belonging to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), ends days of speculation about him replacing Scholz. “I have emphasized this over and over in recent weeks and I’m…

On 23 September 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) declared that they had “neutralized an operational combat group of the Russian GRU” (Military intelligence service of Russia’s armed forces). The alleged plot was attributed to Dr. Oleg Maltsev, an internationally recognized Ukrainian scientist, as his list of publications shows. The SBU presented him as a traitor to Ukraine, a saboteur, a ‘gypsy,’ a cult leader and a pseudoscientist but Maltsev who is known as a staunch defender of Ukraine denied any involvement in any pro-Russian activity. Oleg Maltsev was arrested on 14 September 2024 and has been held since then…

The 2023 wildfire season ranks among the EU’s worst in over two decades, fuelled by climate change. Fires devastated vast areas, threatening ecosystems and lives. As fire risks rise, Europe must prevent and prepare for intensifying wildfire seasons. The Rescue fleet provided assistance to fight wildfires in Portugal in July 2022. Italian Civil Protection, 2022 The latest JRC report on Forest Fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2023 shows that last year was one of the worst five years for wildfires in EMEA since 2000. Wildfires affected over 500 000 hectares of natural lands, roughly half the size of the…

Russia has fired intercontinental missiles into Ukraine, marking the first time they have used such weapons. It comes after Ukraine fired British and American missiles into Russia. The ongoing escalations in the war dominate European news, as the EU leaders prepare for US support for Ukraine to come to a screeching end in January when Donald Trump takes office.

The ongoing discussions at COP29 continue to dominate European news as a climate finance deal has failed to break a stand-off between rich and poor nations.

Are users leaving Elon Musk’s X en masse and where are they heading? The limited data on X user numbers makes measuring the full extent of the reported exodus from the platform almost impossible. Hundreds of thousands of dissatisfied users have reportedly fled Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, following Donald Trump’s re-election, with an estimated 115,000 accounts deactivated in the US alone on the day after the ballot. Celebrities and prominent brands ditching the platform cite mounting concerns over the unchecked spread of misinformation, conspiracy theories and hate speech, as well as what they consider to be Musk’s…

Robbers steal diamond-encrusted snuffboxes in raid on Paris museum Robbers steal diamond-encrusted snuffboxes in raid on Paris museum

The arctic cold was felt on the country’s railways, where 14,699 train departures were canceled between December 1 and February 28. In an open letter, SJ’s CEO Monica Lingegård described the winter as “the worst in over ten years for the Swedish railway”, and explained the chaos with persistent cold, extreme amounts of snow, and a railway in poor condition. “All you customers and the entire Swedish people deserve something better.” An arctic cold outbreak made this year’s winter extra frosty Now Flamman ( A Swedish Socialist newspaper) can show that the problems are deeper than that, and that Lingegård…

US prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday to force Alphabet’s Google to divest its Chrome browser, share data and search results with competitors and take other steps to end its internet search monopoly. A court filing showed that the Department of Justice urged Google be banned from becoming the default search engine on smartphones, preventing the US tech giant from exploiting its Android mobile operating system. The world’s most popular web browser, Chrome provides user information to Google that helps the company profitably personalize which ads users see. Google controls about 90% of the online search market with over 60% of users…

At the event titled “Why Words Matter,” organized by the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), European Parliament Vice President Antonella Sberna delivered a thought-provoking speech that underscored the transformative role of language and dialogue in fostering unity and inclusion across Europe. Addressing an audience of distinguished leaders, young participants, and interfaith representatives, Sberna passionately articulated her vision for implementing Article 17 of the EU Treaty, which promotes interreligious and intercultural dialogue as a cornerstone of democratic values and social harmony. Antonella Sberna is an Italian politician of Brothers of Italy who was elected member of the European Parliament in 2024. Antonella…

Suðurnes Chief of Police said that the evacuation of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon went very smoothly. A volcano has erupted in Iceland for the seventh time this year, triggering evacuations in Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon after a state of emergency was declared. The Icelandic Meteorological Office says the fissure appears to have extended to three kilometres in length, and the edge of the lava flow is approximately 700 to 800 metres from Grindavík Road. The office also said the eruption was smaller than the previous one in August this year. Volcano erupts in Iceland for seventh time in…

Este artículo se publicó originalmente en francés Son 18 los Estados miembros de la UE que han firmado una carta de intenciones para intensificar la cooperación y compartir los costes de desarrollo de sistemas de defensa comunes. PUBLICIDADReforzar las capacidades europeas de defensa aérea y antimisiles. Este proyecto es ahora una de las prioridades de la cooperación militar en la UE. 18 Estados miembros han firmado una carta de intenciones para aunar esfuerzos en este sector estratégico.La defensa antiaérea y antimisiles es el proyecto que más interés ha despertado en las capitales. La Agencia Europea de Defensa (AED) propuso otros tres…

Updated: 20/11/2024 – 22:04 GMT+1 Gangs attacked Pétionville, an upscale district of Port-au-Prince, early Tuesday, led by Jimmy Chérizier, a gang leader also known as “Barbecue.” Residents and police joined forces, killing 28 suspected gang members. Gangs attacked Pétionville, an upscale district of Port-au-Prince, early Tuesday, led by Jimmy Chérizier, a gang leader also known as “Barbecue.” Residents and police joined forces, killing 28 suspected gang members. The attack is part of an escalating spiral of violence, with gangs now controlling 85% of the capital and displacing over 20,000 people. Despite the presence of a Kenyan UN-backed mission, the situation…

Weather experts have warned of flash floods, blizzards and debris flows in California and southwestern Oregon. Meanwhile two people have died in Washington. Deadly ‘bomb cyclone’ lashes US Northwest

Irish police, known as Gardaí, have released CCTV images of 99 individuals they want to question about riots that broke out in Dublin nearly a year ago. The unrest followed the stabbing of three children and a school care assistant outside a primary school on November 23, 2023.  

European Union nations are ready to step up military and financial support for Ukraine if the United States scales back its aid, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated on Tuesday. His remarks came during a high-level meeting in Warsaw marking the 1,000th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

Monday’s main European headlines report on a variety of political stories from across the bloc. The biggest stories cover the severed undersea cable between Germany and Finland – believed to be intentional.

The latest from the war in Ukraine as the US permits them to use American weapons to strike inside Russia. It leads to many of the European nations pondering if Germany – Europe’s largest economy – will follow suit.

Many of the UK media already report the UK is set to follow Washignton’s lead and allow Ukraine to use British weapons.

Coverage of the EU vote on whether to suspend Israel talks over Gaza and the bloc’s plans to increase defence spending are two other huge stories dominating the European news this morning.

The French newspapers continue coverage of the horrific rape trial that has not only caught the country’s attention – but the world’s.

Spain continues coverage of the devastating floods earlier in the month and the devastation left behind.

The German press reports on the severed undersea cables calling it an act of sabotage and a “hybrid action”, without knowing who is to blame.

The G20 summit in Brazil also finds space across Europe’s biggest news media.

The European Union has opted not to suspend its political dialogue with Israel after failing to reach a unanimous agreement at a Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday.  EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed the suspension, citing alleged human rights violations and breaches of international law by Israel in Gaza. However, the measure required the support of all 27 member states and did not achieve consensus.  

An undersea telecommunications cable linking Germany and Finland has been severed, raising concerns amid already heightened tensions in Europe. The 1,170 km (730-mile) C-Lion1 fibreoptic cable connects Helsinki and Rostock, but all fibre connections in the line have been disrupted, according to Finnish network operator Cinia.  

News that the US president has allowed Ukraine to use American missiles in Russia for the first time is picked up by many European newspapers and websites this morning with many looking at the consequences of such a move. 

Domestic news also features across the splashes with reports on Spanish, French and German politics and a look ahead to this week’s G20 summit. 

Most of the major European sports pages cover the latest from the Nations League as France beat Italy and Belgium shockingly lost to Israel.