Author: EU News

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.”

“Teresa Ribera will be a sort of super commissioner with significant influence on European industrial policy. She will apply the antitrust rules and oversee state aid and mergers. This is a key position and will make Spain one of the EU’s main partners. … In her new term in office, von der Leyen has announced that she is reserving the right to change the structure of the Commission. And she has appointed 40 percent women to the top of the commissions. Although this falls short of the strict parity she had hoped for, she has nevertheless almost doubled the pitiful 22 percent that would have resulted from the governments’ proposals.”

Editorial 16.09.24 Monday’s European newspapers – we take a look at a handful of newspapers from across Europe. From flooding affecting central and Eastern Europe to the assassination of Donald Trump, the European papers cover a lot of ground, from their own domestic stories to international politics as well as shared concerns around illegal immigration. ‘Deadly floods sweep Europe,’ is the lead for Blick. The main story on the front page of Blick reports on flooding in Europe. The paper says heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding across parts of Europe, leading to tragic consequences. Rivers have burst their banks,…

Italy Deputy PM Faces Possible 6-Year Jail Term For Migrant Boat Blocking Prosecutors in Italy are pushing for a six-year prison sentence for Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini over his decision in August 2019 to block a migrant boat from docking. The boat, operated by the Open Arms charity, was stranded at sea for nearly three weeks before a court ordered it to dock on the island of Lampedusa. Salvini, who was Italy’s interior minister at the time, faces charges of kidnap and dereliction of duty, which he denies. Salvini defended his actions, saying he aimed to prevent Italy from…

The upcoming Kamala Harris and Donald Trump TV debate has found space on the European newspapers today. Whilst not the lead story, many of the newspapers offer their opinion on the Tuesday debate, as polls suggest the race remains tight.

Russian officials claim they intercepted 144 Ukrainian drones in a wave of overnight attacks that resulted in one death and disrupted flights in Moscow.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the drone attack.

Germany will expand its border checks following a tragic knife attack in Solingen, which left three people dead in August. The stricter controls will start September 16 for an initial six-month period.

Critics say the move is a political one rather than being focused on security.

British prisoner among five on run after escaping Portuguese jail A British prisoner is one of five inmates who escaped from a high-security prison in Portugal. The breakout happened at the Vale de Judeus prison, about 43 miles north of Lisbon, on Saturday. The prisoners, including Mark Cameron Roscaleer, escaped by climbing a wall using a ladder and reportedly had outside help. Roscaleer was serving a nine-year sentence for kidnapping and robbery. The other escapees include two Portuguese men, an Argentinian, and a Georgian, local media says. The two Portuguese escapees were serving 25-year sentences for offences including drug trafficking,…

Michel Barnier becomes new French PM Veteran French conservative Michel Barnier has been named France’s new Prime Minister, almost two months after the country’s snap elections resulted in a political impasse. The 73-year-old former EU Brexit negotiator takes over from Gabriel Attal, who served as the youngest-ever prime minister for the past eight months. Barnier, who arrived at the Hôtel Matignon in Paris on Thursday evening, emphasised the need for humility and respect towards all political forces. His immediate challenge will be to form a stable government in a National Assembly fractured into three major blocs, none of which holds…

Seven dead in Lviv in fresh wave of strikes on Ukraine A fresh wave of Russian attacks in Ukraine has claimed the lives of seven people, including three children, in the western city of Lviv, according to Mayor Andriy Sadovy. The deadly strike occurred early Wednesday and involved drones and hypersonic missiles. Among the victims were a baby, two girls aged nine and 14, and a midwife, officials reported. The attack on Lviv comes as Ukraine is still grappling with the aftermath of a devastating strike on a military institute in Poltava on Tuesday, which killed at least 50 people.…

Twelve die after migrant boat sinks in Channel Twelve people, including six children and a pregnant woman, lost their lives when a boat carrying migrants sank in the English Channel off the French coast. The local prosecutor’s office reported that ten of the victims were female and two were male. The overloaded boat, which had its bottom “ripped open,” was carrying more than 50 people, but fewer than eight were wearing life jackets. The French Coast Guard rescued over 50 individuals near Cape Gris-Nez, with two in critical condition. This incident marks the deadliest tragedy in the Channel this year.…

Russian missiles target Kyiv on first day of school year Russia fired a barrage of missiles at Kyiv on Monday, just hours before thousands of children returned to school for the first day of the academic year. The attack damaged a water treatment plant, a metro station entrance used as a shelter, two schools, and a university, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Ukraine’s military reported that its air force destroyed 22 cruise and air ballistic missiles. Local authorities said three people were injured by debris from the intercepted missiles. Despite the assault, schools in Kyiv marked the first day of…

Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), won big on Sunday, securing victory in the eastern state of Thuringia in a regional election.The victory gives the far right its first win in a state parliament election since World War Two.The AfD also came a close second in Sunday’s other big state election, in the neighbouring state of Saxony.The AfD is seen as a right-wing extremist party in both Thuringia and Saxony.As the far right continues to rise across Europe we look at how European media has reacted to the election win. KEY FACTS German far right election victory in eastAlternative for…