Author: Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk

Olga Winter is a specialist editor writing about current affairs on the EU news desk for WTX News. Based in Brussels she ideally suited to the address the domestic and global affairs of the European continent, with assignments that include expose and In Review features for specialist reports..

Keir Starmer unveils plans to change UK immigration system after record arrivals EU

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday put net migration at more than 900,000 in the year to June 2023, numbers Starmer blamed on the previous Conservative government. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the government intends to overhaul the immigration system after new data showed arrivals to the country had hit a record high. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday put net migration at more than 900,000…

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ESMA responds to the Commission rejection of certain MiCA Technical Standards EU

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has responded to the European Commission proposal to amend the Markets in crypto-assets Regulation (MiCA) Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS). ESMA acknowledges the legal limitations raised by the Commission but emphasises the importance of the policy objectives behind the initial proposal. In […] ESMA responds to the Commission rejection of certain MiCA Technical Standards

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The controversial nuclear program, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East: Iran’s positions have recently put a strain on relations with Europe. The Islamic Republic is seeking rapprochement in Geneva. Watch this and other news on WELT TV.© Axel Springer Germany GmbH. All rights reserved. Now live: Nuclear program and Middle East conflict – Germany and European partners talk to Iran – Video

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu arrived in France on Thursday for a two-day state visit, with both sides looking to deepen their economic and diplomatic ties. It is the first official state visit to Paris by a Nigerian leader in over two decades.   French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed his counterpart with a warm greeting in Nigerian Pidgin English, stressing the cultural connection between the two leaders. “Na big honor for France,” he wrote on social media…

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New Recommendations for Local Self-Government in Europe EU

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session has adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta. The Congress has called on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into domestic law. It concluded that Icelandic municipalities lead globally in terms of female voting and representation and welcomed the high level of fiscal autonomy in the country’s local self-government. However, despite previous Congress recommendations, Iceland did not incorporate local democracy…

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The wave of bankruptcies in German retail continues: Now Kodi has to pull the ripcord. The company points to falling sales and increased costs. Experts are not surprised – and see the industry under pressure.The wave of insolvencies in German retail continues. This time affected: the non-food discounter Kodi. The retailer, which currently has 238 branches and an online shop, has applied for so-called protective shield proceedings at the district court in Duisburg. This special…

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Chad said on Thursday that it was ending its defense cooperation pact with former colonial power France in a decision that could see French soldiers withdraw from the Central African country. “The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defense signed with the French Republic,” Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement on his ministry’s official Facebook page.…

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The New von der Leyen Commission Set to Begin Work on December 1 EU

The European Union is poised for a fresh chapter as the new von der Leyen Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, prepares to take office on December 1. Following a vote in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gave their confidence to the new College of Commissioners, marking the start of an ambitious five-year term. In her address to the European Parliament, President von der Leyen presented her vision for Europe, emphasizing…

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Pleasant Russia policy, nuclear phase-out, migration: Maybrit Illner doesn’t spare former Chancellor Angela Merkel from any sensitive topic in the ZDF interview. Merkel appears unimpressed and unreasonable. Their message is: Everything was actually done right. It turns out that the former Chancellor is now light years away from her party.Do you have to listen to her again? Read another interview with her, watch another talk show with former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)? Hasn’t everything been…

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Wedding, baby, happy ending: “Notting Hill” ended the way romantic comedies end. Director Richard Curtis planned a less sugary sequel. But Julia Roberts waved her off. And they lived happily ever after: that’s how most romantic comedies end. “Notting Hill” from 1999 was no exception. In the end, the glamorous Hollywood star (played by Julia Roberts ) and the somewhat clumsy bookseller ( Hugh Grant ) were a couple. Wedding bells, baby joy – the big table setting. If…

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The Foundation for Applied Economics Studies (Fedea) proposes a partial indexation of pensions with inflation, so that the highest pensions, but not the lowest ones that cannot be cut, are partially ‘sacrificed’ to the over the years with a loss of purchasing power that helps reduce pension spending and ensure the sustainability of the system. This is one of the measures that the executive director of Fedea, Ángel De la Fuente, has defended during the…

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Hungary’s Religious Freedom Challenges and Insights EU

Budapest, Hungary, October 2024 – Hungary faces a decision regarding religious freedom as it navigates the challenge of preserving its traditional connections with major religious organizations while also confronting the growing issue of discrimination against minority belief systems. The latest discoveries by Nazila Ghanea, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, for the United Nations, provide insight into the factors influencing Hungary’s religious environment. During her assessment following an official trip lasting from October…

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So far, men in Ukraine are only required to fight in the army from the age of 25. The USA is urging the country to make a significant reduction in view of the losses on the front.The USA is apparently urging Ukraine to send young men to war at the age of 18 in the future and thus solve the shortage of recruits. To date, the age limit has been 25 years – i.e. after…

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Russia is deploying Chinese and Iranian combat drones in its full-scale war against Ukraine. It is also fielding North Korean soldiers and ballistic missiles. Soon, Russia might send Yemeni fighters into battle, according to reporting from the Financial Times newspaper. The paper said Yemen’s Islamist Houthi militia is recruiting men for deployment in the Russian military and that it has already sent hundreds of fighters to Russia through a “shadowy trafficking operation.” Citing some of the men…

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Unified European Solutions for Migration and Ukraine EU

In a pivotal address to European leaders, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola underscored the critical need for a comprehensive European solution to the migration crisis, while also reaffirming Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine amidst its prolonged conflict with Russia. Speaking from the heart of European politics, Metsola’s speech painted a clear picture of the complex and interconnected challenges that Europe faces—where migration, war, and instability ripple far beyond their immediate borders, touching the very core…

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Brussels, October 17, 2024 – In a decisive meeting held today, the European Council underscored the European Union’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression, stabilizing the tumultuous Middle East region, and upholding the rules-based international order. Leaders from all member states convened to address pressing geopolitical challenges, economic resilience, and humanitarian crises, outlining comprehensive strategies to navigate the complex global landscape. Bolstering Support for Ukraine The Council reaffirmed the EU’s steadfast support for…

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