Browsing: EU

Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv put up a fierce resistance when Moscow’s forces launched their full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Russian troops eventually withdrew back to their side of the border, 40 kilometres north of Ukraine’s second largest city. But one year on, the people of Kharkiv are still living under the constant threat of Russian missile strikes.

Europe is becoming more aware of itself as an economic and trading power – that’s the message from France’s secretary of state for European affairs, Laurence Boone. She talks about the new tools the EU has given itself to take on unfair competition, especially from Chinese companies, but she also downplays the warnings of a possible conflict with the United States over subsidies. Boone also outlines the latest moves when it comes to sanctions on Russia and EU support for Ukraine and Moldova.

Is Iceland the best place to be a woman? Our reporter visits the island nation which prides itself on being a champion of feminism, to see if it is a gender equality paradise. Also an end to sexism in toy advertisements in Spain after its government introduces a code of ethics which prevents ads from declaring a toy is for a particular gender. Plus we meet the South African visual activist who’s determined to record the country’s queer history through art and photography.

UK and EU chief negotiators met on Friday for what they described as “constructive” talks.

Ammunition stockpiles, fresh Russian sanctions, EU economy on the up and more jail time for the MEPs involved in corruption case were hot topics. #StateOfTheUnion

French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv’s Western allies were “ready for a prolonged conflict” in Ukraine as world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference on Friday to renew their vow to back Kyiv against Russian forces ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion. Follow FRANCE 24 for the latest updates. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

Eva Kaili has been charged with participation in criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering.

Still reeling from the Kremlin’s decision to send troops to Ukraine, Masha Yanchevskaya is one of many young Russians torn between trying to “heal” society or seclude themselves from it. In the first days of the conflict, the 21-year-old budding film director remembers riding the Moscow metro and looking at passengers to interpret their emotions. “I looked into the eyes of a young guy and we both cried without saying a thing,” she remembers.

Spanish lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a law granting paid medical leave to women suffering severe period pain, becoming the first European country to advance such legislation.

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been acquitted on charges of witness tampering. The 86-year old right-wing politician and media magnate had been accused of bribing young showgirls to lie about their participation in the notorious “bunga-bunga” parties hosted by Berlusconi during his time in office. FRANCE 24’s Bryan Quinn explains.

Spanish women who suffer from painful periods are set to be given the right to paid leave from work. The parliament in Madrid is expected to approve a proposal that would mean the state would pay 100% of menstrual leave, a measure that is a first in Europe. In Spain, some schemes already allowed time off for sufferers. FRANCE 24’s Sarah Morris, Armelle Exposito and C?line Schmitt report.

MEP Marc Tarabella has been charged with participation in a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering.

In Spain, women are due to benefit from a first here in Europe menstrual leave paid for by the state. Spanish women who suffer from painful periods are set to be given the right to get 100 percent paid leave from work for period pain. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Madrid Sarah Morris reports.

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday at the start of his trip to Europe, amid renewed tensions…

An Italian court on Wednesday acquitted Silvio Berlusconi over allegations of bribing witnesses in a underage prostitution case that has dogged the former prime minister for more than a decade.

Nicola Sturgeon quit as Scottish first minister on Wednesday, saying her dominance over her party and the country was no longer the asset it once was in the fight for an independent Scotland.

The EU wants to approve the 10th package of sanctions by the time the Ukraine war marks its one-year anniversary on 24 February.

In a bid to tackle the energy crisis, Dutch authorities have approved offshore drilling for gas in the North Sea. The first gas is set to be extracted in 2024, but the project has sparked controversy on the surrounding islands. Residents fear that drilling for gas will damage the exceptional biodiversity of the area, pollute the Waddenzee – a UNESCO world heritage site – and threaten the islands main source of income, tourism.

Oliv?r V?rhelyi was heard asking “how many idiots are still left?” during a Q&A session with lawmakers.

A major French mental health study has found a huge rise in the number of young people reporting depression, with the most likely cause seen as Covid-19 and restrictions to control the disease.

Trucks would also have to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040.

The European Parliament on Tuesday gave its final approval to a ban on new sales of carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars by 2035, with a view to getting them off the continent’s roads by mid-century.

The EU considers Russia has failed to address the harmful elements of its tax legislation.

Let’s build a cleantech industry strategy, the European way

Ukraine has urged the EU to sanction Rosatom and blacklist its managers, but the call has so far gone unheeded.