European Union

Ukraine's ambassador to Berlin has accused the German government of half-hearted support for Kyiv and said his country had become a victim of Germany's "shameful" energy dependence on Russia.

In the first round of the French presidential election, polls suggest that incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and the far-right leader Marine Le Pen have the best chances of making it into a run-off. Europe's press criticises the campaign and speculates anxiously about the results.

Turkey has renounced holding a trial on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The case is to be handed over to Saudi Arabia on the grounds that the trial in Turkey would remain inconclusive. Human rights activists are sounding the alarm, fearing a cover-up of the crime committed in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Zelensky spoke to the Greek parliament in a video address on Thursday. He also showed the video message of a man who introduced himself as a member of the Greek minority in Ukraine and is fighting in Mariupol. The fact that the man is a member of the ultra-nationalist Azov regiment has triggered debate in the commentary sections of Greek media.

The European Commission put forward a series of proposals to rein in shipping emissions as part of the "Fit for 55" legislative package. However, these proposals must be urgently strengthened if Europe is to achieve zero-emission shipping, write leaders from the Getting to Zero Coalition.

Delegations

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Lawmakers and stakeholders close to the agriculture community accused the EU executive of being disconnected from reality and creating additional bureaucracy after presenting new rules to curb pollution in the industrial sector.