European Union

French president Emmanuel Macron on Sunday accused Lebanon's leaders of a "collective betrayal" after talks to assemble a cabinet collapsed, Deutsche Welle reports. Political parties have been trying to form a government after the deadly explosion in August, but prime minister designate, Mustafa Adib, stepped down because of lack of progress. "I am ashamed of Lebanon's political leaders," Macron told a news conference in Paris.

The mini-Europe theme park in Brussels, which contains models of EU capitals and other landmarks and which was opened 31 years ago as a tribute to EU integration, is to close at the end of December due to disagreements over rent and fewer visitors because of the pandemic. The attraction might move to either Louvain-La-Neuve or Waterloo, two nearby towns, Belgian media reported.

With a majority of 61.7 percent, Swiss voters on Sunday rejected an attempt to stop the country's agreement with the EU on the free movement of people, The Guardian reports. The largest party in the Swiss parliament, the right-wing, anti-immigration Swiss People's party (SVP), called the referendum, arguing that the country must be allowed to set its own limit on the number of foreigners coming in to work.

Eyewitness statements and video footage seen by The Guardian newspaper indicate Greek forces are systematically and illegally turning back would-be asylum claimants at sea before they have had a chance to file for help. Charities including Human Rights Watch and Border Violence Monitoring aim to call for "disciplinary and criminal sanctions" against those involved in a letter to be published later this week.

About 100,000 people joined opposition protests for the seventh Sunday in a row in Belarus, the BBC reports. Police arrested more than 200, grabbing people before and after the main rally in Minsk, in a war of attrition by authorities. French president Emmanuel Macron said Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko "must go". But that was an attempt to "bring chaos and anarchy to our country" Belarus foreign minister Viktor Makei said.

Poland's ruling right-wing parties - Law and Justice (PiS), United Poland, and Accord - signed a new coalition agreement on Saturday in a bid to stabilise government after infighting over LGBTI and animal rights. "I am absolutely sure that these years will be beneficial for Poland. This agreement guarantees that," Jarosław Kaczyński, the PiS chairman said, amid speculation he will enter government as deputy prime minister.

Heavy fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan has claimed dozens of lives and caused alarm in Europe.

Deciding on Belarus sanctions and the relationship with Turkey will be front and centre on the agenda for EU leaders who will meet this week in Brussels.

Following reports that accused EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell of sending diplomats to Venezuela in a "clandestine mission," the European People's Party was "alarmed" such move would weaken the EU position.

A new five-day screening of migrants at Europe's external borders is meant to expedite people into either 'asylum' or 'return' tracks. The time-limit is wishful thinking and one that could leave people stranded in make-shift camps or even ghettos.

The loudest applause from MEPs during Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech came for her call to move to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in foreign policy - at least on human rights and sanctions implementation.

The EU is expected to soon, perhaps this week, to release its renewed Sahel strategy, which was in dire need of a revamp and which will no doubt reflect some of the words of foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.

Poland's ruling nationalists signed a new coalition agreement on Saturday (26 September), ending weeks of in-fighting in the three-party alliance over how it will govern over the next three years.

At least 24 people have died after deadly clashes between arch foes Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the latest violence in the decades-long territorial dispute sparked international calls Sunday (27 September) to halt the fighting.

Swiss voters on Sunday (27 September) rejected a bid to slash immigration from the EU, leaving free movement in the heart of Europe intact, and embraced offering paid paternity leave for the first time.

The early morning hours of 27 September 2020 marked another provocation launched against Azerbaijan by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, writes Esmira Jafarova.

European Council president Charles Michel called Sunday (27 August) for a halt to fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani separatists over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and an “immediate return to negotiations”. “Military action must stop, as a matter of urgency, to prevent...

The Eurogroup President, Paschal Donohoe, received the applications of Frank Elderson and Boštjan Jazbec to replace Yves Mersch as new ECB executive board member.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 28 September - 4 October 2020

The Council approved €87.4 billion in financial support to 16 member states under SURE.