European Union

United behind purple banners, hundreds of thousands of protesters have gone on strike across Switzerland for equal rights and equal pay for women and men. Organisers say the rally is the biggest political demonstration in the country's recent history. Media outlets point out parallels with another of today's big protest movements.

Just two days after stepping down as Slovakian president Andrej Kiska established a new centre-right party on Monday. Commentators believe Kiska aims to become prime minister as the leader of Za ľudí (For the people) in next spring's elections and take differing views of the plan.

Athens and Skopje settled their name dispute over "Macedonia" a year ago when on 17 June 2018 they signed the Prespa agreement. The landlocked country in southeastern Europe is now called North Macedonia. Both sides have benefited from the resolution of the dispute, Greek observers conclude.

As negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget continue, EU countries are jockeying for funding opportunities to assist them in the transition to clean energy. A number of schemes are being envisaged to ensure the transition leaves no-one behind as industrial sectors such as coal and automotive face closures or deep restructuring.

The EU and Jordan issued a joint press statement following the 13th Association Council meeting between the EU and Jordan.

On 17 June 2019, the Council discussed the situation in Soudan and adopted a statement.