European Union

According to Brexit Minister Dominic Raab, an exit deal between the EU and Britain should be in place by November 21. The British parliament could then vote on the agreement before Christmas. So far, however, there has been no majority in favour of any of the proposals tabled to date. Commentators again discuss whether Britain can afford to leave the EU without a deal.

People in Eastern Europe are more inclined than West Europeans to believe that their culture is superior to others, according to a study published by the Pew Research Center on views regarding religion, minorities and social issues. According to the researchers the continent is as divided now as it was in the days of the Iron Curtain. How can this be explained?

The acquittal of a woman convicted of blasphemy in predominantly Muslim Pakistan has driven Islamists onto the streets in protest. Asia Bibi, a Christian, allegedly made insulting comments about the Prophet Muhammad and was sentenced to death nine years ago under the country's controversial blasphemy law. Now the Supreme Court has overturned the verdict. Commentators stress the importance of this case.

The avant-garde theatre NO99 has shocked Estonia's cultural scene with the surprise announcement that it will close its doors in January 2019. It was no longer able to work in a way worthy of its creative ideals, the theatre said explaining the decision. Commentators commend the publicly-financed establishment's honest approach.

Western buyers purchase hundreds of millions of dollars of manufactured products in Cambodia, which gives them the economic leverage to encourage meaningful changes in factory and worker conditions.

Businesses in northern Italy are anxiously watching the standoff between the European Commission and the Italian government. They used to be the 'Northern League's' most important electorate - but the party's profile and priorities have changed.

The Council agreed on a negotiating mandate on rules to restrict single-use plastics.

On 31 October 2018, The EU issued a declaration on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists - 2 November 2018

On 31 October, EU ambassadors approved the Council's position on capital requirements for bad loans and invited the presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as possible.

EU ambassadors today agreed on the draft schedule of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) that the EU will apply after Brexit. The schedule will now have to be agreed with the European Parliament before it becomes EU law.

By a vote of 62 against 12, the Nordic Council decided on Wednesday in Oslo not to engage in a mediation of the conflict between Catalonia and Madrid over independence, as it would fall outside the scope of the council and should be considered an internal Spanish affair. Faroe Island MP Magni Arge announced he would personally visit Catalonia's former parliament speaker Carme Forcadell in jail.