Euobserver.com

When European Endowment for Democracy was established in 2013, there was scepticism about its raison d'être, and concerns were voiced about the potential for duplicating existing EU efforts. Nearly a decade later, EED has defied these doubts.

Hans Leijtens, the head of the EU's border agency Frontex, is reluctant to launch operations in Africa, as discussions continue to secure agreements with Senegal and Mauritania.

Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo announced a set of 22 measures in response to concerns about crack abuse and insecurity around the Brussels Midi station — a key interchange for local, national, and international destinations from the capital city.

The Nairobi summit ultimately marked both the first unified voice of the continent in the fight against climate change, and the first time such an ambitious vision of Africa's clean energy prospects has been tabled at such a high-level forum.

MEPs adopted, among other measures, an obligation to publish online all meetings with third parties, a declaration of financial assets at the beginning and end of each MEP's mandate, and better regulation of unofficial groups.

Kenyan president William Ruto, representing African leaders, called for new global carbon taxes and reforms to the financial system to help fund climate action on the continent.

A total of 22 "core platform services" provided by these six tech gatekeepers now have until March 2024 to comply with strict new EU rules — aimeed to promote fair competition and give users more power over their devices.

A European Court on Wednesday dismissed a case brought by a family of Syrian refugees against the EU's border agency Frontex — posing questions of accountability.

The EU Commission unveiled its new EU disability card to ensure mutual recognition of disabled status across the EU and access essential benefits and services — but there are still some shortcomings.

Rapid action is needed to improve access to capital and lower financing costs to unlock "a wave" of clean-energy spending in Africa, according to a new report.

The EU Commission asserts there have been no cuts in programmes in the proposal for next year's annual budget. While this is true, reality is a bit more nuanced and, as we know, the devil is in the details.

EU space technology is increasingly becoming an essential cog in the machinery that manages responses to emergencies like floods and fires — from providing information to firefighters to alerting citizens of danger.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pledged support for African financial reform bid at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi — but did not go into details, and left before she was scheduled to discuss the topic further.

The EU Media Freedom Act, to be voted on by MEPs, could provide crucial protections to journalists and trigger a wave of lawsuits against governments. If the law fails, the decline in media freedoms sweeping Europe could become ever worse.

Catalan former separatist leader and current MEP Carles Puigdemont has set out preconditions for negotiations to support Pedro Sánchez as next prime minister of Spain — seeking a "historic agreement" for Catalonia.

Up to May this year, the cost of basic school supplies rose 13 percent, while wages increased by just six percent. A situation that worsens the cost-of-living crisis and the situation of children at risk of poverty in the EU.

The European Commission has defended policies enacted by Latvia and Lithuania to stem migration at their shared borders with Belarus — despite widespread criticism that the Baltic EU states are trampling on asylum rights.

Raymond Aron, the French philosopher, once said that at the end of the day, "I think democracies will win. On one condition, however: they must want it." In today's Europe, there is again reason to doubt this.

Moving between EU states for the 87 million European citizens with disabilities is far from a reality — due to the fragmentation of disability-recognition systems and insufficient coordination of social security systems across EU countries.

Kenyan president William Ruto launched the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi and showcased the continent's potential as a clean energy powerhouse. Africa contains 60 percent of the world's solar potential, massive geothermal capacity and CO2-absorbing tropical forests.