European Union

New EU eco-design rules hope to help wean people off "throw away" smartphones and fashion.

China has redoubled political support for Russia's war in Ukraine despite horror stories, auguring badly for EU bid to break their new axis.

Hungary's foreign minister Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday accused Ukraine's leadership of attempting to interfere in the Hungarian election taking place on Sunday. The charge was denied by his Ukrainian counterpart in an episode that put further strain on relations between the two countries, AP reported. Szijjártó claimed that there was "ongoing coordination between the Hungarian left and representatives of the Ukrainian government," without providing evidence.

With the French presidential elections approaching on 10 and 24 April, the idea that the ballot could be stolen or rigged is gaining traction, a claim advanced by candidates from across the political spectrum who either seek to distract and manipulate or sincerely believe in this.

Faced with soaring electricity prices, the French government has introduced a tariff shield for the year 2022 to protect the most vulnerable households. However, this measure will not last forever, according to the spokesperson for French election candidate Valérie Pécresse.

MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee and Security and Defence Subcommittee will visit Moldova from 31 March to 2 April, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee and Security and Defence Subcommittee will visit Moldova from 31 March to 2 April, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

New rules presented by the European Commission on Wednesday (30 March) aim to better protect consumers against false environmental claims and introduce a ban on greenwashing and planned obsolescence.

A wave of momentum for health initiatives washed over the EU following COVID-19. That is evident in the citizens’ recommendations formed in the Conference of the Future of Europe (CoFoE), which has now entered its final phase.

Presidential candidates in the French election race all want to reform the state of mental health care as the country's mental well-being significantly deteriorated because of the pandemic. EURACTIV France reports.

Giving citizens a say in decision-making beyond elections can help the leadership make better decisions, but sharing power requires a clear division of roles, politicians and experts have said. Citizen participation has increased rapidly in recent years and at all...

Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday Nato should boost its military presence in the Baltic states, Reuters reported. She called for combat-ready divisions, air defence, and more ships patrolling the Baltic Sea during a conference with Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen. "In order to have peace we have to prepare for war," Kallas said. Denmark announced earlier this week it will send 800 soldiers to the Baltic region.

Wind and solar produced 10 percent of the world's electricity for the first time in 2021 while clean sources accounted for 38 percent of the total power supply, an analysis said on Wednesday. Overall, the share of wind and solar has doubled since 2015. Ten countries generated more than 25 percent of their electricity from wind and solar last year, led by Denmark at 52 percent.

The UN refugee agency said Wednesday more than 4 million refugees have now fled Ukraine since Russia launched its war in the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war. More than 2.3 million have arrived in Poland, over 608,000 entered Romania, over 387,000 have gone to Moldova, and about 364,000 entered Hungary. An estimated 6.5 million people have also been displaced from their homes within Ukraine.

Germany triggered an emergency plan on Wednesday to manage gas supplies in an unprecedented move that could see the government ration power if there is a disruption or halt in gas supplies from Russia, Reuters reported. It is the clearest sign yet of preparations for a cut in Russian supplies to Europe after president Vladimir Putin demanded that European and US customers pay for gas exports in roubles.

Poland announced steps Wednesday to end all Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, AP reported. Poland has already largely reduced its dependence on Russian oil, Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, adding that he expects coal imports from Russia will be ended in May. Poland argues that money from oil and gas exports are fueling Russia's war machine and that that should stop.

When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, the Russian ambassador to NATO and the EU named it one of the Kremlin’s “Trojan horses”, referring to the power Russia could exert on the EU through its new ties to Brussels.

RT France v Council
Opération militaire en Ukraine : le président du Tribunal rejette la demande de RT France visant à suspendre les sanctions adoptées par le Conseil

EU lawmakers have been spammed with hundreds of emails from the crypto community attempting to influence a key committee vote on Thursday (31 March) regarding the information requirements on the transfers of cryptocurrencies. The legislation is a recast of the...

There were signs of rapprochement in the negotiations on the Ukraine war on Tuesday. Russia said it plans to reduce its attacks on Kyiv and concentrate on eastern Ukraine. Ukraine formulated conditions for agreeing to neutrality, including the establishment of a group of states that will guarantee the country's security. Europe's press remains very sceptical.