European Union

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This conference covered relevant research supported by the European Research Council (ERC) and provided a networking forum for ERC-funded researchers as well as policy-makers.

Czech MEP Jan Zahradil stepped down as rapporteur on the EU trade deal with Vietnam following revelations by this website into possible conflicts of interest. "I believe that, in order to avoid politicisation of the final stage of the process and not derail it, practical solutions have to be found. Therefore, I decided to tender my resignation as standing rapporteur," he said in a letter.

Luxembourg on Monday (9 December) asked for an EU-level debate on recognising Palestinian statehood, securing a promise that EU foreign ministers would "deeply discuss" the Middle East in January.

Ankara’s moves in the Mediterranean Sea reflect President Erdoğan’s ambitions to make Turkey a leading country. But its unilateralism is unnecessarily aggravating tensions in the region and, as usual, leaves it to Brussels and Washington to sort it out, writes Henri J Barkey.

The EU has raised concern on the prospect of a battle for the Libyan capital, as foreign actors jostle for influence in the strategic location .

Russia plans to create an air defence 'dome' across its polar region by arming all of its Northern Fleet's Arctic divisions with S-400 missile batteries, a Russian naval commander said on Russian TV. In September Russia already deployed its S-400 air defence systems to the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the far north. "This means that the Arctic will be protected from any kind of enemy aerial attack" he said.

On Monday "informateur" Paul Magnette, also president of the Francophone Socialist Party (PS), offered to resign from his mission to find a coalition for a new Belgian government. King Philippe did not accept his resignation, but started a new round of consultations with Belgian party leaders instead. The Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever (NVA) wants to replace Magnette. It's not clear what other parties think of it.

Thousands of Hungarians protested Monday against plans to tighten government control over theatres. A bill, softened since its original introduction last week, is planned by Viktor Orban's government to be passed in parliament this week. It could make way for the government to have a say in appointing theatre directors. Critics see it as part of Orban's efforts to dominate the nation's political, economic and cultural life.

As political chaos reigned across the sea in Britain, Ireland's two main parties have been working together to limit the damage of Brexit -- but not for much longer.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to implement a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine by the end of the year, at their meeting on Monday in Paris hosted by France and Germany. They also agreed to implement an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange by the new year. The meeting's aim was to revive the 2015 Minsk peace agreement for eastern Ukraine that has stalled.

The US army is deploying its largest number of troops to Europe in 25 years as 20,000 troops are expected to take part in a massive force projection exercise, joining some 9,000 troops already there. The exercises will span across 10 European countries from May-June at a time of increased tensions with Russia. The aim is to show the US can deploy massive forces quickly to Europe, if needed.

The Flemish government has decided to reduce the speed limit on the Brussels ring road from 120 to 100km/h, as part of a climate action plan. According to an organisation for a "better environment" (BBL) however, the climate impact will be limited. As the ring road passes through all three Belgian regions, all have to agree. No decision has been made, but the Brussels and Walloon government react positively.

EU foreign ministers on Monday (9 December) cleared the way to start work on a European ‘Magnitsky Act’, modelled along the lines of a similar-named US sanctions framework targeting individuals involved in human rights abuses worldwide who could face EU asset freezes and  travel bans.

Ankara has not shifted from its intentions to block the final decisions related to updating NATO's defence plan of the Poland and the Baltic States. Meanwhile, Eastern European calls for assurances of alliance commitments become more vocal.

BUDAPEST. The government’s new package of laws on cultural activity is an attack on cultural freedom, the opposition LMP party (EGP) has said.

Ursula Von Der Leynen, the new President of the European Commission, said that the EU executive fully backs Greece in its dangerously escalating row with Turkey over maritime zones.

For Romanian centre-right MEP Adina-Ioana Valean, the previous chair of environment committee and current chair of industry, research and energy (ITRE), climate and industrial policy-making must go hand-in-hand to bring sustainability and prosperity to Europe.

The Maltese Labour Party is a curious creature. No minister, MEP, MP, president, or former president has yet criticised Joseph Muscat publicly and outright over the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The Green Deal is expected to increase the current EU goal on emissions cuts, from 40 to 50 percent by 2030. However, most MEPs believe that this will not be enough to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.