The rest of the package focuses mostly on sanctioning companies and vessels involved in circumventing existing EU penalties on Russia. A draft list seen by POLITICO shows plans to more than double the number of oil and gas tankers on its blacklist, bringing the total to 75. Yet talks fell apart, two of the diplomats said, after … Read more
And while there was significant opposition to the plan among lawmakers last week in Europe’s now more polarized Parliament, the capitals were able to largely align with Brussels’ intention. To some who opposed it in the Parliament, the capitals’ vote is merely symbolic. “I regret the voting outcome in the Health Council regarding the smoke-free … Read more
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Lavrov intended to make the trip to Vedomosti, while Malta’s Embassy in Russia said invitations to the Dec. 5-6 meeting “will be sent to all OSCE delegations in due course.” The last time Lavrov visited an EU country was a trip to Stockholm for an OSCE gathering … Read more
The German Air Force said separately on Saturday that it had identified five Russian jets flying over the Baltic Sea and had deployed Eurofighters to escort them. This is far from the first time Russian aircraft have wandered toward EU and NATO airspace. Earlier this month, Latvia’s defense ministry said a Russian drone crashed in the Rēzekne … Read more
After a ‘will she, won’t she’ few days, Ursula von der Leyen is on Tuesday set to unveil her top team at the European Commission. But who will get which portfolio? Stay with POLITICO for updates on the big announcement and for instant analysis of what it all means. Read original article here Denial of … Read more
Ukraine said there was a double standard earlier this year when Kyiv saw a wide coalition of Western countries helping Israel to repel a massive Iranian attack of missiles and drones. Ukraine has been suffering huge Russian missile and drone strikes almost daily, with some targeting gas storage sites near the EU border, while some … Read more
Latvia’s defense ministry said Sunday that a unmanned Russian drone had crashed in Rēzekne region in the east of the country, having flown in through Belarus. The country’s armed forces also informed the NATO chain of command about the incident, which it is investigating. “This situation is a confirmation that we need to continue the … Read more
The deadline for putting forward names for the next European Commission is the end of August. With that date approaching fast, and now that Ursula von der Leyen is back from her summer holiday in Germany, here are the nominees so far (remember that all of them, except for von der Leyen herself, need to … Read more
Budget doesn’t have to mean bland. As Jill McElroy, StudentUniverse’s travel expert, reveals. Here she shares her top five quirkiest European hostels, from a converted Boeing 747 to a former military prison that’s so cheap to stay in it’s criminal. Jill also reveals an amazing cave-style property in Santorini and a hostel in Portugal with wine-barrel-shaped beds. … Read more
Who wants what? France and Italy are the biggest European powers eying a portfolio that includes one or more of the following: Competition, trade, industry and economic policy, several EU diplomats said, much to the despair of northern, more budget-disciplined EU governments. Ireland and Luxembourg are interested in a financial portfolio, while Spain wants an … Read more
