Page 26 - European Union

EU, Israel to revive discussions on Gaza's future, regional politics

Ahead of today's meeting, the European Union's 27 member countries negotiated a compromise position that praises areas of cooperation with Israel while also raising concerns

EU Commission prez, top Europe leadership to visit India from Feb 27-28

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen accompanied by the College of Commissioners will visit India next week, during which she is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the EU delegation said here on Friday. "The unprecedented visit, one of the first by the College of Commissioners early in the new mandate, highlights the strong momentum in EU-India relations," the Delegation of the European Union to India said in a statement. On February 27 and 28, President von der Leyen will visit New Delhi accompanied by the College of Commissioners, it said. "It follows President von der Leyen's announcement of a new strategic agenda with India to be presented this year at the EU-India Summit. The visit emphasises the importance of strengthening ties in key areas vital to the prosperity and security of both Europe and India," the statement said. During the visit, the College of Commissioners and the Indian government will hold a plenary ...

European troops, US support for Ukraine plan faces many challenges

As the US and Russia push ahead so far without Ukraine at the table on talks to end the war, political and military leaders in Europe are fleshing out details of a plan for European forces to help ensure Moscow does not attack again. After months of quiet discussions, the proposal has become increasingly public. It will likely be on the agenda when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, two major backers of the idea, visit Washington on separate days next week for talks with President Donald Trump. Starmer, who will visit Thursday, has stressed that the force won't work without US military might to back it up. Persuading Trump to provide it could be a tall order. What is the plan? The security guarantee that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy really wants is NATO membership. European members of the military alliance still back that goal, but the US looks to have taken it off the table, along with Ukrainian hopes of regaining the fifth of its territor

Illegal immigration is the 'greatest threat' to Europe and US: JD Vance

For decades, the issue of illegal immigrants has been a major concern in the US, shaping political debates, influencing elections, and driving policy changes on border security

EU ready to discuss lower auto tariffs with US, says bloc's trade chief

The EU commissioner said the bloc will do its "utmost" to avoid an escalatory tariff clash

EU envoys okay more sanctions on Russia on 3rd anniversary of Ukraine war

European Union envoys have approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a top EU official and diplomats confirmed on Wednesday. The move comes with the Europeans sidelined from US-led talks to end the war. The EU has slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 24, 2022. More than 2,300 officials and entities usually government agencies, banks and organizations have been hit. The diplomats confirmed approval of the sanctions the 16th package of measures including travel bans, asset freezes and trade restrictions on condition that they not be named. The measures are still not entirely finalised until EU foreign ministers endorse them on Monday, allowing them to enter force. Among the latest sanctions are measures targeting Russia's so-called shadow fleet of ships that it exploits to .

Meta's WhatsApp faces tougher EU rules as monthly users top 45 million

The commission, which is the EU's executive arm, has been increasing scrutiny of social media in an attempt to rein in the power of predominantly American tech companies

German elections: Who are the top candidates & what are their priorities

Originally scheduled for September 28, the German elections were advanced following the dramatic collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition government in November

European leaders hold emergency talks, fear Trump leaving age-old allies

European leaders sought to form a united front Monday at emergency talks in Paris, called after a US diplomatic blitz on Ukraine which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key transatlantic partner. Shortly before the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with US President Donald Trump, but Macron's office would not disclose details about the 20-minute discussion. Leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the European Union met at the Elysee Palace for talks on Europe's security quandary. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was also there. Since last week, top US officials from the Trump administration, on their first visit to Europe, left the impression that Washington was ready to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies. The US to leave Europe out of the negotiating table Gen Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy fo

China lauds EU ties as Trump's peace plan with Russia chills continent

In contrast, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi used his address to say that all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine war should participate in any peace talks, including the European Union

European leaders regroup in Paris after Trump's push to end Ukraine war

French President Emmanuel Macron called leaders from key European Union nations and the United Kingdom to his ornate Elysee Palace on Monday for an emergency meeting on how to deal with the US, a once rock-solid partner. The move follows a weeklong diplomatic blitz on Ukraine by the Trump administration that seemed to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies. Despite belligerent warnings for months ahead of Donald Trump's reelection as US president, EU leaders publicly ignored the ominous forebodings and somehow hoped Trump would stand side by side with Europe, as it would finally start to act on beefing up its defences and become less reliant on the firepower of Washington. But a flurry of speeches by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during their initial visits to Europe last week questioned both Europe's security commitments and its fundamental democratic principles. Macron said their stinging rebukes and threats of

EU, Ministry of Textiles launch 7 projects in 9 states to boost industry

According to the press release, as many of these projects will also support local communities and industries, they are expected to economically empower around 200,000 women

Europe quietly plans to send troops to Ukraine for post-war security

Increasingly alarmed that US security priorities lie elsewhere, a group of European countries has been quietly working on a plan to send troops into Ukraine to help enforce any future peace settlement with Russia. Britain and France are at the forefront of the effort, though details remain scarce. The countries involved in the discussions are reluctant to tip their hand and give Russian President Vladimir Putin an edge should he agree to negotiate an end to the war he launched three years ago. What is clear is that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs a guarantee that his country's security will be assured until peace takes hold. The best protection would be the NATO membership that Ukraine has long been promised, but the US has taken that option off the table. I won't get into the particular capabilities, but I do accept that if there is peace then there needs to be some sort of security guarantee for Ukraine and the UK will play its part in that, British Prime Minister Ke

Nokia set to gain EU approval for $2.3 billion Infinera acquisition: Report

Nokia referred to its financial statement released on January 30 where it said it expected to close the deal in the first quarter of this year

EU Commission vows to react firmly and immediately to Trump's tariffs

The European Union's executive branch on Friday vowed to take firm and immediate action" against US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum. The European Commission said in a statement that Trump's proposed reciprocal trade policy goes in the wrong direction." The EU will take firm and immediate action against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legitimate and non-discriminatory policies, the Commission said. The EU will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariff measures. The Commission, which negotiates trade relations on behalf of the 27-nation bloc, said the EU has some of the lowest tariffs in the world and sees no justification for increased U.S. tariffs on its exports. Tariffs are taxes. By imposing tariffs, the US is taxing its own citizens, raising costs for business, stifling growth and fuelling inflation, it said. Tariffs heighten economic uncertainty

In Europe, Russians struggle as wary banks shunned them after 2022 attack

Thousands of Russians living in the European Union have struggled to open a bank account or had one closed since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine

India-EU agree to strengthen ties on smart and sustainable urbanisation

Building on the 2017 joint declaration on partnership for smart and sustainable urbanisation, the 4th India-EU Urban Forum was held on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the EU-India collaboration on sustainable urban development, a statement stated. The statement stated that the event brought together officials and experts from India, the European Union (EU) and its Member States to discuss policies and best practices to work towards integrated approaches to sustainable urban development, reinforcing the EU's global gateway strategy in India. "The forum explored transformative initiatives and innovative financing mechanisms to foster gender-inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development, focusing on three key themes: Urban alliance and integrated approaches in Indian cities, promoting innovation and circularity at the city level, and inclusive urban mobility as a social enabler," the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said in statement. The EU-India ...

Meta to allow rival ads on Marketplace after EU antitrust penalty

Calling it the Facebook Marketplace Partner Progam, Meta said the scheme is a response to the EU competition watchdog even as it challenged the fine in court

EU demands inclusion in peace deal on Ukraine after Trump-Putin phone call

Trump's unilateral overture to Putin, accompanied by apparent concessions on Ukraine's principal demands, raised alarm for both Kyiv and the European allies in Nato

Regulation.ai@India: Striking a balance between innovation and safety

India must not delay implementing comprehensive AI regulations to ensure technology serves humanity's best interests and upholds core values