Author: staff

The devastating reach of illicit weaponry continues to threaten initiatives aimed at fostering peace and stability — including the Kimberley Process.” The insidious link between illegal arms and drug trafficking is equally undeniable, as clearly illustrated in a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Firearms Programme and Flemish Peace Institute. Criminal cartels rely on a steady supply of weaponry to protect their operations, enforce their territories and intimidate rivals, with the profits generated helping to fuel the demand for more sophisticated and lethal arms, creating a vicious cycle of violence and corruption that destabilizes…

In a highly anticipated televised interview with French TV broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron marked his return to domestic affairs, ten months after dissolving the French lower house of Parliament and plunging the country into political paralysis. Since last year’s snap elections led to a fragmented political landscape and no clear majority, Macron had been confined to a diplomatic role, focusing on international affairs. But with only two years left before the end of his second and last consecutive term, Macron hopes to make a comeback in the national arena and regain control over domestic issues. But behind…

Vor seiner heutigen Regierungserklärung hat Friedrich Merz am gestrigen Abend bereits einige seiner Formulierungen testen können. Auf dem Wirtschaftstag der CDU hat er die Abschlussrede gehalten. Wie der Kanzler dort erste Zeichen gesendet hat, berichtet Rasmus Buchsteiner.  Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht die grüne Fraktionschefin Britta Haßelmann, wie sie “schlechtes Handwerk” der Union in der Wirtschaftspolitik fürchtet und über Mindestlohn und Rente.  Mehr Informationen zur Power List 2025, auf der auch Haßelmann als Nominierte steht, gibt es hier.  Mit Jan Cienski, Senior Policy Editor von POLITICO spricht Gordon Repinski über den ungewöhnlichen Schwerpunkt des diesjährigen Copenhagen Democracy Summit: die Sorge um und…

First Secretary of the Socialists Olivier Faure is being challenged by an alliance of more moderate, social-democratic, pro-European forces within his party. And in response, he and his supporters may seek to provoke a crisis to galvanize grassroots support from the party’s left wing. It’s a turn that may involve him attempting to pull the plug on the group’s loose support for Bayrou, which was key to passing the belated 2025 budget in February. Meanwhile, the center-right Republicans, who form a critical part of Bayrou’s minority government, are also in turmoil. The party is set to elect a new leader…

“The second thing I’ve always noted was that actually it was Trump back in 2018 who gave them the Javelin … missiles, and Trump broke the taboo on giving Ukrainians lethal weapons, which the Democrats have not done,” he added. Trump in his second term has upended European military policy by slashing aid to Ukraine and casting doubt on whether the United States would honor its NATO commitments to defend a fellow member were it attacked by Russia. He has signed a minerals deal aimed at seeing Kyiv pay back aid given to by the U.S. under Biden, embarrassed Ukrainian…

European Council President António Costa visited Sarajevo on Tuesday as part of his Balkans tour. He was given a warm reception upon his arrival prior to his meetings with members of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.In a statement, the European Council chief announced that the EU “remains committed” to European future of the country. He also praised Željka Cvijanović, Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić and Borjana Krišto – all members of the presidency – for their role in maintaining stability and security in the country and the region.Recently, tensions have been brewing domestically over the leader of Republika Srpska…

Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff met with the families of Israeli hostages on Tuesday after having slammed Israel for prolonging the war the day before. Israeli negotiators head to Doha for peace talks on Wednesday, with Witkoff saying he’s optimistic that progress will be achieved, per local media. It’s not clear if Trump, who will also be in Qatar on Wednesday, will meet directly or indirectly, or at all, with Israeli and Hamas negotiators. The Israel Defense Forces, announcing the Tuesday Gaza attack, claimed a Hamas command and control center was located beneath the hospital. Israeli media, citing military…

“Some of us are aware that the rule of law in Italy has deteriorated under the current government,” Greens lawmaker Daniel Freund told POLITICO. Freund pointed to “a difference between the general political perception of Meloni’s government here in Brussels and in Germany and the concrete things happening on the ground.” With that, he was referring to acceptance for Meloni by the center-right European People’s Party in Brussels (and the closely associated Christian Democrats in Germany). In October last year, Meloni’s right-wing party beefed up its domestic ban on surrogacy to include arrangements made abroad, imposing penalties of up to €1 million…

“You see a lot of rumors in the media, and I don’t comment on these rumors,” the Danish minister said. “The response from Denmark was quite clear: The minister of foreign affairs invited the ambassador to a meeting last week [to lodge a protest], and he made his position very clear.” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also stressed that “you cannot spy against an ally.” Although Greenland’s Egede did not address the spying reports, he clearly criticized the U.S. president: “We have been good partners, but what Trump does now, we don’t like it.” Egede said Trump’s claims had brought Greenland…

The Trump administration wants to hear this week how NATO’s European member countries and Canada plan to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP, new US envoy Matthew Whitaker has said.Briefing reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Turkey, US Ambassador Matthew Whitaker insisted that “5% is our number. We’re asking our allies to invest in their defence like they mean it.””Make no mistake, this ministerial is going to be different,” Whitaker said, adding that “5% is not just a number, it is a necessity for our security. The alliance is facing significant threats.”He did elaborate on…