Author: staff
Its efforts so far haven’t hit the mark. Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin said that Hungary’s moves to unblock the funding are “not quite what we were hoping for” after a meeting on Tuesday with János Bóka, Hungary’s European affairs minister. Reforms Hungary needs to complete to convince the EU to release the funding include changes to its anti-corruption and conflict-of-interest legislation. Any country is given two years to claim back funding that was withheld by the Commission, according to the EU’s own rules. Hungary is at risk of permanently losing a share of regional cash from the 2022 budget, which…
The toppling of the French prime minister has caused a massive headache for French President Emmanuel Macron just days before he receives U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Paris. As one president returns to the world stage, could the other’s days be numbered? France is convulsed by crisis after its government suffered the humiliation of losing a no-confidence vote for the first time in over 60 years. Could Michel Barnier’s downfall hasten the demise of Emmanuel Macron and even trigger a financial crisis in the Eurozone’s second-largest economy? To chew over a dramatic week in Paris and its reverberations for France’s…
Sahra Wagenknecht und ihr Bündnis stehen vor einer schwierigen Phase. Nach anfänglichem Erfolg droht dem BSW bei einer vorgezogenen Bundestagswahl der Verlust von politischem Einfluss, besonders in den Ost-Ländern. Wir betrachten die Gründe für die aktuellen Schwierigkeiten und mögliche Lösungsansätze, aber auch die Risiken, die weiterhin bestehen. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht Sabine Zimmermann, Vorsitzende des BSW in Sachsen, über die politischen Allianzen in den Bundesländern und die Herausforderungen durch die anstehenden Neuwahlen. Mit EU- und Diplomatie-Experte Hans von der Burchard wird es um das Ende der Minderheitsregierung von Michel Barnier in Frankreich gehen. Nach nur drei Monaten bringen Linke und Rechte…
Sustainable and circular products can only deliver meaningful benefits when underpinned by a strong commitment to responsible management. This was the message VinylPlus brought to INC-5 in Busan, where our representatives, Charlotte Röber and Vincent Stone, showcased how our vision for PVC aligns with global efforts to combat plastic pollution. VinylPlus understands that creating sustainable products is just the beginning — they must be managed to ensure a positive environmental impact. Addressing plastic pollution requires accountability across the entire value chain. While VinylPlus’ partner companies play a vital role, an effective, practical and ambitious global instrument is crucial for supporting…
Then, in September, another scandal erupted over Magyar’s ex-girlfriend Evelin Vogel. She is now in the spotlight after leaked audio recordings revealed her asking the Tisza Party for 30 million forints (about €75,000) in exchange for “not taking revenge” on Magyar. Magyar claimed at a press conference that he hadn’t given her the amount she asked for, claiming that’s why Vogel went public against him in an interview with Index (owned by pro-government businessmen), saying Magyar was “not the person he seems to be.” On an almost weekly basis, new voice recordings swirl around Hungarian media exposing Magyar for various controversies:…
“We have a newly elected president and we’re going to wait and take the new commander-in-chief’s direction on all of that so I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now,” Johnson said. After many months of negotiations, G7 countries agreed in October to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine that is structured to be repaid with interest derived from more than €200 billion of immobilized Russian assets in Western control. According to the agreement — which was struck before the U.S. election on Nov. 5 — Brussels and Washington are set to put up $20 billion each, with…
“Budget toxique”, “erreur devant l’histoire” “La politique du pire serait de ne pas censurer un tel budget”, l’avait attaqué plus tôt Marine Le Pen à la tribune. La présidente des députés RN en avait profité pour justifier le fait de mêler les voix de son camp à celles de “l’extrême gauche” : “Nous utilisons le NFP comme un simple outil pour éviter l’application d’un budget toxique […] sans cap ni vision”. Quant aux “petits pas” faits par le gouvernement Barnier à l’égard du RN dans les derniers jours sur ses choix budgétaires, Le Pen a estimé que “des miettes” ne…
The Pope will use the the electric Mercedes G-Class to greet crowds during general audiences and official ceremonies. The Vatican unveiled Pope Francis’ new ‘Popemobile’ on Wednesday, a Mercedes G-Class, which will be used to drive through St Peter’s Square to greet pilgrims.The four-wheel-drive marks the first all-electric popemobile and will have zero carbon emissions, aligning with the Pontiff’s stance on climate protection, as the Pope has been vocal about addressing environmental issues.CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group Ola Källenius said it is a great honour to provide the Pope with his next installment of the Popemobile, which he says is part…
Barnier himself accused the lawmakers of acting irresponsibility by bringing down his government. “I cannot accept the idea that institutional destabilization could be the objective that brings together a majority of lawmakers at a moment when our country faces a deep moral, economic, financial and civic crisis,” he said before the vote. There’s nothing, however, to suggest it would be easier to form a government capable of winning the endorsement of a parliament split three ways than it was three months ago. Dissolution is also not an option, as Macron can’t call new elections until summer 2025. “This [National] Assembly…
La future majorité au Parlement, la candidature d’Ursula von der Leyen, son rêve de Mario Draghi, le rôle déterminant de Giorgia Meloni, l’eurodéputé livre ses réflexions sur l’après 9 juin à POLITICO. May 24 7 mins read