Author: staff

That also comes to building up Europe’s own defense industry. Rutte applauded the EU’s European Defense Industry Programme, a €1.5 billion cash pot that will be aimed at spurring local arms production, calling Europe’s current weapons sector “too small, too fragmented and too slow.” There is a dispute over whether non-EU companies should have easy access to EDIP, but Rutte warned that it should not be used to exclude allies. “Involving non-EU allies in EU defense industrial efforts is vital, I believe, for security of Europe,” he said. “Transatlantic defense industrial cooperation makes us all stronger.” Better together In his…

“It was an obvious mistake for Fico to believe that his shadowy schemes with Moscow could go on indefinitely,” he wrote, adding that although Kyiv offered its assistance to Slovakia, Fico “arrogantly refused.” Fico began Monday’s video statement, also released as an open letter, by saying he wouldn’t comment on Zelenskyy’s remarks because he didn’t want to “further escalate tensions.” He reiterated that the decision to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine was causing “extensive damage to Ukraine itself, to Slovakia and to the European Union in particular.” “I want to fully focus on resolving the situation related…

PARIS — Six semaines après l’adoption d’une motion de censure contre le projet de loi de finances du gouvernement Barnier, la rédaction de POLITICO se mobilise à nouveau pour vous décrypter en direct la déclaration de politique générale de François Bayrou à l’Assemblée nationale ce 14 janvier 2025.  Quelles annonces, quelles nouvelles orientations en matière institutionnelle, régalienne, économique ? Quelles concessions le nouveau Premier ministre fera-t-il à ses oppositions pour éviter d’être à son tour renversé ?  Réponses en direct avec nos journalistes spécialisés, sur place à l’Assemblée nationale comme à la redaction, à partir de 14 heures 30 :

“It’s worth getting rid of bureaucratic barriers since there’s a war in Europe and you cannot treat [the] defense industry the same way you’d treat, say, milk production anymore,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the group’s next meeting in Paris will discuss in more detail how to finance the development of Europe’s arms industry to make it a “flywheel” of the continent’s economy. | Sergei Gapon/Getty Images Germany’s Boris Pistorius rejected Trump’s 5 percent call, saying such a spending surge would eat up about 40 percent of Germany’s government budget. However, he did welcome NATO’s effort…

The meeting of the defence ministers from the EU’s largest countries together with the deputy defence minister of Great Britain comes as Poland begins its rotating presidency of the EU and as Europe braces for the unpredictability of a new Donald Trump presidency. Defence ministers from Poland, France, Italy, and Germany met in Warsaw on Monday to discuss military aid to Ukraine and security in Europe.The meeting of the defence ministers from the EU’s largest countries together with the deputy defence minister of Great Britain comes as Poland begins its rotating presidency of the EU and as Europe braces for…

Pro-Russia Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), is bidding to form a government after the breakdown of coalition talks among Vienna’s mainstream parties. Schallenberg, Austria’s foreign minister and member of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), took over as interim chancellor on Friday, after Karl Nehammer resigned earlier this month. Austria “will remain a reliable partner and a strong partner within the European Union” as his party continues coalition negotiations with the FPÖ, he told journalists on Tuesday evening. Pro-Russia Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), is bidding to form a government after the breakdown of coalition talks among…

‘Diversity and flexibility’ “I trust that [Morawiecki] will be able to uphold the essence of ECR: common values … but not necessarily common positions,” Fernand Kartheiser, a Luxembourgish member of the European Parliament and member of the party’s board of directors, told POLITICO. “This gives ECR its diversity and flexibility,” he added. The party is divided into two branches, one right-wing section composed of national parties considered by centrist forces as moderate and acceptable to negotiate with, such as Brothers of Italy and ODS, and a section led by Law and Justice considered far right, which is systematically excluded from…

Updated: 13/01/2025 – 19:07 GMT+1 Brocken is the Harz mountain highest peak, standing 1,141 metres above sea level. … More Brocken is the Harz mountain highest peak, standing 1,141 metres above sea level.Europe has been hit by heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures in the past week, causing widespread disruption across the continent, particularly in the U.K. and Germany, with several major airports forced to suspend flights.In the Polish spa town Kołobrzeg enthusiasts of icy waters gathered for a swimming rally.Almost a thousand people from across the country took part in the Kołobrzeg winter swimming festival in the icy waters of…

The Commission informed journalists on Jan. 3 that von der Leyen was suffering from “severe” pneumonia, but did not disclose that she had been hospitalized, even after direct questioning. German newswire DPA broke the news on Jan. 10, which is the same day von der Leyen left hospital, according to Pinho. Pinho said that von der Leyen entered a hospital in Hanover for about a week after a medical appointment on Jan. 2. “The president was never on a respirator or in intensive care,” the senior official said. “Can the Commission be run from a hospital? It really depends on…

Updated: 13/01/2025 – 18:31 GMT+1 Surat Thani saw significant destruction, including the collapse of resort buildings, and coastal erosion impacted areas like Koh Pha-ngan. Flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat disrupted funeral preparations, while coastal erosion in Songkhla and Krabi threatened properties. Authorities have issued warnings for small boats, suspended ferry services, and advised caution as monsoon conditions continue. … More Surat Thani saw significant destruction, including the collapse of resort buildings, and coastal erosion impacted areas like Koh Pha-ngan. Flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat disrupted funeral preparations, while coastal erosion in Songkhla and Krabi threatened properties. Authorities have issued warnings…