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The EU needs a joint counter-espionage service, amid the mounting risk of Russian and Chinese interference, Finland's former president has said in a landmark report. “We all know that intelligence gathering is primarily the responsibility of member states [but] we should build on improving the flow of information, information gathering and intelligence gathering,” said EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, speaking alongside the Finnish politician.
In its annual report on the bloc’s enlargement policy, the European Commission has warned Georgia that it will be unable to open EU membership talks unless the country changes course. It also praised the progress of Ukraine and Moldova, aiming to officially launch talks on specific negotiation chapters in 2025
Don't miss our report coming out later today about last year's drop in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and what this means for the bloc's 2030 and 2050 targets.
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UN refugee agency endorses EU ‘return hubs’ — but with conditions
The UN refugee agency says EU 'return hubs' in foreign countries may work as an incentive for rejected asylum seekers in Europe to go home.
What else you need to know
EU urged to step up counter-espionage cooperation, in landmark report
The EU needs a joint intelligence service, amid the mounting threat of a future Russian attack, Finland's former president has said in a landmark report. Read on »
EU warns Georgia membership is off table unless it reverses pro-Russia course
The EU Commission warned Georgia that they will be unable to open EU membership talks unless the country changes course. “You simply cannot maintain ties with Russia or try to do business as usual and expect that your country will be part of the EU," said EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.Read on »
China hits back with WTO complaint over EU electric car tariffs
China has hit back at the EU’s imposition of tariffs on its electric vehicles by launching a formal complaint against the EU’s “unreasonable” and “protectionist practice” at the World Trade Organization. Read on »
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Tweak the EU-Mercosur trade deal to include forest conservationOpinion
After more than five years of negotiations ratification of a EU-Mercosur trade agreement may finally be at hand. It’s far from a done deal. The best route forward is neither to ratify the EU-Mercosur trade deal as it is, nor abandon it, writes Standford professor of business and sustainability, Bard Harstad.Read on »
How does the EU itself do on rule of law?
For all its efforts in evaluating the rule of law in member states, the EU does not scrutinise its own adherence to its own principles. Luckily, a group of experts did.Read on »
UN refugee agency endorses EU ‘return hubs’ — but with conditions
The UN refugee agency says EU 'return hubs' in foreign countries may work as an incentive for rejected asylum seekers in Europe to go home.Read on »
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Handshake of death: EU embrace of Kagame helping silence dissidents in BelgiumInvestigation
Every time EU leaders shake hands with Rwanda's president Paul Kagame, they embolden him to commit crimes against dissidents in Belgium, making themselves morally liable. Read on »
Network of X accounts 'promoting Azerbaijan' hosting of COP29
An investigation by NGO Global Witness suggests dozens of suspicious accounts on X may have been created in order to strengthen support for Azerbaijan's highly-controversial hosting of the COP29 UN climate talks.Read on »
New Czech commissioner holds the key to the EU's Global Gateway
Having helped lead the EU’s response to the dramatic surge in energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, former Czech trade and industry minister Jozef Síkela might have expected to land the energy file as Prague’s next EU commissioner. Read on »
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