European Union

France, Germany, and Poland Targeted by Russian Disinformation

France, Germany, and Poland have become "permanent" targets for Russian disinformation attacks in the run-up to European Parliament elections this week, a senior EU official said on Tuesday. The European Union has repeatedly warned heading towards the June 6-9 vote that Russia would ramp up disinformation campaigns in the 27-country bloc. "There ...

European Powers Submit Iran Censure Motion to IAEA Board

Britain, France, and Germany late on Monday submitted a resolution to the UN nuclear watchdog's board, censuring Iran over its lack of cooperation with the agency despite US opposition, two diplomats said. It was the latest of numerous diplomatic maneuvers by Western powers who fear Iran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the ...

French Far-Right Holds Major Lead In Upcoming EU Vote; Polling

France's far-right National Rally (RN) party holds a commanding lead in voting intentions for upcoming European Parliament elections, according to an opinion poll published on Sunday. Voting intentions remained "very volatile", however, said the Elabe institute, which conducted the polls for broadcaster BFMTV and weekly La Tribune Dimanche. "One ...

Lebanon’s Unified Position: Can It Be Replicated?

Seldom has Lebanon faced the international community with a unified position. It was the case this time, however, regarding one of the most important and pressing matters for the country; the Syrian migrants whose presence on Lebanese soil has become a burden that requires a thorough and responsible approach, away from grudge-bearing and hasty ...

145 Countries Now Recognize a Palestinian State

Israel's war in Gaza since the October 7 attack has revived a global push for Palestinians to be given a state of their own. Norway, Spain, and Ireland on Tuesday became the latest countries to recognize a State of Palestine, breaking with the long-held view of Western powers that Palestinians can only gain statehood as part of a negotiated peace ...

Irish FM Acknowledges EU Discussions on Israel Sanctions

EU foreign ministers have a "significant" discussion about sanctioning Israel if it continues to flout international humanitarian law, said Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin on Monday. “There was a very clear consensus about the need to uphold the international humanitarian legal institutions,” Martin told reporters following the Foreign ...

EU Calls on Israel to Explain Gaza Offensive

EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to call a meeting with Israel to get it to explain its actions in its Rafah offensive despite a UN court ruling, the bloc's top diplomat said. "We got the necessary unanimity to call for an association council with Israel to discuss the situation in Gaza," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. Israel has ...

EU's Foreign Policy Chief Seeks Enforcement of ICJ Gaza Ruling

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that a UN court ruling telling Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza's Rafah must be implemented, as European ministers met Arab counterparts in Brussels. Israel has continued to strike Rafah as its government has dismissed Friday's ruling from the International Court of Justice. Hamas and the ...

EU Hosts Talks to Strengthen Palestinian Authority for Gaza

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hosted Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa on Sunday for international talks on building up the Palestinian Authority to eventually take over Gaza rule from Hamas. A "strong" Palestinian Authority is needed to bring peace in the Middle East, Borrell said just before going into the meeting with ...

EU Studying Possible Role Monitoring Rafah Crossing

The European Union is studying whether it could play a role monitoring the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after Israel's war with Hamas ends, officials said Friday. The 27-nation bloc set up a mission in 2005 to help monitor the crossing, but that was suspended two years later after militant Islamists Hamas took control of ...

Sit-in in Brussels on Monday to Press for Repatriation of Syrians

The "National Campaign for the Repatriation of Syrian Refugees " called on its supporters, Lebanese expatriates and friends of Lebanon to "massively participate" in the sit-in that will be held in front of the Palace of Justice in Brussels on Monday, May 27, to press the European Union to help Lebanon return the refugees to their country. This ...

The Intelligent Recap: This Week's AI News Report

Good evening and welcome to The Intelligent Recap. It's Friday, May 17th, the 224th day of the war in Gaza. In local news: The main political event of the week was the parliamentary meeting debating the European Union aid package, while Lebanon prepares for the summer season. In international news: Gaza developments, the Arab summit in Bahrain ...