European Union

EU Vote in Closing Stretch as Far Right Eyes Gains

EU elections on Sunday saw striking gains for the far-right as exit polls put Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France and Alternative for Germany ahead of the governing camps, boosting their efforts to sway the bloc at a pivotal moment. Projected results from France put far-right Le Pen's party around 33 percent, with 31 seats in the incoming ...

Bulgarians Frustrated as They Vote for Sixth Time in Three Years

Bulgarians started voting with expectations of a strengthened GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, amid concerns of continued instability and potential delays in EU integration reforms. Bulgarians started voting on Sunday for a sixth time in three years, with hopes for change expected to be quashed in the Balkan country. As ...

EU Elections: Voting Began Across Europe, Ideologies Clash

Voting commenced across Europe for the pivotal EU elections, with a spotlight on the rise of far-right parties in countries like France and Germany potentially shaping the continent's political landscape for the next five years. Voting began across Europe on Sunday on the final – and biggest – day of marathon EU elections, with balloting due ...

Macron Warns of Wide Far-Fight Presence in EU Parliament

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday that the EU risked being blocked by a big far-right presence in the European Parliament after this week's elections. "If France sends a very big far-right delegation, if other big countries do this, Europe could be blocked," Macron told French television. "Because what is a Europe where the ...

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 ...