european union

Lebanon Launches Water Sector Reforms with Support from International Partners

The Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, held a working meeting with key international donors and organizations to launch a strategic dialogue on the future of the country’s water sector. The minister announced that the national water sector strategy will be revised. “Valid elements will be retained, gaps will be addressed, and necessary ...

EU Unity Urged as Germany Enforces Border Controls on Migration

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called Friday for migration to be tackled jointly by member states as she hosted new German leader Friedrich Merz, whose government has moved to turn back asylum seekers at its borders. "Migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution," the commission president told a news conference ...

Brussels Warns Trump: Tariffs on US Cars, Planes if No Deal Reached

The EU on Thursday threatened to target US cars and planes among a raft of products worth 95 billion euros ($107 billion) if negotiations with President Donald Trump's team fail to avert a trade war. The European Commission said it would, in parallel, file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Trump's imposition of swingeing ...

EU eyes targeting 100 bn euros of US goods with tariffs

The EU is preparing to hit US goods worth nearly 100 billion euros ($113 billion) with tariffs in retaliation for President Donald Trump's sweeping levies if talks fail, European diplomats told AFP Wednesday. Trump has slapped a series of higher tariffs on Europe since March and in his biggest move, he imposed a 20-percent tariff on a majority of ...

Syrian Leader to Meet Macron in First European Visit

The Syrian president, Ahmad al-Chareh, arrived in Paris this Wednesday and was received by French president Emmanuel Macron for a first and controversial visit to the West. On this occasion, he is expected to call on Macron to punish those responsible for the "abuses" that have tarnished the image of the Islamist coalition in power since ...

China says to Welcome EU Chiefs Costa, Von der Leyen for Visits

China said Tuesday it would welcome EU chiefs Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen for visits as part of events marking 50 years of ties between Beijing and the bloc. "China welcomes European Council President Costa and European Commission President von der Leyen to come to China for a new round of China-EU meetings," foreign ministry spokesman ...

Pro-EU or Pro-Trump? Romania Faces Decisive Choice in Vote

Pro-EU Romania is facing a possible foreign policy shift, with a far-right leader -- and fan of US President Donald Trump -- topping the first round of a tense election rerun and now up against a centrist mayor for president. While politicians opposed to Trump's policies have won in Canada and Australia recently, George Simion, who leads the ...

Far-Right Candidate Leads Romania’s Presidential Rerun

Romania's far-right candidate George Simion was leading in Sunday's first round of presidential elections according to exit polls for the rerun of last year's annulled ballot that plunged the country into political turmoil. The stakes are high for the NATO country of 19 million, which has become a key pillar of the defence alliance since Russia's ...

TikTok Fined 530 Mn Euros in EU Over China Data Transfer

TikTok was hit with a massive EU fine of 530 million euros ($600 million) Friday, accused of sending personal data of Europeans to China and failing to guarantee it was shielded from access by Chinese authorities. The Chinese-owned social media giant, which is also in the crosshairs of the United States, acknowledged during a probe that it has ...

EU Preparing New Sanctions On Russia, French Minister Tells AFP

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday that the European Union is preparing to hit Russia with a 17th round of sanctions, describing President Vladimir Putin as the "sole obstacle" to peace in Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc has imposed unprecedented penalties on Russia in response to its invasion and said this year it would not lift ...

IMF Calls on US, EU to "Negotiate a Deal"

The United States and the European Union need to "de-escalate" and "negotiate a deal" to help boost lackluster growth on the continent, the International Monetary Fund's Europe director said Friday. "In our discussions with European leaders, I don't sense any difference of views with regard to the importance of that relationship," IMF Europe ...

Tesla's EU Sales Plunge as Musk Takes Flak

Tesla electric car sales in Europe plunged in the first three months of the year, industry data showed Thursday, in a fresh blow to its boss Elon Musk who has been criticised for his work in US President Donald Trump's administration. Sales of the sleek machines fell 45 percent to just over 36,000 units in the first quarter of 2025 in the ...