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EUobserver is a online non-profit news outlet reporting on the European Union." /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="EUobserver" /> <meta property="og:locale:" content="en_GB" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1500/fib5937904/013ee2a5-d63a-4a62-9b48-1b9597198faf-b3a31e5a-f125-4566-aa8a-8c3d499aae36-173ee046-7765-47b0-abb6-4a36abfeaefe.png" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://euobserver.com" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://euobserver.com" /> <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta property="twitter:site" content="@euobs" /> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","name":"EUobserver","legalName":"EUobserver ASBL","foundingDate":"2000-09-09T00:00:00Z","email":"contact@euobserver.com","logo":"","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Rue de la Loi 155","addressLocality":"Brussels","addressCountry":"BE","postalCode":"1040"},"alternateName":["euobs","eu observer","euobserver"],"url":"https://euobserver.com","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://euobserver.com/search/{search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"},"sameAs":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EUobserver","https://x.com/euobs","https://www.linkedin.com/company/euobserver/","https://www.facebook.com/EUobserver/","https://www.youtube.com/@EUobserver","https://mastodon.social/@euobserver","https://www.instagram.com/euobserver/","https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMKv1rgswuIDHAw"]}</script> <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/favicon-UOZ7ZRS5.ico" /> <script>window.__basedcache__={"12588239297382":{"v":{"data":[{"id":"ar349e6032","headline":"How music and paintings can help Syria heal and move on","abstract":"By investing in culture and creative expression, the international community can enable Syrians to rebuild trust, work on social cohesion, and restore a shared national identity after decades of dictatorship and conflict. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743834780000,"img":{"id":"fi7ab4bf2e","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi7ab4bf2e/7baae97d-af36-4863-909f-ccf1d2001bb2-6e2f0c16-ec66-47f0-83a4-862742ab96c0-7fd9309b-404a-4ce1-a439-551f86eee5a1.jpeg"},"headerImageCaption":"It is clear that cultural creativity and art are playing a vital and positive role in the struggling post-Assad Syria – and at a very low cost","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}],"contributorsText":"Khaled Mansour and Petra Stienen"},{"id":"arddd0eb84","headline":"EU and China to resume talks on electric vehicle pricing deal","abstract":"China and the EU have resumed talks aimed at ending Brussels’ extra tariffs on electric vehicles — as part of efforts to improve EU-Sino relations as both face the economic pain of new US tariffs. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743776145092,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fi178db81d","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi178db81d/51edde6b-3406-4450-ae74-88fff2f3f7ef-cb0cdcaf-8c17-4bc9-9aa6-3673c8de906b-01b5a6f7-4fa7-49d2-a7e6-331f144c743c.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Claudio Núñez","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/50523210@N08/"}},"headerImageCaption":"EU and Chinese officials will reopen negotiations on a price commitment plan — one of the EU Commission’s main demands","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar00eab35c","headline":"Eggs won’t win the EU a trade war against the US","abstract":"Amid escalating tariff threats, the US Department of Agriculture turned to the EU for egg imports. We crack open whether Europe can help — beyond the question of whether it should.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743772999138,"author":{"id":"eub4677b49","firstName":"Sergi Pijuan"},"img":{"id":"fi8bc5bda5","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi8bc5bda5/c7511796-f1c9-4fae-9c3c-36e0874a7dae-615345af-4530-471a-af10-6ed34a149694-fc9bd8eb-4773-46e4-8f7b-c1a8da7acdcb.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Ron Lach","sourceUrl":"https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-broken-egg-on-blue-surface-8859451/"}},"headerImageCaption":"The US approached several EU countries about emergency egg imports to ease a domestic supply crisis","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arcbd1284c","headline":"Europe’s regulatory retreat on AI: a free lunch for Big Tech?","abstract":"The EU Commission’s decision to drop the Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive, despite its obvious importance for consumer protection, looks less like a technical decision, and more like a political concession.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743759116870,"contributorsText":"Thierry Philipponnat and Max Kretschmer ","img":{"id":"fi03bb271a","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/131304b84614b63576a5d26304488184.png","credit":{"source":"World Economic Forum"}},"headerImageCaption":"Commission president Ursula von der Leyen declared that 'we have to cut red tape' to 'make it easier' for AI to grow in Europe. Just days later, the commission translated rhetoric into action and effectively withdrew AI Liability Directive","section":[{"id":"503f501420","title":"Digital","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"are85831c0","headline":"'Discriminatory' EU visa policy is hurting bloc's image in Africa","abstract":"The EU’s visa policy — and particularly its high rejection rate of applications from African countries — is \"discriminatory\" and causing “considerable damage to the EU’s image among Africa’s intellectual, cultural and business elites,” according to new research. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743696201759,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fic12b9c27","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/caf901bf5d7a4c5f8ac604bf21199ecd.jpg","credit":{"source":"Wikipedia"}},"headerImageCaption":"Some of Africa’s largest economies — notably Algeria and Nigeria — had Schengen visa rejection rates of between 40 and 50 percent","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arba7fb07c","headline":"Court's gay marriage legal opinion offers hope to Polish couples","abstract":"Same-sex marriages scored a win after a top lawyer at the European Court Justice issued an opinion in their defence.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743695943552,"author":{"id":"eu09e46885","firstName":"Nikolaj","lastName":"Nielsen"},"img":{"id":"fi5f9d85ae","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/1a771cddc8f36b81a9f3711f832ef655.jpg","credit":{"source":"zelle duda","sourceUrl":"https://unsplash.com/@zelleduda"}},"headerImageCaption":"The same-sex couple were married in Germany in 2018. But their certificate was not recognised in Poland, where they wanted to live","section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar9ffaa40b","headline":"Fear of US leaving Nato is 'hysteria', Trump's man says in Brussels ","abstract":"The US has reassured Nato allies it was still on their side — after threatening Denmark and embracing Russia. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743685725367,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi621f7ba7","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi621f7ba7/9a0fb866-abd2-445a-adbf-78e058638752-898ea0fa-0b34-4472-88e5-ed499655e652-78d82eb1-ad0e-44d3-89ab-f0c9a37a799b.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Nato"}},"headerImageCaption":"US secretary of state Marco Rubio (l) with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in Brussels on Thursday ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar2c5e2cec","headline":"The EU-Central Asia summit's elephant in the room — political repression","abstract":"While dictators in central Asia are speaking about progress and democratic reform, opposition parties are forbidden while its members are imprisoned. It is therefore telling that democracy and human rights are not mentioned in EU Council president Antonio Costa’s statement on the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743673939501,"contributorsText":"Bota Jardemalie and Muhamadjon Kabirov","img":{"id":"fiedef70b7","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/bee00f9f43f46b16dba8cf6b45026fa2.png","credit":{"source":"Google","sourceUrl":"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Central+Asia/@43.8620235,48.9906297,4z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x421ca47a95e8b557:0xc9e4e4fa8732db50!8m2!3d45.4506875!4d68.8319005"}},"headerImageCaption":"Until recently these countries — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan — faced criticism from the EU for their poor human rights records. That changed after Russia invaded Ukraine","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar6eceec2d","headline":"ECB vice-president: trade uncertainty now higher than under Covid","abstract":"Without mentioning Donald Trump’s tariffs, ECB vice president Luis de Guindos said trade uncertainty is now over eight times its historical average — “well beyond” pandemic peaks.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743671064869,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi9596ccdb","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/b981429803fe07c0df8fdea81587ba2f.jpg","credit":{"source":"Council of the EU"}},"headerImageCaption":"Luis de guindos: 'The uncertainty means we need to be extremely prudent'","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar28bd76e2","headline":"EU seeks talks with US over 20% tariffs, prepares countermeasures","abstract":"“I know many of you are disappointed in our old ally,” said EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, following the US decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on all European products. \"There seems to be no order in the disorder.\"","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743663443874,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fia3b91a08","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia3b91a08/27d257a5-4c0e-45f4-91e2-ff1301a5b443-94730bf3-feba-42d7-8696-51f4c5f12609-2815bee1-15de-4b22-b969-c32fa68bc4dd.png","credit":{"source":"YouTube screengrab","sourceUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IWHpeWCDtM&ab_channel=CBSNews"}},"headerImageCaption":"EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned of severe consequences for millions of people if Trump follows through with the tariffs.","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arb4fbde5e","headline":"Rightwing MEPs get support for anti-green EU inquiry","abstract":"The ECR group secured enough signatures to launch a formal inquiry committee into what they call 'green lobbying' and the use of EU funds for green NGOs.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743613020365,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fib0c79e19","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fib0c79e19/48585826-465f-4ded-86b8-b3f342c0a4a2-f1c8a55a-2425-4560-a4b9-88f3e26aec4b-d9b02e49-e838-4566-861c-b73b90ec73bf.png","credit":{"source":"EU Parliament"}},"headerImageCaption":"Co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, Italian MEP Nicola Procaccini","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80636814db","title":"Exclusive","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar2d6d68a7","headline":"Hungary's Orbán: How to proudly defy EU and international law","abstract":"The EU is considering options against Hungary over its deteriorating rule of law, including restrictions on protests and the Pride ban. Hungary defies EU court rulings, facing mounting fines, while its PM, Orbán, aligns with controversial leaders, including Israel's Netanyahu, who is visiting the country despite an ICC arrest warrant.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743612185934,"contributorsText":"Roland Papp","img":{"id":"fi229949a3","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi229949a3/c2d6ccc6-226a-4fb3-b80c-ab07f9519a5a-aa3b62c6-8db1-40ae-8bbf-85502d07778c-5261f3e9-71bd-4bb3-a3f8-d29464706c5b.jpeg","credit":{"source":"European Council"}},"headerImageCaption":"Encouraged by Donald Trump in the White House, Orbán has become more vocal in his actions against the international rules-based order.","section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar2ff37074","headline":"EU braces for Trump's 'liberation' tariffs, divided on response","abstract":"The EU is bracing itself for the impact of Donald Trump’s so-called ‘liberation day’ tariffs, after admitting defeat in its attempts to avoid more import duties. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743608783241,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fide60d719","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/49bc164ea059f8951f6c7e54ec762cb0.jpg","credit":{"source":"dawvon"}},"headerImageCaption":"The Trump administration's 'liberation day' tariffs will be announced on Wednesday evening ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar57fba26c","headline":"MEPs to approve delay of green reporting rules ","abstract":"MEPs are set to approve a delay of key parts of the EU’s green reporting rules, after months of pressure from business groups, member states, and right-wing politicians. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743608575136,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi2f251c63","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/41d6256228f3a03840f0c873fd6cd368.jpg","credit":{"source":"European Parliament"}},"headerImageCaption":"European People's Party president Manfred Weber has been willing to collaborate with the far right to roll back green rules","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar08a5246b","headline":"Russian dynasty cries for EU sanctions relief ","abstract":"A Russian industrialist's dynasty has urged the EU to immediately delist them after a triumphant day in court. The EU Council failed to prove that Russian billionaire Dmitry Pumpyansky, who made his fortune in the metals sector, was still a Kremlin player after he sold off shares.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743607236280,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi13558a94","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi13558a94/12cea1a4-216b-4ff1-9a15-40987ad34d9b-742c2ab2-20c2-47b3-a9cd-dc6140bc60c9-a055f749-1527-4042-95f6-06b83e511810.jpeg","credit":{"source":" Bernard Blanc"}},"headerImageCaption":"Russian billionaire's son Alexander Pumpyansky resided in Swiss hamlet of Conches, court papers said","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"are778ca53","headline":"Democracy for sale? Why the EU must break with Serbia's Vučić","abstract":"If the EU stands for democracy rather than just for lithium, it must take a new position in Serbia soon. In the wake of student-led mass protests, support for president Vučić is no longer support for stability if it ever was, writes political analyst Luke Bacigalupo from Belgrade.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743597061434,"contributorsText":"Luke Bacigalupo","img":{"id":"fi417d3270","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi417d3270/d62cf265-561c-438b-84f7-7255f1e60dd2-1f0898fb-2143-465b-9060-7f5b2632c778-29d39a5a-06cc-493c-b5e0-0e294c4a6684.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Dejan Krsmanovic","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/dejankrsmanovic/54296458373/in/photolist-2qJ1swu-2qJ1sBE-2qHZtZq-2qHYgAM-2qHZxtZ-2qHYgF6-2qJ1syt-2qHZxq2-2qJ1stU-2qLgKGx-2qLgKDb-2qLfzzo-2qLfzCp-2qLaZYE-2qLfzzJ-2qLfzvW-2qLfztw-2qLb16t-2qLgKC4"}},"headerImageCaption":"Serbia is witnessing a people's uprising while the EU remains relatively silent. The EU’s support for president Aleksandar Vučić is now widely perceived in the country to be a quid pro quo for a corrupt mining deal. ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar54aaec9f","headline":"EU train has stayed on track, despite multiple crises","abstract":"Despite the initial quarrels, EU leaders try to make up and bridge their differences, seeking compromises all can live with. This is what the EU was invented for.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743522101239,"contributorsText":"Caroline de Gruyter","img":{"id":"fibd6c5637","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fibd6c5637/c6700ebf-a557-4df3-a700-666797b364f2-af3de044-07c6-4c6d-b0a8-1f411c209b65-5dcf9fe8-e6e0-4e3a-aac3-084483a575c1.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Author","sourceUrl":"http://www.carolinedegruyter.eu/"}},"headerImageCaption":"Some 74 percent of Europeans think EU membership is a good thing for their country - the highest score ever since this routine Eurobarometer question was first asked, back in 1983","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"807976613d","title":"Column","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"are54bd9f5","headline":"Detained Swedish journalist sparks tensions in Swedish-Turkish relations","abstract":"Joakim Medin, a Swedish journalist, was arrested in Turkey while covering anti-government protests. Accused of insulting the president and alleged terror links, his case has sparked diplomatic tensions. Sweden now seeks clarity at the upcoming Nato summit.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743517815836,"contributorsText":"Rasmus Canbäck","img":{"id":"fi3d51bf69","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi3d51bf69/259a7005-6e73-455a-a881-7f762d74a244-ec60b2f3-94e6-47d9-80f0-f3e00d31201f-7fa8d649-9270-4fc5-8097-9e6bf4e9f78d.webp","credit":{"source":"Dagens ETC"}},"headerImageCaption":"Joakim Medin, the 40-year-old reporter working for the Dagens ETC newspaper, was arrested when his plane landed at Istanbul airport on 27 March","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar97c2442c","headline":"How the EU’s competitiveness agenda ignores Europe’s true strength","abstract":"We can’t boost our competitiveness without future-proofing our foundations. Securing a just transition to fair, sustainable societies is essential, but noticeably lacking in the EU Commission’s recent proposals.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743510942217,"contributorsText":"Laura de Bonfils","img":{"id":"fi2f1f1641","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi2f1f1641/d1bd7a17-811f-4339-b795-5d51276e8489-46e7508b-f523-48ba-b606-319488a5592e-27d60f4a-145b-48ac-a41d-c5bb500cbc05.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Social Platform"}},"headerImageCaption":"The bottom line is that Europe can only be competitive if it invests in its greatest strength; socially fair, green and resilient societies. ","section":[{"id":"50a6a0fafb","title":"Stakeholders","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"800f0876e9","title":"Stakeholder","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arbbd7567a","headline":"What would it take for euro to dethrone king US dollar?","abstract":"As Trump ramps up his trade war, two economists outline how Europe could finally turn the euro into a global currency.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743499740526,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi98b6772a","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi98b6772a/14298a62-5214-4d8b-815e-4513644bc32c-d9bf1866-0856-4d14-9bb1-29307311f1ba-c3329507-2f91-4cdf-b591-3e488a6a3aa5.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Trump speaking at event","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/54234406077"}},"headerImageCaption":"US president Donald Trump: the infrastructure to dethrone king dollar exists, but is there political will?\n\n","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar6f070fa5","headline":"Why the UN aid summit is the EU's best shot at financial justice ","abstract":"The upcoming UN summit in Seville, Spain, is a pivotal moment for the EU to fight extreme wealth concentration and the climate crisis burning our futures.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743496906704,"contributorsText":"Evelien van Roemburg, Javier García de la Oliva, Jean Saldanha","img":{"id":"fiad4b319e","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fiad4b319e/38308b5e-67ee-48ce-b941-d76e13fd12c4-87ee8935-79cf-432d-99e8-d23975a7c37d-9484ed7a-10cd-4d5e-8a41-3fa241a90417.jpeg","credit":{"source":"EU Council"}},"headerImageCaption":"UN secretary general António Guterres (l) with EU Council president António Costa in Brussels on 20 March: Some 3.3 billion people live in countries which spend more on debt interest than health or education","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar24d446f9","headline":"Netanyahu trip to Hungary lays bare EU lip service to ICC","abstract":"Budapest ought to arrest the Israeli prime minister later this week, the EU Commission has said, amid lukewarm European backing for international justice. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743442286303,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi0e86d703","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/91f2174abc31c08b4fe657c825381a97.jpg","credit":{"source":"Hungarian government website","sourceUrl":"http://www.kormany.hu/hu/a-miniszterelnok/fotok/orban-viktor-fogadta-az-izraeli-kormanyfot"}},"headerImageCaption":"Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (l) is due in Hungary on Wednesday ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar4bef60d0","headline":"UK's Starmer calls for united effort to 'smash' migrant smuggling gangs","abstract":"UK prime minister Keir Starmer has urged the international community to work together to ‘smash’ migrant smuggling gangs at a summit in London. 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Yet attacks are only part of Ukraine’s crisis: If the weapons were silenced tomorrow, the psychological and social damage could remain for generations.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743418947805,"contributorsText":"Ulla Müller","img":{"id":"fic9df97d8","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/9df68cf2a0c6cbf7803cf1cd0e148942.jpg","credit":{"source":"ec.europa.eu"}},"headerImageCaption":"Gender-based violence in Ukraine has intensified, with increased intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic abuse. 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The EU does not even bother to articulate what their new conditions were to lift them: no benchmarks, no target","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arfb81b92a","headline":"Enough red flags have been ignored, EU must reconsider Rwanda relations","abstract":"The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, should pause disbursement of any further European Peace Facililty funds to Rwanda until safeguards, including genuine vetting of troops deployed, are met, and commanders and troops who served in Congo are excluded from EU-funded operations, write Human Rights Watch.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1743075872121,"contributorsText":"Philippe Dam ","img":{"id":"fi2b804896","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi2b804896/bd1df204-093d-4ee9-a779-bd4125b1691e-af3b0e87-6e35-49c1-8a84-8bb12b78f94d-6b443083-15fd-4505-8792-0faf2aee2cb0.png","credit":{"source":"EU Commission","sourceUrl":"https://ec.europa.eu/avservices/avs/files/video6/repository/prod/photo/store/store2/4/P062684-700870.jpg"}},"headerImageCaption":"Rwandan president Paul Kagame meeting EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in December 2023","section":[{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar3be60611","headline":"EU expresses 'regret' after Trump slaps 25 percent duties on car imports","abstract":"The EU has come under fresh pressure to slash its import duties on American cars after US president Donald Trump imposed 25-percent tariffs on all foreign cars — which will come into force next week.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1743068021151,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fib2aec810","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/975eb4a502ea728f80ced940c8e8fa34.jpg","credit":{"source":"Infinite Ache","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/infiniteache/"}},"headerImageCaption":"EU car manufacturers will face 25-percent tariffs on vehicles sold in the US, after Donald Trump imposed new duties","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arfc6ce480","headline":"Italy, Czech Republic, France, drive up Russian LNG imports 18 percent","abstract":"Despite lofty promises to quit Russian gas by 2027, EU imports rose 18 percent last year, according to energy think-tank Ember. 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Just like the Bolkestein Directive, it risks becoming a free pass for companies to bypass national collective bargaining agreements, union rights, and social protections.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742382394035,"contributorsText":"Oliver Roethig ","img":{"id":"fi7df066e3","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi7df066e3/e4345e88-55ad-4636-9e91-c15247869849-a89d2c81-c749-49d7-94ce-382ead90a945-09604574-0622-47f0-bf53-2cb606b2562f.png","credit":{"source":"UNI Europa","sourceUrl":"https://www.uni-europa.org/news/the-eu-needs-an-industrial-policy-for-the-100-million-jobs-in-the-services-sector/"}},"headerImageCaption":"The commission’s proposed solution is radical and misguided: it aims to create an entirely new set of rules, independent of any member state — a kind of European corporate, tax and labour law. A “28th regime” as if there was a virtual 28th EU member state","section":[{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ara4aa7ffc","headline":"Macron told you so, again and again – but he's not convincing the French","abstract":"'Europe cannot trust the US for protection. We must be sovereign and stick together, especially in military matters.' Like a broken record, this has been Emmanuel Macron’s message since he took office in 2017. Now, his greatest 'I told you so' moment is here. There’s only one problem: he seems incapable of convincing the French.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742382220202,"contributorsText":"Emma Sofia Dedorson","img":{"id":"fi4e2532bb","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi4e2532bb/e4300794-5d20-43b3-b769-052cce134e75-92b64987-7de9-484f-b90e-6f9a9c07684e-17a299d0-7676-40ef-bfde-bff82816a7ed.jpeg","credit":{"source":"consilium.europa.eu"}},"headerImageCaption":" France has kept its nuclear arsenal outside of Nato cooperation — a capability specifically developed to avoid dependence on US nuclear weapons","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar0fa3f12f","headline":"The turbo-charging of EU defence — explained","abstract":"As the European Commission sets out its vision for a single market for defence in its white paper due on Wednesday, we take a close look at global and European trends and the industry’s readiness to meet new challenges.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742364000000,"contributorsText":"Sergi Pijuan & Elena Sánchez Nicolás","img":{"id":"fi5f9c56e1","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/b2c1680de6b8c80ea180fd2ed5dc9c6f.jpg","credit":{"source":"NATO"}},"headerImageCaption":"The total number of active military personnel in Europe, including the UK, is estimated to be around 1.5 million","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"8003b248c7","title":"Explainer","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar48af0896","headline":"EU intensifying migrant-busting plans with other countries","abstract":"The European Commission is intensifying relations with a host of countries to curtail irregular migration as it seeks to get the EU's overhaul on asylum implemented among EU states.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742319568328,"author":{"id":"eu09e46885","firstName":"Nikolaj","lastName":"Nielsen"},"img":{"id":"fi2de01bb5","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/8e1b70688592b2d8fd83d8a2210e2b34.jpg","credit":{"source":"Nikolaj Nielsen"}},"headerImageCaption":"The European Commission has attributed the drop of irregular migrant arrival numbers to anti-smuggling operations by Libya and Tunisia.","section":[{"id":"50192d9286","title":"Migration","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"are5485d50","headline":"Hungary's Orbán is first EU leader to ban gay Pride","abstract":"Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has set the stage for civil disobedience in a culture war in Budapest on 28 June by banning Budapest Pride. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742318534916,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fia782ebdc","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia782ebdc/d36aa093-8f44-4e0e-b9ef-f03ecdbf5e42-21e5d49b-2ae3-4346-8421-e0eaacb67783-e3082b02-abd8-4f06-9582-6dfe5b8d6674.jpeg","credit":{"source":" Peter Gyöngy"}},"headerImageCaption":"Hungarian police at Budapest Pride in 2009 ","section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar38db965e","headline":"Merz claims victory as German MPs approve trillion euro spending bill","abstract":"German MPs approved a €1 trillion debt-and-spending bill on Tuesday, to boost infrastructure and defence spending — breaking with decades of strict borrowing rules.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742314013257,"contributorsText":"","author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi177900cd","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi177900cd/502f548d-2192-402e-9f01-f11366101546-44a6bb9f-9c6f-454e-89ab-c3f03f0e0e99-cade7355-2d3f-45e0-889f-b714c2de529c.png","credit":{"source":"Bundestag","sourceUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqtV_uqCj_U&ab_channel=DeutscherBundestag"}},"headerImageCaption":"Friedrich Merz, defending his spending plan in the Bundestag: 'Protection of natural resources has been constitutionally mandated for over 30 years'","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar0df6ddd4","headline":"My experience working for Radio Free Europe in Azerbaijan","abstract":"The closure of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty marks an end and a beginning. It's a loss for press freedom but an opportunity for renewal. European institutions must create innovative solutions that empower local voices.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742307575880,"contributorsText":"Rovshan Aliyev ","img":{"id":"fi42812c21","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi42812c21/e60deec0-324d-49ec-8d99-583207436754-71d5de85-ae40-4386-900c-fbce2d31ce3f-a9d3a4c8-6abe-4109-a3e3-5d073541bc24.png","credit":{"source":"Radio Free Europe","sourceUrl":"https://about.rferl.org/latest-news/?page=&pagename=latest-news&filter%5Bpaged%5D=110"}},"headerImageCaption":"Having worked at RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani service for 13 years, I saw firsthand how management eroded credibility","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar3a1a6c49","headline":"The case for a pan-European nuclear doctrine","abstract":"As the main violator of the Budapest Memorandum, Russia has undermined the entire rationale of nuclear disarmament. Given the current international and geopolitical climate, Europe must reassess its stance on nuclear weapons, writes Anton Shekhovtsov.","membership":1,"type":"article","articleFormat":1,"publishDate":1742295566588,"contributorsText":"Anton Shekhovtsov","img":{"id":"fie773f5fa","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fie773f5fa/8902c54f-a016-414e-b2c0-f9613304a7ed-64cda902-4073-428a-a083-00e02e52a2da-2f791440-d78f-4f7f-8691-5ce8d5e8b9d9.png"},"headerImageCaption":"Expanding France’s nuclear deterrent to cover Europe would require a fundamental shift in French nuclear policy, which would face significant resistance in the French parliament and among the French public","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"807976613d","title":"Column","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar65faa406","headline":"The EIB still has a massive problem with its complaint procedure","abstract":"Although European Investment Bank president Nadia Calviño has stated that the institution takes accountability very seriously, we have seen that the EIB has major accountability issues. The EIB simply cannot be the global development leader it aspires to be unless things change. ","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742295301572,"contributorsText":"Stephanie Amoako","img":{"id":"fiee181803","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/08319bd55c994ba64903f5144be1284d.jpg","credit":{"source":"Adriana Homolova"}},"headerImageCaption":"The EIB's Luxembourg headquarters. It received nearly 400 environmental and social complaints by the end of 2022, but there's very little public evidence that communities have received compensation, or another appropriate form of redress","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arf740e957","headline":"Belarus forces accused of raping women fleeing to Poland","abstract":"Testimonies are emerging of sexual violence against women and girls attempting to enter Poland from Belarus, in a wider report on illegal pushbacks of prospective asylum seekers.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742252460000,"author":{"id":"eu09e46885","firstName":"Nikolaj","lastName":"Nielsen"},"img":{"id":"fi16bb6252","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi16bb6252/405a9e1c-11ac-4f6b-a372-a74239a16e68-8055059b-45cb-4dd7-b96d-d233b6ced120-1e651ec1-c1f9-4fbf-b973-44a7d8b07378.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Straż Graniczna","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Straz_Graniczna/status/1899089529610313729/photo/1"}},"headerImageCaption":"Polish soldiers stand guard at the land border with Belarus. Some 1,200 entry attempts were thwarted so far this year, according to the Warsaw authorities","section":[{"id":"50192d9286","title":"Migration","type":"section"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar5bf46de2","headline":"EU ministers hit Rwandan army chiefs with sanctions over DR Congo war","abstract":"EU foreign ministers on Monday moved to sanction a group of senior officers in the Rwandan army and the M23 militia group over their role in the war in eastern DR Congo. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742231996143,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fi3208820b","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi3208820b/c699b791-d4cf-4b6e-ba06-319c49e92dfb-02a1c7e8-097a-4055-a0af-2f94b1f3fa24-72eaea5b-10e4-405c-8f57-2930fcf1fdb8.jpeg","credit":{"source":"EU Commission","sourceUrl":"https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/photo-details/P-062684~2F00-13"}},"headerImageCaption":"Rwandan president Paul Kagame meeting EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in December 2023","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar9ae3d264","headline":"Don't be duped by Putin, EU ministers warn Trump ","abstract":"EU ministers have urged the US president not to be duped by Moscow in Tuesday's one-to-one phonecall on a Ukraine ceasefire.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742230665229,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fib5586f6e","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fib5586f6e/b9501d0f-c734-4811-a474-06422974fd6b-03e908fc-56b4-4f37-b4d9-321322b6e81d-8808b679-565a-4296-a3a6-bbd7412d5b3f.jpeg","credit":{"source":"EU Council"}},"headerImageCaption":"Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski in Brussels on Monday: 'I hope president Donald Trump turns out to be the deal-maker that many people think he is and gets a good deal for Ukraine and we wish him luck'","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar351b7761","headline":"Syrian women must have a seat at the transition table","abstract":"Monday's high-level meeting of the EU-27 foreign affairs ministers and the Brussels Ministerial Conference on Syria will determine the EU policy and reconstruction funding. Unfortunately, Syrian led-civil society organisations, the actors closest to the reality on the ground, are often put on the margins of such conversations.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742215693205,"contributorsText":"Monia Ben Jemia and Rasmus Alenius Boserup","img":{"id":"ficfa83bad","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/42aacf94399d539e8b677b99b86ee68e.jpg","credit":{"source":"REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail"}},"headerImageCaption":"The EU’s support for justice and democracy in Syria is crucial to preventing extremism, state collapse, and mass displacement — challenges that will inevitably affect Europe","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"are005aae9","headline":"By supporting Syria we are weakening Iran","abstract":"Lifting some sanctions here and there every few months is not what Syria needs. It is necessary to lift all economic sanctions and invest massively in the country for strategic reasons — the fall of Assad has been a major blow for the Iranian regime.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742210339745,"contributorsText":"Koert Debeuf ","img":{"id":"fi8d4ef249","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi8d4ef249/c6c332dd-e319-4f25-ab24-6175c263a12e-952307b6-49e1-402d-8be2-9d958fd35ba9-470ab9a7-6f78-4001-9c0c-dae53ba559b1.jpeg","credit":{"source":"World Humanitarian Summit","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldhumanitariansummit/26528370053/in/photolist-GqdQbz-9N3RkC-9npeAE-9nmbtg-9nmbFB-9nmbH2-9N15me-9nmbw6-9N3RtL-9npeDw-9nmbED-9npefW-9npekw-2jA3z6L-98T9MN-9npehf-9nmbJz-9na6PG-98T9Bh-98T921-9na6JG-98T9y1-9na6LJ-98T97A-9n73yp-98T9iC-98T957-9na6Sd-9npexw-98Q1Xe-98Q1S6-9n73DB-9nmbu8-9N3Rgq-7pqGUt-9n73te-9n73zV-9n73BV-9n73vR-2oBQG42-gqWvQ-2oB1Do4-2oBzJDm-G9aUa-G9b1T-mC66HG-gLN7W4-esWXa-8ToJLM-gLPmfg"}},"headerImageCaption":"Donald Trumps cuts to the USAID programme meant Kurds guarding former Isis fighters were not paid","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"803b7f3d61","title":"EUobserved","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arbbfffa9a","headline":"Who's up and who's down in Liberties annual EU rule-of-law report","abstract":"France showed no progress whatsoever and declined in most areas. Germany and Sweden also are on a downward trend, while Italy, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary are wreckers, according to Berlin NGO Civl Liberties Union for Europe.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1742191200000,"img":{"id":"fid7984bc6","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid7984bc6/ad29e208-a9c8-41a0-8959-03b276bae656-1fff0349-3061-41b6-9344-96adf14b0986-3a7dce21-4ec3-465c-86ad-a5d0a8523491.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Clay Banks","sourceUrl":"https://unsplash.com/@claybanks"}},"headerImageCaption":"Liberties Rule-of-Law Report, now in its sixth year, has found that Europe’s democratic recession has deepened. Countries regarded as democratic strongholds are sliding towards authoritarian tendencies and the European Union’s minimal use of its rule of law toolbox has barely made a dent","section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar0ec27f32","headline":"EU summit, Ukraine military aid, German debt-brake in focus This WEEK","abstract":"EU leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday after the previous Ukraine and defence summit, with the Commission set to outline its defence industry vision. Meanwhile, Germany holds a special session on its controversial constitutional debt brake reform on Tuesday.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742191200000,"author":{"id":"eu83cf6ae2","firstName":"Elena Sánchez","lastName":"Nicolás"},"img":{"id":"fib9a3d773","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fib9a3d773/2bf2fa92-0551-49d1-a35f-c58f3e47f132-73b704e0-17df-47d9-a188-ebb958f31416-0f7c07e1-9a8b-4b83-8981-8cd728710321.jpeg","credit":{"source":"European Council"}},"headerImageCaption":"The agenda for Thursday and Friday's meeting will also touch upon the Middle East, transatlantic relations, competitiveness, the EU budget, and migration","section":[{"id":"5050d2d5c0","title":"Agenda","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arc860af59","headline":"EU manufacturing can actually outcompete the US — if its leaders stop bickering","abstract":"EU industry is grappling with high energy costs, but it has the makings of a clean tech and defence powerhouse. But the question is — will politicians manage to stop bickering?","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742187600000,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi4b61bf8b","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/6b9b850b280f9181d373fd2c0562e9ca.jpg","credit":{"source":"European Commission"}},"headerImageCaption":"Donald Trump, it is clear, believes Europe is weak. And European analysts, journalists, politicians and business leaders by and large, are inclined to agree","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar14d329e0","headline":"In Syria, and elsewhere, there is no peace without development","abstract":"The future of Syria is in the hands of Syrians. And the international community has a duty to support their efforts at this crucial time. UNOPS is working to undertake an integrated response across humanitarian, development and peace sectors.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1742187600000,"contributorsText":"Jorge Moreira da Silva","img":{"id":"fi7ec94af5","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi7ec94af5/febc7846-74b5-478a-a89a-8c5cebd8263a-2e0d6f66-dc05-4e78-92ec-d231fb0164dc-968499f1-4a3c-4ffb-84b5-cd1bc0c67f5e.jpeg","credit":{"source":"UNOPS"}},"headerImageCaption":"Jorge Moreira da Silva is United Nations under-secretary-general and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) executive director","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50a6a0fafb","title":"Stakeholders","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"800f0876e9","title":"Stakeholder","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arc4fdfa3c","headline":"EU seeking to bring back 'sanity' to transatlantic trade in Friday night talks","abstract":"EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will hold talks with US counterparts on Friday evening, after the bloc’s trade spokesperson said that the commission was trying to bring “sanity” to transatlantic trade relations. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741964070418,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fib8192ca6","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/a1f953d660210a930da24b89bcf57c58.jpg","credit":{"source":"ec.europa.eu"}},"headerImageCaption":"EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will hold talks with US counterparts on Friday evening amid a tit-for-tar trade dispute","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar0d8a4f14","headline":"The EU’s BRICS+ dilemma: engage or stand back? ","abstract":"Unlike Washington, Brussels has historically maintained a more nuanced relationship with BRICS nations, balancing economic interests with geopolitical considerations. In this new world order, the EU is facing a dilemma: engage with BRICS+ or align with the US and risk being sidelined in a shifting multipolar world?","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741956541299,"contributorsText":"Raluca Besliu","img":{"id":"fi39b6c428","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi39b6c428/d7ef0e74-0ed5-4aa4-a1aa-ee59f03083bb-745cc1f0-8e56-46ac-b51a-c34c96a41532-4e32f33b-5e4c-45b6-81dd-1c71de69767d.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Brics Brasil","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/bricsbrasil/54341561873/in/album-72177720323988183"}},"headerImageCaption":"Brics working group meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, in February. BRICS+ now represents more than 40 percent of the world's population and nearly 37 percent of global GDP based on purchasing power parity","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar6db36d4a","headline":"Russian fertiliser baron Kantor delisted in EU sanctions deal","abstract":"Fertiliser baron Moshe Kantor and three other Russians are to be taken off the EU's blacklist in a last-minute deal with Hungary. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741946121658,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi08202e22","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi08202e22/62d7bf54-50e0-4892-95cc-19eb28fac95b-7d8e1891-0591-47c0-8d51-6d99f1096577-7b26d27a-2627-47e1-9a4e-161aee52c4e0.jpeg","credit":{"source":"European Parliament"}},"headerImageCaption":"Kantor reportedly lives in Tel Aviv and is said by US magazine Forbes to be worth €8bn","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar09c631f9","headline":"Talks on Hungary veto of EU's Russia sanctions go into third day","abstract":"Talks on the rollover of the EU's anti-Russia blacklist will continue on Friday (14 March), as Poland tries to get Hungary and Slovakia to back down on delisting high-level oligarchs. \n","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741889120020,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi02a2b4ad","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/3ec8dd1b310fc82a4c7ea29fdd8bf595.jpg","credit":{"source":"consilium.europa.eu"}},"headerImageCaption":"Diplomats at EU Council in Brussels: The asset-freeze and visa-ban list covers some 2,400 Russian individuals and entities ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar21a10a94","headline":"EU puts €4.7bn investment deal on table in South Africa talks","abstract":"The EU wants to strike an energy and investment deal worth €4.7bn with South Africa, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Cape Town on Thursday.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741883156750,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fia432f043","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia432f043/75362dc0-472f-4f5c-81d5-d3b1b1b3c1c1-78ef1d90-43e1-4329-9e23-aaa5696c7ffb-891906ee-ecd0-41df-a28a-75382887b331.jpeg","credit":{"source":"European Commission"}},"headerImageCaption":"The summit between EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa is the first since 2018","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arc33e939c","headline":"Let's hit Trump's Tech Bros with that EU Digital Services Tax finally","abstract":"The EU Digital Services Tax (for which the commission proposed a directive in 2018 but at the time was blocked by several member states) can be reintroduced — a targeted levy that will not harm consumers, but aims directly at the excessive profits of tech billionaires supporting Donald Trump, writes the S&D vice president.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741878462213,"contributorsText":"Alex Agius Saliba MEP","img":{"id":"fi40a520ba","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/7d3f7f05c41a80c39b245b4a6003c0eb.jpg","credit":{"source":"Billionaires Success","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/184851290@N06/48847390147/in/photolist-2hqtDgR-DPEZpp-8Lkjhm-7VmKUi-apnA5e-nWMRoG-5tK9rR-259Aynr-c1oFeE-afJYxb-5sPuA4-afGd4M-afGd4a-afGd26-MkG7X-61c8EV-25trVbd-61c8Sg-61gkZb-5WqGnm-5WmqEv-5WqG95-59YrP5-59Ys6o-MkGit-MkvTE-8QfK"}},"headerImageCaption":"The European Commission has to be prepared for a targeted push of the American administration to weaken the digital rules that protect our citizens online","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"503f501420","title":"Digital","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"areabaa9a3","headline":"Unpacking EU’s food fight over new gene-edited supercrops ","abstract":"After months of standstill, the EU’s plan to ease restrictions on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) could move forward on Friday, pushing efforts from factory farm capitals to bypass concerns from countries worried about small and organic farmers. Here's why it’s controversial — and how Poland’s stance has shifted the balance.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741859121427,"contributorsText":"Gabriela Galindo and Jelena Prtorić","img":{"id":"fi5048d2ad","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi5048d2ad/529a423a-539b-4e92-b397-7f4da2791f6a-43f75685-7e93-417f-a872-4165801ba783-425cb572-bfbc-4502-bdce-5932016a5bd4.jpeg","credit":{"source":"De Boelster seed breeding company"}},"headerImageCaption":"Several EU diplomats and Polish stakeholders said Poland’s U-turn came after 'unseen' levels of pressure coming at Warsaw from all fronts","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80e452251d","title":"Investigation","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar91929835","headline":"EU deportation bill is a gift for the far-right","abstract":"The far-right has found a home within the European Commission's new bill on deportations. While few would dispute that people with no right to remain should be given a carte-blanche to stay in Europe, the European Commission's latest proposal should be a cause for alarm.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741838400000,"author":{"id":"eu09e46885","firstName":"Nikolaj","lastName":"Nielsen"},"img":{"id":"fid7698ec7","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid7698ec7/cd0d1b19-7061-4c0c-8451-d41290a68986-f4a1e2fb-c097-423e-8cb0-5ed365ce2c2d-08f37cf2-adab-4d80-a3a5-1cdb73ffdf1f.jpeg","credit":{"source":"EC - Audiovisual Service","sourceUrl":"https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/photo/P-065911~2F00-03"}},"headerImageCaption":"EU commissioners Magnus Brunner and Henna Virkkunen presented their deportation bill at the European Parliament amid praise from the far-right and centre-right forces","section":[{"id":"50192d9286","title":"Migration","type":"section"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar1afb800d","headline":"A radical proposal: put the EU's counter-tariffs on US social media apps","abstract":"Social media is strongly negatively related to mental health, to inefficient time use, weakened family relations, depressing comparisons with others, a weakening of democracy and for less tax revenue. Social media benefits from Europeans, yet Europeans are likely suffering in return.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741796317564,"contributorsText":"Professor Vegard Skirbekk ","img":{"id":"fic1759021","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/f5a7fa8f0d7850c756d9dce36319511d.jpg","credit":{"source":"Anthony Quintano","sourceUrl":"https://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/33272016694/in/photolist-SG8Mof-SG8MjY-SG8M9N-SJSVeg-TozoVy-SY5SZS-ciZhZu-QRzUB3-RLghFK-Q238ZL-PqMShV-TPxKwG-UvUW1m-TPxKco-TPxK7J-TPxK4C-V3xsay-V72NDp-URBqFL-URBqnu-TSsgZ8-UQDy7j-UuWuTj-TpvVzS-TpvVt9-TpvVmL-TpvV"}},"headerImageCaption":"A randomised trial cited shows that blocking smartphone internet access for two weeks improved mental health, attention, and well-being, suggesting constant connectivity undermines quality of life in many ways","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"503f501420","title":"Digital","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar6821db20","headline":"Harleys and Levis in the firing line as EU retaliates to Trump's trade war","abstract":"The EU bowed to the inevitable on Wednesday, by firing a volley of returning fire on US imports after president Donald Trump formally started his much anticipated global trade war. ","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741794041757,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fi65a612c4","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi65a612c4/fef5134f-5a80-409c-9365-4a045739512f-3e61aedb-7d73-4816-8919-92a770273088-aff14707-6dc1-400f-82fe-61c38f61ec8f.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Almos Bechtold","sourceUrl":"https://unsplash.com/@almosbech"}},"headerImageCaption":"Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Jack Daniels and Levis jeans will be among the iconic US products that get more expensive in Europe","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arcf03caf4","headline":"Greenland elects pro-business leader, amid Trump offer to 'make you rich'","abstract":"Voters in Greenland chose the social-liberal and pro-business Demokraatit party in a landslide victory on Tuesday, amid a tug-of-war on its future between the US and EU.\n","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741780142595,"author":{"id":"eua979d487","firstName":"Lisbeth","lastName":"Kirk"},"img":{"id":"fie03fbc80","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fie03fbc80/df79f772-1880-4b82-831d-3c6d64009f85-d33de2cc-4c47-432c-b32e-1c38224ac781-3343de1a-f9d1-4eaa-980b-cf0ea48c7031.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Nikolaj Bock/norden.org"}},"headerImageCaption":"Greenland is the world's largest island, but with a tiny population — and the globe's eighth-largest rare-earth mineral deposits","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arab3e5e08","headline":"Northvolt’s bankruptcy ends Europe’s battery dream","abstract":"Northvolt, once hailed as Europe’s homegrown battery champion that could rival Chinese dominance, has officially gone bankrupt.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741780127284,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"fi67fba73b","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi67fba73b/de1083bf-adfc-4d6f-9da7-520bce1c3709-1de11e90-4160-4b6a-961e-32da0886b506-13507514-d87a-4295-8a47-eaf2c8714f10.png","credit":{"source":"Wikimedia Commons","sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northvolt_Labs_%E2%80%93_December_2019.jpg"}},"headerImageCaption":"Northvolt struggled to scale up production at its Skellefteå factory, which critics noted was inconveniently located in Sweden’s far north","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar0c9319a6","headline":"Health and climate hit first as US aid cuts bite — but EU also slashing funding","abstract":"The shuttering of USAID by the Donald Trump administration will have “a dramatic impact on humanitarian aid projects around the world”, EU crisis management commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, told MEPs last month. But the EU is also cutting aid — and healthcare and climate programmes are in the firing line.","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741752000000,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fid793a680","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid793a680/eb8bfcfb-8652-439e-9930-16cbc29230ad-12437975-24c4-463a-8787-1e43ceb77f75-719c68e9-0513-4412-bbda-ce9dbaf6b07c.png","credit":{"source":"USAID.gov","sourceUrl":"https://www.usaid.gov/"}},"headerImageCaption":"The website of USAID — which administers more than €55bn in humanitarian help, still offline as of Monday 11 March","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"arba1a144b","headline":"Dutch parliament rejects EU's ReArm Europe plan","abstract":"Dutch parliament rejects Europe's rearmament plan days after it has already been approved in Brussels","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741713512130,"author":{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"},"img":{"id":"ficf7184f1","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/a24aef2e5b8906215ac17aca06ecf115.jpg","credit":{"source":"Peter Teffer"}},"headerImageCaption":"The Dutch parliament narrowly rejected Europe's rearmament plan in a vote on Tuesday ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"arb087f72a","headline":"Joint procurement and subsidies announced to avoid EU medicine shortages","abstract":"The EU will create ‘strategic projects’ and make more use of joint procurement to protect the bloc from severe shortages of key medicines, and loosen state subsidy rules to do so, the European Commission has announced. ","membership":1,"type":"article","publishDate":1741712117262,"author":{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"},"img":{"id":"fid1265219","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/4fcb662731959212195bc767818072b8.jpg","credit":{"source":"Freestocks.org","sourceUrl":"https://unsplash.com/photos/nss2eRzQwgw"}},"headerImageCaption":"The EU has unveiled new plans to guarantee critical medicine supplies in a bid to protect the bloc from shortages","section":[{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society","type":"section"}],"articleType":[]},{"id":"ar5b1d2b42","headline":"EU arms firms' shares skyrocket, sovereign bonds rise — here's why","abstract":"European defence companies shares — most notably Rheinmetall (Germany) and Leonardo (Italy) — have skyrocketed. And, unlike other green or digital investments (where most funding will come from the private sector), defence will be predominantly financed by the public sector. Financial markets are well aware of this, which explains the sharp rise in sovereign bond yields this week.","membership":1,"type":"article","articleFormat":1,"publishDate":1741697095394,"contributorsText":"Judith Arnal","img":{"id":"fi9a2bc250","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi9a2bc250/dd77a059-18f9-4948-b9c5-3fd755db422c-bd81dcc4-2e81-47a2-99f1-270ff70feab4-cb6f6e2c-dc35-4c02-a2c9-6b169503afa6.jpeg","credit":{"source":"Author"}},"headerImageCaption":"'While the two percent of GDP target is well-known, there is another equally, if not more, important target: at least 20 percent of total defence expenditure must be allocated to equipment'","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"807976613d","title":"Column","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar392fa81f","headline":"When is an EU 'dialogue' actually a monologue?","abstract":"As a sign of the importance of 'green steel', the EU Commission this month launched a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Steel — a high-level roundtable with industry executives and policymakers. Yet one key voice was missing: civil society. No civic organisations were invited.","membership":0,"type":"article","publishDate":1741696826325,"contributorsText":"Patrick ten Brink and Chiara Martinelli","img":{"id":"fi6500c59d","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/08fee4b7fe4a57db34a7977337822839.jpg","credit":{"source":"European Parliament"}},"headerImageCaption":"Just because it has ‘industry’ in its name doesn’t mean the new EU policy agenda should be dictated by industry executives","section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy","type":"section"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion","type":"articleType"}]},{"id":"ar90936b44","headline":"Dekonspiratsiya: Meet 20 of Putin's EU spies","abstract":"Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have a \"higher risk appetite\" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their plots.","membership":1,"type":"article","articleFormat":2,"publishDate":1741672800000,"author":{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"},"img":{"id":"fi48e26d06","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi48e26d06/66b5067f-7483-4f78-839d-4923a3c58701-c6712235-ff7e-4272-9542-aa74f99dc1db-08e8fe1d-5910-48ec-88d0-c84eeb98be26.jpeg","credit":{"source":"EU Council"}},"headerImageCaption":"The EU Council building in Brussels — illuminated in the yellow-and-blue colours of the Ukrainian flag on 24 February 2025 to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion ","section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World","type":"section"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine","type":"section"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80e452251d","title":"Investigation","type":"articleType"}]}]},"c":9542427471603,"s":106255},"9690298612751":{"v":{"carousel":[{"id":"ar00eab35c","headline":"Eggs won’t win the EU a trade war against the US","abstract":"Amid escalating tariff threats, the US Department of Agriculture turned to the EU for egg imports. We crack open whether Europe can help — beyond the question of whether it should.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As Washington slaps new 20 percent tariffs on European goods across the board, the idea of retaliating with agricultural exports might seem tempting. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Eggs, surprisingly, entered the picture earlier this year, when the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approached several EU countries about emergency egg imports to ease a domestic supply crisis.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Could Europe use the US egg shortage as leverage in Donald Trump’s newly-launched trade war? </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“We have been in the past trying to get market access to export table eggs for consumption [but] it's almost impossible because the requirements are very difficult to meet and very costful”, notes Stig Munck Larsen, chief consultant at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">US egg woes</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In recent weeks, rising egg prices have brought back scenes of </span><a href=\"https://www.ft.com/content/8142d53d-50bd-44d6-9aa7-825eb07bdd13\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">empty</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> shelves in several US cities, reminiscent of the pandemic era, when fears of food shortages led to panic buying.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Wholesale egg prices began climbing sharply in late December, reaching over $8 [€7.30] per dozen by February — double the price from the same time last year.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The surge was driven by a widespread outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which led to the death or preventive culling of millions of laying hens, causing a sharp drop in egg production and triggering a supply and price crisis.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In March, however, egg prices have sharply declined, </span><a href=\"https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3725.pdf\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">driven</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> by falling demand in response to high prices and a partial recovery in supply as avian flu outbreaks eased. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Weekly average prices of a dozen of white large eggs in wholesale markets</strong></b></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi6f74dcb7/6c825b6f-02a4-431f-af3d-d91585a31662-3a4f25d3-b327-45f1-b2db-351d208bd44a-1cb50977-2364-4b1b-93e6-d07a4aff233c.png\"><figcaption>Source: Trading Economics</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The USDA responded to the egg crisis with a $1bn </span><a href=\"https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/02/26/usda-invests-1-billion-combat-avian-flu-and-reduce-egg-prices\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">plan</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> to combat avian flu, which included exploring temporary import options to ease supply shortages.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The USDA first </span><a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/turkey-export-15000-tonnes-eggs-us-amid-bird-flu-disruptions-2025-02-19/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">secured</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> 15,000 tonnes of eggs from Turkey, followed by import </span><a href=\"https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/03/20/usda-update-progress-five-pronged-strategy-combat-avian-flu-and-lower-egg-prices\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">commitments</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> from South Korea. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While wholesale egg prices have recently </span><a href=\"https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3725.pdf\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">declined</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> sharply, the USDA has raised its overall 2025 price forecast: from a projected </span><a href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20250228044046/https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">41.1 percent</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> increase in February to </span><a href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20250328101007/https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">57.6 percent</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in March.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US egg hunt also reached EU doorsteps, as the USDA </span><a href=\"https://fortune.com/2025/03/14/egg-supply-denmark-exports-usda-trump-adminstration-greenland-annex-threats/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">contacted</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> several EU member states, including Denmark, to inquire about potential imports.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Although no follow-up occurred after initial outreach, Denmark and other EU producers are unlikely to meet US demand due to sanitary barriers and limited production capacity, according to Munck Larsen.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Can Europe help ease the US egg prices crisis?</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Before egg exports can be considered, Europe would need surplus supply — which right now is falling behind demand.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Very few countries have a stock to sell,” admits Munck Larsen, “if everybody starts to supply the US, prices [in Europe] will go up,” he adds.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meeting that demand could also come at a cost to existing trade relationships. Failing to fulfil regular customers’ needs would be bad business, especially since any deal with the US would likely be temporary.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“If you go into the US market, it would only be for a short time, maybe three, six, or nine months,” Munck Larsen explains.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Washed or unwashed?</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Even if surplus eggs became available, sanitary regulations would be a major obstacle. “In Europe you are not allowed to wash the eggs, [but] in the US you have to wash them.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In the EU, egg washing is </span><a href=\"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52003DC0479\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">prohibited</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in all countries except Sweden (where consumer preference favours washed eggs). This process could pose “a risk of substances penetrating inside the egg,” Munck Larsen points out, explaining why the regulation was established. In contrast, the US requires eggs to be both washed and refrigerated throughout the supply chain until consumption.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Beyond that, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) standards add another layer of complexity.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These regulations make egg trade with the US “almost impossible,” Munck Larsen concludes.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, the EU has seen a recent rise in table egg prices, with an overall increase of 18.5 percent since the first week of 2025. Major producing countries — including France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland — have experienced similar price rises since the start of the year.</span></p><div data-is-embed-node=\"true\"><iframe src=\"https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/22233094/embed\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:650px;\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"></iframe></div><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">How severe is the impact of avian influenza in EU?</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Avian influenza has inflicted significant losses on the poultry industry over the past two years, with the US market particularly hard hit. While the disease itself can cause bird deaths, the impact is worsened by containment measures: once an outbreak is detected on a farm, all birds on the premises must be culled, regardless of infection status, sometimes multiplying the overall losses.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US egg-laying industry is dominated by megafarms, where outbreaks of HPAI can be devastating. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">According to the latest European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) </span><a href=\"https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9204\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">report</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, between September and December 2024, several farms with more than 100,000 chickens — including two with over two million birds — were forced to cull their flocks to prevent the spread of the virus. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU poultry industry may be better prepared for avian flu, as it has “stronger rules when it comes to biosecurity” and is “less exposed due to our industry structure,” as Munck Larsen notes, referring to a smaller concentration of laying hens per farm.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Between July and December 2024, the US reported losses of 33.42 million birds, while EU member states recorded 7.69 million, according to the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), which monitors animal diseases globally.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As of 26 March, just halfway through the current semester, the HPAI death toll in both the EU and the US has already reached levels comparable to the previous full semester.</span></p><div data-is-embed-node=\"true\"><iframe src=\"https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/22314255/embed\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px;\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"></iframe></div><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Avian influenza concerns now extend beyond poultry and wild birds. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“We are equally concerned about avian influenza spreading into other species like cows, [...] we have seen the virus in dairy products, in milk,” Munck Larsen adds. The UK recently </span><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england#latest-situation\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">reported</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> the first-ever recorded case in a sheep.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Europe needs to keep its eggs in check</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Despite USDA forecasts that egg prices in the US are still expected to rise, Europe can hardly weaponise its eggs to gain leverage in ongoing trade tensions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The global situation in egg is that there's no balance actually. There's a lot of demand and the supply is lacking,” says Munck Larsen.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Eurostat and USDA data reflect only wholesale egg prices, but the Spanish consumer association FACUA has raised </span><a href=\"https://facua.org/noticias/mercadona-lidera-la-subida-de-precios-de-los-huevos-en-lo-que-va-de-ano-20-seguida-de-carrefour-16-y-dia-14/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">alarm</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> over rapidly rising retail prices in recent weeks, with some egg categories increasing by up to 25 percent in major grocery chains.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The recent rise in wholesale prices, combined with growing avian flu outbreaks, should serve as a warning for the EU to prioritise securing its own egg supply and price stability — rather than stretching production to ease US table egg prices. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Moreover, these imports would now be subject to Trump's 20-percent tariff — undermining the very purpose of such a trade deal.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eub4677b49","firstName":"Sergi Pijuan"}],"publishDate":1743772999138,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fi8bc5bda5","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi8bc5bda5/c7511796-f1c9-4fae-9c3c-36e0874a7dae-615345af-4530-471a-af10-6ed34a149694-fc9bd8eb-4773-46e4-8f7b-c1a8da7acdcb.jpeg"}},{"id":"arddd0eb84","headline":"EU and China to resume talks on electric vehicle pricing deal","abstract":"China and the EU have resumed talks aimed at ending Brussels’ extra tariffs on electric vehicles — as part of efforts to improve EU-Sino relations as both face the economic pain of new US tariffs. ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">China and the EU have resumed talks aimed at ending Brussels’ extra tariffs on electric vehicles, as part of efforts to improve EU-Sino relations as both face the </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/green-economy/ar28bd76e2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">economic pain of new US tariffs</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He Yadong, spokesperson for China’s ministry of commerce, told reporters on Thursday (3 April) that officials had reopened negotiations on a price commitment plan, one of the EU Commission’s main demands.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Yadong added that the resumption of talks is part of efforts to foster a stable environment for investment and industrial collaboration between Chinese and EU enterprises. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Last October, the EU introduced additional levies ranging between 17 percent and 35.3 percent on Chinese manufacturers </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arc44a5daa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">BYD</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, Geely and SAIC on top of an existing 10-percent tariff. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The decision, which was approved by EU governments though not unanimously, followed a lengthy investigation by the EU executive. The EU found that the Chinese state was offering preferential financing and grants, along with raw materials offered at below-market prices. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Although talks on minimum pricing between EU and Chinese officials were held last year, with the commission stating it would prefer to agree a “negotiated solution with China”, they made little progress, with China launching a formal complaint against the EU’s “unreasonable” and “protectionist practice” at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Chinese car manufacturers have also filed legal cases to the European Court of Justice challenging the EU tariffs. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Brussels and Beijing were among the hardest hit by US president Donald Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announced on Wednesday, with the EU hit with 20-percent duties on all goods, as well as a 25-percent tariff on car exports. For its part, China was slapped with 34-percent duties that come on top of an existing 20-percent tariff. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">That appears to have pushed the two sides to work on resolving their own trade differences, particularly over electric vehicles. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Last week, EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič </span><a href=\"https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/read_25_923\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">held three days of talks with counterparts in China</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, with the two sides agreeing to “improve and rebalance EU-China trade and investment relations.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Following talks with Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao, they also agreed to launch a “dialogue covering all trade and investment issues related to the electric vehicles supply chain, in order to ensure they provide greater contribution to long-term European competitiveness and quality jobs.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, during a visit to Hungary on Friday, where BYD has recently constructed a new plant to make electric cars, China's vice minister of commerce, Ling Ji, said China was willing to work with the European Union to maintain a rules-based multilateral trading system and bring certainty to global trade in response to the US tariffs.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"}],"publishDate":1743776145092,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fi178db81d","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi178db81d/51edde6b-3406-4450-ae74-88fff2f3f7ef-cb0cdcaf-8c17-4bc9-9aa6-3673c8de906b-01b5a6f7-4fa7-49d2-a7e6-331f144c743c.jpeg"}},{"id":"arcbd1284c","headline":"Europe’s regulatory retreat on AI: a free lunch for Big Tech?","abstract":"The EU Commission’s decision to drop the Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive, despite its obvious importance for consumer protection, looks less like a technical decision, and more like a political concession.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The noise surrounding 'competitiveness' in Brussels is reaching a fever pitch. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A recent casualty of this push for 'simplification' is the AI Liability Directive (AILD) — a legislative proposal that would introduce clear rules on accountability when AI systems cause harm. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Its conspicuous absence from the EU Commission’s 2025 work programme leaves a worrying gap in Europe's AI framework.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">At the </span><a href=\"https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/pl/speech_25_471\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">AI Action Summit</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> earlier this year, EU leaders signalled a shift of priorities, away from safety and towards “competitiveness.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Commission president Ursula von der Leyen </span><a href=\"https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/pl/speech_25_471\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">declared</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> that “we have to cut red tape” to “make it easier” for AI to grow in Europe. Just days later, the commission translated rhetoric into action and effectively withdrew AILD.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Unlike the AI Act, which focuses on reducing damage caused by high-risk AI systems, AILD was designed to ensure accountability when harm does occur and provide a clear route to compensation for those affected. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The commission’s decision to drop the file, despite its obvious importance for consumer protection, looks less like a technical decision, and more like a political concession. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The directive would have introduced legal liabilities for major AI developers, a prospect Big Tech fiercely resisted. Ultimately, tech giants do not want to be held accountable for the products they develop, and neither do the firms using them.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But someone needs to be accountable when things go wrong. </span></p><blockquote class=\"rte-blockquote\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">If an AI system denies credit, triggers a market crash, or locks a vulnerable consumer out of basic services, who is responsible? </span></blockquote><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As a recent </span><a href=\"https://www.finance-watch.org/press/can-we-trust-an-ai-powered-financial-system/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Finance Watch report</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> makes clear, financial regulation is built on the principles of accountability, responsibility and transparency. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Until recently, supervisors could identify the source of a trading error or an unjustified denial of insurance. Even the most complex software-driven decisions were ultimately explainable. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Faulty code could be identified, and responsibility assigned. This chain of accountability is embedded in financial regulation, and firms are obliged to comply. If they fail to do so, they face consequences. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But AI breaks this chain. If an AI system denies credit, triggers a market crash, or locks a vulnerable consumer out of basic services, who is responsible? </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">AI Deep learning systems operate by detecting correlations in vast datasets, not through a transparent logic of cause and effect. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These models function in a ‘take it or leave it’ manner, where even their own developers struggle to explain outputs. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This 'black-box logic' renders effective oversight impractical, if not impossible. Credit assessments, insurance pricing, or investment decisions made by AI resist explanation, and regulators may struggle to detect errors, biases, or even systemic risks.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">AI is not business as usual. It challenges the application of financial regulation’s core principles. And when the commission backs away from liability, a concerning gap opens in the regulatory framework. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A free market without accountability is simply a license to exploit. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">AI is already an oligopoly dominated by a handful of US enterprises, and the EU’s retreat hands them even more power. By abandoning the AI liability regime, the commission is effectively telling these companies they can benefit from the single market without bearing any responsibility for the harm their systems may cause.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU policymakers should not get swept up in a competitiveness frenzy that confuses sound regulation with red tape. They must step back and take stock. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">What’s needed now is not deregulation, but a reassessment of the AI rulebook. Pragmatic steps can be taken to ensure that, as AI use cases in finance proliferate, citizens are protected from harmful practices.</span></p>","contributors":[],"publishDate":1743759116870,"section":[{"id":"503f501420","title":"Digital"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion"}],"img":{"id":"fi03bb271a","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/131304b84614b63576a5d26304488184.png"}},{"id":"ar9ffaa40b","headline":"Fear of US leaving Nato is 'hysteria', Trump's man says in Brussels ","abstract":"The US has reassured Nato allies it was still on their side — after threatening Denmark and embracing Russia. ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US has reassured Nato allies it was still on their side — after threatening Denmark and embracing Russia. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">US secretary of state Marco Rubio invoked the deaths of four US soldiers in Lithuania as testimony to its Nato commitment at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday (3 April). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They died in a training exercise as part of Nato's Russia-deterrent force one week ago and the tragedy \"reminded us the United States is as active in Nato as it ever has been\", Rubio told the press. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"And some of this hysteria and hyperbole that I see in the global media and some domestic media in the United States about [leaving] Nato is unwarranted,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"[US] president [Donald] Trump has made it clear we support Nato and will remain in Nato … He is not against Nato,\" Rubio added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rubio is known as one of Trump's most pro-Nato cabinet members, who tends to dial down the president's sometimes wild rhetoric. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He came to the Nato HQ after Trump </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ard874e49f\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">sent another envoy</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> to Greenland and repeated threats to seize it from Denmark by force, in what would mark the instant death of the 75-year-old Western alliance. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rubio also came after Trump started unilateral talks with Russia on the Ukraine war and began to repeat Kremlin propaganda on Kyiv, prompting </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/are6bf1804\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">emergency European summits</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He came one day after Trump imposed trade tariffs on the EU. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Rubio himself aside, others in Trump's cabinet, such as US defence chief Pete Hegseth, have voiced personal \"loathing\" for European allies (in a leaked chat on the Signal app), in a sign of genuinely toxic transatlantic ties. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For her part, Danish prime minister Mette Fredriksen said in Nuuk on Thursday: \"The US shall not take over Greenland. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">She met the autonomous Danish region's incoming prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, to reassure him of Danish support amid the US \"pressure\", according to Reuters. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Nielsen said of Trump: \"Talking about annexation and talking about acquiring Greenland and not respecting the sovereignty is not respectful. So let's start by being respectful\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And for his part, Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also said on X on Thursday in the margins of the Nato meeting: \"It's beyond me that the US wants to start a trade war against Europe\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But for all that, Rubio didn't mention Greenland, tariffs, or the Signal leaks in his press briefing. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He focused on Russia and on kitchen-sink Nato budget issues instead. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"A full-scale ground war in Europe is a reminder that hard power is still a necessary deterrent,\" he said, referring to Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in 2022. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"No one expects this [all Nato states to spend five percent of GDP on defence] is going to be doable in one year or two, but the pathway has to be real,\" he added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rubio spoke alongside Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, who echoed the US top diplomat's business-as-usual tone, with no media questions allowed. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Earlier in the day, Rutte also downplayed rumours the US might draw down troop numbers in Europe.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, when asked by press about Greenland, Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said in Brussels: \"Whatever internal issue [their future status] they [Greenland] have is up to them and nobody else and we support the territorial integrity of Denmark\".</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Trumperialism</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Trump has spoken of seizing Canada and Panama as well as Greenland, in what some commentators see as his genuinely imperialist mentality. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But the Czech, Dutch, Estonian, and Norwegian foreign ministers were among those who voiced full confidence in the US security guarantee on Thursday, despite the White House rhetoric. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The US government has been clear in saying they stand by Nato, they stand by Article V [the Nato treaty's mutual defence clause],\" Norway's Barth Eide said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Czech Republic's Jan Lipavský said: \"I haven't heard anything from the Americans about Article V that concerned me, so I trust them, yes\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When asked by media about the Signal \"loathing\" comment, Estonia's Margus Tsahkna said: \"After meeting secretary of state Rubio, I'm sure the US is committed to the Baltic states and the US is committed to Nato\".  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Czech and Norwegian ministers echoed Rubio and Rutte in depicting Russia as Nato's main threat. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Lipavský said there had been over 120 Russian sabotage attacks in Europe in 2024 and more than 30 in the first quarter of 2025. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We have to do it [raise defence spending] ... because Russia is trying to destroy us,\" he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Barth Eide said: \"Russia is and will remain the defining threat for the alliance, also in terms of what happens afterward [the Ukraine war]. Russia-management is very important to the alliance now and for future times\". </span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1743685725367,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fi621f7ba7","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi621f7ba7/9a0fb866-abd2-445a-adbf-78e058638752-898ea0fa-0b34-4472-88e5-ed499655e652-78d82eb1-ad0e-44d3-89ab-f0c9a37a799b.jpeg"}},{"id":"ar6eceec2d","headline":"ECB vice-president: trade uncertainty now higher than under Covid","abstract":"Without mentioning Donald Trump’s tariffs, ECB vice president Luis de Guindos said trade uncertainty is now over eight times its historical average — “well beyond” pandemic peaks.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">European Central Bank vice-president Luis de Guindos warned on Thursday (3 April) that the eurozone is struggling under an “exceptionally high” level of uncertainty, complicating efforts to bring inflation back to target and revive growth.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speaking to a gathering of financial industry executives in Amsterdam, de Guindos pointed to mounting geopolitical tensions, “shifting” trade patterns, and the EU’s push to </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/arc50970b8\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">boost defence spending</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> as potential sources of financial disruption.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While de Guindos didn’t name US president Donald Trump's </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/green-economy/ar28bd76e2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">revived tariff threats</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, he did cite ECB research showing that trade policy uncertainty is now more than eight times above its historical average, “well beyond” the peaks seen during the pandemic. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This, he said, makes today’s macro-financial environment “exceptionally uncertain.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While inflation has been falling broadly as expected — headline inflation dipped to 2.2 percent in March — de Guindos said possible new inflationary shocks could come from trade wars, commodity price swings, or a weaker euro.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In theory, weaker demand for eurozone exports could push down the euro against the dollar. But so far this hasn’t happened, as investors </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/green-economy/arbbd7567a\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">moved out</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> of the dollar into almost everything else, including gold, the yen and European stocks. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The euro actually jumped on Thursday after Trump’s announcement as investors sold dollar assets, adding to recent gains.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">That said, eurozone growth remains underwhelming. ECB staff have once again cut their growth forecasts, now expecting the eurozone economy to grow by just 0.9 percent in 2025, down from 1.5 percent previously.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The ECB may still decide to cut interest rates to boost economic activity, but de Guindos made clear that the governing council will tread carefully. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The uncertainty means we need to be extremely prudent when determining\" monetary policy, he said, adding that rate decisions will continue to be made “meeting by meeting.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">De Guindos also flagged rising risks to financial stability. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While banks remain well-capitalised, markets and non-bank financial players look more vulnerable. “Banks remain in good shape,” he said, but high valuations have left stock and bond markets, especially in smaller countries, exposed to sudden corrections.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Non-bank financial companies such as insurers and pension funds are stable, but “heavily exposed to risky assets,” he added. While not specifying where most of the risk lies, US stock markets have lost trillions over recent weeks and slid further after Trump’s tariff announcements.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Despite the gloom, de Guindos insisted that Europe has tools to respond. “We need to deepen and strengthen our economic and monetary union,” he said, calling for progress on banking union and capital markets union to bolster growth.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"}],"publishDate":1743671064869,"section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fi9596ccdb","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/b981429803fe07c0df8fdea81587ba2f.jpg"}},{"id":"are85831c0","headline":"'Discriminatory' EU visa policy is hurting bloc's image in Africa","abstract":"The EU’s visa policy — and particularly its high rejection rate of applications from African countries — is \"discriminatory\" and causing “considerable damage to the EU’s image among Africa’s intellectual, cultural and business elites,” according to new research. ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU’s visa policy — and particularly its high rejection rate of applications from African countries — is \"discriminatory\" and causing “considerable damage to the EU’s image among Africa’s intellectual, cultural and business elites,” according to new research. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The report by Katherine Pye of </span><a href=\"https://www.cer.eu/insights/access-denied-eus-discriminatory-visa-regime-undermining-its-reputation-africa\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">the Centre for European Reform</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, a London-based think tank, states that “there is no evidence that the EU’s attempts to reduce irregular migration by making it harder for travellers to get Schengen visas are working.”  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The research notes that in 2022, 30 percent of African Schengen visa applications were rejected by the EU — up from 18 percent in 2014, and significantly higher than the global rejection rate of 17.5 percent. Some of Africa’s largest economies — notably Algeria and Nigeria — had Schengen visa rejection rates of between 40 and 50 percent.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The largest number of visa applications to the EU come from Morocco and Algeria, according to data published by the LAGO Collective. However, the number of applications from African countries fell from 2.2 million in 2014 to 2.05 million in 2022. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Research published last year found that EU governments rake in €130m per year in rejected visa application fees, a practice dubbed “reverse remittances”. 42 percent of that sum was paid by applicants from Africa, even though the continent accounted for only 24 per cent of applications. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU Commission charges a €90 visa application fee for adults to travel to the EU. The fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Though EU officials have stated that the high rejection rate is because of concerns that people will overstay, the CER paper states that “there is little or no public data available on the number of non-Europeans on Schengen visas who overstay, and overstaying is hardly mentioned in Frontex’s reports as a cause for concern in relation to illegal migration.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Since 2019 the EU has used a ‘visa leverage mechanism’, which explicitly links visa accessibility to cooperation from African countries on the readmission of deported migrants. The EU has either threatened or imposed visa restrictions on Gambia, Senegal and Ethiopia in recent years. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a paper circulated to European capitals ahead of last month’s EU leaders’ summit, detailing the latest state of play in the EU’s </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ara17eef80\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">migration control negotiations with African states</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, the commission referred to difficulties with Senegal and Gambia over their reluctance to readmit deported migrants. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Intensive engagement continues at all levels in Brussels and Dakar,” said the commission, pointing to “Senegal’s insufficient cooperation on readmission”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On Gambia, meanwhile, the commission noted that “there has been a deterioration in cooperation, with charter flights to return migrants ‘de facto suspended by The Gambia.’\"   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“If the EU cares about improving its public image in Africa, it should decouple readmission targets from visa accessibility,” states Pye. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Migration control has been a preoccupation of Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as commission president, plus with many EU governments, with Brussels making controversial ‘cash for migrant control’ deals with Tunisia, Mauritania and Egypt. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">However, there has been concern among some EU officials that the bloc’s </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar9713c139\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">diplomatic and economic influence in Africa</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> is being lost to China and other foreign powers. The difficulty in obtaining a short-term visa to the EU is one of the main grievances identified by Africans in their countries’ relations with the EU.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu7c6b1824","firstName":"Benjamin","lastName":"Fox"}],"publishDate":1743696201759,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"5041632de8","title":"Africa"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fic12b9c27","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/caf901bf5d7a4c5f8ac604bf21199ecd.jpg"}},{"id":"arba7fb07c","headline":"Court's gay marriage legal opinion offers hope to Polish couples","abstract":"Same-sex marriages scored a win after a top lawyer at the European Court Justice issued an opinion in their defence.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Same-sex marriages scored a win on Thursday (3 April) after a top lawyer at the European Court of Justice issued an opinion in their defence.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"EU law requires a member state to recognise the marriage between persons of the same sex concluded in another member state,\" said Richard de la Tour, an advocate general at the ECJ.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Although Tour's opinion is not binding, his views are likely to factor into an upcoming ruling later this year that pits Poland against a same-sex couple who wanted their marriage recognised in the country.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The two Polish nationals, one of whom also has German citizenship, had married in Berlin in 2018. The couple then demanded their marriage certificate in Germany be transferred over to Poland.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Poland refused, noting that a marriage certificate template would require one of the two men to be entered under the heading of a 'woman'. They also said that a marriage can only be contracted by a man and a woman.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The couple then challenged the move in the hopes of overturning the decision. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Tour has since argued that Poland's refusal is contrary to EU law because it would limit the free movement of Union citizens and their choice of where to live.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"This case marks a significant step towards the protection of same-sex couples across the EU,\" said Ilga-Europe, an advocacy group promoting the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, in a statement.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of the lawyers representing the couple is hoping the European Court of Justice will follow the advocate's lead in order to overcome a legal deadlock in Poland.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The win follows a roll-back of LGBTI rights in Poland after the country had initially proposed a “hate speech” bill that also sought to defend the community. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But this was later last year replaced by a new draft that omitted gender identity as a protected category against hate crimes or discrimination.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It also comes despite </span><a href=\"https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7789/Artykul/3393325,67-of-poles-support-legalizing-samesex-marriage-survey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">an Ipsos + Pride survey last year,</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> which says some 67 percent of Poles support same-sex marriage or legal recognition of relationships.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Last month, Hungary's prime minister </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/are5485d50\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Viktor Orbán rushed through a bill</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> that bans Gay Pride events. It also allows police to identify anyone who attends and slap them with a fine.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The move has sparked widespread protests with thousands taking to the streets in Budapest earlier this week.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu09e46885","firstName":"Nikolaj","lastName":"Nielsen"}],"publishDate":1743695943552,"section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fi5f9d85ae","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/1a771cddc8f36b81a9f3711f832ef655.jpg"}},{"id":"ar2c5e2cec","headline":"The EU-Central Asia summit's elephant in the room — political repression","abstract":"While dictators in central Asia are speaking about progress and democratic reform, opposition parties are forbidden while its members are imprisoned. It is therefore telling that democracy and human rights are not mentioned in EU Council president Antonio Costa’s statement on the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On Friday (4 April) Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council are travelling to Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the EU–Central Asia summit. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It is the first time this summit is gathering and that is no accident. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Until recently these countries — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan — faced criticism from the EU for their poor human rights records and, notably, some of them for their close ties to Russia and their role in circumventing sanctions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU was previously very concerned about the lack of fundamental freedoms in Central Asia. That changed in February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Europe decided to sanction Russia and to seriously decrease its dependency on Russian gas. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Of course, by doing so the EU had to increase imports from other countries. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kazakhstan is already Europe’s third-largest oil provider, while Turkmenistan — whose partnership cooperation agreement with the EU remains blocked by the European Parliament due to its appalling human rights situation — is known to have massive gas reserves. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In 2024, Hungary signed a gas deal with Turkmenistan, but future plans are much bigger. The idea of the </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arf3bc7309\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> would connect gas fields in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to the markets of Turkey and Europe. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Therefore, it is natural that Costa said in a </span><a href=\"https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/02/12/first-eu-central-asia-summit-to-take-place-on-3-4-april-2025/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">statement</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> that “in a world of disorder and fragmentation (…) the only viable solution for the EU is to build stronger partnerships to advance peace and prosperity,” adding that “a multipolar world requires greater and tailored engagement.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Costa further concluded that “the very first EU-Central Asia summit will solidify our commitment to work together for peace, security, and sustainable development, in full respect of international law.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While we understand the EU’s need to broaden its partnerships, certainly on energy, it is telling that democracy and human rights are not mentioned in Costa’s statement. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">At the same time, all countries of Central Asia are labelled as “not free” by the </span><a href=\"https://freedomhouse.org/explore-the-map?type=fiw&year=2025\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Freedom Index</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> of Freedom House. Moreover, the situation in the region is even deteriorating compared to last year. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Even more dramatic are the </span><a href=\"https://freedomhouse.org/explore-the-map?type=nit&year=2024\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">democracy scores</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> of each of these countries, all of them are classified as “consolidated autocratic regimes”, again by Freedom House.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">No free media, prison for dissidents</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These scores might seem a bit abstract to a European public, but for the people living there, they represent a daily harsh reality. While dictators in central Asia are speaking about progress and democratic reform, opposition parties are forbidden while its members are imprisoned. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">To give the example of Kazakhstan, there are currently at least </span><a href=\"https://en.odfoundation.eu/a/726864,tough-year-for-human-rights-48-political-prisoners-in-kazakhstan-political-repression-and-total-censorship-instead-of-reforms/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">48 political prisoners</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. All independent media have been completely defeated and no longer exist. The opposition has been crushed, and independent political parties cannot be registered. People are imprisoned for participating in peaceful rallies, supporting opposition movements, disseminating information on human rights violations, and even collecting donations for political prisoners. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, the situation is even much worse. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">At the same time, several Central Asian countries are persecuting dissidents worldwide in what is called transnational repression. These authoritarian regimes are spending millions of euros in order to </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar7933f751\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">silence opposition</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> voices that fled the region and are living abroad. They are using disinformation campaigns, blackmail by threatening and even torturing family members and even kidnapping dissidents living outside Kazakhstan. They conclude mutual legal assistance agreements with European governments to go after dissidents abroad. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For political refugees in Europe, like us, this is a daily reality. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a world that is shifting dramatically, the EU should also choose carefully its new allies and friends. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">All Central Asian countries have made it clear from the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine that they do not want to impose sanctions on Russia. One could understand this position, seeing the multiple economic ties the region has with Russia. But so has Europe. The EU has, for example, completely changed its energy policy after the start of the war. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On top of that, there is a difference between keeping open some economic lines and helping Russia to </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/arccf27e37\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">circumvent</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> the sanctions, which is exactly what several Central Asian countries are doing.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As human rights defenders living in Europe, we do understand that the EU is looking for new partnerships in order to secure its energy imports. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">However, von der Leyen and Costa should also know that Central Asian countries are even more desperate to see their role in the international community upgraded. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Therefore, the EU should maintain its human rights conditions that it has held for all cooperation agreements in the past. The EU should demand from the leaders of Central Asia to stop repressing their people and stop persecuting dissidents living in Europe. If not, we are wondering if the EU will ever regain its image as defender of democracy and human rights ever again.</span></p>","contributors":[],"publishDate":1743673939501,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion"}],"img":{"id":"fiedef70b7","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/bee00f9f43f46b16dba8cf6b45026fa2.png"}},{"id":"ar28bd76e2","headline":"EU seeks talks with US over 20% tariffs, prepares countermeasures","abstract":"“I know many of you are disappointed in our old ally,” said EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, following the US decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on all European products. \"There seems to be no order in the disorder.\"","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The European Union has called for talks with the United States following the decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on all European products, unveiled by US president Donald Trump on Wednesday evening (2 April).</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">At the same time, the EU is preparing retaliatory measures should negotiations fail to resolve the dispute.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“This is a major blow to the global economy, I deeply regret this choice,” commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday morning, in her first reaction to the US move. She warned of \"dire\" consequences for millions of people if Trump follows through.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“I know many of you are disappointed in our old ally,” she added. \"There seems to be no order in the disorder.\"</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Von der Leyen did not specify what the countermeasures would be. Other EU leaders, including Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson, called for calm.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“We don’t want a trade war. We want to find our way back to trade and cooperation with the US so that people in our countries can enjoy a better life,” Kristersson said in response to Trump's tariff announcement on Tuesday evening. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A general minimum tariff of 10 percent will also apply to all imports worldwide, including from the United Kingdom. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some countries will face significantly higher rates — Taiwan, a major chip producer, has been hit with a 32 percent tariff, Vietnam 46 percent, and China will face a combined tariff of 54 percent. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Chinese government has already called on the Trump administration to cancel the measures.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The general minimum tariff will take effect this Saturday, while the EU-specific tariffs will come into force next Wednesday.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Trump described the tariffs as a step towards “levelling the playing field.” </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“They’re doing it to us, so we’re going to do it right back,” he said, while he held up a board listing the countries targeted by the new tariffs.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi2f857528/c33440f1-27ac-41db-b582-5fdd971f9a4d-36399291-0f4f-4106-84bd-ba9742d34428-8c3bcb63-5fb2-4ec4-85a6-07120e4bb13f.png\"></figure><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><br><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He justified the move by claiming that other countries have been overtaxing American products for years. “Our country has been robbed, ripped off, raped and pillaged for decades by countries near and far, both friends and foes,” Trump said. “Today is Liberation Day.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">His reasoning however is disputed. For example, he includes the EU’s value added tax (VAT) as tariffs even though VAT applies to all products, not just American ones. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Trump administration claims that VAT, due to its border adjustments, functions like a tariff, but economists have </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar70dd1315\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">called</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> this explanation “baseless.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This decision could lead to an estimated $200bn annual drop in EU exports to the US — equivalent to one-third of current EU goods exports to America, or about one percent of EU GDP. </span><br><br><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Trump also confirmed earlier plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on imported cars, which will take effect today. Existing tariffs on steel and aluminium will remain unchanged.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Canada and Mexico were initially absent from the list of countries facing higher tariffs, but the White House later confirmed that the previously postponed 25 percent tariffs on both neighbours will now go ahead.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"}],"publishDate":1743663443874,"section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy"}],"articleType":[],"img":{"id":"fia3b91a08","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia3b91a08/27d257a5-4c0e-45f4-91e2-ff1301a5b443-94730bf3-feba-42d7-8696-51f4c5f12609-2815bee1-15de-4b22-b969-c32fa68bc4dd.png"}},{"id":"arb4fbde5e","headline":"Rightwing MEPs get support for anti-green EU inquiry","abstract":"The ECR group secured enough signatures to launch a formal inquiry committee into what they call 'green lobbying' and the use of EU funds for green NGOs.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group has secured enough signatures to launch a formal inquiry committee into what they call 'green lobbying' and the use of EU funds by climate and environmental groups, sources told EUobserver on Wednesday (2 April).</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The probe will focus on organisations funded by the EU’s 'Life' programme, the bloc’s main tool for financing environmental and climate action, and follows months of growing hostility from conservative and far-right lawmakers. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The inquiry committee still has to be formally approved by the European Parliament's conference of presidents, a governing body representing political groups in parliament that will meet at the end of April. \"They will also decide its numerical strength,\" an ECR spokesperson said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Green NGOs in Brussels receive €15m out of the ‘operating fund’ of Life, the commission’s programme for environmental projects.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This money is used for rent, staff, and other ongoing costs. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And ensuring that civil society, “by appropriate means,” can “make known their views” is constitutionally </span><a href=\"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12016M011\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">enshrined</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in article 11 of the EU treaty.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, what began as a technical debate about transparency has morphed into a political offensive, with parts of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) now lining up alongside the far right to go after environmental groups and EU-funded climate programmes. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Through a shadow lobby, the commission is influencing parliament. Our investigation continues - no stone will be left unturned,” EPP euro-deputy Dirk Gotink said on Bluesky.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“They are trying to fabricate a story around funding as if we’re part of some sort of covert operation,” retorted Ariel Brunner, director of the NGO BirdLife, describing the EPP attack as a “slanderous witch-hunt.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Earlier this week, the push to defund Life suffered a setback when right-wing parties lost a symbolic vote in the parliament’s environment committee (Envi), with some EPP members breaking ranks.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On the morning after the vote, co-chair Nicola Procaccini told reporters in Strasbourg that the ECR wanted to set up a parliamentary committee of inquiry into what he described as a green corruption scandal. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In parallel, the European Commission and the EPP reached a behind-closed-doors agreement on the future of Life funding. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a statement released on Tuesday, the commission formally reaffirmed the importance of the programme, while also suggesting that some grant-funded work includes “specific advocacy actions and undue lobbying activities”, which green groups say was lifted straight out of the EPP playbook. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“This isn’t over. The objection may have failed, but the political intent behind it remains,” said Faustine Bas-Defossez, policy director at the European Environmental Bureau group. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“There is no 'shadow lobbying', only public funding that enables NGOs to operate and advocate for the common good,\" she said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“If that’s considered undue lobbying by EPP standards, we should all be deeply concerned about the future of democratic accountability in Europe,” she added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Next week, on Tuesday, MEPs in the budget committee will vote on the annual budget report, which includes scrutiny of how EU funds - including those under the Life programme - have been used. Earlier versions included direct attacks on Life grants and green NGOs. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">If the language is softened, it would be a small win for green groups, but the inquiry will likely still go ahead.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eud6dc869c","firstName":"Wester van","lastName":"Gaal"}],"publishDate":1743613020365,"section":[{"id":"50739332cc","title":"Green Economy"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80636814db","title":"Exclusive"}],"img":{"id":"fib0c79e19","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fib0c79e19/48585826-465f-4ded-86b8-b3f342c0a4a2-f1c8a55a-2425-4560-a4b9-88f3e26aec4b-d9b02e49-e838-4566-861c-b73b90ec73bf.png"}}],"order":{"carousel":["ar00eab35c","arddd0eb84","arcbd1284c","ar9ffaa40b","ar6eceec2d","are85831c0","arba7fb07c","ar2c5e2cec","ar28bd76e2","arb4fbde5e","ar2d6d68a7","ar2ff37074"]}},"c":1420376528450,"s":73817},"5733535540108":{"v":{"mustRead":[{"id":"ar90936b44","headline":"Dekonspiratsiya: Meet 20 of Putin's EU spies","abstract":"Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have a \"higher risk appetite\" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their plots.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have \"a higher risk appetite\" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their conspiracies.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meet Dmitry Iordanidi: elite diplomat, École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) alumnus, and (alleged) Russian spy.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The brown-eyed 55-year-old, whose name is of Pontic Greek origin, was briefly a \"counsellor\" in Russia's bilateral embassy to Belgium in 2023.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He had previously served as deputy-head of mission in Bosnia for the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), a peace-building institute based in Vienna.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He'd also been photographed with Russian president Vladimir Putin, (late) Serbian president Tomislav Nikolić, and (now) president Aleksandar Vučić in Putin's summer residence in Sochi, on Russia's Black Sea coast, in 2013, in a sign of his high status.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some of </span><a href=\"https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/c/8/484238.pdf\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Iordanidi's OSCE speeches</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> voiced leftwing ecological values, amid </span><a href=\"https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/SharedDocs/publikationen/EN/reports-on-the-protection-of-the-constitution/2024-06-brief-summary-2023-report-on-the-protection-of-the-constitution.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">German intelligence warnings</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> of Russian ties with radical eco-activists in Europe.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But there was no red-flag anti-Western content in his public views.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Iordanidi had also attended the ENA, the top French postgraduate school in Paris, in 1999 to 2001, internal ENA records confirmed.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And </span><a href=\"https://www.dissercat.com/content/evolyutsiya-i-sovremennye-problemy-kadrov-v-diplomatii-razvitykh-gosudarstv\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">his 2002 thesis</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> on diplomacy at the Higher Attestation Commission, an academy in Moscow, quoted Napoleonic-era French ambassador Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, in a touch of Parisian finesse.   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Russian </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar37fd61e2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">foreign ministry's dress code</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> says male diplomats are to look \"conservative — a dark blue or grey suit, with combinations of different jackets and trousers\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Pockets are purely decorative and not to be used for hands. Perfume must be used in moderation; hands and nails must be well groomed. No visible tattoos or piercings are allowed\".</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi9f415e76/5ed19db4-3fda-4974-9a43-b12629317440-898a2331-cb11-4733-987f-e22df0c134dd-da3a3f09-fbd3-42a2-b9d1-ad31839f65af.jpeg\"><figcaption>Iordanidi (circled) with Russian president Vladimir Putin (r), late Serbian president Tomislav Nikolić (l), and (now) president Aleksandar Vučić (2nd from left) in Sochi (Source: Kommersant)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Dekonspiratsiya</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But behind Iordanidi's clean-cut facade, he was in fact a spy from Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Belgium's domestic intelligence branch, the State Security Service (VSSE), had warned the Belgian foreign ministry in 2023. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And he was one of 20 Russian 'diplomats' ejected from Brussels two years ago under a cloud of VSSE spy allegations, according to a list of their names seen by EUobserver, as well as </span><a href=\"https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/van-verfijnde-diplomaten-tot-meedogenloze-killers-dit-zijn-de-20-russen-die-belgie-uitzette-wegens-spionage~b159ae39/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">De Morgen</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, </span><a href=\"https://www.humo.be/nieuws/belgie-zette-in-2023-twintig-russische-spionnen-het-land-uit-zijn-auto-was-ingeschreven-bij-de-gru-moordbrigade~b159ae39/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Humo</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, </span><a href=\"https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/03/11/les-services-de-renseignement-europeens-sur-la-piste-des-espions-russes_6578596_3210.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Le Monde</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, </span><a href=\"https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-spy--suspects-belgium-expelled-gru-svr-osce-serbia-central-asia/33342428.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">RFE</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, and </span><a href=\"https://www.svoboda.org/a/omerziteljnaya-dvadtsatka-sotrudniki-gru-i-svr-v-bryussele/33342917.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Radio Svoboda</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in a joint investigation. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The VSSE declined to comment, but its list of Russian spies was authenticated by three Western intelligence services. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Russian embassy to Belgium, and the 20 alleged spies, did not reply to our emails. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">European countries have, in total, expelled some 750 Russian diplomats on espionage accusations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to VSSE director Francisca Bostyn's previous media remarks.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It was the biggest counter-intelligence crackdown since the Cold War.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But even though </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arc57e9200\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Belgium has ejected 68 Russian diplomats</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> and three Belarusian ones so far, Russian spies continue to pose a threat in the EU and Nato HQs' host state. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the occasion to empty our drawer\", a Western intelligence source said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"[But] some of the expelled Russians have been replaced by others, and we notice many attempts to let new SVR or GRU officers take their place,\" they said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">GRU and GU are acronyms for the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, its military intelligence service. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">James Appathurai, a senior Nato official dealing with \"hybrid\" warfare, also said: \"We saw ... a diminishment for a little while [after the 750 expulsions] in their [Russia's] ability to conduct malign intelligence operations in our countries, but it has been reconstituted\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russians were recruiting agents, including online, to carry out \"sabotage, sometimes on politicians' properties, or arson attacks, [train] derailments\" in Europe, Appathurai said, </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar4ba259eb\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">speaking at the Nato HQ</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russians also had a \"higher risk appetite\" than pre-2022 and had even plotted to kill the German CEO of arms firm Rheinmetall in 2024 (Armin Papperger), who still needed bodyguards today, the Nato official said. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fibc3b224e/633f91ea-5182-4f70-aefe-595fd69239bf-9df4a954-e0b6-4ef1-8e86-498deabf7a5b-c13003dc-b7a8-4093-ade1-1df3b8c5b5f8.jpeg\"><figcaption>Alleged GRU officer Dmitry Petrikov (circled) was a senior figure at Russian defence firm Rosoboronexport prior to coming to Brussels (Source: Rosoboronexport)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Euroclear drone</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Belgian CEO of financial firm Euroclear, Valérie Urbain, who holds the key to €183bn of frozen Russian central bank assets, also hired </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar9ca82566\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">bodyguards from French security firm</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Amarante in late 2024 due to Russia spy fears, according to three sources who asked to remain anonymous because they weren't authorised to speak to media.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Euroclear hired Amarante to protect all seven other of its executive board members as well.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And staff were further alarmed when an unidentified drone buzzed their HQ in Brussels city centre in mid-December last year, when Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky was in town for an EU summit. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We remain very vigilant and take all necessary measures to protect our staff and offices. These measures are continuously evaluated,\" Euroclear said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A Belgian security agency called the Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAD) determines the national threat level, while Belgium's National Crisis Centre (NCCN) decides whether to assign people such as Urbain state-level protection.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They declined to comment on Euroclear.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But speaking more generally, OCAD spokesman Steve Charlier said: \"In the case of possible Russian threats, you rarely have evidence. You suspect the Russian regime is behind certain actions, but usually the regime works with intermediaries. And there is always the possibility of denying Russia's involvement\".  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We call that ... 'plausible deniability',\" he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speaking generally of what the NCCN can do, spokeswoman Laura Demullier said that if the VSSE and OCAD deemed a \"threat [to a CEO, for instance] is serious, we can have a person shadowed by a bodyguard 24 hours a day, we can also send patrols or, in the worst case, put a person in a safe house\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Looking closer at Belgium's 2023 wave of Russian expulsions, Russia voluntarily \"retracted\" Iordanidi, but Belgium made the 19 others persona non grata (PNG). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The expulsions are normally done quietly to minimise Russian reprisals against EU diplomats in Moscow, but being PNG-ed still leaves a burn mark on a diplomat's record and makes them harder to repost to another location. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Iordanidi left Brussels after the VSSE had given Russia an ultimatum: either you retract him or we PNG him, intelligence sources said.  </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fidd2b1e75/f73bb674-0c12-44c1-bc46-769107cd642f-2904be24-f8f4-4282-ac8f-63cfae865e5f-5d515a31-512c-4776-8fa3-22637ceea3d2.jpeg\"><figcaption>Alleged SVR officer Sergey Gudilin used to cycle around Brussels (Source: Strada) </figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">SVR, GRU, and FSB</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The group of 20 contained 11 alleged SVR officers, seven from the GRU, and two from the FSB domestic spy agency.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The SVR is a civilian service: It recruits people with higher education degrees and focuses on political, economic, and scientific espionage.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It has one small special forces cell called Zaslon, which does diplomatic protection in war zones. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The GRU is much larger than the SVR, recruits former soldiers, targets military secrets, and does signals intelligence, as well as foreign sabotage. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It is divided into the rank-and-file \"agentura\" (who do espionage) and the \"spetznas\", such as units 92154 and 21955 (who do sabotage). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And GRU special forces get extensive martial arts, weapons, and explosives training. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The FSB is Russian president Vladimir Putin's biggest intelligence service.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Its main job is domestic repression, but the FSB's 5th Service also does foreign espionage, including counter-intelligence and surveillance on the Russian diaspora.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a thumbnail sketch, a British writer on Russian security affairs, Mark Galeotti, said the SVR were \"primarily doing human intelligence gathering\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The GRU's role is much more to break things and kill people\", he added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But \"given that the Russian state is pretty much on a wartime footing, they're [the SVR] also involved in this campaign of sabotage and destabilisation operations [in Europe]\", said Galeotti, who is also a fellow at British defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi4b4db87d/c15d591e-a8f9-430d-b884-83ab7131c038-c4c5b8a3-b88d-466c-bf5d-1fcec6a856ba-a15ddf38-ac9f-415f-9348-1a30f0cb619a.jpeg\"><figcaption>Iordanidi is being recycled back into the OSCE as a potential head of mission in Belgrade (Source: OSCE)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Zooming in</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Zooming in on Iordanidi, Galeotti said his \"counsellor\" role in Brussels would have given him a pretext to seek meetings with executives of strategic Belgian firms or other VIPs in the Belgian establishment.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"A counsellor is a senior figure within the embassy, so he would be in a position to present himself as someone looking for opportunities for economic cooperation .... So you have reason to invite people to a reception. Maybe you identify the wife of the CEO [of a strategic EU firm] is patron of a particular theatre, so you try to go along to her concert parties,\" said Galeotti.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"If need be, you do it in a cold way: If you see that someone tends to drink in a particular bar, you try to get in conversation with them. But that's a last resort,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Iordanidi was also active on dating apps Zoosk and Badoo, according to leaked Russian databases seen by EUobserver, in another avenue of approach to potential targets. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For his part, Sergey Zhirnov, a former Russian SVR officer posted to Paris in the 1990s, who is now a refugee in France, gave an insight into its tradecraft.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The idea was to find people who wanted to work with us due to their [communist-friendly] ideology, to help the Soviet Union. After that, there were people who wanted to do it for money. And this was also interesting,\" Zhirnov said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It's an old myth that we looked for 'kompromat' ... People who work due to kompromat do the absolute minimum,\" he said.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He, like Iordanidi, was sent to infiltrate the ENA, where Zhirnov also studied in 1991 to 1992.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The ENA's alumni include four French presidents (Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Jacques Chirac, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron), several prime ministers, hundreds of ministers, and thousands of senior officials.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Macron overhauled it in 2021 and renamed it the Institut National du Service Public (INSP). </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi72496056/0c8986ad-480c-4343-a869-442b714c2052-5a904b8d-67d4-4062-95d2-f236661c958b-f4e62957-a110-4dfa-879e-c6df9626d458.jpeg\"><figcaption>Sergei Zhirnov was also an SVR officer, who infiltrated the ENA in 1991 (Source: Sergei Zhirnov)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">French elite</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Three of Iordanidi's ENA year-of-1999 classmates were Laurent Wauquiez (who became a senior French politician), Philippe Gustin (who became French ambassador to Romania), and Antoine Godbert (who ended up in charge of France's Erasmus+ student exchange programme), for instance.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Zhirnov showed why Iordanidi's ENA credentials were still valuable, despite the passage of some 25 years since he was there.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The goal of my [ENA] mission was to establish contacts with the students and teachers and to maintain those contacts and afterwards to exploit them,\" Zhirnov said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"People who studied at the ENA are also brought together in L'Association des Anciens Élèves de l'ENA [l'AAEENA] ... it's still quite active, it organises meetings, conferences, sports events. I still receive an annual directory of former students, which shows who eded up in which ministry, which post they occupy today. I receive their private contact details,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"So this association is a formidable asset for espionage,\" said Zhirnov.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The L'AAEENA directory covers 9,000 ENA alumni, according to its website. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We do not comment on students or former students\", said Edith Berger, head of cabinet and spokesperson of the INSP (ex-ENA), when asked if Iordanidi was still eligible to get his yearly copy of the contact book.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And in a final sign of his usefulness, the Russian foreign ministry is now trying to recycle Iordanidi into a high-ranking OSCE post, despite his Belgian defenestration. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He is a candidate to be head of the OSCE's mission to Serbia, head of an OSCE \"programme office\" in Kazakhstan, or a programme office in Kyrgyzstan, according to </span><a href=\"https://gdb.rferl.org/f5b3195a-1d67-419c-c20a-08dd5af854f9.jpg\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">leaked OSCE documents</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The recruitment process for the three posts was \"impartial\" and \"ongoing,\" said OSCE spokeswoman Alexandra Taylor. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We follow a rigorous recruitment process for all of our positions at the OSCE\", she said, when asked about security vetting.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Iordanidi was not the only alleged SVR spy expelled from Belgium to have a cultured CV.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A second PNG-ed Russian diplomat and alleged SVR officer was 46-year-old Igor Goriachev, who had been Russia's \"deputy trade representative\" in Belgium.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He had previously worked for Russian arms firm Rostec in 2021, the leaked Russian databases showed, and as \"second secretary\" at Russia's mission to Unesco in Paris, an UN branch which looks after cultural patrimony, and which declined to comment about him.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russia's main \"trade representative\" to Belgium, the 57-year-old Andrey Kuznetsov, was also PNG-ed on SVR allegations.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi6a5f22f8/abed4bac-e3a3-4c11-a322-8618f1e4b23d-85f3301f-22d1-463d-b85f-d4fde2326805-1186b364-039d-4260-9d3b-472c5a074582.jpeg\"><figcaption>Alleged SVR spy Maxim Tsarkov posted glamorous pictures online (Source: VK)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rising star </span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The youngest SVR suspect, Maxim Tsarkov (\"third secretary\"), was just 30 years old when he came to Brussels, in what may have been his first foreign posting.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">His older SVR colleague, 62-year-old Andrey Egorov (\"attaché\"), used to be embedded in Ruselectronics, a Russian military technology firm, and in the Russian finance ministry before he came to the EU capital.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The remaining eight expelled SVR officers were typically married middle-aged men with respectable CVs.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They were: 40-year-old Aleksandr Chernikov (\"technical staff\"), 42-year-old Nikolay Egorov (\"counsellor\"), 41-year-old Sergey Gudilin (\"technical staff\"), 64-year-old Sergei Tkachenko (\"1st secretary\"), 38-year-old Aleksandr Vyskrebentsev (\"attaché\"), and 39-year-old Anton Zaichko (\"attaché\").</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Chernikov used to work at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, a financial think-tank in Moscow, as well as the Russian economy ministry, before coming to Brussels as a diplomat.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Egorov, who was photographed in Bruges, northern Belgium, in July 2023, appears to have previously worked in Russia's embassy in Laos, according to his old email address (laosemb@gmail.com). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Gudilin had studied at the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meet also Sergey Petrikov: ex-arms dealer, university professor, and an alleged GRU spy sent to the EU capital. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The 61-year-old had previously worked for Russian arms firm Rosoboronexport, dealing with French, Italian, and Chinese defence clients, where he was paid a small fortune by Russian standards back in 2005. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And he is now a lecturer in foreign languages at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Russia's equivalent of France's ENA, and a storied recruitment centre for Russian spies. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Petrikov was listed as \"technical staff\" at Russia's embassy to Belgium, but whatever he did there he was no ordinary janitor. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi3b2b9d7d/2dfeaedc-cbc4-4550-a1df-8747ca71fdf7-e81cdc10-4192-4fb9-bd0b-c47671a35c4d-1a4344b5-da0c-42ac-bbf1-fe20ec763092.jpeg\"><figcaption>Petrikov's 'technical' status might have seen him organise GRU operations behind the scenes (Source: MGIMO)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Agentura/spetsnaz </span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speculating on his profile, Galeotti said: \"If someone's role is 'technical staff', you can still meet someone in a bar [to cultivate human intelligence contacts], but it's more likely you are in effect a support team, or you're actually coordinating things instead of being out in the field\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Petrikov might have been organising \"dead drops\" of information to Russian agents in the city, for example, said Galeotti.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One old spy trick to approach targets was a fake mugging, the British writer noted. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"If you see a female executive in a particular [target] company, for example, you hire some people who basically try to mug her one evening in a dark car park, and then you happen to come along at the right moment to scare them off,\" Galeotti said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"He'd [Petrikov] know how to organise things like muggings,\" the British expert said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The other six GRU men expelled by Belgium were: 42-year-old Sergei Cherepanov (\"second secretary\"), 35-year-old Aleksandr Degtiarev (\"attaché\"), 51-year-old Aleksandr Kovalchuk (\"counsellor\"), 37-year-old Aleksei Sapozhnikov (\"technical staff\"), 38-year-old Maksim Sokolov (\"technical staff\"), and 35-year-old Dmitri Zamogilnykh (\"technical staff\").</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Zamogilnykh stood out because he once registered a car at Solnechnogorsk 2 in Moscow, which housed GRU spetznas units, including 92154. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The more notorious unit 29155, which was linked to the Novichok poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK in 2018, is located in the same part of the city. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But most of the other GRU men expelled by Belgium appeared to come from the service's rank and file.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Cherepanov, for instance, had the background of a signals specialist. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He previously worked at the Strategic Missile Forces Academy in Moscow and was registered at an address tied to Russian military unit 46179, which specialised in seismic and infrasound surveillance using satellites, under the 12th Main Directorate, responsible for nuclear security.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kovalchuk's registered home was Narodnogo Opolcheniya 50 in Moscow, the same address as the Russian defence ministry's Military Academy, popularly known as the \"</span><a href=\"https://gdb.rferl.org/96f05b95-bb2a-4fb4-a3f7-2f35a0012ea9_w1023_r1_s.jpg\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">GRU Conservatoire</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He also flew on a seven-day trip from Moscow to Papua New Guinea in September 2014, leaked flight records said — in what looked more like a work assignment than a holiday, indicating the GRU's global reach.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The other GRU names were mostly invisible online. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fif49c25cc/fcb047e6-4e10-4955-b1a6-86e532c5f964-36624461-5104-4db3-ad60-e44de0a2d076-e21c94e0-c055-4085-b8bf-c819ec613bce.jpeg\"><figcaption>British writer Mark Galeotti (r) with (now) EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas (front row, 3rd from right) at a conference in Tallinn in 2019 (Source: Lennart Meri Conference)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Trigger-pullers'</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Looking in more detail at the differences between the SVR and GRU, Galeotti said: \"The [SVR's] culture is imbued with that of the diplomatic corps. They tend to be risk averse, much more aware of the potential diplomatic blowback\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The GRU is more likely to take risks. You're much more likely to be promoted if you take a sensible risk, even if it fails,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"GRU officers are often ambitious kids from the [Russian] provinces. They haven't got the polish and family connections that SVR officers have, but they're smart and this is their real shot into making into the [Russian] elite,\" added Galeotti.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">GRU spetznas were Putin's \"killers ... trigger-pullers,\" Galeotti said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Zhirnov called it a \"special service which ... organises assassinations, abductions, sabotage. They are military people. They have explosives. They have weapons\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The GRU were \"more brutal\" than the SVR, but they \"weren't stupid,\" Zhirnov also said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR, used to receive the same kind of training as Russia's GRU in the 1990s.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And a former GUR officer, who asked not to be named, also gave a hint of the GUR/GRU's dangerous skills and chutzpah in two anecdotes.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"When I was a cadet, my girlfriend broke up with me, and I was so jealous I stole some explosives from the academy, broke into her flat, and rigged her oven to explode the next time she turned it on,\" he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"But when I was going downstairs I had a moment of clarity and ran back to defuse it,\" he added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The ex-GUR officer also recalled going on a boozy night out with a GRU contact in Berlin a few years before Russia's 2022 invasion.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It was late at night, we were crossing a bridge in the city centre, when he [the GRU contact] stopped to urinate against a lamp post and to sing a song, which went: 'Wherever the GRU pisses, that's where the GRU is! Wherever the GRU pisses, that's where the GRU is!'. These were the only lyrics,\" the ex-GUR officer said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi1c920bd5/adc1a534-71f0-4abf-9d86-a82d98f1e16e-d2b5766b-c296-46e4-8848-82dcac1e09f6-8e055fcd-e9e1-4d22-b7b7-b828a41d89fa.jpeg\"><figcaption>Alleged FSB spy Dmitry Subochev (circled) at WCO event (Source: WCO)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meet the FSB</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And all that left the two Russian diplomats kicked out of Belgium in 2023 on grounds of being FSB spies.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of them, the 45-year-old Dmitry Subochev was a \"1st secretary\" in Brussels and had previously worked for the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Geneva, Switzerland. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">His WCO cover saw him travel to Azerbaijan, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan, according to online photos (the WCO did not reply to questions).</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Subochev also gave a Covid-era Zoom talk on 11 March 2021 about \"the Russian state system for tracking cargo transportation using electronic navigation seals based on GLONASS [a satellite system]\" for \"high-value goods\" for the</span><a href=\"https://www.ccblr.com/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> (CCBLR). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Moscow-based CCBLR was created in 1974 to build trade ties with Benelux countries.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Subochev's alleged FSB colleague in Brussels, 50-year-old Igor Echin (\"technical staff\"), used to work for a Russian private-security firm called Legion Groups in 2001 and 2008.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But even though the SVR, GRU, and FSB specialised in different areas, their work was \"opportunistic\" and overlapped, Galeotti said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The SVR's Gudilin, for instance, used to cycle around Brussels, according to </span><a href=\"https://www.strava.com/activities/5569617454\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">publicly available data</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> on his account with fitness app Strava. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And on 3 July 2021, Gudilin posted a pic on Strava of the Bertem radar station, which is part of Belgium's air-traffic control network and which provides data to the Belgian military, in an object of typically GRU interest. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The FSB's Subochev was based at Russia's embassy to Belgium, like the other 19 alleged spies on the VSSE list.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But he also appeared in a photo at </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar122c38ea\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russia's embassy to the EU</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> with Russia's former EU ambassador Vladimir Chizhov on 8 September 2022, showing how Putin's men intermingled in Brussels. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid759e9f8/3acd0efc-309b-42b6-b1db-1442d805c28a-0e662f99-320a-41b8-b226-cd047820384d-0075a668-b0ad-479b-a71c-7733808724c0.jpeg\"><figcaption>Subochev (circled) with Russia's former ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chihzov (l) (Source: Euractiv)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">From Brussels to Bangkok</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, if Iordanidi and Petrikov still had bright OSCE or MGIMO careers ahead of them, then other names from the VSSE's list-of-20 also landed well. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Subochev was last seen working with the internal directorate of Russia's Federal Customs Service in 2024.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The SVR's Kuznetsov went to Russia's </span><a href=\"https://archive.fo/fK25T\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">embassy in Malaysia</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> after leaving Belgium, while the SVR's Vyskrebentsev went to its </span><a href=\"https://archive.is/BgUEo\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">embassy in Thailand</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, despite their PNG-burn marks. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These would be regarded as \"easy posts\", Galeotti said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Russia might need Thailand's vote in the UN, and at that point it's going to be useful to know what the Thai foreign minister likes to drink,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Thailand could also be of special interest to a formerly EU-based Russian spy, a Western intelligence source said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Thailand is a centre of Russian foreign espionage because it's such a popular holiday destination for Europeans. Russian handlers could meet EU or Nato contacts there without arousing suspicion via their travel patterns\", the source said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russian spies were glamourised in the Cold War-era James Bond films and novels.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Iordanidi's ENA past conjured memories of the Cambridge Five, a 1950s spy ring rooted in the UK's prestigious Cambridge University.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The SVR's young Tsarkov also posted flashy pics of himself and his girlfriends on the VK social-media site, had been embedded in a high-paying job at Russia's T-Bank in 2021, and owned a sporty BMW 520D, in a Bond-ish persona. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But the leaked Russian databases debunked that mystique. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russian foreign ministry incomes were relatively low by European standards.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi82962015/78e0442c-8413-4c3f-86b9-441698394c4c-827fd0d4-f3ec-4298-ae5f-01c183b95adc-3029b93c-372c-4595-97e4-2c659e183bae.jpeg\"><figcaption>Most of Putin's men used to own Soviet-era jalopies before upgrading to second-hand German brands (Source: Petr Magera)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Romance debunked</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The older spies used to own Soviet-era jalopies, such as Zighulevs, when they were young, before buying second-hand German models — Audi, BMW, or Volkswagen — only in more recent times, the leaked Russian databases showed.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Most of the 20 men were registered in tiny (40-70 square metre) flats in ageing tower blocks in Moscow suburbs, some of them with their mothers-in-law.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Iordanidi was registered in a flat on the fourth floor of a concrete tower on Khabarovskaya street, for instance.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The SVR's Egorov was registered in a 'Brezhnevka' — poor quality tower blocks from the era of Soviet president Leonid Brezhnev in the 1970s, now badly in need of renovation.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Two of the expelled men (Kuznetsov and Cherepanov) had taken out bank loans and defaulted on payments.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Cherepanov had borrowed 500,000 roubles (€5,182) in 2012, in a sum that would cover a car loan (for instance, for his Skoda Octavia) or the renovation of his flat, but he ended up 65 days in arrears.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"When you go abroad that's when you make your money. You have your accommodation provided and all sorts of other allowances … if you own property back home, you rent it out,\" Galeotti said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And in a tiny figment of a grim personality, leaked data showed that one of the Russian spies registered a macabre username on his dating app profile in 2017 - \"adipocera\", which refers to a soapy tissue produced in the putrefaction of corpses.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Back in the EU heartland, Russia </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar2eeb37f9\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">used to have 220 diplomats</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in three embassies (to Belgium, the EU, and Nato) and two consulates in Brussels and in the city of Antwerp prior to the 2022 invasion. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Belgium is also home to some </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arfc186c44\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">30,000 people of Russian origin</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, who maintain close ties with diplomats via structures such as </span><a href=\"https://rushouse.be/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russian House Brussels</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, and some of whom could be pressured to act as agents.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Brussels hosts about 43,000 EU staff and 4,000 Nato personnel and their families in its international 'bubble', as well as Belgian VIPs, such as the Euroclear CEO, and hundreds of foreign dissidents, some of whom have faced </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar7933f751\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">intense surveillance</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When asked if he'd ever felt at risk, Nato's Appathurai, who is Canadian, said: \"I play on a hockey team here, ice hockey. I started it 25 years ago and there were Russian guys on that team and they're still on that team, but these are guys I've known for a long time\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"I don't have any hair on my head anyway. If I did, it wouldn't be going up on the back of my neck around these guys,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"But we do get training and know what to look for and we're also watched by our own intelligence services to make sure we're safe,\" he added.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia1a4a410/b962b07c-a118-457a-bd77-974034d994c2-4a304713-2ee6-43c0-bfb0-dc1e79a1ac9f-7650e446-3638-435d-b42f-48048043ae5a.jpeg\"><figcaption>Nato's James Appathurai (r) speaking at a hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels in January (Source: EU Parliament)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Diplomacy abused</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russia closed its embassy to Nato in protest in October 2021 after Belgium first </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar583cb338\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">PNG-ed eight Russian diplomats</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> there on espionage grounds. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Belgian foreign ministry declined to say how many Russian diplomats were still accredited in the country today, citing new data privacy laws.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But when asked if the shuttering of Russia's Nato embassy had adversely affected international diplomacy, Appathurai said: \"It has just not, to be really direct about it, and I was deputy political advisor for about 10 years, so I was probably one of the principal interlocutors with the Russians\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The bottom line is this: Russian diplomats, even legitimate diplomats, over time, became utterly restricted in what they could or could not convey,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"There was no negotiation any more as Russian hostility grew [in 2021], it became not a useful channel of actual negotiation,\" he added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Their [Russia's] diplomatic staff here was, by the time they invaded Ukraine, no longer performing diplomatic duties,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We are perfectly able to communicate with the Russians and we have military-to-military channels that allow for that. From a Nato point of view, the chairman of the military committee and the supreme allied commander can both talk to the Russians,\" he also said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When asked if there should be more PNGs of bogus Russian diplomats, Appathurai said: \"These are really complex questions that go beyond just the issue of sabotage operations. It relates to all kind of diplomatic relations and also the extent to which allies wish to exert pressure on Russia\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"These are national decisions, but there's a general toughening up on our side,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US is currently welcoming back large numbers of Russian diplomats to Washington under president Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine, but for its part Belgium echoed Appathurai's views.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"A large contingent of [Russian] diplomats [in Brussels] is not necessary\", said Belgian foreign ministry spokesman Pierre Steverlynck. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"In the context of the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine ... diplomatic contacts are kept to an absolute minimum and focus on operational issues,\" he added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Belgium wishes to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia, but cannot allow these relations to be abused for espionage\", Steverlynck said. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi940c5f6e/4bbe6dd0-abef-4df3-86a7-54b7c8596d49-771c5340-acc6-454d-b2a5-9cbf92500bc6-75355272-a22e-426b-a096-35c5e8424ec9.jpeg\"><figcaption>Alleged SVR officer Gudilin's photograph of Belgium's Bertem radar facility, taken on a cycling trip (Source: Strada)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1741672800000,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"5022dd639c","title":"Investigations"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80e452251d","title":"Investigation"}],"img":{"id":"fi48e26d06","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi48e26d06/66b5067f-7483-4f78-839d-4923a3c58701-c6712235-ff7e-4272-9542-aa74f99dc1db-08e8fe1d-5910-48ec-88d0-c84eeb98be26.jpeg"}},{"id":"ar901ba1ee","headline":"As Trump sells out Europe’s security, ‘war is not over’ in Ukraine ","abstract":"The US and Russia have agreed to start negotiations “immediately\" to end the war in Ukraine. But experts keep warning about the moral and strategic consequences of a bad deal — especially for Europe. Meanwhile, it is clear that Ukrainians have no trust in any peace deal with Moscow without strong security guarantees.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US and Russia have agreed to start negotiations “immediately\" to end the war in Ukraine, sidelining Europe and Ukraine itself from the equation — and seemingly putting Russian president Vladimir Putin in the driving seat.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But experts repeatedly warn of the moral and strategic consequences of a bad deal — especially for Europe.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">So far there is no date for a face-to-face meeting between US president Donald Trump and Putin, and the immediate next steps remain unclear.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But the White Hose statement has already sparked condemnation from officials in both sides of the Atlantic, describing the move as a (predictable) </span><a href=\"https://x.com/SenBlumenthal/status/1889745592366072206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1889745592366072206%7Ctwgr%5E5087371444297e4a514f28080c5dc509b7cfaae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https://kyivindependent.com/surrender-betrayal-us-eu-officials-condemn-trump-hegseths-comments-on-ukraine-russia-war/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“betrayal,”</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> a sign of “</span><a href=\"https://twitter.com/RasmusJarlov/status/1889926478944469286\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">surrender</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">” and </span><a href=\"https://x.com/markomihkelson/status/1889763538555527454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1889763538555527454%7Ctwgr%5E5087371444297e4a514f28080c5dc509b7cfaae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https://kyivindependent.com/surrender-betrayal-us-eu-officials-condemn-trump-hegseths-comments-on-ukraine-russia-war/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“a dark day for Europe”</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A </span><a href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/kajakallas.bsky.social/post/3lhz75bjbms2l\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">rather weak statement</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> from Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas demanded a seat for Europe and Ukraine at the negotiation table — an optimistic hope that ultimately seems unlikely to become reality.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The news about Moscow’s readiness for negotiations came after a secret phone call between Trump and Putin late on Wednesday (12 January), which was followed by another conversation between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“We believe that America’s strength, together with Ukraine and all our partners, is enough to push Russia to peace,” said Zelensky, whose strategy reflects a need to prevent any accusations against Kyiv of an unwillingness to cooperate.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But critics warn that the US approach not only undermines Ukraine, but also weakens Europe's geopolitical standing — reinforcing the notion that major powers dictate terms while sidelining those directly affected.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Europe has to be at the table to defend its interests and not allow the US to negotiate with Putin behind its back and present it with a half-baked fait accompli,” Jamie Shea, a former Nato official, told EUobserver.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Ukraine is much more important for Europe than for the US, and a Russian victory in Ukraine would undermine the security of the EU and of all the frontline Nato states in central and eastern Europe,” he added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But there is also pessimism, as on the ground battlefield developments shape Russia’s efforts to strengthen its negotiating position, while Ukraine struggles to prevent further deterioration of its frontline.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The West is frankly in a weaker position when it comes to imposing conditions on Russia, as Russia is not the party that is talking about stopping the war,” Shea pointed out.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fief28c3ee/a21e973b-a04a-4fdf-8ab3-cce2e7bbcb44-b3bb2285-5b6c-42dd-a520-1a21f5a76cb7-6871cf66-72e5-47aa-be41-47ca26fb013a.png\"></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Commitments vs Guarantees</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Earlier this week, US secretary of defense </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arfa6832fc\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Pete Hegseth</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> stated that it was “unrealistic” for Ukraine to restore its pre-2014 borders or gain Nato membership — words that play right into Moscow’s imperialistic ambitions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Nato membership is seen by many in Ukraine as the only real guarantee to preserve a long and lasting peace in the country after the war. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This also explains why Zeslenky has repeatedly emphasised that only with the US can Ukraine secure long-term security and stability — a harsh reality Europe also has to swallow.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Anything else [other than joining Nato] is a commitment, not a guarantee,” said Mykola Beleskov, an analyst from the </span><a href=\"https://savelife.in.ua/en/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Come Back Alive Foundation</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. “Then it is better to fight.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Even if the US suddenly decides to cut aid, Beleskov argues that Ukraine has enough military power to keep fighting for another six months. But when asked whether Europe could help, he said that there is a problem of political will and timing. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Money does’t translate automatically into military capability,” he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">By now, Trump has realised that bringing peace to a country entering its fourth year of war and where people have been resisting Russian occupation since 2014 is neither easy nor quick. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While Zelensky remains open to negotiations, Ukrainians will not accept a weak deal that would make their sacrifices feel meaningless.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"If Zelensky brings a bad deal, the society will not take it,” warned the director of the </span><a href=\"https://frontier.pro-mova.com/en\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kyiv-based Frontier Institute</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Yevhen Hlibovytsky. He argues that Washington or Brussels struggle to understand that even under a ceasefire, people in occupied territories would still “live in hell”.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fic370fc2c/232562be-714a-48a9-9300-c24f75dde3ae-6e8d8ffa-8586-4eba-895a-a750c5f635fd-117360ba-de32-4188-929d-f878bddbde98.jpeg\"><figcaption>Yevhen Hlibovytsky, director of the Kyiv-based Frontier Institute, in Kyiv earlier this week (Source: Elena Sánchez Nicolás) </figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Bad peace will poison Ukraine,” he said, comparing the future of his country to what happened in Pakistan after it split from India, but with ongoing border tensions between the two.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Ukraine could face the risk of decades of militarisation, economic struggles, and political instability. And Kyiv may also be forced to reconsider nuclear capabilities, which would be detrimental to international commitments to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and global power dynamics, said the Ukrainian intellectual.</span></p><blockquote class=\"rte-blockquote\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Europe, together with Ukraine, need be able to shape the deal that it will have to implement,' former Nato official Jamie Shea</span></blockquote><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Anti-Western sentiment</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">An underestimated risk arises if Russia does not respect the potential agreement resulting from peace talks — as past events have shown.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Between 2014 and 2022, Ukraine held about </span><a href=\"https://x.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1722513404600950931\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">200 rounds of negotiations with Russia</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, signing 20 ceasefires that were quickly breached by Russia.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Reflecting on the idea that the US will not put boots on the ground to implement any potential deal and more so given Trump’s intention to involve Chinese diplomacy to put pressure on Moscow, Shea said that “Europe, together with Ukraine, need be able to shape the deal that it will have to implement”.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But there are many unanswered questions for Europe, including those about European peacekeeping forces.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In addition, a weak deal could also prompt both an anti-European and anti-American sentiment in the country, which could translate into populism gaining ground in the coming years. This is not good news for Europe. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We may end up here as Hungary on steroids,” said Hlibovytsky.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Be prepared for this threat of people feeling betrayed,” Beleskov warned.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Many in eastern Europe believe that Trump views potential negotiations through a colonialist lens, but they hope he will eventually hit a wall with Russia.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Reality will be the biggest accountability measure, also with Trump,” Hlibovytsky said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, civilians and the military in Ukraine have no trust in any peace deal with Russia, arguing that smoke and mirrors in the media doesn’t translate into what’s happening on the battlefield.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The war is not over\" is what the military friends of Maryna Baturynets, founder of the Bazilik school, told her on Thursday morning, following the news from Washington. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">She told EUobserver that Ukrainians have been hearing about peace talks for over a decade and that \"Russians only understand weapons and power\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Likewise, Stanislav Zavertailo, the co-founder of Honey cafe and Zavertailo bakery in the capital of Ukraine, thinks a weak deal will not stop Russia’s imperialistic appetite. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“I don’t believe Mr Trump… when he says he will stop the war this year,” he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“If Russia gets some peace agreement, it will happen again,” he added, warning that if Ukraine falls, Europe will be next.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid4085092/5e386ee5-9e8a-4d9a-9ffc-bfab9b766299-a7d46345-739d-44a0-b6fe-41d895730c77-a8c28aa2-76dd-4239-a20a-24406d7b4e31.jpeg\"><figcaption>Stanislav Zavertailo, the co-founder of Honey cafes and Zavertailo bakery in the capital of Ukraine (Source: Elena Sánchez Nicolás)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu83cf6ae2","firstName":"Elena Sánchez","lastName":"Nicolás"}],"publishDate":1739455009700,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"50adaaad9b","title":"Ukraine"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis"}],"img":{"id":"fi871e2a30","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi871e2a30/65924dc8-9998-420e-92ae-9d3b1cc59b28-9b1c40d1-bf87-40a2-96a0-023cbca2b472-3be0a9e2-40a5-4a60-a4e4-25de511a217c.jpeg"}},{"id":"ard7776182","headline":"'Our fight won't be a short one', warns Serbian student protestor","abstract":"Over 200,000 people gathered in the rural town of Niš, in southern Serbia, on Saturday to keep pressing for transparency and accountability over the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last year, which killed 15 people.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The anti-corruption \"rebellion\" in Serbia will go on despite the regime's spin or violence, one fearless student has said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It won't be an easy fight, or a short one\", said Milica Mudrić, a 22-year-old PR and marketing student at the Faculty of Philosophy, a university in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Over 200,000 people gathered in the rural town of Niš, in southern Serbia, on Saturday (1 March) to keep pressing for transparency and accountability over the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad on 1 November, which killed 15 people. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some groups of students had walked 130km in freezing weather to be in Niš, backed by gifts of food and shelter by local communities along the way.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The protesters stood in a 15-minute silence in memory of victims at 11.52AM (the time of the roof tragedy), bringing central Niš to a halt.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It was just the latest in a series of </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-political/arb3d2f254\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">rolling, student-led protests</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> that began four months ago and which include an ongoing blockade of all of Serbia's university campuses. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And for Mudrić, one of the students who helped to begin the anti-establishment pushback, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić’s handling of events so far was missing the point. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The roof collapse was \"the drop that ran over the glass\" for the whole of Serbian society, said Mudrić.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"That [roof] canopy collapsing was a direct consequence of the deep-rooted corruption in Serbia — that’s the bottom line and that’s what everyone is aware of,\" she told EUobserver in an interview.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The tragedy was \"something we just couldn’t swallow, but they [the Serbian state] wanted us to do exactly that\", she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"People were shocked, hurt, and angry and wanted some answers, as I think everyone has a right to know what happened, whose fault it was, and how would it be handled,\" she added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It’s a big movement that just came from people’s desire for answers, ordinary people, who just want this to be a better country one day and for the institutions to work as they should,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The movement's logo became the image of a red hand, which you can see \"everywhere round here\" on walls in Novi Sad, Mudrić said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It means 'the blood is on your hands' and since then, the red hand has become the symbol of this rebellion, if that’s what I should call it,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The government reaction so far has been to charge 13 people with the Novi Sad disaster and for Serbia’s prime minister, Miloš Vučević, to step down in an effort to appease discontent. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But that falls far short of the root-and-branch reform of public institutions that people have been calling for as a result. </span></p><blockquote class=\"rte-blockquote\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Our strength comes from our honesty and our transparency,\" Mudrić said</span></blockquote><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Five demands</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We have five requirements [for accountability and reform] and then every university has its own. Some are intertwined, some are similar,\" Mudrić noted. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Vučić has also accused activists of being managed by Western intelligence services to destabilise his Kremlin-friendly administration. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"There will be no colour revolution [in Serbia],\" Vučić said on Saturday, referring to the wave of non-violent protests which toppled corrupt and authoritarian regimes in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as Serbia, some 20 years ago.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And protesters, as well as independent journalists who try to cover events, have faced dozens of minor acts of violence by police and by pro-Vučić hardliners, as well as more serious attacks.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In one incident in Belgrade on 15 January, a driver hospitalised a 20-year-old student at a rally by ramming her with his car. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"He [the driver] hit this girl really hard - she ended up on the roof of his vehicle and then slid down onto the road — and he didn't even stop,\" said Mudrić. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"She had severe trauma and was in emergency care in Belgrade hospital, but she's doing OK now, she's not in a life-threatening condition,\" Mudrić added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Many other students who speak to media prefer to be identified only by their first names for fear of reprisals, such as interrogations by Serbia’s security services. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Mudrić said she was happy for EUobserver to publish her name and photo because of the level of solidarity among her fellow students and in wider Serbian society. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It took a lot of nerves and bravery to start something,\" she said, speaking of the first student rallies four months ago. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Some people got really scared by that [the car-ramming incident], but at the end of the day, we have each other and we know if anything happens to any of us we will be there for each other,\" she added.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Our strength comes from our honesty and our transparency,\" Mudrić said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And the level of support among the broader Serbian public indicates that she might just be correct about the pull-factor of their simple values.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"People are bringing us food, other supplies,\" she said, speaking of her Novi Sad university campus.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"They are there for us for mental health check-ups, doctors' appointments. People are here for us from different professions — attorneys, professors, school-teachers, pensioners, everyone is involved in the story that has started and we are hoping for the best,\" she added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"I am grateful to anyone who gives support, because in these hard times people should stick together,\" she added, when asked if she hoped that </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar85c1c8a8\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU institutions and leaders</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> would voice solidarity with their cause. </span></p><div data-is-embed-node=\"true\"><tweet id=\"1895892166775591084\"></tweet></div><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Colour' revolutions</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Vučić's talk about colour revolutions was missing the point, because the protesters weren't looking for geopolitical regime change, so much as for basic decency in public life, Mudrić said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We’ve only reached out to institutions to do their job. The way he [Vučić] is portraying this, as if it was a personal attack against him, or something against him, is just spinning the narrative around,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It is something very new,\" also said Vesna Pešić, an 84-year-old Serbian ex-politician and academic.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It went like the wind all around Serbia, gathering masses of people, even high school children, who want Serbian institutions to answer who is guilty and what kind of corruption stands behind the railway-roof collapse,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Pešić </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/20th-anniversary/ar4b773469\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">herself took part</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in the so-called Bulldozer Revolution 25 years ago, which peacefully toppled the late Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">She has also continued to speak out against Serbia’s anti-democratic backsliding and corruption in the past two and a half decades, alongside the country’s new generation. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And amid Vučić’s widely-documented and growing authoritarianism, Pešić paid tribute to young activists such as Mudrić and her colleagues for showing wider Serbia a more positive political model. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It's a conflict between the state and all of society ... a society represented by decentralised students who blockaded their faculties, sleep there, live together, and decide everything democratically,\" Pešić also said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speaking of how students were organising themselves at Novi Sad university, Mudrić said: \"It’s literal democracy in real time, voting, listening to each other, speaking with each other, saying what we’re going to do next\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And all that meant the blockaded campuses had now become a \"scared space\" for fundamental European values in Serbia, Pešić said. </span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1740998056819,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80d5f984c1","title":"Interview"}],"img":{"id":"fif6f7c141","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fif6f7c141/62277613-58c3-44c8-95c7-6a35e072e011-b5814212-1e81-46e1-baea-fab892a265ef-c29412e5-c3f2-4d72-a4d0-874688a4ab5c.jpeg"}},{"id":"ar1eb43d53","headline":"Why EU leaders should get off Musk's X","abstract":"Leaders should ask themselves - is X really what I want my brand to be associated with? ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When men go to pee in a public toilet they spend a minute gazing at the wall in front of them, in what many advertisers have seized upon as an opportunity to display posters of their products above the stinking urinals. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But in terms of framing, you'd better ask yourself: Is this really what I want my brand to be associated with? </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">You might well think twice if you were selling ice cream or toothpaste, so what if your poster was Ursula von der Leyen's face selling EU values?</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Because that's the kind of environment in which the European Commission president, other top EU officials, and national EU leaders are posting their images and comments every day when they use X to communicate with press and the EU public. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Even the toilet analogy is too kind. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">There was already lots of toxic crap on X before the summer of 2024.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Racist, antisemitic, and homophobic content had \"surged\", according to a study in January by</span><a href=\"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.04129\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> US academics</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">X had more Russian propaganda than any other big social media, an </span><a href=\"https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/code-practice-disinformation-new-reports-available-transparency-centre\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU report warned</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in 2023. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Porn was 13 percent of X in late 2022, according to </span><a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-where-did-tweeters-go-twitter-is-losing-its-most-active-users-internal-2022-10-25/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">internal documents</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> seen by Reuters. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But this summer, with the failed assassination of Donald Trump in the US and the UK race riots, X's CEO Elon Musk turbocharged his platform into an overflowing sewer of bigotry, nihilism, and greed.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As I tried to follow the UK riots from Brussels using X, time and again I saw von der Leyen's carefully coiffed Christian-Democrat torso issuing some polite EU statement, while sandwiched on my laptop screen between video-clips getting off on anti-migrant violence, pro-Russian bots, and OnlyFans links. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Musk's </span><a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/30/elon-musk-twitter-hate-speech/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">algorithms pushed</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> pro-riot content so hard down users' throats it prompted a UK government rebuke and talk of legal sanctions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Tommy Robinson, a leading British racist, got over 430 million views for his X posts, for instance. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Andrew Tate, Britain's top misogynist, got 15 million views for one X post inciting rioters. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And the biggest turd in the cesspit - Musk's own avatar - also kept appearing next to von der Leyen and other EU leaders on my screen, as the US tech baron ranted about \"civil war\" in the UK, peddled pro-Trump conspiracy theories, or told EU commissioner Thierry Breton to \"literally </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/ar9dab527d\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">fuck your own face</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Musk's summer coincided with France's </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/are67c4779\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">arrest of a Russian tech CEO</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, Pavel Durov, in August on suspicion he condoned the sale of child pornography and drugs on his Telegram platform.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The European Commission also </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/digital/arc80dc460\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">started legal proceedings</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> against X in July over misleading and illegal content, in a process that could see Musk fined hundreds of millions of euros.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But aside from the grand issues of how to regulate social media without stymieing free speech or privacy, EU leaders could do something a lot simpler and closer to home for the sake of public mental health - just switch to any other less sleazy platform instead.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">You could do it tomorrow with one email to your tech staff and for all the stupid material on Instagram, for example, at least your face won't keep flashing up next to jubilant pogroms and naked tits on your constituents' screens. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Von der Leyen has 1.5 million X followers, French president Emmanuel Macron has 9.8 million, while Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk have 1.9 million each. </span></p><blockquote class=\"rte-blockquote\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU leaders could also do something a lot simpler and closer to home for the sake of public mental health - just switch to any other less sleazy platform instead</span></blockquote><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But please don't worry, not all journalists or the general public are that dumb yet, most of us will find you and follow you anyway because politics is genuinely important. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And we will thank you for giving us one more reason to get off X ourselves, because so long as you use it as your main outlet for news updates you are dragging us along with you. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">My analogy about ads in a public toilet was meant to show the importance of semiotics in political PR - it matters where you speak, not just what you say. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It also holds good for those who worry that if normal leaders and media abandoned toxic platforms, then extremism would grow in its own exclusive online world. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It's just good public hygiene to bury our sewage pipes, instead of letting people empty their buckets out of the window onto our heads. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But if you prefer to hold your nose and stay on X, consider also that you are not only damaging your own brand, but causing financial and political harm in real life. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Financial hurt, because if you help make people reliant on X for news, then greater use of Musk's platform makes people like him, Robinson, and Tate ever richer via X's monetisation schemes for viral content. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Political injury, because to the extent that von der Leyen, Macron, or Sánchez possess real importance, they aggrandise Musk, Tate, and Robinson by continuously appearing alongside them in X's hyper-curated online space. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And so if you should worry that urinals below your face might put people off, then the situation is actually worse than that. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Your presence on X is also helping to pay for the muck to flow and the toilet owner is using you to sell it to the world.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1725379554577,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"503f501420","title":"Digital"}],"articleType":[{"id":"803b7f3d61","title":"EUobserved"}],"img":{"id":"fi99c2bdac","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi99c2bdac/c3d7967f-1bf2-4c02-9e01-0e033c648251-088a7676-b4d2-4f8a-b7d9-d7b96eb92682-08e3ac69-7c3a-4241-9724-f4d13d5ba373.jpeg"}},{"id":"arfbf7a119","headline":"2024 belonged to the far-right — what signs of optimism for 2025?","abstract":"A recent study in France found atypical working hours and physical hardship are associated with far-right voters. The battle against far-right populism can be won with secure jobs, full employment, decent pay, functioning public services, equality and strong workers’ rights based on collective bargaining.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Heated debates took place in the German parliament as the Weimar Republic took its last breaths. Being active in politics or trade unions had become a life-threatening engagement. But that did not stop the Social Democratic member of the German parliament, Kurt Schumacher. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a speech in the Reichstag in 1932, he concluded that Nazi agitation was a constant appeal to the \"inner pig\" (den inneren Schweinehund). Schumacher argued that Nazis had successfully manage to mobilise \"human stupidity\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mobilising our worst side, the dark side of human behaviour, can generate political power and influence. Rightwing populists, the far-right, fascists and Nazis they all appeal to fear, suspicion, envy, anxiety, jealousy — anything that brings out the worst in us. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A feeling of having lost something (perceived to be yours) or a bruised ego. It is an idea of political influence that thrives on fragmentation and conflict.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As this year comes to an end, the super election year of 2024, one can conclude that the mobilisers of our ”inner Schweinehund” have been successful. Rightwing populists continue to gain ground across Europe, and some election results, notably the US presidential elections, have been grim. It seems as if winter is here, with democracy in a dark place.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU elections in May moved the European Parliament further to the conservative right, with a growing far-right presence. Progressives, and in particular the greens, lost ground. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Now 14 out of 27 EU governments are based upon direct or indirect support from rightwing populists and/or far-right parties. These significant changes in the political landscape are reflected in the incoming EU Commission, with heavily conservative representation.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When Europe entered a similarly dark valley in 1933, there was light coming from the United States. Franklin D Roosevelt, in his inaugural address, galvanised hope and trust in democracy, declaring that “the only thing we have to fear is … fear itself”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">None of that can be expected from Donald Trump in January. His appointments have so far been a massive 'fuck you' to all progressive and moderate voters. The world is braced for a very rocky ride starting in January.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">There is certainly lots to worry about. The war in Ukraine, the instability in the Middle East, with its atrocious bombings, must come to an end. The advances of the far-right must be stopped. But the world has not yet fully entered a dark valley. Democracy has not been defeated. There are glimmers of light and hope.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Signs of hope</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The results from the UK parliamentary elections was a solid progressive victory, hopefully ending a destructive era of populism spinning out of control following the Brexit referendum. Social democrats won the elections in Lithuania. In the Nordic countries, progressives and left wing parties were strengthened thanks to a strong trade union mobilisation. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">We saw the same in France, where progressive forces gained ground. So there is no natural force dictating that rightwing populism and far-right parties shall continue to grow inexorably.</span><br><br><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The New Year can be a time for renewal, when we chase away the darkness of winter and see the shoots of something better begin to emerge. And the evidence shows that the fightback must start in our workplaces. </span></p><blockquote class=\"rte-blockquote\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A recent </span><a href=\"https://ires.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DdT_T_Coutrot_2024_2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">study</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in France found atypical working hours and physical hardship are associated with far-right voters</span></blockquote><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A German </span><a href=\"https://www.boeckler.de/en/survey-on-eu-elections-participation-opportunities-at-work-are-positive-for-democratic-climate-60976.htm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">survey</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> found workers who were dissatisfied with their pay and conditions, and had little say in the workplaces, were more likely to have negative attitudes towards democracy and to be more vulnerable to rightwing narratives. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It’s no wonder then that the far-right Patriots group fought so hard to prevent recent progress on the European Works Councils directive, which is crucial to giving workers a voice in multinational companies.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A recent </span><a href=\"https://ires.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DdT_T_Coutrot_2024_2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">study</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in France also found atypical working hours and physical hardship are associated with far-right voters. Conversely, workers who were given the opportunity to have a say over their work were more likely to support centre or leftwing candidates.</span><br><br><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Whereas the far right seeks to centralise and monopolise power, trade unions, through social dialogue and collective bargaining, empower workers at all levels—from the shop floor to the hallways of European institutions.</span><br><br><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">We also saw this trend in the US election, where Kamala Harris won among trade union members, even outperforming Joe Biden. Strengthening trade unionism and social dialogue is thus highly effective in protecting and strengthening democracy’s immune system. This year’s Nobel prize winners Acemoglu and Johnson confirms this view, democracy needs trade unions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Strengthening social dialogue as our first line of defence for democracy and our welfare models must be the focus of European Union action for the incoming mandate. The idea that the future is open — not closed — has to </span><a href=\"https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2024/01/24/q-and-a-with-jonathan-white-on-in-the-long-run-the-future-as-a-political-idea/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">be reclaimed</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One does not have to be blithely optimistic but we can choose to be drawn towards the light and progressive politicians must put hope first. The world is not coming to an end: we can jointly shape the future and the world-to-come as we want it to be.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Politics can also be about appealing to our better selves. Cultivating people's faith, hope and desire for a brighter future. A politics of self-restraint, sensitivity and curiosity where our best selves can be expressed. This is the very opposite of the politics of “the inneren Schweinhund”.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The battle against the far-right and rightwing populism can be won with secure jobs, full employment, decent pay, functioning public services, equality and strong workers’ rights based on collective bargaining. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Democracy has to respond better to the demands of working people and ensure these are met, so they cannot be seduced by the populists’ siren songs. Progressives simply must come back with more attractive ideas.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Everywhere where people meet to discuss how to make our workplaces better, debate how to improve our lives and change our societies, and participate in demonstrations - there we find hope. Practising democracy is how we defend it best.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: start;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kurt Schumacher was imprisoned by the Nazis in July 1933. Schumacher was tortured and sent to a concentration camp. He was imprisoned until the end of World War II. He was liberated in April 1945 by British forces from the Neuengamme concentration camp. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Despite his failing health Schumacher was elected party leader of the Social Democrats in a free Germany. He never became the chancellor, but he fully understood the link between quality jobs and democracy. His contribution to the democratisation of Germany was significant.</span></p>","contributors":[],"publishDate":1735026700122,"section":[{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society"},{"id":"50dee1923e","title":"Opinion"}],"articleType":[{"id":"806f303338","title":"Opinion"}],"img":{"id":"fi773e1486","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/5e982a4b001c656cea969e1fb408b6db.jpeg"}},{"id":"ar18626db2","headline":"Gaza's children paying 'high price' for war, UN envoy says ","abstract":"Without shelter from bombs, access to water, food, hygiene, healthcare, or education, Gaza's children are paying “a high price” in the war, UNICEF’s envoy for Palestine told EUobserver.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Without access to water, food, basic hygiene, healthcare, electricity, or schools, children in Gaza are paying “a high price” in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas, UNICEF’s envoy for Palestine Jean Gough, has told EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“All wars have implications for children, but in this one, it seems to be worse because of the conditions … they can go nowhere,” Gough said in an interview in Brussels.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">About 14,000 children have reportedly been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"In Gaza, the most frequent age of the casualties is five years old - this is a war against the children,\" former EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar142c771c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">said</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> last month.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">There are more than one million children in Gaza, many of whom are living in dire conditions, having lost family members and been displaced at least five times, said Gough from UNICEF, a UN branch which specialised in child protection. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Reflecting on the implications for the next generations, Gough also said that the severe, long-term consequences for children, including psychological trauma, disrupted development, and a future shaped by the scars of continuous bombardment, are yet to be fully understood.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Vey few populations in history have been under this level of stress day in, day out,” she said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Before the war, over 500,000 children in the Gaza Strip were already in need of mental health support. Today, UNICEF estimates that nearly all children in Gaza require such assistance.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The UN body also estimates that about 17,000 minors are unaccompanied or separated from their families. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As of 1 December, UNICEF has reunited 44 children with their parents, including a one-year-old born at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, who rejoined their mother after having been relocated for medical treatment.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi46d08065/169be705-5703-46d4-b1e2-86579c8cdc44-93e89e44-2853-4a62-8ce5-6a2ae39ee459-9bab7da2-b710-4dac-9026-86bc61fd5b28.png\"><figcaption>UNICEF's reunification mission in Gaza (Source: UNICEF)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Gough, who served as the UNICEF representative for Palestine also from 2009 to 2013, has observed a shift in Israel's military operations, which require a different humanitarian response — because there is no predictability when it comes to supplies entering Gaza, she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">She also acknowledged that UN staff have been facing growing bureaucratic obstacles to working in Gaza, such as long visa approvals and waiting times at checkpoints.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As in any armed conflict, there are concerns about sexual abuse and exploitation, to which children are particularly vulnerable - but this was a taboo for many families, and it was almost impossible for UNICEF to monitor such issues, said Gough.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, the number of children in orphanages has been growing.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">‘Education is protection’</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Children [can] fall into the wrong hands and we need to protect them. Education is a protection,” the UN humanitarian official said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">UNICEF has been working with partners to set up 100 temporary learning spaces across the Gaza Strip, covering about 53,000 children.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“But it’s not easy because we had to start from scratch,” Gough explained, adding that Palestinians valued education because “schools give hope for a better future.”</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fie1ffff3f/e93243d9-5195-4201-8171-7993cd7358f9-99f03565-e2a7-4371-b7a3-88e33c9c0e66-24ea954e-4f0c-498d-839d-7285ff988c66.jpeg\"><figcaption>UNICEF is providing children with access to learning spaces across Gaza (Source: UNICEF)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It is estimated that 85 percent of schools have been destroyed or used as shelters.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The level of destruction is such that almost all schools need to be rebuilt,” Gough said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The day after [a ceasefire] is not coming and children cannot wait,” she added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Given the unprecedented restrictions on aid entering Gaza, experts have also raised the alarm over famine in Gaza. Child malnutrition was not a problem in Gaza before the war, but today it is a major concern for UNICEF.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Last month, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that all bakeries in central Gaza have shut down due to severe supply shortages. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And in January 2024, health screenings showed that one in three children under two years of age were acutely malnourished in the north of Gaza.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The UN organisation has been working to improve local resources and advocate for the opening of commercial routes to bring in fruit and vegetables, Gough said, adding that there were almost no eggs or vegetables entering Gaza and that the agricultural sector had all but disappeared.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, the health sector is grappling with shortages of medicines, supplies, fuel, food, and water - making it difficult for children to get treatment. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Earlier this year, the </span><a href=\"https://www.nutritioncluster.net/sites/nutritioncluster.com/files/2024-02/GAZA-Nutrition-vulnerability-and-SitAn-v7.pdf\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Global Nutrition Cluster</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> found that at least 90 percent of children under five had been affected by one or more infectious diseases.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fic9987a52/e432760d-19c7-470d-b961-f235a898f81b-3b9b217c-0847-41f0-8584-04d9511fc602-136f70f6-1c4b-4a83-8d52-43ba21be2861.jpeg\"><figcaption>'The day after is not coming and children cannot wait,' said UNICEF’s envoy for Palestine Jean Gough</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Gaza's children face missiles and disease</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While hunger and disease threaten everyone in Gaza, children suffer the most. And healthcare workers have identified the lack of sufficient food and water as a key factor behind the rise in malnutrition, dehydration, and disease.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a </span><a href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/8668/2024/en/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">new report</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, Amnesty International has collected experiences from hundreds of civilians in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of genocide. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“To be a displaced mother in Gaza in this war is to live every day not knowing if your children will be killed by a missile or by a disease,” a 35-year-old displaced woman from Gaza City told the human rights organisation.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In June 2024, a paediatrician at Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia, North Gaza, where children had died from starvation, also told Amnesty International that since late May, he had seen more cases of respiratory infections and hepatitis A. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Out of every 10 children we are treating, I see at least three with hepatitis A symptoms, related to severe malnutrition and water that is unfit for drinking,” the doctor said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For his part, a medical worker at Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, which </span><a href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/06/middleeast/kamal-adwan-gaza-israel-hospital-raid-intl/index.html\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">recently suffered another attack, allegedly killing four doctors</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, also talked about the “radical change” he observed since 7 October. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Before, [severe] malnutrition cases were so rare in northern Gaza we barely even mentioned them … We are [now] receiving cases of children who can’t move or cry because of the severity of the weakness from malnutrition and dehydration,” the worker told the human rights organisation in April.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In 2023, the EU provided €550m to UNICEF for development programmes and humanitarian emergency response.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In September, the European Commission </span><a href=\"https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/egypt/eu-grants-%E2%82%AC54-million-unicef-over-100000-evacuated-patients-gaza-and-vulnerable-children-north-sinai_en#:~:text=The%20EU%20and%20its%20Member,over%20100%20000%20vulnerable%20children.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">announced</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> a €5.4m grant to UNICEF to support over 100,000 evacuated patients from Gaza and vulnerable children in North Sinai in Egypt.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu83cf6ae2","firstName":"Elena Sánchez","lastName":"Nicolás"}],"publishDate":1734441280905,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80d5f984c1","title":"Interview"}],"img":{"id":"fi611a08cd","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi611a08cd/86983770-4194-4578-9f74-c2ebd97cc939-7a45de7b-da24-4fb0-9c22-715cf3f12e56-77b07da2-f554-40ed-a982-d4b7aa70e6ce.jpeg"}},{"id":"ard33cda50","headline":"Drainpipe of shame: How Orbán hypocrisy became a gay icon in Brussels","abstract":"The drainpipe in Brussels where a far-right MEP fled a gay orgy still attracts tourists, who take pics to remember what Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán really represents. \n","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The drainpipe in Brussels by which a far-right Hungarian MEP fled an illegal gay orgy during the Covid lockdown still attracts tourists, who take pics to remember what Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán really represents. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The married MEP, József Szájer, had co-founded Orbán's homophobic Fidesz party and had been his right-hand man for 30 years. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Szájer had even authored an anti-LGBTI constitutional amendment in Hungary in 2010.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">So to see Belgian police catch him trying to escape a gay sex-party on 27 October 2020 (with an ecstasy pill in his pocket), exposed the cynicism of Orbán's identity politics so beautifully that it made </span><a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55145989\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">international headlines</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> at the time. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But for David Manzheley, who organised the event, no one should have been surprised. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“In my experience of organising sex-parties for over 10 years, the more conservative persons [sic] are in public, the more perverted they are behind closed doors,\" he told EUobserver in an interview.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Other Fidesz politicians, as well as guests from the Polish rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, also came to Manzheley's orgies, he said.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"From PiS, it was like one-third of the party,\" he claimed.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fid2037b34/b63b975a-330e-44da-bba8-950514396f4b-84a79aa5-4f52-4f6e-89ea-45dc61cfc496-6f2d6780-c287-4f11-b9a6-175d5d6ee319.jpeg\"><figcaption>David Manzheley at Monroe Bar Primus in the EU capital last Sunday</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Manzheley spoke at Monroe Bar Primus on 108 Boulevard Anspach in Brussels city-centre on Sunday (22 September), where four passers-by paused to photograph the famous drainpipe in the space of an hour.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It displayed a fresh sticker of Orbán’s face. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some 20cm below, a cartoon of a backward-turned cat said: “Have you seen my asshole lately?”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But if Hungary’s far-right ruler, who now holds the EU presidency, didn't find that kind of satire funny, then the bad news for him was even worse. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The legend of Szájer's escapade on Brussels’ hardcore gay scene appeared to be helping Manzheley to attract more guests than ever, even four years later. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Now, I see a certain buzz around my parties,” Manzheley said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">His upcoming Halloween event in Brussels had pulled in over 1,200 hopeful applicants already, from which more than 200 would be invited to a large venue, he added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But looking back at former parties, he said of Szájer: \"When you know someone's face from the media, [at first] I was surprised to see him all dressed in leather”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Shortly after 9PM on the fateful night of 27 October 2020, Belgian police raided Manzheley’s event at a first-floor apartment on Boulevard Anspach because it had over 25 guests, in violation of a Covid-era lockdown. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He recalled the confusion that ensued.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“One couple recognised one of the policemen [who had attended pre-Covid parties in an off-duty capacity] and they said to him ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ and started to undress him,” Manzheley said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He also gave an insight into what his parties were like. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Manzheley invited a mix of 'Daddies' and 'Twinks' and looked for a ratio of 25 percent Tops, 25 percent Bottoms, and 50 percent Verses [versatiles], he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Guests were greeted at the door by drag queens, who scanned their QR-coded invitations. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They got undressed or changed into fetish attire in a cloakroom area, put on wristband IDs, and stored personal items in sealed bags.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ04gPb4LlY\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">playlist was up-tempo</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, there were strobe lights and dry ice, and there was no policy on using drugs or condoms, because “they [guests] are all adults, so they take their own responsibility and their own risk,” Manzheley said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A handful of off-duty medical personnel, such as nurses, were always invited in case of emergencies. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And there were privacy rules: “There’s no phones or devices allowed between 10PM and 6AM - that’s the time for sex,” Manzheley said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi88172036/ee44e11b-9458-4e5b-b8cc-b8271211b18b-79b27043-83e8-4cd8-9325-dc245011f63b-696da084-be88-43f6-8745-9be8acf108bd.jpeg\"><figcaption>Hungarian ex-MEP József Szájer at the European Parliament in central Brussels in 2019</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Manzheley doesn’t like to confirm his own personal details for security reasons, but said he was a dual Polish-Israeli national and an “entrepreneur”.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He said he was happy to give media interviews about Szájer because he had nothing to do with breaking the original story and because it highlighted the \"hypocrisy\" of parties such as Fidesz and PiS on LGBTI lifestyles.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“That’s why I left Poland and that’s why I refuse to even speak Polish to this day,” Manzheley told EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, Szájer's closet homosexuality had been an open secret in Fidesz prior to 2020, which Orbán must have known, according to Hungarian </span><a href=\"https://telex.hu/english/2020/12/01/jozsef-szajer-lockdown-orgy-resignation\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">media reports</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> from the time.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And the drainpipe fiasco was not an isolated incident in the party's history. </span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Hypocrisy</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Roman Catholic priest Bese Gergő, who had been a Fidesz-media darling and an anti-LGBTI attack dog, fell from grace on 6 September 2024, when it </span><a href=\"https://telex.hu/belfold/2024/09/19/bese-gergo-plebanos-katolikus-megafon-reverenda-influenszerkepzo\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">came out</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> that he had also gone to gay orgies in Hungary and posted content online.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Orbán's conservative mores looked fake in 2019, when a prominent Fidesz mayor, Zsolt Borkai, </span><a href=\"https://telex.hu/belfold/2024/06/14/borkai-zsolt-gyor-polgarmester-jelolt-civil-fidesz-jacht\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">was filmed</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> at an orgy with drugs on a yacht in the Adriatic Sea.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Hungary has avoided LGBTI issues in its six-month EU presidency programme, which runs until 2025. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Orbán has continued to attack gay people at home, while also drifting further to the fringe of Western politics in other areas, such as </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar257c9f61\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Russia relations</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> and </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/arc509b4e0\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">illiberal rule</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in Hungary.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The European Parliament and 15 EU states are suing Hungary in the EU Court of Justice over a 2023 law banning LGBTI “propaganda”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The US ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, who is gay, complained this summer when Hungarian state media insinuated that he was a paedophile, as it filmed him at a Pride march in Budapest, which included families with children. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“These attacks — whether legal, rhetorical, or reputational — erode the liberties of the Hungarian people, of the Hungarian soul,” said Pressman in </span><a href=\"https://hu.usembassy.gov/news-remarks-of-ambassador-david-pressman-democracy-love-and-fear/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">a speech</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> on 23 June. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Orbán has also ganged up with self-avowed homophobes in his </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/arb09b6118\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Patriots for Europe </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">political family in the EU Parliament. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These include the Latvia First party, the Voice of Reason party from Greece, and Spain's Vox. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">His group’s other members — Czech party ANO, Portugal's Chega, the Dansk Folkeparti, Austria's FPÖ, Italy's Lega, Dutch party PVV, France's Rassemblement National, and Belgium's Vlaams Belang — were more anti-migrant than anti-LGBTI, said </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/search/Anton%20Shekhovtsov\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Anton Shekhovtsov</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, a writer on European far-right politics.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The FPÖ had its own Szajer moment in 2008 when its late leader, Jörg Haider, was outed by German media. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But “homophobic sentiments are naturally stronger in [rightwing] parties from central and eastern Europe than those from western Europe”, Shekhovtsov said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“The [Dutch] PVV is almost pro-LGBTI,” he said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi75977910/05961ab3-4ddd-4993-a2e8-ef9b3d55f311-62d460b4-637b-4abf-b861-847667cb67fc-687d6582-6b08-4a79-86f2-f037a4b04134.jpeg\"><figcaption>Orbán (c), with Szájer (r), and Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács (l) at the EU Parliament in 2015</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Orgy 'misstep'</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU election in June saw a surge in the number of far-right MEPs in Brussels. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But if Manzheley thought that might be another reason for the “buzz” around his Halloween party, then Shekhovtsov poured cold water on the generalisation that “the more conservative persons are in public, the more perverted they are behind closed doors\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"As for psychology, there's no scientific backing to that claim — it's a stereotype which might originate from observations of some Catholic priests' lives,\" Shekhovtsov said, referring to Roman Catholic church child-abuse scandals in Europe and the US in recent decades. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Szájer didn’t reply when EUobserver tried to reach him via the Fidesz party on Tuesday. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But speaking in 2020, he said: “The misstep [gay orgy] is strictly personal, I am the only [one] who owes responsibility for it. I ask everyone not to extend it to my homeland, or to my political community”.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The now 63-year old has stayed out of the public eye and is said to live in the Hungarian countryside.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It remains to be seen if Orbán lets him make a political comeback one day.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Borkai, the disgraced mayor, nearly did so in June when he came third in local elections in the city of Győr despite his past, running as an independent candidate.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Gergő, the defrocked priest, told media he felt betrayed that Fidesz threw him under the bus when his scandal broke.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But if Orbán didn't stand by his old friends, then the Brussels gay scene would greet its Hungarian star with open arms if he ever made a comeback there instead, Manzheley indicated. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“I have his [Szájer's] number and I’ve been in touch,” said Manzheley.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“I wrote to József, saying: ‘You’re welcome to come back [to my parties]’,” he said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi4005aee1/ec4c7873-ed33-45e2-981e-23b3c54b8af9-78373028-1de2-469b-a495-9bef0e518d99-8717f8f7-25e4-4992-b8b1-e18cab9c21af.jpeg\"><figcaption>Entrance to Brussels' gay district, around the corner from Boulevard Anspach</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1727185807423,"section":[{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political"},{"id":"508bf89c3a","title":"Health & Society"}],"articleType":[{"id":"8088e5421e","title":"Feature"}],"img":{"id":"fi49aeb5c6","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi49aeb5c6/872fcd99-4200-4d6a-8530-68f14b43cea0-ebfaf3a5-b4e3-4742-a602-12f7513d9f60-6b590920-12bc-4bbd-a2ad-eb75901656e3.jpeg"}},{"id":"ar76de3ba9","headline":"Handshake of death: EU embrace of Kagame helping silence dissidents in Belgium","abstract":"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. ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is just one in a long line of EU leaders who've embraced Rwandan president Paul Kagame.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">She last did so amid EU overtures to access</span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/news/ar24df2f21\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwanda's minerals, knowing full well he stood credibly accused of war crimes, assassinations, and torture in Africa. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But did she know he is also terrorising Rwandan dissidents much closer to home — on the streets of Brussels?</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Fear of being poisoned by Kagame's agents is widespread in the Rwandan diaspora in Belgium.   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Even high-profile African activists, such as Paul Rusesabagina and Denis Mukwege, aren't safe when they visit the home of the EU institutions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some Rwanda-associated poisons can be administered via a handshake or soaked into an item of clothing.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The last time von der Leyen shook Kagame's hand was on 18 December 2023 on a visit to Kigali. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Unfortunately ... she did not have a chance to enjoy the local cuisine. However, she did have the chance to try Rwanda's excellent coffee,\" her spokesperson said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">No one is seriously suggesting the Rwandan leader would dare to poison a high-level EU politician.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But even though EU leaders themselves are physically safe, they still ought to worry about their moral hygiene — because every time they meet Kagame, they embolden him to commit further crimes by giving him a sense of impunity. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And that means their handshakes are putting Rwandan dissidents who live in Europe, as well as in Africa, in clear and present danger.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi91dc2c64/f4335f73-de3a-4079-b7a7-7c81aaae2529-abdf18b1-161e-40cb-b342-71c1af3d685e-2c768186-ab24-4616-97d4-f478048884a0.jpeg\"><figcaption>Paul Kagame with Ursula von der Leyen in Kigali in December 2023 (Source: European Commission)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Toxic handshake </span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rusesabagina is the real-life hero of the 2004 film</span><a href=\"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395169/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Hotel Rwanda</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> about the 1994 genocide, who is hated by Kagame and who now lives in the US. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And when Rusesabagina came to Brussels for a family wedding in August 2024, he was urged to take special care by his Belgian and US security advisers, who spoke to EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They warned him not to travel or stay anywhere alone, not to use unfamiliar taxi drivers, not to meet strangers or accept gifts from them, not to use his normal mobile phone, and not to hire a car. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Part of their advice was designed to evade Rwandan electronic surveillance, since Kagame's agents had already once kidnapped Rusesabagina, in Dubai in 2020. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But another part was because Kagame has a track record of transnational assassinations, including by poison. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The Rwandans are master poisoners. There's one toxin that can be administered via a handshake: The assassin smears it onto the palm of their hand, shakes the victim's hand on some pretext, then walks away and takes an antidote to save themselves,\" said a Belgian security source, who asked not to be named.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rusesabagina's adopted daughter, Carine Kanimba, told EUobserver: \"My family was really worried about my father coming to Belgium because it's like a playground for them [Kagame's intelligence service]. This is where they have full access. They can hurt you. They've killed people here before\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kanimba was orphaned in the genocide while she was an infant and is now a human-rights activist living in the UK. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The family marriage in Brussels (her cousin's) was followed by Kanimba's own wedding, near Verona in Italy, also in August.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While planning the two events, the family notified Belgian and Italian intelligence services, hired private security guards, and vetted catering staff and equipment to make sure their food was safe. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"My wedding was meant to be full of love, and it was, but everyone in the family was conscious of the risk,\" Kanimba said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It might sound like a movie, but it's not — there have been a lot of people who dropped dead because of poisoning by the regime,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kanimba herself has faced death threats, issued in person to relatives and on social media. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"One of Kagame’s top aides said on X that I deserved a 'golden machete', which shocked me to the core, because my parents were probably killed with a machete [in the genocide],\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Kanimba's phone was also hacked with Israeli-made</span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/arc47c3859\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Pegasus spyware</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in 2021, which is sold to states' intelligence services.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"I've learned over the years, the more that we talk publicly about such threats, the safer we become,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"But the the fact I'm having this conversation with you today, so many people have been killed for the kind of conversation we're having [about Kagame],\" Kanimba said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi15d98208/c5236a4c-94ff-45e5-81b9-f92cd48e268c-2d8da709-1c5b-4121-b978-84697603ce4c-61de2329-6b21-46b5-b255-014888417996.jpeg\"><figcaption>Carine Kanimba (r) receiving a human-rights award in London in November 2023 (Source: Magnitsky Awards)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For his part, Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for helping rape victims and who has spoken out against use of rape by Rwandan soldiers and Rwanda-linked rebel groups in Africa.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mukwege also won the European Parliament's Sakharov award in 2014. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But when he came to Brussels on a trip in May 2015, he was put under</span><a href=\"https://www.lesoir.be/261924/article/2019-11-21/le-docteur-mukwege-sous-haute-surveillance\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">close surveillance by Rwanda's embassy. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mukwege had received a courtesy car from the EU parliament, but when he arrived at the offices of Belgian newspaper Le Soir for a welcome reception, journalists recognised his driver as being a member of the Rwandan embassy's security staff and advised Mukwege to insist on a different chauffeur. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mukwege told Belgian friends at the time how the bogus driver, who had infiltrated the parliament's car-pool, had behaved on the way.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He had begged Mukwege to hold his mobile phone and speak to his friends because he was so famous, which Mukwege refused to do.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mukwege, who is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), declined to speak with EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But the same bogus driver also offered him a suspicious tie on the same pretext, according to a contact in his Panzi Foundation in DRC.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And, according to two Belgian security sources who asked not to be named, the tie, which Mukwege also declined to touch, had been laced with poison. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Recalling how it happened, one of the Belgian sources told EUobserver: \"He [Mukwege] got into a car with a driver who he didn't know, and the guy said to him: 'Dr Mukwege, you're my hero! Please accept this tie as a humble gift. It would make me and my family so proud if you were to put it on'.\"</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Munyuza's droplets'</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Less well-known people are all the more vulnerable. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwanda was a Belgian colony until 1962 and Belgium is home to some 20,000 to 30,000 people of Rwandan origin - its largest diaspora community in the world. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Most of them live scattered in small towns in the Flanders region, such as Aalst or Dendermonde. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Those of them who are genocide refugees still feel traumatised and divided. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Rwandans also come together at church and music events, with 2,000 to 3,000 guests expected to visit the </span><a href=\"https://www.cirque-royal-bruxelles.be/nl/evenement/ballet-inyange-2024-11-23-1800\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Inyange folk-dance festival </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">in Brussels on 23 November, for instance.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of those taking part in the festival, Rwandan human-rights activist Natacha Abingeneye, who lives in Aalst, believes Kagame's agents murdered her father in Brussels in 2005. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He was a former government minister in Rwanda, was giving evidence to the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda when he went missing, and his mutilated body was later found in a canal in the EU capital. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Abingeneye herself became a target when her civil society group, Jambo, tried to organise a debate on Rwanda in the Belgian parliament in 2018. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Her name was smeared in dozens of articles in Kagame-linked media, claiming, for instance, that she had funded Rwandan death squads in 1993, even though she would have been seven years old at the time.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"There was also suspicious behaviour at my home, but not enough to press charges [with Belgian police],\" she told EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Sometimes, I'd see a car had been following me all the way from Brussels to the roundabout near where I live, and I'd just continue driving because I was scared to stop, as I was alone,\" she said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Shady figures would come to my door, ring the bell, and run away,\" she added.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi58e2443c/683a7cc8-d298-4c1e-8dd9-008b2d2c36b2-4f4cde60-53f6-4af6-a616-958b92a6409b-2f497244-c07c-41e4-83cd-306533146c93.jpeg\"><figcaption>Denis Mukwege at the European Parliament in Brussels in 2016 (Source: European Parliament)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speaking of the fear caused specifically by regime poisoners, she said: \"It's not mythology. It's reality. It's a method that they have used so much in Rwanda that it even has a name in Rwandese: 'utuzi twa Munyuza', which means 'droplets of Munyuza's waters'.\"</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The phrase refers to Dan Munyuza, who is now Kagame's ambassador to Egypt, even though he was exposed in a conversation </span><a href=\"https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=wVGcslVsoJFkL4mk&v=JpO6BmTd1SE&feature=youtu.be\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">leaked on YouTube</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> to have plotted poisonings of Rwandan dissidents abroad. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Everyone knows that if they want to eliminate you, we share a coffee, you go home, I go home, I'm dead, and no one knows what happened,\" Abingeneye told EUobserver.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The other day, I went to a team-building event in a bar. I left my drink, went away, picked it up again and everybody was like: 'Are you crazy?',\" she said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It [poisoning] is as quick as a wave of someone's hand over your glass,\" she added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Her father's 2005 death is not the only one which has caused suspicion in the Rwandan community.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rodolphe Shimwe Twagiramungu, for example, was a 34-year-old Rwandan musician who went to a nightclub on Avenue Louise in Brussels on 17 April 2022 and who was </span><a href=\"https://en.igihe.com/news/article/faustin-twagiramungu-s-son-dies\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">found dead</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in a nearby street the next morning from unknown causes.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Twagiramungu's father had been a former Rwandan prime minister and another Kagame enemy.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And the Rwandan diaspora aside, if you are a white Western national it doesn't necessarily mean you are untouchable. </span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Urban legend</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Many Congolese people in Belgium even believe Kagame once poisoned the then-Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel, in 2002. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Michel visited Kigali while calling out Kagame for fuelling conflict in DRC, but </span><a href=\"http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1987126.stm\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">fell gravely sick</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> when he returned to Europe and collapsed at a Nato summit in Reykjavík.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Michel, who is the father of outgoing EU Council president Charles Michel, didn't reply to EUobserver.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But one Belgian contact who knew him said: \"After this incident, one thing is sure: Louis Michel never criticised Rwanda again\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Michel-poison theory is seen as an urban legend by Belgian security services because the potential cost of a major diplomatic incident if it got out far exceeded the benefit of silencing him.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Kagame may be dangerous, but he's not stupid, and he would do a cost/benefit analysis on every case. It’s much more likely Michel was infected by a bacteria or virus, which happens easily enough in Africa,\" a Belgian security source said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But when Canadian writer Judi Rever, who wrote a Kagame-critical book, visited Belgium in 2014, Belgium gave her</span><a href=\"https://www.rtbf.be/article/belgique-une-journaliste-anti-kagame-protegee-par-la-surete-de-l-etat-9049887\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> two bodyguards </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">after receiving intelligence the Rwandan embassy in Brussels planned to hurt her.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi5abbff07/6b740e62-4c65-4364-98e3-bc6ad098b1bb-3d35eee7-7ddd-4044-82b9-954809ce832b-6a4ee993-d10f-4895-9b45-e2b319f51296.jpeg\"><figcaption>Natacha Abingeneye in Aalst, Belgium, in October 2024</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Some Belgian journalists living in Brussels who spoke to EUobserver asked not to be quoted in this article because of personal security fears. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Peter Verlinden, a former journalist and now politician living near the Belgian town of Leuven, who wrote a Kagame-critical book in 2015, still requires special protection nine years later.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"To this day, my wife and I are under a specific protection system by Belgian security services. I can't reveal how it works, but if we ever needed help, we can just call and a rapid response [police] unit arrives in minutes wherever we might be,\" he told EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Verlinden has received death threats on his phone and on social media and, as with Kanimbe, Belgian intelligence services found Pegasus on his mobile. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"I think the aim of the [Rwandan] regime in Europe is to cause fear, not to kill,\" Verlinden said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"But if I go to an event with Africans, I only eat from the public buffet and I always serve my own plate [for fear of poison]. I wouldn't use a Rwandan taxi driver whom I didn't know,\" he said. </span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Designer drugs</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The use of sophisticated poisons in </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar3a6de8ee\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">targeted assassinations</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in Europe is more readily associated with Russia. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But even if Rwanda's spy services were tiny compared to Russia's, that didn’t mean they couldn't acquire frightening capabilities if they wanted to, said Belgian forensic toxicologist Jan Tytgat. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"Novichok is absolutely available on the dark web and we should be concerned about its potential use around the world,\" he said, referring to a Russian-made nerve toxin. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"There are pages where you can ask AI: 'Please design me the newest generation of organophosphates to kill people' - it's crazy,\" he added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Tytgat has worked with Belgian police on more run-of-the-mill cases. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He is also professor of pharmacology at KU Leuven university in Belgium and has done research into new medicines in the field in Africa. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A handshake poison could be made from 'designer drugs', such as fentanyl derivatives, he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"People have designed synthetic molecules that are 10,000 times more potent than morphine. You put a few crystals in the palm of your hand, and if you give a strong handshake, a couple of those crystals will humidify on the sweat and skin of your victim, and this is really sufficient to put them in a comatose state,\" Tytgat said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The assassin could protect themselves by taking an antidote, putting ointment on their hand, or wearing gloves.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A necktie poison could be made from African plant extracts, as well as Novichok-type synthetic compounds, the Belgian toxicologist said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It requires plants that are rich in atropine, but these are commonplace in central Africa.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Symptoms of atropine poisoning were \"hallucinations, disturbed breathing, you have incredible thirst, you feel as dry as a bone, then you have neurological problems from which you can die,\" Tytgat said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He was not aware of any exotic poisoning cases in Belgium. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And in red-flagged incidents, Belgian authorities had access to equipment that could decipher a poisoner's hidden signature, he said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"With high-resolution mass spectrometers we can do isotope mapping [of poison molecules], and knowing the isotope load in a molecule you can, with some luck and some help from AI, devise where it was made and when it was made,\" he told EUobserver.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But in day-to-day medical practice, atropine-type poisoning by an obscure Rwandan plant extract could be overlooked, he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"If you go to a full forensic toxicologist, initially we might also get a negative result, but we'd continue,\" Tytgat said.   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"In a standard hospital, I fear they might overlook uncommon plant- or animal venom-based intoxications, because of the protocols they follow in Belgium or in any other typical EU country,\" he said. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fie6cba3e7/8b781c1b-bd49-4d04-b295-8d8046292a0f-e7865cbf-a148-459e-8829-184e87a0646b-abb09074-21b8-48db-aab3-603e5e21456d.jpeg\"><figcaption>Belgian toxicologist Jan Tytgat (Source: Jan Tytgat)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Another poison more native to central Africa is black mamba venom. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It can kill people in \"five minutes,\" Tytgat said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But snake-venom proteins were too large to enter through a victim's skin pores and would have to be injected, for instance with an insulin needle, which would be obvious to \"any good pathologist,\" he said.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Intervention Team</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwanda's embassy to Belgium is located in the green Woluwe Saint Pierre district in Brussels, some 15 minutes down the road from von der Leyen's HQ. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When EUobserver took a photo of the building on 22 October for this article, a Rwandan man in a bright blue shirt jogged over to ask questions and surreptitiously filmed the reporter on his phone.   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Belgian foreign ministry declined to confirm how many Rwandan diplomats the embassy contained. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Belgian sources estimated it has some seven to 15 diplomats, as well as locally hired staff.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"About half of them [Rwandan diplomats] are probably intelligence officers under diplomatic cover, which would be a lot, by any normal standards\", a Belgian contact said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Rwandan embassy told EUobserver in an emailed statement: \"Rwanda has a handful of diplomats accredited to the embassy and ... their identities and roles are known to Belgian authorities\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of them is first secretary </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U76j8ZnMcM\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Gustave Ntwaramuheto</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, who was also accredited at the EU institutions until 2023, and who is a former military captain.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Ntwaramuheto declined to speak to EUobserver. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But, according to an </span><a href=\"https://www.jambonews.net/actualites/20190630-belgique-les-activites-obscures-de-lambassade-du-rwanda-a-bruxelles/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">investigation by Jambo</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in 2019, he is in charge of a task-force which carries out surveillance and violence against Kagame's adversaries in Belgium. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"There are groups of thugs linked to the embassy. They call it the</span><a href=\"https://www.jambonews.net/actualites/20190630-belgique-les-activites-obscures-de-lambassade-du-rwanda-a-bruxelles/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Intervention Team' and they are highly organised. It's professional, with a direct, national-level chain of command,\" Jambo's Abingeneye said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwandan intelligence also spies on people's comings and goings at Belgium's Zaventem airport, according to Jambo. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwanda told EUobserver: \"The Rwandan embassy in Belgium operates in accordance with international diplomatic standards and within Belgian law. Allegations made by politically-motivated actors [Jambo] known for their conspiracy theories ... have no basis in fact\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But the actions of Belgian authorities suggest otherwise. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Belgian intelligence services took the Rusesabagina family-wedding threat in August 2024 \"seriously\", Kanimba said.</span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fia461fcc9/39060d8a-7c71-46a3-b809-80014dc60fd4-a1e2760a-a819-4244-adc9-dd330d0cabbe-7d6e4a60-2538-4d54-b0b3-2135cc1128e9.jpeg\"><figcaption>Rwanda's embassy in Brussels (Source: EUobserver)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Persona non grata</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And Belgium took an unprecedented step in April 2024 when it made Kagame's new ambassador to Brussels, Vincent Karega, persona non grata before he even arrived, by declining his accreditation. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Karega had previously been expelled from DRC for backing rebels and had represented Kagame in South Africa in 2014, when a Rwandan exile was murdered there. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"No new [ambassador] candidate has been proposed by the Rwandan authorities,\" the Belgian foreign ministry told EUobserver on 25 October.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Verlinden, the Belgian politician, said: \"What has been lacking in Belgium until now has been political courage, but with the Karega decision, this seems to be a first sign that things are improving\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But at the same time, Belgium's capabilities are limited. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Its VSSE homeland intelligence service has slashed its Africa section over the past 10 years, recalling Kanimba's fear that Belgium was Kagame's \"playground\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The VSSE's Africa department used to have some 25 posts in its heyday, but now had just one full-time and one part-time intelligence officer covering African threats, a Belgian contact said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The VSSE declined to comment. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Normal bilateral relations despite the Karega row also mean that Belgian judicial authorities still cooperate with Kigali. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Belgian prosecutors raided Rusesabagina's home in the Kraainem district in Brussels in 2020 and gave his private documents to Rwanda in the run-up to his Dubai kidnapping on the basis of a Rwandan extradition request. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"The 2020 search request was channelled officially by diplomatic means\" and \"carried out in strict compliance with Belgian law,\" the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's office told EUobserver on 20 October. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We do not disclose figures, but judicial cooperation between Belgium and Rwanda [still] occurs regularly,\" they said. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">They added, however: \"If the extradition request has a political character, [this] is a ground for refusal\". </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"To date, no extradition has been accepted,\" they said. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi0279a24b/eda12af6-9e1a-4dbd-8686-106b6b6e8b97-48eae7e6-365e-48b9-8ee2-925b36b36f56-2d471218-8c6e-4fe8-9773-98af04824eee.jpeg\"><figcaption>Ursula von der Leyen with Paul Kagame in Kigali last year (Source: European Commission)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU whitewashing</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rwanda is rich in tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold and signed a </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/africa/ar09e60539\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">memorandum of understanding </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">(MoU) with the EU on its mining sector in February. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The minerals deal would help \"fight against illegal trafficking of minerals and ... conflict minerals\", the EU commission told EUobserver, while opening up Rwanda to EU mining firms.  </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU leaders at their summit in Brussels on 16 October also called for the creation of overseas</span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar62877b36\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> return hubs</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> for rejected asylum seekers.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But when asked by EUobserver if this might involve Rwanda, the commission said it \"does not speculate on hypothetical scenarios\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">France relies on Rwandan troops to help protect French energy firms in</span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar9f1a3c27\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> nearby Mozambique</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> from an Islamist insurgency.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">French president Emmanuel Macron also gave Kagame and his wife a welcoming hug at a summit in France on 4 October. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And to add insult to injury for dissidents, Rwanda will host the UCI Road World Championships cycling race in September next year. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The international embrace of Kagame comes despite storied warnings that this emboldens him to do further violence.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU parliament </span><a href=\"https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2021-0133_EN.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">resolutions</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/africa/ar24df2f21\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">reports</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> by British civil society group Global Witness, and </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/migration/ara9c366ed\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">investigations</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> by US group Human Rights Watch (HRW) have been ringing the alarm bell for years. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Reacting to the latest HRW report, the EU commission said: \"We call on Rwanda to conduct prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into all allegations of torture ... Perpetrators of any such acts should be brought to justice\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, von der Leyen herself has lived in Belgium for over five years, amid regular Belgian media reports on Kagame's harassment of Rwandans who also live there.   </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And the Belgian foreign ministry told EUobserver the \"timing of the signing of this agreement [the EU's minerals MoU] was unfortunate\", given Kagame's behaviour.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"You can't say you didn't know - today there's enough proof and documentation,\" said Abingeneye. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Speaking of the cycling championship, Kanimba said: \"Rwanda is beautiful, the hills are gorgeous, so I understand the cyclist community viewing my country as a good place for this, but it's covering a lot of darkness and pain, it's hurting our people\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"It's sportswashing at its core,\" she added. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But top EU politicians who meet with Kagame do even more damage, activists say.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"They're going on like it's business as usual with a known murderer\", Kanimba said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Abingeneye said: \"If a European president stands in front of their people and shakes the hands of a killer, then they’re whitewashing his actions and they become partly liable for them\".</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It made Kagame feel free to keep hurting people \"because you showed him there are no consequences\", Abingeneye added.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"I am Rwandan and European. I feel deeply European, but I'm so disappointed when I see this,\" she said. </span></p><figure><img src=\"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fib3b9018b/213bea35-b68f-4b32-9039-2ad73bd56e58-db90a996-869c-48c2-956e-7548b3e13923-67ff12d9-3bb7-488a-a430-e7caf9619047.jpeg\"><figcaption>Emmanuel Macron with Kagame at the Élysée palace in Paris on 4 October (Source: Élysée)</figcaption></figure><p class=\"rte-p\"><br></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><i><em class=\"rte-italic\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This story was amended to correct the spelling of Paul Rusesabagina's name and the date of his kidnapping in Dubai</em></i></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu87ebf9ee","firstName":"Andrew","lastName":"Rettman"}],"publishDate":1730264400000,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"},{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80e452251d","title":"Investigation"}],"img":{"id":"fic0f3a655","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fic0f3a655/9576e655-281b-414d-90fe-3f8a1acf56fa-9eb0032f-7012-4ef8-9214-394233ba8bce-ffc3d783-d35f-4cf9-8c02-4ae2fb60d381.jpeg"}},{"id":"arfe6fbaf7","headline":"Why the ICC arrest warrant for Israeli leader puts EU in a dilemma","abstract":"As the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, the EU now faces a critical dilemma: balancing its commitment to international law with its longstanding political and economic ties to Israel. Quo vadis? ","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes on Thursday (21 November), the EU now faces a critical dilemma: balancing its commitment to international law with its longstanding political and economic ties to Israel. Quo vadis Europa? </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Thursday’s legal action means the ICC's 124 member states — including all EU countries but not Israel or the US — would have to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territory.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It also means that no EU leaders or officials should meet with Netanyahu or Gallant.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While the ICC has no powers of warrant enforcement and lacks its own police force, this marks the first time the court sought the arrest of a democratically-elected leader, backed by Western countries.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU has long promoted the ICC as a cornerstone of international law, but Thursday’s decision puts the bloc between the hammer and the anvil given the </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/arb494b978\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">ongoing trade ties</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> the bloc has with Israel.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In May, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan filed applications for arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, and three leaders of the terrorist group Hamas. On Thursday, the ICC also issued arrest warrants for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, as the other two leaders had already been killed. Deif himself is also now presumed to be dead, but that is not confirmed.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The court confirmed that it has found “reasonable grounds” to argue that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare” and “the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts” as well as “the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population”.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It also noted that decisions on humanitarian aid were often made due to pressure from the international community or the US, rather than to fulfil Israel's legal obligations or ensure that people in Gaza had access to essential goods.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The ICC decision follows Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have killed over 44,000 people, mostly civilians. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Israel, which has also expanded its operations into Lebanon in recent months, says it is responding to Hamas's 7 October attacks that left 1,206 people dead and around 100 others still held hostage.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">'Antisemitic' response</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The government of Netanyahu has deemed the ICC warrant “antisemitic” and “absurd” — while the US, Israel's biggest ally, has also criticised the court’s decision, Reuters </span><a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/reaction-icc-warrants-israeli-hamas-leaders-2024-11-21/\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">reported</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,\" a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike Waltz, who has been appointed by US-elected president Donald Trump as his future national security adviser, said the court had “no credibility”. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC and UN come January,” he </span><a href=\"https://x.com/michaelgwaltz/status/1859589936967512244\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">said</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> on X (formerly Twitter), referring to Trump's inauguration.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Other world leaders such as Argentina's far-right president Javier Milei have also rejected the decision, despite being a member of the ICC.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Reacting to the news, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he had taken note of the court’s decision, highlighting that these are “binding” for all EU member states. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But Israel-friendly Hungary was the first EU country to slam the ICC’s move, with Hungarian foreign affairs minister Peter Szijjártó describing it as “shameful and absurd”.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In a </span><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/szijjarto.peter.official/posts/1096975881895704?ref=embed_post\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">social media post</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, Szijjártó said he spoke on the phone with Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar and assured him that “Hungary refuses to make any institution of the international judicial system a political instrument”. This decision is a disgrace to the international judicial system, he also said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On Friday, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán said he would invite Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying the ICC arrest warrant. \"The ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary,\" he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">By the time of publication, there was no comment directly on the ICC warrant from the EU Commission itself.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Between the hammer and the anvil</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Gaza war prompted Ireland and Spain, in February, to call on the European Commission for an “urgent review” of its </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/are1868c99\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">trade-deal agreement with Israel</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. But the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has failed so far to respond to this letter.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Article 2 of the trade association agreement between the EU and Israel foresees the suspension in case of violations of human rights.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">And, according to Hussein Baoumi, a campaigner for Amnesty International, “no one can doubt that Israel is violating its human rights commitments” after the ICC decision.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Now it is up to the EU to decide whether to respect international law and whether to respect their own laws,” Baoumi said, adding that the EU has constantly failed to hold trade partners accountable for their human rights violations.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“Now it is clearer than it was before,” he said.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">During this week’s foreign affairs ministers' meeting, Borrell proposed mini anti-Israel sanctions, such as halting high-level EU-Israel </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arb494b978\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">political dialogue</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> and banning goods made by Israeli settlers.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But he admitted that most EU member states have supported maintaining their trade deal with Israel as a means of preserving political and diplomatic relations. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EU foreign affairs policy is based on unanimity. And Israel's friends in the EU, such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, have previously blocked any meaningful action.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Borrell earlier accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war and disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force against Palestinians — contrary to other more Israeli-friendly voices in Brussels. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">However, with the new commission taking place on 1 December, there are widespread concerns that his successor, former Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, will </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar9a81b1da\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">not be as vocal </span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">when it comes to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU is Israel's biggest trade partner, accounting for almost 30 percent of Israel’s trade.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meanwhile, Thursday's ICC decision puts particularly Germany in a dilemma, given that Berlin is Israel's second-largest arms supplier after the US.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“You need weapons to be able to do the [war] crimes” Netanyahu or Gallant are accused of, Baoumi said, illustrating the difficult questions the EU and its member states are facing. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Earlier this year, French president Emmanuel Macron vocally called to halt arms deliveries to Israel.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant come a day after the US Senate voted against halting arms exports to Israel.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><i><em class=\"rte-italic\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This article was updated</em></i></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu83cf6ae2","firstName":"Elena Sánchez","lastName":"Nicolás"}],"publishDate":1732210379817,"section":[{"id":"5002452f20","title":"EU & the World"}],"articleType":[{"id":"80178480d0","title":"Analysis"}],"img":{"id":"fi6faf0547","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/fi6faf0547/6a7a3264-d6db-4d84-9c23-9272cb2155d7-7485593e-ac8c-412a-b212-a15cb8df9eb8-489a4556-0003-4102-b353-c795ddf01344.png"}},{"id":"arb7fe6688","headline":"Rule 241: the EU’s hidden ‘bombshell’ against anti-democratic forces","abstract":"Legal scholars have dubbed it a \"sleeping beauty\" — a potent yet practically unused EU Parliament instrument akin to the EU's own Article 7, designed to safeguard the rule of law and the integrity of its institutions.","body":"<p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Hidden in plain sight within the European Parliament's own rules of procedure is a little-known provision that could dramatically alter the Union's ability to defend its democratic values from internal threats. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Legal scholars have dubbed it a \"sleeping beauty\" and “bombshell” — a potent yet practically unused instrument akin to the EU's own Article 7, designed to safeguard the rule of law and the integrity of its institutions.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Meet Rule 241.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A Fragile Democracy Under Threat</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The fragility of democracy in Europe is no longer a theoretical concern; it's a palpable reality. While the democratic backsliding of Hungary under Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party and Poland under its previous administration has been well-documented, similar undercurrents are emerging in Slovakia, Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Judicial independence is under siege, civil society organisations face increasing pressure, and media pluralism is dwindling. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broader malaise affecting the very core of European democracy.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">For member states veering off the democratic path, the EU has a toolkit that includes withholding funds, imposing financial sanctions, and even suspending voting rights — the </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar865019ab\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">so-called Article 7 procedure</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">However, the effectiveness of these measures has been repeatedly called into question. Not only because enforcement has been delayed and weakened, but also because they concern only member states of the EU. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">When anti-democratic forces infiltrate the EU's own institutions, the challenge becomes even more daunting. The Union's mechanisms to counter internal destabilisation are notably limited, and this is where Rule 241 could play a transformative role.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The erosion of the 'cordon sanitaire'</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Historically, the European Parliament maintained a 'cordon sanitaire' around eurosceptic and far-right parties, effectively denying them access to influential positions such as vice-presidents and committee chairs. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This method was decried by Viktor Orbán early on Wednesday morning (9 October), stating in a plenary debate that “you [the European Parliament] want to lecture me about democracy, but yet you keep the </span><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/*/ar7e524613\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Patriots [for Europe]</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> out of committee chairs”. His European political party recently lodged an appeal at the European Court of Justice to contest this exclusion.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This political quarantine was a means to suppress voices that sought to undermine the EU from within. However, the recent parliamentary elections have complicated this landscape.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">While the most extreme groups — like the Patriots for Europe (PfE) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) — remain marginalised, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) have been granted significant influence. This is despite the fact that two of ECR's largest national party members are Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) and Italy's Brothers of Italy — parties that have been instrumental in democratic backsliding in their respective countries. Their actions on a national level stand in stark contrast to the values upon which the EU was founded.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">European political parties wield the superpower of electoral legitimacy, having been democratically elected by their constituents. But electoral success does not place them above accountability. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The rules governing European political parties include safeguards against egregious misconduct. However, when it comes to more insidious or values-based transgressions — which have become part of the far and radical right’s playbook, the onus falls on other European parties or citizens to intervene.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Enter Rule 241</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Rule 241 is a provision that allows the European Parliament, the Commission, or the Council to contest the registration — and by extension, the financing — of a European political party or foundation that is in \"manifest and serious breach\" of the EU's foundational values. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">These values, enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, include respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights, including the rights of minorities, and are repeated in what’s known as </span><a href=\"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Regulation 1141/2014</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">This regulation governs the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations and is enforced by the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF). </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">European political parties (EuPPs) are conglomerates of national parties that form supranational entities within the European Parliament. They receive substantial funding from the EU budget — €46m allocated for EuPPs in 2025—making the financial stakes high.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">EuPPs are dynamic entities; they evolve, merge, and sometimes dissolve. The most recent elections witnessed a flurry of activity as rightwing parties realigned into new formations: the Patriots for Europe, including Hungary's Fidesz and Italy's League, and the Europe of Sovereign Nations, comprising Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France's Reconquête!</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Notably, Hungary under Fidesz has been under Article 7 sanctions since 2018 for violating EU values— the same values that Rule 241 invokes. This raises an unsettling question: How can a party implicated in undermining EU values continue to receive EU funding and wield influence within its institutions?</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The mechanics of Rule 241</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Activating Rule 241 is a multi-step process:</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">1. Initiation</strong></b><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">: At least a quarter of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) representing at least three political groups can request a verification of compliance by the APPF. Alternatively, a reasoned request by at least 50 citizens can be submitted to parliament to set the request for verification in motion.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">2. Consultation</strong></b><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">: The APPF consults its \"council of eminent persons,\" a six-member panel appointed equally by the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">3. Decision</strong></b><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">: Based on the council of eminent persons’ opinion, the APPF can decide to deregister the party, effectively cutting off EU funding.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">4. Objection Period</strong></b><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">: The parliament and the council have the opportunity to object to the APPF's decision – for the council the vote to object happens by qualified majority vote, for the parliament by simple majority – and </span><b><strong class=\"rte-bold\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">both </strong></b><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">have to object.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Despite its potential, the process has never moved to stage two. When asked, the APPF stated that it has not received any requests for verification from the Parliament, the Council, or the Commission. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">But that does not mean no one has tried.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A Sleeping Beauty </span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Legal scholars focusing on rule of law and democratic protection have extensively analysed Rule 241. </span><a href=\"https://www.hertie-school.org/en/study/executive/team/profile-1-2/person/morijn-2\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Professor Dr John Morijn</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, a Dutch legal scholar and Henrik Enderlein Fellow at the Hertie School in Berlin, </span><a href=\"https://academic.oup.com/icon/article/17/2/617/5523748\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">penned an article</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> in 2019 highlighting how Rule 241 and Regulation 1141/2014 could be employed to counter populist politics at the EU level.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"This regulation is a kind of sleeping beauty,\" Morijn told EUobserver. \"It's more or less the equivalent of Article 7 in the Treaty of the European Union.\" </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In his article, Morijn writes that the creation of this rule and the accompanying regulation was not without challenges.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The proposal didn’t make it through on the first try, as FPÖ (PfE) in Austria and Northern League (PfE) in Italy, both in government at the time, felt the issue of adhering to democratic values “was an attack on them. Together with Denmark, they ended up voting against the proposal.” The Danish government at that time relied on the support of Dansk Folkepart (PfE)i, the populist Danish People’s Party.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">On the second try, after ping-ponging between the parliament, commission, council and European Court of Justice, it was adopted in 2007. The regulation now applied to EuPPs and their foundations, but remained untouched and unused until 2012, when the commission proposed an expansion of the scope.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The revision included the expansion of the scope of the regulation to both the program and activities of a EuPP – and most crucially, those of its members. It also proposed that natural or legal persons could request the parliament to verify a party’s compliance with values. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The changes led to an agreement on setting up the APPF, that would register, manage and enforce rules applying to EuPPs and their foundations. However, by the time the regulation 1141/2014 made it to its approval, two crucial changes were included: the first being that deregistration of a EuPP or foundation needed the approval of </span><i><em class=\"rte-italic\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">both</em></i><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> parliament and council and second, that it only applied to Europarties as a whole, and not on their individual members.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">He points out that while Rule 241 has never practically been used, neither have there ever been such large eurosceptic groups within the parliament.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The challenges of activation</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The procedure's complexity and the political will required to activate Rule 241 present significant hurdles. First, the APPF allows for a form of self-certification regarding adherence to EU values when new parties register, relying on the assumption of compliance unless evidence to the contrary is presented.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">In 2019, The Good Lobby, an organisation aimed at bolstering civil society's advocacy capacity, </span><a href=\"https://verfassungsblog.de/holding-european-political-parties-accountable-testing-the-horizontal-eu-values-compliance-mechanism/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">attempted to trigger Rule 241</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Representing 57 EU citizens, they requested that the European Parliament and APPF verify the compliance of the European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe with EU values, citing their affiliations with Fidesz and PiS.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">It argued that “the EPP has deliberately and persistently refused to take any concrete action against one of its member parties, Hungary’s ruling party Fidesz, notwithstanding its systemic and persistent undermining of Article 2 TEU values as recently evidenced inter alia by the Sargentini report.” And “urge you to undertake a verification – as you are required under Article 10 of the Regulation – of the EPP’s continuing compliance with the values on which the EU is founded.”</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Their efforts were stymied by procedural technicalities. The parliament rejected the request, citing invalid signatures because they were not physically signed — a requirement that was not clearly communicated. And still is not.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">“We did collect signatures, first electronically then on paper, but the EP never declared our request admissible, what stopped the procedure, which never moved to the substance of the matter,” </span><a href=\"https://x.com/alemannoEU\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Alberto Allemanno</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> a legal scholar and founder of </span><a href=\"https://x.com/TheGoodLobby\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The Good Lobby</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> said, who then took the matter to the European Ombudsman.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The European Ombudsman </span><a href=\"https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/it/decision/en/119191\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">upheld</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"> the parliament's decision, pointing out the lack of signed forms but tacitly acknowledging the inadequacy of guidance provided to citizens wishing to exercise this \"very important democratic right.\"</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Since then, it appears that no one has made any attempt to kick off a new verification procedure.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The paradox of militant democracy</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Invoking Rule 241 touches upon the concept of \"militant democracy\" — the idea that a democracy might need to employ undemocratic means to protect itself from forces seeking to dismantle it from within. This paradox presents a moral and practical dilemma.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https://euobserver.com/eu-political/ara5ee95a6\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"rte-link\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Tom Theuns</span></a><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">, a senior assistant professor of political theory and European politics at Leiden University, articulates the tension: \"A militant democratic action is one that itself undermines fundamental democratic principles.\" He cautions that while such measures exist within the EU's legal framework, their use would set a precedent that anti-democratic actors might exploit if they gain power.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">\"One of the core worries of militant democratic measures like party bans is that if you legislate them, it becomes easier for anti-democratic politicians to use these means if they come to power,\" Theuns warns.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Furthermore, taking action against democratically elected parties could feed into populist narratives of an elite suppressing the will of the people — a potent rallying cry for eurosceptic movements.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">A call to action — or a Pandora's Box?</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">MEPs and citizens of the EU thus face a daunting question: Should they awaken Rule 241 to defend its democratic values, risking potential backlash and the erosion of its own principles? Or should it allow the status quo to persist, even as anti-democratic forces gain strength within its institutions?</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The answer may lie in the very values the EU seeks to protect. Democracy is not merely a procedural mechanism but a commitment to uphold human dignity, freedom, and the rule of law. When these principles are under threat, inaction may carry greater risks than decisive, albeit controversial, measures.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Invoking Rule 241 would send a clear message that the EU is willing to defend its foundational values, even at the cost of internal strife. It would also serve as a deterrent to parties that might otherwise feel emboldened to continue undermining democratic norms.</span></p><h2 class=\"rte-h2\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The road ahead</span></h2><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The EU stands at a crossroads. The rise of anti-democratic forces within its own institutions challenges the very fabric of the Union. Rule 241 is not a panacea, but it offers a mechanism — overlooked by most— that could bolster the EU's defence of its core values.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">As professor Morijn suggests, perhaps it's time for this sleeping beauty to awaken. The activation of Rule 241 would require courage, unity, and a reaffirmation of the EU's commitment to its foundational principles. In a time of democratic fragility, such decisive action might be not only justified but necessary.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">Democracy, like a delicate ecosystem, requires constant vigilance to maintain its health. The European Union, conceived as a bastion of democratic values and human rights, must grapple with the internal contradictions posed by anti-democratic elements within its ranks. Rule 241 represents a powerful, albeit contentious, tool that could help preserve the Union's integrity.</span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The question is not merely whether the EU can set off this bombshell, but whether it has the collective will to do so. </span></p><p class=\"rte-p\" dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\">The future of European democracy may well depend on the answer.</span></p>","contributors":[{"id":"eu31f83c46","firstName":"Alejandro","lastName":"Tauber"}],"publishDate":1728470373055,"section":[{"id":"5019a5cd48","title":"Rule of Law"},{"id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political"}],"articleType":[{"id":"8088e5421e","title":"Feature"}],"img":{"id":"ficc1c5d9a","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/ficc1c5d9a/1b3e5c0e-4f28-4f08-b34f-9e27c43e35ad-9572d02f-e91b-421b-8cd5-f4f2b184ced8-c61c10e8-fa95-4eab-9e65-5ccf9ca1c0d6.jpeg"}}],"order":{"mustRead":["ar90936b44","ar901ba1ee","ard7776182","ar1eb43d53","arfbf7a119","ar18626db2","ard33cda50","ar76de3ba9","arfe6fbaf7","arb7fe6688"]}},"c":11502633405672,"s":208272},"8117591503476":{"v":{"data":[]},"c":1765581648739,"s":11},"14179662864941":{"v":{"data":[{"headline":{"en":"Boeing and Airbus shipments passed on to Russia via India, despite sanctions"},"src":"https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/boeing-airbus-russia-sanctions-aircraft-parts-india-intermediaries"},{"headline":{"en":"Italy sells almost all its stake in world’s oldest bank"},"src":"https://www.ft.com/content/65fe3cc4-c8e7-4337-aae8-11ee602e5a60"},{"headline":{"en":"Au-delà du foot Match France-Israël ce jeudi soir au Stade de France : une rencontre sous haute sécurité"},"src":"https://www.liberation.fr/sports/football/match-france-israel-au-stade-de-france-une-rencontre-sous-haute-securite-20241113_VVLG4PNJEZGKTE5AVNHGVMGYZ4/"},{"headline":{"en":"US official charged over leak of Israel plan to attack Iran"},"src":"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62lvvqezn2o"},{"headline":{"en":"Far-right fake jobs trial: French prosecutors request Marine Le Pen be banned from running for public office"},"src":"https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/11/13/far-right-fake-jobs-trial-french-prosecutors-request-marine-le-pen-be-banned-from-election-to-office_6732729_7.html"},{"headline":{"en":"Italy’s Albania asylum deal has become a political disaster for Giorgia Meloni"},"src":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/14/italy-albania-asylum-deal-complete-failure-giorgia-meloni"},{"headline":{"en":"Russians accused of crimes offered choice - 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crunch"},"src":"https://www.ft.com/content/d4761bdb-db59-450f-9781-d516e017b05f"},{"headline":{"en":"Hungary brushes off ministerial no-shows at EU Council health summit"},"src":"https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/25/hungary-brushes-off-ministerial-no-shows-at-eu-council-health-summit"},{"headline":{"en":"EU countries yet to obey von der Leyen’s demand for male and female Commissioner nominees"},"src":"https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/25/eu-countries-yet-to-obey-von-der-leyens-demand-for-male-and-female-commissioner-nominees"},{"headline":{"en":"Latvia appeals removal of sanctions on Russians Fridman and Aven"},"src":"https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/latvia-appeals-removal-sanctions-russians-fridman-aven-2024-07-24/"},{"headline":{"en":"Illicit Flow of Technology to Russia Goes Through This Hong Kong Address"},"src":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/technology/russia-sanctions-chips.html"},{"headline":{"en":"EU warns Meloni over press freedom in 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class="o a6"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:64px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;min-width:100%" class="ssvjh9"><div class="ks kt f1 ku kv a3 l dct6ml kowbca" style="background-position:center;background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1582/fib0c79e19/48585826-465f-4ded-86b8-b3f342c0a4a2-f1c8a55a-2425-4560-a4b9-88f3e26aec4b-d9b02e49-e838-4566-861c-b73b90ec73bf.png)"><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1q4eddr _9x1sq c3q9lo _4vprv2" style="color:var(--white);position:absolute;display:inline-flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:0;bottom:20px;margin-left:-24px"></h2></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:33%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:none"><a href="/green-economy/arb4fbde5e">Rightwing MEPs get support for anti-green EU inquiry</a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">2 days ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/50739332cc"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Green Economy</span></a><a href="/article-type/80636814db"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Exclusive</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">The ECR group secured enough signatures to launch a formal inquiry committee into what they call 'green lobbying' and the use of EU funds for green NGOs.</div><a href="/green-economy/arb4fbde5e"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Read it</span></a></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:64px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;min-width:100%" class="ssvjh9"><div class="ks kt f1 ku kv a3 l dct6ml kowbca" style="background-position:center;background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1582/fi8bc5bda5/c7511796-f1c9-4fae-9c3c-36e0874a7dae-615345af-4530-471a-af10-6ed34a149694-fc9bd8eb-4773-46e4-8f7b-c1a8da7acdcb.jpeg)"><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1q4eddr _9x1sq c3q9lo _4vprv2" style="color:var(--white);position:absolute;display:inline-flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:0;bottom:20px;margin-left:-24px"></h2></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:33%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:none"><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar00eab35c">Eggs won’t win the EU a trade war against the US</a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">21 hours ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">Amid escalating tariff threats, the US Department of Agriculture turned to the EU for egg imports. 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style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:33%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:none"><a href="/eu-and-the-world/arddd0eb84">EU and China to resume talks on electric vehicle pricing deal</a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">20 hours ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">China and the EU have resumed 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href="https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/boeing-airbus-russia-sanctions-aircraft-parts-india-intermediaries" target="_blank"><li class="a2 fy a5 j o _1ksthn4 _10m8r96" style="border-top:2px solid black"><button class="x a6 a2 l a7 o a8 a3 j55797 _1316jf6" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--orange);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-left:19px;min-width:21px;min-height:21px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="13" height="10" viewBox="0 0 13 10" fill="currentColor"><path d="M12.068 5.45962C12.3219 5.20578 12.3219 4.79422 12.068 4.54038L7.93144 0.403806C7.6776 0.149965 7.26605 0.149965 7.0122 0.403806C6.75836 0.657647 6.75836 1.0692 7.0122 1.32304L10.6892 5L7.0122 8.67696C6.75836 8.9308 6.75836 9.34235 7.0122 9.59619C7.26605 9.85003 7.6776 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French prosecutors request Marine Le Pen be banned from running for public office</h3><div class="o"><div class="gj gk bl gr gb f7 gc g0 gd" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/11/13/...</div><div class="x"></div></div><div class="o em b1 a2"></div></div></li></a><a class="fx j o" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/14/italy-albania-asylum-deal-complete-failure-giorgia-meloni" target="_blank"><li class="a2 fy a5 j o _1ksthn4 _10m8r96" style="border-top:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12)"><button class="x a6 a2 l a7 o a8 a3 j55797 _1316jf6" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--orange);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-left:19px;min-width:21px;min-height:21px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="13" height="10" viewBox="0 0 13 10" fill="currentColor"><path d="M12.068 5.45962C12.3219 5.20578 12.3219 4.79422 12.068 4.54038L7.93144 0.403806C7.6776 0.149965 7.26605 0.149965 7.0122 0.403806C6.75836 0.657647 6.75836 1.0692 7.0122 1.32304L10.6892 5L7.0122 8.67696C6.75836 8.9308 6.75836 9.34235 7.0122 9.59619C7.26605 9.85003 7.6776 9.85003 7.93144 9.59619L12.068 5.45962ZM0.608398 5.65L11.6084 5.65V4.35L0.608398 4.35L0.608398 5.65Z"></path></svg></div></button><div class="fz g0 o ao ej vywzsv"><h3 class="bp gg gh bq" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:4px">Italy’s Albania asylum deal has become a political disaster for Giorgia Meloni</h3><div class="o"><div class="gj gk bl gr gb f7 gc g0 gd" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/14/italy-...</div><div class="x"></div></div><div class="o em b1 a2"></div></div></li></a></ul><button class="x a6 a2 l a7 o a8 a3 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-left:auto;margin-top:42px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bi bl gz bj _1j3zqid">More</span></div></button></div></div><div class="j p1ikjm" style="height:76px"></div><div class="j ii ij ik il" style="padding-top:48px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:center;transform:translate3d(0px,0px,0px)"><div class="o a6"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:64px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;min-width:100%" class="ssvjh9"><div class="ks kt f1 ku kv a3 l dct6ml kowbca" style="background-position:center;background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1582/ficc1c5d9a/1b3e5c0e-4f28-4f08-b34f-9e27c43e35ad-9572d02f-e91b-421b-8cd5-f4f2b184ced8-c61c10e8-fa95-4eab-9e65-5ccf9ca1c0d6.jpeg)"></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:40%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:block;margin-bottom:24px"><a href="/rule-of-law/arb7fe6688">Rule 241: the EU’s hidden ‘bombshell’ against anti-democratic forces</a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">5 months ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/5019a5cd48"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Rule of Law</span></a><a href="/article-type/8088e5421e"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Feature</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">Legal scholars have dubbed it a "sleeping beauty" — a potent yet practically unused EU Parliament instrument akin to the EU's own Article 7, designed to safeguard the rule of law and the integrity of its institutions.</div><a href="/rule-of-law/arb7fe6688"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Read it</span></a></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:64px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;min-width:100%" class="ssvjh9"><div class="ks kt f1 ku kv a3 l dct6ml kowbca" style="background-position:center;background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1582/fi48e26d06/66b5067f-7483-4f78-839d-4923a3c58701-c6712235-ff7e-4272-9542-aa74f99dc1db-08e8fe1d-5910-48ec-88d0-c84eeb98be26.jpeg)"></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:40%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:block;margin-bottom:24px"><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar90936b44">Dekonspiratsiya: Meet 20 of Putin's EU spies</a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">25 days ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a><a href="/article-type/80e452251d"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Investigation</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have a "higher risk appetite" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their plots.</div><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar90936b44"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Read it</span></a></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:64px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;min-width:100%" class="ssvjh9"><div class="ks kt f1 ku kv a3 l dct6ml kowbca" style="background-position:center;background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1582/fi871e2a30/65924dc8-9998-420e-92ae-9d3b1cc59b28-9b1c40d1-bf87-40a2-96a0-023cbca2b472-3be0a9e2-40a5-4a60-a4e4-25de511a217c.jpeg)"></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:40%;padding-right:26px" class="_8sp753"><div class="kw"></div><h2 class="bp ge gf d5 oz3u7r _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);display:block;margin-bottom:24px"><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar901ba1ee">As Trump sells out Europe’s security, ‘war is not over’ in Ukraine </a></h2><span class="gj gk bl" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">1 month ago</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:20px"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a><a href="/article-type/80178480d0"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Analysis</span></a></div><div class="bp bl h0 _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px">The US and Russia have agreed to start negotiations “immediately" to end the war in Ukraine. But experts keep warning about the moral and strategic consequences of a bad deal — especially for Europe. Meanwhile, it is clear that Ukrainians have no trust in any peace deal with Moscow without strong security guarantees.</div><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar901ba1ee"><span class="gx h7 bk ga h8 h9 a3 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Read it</span></a></div></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:16px;width:auto;align-items:center;justify-content:end;margin-top:24px;padding-left:26px;padding-right:26px" class="_138zml0"><button class="x a6 a2 l a7 o a8 a3 j55797 _1316jf6" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--orange);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bi bl gz bj _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(180deg)"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" 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