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Stephan Israel

Stephan Israel Published: December 7th, 2022

Western Balkans Summit: ‘new impetus’ for accession process

The location for the summit between the EU heads of state and government and the six states of the Western Balkans alone was a first. It was “historic” that the EU was meeting outside its borders, the host and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stressed in Tirana on Tuesday. Both sides demonstrated that they needed […]

Stephan Israel Published: December 6th, 2022

EU Defense Fund: over 100 applications for research projects

Europe’s defense industry has responded with keen interest to the second call for proposals from the European Defense Fund (EDF): The EU Commission reported 134 applications for joint research projects after the application deadline at the end of November.A total of €924 million is available from the Defense Fund to support the projects. The Commission […]

Stephan Israel Published: November 30th, 2022

Defense industry needs ‘long-term vision’

The European defense industry is calling for a long-term vision and massive investments. It is about a stable production rate and European competitiveness, Alessandro Profumo, President of the Aerospace, Security and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD), said Tuesday in Brussels.In the short term, it must be possible to accelerate production, Profumo said. The entire […]

Stephan Israel Published: October 6th, 2022

Struggle over the gas price cap

Shortly before the double summit this Thursday and Friday in Prague, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg that she was doing a U-turn in the dispute over a gas price cap – she signaled her willingness in principle to introduce a cap on gas prices. Later, her […]

Stephan Israel Published: September 30th, 2022

Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: in the grip of the nationalists

The nation’s citizens vote with their feet every day. Last year alone, 170,000 residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina left their homes, out of a population of 3.5 million. On Sunday, new parliaments will be elected in the torn country and the leadership of the entities will be selected. There is little hope that the outcome […]

Stephan Israel Published: July 5th, 2022

Turmoil over personnel in the EU Parliament

For the GUE group in the EU Parliament, the deal should have paid off: Sanna Lepola, the former secretary-general of the Left, is to lead the new Directorate-General Partnership Parliamentary Democracy, which was specially created as a political maneuvering mass. The agreement between the political families in the EU Parliament is also expected to pay […]

Stephan Israel Published: June 30th, 2022

NATO describes China as new challenge

The view of Russia is unsurprisingly without illusions against the backdrop of the attack on Ukraine: The Russian Federation is the “greatest and most immediate threat to the security of allies and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area,” according to the new strategic concept adopted by NATO at its summit in Madrid.The passage […]

Stephan Israel Published: June 30th, 2022

Frans Timmermans: a win within reach for Europe’s climate czar

Actually, as the EU’s climate czar, Frans Timmermans would be the man of the hour. But now, he is once again somewhat overshadowed, not getting the unrestricted attention he deserves. Sometimes it’s the circumstances, like now with the Ukraine war, sometimes Ursula von der Leyen steals the show. Yet Frans Timmermans is the man who […]

Stephan Israel Published: June 28th, 2022

NATO responds to new threat situation

It is to be the most important summit of the military alliance in decades. In view of the threat posed by Russia and the war in Ukraine, NATO wants to position itself significantly better. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the number of NRF rapid reaction forces would be expanded from the current 40,000 […]

Stephan Israel Published: June 9th, 2022

EU Parliament votes in favor of ban on combustion engine cars from 2035

In the end, the majorities were relatively clear: 339 MEPs voted in favor of banning new cars with combustion engines in 2035, with 249 against and 24 abstentions. “An ambitious revision of CO2- standards is a crucial element to reach our climate targets,” said a pleased rapporteur Jan Huitema (Renew). This would provide clarity for […]