Displaying items by tag: Europe

Green members of the European Parliament will oppose Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second term as president of the European Commission if she aligns with hard-right nationalists, according to Terry Reintke, German Green MEP chair. Reintke stated that her group would ‘absolutely’ not support von der Leyen if she made a deal with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which includes Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni's group. She said that an alliance with the ECR, known for opposing EU green policies, would jeopardise the EU's climate action plans, potentially stalling or halting the Green Deal; this would be disastrous for both the climate and Europe's economic competitiveness against the USA and China. This announcement adds to von der Leyen's challenges, as the centre-left has also pledged not to support her if she collaborates with hard-right parties. To secure a second term, she needs an absolute majority of the 720 MEPs in the new parliament, requiring a broad coalition beyond her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), which is expected to win around 175 seats.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has struggled with endemic corruption, a battle seen as crucial for its war against Russia. Transparency International now ranks it 104th out of 180 countries, its highest position since 2006. Recent developments have been the arrests of supreme court head Vsevolod Knyazev, agriculture minister Mykola Solsky, and SBU officer Artem Shylo, though all deny wrongdoing and are out on bail. A pivotal development was the 2015 launch of Prozorro, a digital platform which reduced corruption in government procurement, saving nearly $6 billion in four years. With substantial Western aid flowing in, ensuring proper control is critical. Corruption has not only drained resources but also hindered foreign aid and military recruitment (many Ukrainians have bribed their way out of the country to avoid conscription). Last year, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed regional conscription officials amid bribery scandals.

The leaders of Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced that their countries will recognise Palestine as a state on 28 May to promote peace in the Middle East, Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Store said that there can be no peace in the region without recognition. Ireland’s prime minister Simon Harris and Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez made similar announcements, with Sanchez condemning Israeli policies in Gaza. Harris expressed confidence that more countries would follow suit, and stressed Ireland's support for Israel's secure existence. Harris said that Ireland was unequivocal in recognising Israel’s right to exist securely and in peace with its neighbours, adding: ‘Let me also be clear, Hamas is not the Palestinian people. A two-state solution is the only way out of the generational cycles of violence, retaliation, and resentment.’ Israel’s immediate response was to recall its envoys from the three countries.

Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a stable but serious condition after being shot multiple times on Wednesday. Fico, 59, underwent five hours of surgery at a hospital in Banska Bystrica. The hospital director confirmed his condition remains grave. He was attacked in Handlova during a meeting, and a suspect was detained at the scene. The interior minister described the incident as a politically motivated assassination attempt. Fico, a divisive figure known for opposing military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, was shot at close range, sustaining injuries to his stomach and arm. The deputy prime minister indicated that Fico’s surgery went well, and he is currently not in a life-threatening condition. The shooting has been widely condemned as an attack on democracy. The suspect, reportedly a 71-year-old writer and political activist, allegedly disagreed with government policies. The incident coincided with parliamentary discussions on abolishing Slovakia's public broadcaster RTVS. The state security council and government are scheduled to meet following the attack.

Vladimir Putin is in China for crucial talks with President Xi Jinping, shortly after Russia launched a fresh incursion into Ukraine's Kharkiv region. Putin was received with full military honours, and Xi emphasised their strong 'friendship’. The two countries have issued a joint statement warning of the increased risks of nuclear war amid heightened tensions between nuclear powers. They emphasised that no one can win a nuclear war, and expressed concern over Australia's involvement in the US nuclear deterrence plans. They warned that the conflict in Ukraine could become uncontrollable and outlined plans to deepen military cooperation, including expanding joint military drills. China supports Russia's efforts to ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity, and both nations oppose using space for military confrontation and the seizure of foreign assets. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military reports that it has forced Russian troops to slow their offensive in the northern Kharkiv region. Some commentators believe Russia is aiming to create a buffer zone near the border. The Kremlin dismissed Switzerland's planned peace summit for Ukraine as futile without Russia's involvement, despite over 50 countries planning to attend.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, a Russian assassination plot against Volodymyr Zelensky has been thwarted and two men arrested. They supposedly intended to kidnap and kill the president and other top officials as a ‘gift’ to Vladimir Putin before his inauguration. The two men were allegedly recruited by Russia before the invasion and tasked with coordinating a rocket attack. They face charges of treason and preparing a terrorist act. Russia’s defence ministry has not yet responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, on 7 May Russia launched more than seventy missiles and drones against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The attack was directed at facilities in Kyiv and six other cities. Moscow continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the hope of denting industry and public appetite for fighting back against its invasion. See

On 8 May, North Macedonia held parliamentary and presidential elections. If Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, from the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, wins the presidential election, that could complicate EU accession talks. These talks have been delayed, partly due to a dispute with Greece over the country's name, resolved in 2018 by adding the word 'North’. However, VMRO's leader Hristijan Mickoski refuses to recognise the new name. Bulgaria also opposes the talks until Skopje recognises a tiny Bulgarian minority in the country. If his party wins a majority, Mickoski will likely become prime minister. The elections are seen as critical for determining whether North Macedonia will progress toward the EU or revert to isolation and ethnic conflicts. Opinion polls predict a VMRO victory by a large margin, attributed to dissatisfaction with the current government's handling of economic issues. The country of 1.83 million joined NATO in 2020, but impatience over its slow progress towards EU membership has been growing.

US officials have accused Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, violating international laws. They claim that the choking agent chloropicrin was used to make ‘battlefield gains’. The Kremlin has yet to respond but has denied similar allegations previously. Although in 2017 Russia said it had destroyed all of its Cold War-era stockpile in 2017, it faces accusations of incomplete declarations and subsequent chemical attacks, including the Salisbury attack and Navalny poisoning. Reports suggest Russian forces deployed tear gas grenades, resulting in Ukrainian casualties. Joe Biden has warned of severe consequences if the accusations are proved, and the USA has sanctioned Russian state bodies and firms allegedly linked to biological and chemical weapons programmes. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called for a war crimes investigation, alleging Russian forces executed over a dozen surrendering Ukrainian troops a few months ago.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has denied Nicaragua's request for emergency measures to halt Germany's arms sales to Israel, claiming that this violated the UN genocide convention. Germany is a key ally of Israel and its second-largest arms supplier after the USA, supplying 30% in 2023. Nicaragua also accused Germany of breaching the UN genocide convention by halting funding for UNRWA, the UN's aid agency, over allegations of staff involvement in attacks on Israel. While Germany welcomed the ICJ's decision, it said that it is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and that it was working ‘urgently’ to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza. The ICJ's decision on emergency measures came swiftly, but a final ruling could take years: it will now decide if it has jurisdiction over the case. Nicaragua, a longtime supporter for the Palestinian cause, has itself often been criticised for its human rights issues, including crackdowns on dissent and protests.

A deputy defence minister, Timur Ivanov, has been detained in Moscow, accused of accepting large-scale bribes. Ivanov, who denies the charges, has been overseeing military infrastructure projects since his appointment in 2016. There have been few such high-profile cases since the invasion of Ukraine. Ivanov, an ally of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, faces serious charges. Reports link him to profiting from construction schemes in occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Mariupol. A court has remanded him and a friend, Sergei Borodin, for two months. His detention signifies a significant move against Russia's elite, who are often accused of using their positions to amass vast fortunes. It may also impact Shoigu's standing, as Ivanov (described by the USA and UK as ‘tenth in the overall hierarchy of the Russian military leadership’) is seen as his close associate.