The European Parliament has overwhelmingly backed a resolution calling for sanctions on Hong Kong officials and for the city’s special trade status to be revoked in protest of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s conviction in a national security trial. At the plenary session in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, 503 parliament members voted in favour…
European lawmakers have renewed their calls for the bloc’s executive arm to revoke Hong Kong’s special trade status, and to sanction the city’s chief executive and officials to protest the conviction of former media boss Jimmy Lai on national security charges. During the debate in the European Parliament on Thursday, Hong Kong time, some MEPs…
Late last year, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began her second term in office, a giant purple banner was draped over the side of the EU executive arm’s headquarters, declaring: “United for our Future, 2024-2029.” Its leaders will gather on Thursday to try to round off the year with a collective bang,…
In a dramatic speech in Berlin on Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen painted a dystopian picture of today’s world as she reiterated her calls for an independent Europe. “Europe is facing up to another seismic change in the way the global economy works. We may be approaching a shift in the international…
The European Union has sanctioned two mainland Chinese oil refineries and one Hong Kong-based oil trader as part of its latest efforts to hobble Russia’s war economy, drawing a stern rebuke from Beijing. The companies were listed in a broader package of sanctions agreed by the EU’s 27 member states on Thursday morning, punishing in…
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has confirmed he will attend China’s World War II commemorations next month, making him the first EU leader to publicly announce his plans to be at the event, which will feature a military parade in Tiananmen Square. “Apparently, I will visit China again on the occasion of the celebration of…
For months since the return of US President Donald Trump, there has been a roaring trade in papers and speeches about how to make Europe a truly independent geopolitical player. The term “strategic autonomy”, championed by the French government during Trump’s first term, is back in vogue. But the independence movement was on the ropes…
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Leaders from the European Union’s 27 member countries called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and said discussions would continue on a report on Israel’s compliance with the terms of an agreement with the bloc. “The European Council calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all…
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas Monday called for what she called “a dose of realism” in its relations with China after EU foreign ministers discussed security aspects of relations with China. The ministers met to set the agenda for a planned July 2 Brussels meeting between Kallas and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi…