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#EUstrivesformore – President-elect von der Leyen unveils her ‘geopolitical Commission’
Today (10 September), President-elect Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) presented her team and the new structure of the next European Commission college. The new structure reflects the priorities and ambitions set out in the Political Guidelines that received broad support from the European Parliament in July, writes Catherine Feore. VDL wants the EU to lead on a […]
#EuropeanCommission – von der Leyen presents list of new commissioners
European Commission President Juncker meets President-elect Ursula von der Leyen President-elect Ursula von der Leyen today (9 September) formally presented her draft list of commissioners-designate, however, Commission watchers will have to wait until tomorrow to find out the portfolio of each one, writes Catherine Feore. Although politically neutral, Commissioners reflect the political balance of the EU. […]
#Brexit – Is a U-turn in sight?
Boris Johnson wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk on 19 August, setting out the UK government’s position on ‘key aspects’ of Brexit, particularly in relation to the ‘backstop’ provisions in the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The letter comes before one-to-one meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, and […]
#Brexit – ‘Good Friday Agreement will be fiercely defended by the US Congress’ Pelosi
Speaker of the United States Congress Nancy Pelosi fires off a statement in support of the Good Friday Agreement a day after the US National Security Adviser John Bolton’s visit to London where he met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, writes Catherine Feore. Bolton said that the UK would be “first in line” for […]
Spanish judiciary’s abuse of #HumanRights to come under scrutiny before UN and #ECtHR
According to several submissions to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, the Spanish legal system allows for violation of human rights, either by directly ignoring EU standards, or through loopholes in existing laws, writes Human Rights Without Frontiers Director Willy Fautré. An emblematic case in point is the abuse suffered by the Kokorev family (Vladimir Kokorev, […]
#FemTech – Millions of women could benefit from new non-invasive treatment for pelvic floor dysfunctions
Dr. Elan Ziv has developed a device that could transform the lives of women living with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Visiting Brussels, we took the opportunity to interview him and find out more about a completely novel non-surgical and disposable management option for women with POP. ConTIPI develops non-invasive and disposable vaginal devices for various […]
#Georgia and #SouthOssetia – EU should support International Peace Project
The EU has applauded the efforts of a pioneering project which aims to reconcile people in Georgia and South Ossetia, a so-called frozen conflict zone. A source of tension since the break-up of the Soviet Union, South Ossetia hosted a brief war between Russia and Georgia in 2008. Moscow subsequently recognised South Ossetia as an […]