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European Union (EU)

Timber From Illegal Logging In Amazon Discovered In US, European Markets

April 6, 2025 Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, EcoWatch. , , , , ,
A new investigative report, Tricks, Traders and Trees, by international NGO the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals widespread illegal logging, corruption and fraud in the Brazilian Amazon. The investigation traced illegal timber that had originated from five logging sites in Pará state to the United States and European Union, despite laws that prohibit the importing of illegal timber and require due diligence from companies. “Our investigation shows how illegal Amazon timber is flooding EU and U.S. markets, fueling unfair competition for legitimate companies despite laws banning the trade in illicit wood.

Germany Issues Deportation Orders Against US, EU Citizens Over Pro-Palestine Activism

April 2, 2025 News Desk, The Cradle. , , , , , , ,
German authorities are seeking to deport four foreign nationals, including three EU citizens, over their alleged involvement in pro-Palestinian protests in Berlin, a move that has sparked significant legal and civil rights concerns, 972 Magazine and The Intercept reported on 1 April. The individuals – Cooper Longbottom (US), Kasia Wlaszczyk (Poland), Shane O’Brien, and Roberta Murray (both Ireland) – have not been convicted of any crimes. However, they face expulsion orders under German migration law, citing vague accusations linked to demonstrations against Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

It’s Up To Europe’s Citizens

March 19, 2025 Edward Lozansky, Consortium News. , , , , , , , ,
For the record, it was the U.S., from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden, that provoked the Ukrainian tragedy. And now it is the Europeans who can stop it. NATO’s Eastern expansion led to the bloodiest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War, one that could lead to a Third. Donald Trump in his first term tried to exit this crisis, only to be subjected to the Russiagate “scandal” and two unsuccessful impeachment efforts led the bipartisan U.S. War Party. Eventually, they succeeded and took back power, facilitating Joe Biden’s 2020 victory with various manipulations, including producing a letter signed by 51 top, retired U.S. intelligence officers falsely blaming Russia for the criminal contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop that included his father’s involvement.

War Fever Grips Europe

March 18, 2025 Uroš Lipušcek, Consortium News. , , , , , , ,
The Russians are coming and Europe is preparing for war. Hysteria has gripped the continent. It is being spread by political elites who claim peace in Europe is no longer a given. “Never again” is now a motto forgotten. As if two world wars born in Europe were not enough. These are the only possible assessments to be drawn from the extraordinary March 5 European Union summit in Brussels at which rearmament and renewed militarization of Europe became the cause to unite an increasingly disunited EU. Meanwhile, leading media are doing their part to whip up the cries of war.  

Heritage Foundation And Allies Discuss Dismantling The EU

March 15, 2025 Sam Bright, DeSmog. , , ,
The group that drafted a key blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term convened a meeting in Washington D.C. this week to consider proposals for bulldozing the European Union (EU). The Polish investigative outlet VSquare revealed that the Heritage Foundation gathered hardline conservative groups on 11 March to hear how they would overhaul the current structures of the EU. The “closed-door workshop” featured a debate on a new paper produced by the lobby groups MCC and Ordo Iuris entitled: “The Great Reset: Restoring Member State Sovereignty in the 21st Century”.

Collapsing Empire: ‘NATO Is Dead’

March 14, 2025 Kit Klarenberg, Scheer Post. , , , , ,
On March 3rd, Timothy Ash of elite British state-connected ‘defence’ think tank Chatham House made a series of startling proclamations in an interview with Bloomberg. His topline message was stark – “NATO is dead.” He spoke following the very public February 28th Oval Office fallout between Volodomyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. The impact of that debacle reverberates today, with questions abounding over continued US aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev, pending the Ukrainian leader’s signoff on a White House-endorsed minerals for security agreements deal.

The European Union Fast-Tracks Militarization; Pushes Rearmament

March 12, 2025 Ana Vracar, People's Dispatch. , , , , , , ,
The race to ReArm Europe showed no signs of slowing during a debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday, as political representatives across the spectrum threw their weight behind the military expansion plans of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. The only occasional rebuke from centrist and right-wing parties was that the proposal doesn’t go far enough in light of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the widening disconnect between his administration and European governments.

Hundreds Of Thousands Commemorate International Women’s Day

March 9, 2025 Malek Fouda, Euro News. , , , ,
Women took to the streets of cities across the globe on Saturday to mark International Women’s Day. Protests and rallies were held in major capitals as activists called for an end to inequality and gender-based violence, among many other demands. Thousands marched in the European capital, Brussels to warn against what organisers of the rally called a “worrying regression” in women’s rights. The rise of the right, and in some cases, far-right, across European countries has led many activists to worry that women’s rights may be under threat. “With the rise of the far right everywhere in Europe there could really be a backlash on the rights (of women and minorities),” said Quentin Poucard, a French protester participating in the Brussels rally.

Ukraine, Diplomacy And War

March 5, 2025 Craig Murray, Consortium News. , , , , ,
When politicians in power are extremely unpopular, they generally turn to militarism and jingoism for a quick boost. Keir Starmer is now the darling of the U.K. media for his sabre-rattling over Ukraine and the prime minister is busily churning out tweets of military imagery. In doing so he is attempting to pose as in defiance of Donald Trump and capitalise on the U.S. president’s unpopularity in the U.K., even though he was just last week fawning over Trump in the White House and inviting him on an “unprecedented” second State visit. As ever, there is a great deal of smoke and mirrors here. The European leaders are going to come up with an alternative “peace plan” to present to Trump.

End In Sight For Ukraine War After Riyadh Meeting

February 19, 2025 Joe Lauria, Consortium News. , , , , ,
The Ukrainian war, which began in 2014 as a civil conflict and led to Russia’s intervention eight years later in February 2022, appeared headed to a resolution after top U.S. and Russian officials met in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, incensing European and Ukrainian leaders who were excluded. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid out what was accomplished in Riyadh. He said four principles had been agreed to: restoring ties by reopening diplomatic missions; the U.S. would appoint a high-level team to achieve “the end of the conflict in Ukraine” that is “enduring” and acceptable to all parties; the countries would work together towards economic cooperation; and the participants at the Tuesday meeting to remain engaged.

Trump’s Trade Wars Push US Allies Into Open Rebellion

February 8, 2025 Robert Inlakesh, MintPress News. , , , , , , ,
In an increasingly multipolar world, Donald Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the European Union threaten to erode the United States’ global standing. The move has even provoked a backlash from Canada, a historically close ally, where citizens have responded by launching a significant boycott movement. With the notable exception of Israel, Trump has strained relations with nearly all of Washington’s traditional allies. Among the most unexpected targets of his rhetoric has been Canada, a country he has suggested should “become our cherished 51st state.”

Energy Communities Are Gaining Ground In Spain

December 24, 2024 Massimiliano Saltori, Next City. , , ,
Across the European Union, traditional energy systems are still dominated by centralized fossil fuel power plants, slowing the transition to more ambitious climate targets. Spain is no stranger to this. Today, the country’s electricity generation accounts for nearly 15% of its global greenhouse gas emissions, ranking third after transportation (30%) and industry (18%). The good news is that the last five years have also been crucial for developing new solutions to curb emissions and improve energy efficiency. To reduce greenhouse gases, the E.U. has passed several directives promoting a more decentralized energy system, allowing local initiatives to flourish.

Over 800 Euro Banks Invest In Companies Supporting Illegal Settlements

November 30, 2024 News Desk, The Cradle. , , , , , ,
The Don’t Buy into Occupation (DBIO) coalition has issued its 2024 report highlighting the international companies and financial institutions that are actively involved with illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The DBIO coalition is a joint project between 24 Palestinian, regional, and European organizations. The newly released report shows that over the past three years, “822 European financial institutions (including banks, asset managers, insurance companies, and pension funds) had financial relationships with 58 companies that are actively involved with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).”

The Potential Of Cooperatives For Economic Equality

November 25, 2024 Cooperatives Europe. , , ,
Released on October 17th under the title “Social Development in Times of Converging Crises: A Call for Global Action”, the report is the output of the global call by the GA resolution 77/281 in April 2023 to promote the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development.   Overall, the report estimates that the economic cost of crisis mitigation from 2020 until 2030 will translate into “a cumulative output loss of over $50 trillion”, to the detriment of social development. It is a global plea to prioritise people and the planet over profit, and for public-private social investments to be at the same level as their economic counterparts.  

The Missing Link In Europe’s Sustainable Food Future

November 25, 2024 Anna Scavuzzo and David Dessers, Resilience.org. , , ,
As we face increasingly urgent global challenges, including climate change, urbanisation and growing inequality, Europe must transform its food systems to ensure resilience, sustainability and inclusivity. The Strategic Dialogue for Agriculture, convened by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was designed to depolarise the contentious debates surrounding food and agriculture. It brought together a wide range of stakeholders who unanimously adopted a comprehensive set of recommendations for the future of Europe’s food systems.
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