Tag: EU

The Popularity of Populism

Commentary Sweden held a general election for its legislature, the Riksdag, on Sept. 11. Unexpectedly, the election was won by a centre-right coalition, which includes the right-wing Sweden Democrats. The Sweden Democrats—a small fringe party in the early part of this century—rose to prominence during the last couple of years because of its anti-immigration stance…


Chinese State-Run Media Disapproves of Italy’s Newly Elected Meloni

The coalition led by the Brothers of Italy won Italy’s general election on Sept. 25. The party’s leader Giorgia Meloni will become the country’s first female prime minister. The Chinese communist regime and its official media reacted to Meloni’s victory with a warning and negative prediction, as Meloni has expressed strong support for Taiwan and…


Biden Draining Strategic Petroleum Reserve Like ‘Campaign Credit Card’: Industry Official

The head of a U.S. oil industry association warned that the Biden administration is wantonly draining the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a bid to keep Democrats afloat ahead of the 2022 midterms. “This is the first time in history, honestly, that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been used as a campaign credit card to buy…


The European Union Is About to Rupture

Commentary  The possible, even likely, collapse of the European economy would inflict some heavy costs to present European institutions. In this entry, Dr. Peter Nyberg and I detail why we believe we are likely to see some rupturing of the European Union (EU) as originally conceived. This may occur in two ways: Either the European…


EU Signs Ukraine Aid Deal, New Partnerships on Green, Digital World Ambitions

The executive arm of the European Union on Monday announced a 500 million euro (US$497 million) support budget to help Ukraine’s housing, education, and agricultural sectors. The agreement was made in the wings of an EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting in Brussels with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal. It comes more than six months after Ukraine…


EU Open to Helping Plug Australia Capability Gap

The European Union’s outgoing ambassador to Australia says the bloc remains ready and willing to sell Canberra military equipment to plug any capability gaps arising from the cancellation of a French submarine contract. The first nuclear-propelled submarines to be delivered by the US or UK under the new AUKUS agreement will not be ready for…


Novavax COVID Vaccines Should Carry Heart Inflammation Warning, EU Says

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today recommended adding a warning for two types of heart inflammation to Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, marketed under the brand names Nuvaxovid and Covovax, based on a small number of cases reported in those who received the vaccine. According to a statement, the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee — responsible for assessing and monitoring…


Russia’s Gazprom Announces Reduction of Gas Through Nord Stream 1

Russian energy firm Gazprom said it will have to further reduce gas flow through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline this week due to repairs, coming as European Union officials called on member states to curb gas usage by next year. Gazprom, a state-run entity, resumed gas shipments via Nord Stream 1 on July 21 after…


Is the EU Using China’s Methods of Surveillance?

Commentary Let’s play a quick game of word association. When you hear the word “China,” what other words spring to mind? Persecution, communism, tyranny, “zero-COVID” madness. How about surveillance? Having lived in China for nearly two years, I speak from experience when I say the following: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) monitors the actions of…


EU Imposes More Sanctions on Moscow Over Ukraine Invasion

BRUSSELS—The European Union imposed more sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine on Thursday after the bloc’s 27 members backed measures that include a ban on gold imports, further restrictions on the country’s biggest bank, and tighter export controls on some high-technology goods. European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the “reinforced, prolonged EU…