Viktor Oil Ban: Hungary digs in heels as EU pushes for sanctions May 10, 2022 French President Emmanuel Macron has held talks with Viktor Orban as the EU looks to finalise its ban on Russian oil imports.
Sunak faces criticism over plans for European Union chief to ‘meet the King’ February 25, 2023 The Prime Minister’s political judgement has been criticised after a meeting between the King and the leader of the European Union was cancelled. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had been expected to travel to Britain on Saturday amid speculation a deal to fix issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol is near. The German [...]
EC chief Von Der Leyen lashes out at Putin as she calls out ‘Russia’s blackmail’ on food and fuel May 24, 2022 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, today denounced Russian aggression and its use of “hunger and grain to wield power”, in an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Global cooperation is the antidote to Russia’s blackmail,” she said. Her message focused on strategic priorities for Europe since the invasion. Boosting military spending [...]
Explainer: What’s inside Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal? February 27, 2023 As you’re reading this, Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen are getting ready for their joint presser in Windsor after their lunch-time “final talks” on the new deal for the Northern Ireland protocol. Sunak will then bring the news to his MPs with a statement in the Commons. A senior government source has confirmed [...]
The EU’s plans for a ‘social sustainability’ taxonomy are a dangerous intervention February 16, 2022 A few weeks ago, there were heated discussions in the European Union about the so-called “taxonomy,” which will give the EU Commission and European authorities the power to determine which investments are good (i.e. green and sustainable) and which are not. The classifications issued in Brussels would then steer investors’ money in the “right” direction. [...]
Boris Johnson tells leaders at Cop27 to not ‘to go weak on net zero’ November 7, 2022 Boris Johnson has today told world leaders that now is “not the moment to go weak on net-zero” at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt. Referencing the global energy crisis, the former Prime Minister said “much damage has been done in just one year to our common purpose of tackling man-made climate change” but that [...]
Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal passes despite 22 Tory MPs rebelling including Johnson, Patel, Truss and IDS March 22, 2023 MPs have voted in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake aspect of Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework Brexit deal by 515 votes to 29. The prime minister’s agreement with the EU on a revised plan for post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland (NI) was backed by a majority of 486 MPs in the House of [...]
Wielding pitchforks and flinging cow dung, the EU is beholden to angry farmers February 8, 2024 Caving into romanticised notions of the ancient farmers' ways of old won't give us the modern, climate-friendly agriculture we so desperately need.
Brexit deal done: Rishi Sunak signs breakthrough agreement with EU over Northern Ireland protocol February 27, 2023 Rishi Sunak has signed a breakthrough deal with the European Union over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland and will now seek to win the backing of unionists and Tory Eurosceptics. The Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen finalised the long-awaited agreement to ease the trading issues created by the Northern Ireland [...]
EU brings in windfall tax but bloc divided over gas price caps October 1, 2022 The EU has confirmed it will impose a windfall tax on energy firms' profits, as the bloc grapples with a cost of living crisis crunch this winter.