Author: Andrew Rogers

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised Norway for its strong role inside the alliance. He highlighted the country’s defense spending, support for Ukraine, and growing importance in Arctic security. The comments came after a meeting in Brussels on 11 June with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The talks focused on NATO’s future plans and preparations for the upcoming summit in Ankara. Both leaders discussed how member countries can share more responsibility in defense and security. Rutte said Norway is one of the strongest contributors in the alliance. He pointed to its defense spending, which is now above 3%…

Big changes are happening in EU tech lobbying. A new report shows that major tech companies are spending large amounts of money to influence policy in Brussels. The focus is on how digital rules in Europe are made and changed. The report says that Meta is once again at the top. The company spent about €10 million in one year on policy influence work in the European Union. This keeps Meta ahead of other big technology firms in lobbying activity in Brussels. The findings come from a joint report by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl. These groups track lobbying activity…

The European Union has urged Albania to take immediate action over a controversial resort project linked to the Trump family. The warning comes as environmental groups and local protesters raise alarm about damage to a protected wetland area in the country’s south. The European Commission said Albania must fully follow EU environmental laws if it wants to move forward in its membership process. The statement was made after growing concerns about a luxury resort planned near the Vjosa-Narta lagoon, a key biodiversity zone in the Mediterranean region. Thousands of people protested last week against the project. It is reportedly backed…

Brussels education protest movements drew thousands of people into the streets as citizens voiced strong opposition to new education reforms introduced by the French Community government in Belgium. The demonstration began at Poelaert Square near the Palace of Justice, where an initial group of around 500 to 1,000 participants gathered, according to Dutch-language broadcaster VRT. The crowd gradually expanded as more protesters joined the march through the central parts of the city. At its peak, police estimated that around 2,500 people took part in the demonstration. The march later moved toward Brussels Central Station, passing through Regentschapsstraat and Koningsplein as…

The European Union’s planned Association Agreement with Andorra and San Marino is facing renewed scrutiny after concerns were raised over rule of law practices and financial disputes in both microstates, according to an opinion analysis by former Irish minister Dick Roche. The agreement, described by EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič as potentially the bloc’s most comprehensive arrangement with any third country, has gained broad institutional support within the European Commission, Council, and Parliament. However, critics argue that unresolved legal controversies in both countries raise questions about whether deeper integration should proceed without stricter safeguards. One of the central issues highlighted in…

Kosovo is heading into a new round of voting on Sunday as the Kosovo election crisis continues to deepen, raising concerns in Brussels about the country’s political stability and its long-term path toward European Union integration. This will be the third parliamentary election in just over a year, reflecting a prolonged institutional deadlock. For much of the past 18 months, Kosovo has struggled with a weakening political system and incomplete governance structures. The repeated elections have left key institutions only partly functional, slowing decision-making and delaying reforms needed for EU progress. Much of the political tension has centered on Prime…

Brussels has unveiled a major EU Digital Sovereignty Package aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on major US and Asian technology firms and strengthening the bloc’s own industrial capacity in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. The European Commission said the initiative marks a shift from regulation-focused digital policy to a more industrial strategy designed to build European alternatives in critical technology sectors. The package includes proposals for a Cloud and AI Development Act, a revised Chips Act, an expanded open-source strategy, and new procurement rules intended to support European technology providers in public and security-related infrastructure. Officials said the EU…

Flights across Belgium were heavily disrupted after a sudden air traffic strike caused widespread cancellations and delays at major airports. The action affected both passenger and cargo operations and is expected to continue during peak travel hours. The Belgium air traffic strike began overnight on Monday when air traffic controllers walked off the job without prior warning. The strike quickly led to major disruptions across the country’s aviation network. At Charleroi Airport, around 30 passenger flights were cancelled due to the shortage of available air traffic control staff. The disruption caused confusion among travelers and forced airlines to adjust schedules.…

The European Commission is preparing to release up to €17 billion in previously frozen EU funds to Hungary after a major political shift in the country’s leadership, triggering renewed debate over how European Union money is used and what conditions are attached to it. The funding package includes about €10.4 billion from the EU’s post-Covid Recovery and Resilience Facility and another €6–7 billion from cohesion policy funds that had been blocked for years. The money was withheld over concerns related to rule of law, judicial independence, anti-corruption safeguards, and academic freedom standards. Hungary had remained the only EU member state…

A Himalayan climate dialogue Brussels event brought diplomats, scientists, and international officials together in Belgium to discuss the growing impact of climate change on the Himalayan region and the urgent need for stronger global cooperation and financing. The event, titled “Dialogue on Climate Change and its Impact on the Himalayas,” was organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Brussels at the European External Action Service (EEAS). It was held on Friday to mark International Everest Day, which commemorates the first successful ascent of Mount Everest and highlights the global significance of mountain ecosystems. According to the embassy, the dialogue focused…