Brussels officials are never lost for words on Gaza or the war in Ukraine. But critics say it is another matter entirely when it comes to the persecution of foreign Christians, especially by Islamists.
Dutch conservative MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen said on Monday that the European Union—as well as other international communities—is “far too silent about jihadist violence against Christians.”
Poland’s recent presidential election is now at risk of being overturned after the conservative candidate, Karol Nawrocki, won a surprise victory against the liberal favorite. Backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, Nawrocki defeated the liberal Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, a close ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Brussels-aligned coalition.
But instead of acceptance, Nawrocki’s win has triggered a wave of resistance. Unlike in other EU countries—where electoral irregularities are tolerated if the “correct” candidates win—Poland now faces the prospect of having the vote annulled altogether. The Supreme Court has announced that it will issue a verdict on the election’s validity on July 1 after receiving more than 50,000 complaints.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is “looking for a closer partnership” with the European Union — but not to become a member.
While speaking from the NATO summit in the Netherlands — where he announced Canada’s promise to spend five per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2035 — Carney was asked whether he has given any thought to trying to join the bloc of European nations.
“The short answer is no,” he said. “That’s not the intent. That’s not the pathway we’re on.”
Bullshit.
The European Union has experienced quite a few shocks over the past two decades. The most significant one was not Covid, or Brexit, or the Ukraine war. It was the sovereign debt crisis. The fairytale story is that Mario Draghi single-handedly ended the crisis when he told the world that he would do “whatever it takes” to save the euro. He was the president of the European Central Bank when he announced a backstop. It is a convenient explanation because it assumes that the crisis is over.
I am going to put my head on the block to predict that this crisis could come back sooner than we think. Last time, it was the southern Europeans who triggered it. This time, it is the northern Europeans with their relentless push for an increase in defence spending to 5% of GDP.
By the time the environmental permits are signed off for a new TNT plant in Sweden at the end of this year, Russia will already be producing explosives at a new facility.
Swedish Ballistics (SweBal) is aiming to tap into Europe’s rush to rearm itself by opening what will be the EU’s second factory producing military-grade TNT, used in the production of artillery shells, landmines and grenades.
The firm hopes to produce 4,500 metric tonnes annually by the end of 2027, which will be enough for Europe to produce roughly 450,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition.
Now I understand why Carney wants to hitch Canada’s wagon to the EU. They think like he does.
Prime Minister Carney has deep ties to Europe and friends in high places.
Europe has serious problems that it acknowledges but fails to address.
Ergo, Mark Carney risks going down in history as Canada’s most disastrous prime minister.
February 14, 2025. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivers remarks in Germany, at the Munich Security Conference. The audience expects him to talk about foreign policy, geopolitics, and threats facing the world.
Instead, he says that the most worrying threat today is “the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values.” He adds that European countries and institutions are undermining democracy and freedom of speech — and gives examples.
“A former European commissioner,” Vance states, “went on television recently and sounded delighted that the Romanian government had just annulled an entire election.”
BRUSSELS — The EU has offered the United States a “zero-for-zero” tariff scheme, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday, seeking to avoid a tit-for-tat trade war.
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners. Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,” she told a press conference alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
BREAKING: The European Union says they're ready to negotiate with the United States, says they've offered zero for zero tariffs.
The announcement was made by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
"Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the… pic.twitter.com/yTRTS8B4us
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 7, 2025
Anybody clinging to the hope that the United States will continue its post-Second World War role as the world’s policeman without major changes was likely disabused of that notion during the tumultuous Feb. 28 White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Perhaps the most astonishing part of that clash was that Trump was — for him — relatively restrained. Vice-President J.D. Vance seemed determined to derail the meeting and Zelenskyy apparently came looking for a fight. In the end, it was clear that, going forward, the United States government will assist other countries on its own terms, and only if there’s something to be gained.
European leaders are in Brussels today for an emergency summit on defence, and the future of both Ukraine and the continent. In a further attempt to hash out a peace plan for Ukraine, the 27 EU heads of state are joined by Volodymyr Zelensky. Arriving this morning, Zelensky declared, ‘It’s great we are not alone’.
As part of today’s agenda, members of the bloc are expected to endorse Ursula von der Leyen’s ReArm Europe plan – which will make €150 billion (£125 billion) available in loans for members to boost defence spending. The summit will also likely discuss French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend his country’s ‘nuclear umbrella’ to its continental neighbours.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday vowed to “eradicate” what he called the “liberal-fascist” opposition. Georgia has been rocked by violent protests for more than a week after the newly re-elected government announced it was suspending the country’s bid to join the European Union.
In a move reminiscent of Texas Governor Gregg Abbott’s scheme to send illegals to liberal-run cities throughout the United States, Hungarian Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Bence Rétvári promised to provide migrants with one-way tickets to Brussels.
In the recent summit in Paris of European Union leaders on Ukraine, there was an elephant in the room: The US Republican Party and its current mahout, former President Donald J. Trump.
According to those who were able to peep into the session, much of the discussion was about what the US will or won’t do in case the volatile mahout rides his elephant into the White House in November.
Trump’s musings about ending the war in Ukraine and taming Vladimir Putin without war and his quip about refusing to support a NATO member not paying its share, if attacked by Russia, took up a disproportionate part of the discussions. Then came the French President Emmanuel Macron’s bombshell about boots on the ground in Ukraine.
The British Army is now the smallest it has been in 200 years, as more defence personnel continue to leave than join, while in Germany the military recruitment crisis is so acute the defence minister speaks of bringing back conscription.
Europe is in “complete denial” as China proceeds to spread its influence on the continent. At least that is the urgent, unequivocal view of Ivana Karásková, a Czech foreign influence specialist and a special adviser to European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová.
“In some countries, awareness of [Chinese influence operations] is high because they have a history of Russian-backed action. Elsewhere, it’s complete denial,” she told Politico. “It’s very uneven in terms of awareness. There are some countries where the discussion isn’t happening at all.”
