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Britain Limps Back to the EU Fold

Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives a press conference at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit bringing together world leaders at Blenheim Palace. Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street

Britain is back in the EU fold to tackle its key issues of safeguarding borders, security, and economic growth. The caravan will march on despite the heckles from the Reform Party, Nigel Farage, and a section of Tories … writes Anasudhin Azeez

Here is bad news for the Brexiteers. Whether you like it or not, Britain is limping back to its roots to become part of the greater European family. The recent European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace indicates the new Labour government’s intention to be part of the European family rather than stay isolated as “Little Britain” to address two key issues threatening its existence: security and immigration. With Donald Trump swinging the US electorate to regain the White House, it’s a valid reason for Europe to consider self-reliance on security.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took the initiative to host the fourth meeting of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace, a place steeped in the memories of Sir Winston Churchill, a controversial figure for the children of the empire but an inspiration for Europhiles. The meeting of the European Union leaders and representatives from the wider European Community is bad news for hardcore Brexiteers like Nigel Farage and Rishi Sunak. However, they fail to recognise the ground realities regarding the broader issues of security and immigration plaguing the United Kingdom.

The meeting was held at the Palace in a cordial atmosphere. They discussed the economy, security, and immigration. However, the elephant in the room was President Trump and his resurgent MAGA campaign. Trump is now supported by charismatic Yale graduate J.D. Vance. The meeting discussed a scenario: if America suddenly tires of helping defend Europe and Russia strikes, then what? If Trump wins, it will be a 12-year reign of Trumpism. Vance is Trump’s heir apparent, and a sitting president has many advantages to retain power, provided he does not falter on security and the economy.

Vance embodies a badge of the true American story that will resonate with Rust Belt voters. He believes the American elites betrayed communities like his. International trade, he says, is one of the culprits: American jobs being shipped to China while fentanyl is shipped back to America. Communities sent their children to die in Iraq and Afghanistan. He sees aid to Ukraine and NATO membership in the context of such exploitation: American taxpayers being bled to fight foreign wars or subsidize European military underspending. He led the campaign in the US Congress to halt the $61 billion Ukraine aid package. Although it failed, it caused fateful delays, allowing Russia to capture Avdiivka and force Ukrainian troops to retreat miles from the Donetsk region.

Trump accuses Zelensky of fleecing Americans. Vance accuses Europe of fleecing US taxpayers’ money to safeguard their backyards. Vance is practically a Mini-Me of Trump.

The changed equations in the US are prompting Europe to rethink its defence strategies. Only the United Kingdom and France can lead the Europeans in defending themselves; they are the only serious military powers in Europe. Here is an opportunity for Starmer to shape Europe’s post-Brexit defense policy. But is it a good idea to do this through the EU?

Britain wants to reset its relationship with the EU and wider Europe, as well as address international and global issues. Eighty years on from the D-Day landings and the Liberation of France, the leaders remembered the immense common sacrifices both countries have made to defend their shared values and protect their societies. As fellow members of the G7, G20, NATO, and permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UK and France continue to work together to provide global leadership in an era of renewed geopolitical instability.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets French President Emmanuel Macron for the Anglo French Summit at Blenheim Palace. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

They are now committed to continuing to invest in the European Political Community format to bring together Europe’s democracies and contribute to regional stability and security through political dialogue and concrete cooperation.

“We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future,” said Starmer before the summit. “That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe.

“The European Political Community will fire the starting gun on this government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not just benefit us now, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people-smuggling webs trafficking people across Europe to standing up to Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilizing activity across Europe.”

Britain is back in the EU fold to tackle its key issues of safeguarding borders, security, and economic growth. The caravan will march on despite the heckles from the Reform Party, Nigel Farage, and a section of Tories.

ALSO READ: Starmer vows Ukraine support in low-key first PMQs

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Poland calls on EU to stress ties with US

The Kremlin has said it would not meddle in the November US election. It has also dismissed US allegations that it orchestrated campaigns to sway the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections…reports Asian Lite News

Poland wants the European Union to launch a campaign in the United States to raise awareness with the American public about the importance of the joint relationship.

In a paper prepared for an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, Poland calls for positive action ahead of the US presidential election on Nov. 5 to counter what it describes as Russian “disinformation” aimed at sowing division between the EU and Washington.

“At this critical moment in history, it is imperative that we collectively take swift and robust action to strengthen the transatlantic relations through strategic communication about the EU in the US,” the paper, seen by Reuters, says.

It adds: “This means scaling up our de-bunking and, even more importantly, pre-bunking of Russian disinformation and launching campaigns which set the record straight about where Europe stands today and about the benefits of diplomacy, collective security and open society.”

The Kremlin has said it would not meddle in the November US election. It has also dismissed US allegations that it orchestrated campaigns to sway the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections.

Poland’s paper said Russian state media and online accounts tied to the Kremlin were spreading and amplifying misleading content about US immigration and border security, misstating the impact of immigration, highlighting stories about crimes committed by immigrants, and warning of dire consequences if the US does not crack down at its border with Mexico.

“We should expect much more is to come, as eroding support for Ukraine remains Russia’s top priority. We need to remind the American public, especially the younger generation of the deliverables our decades-long partnership has brought to the US economy,” the paper said.

Poland has said it has been the target of numerous Russian attempts at destabilization and election interference because of its role in supplying military aid to its neighbor Ukraine, allegations Russia has dismissed.

“We should raise awareness among the American public about the size of European aid to Ukraine and how that effort helps save Ukrainian lives,” the Polish paper said in reference to claims by US presidential candidate Donald Trump that European aid to Ukraine was much smaller than that of the US

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has provided 107 billion euros ($116.38 billion) to Ukraine and has agreed on a further 50 billion euros for the next four years.

The US Council on Foreign Relations estimates US support for Ukraine at $107 billion.

ALSO READ-EU backs ICJ ruling on ‘illegal’ Israeli occupation

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EU backs ICJ ruling on ‘illegal’ Israeli occupation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.(Xinhua/IANS)

The ICJ’s ruling is not binding, but it comes amid mounting concern over the death toll and destruction in Israel’s war against Hamas sparked by the group’s brutal October 7 attacks, as well as increased tensions in the West Bank…reports Asian Lite News

The top UN court’s ruling that Israel’s 57-year occupation of Palestinian land was “illegal” is “largely consistent with EU positions,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief said Saturday.

The sweeping opinion on Friday by The Hague-based International Court of Justice — which called for the occupation to end as soon as possible — was immediately slammed as a “decision of lies” by Israel.

But the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs said that the bloc had taken “good note” of the court’s ruling and urged further backing for the court’s opinion.

“In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions in a consistent manner, irrespective of the subject in question,” Josep Borrell said.

He added in a statement that the opinion “will need to be analyzed more thoroughly, including in view of its implications for EU policy.”

The ICJ’s ruling is not binding, but it comes amid mounting concern over the death toll and destruction in Israel’s war against Hamas sparked by the group’s brutal October 7 attacks, as well as increased tensions in the West Bank.

Its intervention is likely to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza, as will the EU’s backing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ruling.

“The Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land — not in our eternal capital Jerusalem, nor in our ancestral heritage of Judea and Samaria” (the occupied West Bank), he said in a statement.

In June 1967, Israel seized the then-Jordan-annexed West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt in a crushing six-day war against its Arab neighbors.

It then began to settle the 70,000 square kilometers (27,000 square miles) of seized Arab territory.

The UN later declared the occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, and Cairo regained the Sinai under its 1979 peace deal with Israel.

ALSO READ-European leaders discuss migration, Ukraine at UK summit

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EU chief von der Leyen elected for second term

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.(Xinhua/IANS)

Von der Leyen however faces another difficult five years, with rising expectations that former US president Donald Trump will return to the White House after elections later this year…reports Asian Lite News

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday won a second five-year term that she vowed would tackle the EU’s challenges head-on, including bolstering its defence capability and strengthening Europe’s industry.

The German ex-defence minister, who became the first woman leader of the European Commission in 2019, had presented herself as the best and most experienced captain to steer the commission.

Von der Leyen received votes backing her from 401 MEPs in the 720-seat chamber in the French city of Strasbourg — over the 361-vote majority she needed to remain head of the EU’s executive body.

There were 284 lawmakers who voted against in the secret ballot, held during the first parliamentary session since EU-wide elections in June.

An elated von der Leyen pumped fists in the air after parliament speaker Roberta Metsola announced the result.

She later said it was “a very emotional and special moment for me” and the result “sends a strong message of confidence”.

Von der Leyen’s first term was full of crises including the coronavirus pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. “We have navigated the most troubled waters that our union has ever faced,” she told reporters.

Von der Leyen however faces another difficult five years, with rising expectations that former US president Donald Trump will return to the White House after elections later this year.

And with conflicts in and near Europe, von der Leyen insisted on the need for a “strong Europe” during a “period of deep anxiety and uncertainty”. Other issues in her in-tray are the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and the EU’s trade tensions with China.

European leaders were quick to offer their congratulations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose recent victory has many hoping for better EU-UK ties, said on X: “I look forward to working closely with you to reset the relationship between the UK and the European Union.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hailed the result, vowing she would deliver for Europe.

Von der Leyen’s re-election was “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times,” Scholz said. “Times are hard, but with your courage and determination, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. We will do, together,” Tusk, an ex-top EU official, said.

Reaching this point had been rocky. The EU’s 27 leaders fiercely debated her candidacy in June before putting von der Leyen’s name forward as their continuity pick.

Von der Leyen belongs to the biggest political group in the parliament, the conservative European People’s Party, which is in a centrist coalition with the Socialists and Democrats and the liberal Renew Europe groups.

Despite the Socialists and Democrats group backing her, the group stressed it did not mean a “blank cheque”.

ALSO READ-Ursula von der Leyen faces crunch vote on top Europe job

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Musk’s X ‘deceives’ users with blue checks, EU charges

Musk’s plans for X have put him at odds with Brussels since the EU wants big tech to do more to protect users online and increase competition in the digital sphere…reports Asian Lite News

Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s X platform is misleading users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, and is also violating EU content rules, Brussels said Friday, in a finding that could lead to hefty fines.

EU regulators are unhappy with the blue badge system under Musk’s ownership since anyone can now obtain it with a premium subscription, whereas before it was reserved for verified accounts including leaders, companies and journalists, after approval.

The formal warning against X is the first under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping law that forces digital companies do more to police content online. It follows a probe launched in December 2023.

X becomes the third company in as many weeks to face the European Union’s wrath for violating landmark new rules, after Brussels warned Apple and Meta to change their ways or risk massive fines — for breaches of a second law known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Musk has overhauled the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, including changing its name, since purchasing it in October 2022.

But his plans for X have put him at odds with Brussels since the EU wants big tech to do more to protect users online and increase competition in the digital sphere.

Now the European Commission has told X of its preliminary view that it is “in breach of” the DSA, arguing that the social network “deceives” users with its new blue badge rules.

“Since anyone can subscribe to obtain such a ‘verified’ status, it negatively affects users’ ability to make free and informed decisions about the authenticity of the accounts and the content they interact with,” the commission said in a statement.

“There is evidence of motivated malicious actors abusing the ‘verified account’ to deceive users,” it added.

The commission also accused X of failing to comply with rules on advertising transparency — since it does “not provide a searchable and reliable” ad database — and failing to give researchers access to public data.

“X has now the right of defense — but if our view is confirmed we will impose fines and require significant changes,” the EU’s top digital official, Thierry Breton, said.

Fines under the DSA can go as high as six percent of a company’s total worldwide annual turnover and force it to make changes to address violations.

X will be able to examine the EU’s file and defend itself against Friday’s finding.

There is no time limit on how long an investigation may last.

EU regulators’ wide-ranging probe into X also continues to look into the spread of illegal content and the effectiveness of the platform’s efforts to combat disinformation, the commission said.

Under the DSA, X is one of 25 “very large” online platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, with more than 45 million monthly active users in the 27-country EU.

X is also in the EU’s crosshairs for a cut to content moderation resources. In May, the EU told X to hand over “detailed information and internal documents” and demanded more information about steps taken to mitigate risks from generative AI on elections.

There are currently other investigations under the DSA into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok and AliExpress.

The DSA and the DMA are both part of the EU’s bolstered legal armory targeting big tech and EU regulators have stepped up enforcement of the laws since they came into force.

ALSO READ-Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI

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EU halts Georgia’s accession to the bloc

EU flags are seen outside the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 6, 2023.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)

A total of 30 million euros ($32.5 million) in financial support, earmarked for Georgia’s Defense Ministry in 2024, has been frozen, Herczynski said at a news conference…reports Asian Lite News

Georgia’s accession to the European Union has been halted, and some of the bloc’s financial support to the South Caucasus country has been frozen after the Georgian authorities adopted a new law that critics feared would curb democratic freedoms, the EU Ambassador in Georgia said Tuesday.

According to Pawel Herczynski, EU leaders made the decision to halt the process during the last summit of the European Council, and it came in the wake of the Georgian authorities adopting the law on “foreign influence” despite weeks of protests.

In addition, a total of 30 million euros ($32.5 million) in financial support, earmarked for Georgia’s Defense Ministry in 2024, has been frozen, Herczynski said at a news conference.

“This is only the first step, there will be other steps. Our direct support to the government of Georgia will be limited, and we will seek to redirect support from the government of Georgia to civil society and the media,” he said. “It is sad to see EU-Georgia relations at such a low point, when they could have been at an all-time high.”

The law, which came into effect last month despite mass protests and a veto from the country’s president, requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

The opposition has denounced the bill as “the Russian law” because Moscow uses similar legislation to stigmatize independent news media, organizations and individuals critical of the Kremlin, and called its passage a sign of neighboring Russia’s hold over Georgia.

EU officials have repeatedly denounced the law as undemocratic and said it would hinder Georgia’s path to EU membership.

The bloc agreed to grant membership candidate status to Georgia in December on condition that it fight disinformation, including against the EU, bring its foreign and security policies into line with the bloc’s, and introduce new justice reforms, among other measures.

Membership talks did not get underway. To start talks with a candidate, the 27 EU nations and that country must agree on a negotiating mandate. EU experts must also conduct a screening procedure, to analyze how much work needs to be done to bring Georgia’s laws and standards into line with those of the bloc.

Once those preconditions have been met, an intergovernmental conference would be called with Georgia to officially launch the start of talks. Each step requires unanimous agreement from the EU member nations and can be blocked at any point.

At a summit on June 27, EU leaders warned Georgia that its path toward membership would be blocked unless the “foreign influence” law was repealed.

They called “on Georgia’s authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing the current course of action which jeopardizes Georgia’s EU path, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process.”

In the days before the summit, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was considering “putting a hold to our financial assistance to the government” in Tbilisi and downgrading political contacts. It was not clear how much money overall would be affected.

In a separate development, the United States earlier this month “indefinitely postponed” military drills in Georgia — a move the U.S. Department of Defense said came as part of a “comprehensive review” of the relations between Washington and Tbilisi.

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili, who has long been at odds with the country’s government, on Tuesday called the moves by the EU and the U.S. “very difficult messages from two of our closest friends” that “are worth listening to.”

“Although this is a response to the stupid and hostile policies of the ruling party towards them, at the same time it is a warning to society: our partners tell us that ‘the choice is yours’ between Georgia with a secure European future and Georgia moving toward the Russian orbit,” Zourabichvili said.

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UK to seek joint declaration with EU on security pact

Lammy has also accepted an invitation from the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, to attend the October meeting of the EU foreign affairs council – something that was rejected by the previous Conservative government…reports Asian Lite News

Labour is seeking a sweeping joint declaration with the EU to usher in a wide-ranging security pact covering defence, energy, the climate crisis, pandemics and even illegal migration, the foreign secretary, David Lammy, has said.

As part of the new government’s plan to reset its relations with the EU and bring “an end to the Brexit era”, Lammy told the Guardian that a broadly defined security deal would not undermine Labour’s commitment to remain outside the EU’s single market and customs union.

Under Labour plans, the pact would see the UK work more closely with the bloc on a slew of areas related to security, ideally without the need for a legally binding deal, which could take years to agree.

Lammy has also accepted an invitation from the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, to attend the October meeting of the EU foreign affairs council – something that was rejected by the previous Conservative government.

It is rare for non-EU states to attend the foreign affairs council, and Labour thinks it may be possible to go on an irregular basis if the planned security pact develops.

In an interview during his first trip to Europe as foreign secretary, Lammy said: “We said in our manifesto we wanted an ambitious security pact, and that’s because we have been speaking to Europe about this for the last few years, and I think there is an appetite, particularly following the war in Ukraine and the challenges that EU faces in relation to energy and climate, to go broader than just defence.

“So you have to obviously get into discussions with Europe and find those issues of mutual interest. My hope is that once, of course, the new European leadership is in place, we can progress this with a joint declaration of some kind. Obviously, underneath that would be buckets of work streams.”

Labour is said to be leaning against a legally binding joint document that, as well as taking years to negotiate, could also start to conflict with separate work on reviewing the UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement, a negotiation that may last until 2026 and is unlikely to begin until a new EU Commission has been appointed.

Labour thinking in relation to a security pact is to see if it can establish something similar to the EU-US technology council that has a number of subcommittees, and holds an annual summit. The UK is one of the few external partners with which the EU holds no annual summit.

Asked whether the security cooperation could extend to issues such as cybersecurity, illegal migration, pandemics, decarbonisation and access to critical minerals, Lammy said: “Yes, it could.”

He added: “Particularly on critical minerals, we do need to cooperate with our European partners. And post-pandemic, we are very aware of our capability in health, in pharmaceuticals and in higher education. So there, I think we are talking about things that Europe wants to talk to us about.

“I’ve said that I’m very keen for us to get to a place where we’ve got structured dialogue with the EU, so I hope we can arrive at that.”

After Labour won a landslide victory in Thursday’s election, Lammy embarked on a trip to meet his counterparts in Poland, Germany and Sweden.

He said: “I’m serious about a reset. I sensed in Poland and Germany they were delighted to have a new [UK] government. We are absolutely clear that we want to look to the future. I think there’s a lot of issues that we have to coordinate on, but it is all a matter of negotiation and discussion. But I’ve set the direction of travel.”

The broad issue was raised by Lammy with the Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who said they had discussed “some creative ideas” on future cooperation.

Poland holds the presidency of the EU next year, and is likely to be a key ally in persuading other EU states that the UK is not seeking a back-door way into accessing the single market without taking on its responsibilities.

Within the EU, the need for greater defence cooperation alongside Nato has normally been championed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the UK is aware that Anglo-French bilateral defence cooperation is in a period of flux, as Macron fights for his political survival.

Lammy was reluctant to commit on whether he would revive plans for a EU-wide youth mobility scheme. Both the previous government and Labour had rejected EU plans to make it easier for 18- to 30-years-olds in the bloc and the UK to study and work abroad. Under the scheme, UK participants would be able to stay only in the first EU country that accepted them.

But he said the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, had raised with him the issue of school visits.

“There’s lots of concern in Germany, for example, about the fall-off in our young people meeting one another. If this goes on, you can have a generation of people that really have no contact. She herself was a student of LSE. I hope we can fix that school visits issue, but issues about mobility are broader issues that do raise more complex issues.”

He insisted that Labour remained clear that it was not going to return to a system of free movement of labour. He said there were problems with the European Commission proposals, but added: “In the spirit of openness, I am very happy to hear what they have to say.”

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Pakistan rice exporters facing shipment rejections from UK, EU

Composite image of wheat field with bright blue sky.

The escalation in pesticide residues and mycotoxins has raised alarms among exporters, who now face the looming threat of an EU ban unless corrective measures are promptly implemented…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s agricultural and food sector is grappling with significant challenges, particularly in its narrow export base dominated by a limited range of commodities. Among these, rice emerges as the primary export, generating over $3.5 billion in foreign exchange in the fiscal year 2024, according to a report published in Dawn.

However, the rice export industry is increasingly plagued by the threat of shipment rejections, particularly from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, citing serious food safety concerns.

In 2023, the European Union issued a surge in alerts due to the discovery of pesticide residues in rice shipments, particularly basmati, originating from Pakistan and India. These shipments failed to meet the EU’s maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. In previous years, India had a higher non-compliance rate compared to Pakistan. However, the situation took a sharp turn in 2024, with Pakistan’s rice shipments triggering more alerts than those from India, as reported by Dawn.

Additionally, Pakistan has consistently recorded higher cases of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, compared to India over the past three years. Aflatoxins are toxic substances that develop in rice when infected by fungus or mold.

The escalation in pesticide residues and mycotoxins has raised alarms among exporters, who now face the looming threat of an EU ban unless corrective measures are promptly implemented. Strengthening Pakistan’s food safety protocols within the rice sector is now a critical imperative.

The rice value chain in Pakistan involves key players such as farmers, stockists, millers, and exporters. Farmers frequently use agrochemicals like chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, and imidacloprid–chemicals intended for other crops like cotton and sugarcane–to combat pests such as stem borers, brown bugs, and fungal infections. However, these chemicals are not approved for use in rice crops, leading to heightened levels of pesticide residues in harvested rice, the report added.

Furthermore, improper application practices by farmers, such as using higher than recommended concentrations or applying pesticides too close to harvest time, contribute to elevated residue levels. The lack of education among many farmers exacerbates the problem, as they are often unaware of rice-specific agrochemicals, their proper dosages, and the required pre-harvest intervals (PHI) for pesticide dissipation.

The issue of mycotoxins is compounded by inadequate post-harvest practices. Many farmers resort to premature harvesting due to climate change-induced erratic rainfall patterns and the need to shorten crop cycles. This premature harvesting, often done at moisture levels of 20-30 per cent, coupled with suboptimal drying methods, promotes fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination in the harvested rice.

Even among millers, the use of outdated sun drying methods persists, despite their inefficiency in reducing moisture levels to the safe threshold of 14-15 per cent. This highlights a broader systemic issue of inadequate infrastructure and technology adoption within Pakistan’s rice milling industry.

Moreover, the procurement practices of rice mills are fraught with challenges. Most mills purchase paddy from local markets without adequate knowledge of its origin or the farming practices employed. This lack of traceability and quality control further contributes to the prevalence of non-compliant rice shipments.

ALSO READ-Pakistan SC issues contempt notice to TV channels

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Hungary’s Orbn to take EU reins as tensions build

Orbn has vocally opposed and threatened to block Ukraine’s candidacy. His government has also held up EU efforts to supply Ukraine with badly needed funding…reports Asian Lite News

When Hungary takes over the helm of the European Union on July 1, many politicians in Brussels will have the same thing on their minds: whether populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbn will use the role to further his reputation as the bloc’s main spoiler.

Orbn in recent years has seemed to relish opportunities to block, water down or delay key EU decisions, routinely going against the grain of most other leaders on issues like the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia and China, and efforts to defend democracy and the rule of law.

His public opposition to EU policies and stances has long frustrated his partners in the bloc and pushed him to the margins of the continent’s mainstream. Hungary’s motto for its presidency Make Europe Great Again raised eyebrows for its resemblance to the famous tagline of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EU presidency rotates among its member countries, and while the post holds little real power, it does allow countries to put their priorities high on Europe’s agenda.

Now, as Hungary resides over the 27-nation bloc for the coming six months, it will likely keep up its anti-EU rhetoric, said Dorka Takcsy, a research fellow at the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy.

But the timeline of its presidency beginning with a lengthy summer break and a transitional period of forming a new European Parliament and executive commission will give Budapest few opportunities to derail the bloc’s priorities significantly, she said.

“These six months are altogether not that long, which means that … Hungary cannot do potentially much harm, even according to the critics,” Takcsy said.

As Hungary’s takeover approached, leaders in Brussels rushed to push through important policy decisions while Belgium was still at the helm. On Tuesday, for example, the EU launched membership talks with candidate countries Ukraine and Moldova.

Orbn has vocally opposed and threatened to block Ukraine’s candidacy. His government has also held up EU efforts to supply Ukraine with badly needed funding.

Yet with Ukraine’s accession process already initiated, Takcsy said, the most Hungary can do now under its presidency is delay further steps toward its EU membership, a process that in any scenario is likely to take many years.

All the meaningful steps from the European side regarding Ukraine were already done,” she said. (A Hungarian) delay, according to most European leaders, is already calculated and being taken into consideration as if it’s something which is most likely going to happen.

Orbn has long been accused of dismantling democratic institutions and violating the EU’s standards on the rule of law, leading the bloc’s legislature in May to call for the presidency to be taken out of Hungary’s hands entirely.

In a resolution, the EU parliament argued that democratic deficiencies raised questions of how Hungary will be able to credibly fulfill this task in 2024. Two years ago, the European Commission froze billions of euros in funds to Budapest over concerns about democratic backsliding by the government.

But some Hungarian officials have stressed that they plan to act constructively during their presidency. Last week, Hungarian minister for EU affairs Jnos Bka told reporters that we will be honest brokers, working loyally with all Member States and institutions.

Carrying out the functions of the presidency is our obligation, but we see it primarily as an opportunity,” Bka said. At the beginning of the new institutional cycle, we can initiate a debate and set the agenda on issues that are important to us.

Among the issues that Hungary has prioritised in its seven-point program is the enlargement of the EU in the Western Balkans for countries like Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania through a merit-based procedure.

Budapest has also vowed to strengthen the EU’s external borders and step up against illegal immigration, and to address demographic challenges that involve an aging population in Europe two priorities that reflect Orbn’s image as a staunch opponent of immigration and defender of family values.

But after years of campaigns portraying the EU as forcing unwanted policies on Hungary Orbn has repeatedly compared membership in the bloc to more than four decades of Soviet occupation of his country he may find it difficult to restore goodwill among his EU partners.

ALSO READ-Tamas Sulyok Elected as Hungary’s New President

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EU releases € 1.9 bn for Ukraine

EU launched accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova after receiving the nod from the bloc’s member states last week, Al Jazeera reported…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union on Thursday, disbursed Euro 1.9 billion for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, said that the fund under the Ukraine Facility is aimed to keep the Ukrainian state running as they “fight for freedom.”

She also termed the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine as a “historic moment” and said Kyiv will find its “rightful place” in the Union.

“Dear @ZelenskyyUa the opening of accession negotiations was an historic moment. You will find your rightful place in our Union. Today we disburse a new EUR1.9 billion under the Ukraine Facility. To keep the Ukrainian state running as you fight for freedom,” the EU chief posted on X.

Earlier on Tuesday, the EU launched accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova after receiving the nod from the bloc’s member states last week, Al Jazeera reported.

The agreement of the bloc’s 27 members was secured last week, despite efforts by Hungary to block the move.

However, there is no guarantee that the talks will ultimately lead to EU membership, as Turkey and several Western Balkan states have spent years in the accession process.

Notably, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has reinvigorated the EU’s efforts to expand its membership, much to Moscow’s chagrin.

Ukraine lodged its bid to join the bloc in the immediate aftermath of the invasion in February 2022. Neighbouring Moldova followed closely behind.

“These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said when the bloc’s members signed off on starting the talks.

“Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream,” he added.

The launch of accession talks has started off a process of screening how far laws in the countries already comply with EU standards and how much more work lies ahead. The EU then has to begin laying out conditions for negotiations on 35 subjects – from taxation to environmental policy.

According to Al Jazeera, it appears unlikely that there will be progress towards the next step in the coming six months when Hungary will hold the EU’s rotating presidency. (ANI)

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