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  • EU chief von der Leyen elected for second term

    EU chief von der Leyen elected for second term

    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

  • Ursula von der Leyen faces crunch vote on top Europe job

    Ursula von der Leyen faces crunch vote on top Europe job

    Von der Leyen has been credited with steering the bloc through one of its most tumultuous terms, including a global pandemic, the Ukraine war and the energy crisis…reports Asian Lite News

    The president of the European Commission needs an absolute majority of lawmakers to back her bid for a second term.

    In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen secured the top job in Brussels by the skin of her teeth, when she was appointed to the Commission presidency by a margin of just nine votes in the European Parliament, the narrowest on record.

    Five years on, the 65-year-old German is bidding for a second term – and there’s an ominous sense of déjà vu in the corridors of Strasbourg.

    That’s because von der Leyen needs an absolute majority of votes in the 720-seat chamber on Thursday if she is to secure five more years at the executive’s helm.

    While her own European People’s Party (EPP) is confident she has both the numbers and the mandate after the party’s commanding win in the June elections, the margin of the vote could be slim again this year.

    Von der Leyen has been credited with steering the bloc through one of its most tumultuous terms, including a global pandemic, the Ukraine war and the energy crisis.

    “I think all members of the European Parliament understand what’s at stake. It’s not only about the personality of Ursula von der Leyen, who has shown her leadership abilities (…) but also a question of the stability of the European Union,” EPP lawmaker and former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius said.

    But she also divides opinion. Right-wing conservatives have slammed her once-unwavering commitment to making Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world, while allies to her left have accused her of cosying up to the hard right and allowing them to dilute her green ambitions.

    The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberals of Renew Europe will likely back her after she vowed not to pursue a formal partnership with ultra-conservative forces such as the lawmakers of Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy in the next legislature.

    Together with the EPP, the three centrist groups hold a total of 401 seats, enough to see the candidate sail through. But it is well known that the mavericks among them are likely to vote her down, shielded by the secrecy of the ballot.

    The French and Slovenian delegations in the EPP have already made it clear they would defy the consensus and vote against their party’s lead candidate. Among the Liberals, the Irish delegation is set to join the opposition in protest over her response to the Israel-Hamas war, while the Germans, Slovaks and Portuguese are on the fence.

    The uncertainty has left von der Leyen with no option but to fish extra votes from the Greens and the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), exchanging policy pledges in return for support.

    But with these two groups ideologically far apart – and the Greens making their support conditional on von der Leyen ruling out formal cooperation with the ECR – she has been forced to walk an impossible tightrope to secure their endorsements.

    Speaking to reporters after a one-hour meeting with the ECR on Tuesday, von der Leyen described the session as “intense” and was accosted by a Polish member hailing from the Law and Justice (PiS) party as she left the room.

    “She manipulated the procedure and we will not vote for her,” PiS MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk told reporters. However, he admitted that some members of his group would end up lending their votes to von der Leyen, such as those belonging to Czechia’s Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Belgium’s New Flemish Alliance (NVA).

    It remains unclear how the lawmakers of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) will vote, after the premier, furious about being excluded from the deal-making process, abstained on von der Leyen’s reappointment in the European Council.

    ALSO READ-Ursula von der Leyen to Visit Ukraine

  • Ursula von der Leyen to Visit Ukraine

    Ursula von der Leyen to Visit Ukraine

    According to Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko, von der Leyen will visit Ukraine on November 4…reports Asian Lite News

    President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will visit Ukraine this month, a media report has said, citing Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina.

    During her visit, von der Leyen will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the European Union (EU) announcement of its decision regarding the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, Stefanishina said.

    The parties will discuss Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership, which will be presented by the European Commission in the final report on November 8, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the TSN.ua media outlet.

    Ukraine expects a positive decision regarding the launch of the accession talks with the EU, Stefanishina said.

    According to Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko, von der Leyen will visit Ukraine on November 4.

    In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the bloc.

    Last month, Zelensky said the launch of talks on accession to the EU this year is a top priority for Ukraine. 

    Ukraine and Turkey Hold Talks on Black Sea Security

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have discussed the security situation in the Black Sea region during a meeting in Berlin.

    Another focus of the talks was Ukraine’s grain exports to global markets, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

    Dmitry Kuleba(twitter)

    Kuleba and Fidan also exchanged their views on the developments in the Middle East.

    Kuleba arrived in the German capital earlier in the day to participate in the conference of foreign ministers of the European Union member states and candidate countries.

    ALSO READ-Zelensky Confirms Ukraine’s Maiden Use of US ATACMS Missiles

  • PM to open India’s flagship foreign policy conference

    PM to open India’s flagship foreign policy conference

    The theme for the 2022 Edition is “Terra Nova: Impassioned, Impatient, and Imperilled”, according to a statement by the ministry of external affairs…reports Asian Lite News

    India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics – Raisina Dialogue – will kick off on Monday in Delhi. The seventh edition of the conference – which was launched in 2016 – will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with European Union Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as the chief guest.

    This will be the second crucial meeting the prime minister will have with a world leader within a week in the national capital. Last week, PM Modi met the United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson as the two leaders discussed a host of issues, including bilateral ties, the Ukraine war, climate change among others.

    In a tweet on Sunday, the EU commission chief emphasised on the importance of working with India on climate change. “Europe is on the path to climate neutrality with #EUGreenDeal. But Europe alone won’t save our planet. It’s a global effort, and we need to work with India. And we count on you, the young people, to keep fighting for the climate. (sic),” she posted, along with a video of interaction with climate activists.

    The Raisina Dialogue will be held over three days between Monday and Wednesday. The theme for the 2022 Edition is “Terra Nova: Impassioned, Impatient, and Imperilled”, according to a statement by the ministry of external affairs.

    “Over the course of three days, the Dialogue, will have panel discussions and conversations across multiple formats on six thematic pillars – (i) Rethinking Democracy: Trade, Tech and Ideology; (ii) End of Multilateralism: A Networked Global Order?; (iii) Water Caucuses: Turbulent Tides in the Indo-Pacific; (iv) Communities Inc.: First Responders to Health, Development, and Planet; (v) Achieving Green Transitions: Common Imperative, Diverging Realities; and (vi) Samson vs Goliath: The Persistent and Relentless Tech Wars, (sic)” the official statement read.

    Last year, the conference was held in a virtual format due to Covid. This year, however, it’s being held in-person.

    ALSO READ-Ursula pledges boosting EU-India ties to fight climate change

  • Ursula speaks with Zelensky

    Ursula speaks with Zelensky

    Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities…reports Asian Lite News

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the ‘atrocities’ in Bucha and elsewhere in Ukraine.

    “This afternoon I spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the dreadful murders that have been uncovered in Bucha and other areas from which Russian troops have recently left,” European Commission President said in a statement. European Commission President said that she has assured him of the European Commission’s full support in these terrible times.

    “The harrowing images cannot and will not be left unanswered. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must not go unpunished. We agreed to ensure close coordination between us,” the statement said.

    “The EU has set up a Joint Investigation Team with Ukraine to collect evidence and investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity. The EU is ready to reinforce this effort by sending investigation teams on the ground to support the Ukrainian Prosecution Services. Eurojust and Europol are ready to assist,” read the statement.

    She said, “a global response is necessary. There are ongoing talks between Eurojust and the International Criminal Court to join forces and for the Court to be part of the Joint Investigation Team. Such a coordinated approach from the Ukrainian authorities, the EU, its Member States and agencies, and the International Criminal Court will allow for the evidence to be collected, analysed and processed in the most complete and effective way possible. I have tasked Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders to follow up and take contact with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General. The Commission will provide all the necessary technical and financial support to all EU-led investigations,” the statement added.

    Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities.

    Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised to help Ukraine with military aid to fight Russia.

    ALSO READ-Moon, Ursula set to focus on vax supplies

  • Belarus flights ban decision not political: EU Commission

    Belarus flights ban decision not political: EU Commission

    On May 23, a Ryanair flight en route from Greece to Lithuania was grounded in Minsk over a bomb threat flagged by the Belarusian authorities, which turned out to be fake…reports Asian Lite News.

    The European Commission does not believe that the decision of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to ban flights over Belarus was politically motivated, a commission spokesperson told Sputnik on Monday.

    On Friday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticized the EASA’s directive as “politicization of aviation safety” and urged it to reverse the ban.

    “The only politicization of air traffic happened when Belarusian authorities forced down a European airplane under false pretext only to arrest the critical journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega. This attack also put at risk the safety of European citizens and planes and showed the complete disregard of Belarus authorities for international aviation rules and procedures,” the EC spokesperson said.

    They also noted that Minsk’s decision to divert the plane was “an attack on democracy, an attack on freedom of expression and an attack on European sovereignty.”

    According to the EC source, on June 2 the EASA decided to issue a safety directive calling on the EU member states to mandate their national carriers to avoid Belarus airspace in order to “reduce the potential risk to passengers and crews.”

    “Safety of passengers remains the Commission’s highest priority and the key driver of the activities and the mission of EASA in providing safe air travel for EU citizens in Europe and worldwide,” they stressed.

    On May 23, a Ryanair flight en route from Greece to Lithuania was grounded in Minsk over a bomb threat flagged by the Belarusian authorities, which turned out to be fake. In Minsk, one of the passengers, journalist Roman Protasevich, who is known to be the founder of Belarusian opposition Telegram channel Nexta, was detained along with Russian national Sofia Sapega. The incident prompted an outcry from the West. (ANI/Sputnik)

    ALSO READ-Belarusian airlines banned from flying over EU

    READ MORE-Russia, Belarus warned against threatening allies