Good Friday, wherever you are. Schuman is noticeably quieter this morning, the coffee shops are closed and the motorways are clogged with holidaymakers heading south to the Grand Départ.
Don’t worry, here at Euractiv HQ, desks are still full and mailings will continue to be delivered for another two weeks. And while the summer exodus has emptied much of the city, we still have stories to tell.
Including the intimate parties in the depths of the European Parliament, where one young MEP hosts exclusive evenings with DJs, draught beer and free pizza. Nicoletta Jonta was invited and told us about her new approach to politics.
Asian Tour
EU leaders made a brief visit to the eastern hemisphere, stopping in Japan on Wednesday before returning to a frosty reception in China on Thursday.
The Japanese leg of the visit was relatively peaceful, with an agreement to cooperate on the procurement of critical raw materials and to strengthen business ties. Given the EU delegation’s next destination, there was no mention of China, although the mission to Japan is clearly aimed at reducing dependence on the global manufacturing giant.
Thursday’s assignment – ostensibly to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and China – was initially bound to be awkward, with Europe hooked on Chinese goods but also angered by its support for Russia, control of rare earth metals and disregard for human rights.
Von der Leyen toughened her tone on the awkward trading partner and reiterated those complaints during the visit, although her Chinese counterparts showed little interest and the Europeans had to end the day with a press conference without Chinese representatives.
Gaza stirs the conscience of Europeans
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has been deteriorating for months as Israeli troops continue their relentless attacks on Hamas forces and make the war-torn region virtually uninhabitable.
With Palestinian civilians confined to camps and little aid delivered, acute hunger became another cause of death. For many in Europe, the situation became intolerable. But EU criticism of the Israeli offensive did not lead to sanctions, and agreements to increase aid failed to alleviate the crisis.
In response to the current situation, France on Thursday announced its recognition of the State of Palestine, a step that Spain and Ireland took last year.
It is unclear whether this will lead to a significant change of course in the EU’s relations with Israel. An emergency phone call between France, Germany and Britain is scheduled for Friday afternoon, although Merz has already said his government will not recognise a Palestinian state “in the short term”.
The European Parliament is also unsure whether to allow the wearing of the keffiyeh, a traditional Arab headdress that has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestine, in the building. The lack of clarity is likely to keep the issue a subject of contention that has already caused spats.
Children and social networks
Growing concerns about the dangers of social media for minors have led Brussels to draw up guidelines on how platforms should protect children using their online services.
Measures to restrict access vary across the EU. France is leading the fight after cracking down on porn sites last month. Other countries are tightening access requirements and testing age verification under the Digital Services Act.
There is a lot of buzz around vegetarian food.
If you thought “Solmon” or “Tu-nah” were harmless names for non-fishy alternatives, think again. The seafood industry is outraged by the fake names and wants to put a stop to them (though that won’t stop the companies that make the real thing).
“Call a spade a spade,” said an industry spokesman, with one MEP backing the view saying fish lovers should be “worried”.
The opposition continues to fight for the right to use terms related to land-based meat for plant-based alternatives. However, the crisis in the industry has not affected the appetites of vegetarians, as sales of meat-free delicacies continue to grow.
Belgian-French nuclear cooperation
Anti-nuclear sentiment fuelled by Belgium’s Green Party has finally died down, with the new government scrapping plans to gradually decommission the country’s reactors.
However, in order to make Europe “more resilient, competitive and stable”, Belgium will work closely with France to expand its nuclear capabilities.
Across Europe, attitudes towards zero-emission energy sources are changing as governments recognise their potential to deliver energy sovereignty and reduce reliance on natural gas imports.
Want The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to The Brief.
(Wed)
Source: Source