European union

PARIS: Populist and eurosceptic parties have emerged in many countries of the European Union, although not all go as far as wanting a Brexit-style departure.European voters go to the polls to choose a new parliament May 23-26 and gains for eurosceptics and the far right would be a new blow for the bloc's established leaders as the Brexit crisis rumbles on.Here is a selection of nations with significant eurosceptic, anti-establishment and anti-immigration parties.BRITAINIn a referendum on Jun 23, 2016, Britons voted to quit the EU by 52 per cent to 48 per cent in an outcome that stunned the EU and the wider world.The divorce process has been fraught and two extensions to the original Mar 29 deadline mean Britain will still take part in the European Parliament elections.At the last elections in 2014, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) capitalised on the strong anti-EU mood to score a major victory by taking 24 of Britain's 73 MEP seats.This time around, anger at both the ruling … [Read more...] about Eurosceptic and populist forces in the European Union

BRUSSELS: All warring groups in Libya must commit to a ceasefire and return to UN-led mediation, the European Union said on Monday (May 13), calling the situation a threat to international security."The EU calls on all parties to immediately implement a ceasefire and to engage with the United Nations to ensure a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities," EU foreign ministers said in a statement after meeting UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj in Brussels."It also calls on them to dissociate themselves both publicly and on the ground from terrorist and criminal elements involved in the fighting, and from those suspected of war crimes, including individuals listed by the UN Security Council," the statement said.The latest flare-up of violence in Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011, began a month ago when eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar's forces advanced to the outskirts of Tripoli. More than 440 people have died and tens of thousands have … [Read more...] about European Union calls for ceasefire in Libya

BRUSSELS: The European Union's 28 countries consume the Earth's resources much faster than they can be renewed, and none of them has sustainable consumption policies, a report released on Thursday (May 9) said, as EU leaders meet to discuss priorities for the next five years."All EU countries are living beyond the means of our planet.The EU and its citizens are currently using twice more than the EU ecosystems can renew," the report by the World Wide Fund (WWF) and Global Footprint Network said.The report comes as EU leaders gather in the Romanian town of Sibiu to set the course for the bloc after Britain leaves later this year.Climate protection is among the priorities. But views on concrete action differ between countries, influenced greatly by their dominant industries."The EU uses up almost 20 per cent of the Earth's bio-capacity although it comprises only 7 per cent of the world population," the report said."In other words, 2.8 planets would be needed if everyone consumed at the … [Read more...] about European Union nations are living far beyond the Earth’s means