Latest news with #EuropeanCommunity
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
High stakes and nervous allies as Trump seeks Ukraine deal with Putin
Concern about what Trump would be willing to cede to Russia in his supercharged effort to reach an accord - the prime exhibit in his open campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize - drew an extraordinary group of European leaders to the White House to back up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a pivotal moment for Kyiv. More: Zelenskyy gets warmer White House reception: Takeaways from high stakes Trump meeting In the East Room on August 18, America's strongest allies wrapped layers of praise for Trump's leadership around warnings about the need to reach a ceasefire before negotiations begin, and before Ukraine is pressured to give up swaths of land to the nation that launched its latest invasion more than three years ago. But Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out a ceasefire at his own meeting with Trump, this one in Alaska three days earlier, and he apparently won him over. Facing a united front from NATO and the European Community, from the leaders of France and Germany and Great Britain, Trump on Monday found himself more closely aligned on this key question with Moscow. On his way to Alaska, Trump had called a ceasefire crucial, threatening "serious consequences" if Russia didn't agree. But after Putin's flat nyet, Trump in the East Room described a ceasefire as a nice idea but not an imperative. More: Trump and Zelenskyy meet again, but Putin has faced Trump, other presidents many times Trump said the United States was prepared to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine, a significant step and one Putin indicated a willingness to consider. That surely increases the pressure on Zelenskyy to agree to what Trump calls "land swaps," perhaps including giving away territory that Russia has not yet won on the battlefield. Putin has demanded the Donbas, an area rich in industry and strategically located. Zelenskyy has rejected the idea of ceding any land. Foreign policy in an age of Trump 2.0 The whirlwind of developments in the space of a few days was a telling display of foreign policy in the age of Trump 2.0. For one thing, the tradition of slow-as-you-go diplomacy, of meticulous meetings by aides to hash out the details before the principals meet, has been replaced by sweeping declarations from the top - often streamed live to the world and updated in real time on Truth Social. For another, any inclination by foreign leaders during Trump's first term to challenge him too directly has been replaced by a strategy of flattery. More: A Nobel Peace Prize for Trump? World leaders are lining up That's true for Putin. He is a former KGB agent who has led the Kremlin with an iron hand for a quarter century. But on this, Putin has persuaded Trump that he has Trump's own interests at heart. "I think he wants to make a deal for me," Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron as they gathered for a group photo in the White House Cross Hall, a private aside picked up by a hot mic. "Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds." It's true for Zelenskyy, who showed up at the White House in a dark suit - a concession to Trump's complaints about his usual military-style attire at his last visit. That encounter imploded into acrimony. In the Oval Office this time, he heaped praise on the president. "Thank you very much for your efforts," he told Trump. Vice President JD Vance, who had laced into Zelenskyy in February's meeting for ingratitude, sat on the couch next to the president, silent and smiling. It was apparent among the European leaders, too. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte launched a round-robin of praise." "I really want to thank you, President of the United States, dear Donald," he said, crediting him with "breaking the deadlock" on the war and "starting the dialogue" for peace. More: Ukraine's Zelenskyy avoids Trump mauling at White House. Will he get Putin meeting? Zelenskyy and other leaders expressed particular appreciation for Trump's willingness to support security guarantees, though European forces would be expected to take the lead and the U.S. role hasn't been defined. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised the most direct caution of the day. "The next steps are the more complicated ones," he said, adding: "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire." A play for peace or a play for time? Just when and where that next meeting would take place isn't clear, but Merz later told reporters it was supposed to happen within the next two weeks. Trump had "paused" his conversation with the European leaders to hold a 40-minute phone call with Putin. Afterwards, he said he "began the arrangements" for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between Putin and Zelenskyy. "After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," he said in a social-media post. Skeptics warn that Putin is playing for time, for the opportunity to keep hammering Ukraine on the battlefield while giving lip service to seeking peace. Putin has another long-standing goal, too: To drive a wedge in the Western alliance that was forged in the aftermath of World War II, in large part as a check on Moscow. An expansionist Russia and a divided alliance is also the European leaders' greatest fear - not only for Ukraine's sake but also for their own. "The optimism of your president is to be taken seriously," Macron told NBC after he left the White House. But he expressed little of Trump's confidence in his new peace partner. "When I look at the situation and the facts, I don't see President Putin very willing to get peace now."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
The good news and bad news as Trump seeks Ukraine deal with Putin
Hurtling toward talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, the days of slow-as-you-go diplomacy are clearly over in the age of Trump. The good news is President Donald Trump is determined to make a deal, and fast, to end the grinding war in Ukraine. For the leaders of Ukraine and Europe, that could be the bad news, too. Concern about what Trump would be willing to cede to Russia in his supercharged effort to reach an accord − the prime exhibit in his open campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize − drew an extraordinary group of European leaders to the White House to back up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a pivotal moment for Kyiv. More: Zelenskyy gets warmer White House reception: Takeaways from high stakes Trump meeting In the East Room on August 18, America's strongest allies wrapped layers of praise for Trump's leadership around warnings about the need to reach a ceasefire before negotiations begin, and before Ukraine is pressured to give up swaths of land to the nation that launched its latest invasion more than three years ago. But Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out a ceasefire at his own meeting with Trump, this one in Alaska three days earlier, and he apparently won him over. Facing a united front from NATO and the European Community, from the leaders of France and Germany and Great Britain, Trump on Monday found himself more closely aligned on this key question with Moscow. On his way to Alaska, Trump had called a ceasefire crucial, threatening "serious consequences" if Russia didn't agree. But after Putin's flat nyet, Trump in the East Room described a ceasefire as a nice idea but not an imperative. More: Trump and Zelenskyy meet again, but Putin has faced Trump, other presidents many times Trump said the United States was prepared to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine, a significant step and one Putin indicated a willingness to consider. That surely increases the pressure on Zelenskyy to agree to what Trump calls "land swaps," perhaps including giving away territory that Russia has not yet won on the battlefield. Putin has demanded the Donbas, an area rich in industry and strategically located. Zelenskyy has rejected the idea of ceding any land. Foreign policy in an age of Trump 2.0 The whirlwind of developments in the space of a few days was a telling display of foreign policy in the age of Trump 2.0. For one thing, the tradition of slow-as-you-go diplomacy, of meticulous meetings by aides to hash out the details before the principals meet, has been replaced by sweeping declarations from the top − often streamed live to the world and updated in real time on Truth Social. For another, any inclination by foreign leaders during Trump's first term to challenge him too directly has been replaced by a strategy of flattery. More: A Nobel Peace Prize for Trump? World leaders are lining up That's true for Putin. He is a former KGB agent who has led the Kremlin with an iron hand for a quarter century. But on this, Putin has persuaded Trump that he has Trump's own interests at heart. "I think he wants to make a deal for me," Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron as they gathered for a group photo in the White House Cross Hall, a private aside picked up by a hot mic. "Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds." It's true for Zelenskyy, who showed up at the White House in a dark suit − a concession to Trump's complaints about his usual military-style attire at his last visit. That encounter imploded into acrimony. In the Oval Office this time, he heaped praise on the president. "Thank you very much for your efforts," he told Trump. Vice President JD Vance, who had laced into Zelenskyy in February's meeting for ingratitude, sat on the couch next to the president, silent and smiling. It was apparent among the European leaders, too. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte launched a round-robin of praise." "I really want to thank you, President of the United States, dear Donald," he said, crediting him with "breaking the deadlock" on the war and "starting the dialogue" for peace. More: Ukraine's Zelenskyy avoids Trump mauling at White House. Will he get Putin meeting? Zelenskyy and other leaders expressed particular appreciation for Trump's willingness to support security guarantees, though European forces would be expected to take the lead and the U.S. role hasn't been defined. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised the most direct caution of the day. "The next steps are the more complicated ones," he said, adding: "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire." A play for peace or a play for time? Just when and where that next meeting would take place isn't clear, but Merz later told reporters it was supposed to happen within the next two weeks. Trump had "paused" his conversation with the European leaders to hold a 40-minute phone call with Putin. Afterwards, he said he "began the arrangements" for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between Putin and Zelenskyy. "After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," he said in a social-media post. Skeptics warn that Putin is playing for time, for the opportunity to keep hammering Ukraine on the battlefield while giving lip service to seeking peace. Putin has another long-standing goal, too: To drive a wedge in the Western alliance that was forged in the aftermath of World War II, in large part as a check on Moscow. An expansionist Russia and a divided alliance is also the European leaders' greatest fear − not only for Ukraine's sake but also for their own. "The optimism of your president is to be taken seriously," Macron told NBC after he left the White House. But he expressed little of Trump's confidence in his new peace partner. "When I look at the situation and the facts, I don't see President Putin very willing to get peace now."
Irish Examiner
05-08-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
China-EU relations are now 50 years old
Fifty years ago, in the midst of the Cold War, visionary leaders from China and Europe showed remarkable political courage and strategic foresight by breaking through the rigid bloc confrontations of the time. In 1975, they established diplomatic relations between China and the European Economic Community — a historic step that opened the door to a relationship grounded in dialogue, co-operation, and mutual benefit. Over the past five decades, the results of this partnership have been truly remarkable. The 'win-win' nature of China–EU relations is clearly evident. The European Community, originally composed of just nine member states, has grown into the 27-member EU — a deeply integrated and influential global actor. Meanwhile, China has emerged as the world's second-largest economy. Bilateral trade has surged from $2.4bn in 1975 to an impressive $785.8bn today, while mutual investment has expanded from virtually nothing to nearly $260bn. Chinese investment has created more than 270,000 jobs in the EU. Co-operation now extends across a wide array of fields, including economy and trade, science, education, and culture. China has unilaterally granted visa-free access to citizens of 24 EU member states, and nearly 600 flights connect China and Europe each week. In 2024 alone, more than 9.7m people travelled between the two regions. Looking back, the development of China–EU relations has not been without its challenges. As the Chinese saying goes, 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'. Despite the EU's internal ups and downs or shifts in the global landscape, China's approach to its relationship with the EU has remained consistent and steady. China has always supported European integration and respects the EU's pursuit of strategic autonomy — welcoming a strong, prosperous, and stable Europe. During the European debt and financial crises, China extended its support by expressing firm confidence — famously declaring that 'confidence is more precious than gold' — and by purchasing large amounts of eurozone bonds. China's capital inflows and booming trade with Europe played a constructive role in the region's economic rebound. Following the UK's decision to leave the EU, China maintained its confidence in European unity. It dismissed the noise of Euroscepticism and Brexit-related anxieties, trusting in a smooth transition between the EU and the UK, while continuing to advocate for the stable and healthy development of China–EU ties. During the covid-19 pandemic, China stood in solidarity with Europe. Despite facing domestic shortages and pressure, China overcame logistical and supply challenges to donate and export large volumes of medical supplies to the EU and its member states, including Ireland. Between March 29 and April 26, 2020, Aer Lingus operated 259 cargo flights between Dublin and Beijing, transporting over 4,000 tons of medical supplies from China — the largest freight operation in the airline's history. These five decades have shown that China and the EU have the capacity to support and elevate each other — and even offer hope to the wider world. China's development has never been intended to challenge or even 'screw' the EU. On the contrary, it has always sought to respect and address EU concerns. On the Ukraine crisis, China has clearly stated its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons and attacks on civilian nuclear facilities. It has called for preventing escalation and spillover of the conflict and emphasised Europe's rightful role in resolving the crisis. Like EU, China is committed to a political settlement and supports Europe to build a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture — one that can ensure lasting peace and prevent a repeat of war. On matters of trade and economic co-operation, China has taken tangible steps to address EU concerns. The number of sectors restricted to foreign investment has been significantly reduced — from 190 to just 29 — while efforts to ensure national treatment for foreign investors are steadily advancing. These measures have provided European businesses with broader access to a more open and rules-based Chinese market. In response to supply-chain concerns, such as those involving rare earth elements, China has introduced a 'fast track' mechanism for European companies. To address worries about trade diversion, China has agreed to a monitoring mechanism and introduced consumer goods upgrade and equipment renewal policies aimed at expanding domestic demand — concrete signs of China's goodwill and commitment. Over the past five decades, China and Europe have built experience and goodwill that will help us counter uncertainty and future challenges. Denying past achievements clouds our vision for the future. Disregarding the efforts of past generations is tantamount to denying our own progress. As two major forces promoting multipolarity, two massive markets supporting globalisation, and two great civilisations championing diversity, China and Europe have every reason to choose openness and co-operation. If we do, the global tide toward economic integration will remain unbroken. Looking ahead, China hopes to work with EU to uphold the post-war international order and multilateral trading system, providing much-needed global stability and certainty. Together, we can shape an even more promising next 50 years for China–EU relations. Zhao Xiyuan is the Ambassador of China to Ireland.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Donal Fallon: How Margaret Thatcher and her knitted jumper helped nip the first attempt at Brexit in the bud, 50 years ago
Today at 21:30 While referendums are somewhat commonplace in Ireland, thanks to Bunreacht na hÉireann's requirement for questions to go before the citizenry, they are much rarer occurrences next door. Fifty years ago this month, Britain and a considerable chunk of this island were asked to answer a question: 'Do you think the UK should stay in the European Community (Common Market)?' Coming less than three years after British membership of the European Economic Community, the referendum was in some ways more complex than the 2016 one that ultimately removed Britain from the EU.
Euronews
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Only 3.3 per cent of foreigners in Portugal can vote. Will the deportation policy have an impact?
Despite already representing around 15 per cent of the resident population, foreigners accounted for just 0.3 per cent of registered voters in Portugal at the end of 2024, according to data from the Voter Portal of the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI). A study by the Office of Economic, Business and Public Policy Studies (G3E2P) of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP) reveals that immigrants in Portugal have a low level of political participation, which is compromising their social integration and favouring populist anti-immigration discourse. Of the 1.6 million foreign residents in Portugal, only 34,165 were registered (3.3 per cent). Of these, 16,985 had acquired Portuguese nationality, which guarantees them automatic registration. For the other foreigners, registration is voluntary. Of the total number of people registered, 15,613 were voters from European Community countries resident in Portugal and 18,552 were voters from other foreign countries. In terms of nationality, the majority were Brazilians (25.03%) and Cape Verdeans (16.89%). Immigrant membership of Portuguese political parties is marginal or non-existent, as is the case in the rest of Europe, the EFF study also points out. If parties actively recruited immigrants to represent foreign residents, the country's diverse population would be better reflected in Parliament, the researchers say. Recalling that all foreign residents can naturalise after five years in the country, acquiring broad political rights, the FEP's G3E2P analysis also highlights that the low level of voter registration and participation prevents immigrants' political potential from translating into effective representation. Immigration has once again become a hot topic during Portugal's election campaign. More than 10.9 million voters living abroad are expected to go to the polls this Sunday. Days before the start of the election campaign, the surprise deportation announcement by Luís Montenegro's government, via Presidency Minister António Leitão Amaro, was a "bucket of cold water" for many immigrants. "Over the next few weeks, we're facing around 18,000 notifications to leave national territory. I should also point out that this is the first set of decisions. We still have another 110,000 cases, most of which will probably be granted, but of those 110,000 still to be decided, we will probably also have more rejections and more notices to leave national territory," the executive spokesperson announced. One of the flagships of the AD programme, led by Montenegro, is the control of migratory flows and the implementation of a regulated immigration policy. The AD has been criticised from left to right, with opposition parties accusing Luís Montenegro of "electioneering" and "propaganda" in a dispute over Chega voters. André Ventura's party has insisted on a more populist discourse, claiming that immigrants are a factor of insecurity for the country. Elaine Miranda is a hairdresser and came to Portugal 16 years ago from São Luís do Maranhão, in the north-east of Brazil. When she arrived in Lisbon in 2009, she didn't intend to stay, but ended up settling here because she identified with the Portuguese capital due to its similarities to her hometown. After a week, she soon received job offers and ended up becoming a naturalised citizen, even though the process took a long time. She will be exercising his right to vote on the 18th for the first time. Elaine expects the next government to provide a balanced solution to the problem of unregulated immigration. "I'm an immigrant and I'm in favour of immigration, but we have to have conditions, there has to be control at all times, and people have to integrate into the community," Elaine told Euronews, rejecting the idea that the announcement of the deportations will influence her vote on Sunday. Ounísia Santos, a PhD student in Environmental Engineering, has a different view. She came to Portugal from Cape Verde 12 years ago to continue her studies in higher education and became a naturalised citizen in 2021. When she heard the news about the immigrants being expelled, her first reaction was concern. "It feels like they're coming after you, like a persecution. Portugal has always seemed to me to be a welcoming and receptive country, so I was shocked to learn that a country that has welcomed me so well is not receptive to everyone," she told Euronews. As an immigrant, she says she understands the importance of foreign labour for the country, but she is also critical of uncontrolled immigration. "There needs to be proper management, otherwise scenarios like the one we're seeing now in Portugal happen, such as pressure on public services, schools and housing," she admits. Ounísia voted in the two previous elections, in 2022 and 2024, and intends to vote again this Sunday. She hopes that the next government will at least provide the conditions for immigrants who are already here to integrate.
