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Euractiv
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
UK plans to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets conditions, Starmer says
Prime Minister Keir Starmer recalled his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders Reuters Jul 29, 2025 18:18 2 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet on Tuesday, according to a government statement. "He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution," the statement said. "He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm." Starmer took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party have asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel.
Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
EU-US deal avoided ‘potentially devastating' consequences, Italian Prime Minister Meloni says
She added, however, that she still had to 'study the details' of the deal AFP Jul 28, 2025 12:30 1 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed an EU-US trade deal on Monday, saying it had avoided "potentially devastating" consequences. Meloni – an ally of US President Donald Trump on many issues – had earlier this month warned against a "trade war within the West". Speaking at a summit in Ethiopia, Meloni said a "trade escalation between Europe and the United States would have had unpredictable and potentially devastating consequences". She added, however, that she still had to "study the details" of the deal. She spoke hours after Trump and the EU's Ursula von der Leyen struck the deal – that will see EU exports taxed at 15 percent – in Scotland. Meloni stressed she views the fact that a deal was struck at all "positively." The right-wing Italian leader said Rome will look into whether exemptions could be possible, "particularly on some agricultural products". (vib)
Euractiv
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Italy can ‘no longer accept carnage and famine' in Gaza, foreign minister says
Rome can only recognise Palestine 'at the same time as their recognition of the state of Israel,' said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday AFP Jul 25, 2025 16:40 1 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Friday his country cannot accept "carnage and famine" in Gaza, criticising Israel but stating that Italy was not ready to recognise the state of Palestine, like France plans to do. Italy's hard-right government has been criticised by the opposition for its stance on Israel but, like many EU countries, has become increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. "We can no longer accept carnage and famine," Tajani said, according to Italy's ANSA news agency. The Italian deputy prime minister added that Rome can only recognise Palestine "at the same time as their recognition of the state of Israel". "The time has come for an immediate ceasefire," Tajani said, speaking at a political party congress. Tajani used the word "famine" as aid groups warned of starvation spreading in Gaza and as Britain, France, and Germany were to hold an "emergency call" on the crisis. Late on Thursday, France said it would recognise the state of Palestine during a September UN meeting. On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the situation in Gaza "dramatic". "No military action can justify attacks against civilians," she said. (vib)
Euractiv
22-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Iran says will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks
AFP Jul 22, 2025 10:53 3 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, despite the "severe" damage caused by US strikes to its facilities, the country's foreign minister said ahead of renewed talks with European powers. Iran is scheduled to meet Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, to discuss its nuclear programme, with Tehran accusing European powers of scuppering a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The meeting will be the first since Iran's 12-day war with Israel last month, during which the United States carried out strikes against Tehran's nuclear facilities. For now, enrichment "is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News on Monday. "But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," he continued, calling it a source of "national pride." Donald Trump responded to the comments on his platform Truth Social, saying Washington would carry out strikes again "if necessary." The 2015 agreement, reached between Iran and UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US, plus Germany, imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, it unravelled in 2018 when the US, during Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Though Europe pledged continued support, a mechanism intended to offset US sanctions never effectively materialised, forcing many Western firms to exit Iran and deepening its economic crisis. "Iran holds the European parties responsible for negligence in implementing the agreement," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei ahead of Friday's talks in Istanbul on the deal's future. Iran will also host a trilateral meeting on Tuesday with Chinese and Russian representatives to discuss the nuclear issue and potential sanctions. The Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing would "continue to play a constructive role in pushing relevant sides to restart dialogue and negotiations, and reach a solution that takes into account the legitimate concerns of all parties". In recent weeks, the three European powers have threatened to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran, accusing it of breaching its nuclear commitments. Germany said the Istanbul talks would be at the expert level, with the European trio, or E3, working "flat out" to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution. "If no solution is reached by the end of August... the snapback also remains an option for the E3," said its foreign ministry spokesman, Martin Giese. A clause in the 2015 agreement allows for UN sanctions on Iran to be reimposed through a "snapback" mechanism in the event of non-compliance. However, the agreement expires in October, leaving a tight deadline. (mm)
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
OPEC forecasts stable crude exports from Africa until 2035
Africa is repositioning itself as a rising energy consumer and industrial growth hub in the global oil market, according to the Opec World Oil Outlook 2025. The report predicts that Africa's total crude and condensate exports will remain stable at around 5.2 million barrels per day (bpd) through 2035, but by 2050, they are expected to decline to 4.2 million bpd due to rising domestic demand and strategic value addition. Domestic crude use is expected to rise from 1.8 million bpd in 2024 to 4.5 million bpd by 2050, nearly tripling over the outlook period. This growth is tied to Africa's demographic boom, industrial expansion, and a push to enhance local refining and downstream infrastructure. Global trade patterns are shifting, offering new opportunities for African producers. Exports to Europe are expected to increase to a peak of 3 million bpd in 2030, before gradually tapering to 2.3 million bpd by 2050. The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a more prominent long-term partner, with African crude exports remaining stable at 1.9 million bpd through 2030, then rising modestly to 2.2 million bpd by 2040 before easing to 1.8 million bpd by 2050. Trade with the US and Canada is expected to fall to 100,000 bpd by 2045, as competition from Latin America intensifies. -OGN / TradeArabia News Service
