EU aid to developing countries could depend on their stance towards Russia and Iran, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday, advocating a much stronger development policy.
Support for these two countries, whose governing regimes are antagonistic to Europe and the West, could lead to the withholding of EU funds. Kallas argued for one “More strategic” distribution of foreign aidgiven the geopolitical uncertainties affecting the Union and its allies.
“If a partner supports Russia or Iran, then they have to be flexible so that we can rebuild our engagement in this case,” she said. “It’s a very careful balance … not pulling all of them, but also bearing in mind that Europe has interests.”
The remarks come as EU leadership is charting the future of the bloc’s €300bn geopolitical investment strategy, the Global Gateway, in the EU’s next seven-year budget.
Briefing
What the Trump-Xi summit means for Europe – The meeting of the two global superpowers did not provoke a dramatic escalation or new rounds of retaliatory rare earth export controls. For this, Europe can be relieved. But without a strategy to manage future consequences, Europe is extremely vulnerable, Alicia García Herrero argues.
Is Brexit back on the menu? – The issue of EU reunification has been push center-stage in the battle to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. “The idea that we can reconnect with our working-class base by reopening this debate is just extraordinary,” said one Labor MP.
EPP lawmaker wants tighter reach of AfD – Branko Grims, an MEP representing Slovenia in the European People’s Party, called for the four right-wing groups in the European Parliament to form a coalition, following the example of a recent deportation bill passed by a centre-right majority. “If the right-wing parties do not cooperate and do not cooperate forever, I believe that Europe will cease to exist,” Grims said at an event last Tuesday.
All over Europe
Spain’s socialists crushed in Andalusia – Regional elections on Sunday in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia delivered a historic blow to the ruling Socialists of Pedro Sanchez, where he had dominated for almost four decades. However, the centre-right People’s Party fell two seats short of a governing majority, likely bringing the far-right Vox party into the lead.
Meloni threatens to withdraw Italy from the EU defense loan – Rome has threatened to withdraw from the EU’s flagship SAFE rearmament programme unless Brussels extends the fiscal “escape clause” measures to allow spending to protect Italy from the Middle East energy crisis. “We cannot justify to our citizens that the EU allows financial flexibility to be used for security and defense purposes in the strictest sense, but not to protect families, workers and enterprises from a new energy crisis,” Meloni wrote.
Russia and Belarus organize nuclear drills – Russia and Belarus held nuclear drills on Monday between a deadlock with the NATO military alliance and a deadlock with Washington over nuclear arms control. “During the exercise, it is planned to practice issues related to the delivery of nuclear munitions and the preparation of their use in cooperation with the Russian side,” the Ministry of Defense of Belarus said.
(jp)
