Section: European Voice (EU)
America’s spezial relationship
BERLIN — When presidential hopeful Barack Obama introduced himself to Germany on a July evening in 2008, asking a crowd of more than 200,000 in central Berlin to embrace his mantra for change, they took up his call with enthusiasm. Disillusioned by the wars and scandals of the George W. Bush era, Germans appeared more convinced of the promise of...
In pictures: Obama’s 8-year journey through Europe
This week, the U.S. president visits the U.K. — followed by a stop in Germany — likely for his last time in office, slowly bringing to a close a long, mixed relationship with Europe that began when Barack Obama was a history-making candidate for office. Here’s a look back over the years. BERLIN, 2008: More than 200,000 people showed up for...
POLITICO Morgen Europa PLUS: Wer solche Partner hat — Webers deutsche Methode — Ruttes Plan
MARK RUTTE hat das niederländische Referendum zum EU-Assoziierungsabkommen mit der Ukraine versemmelt. Nun schaut tout Bruxelles darauf, wie er mit dem Ergebnis umgeht. Ignorieren oder umsetzen? EU-Diplomaten berichten: Er werde sich Zeit lassen mit einer Entscheidung, Zeit bis nach dem britischen Referendum Ende Juni — und bis nach dem Ende der...
Was von Europas Strahlkraft geblieben ist
Europa ist für die meisten Georgier ein Gefühl, ein Wohlstandstraum, ein Spaziergang durch das hübsch frisierte Touristenviertel von Tiflis. Kaum abseits der Bars und Boutiquen aber wird das Leben karg, Kinder schnorren Zigaretten, Familien leben in halbfertigen Hochhäusern. Die zahllosen Satellitenschüsseln leiten fast nur russische Sender nach...
Obama sees another foreign policy goal crumble in Syria
President Barack Obama’s most tangible success in his push to stop Syria’s bloodbath — a cease-fire struck in late February — is rapidly turning into a failure. His fiercest critics in Congress, meanwhile, are basically saying, “I told you so.” The always-fragile truce “may be breaking down” the president acknowledged Thursday while...
Donald Trump terrifies world leaders
President Barack Obama is trying but failing to reassure foreign leaders convinced that Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. They’re in full-boil panic. According to more than two dozen U.S. and foreign-government officials, Trump has become the starting point for what feels like every government-to-government...
Russia tells NATO to ‘stop spreading like mushrooms’
The highest-level meeting between NATO and Russia in almost two years served only to confirm that they are “locked in mutual misunderstanding,” according to an official from the Western alliance who took part in Wednesday’s talks in Brussels. Nobody had expected major breakthroughs in the standoff over Russia’s annexation of Crimea or...
Commission proposes visa-free EU travel for Ukrainians
The European Commission wants to lift visa restrictions on travel in the EU for Ukrainians, Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said Wednesday. If the proposal is agreed to by EU member countries and the European Parliament, Ukraine would be included on the list of countries whose citizens can travel without a visa to the Schengen...
Jean-Claude Juncker: ‘EU interferes too much’
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Tuesday that the EU has “lost its attractiveness” because it interferes too much in people’s lives. The EU is involved in “too many domains where member states are better placed to take action,” Juncker told members of national parliaments in a debate at the Council of Europe in...
Vladimir Putin’s official 2015 income: About €120,000
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declared income rose by 1 million rubles (€13,000) in 2015 to 8.9 million rubles, or about €120,000, Interfax reported Friday. The leader’s property and earnings declaration included 1500 square meters of land and a 77 square meter apartment, as well as a garage he can use to store his Soviet...
