Zoe Williams Lisbon: If you walk along the south banks of the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite Porto city, towards the sea, the scene will be classic Portugal for a while: a lot of waterside restaurants, a lot of grilled chicken, some stalls selling unlikely items made of cork (aprons?). A little […]
Read MoreBrussels: The European Commission published this week its report on progress made by candidates to become members of the European Union on the road to fulfilling all the necessary criteria. UKRAINE: Ukraine applied for EU membership several days after it was invaded by Russia in February 2022, and was granted candidate status in June that […]
Read MoreNewswire Budapest: The EU must focus on setting its own house in order, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this week, citing tariffs, competitiveness and defence as the most pressing issues the bloc faces as it comes to terms with Donald Trump’s election win. Trump’s return to power poses a major challenge for the European […]
Read MoreParis: Europe must be willing to take charge of its own destiny, the French government spokeswoman said this week, as Donald Trump won the US presidential election. “We must not ask ourselves what the United States will do, but what Europe is capable of doing. In a number of key sectors – defense, industrial recovery, […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: A memorial plaque honoring the millions of victims of the 1932-1933 Holodomor genocide in Ukraine was unveiled in Lisbon on October 23, with Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska in attendance. A dispatch from the event was provided by Pavlo Sadokha, Vice-President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and President of the Union of […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Lahore: Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan welcomed the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Riina Kionka, to the Punjab Assembly this week. Also present at the meeting were Secretary General Chaudhry Aamir Habib, EU Team Leader Sebastien Lorion, and Faisal Butter, Provincial Coordinator for the Sustainable Parliament Project. The meeting […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Danish renewables developer European Energy A/S has officially opened a 3-MW green hydrogen production facility that will supply Port Esbjerg and will later form part of a 12-MW electrolysis complex. The first electrolyser using the technology of Denmark’s Stiesdal A/S was installed in the summer and successfully passed through the commissioning phase, […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: A recent study by McKinsey highlights that Portugal must retrain around 1.3 million workers, about 30% of its workforce, by 2030 to adopt generative AI and close its productivity gap with the rest of the European Union. Portugal has long struggled with low productivity, which has contributed minimally to GDP growth compared to […]
Read MorePieter Haeck Brussels: The European Union has set aside hundreds of millions of euros to grow companies working on critical technologies, such as microchips and quantum technology. A new scale-up scheme is set to get the green light early this week, with a budget of €300 million for next year, according to a draft plan […]
Read MoreWarwick Powell Tied into a war in Ukraine, confused about its identity and autonomy, the European political establishment has consigned EU member states to a period of considerable perturbation. The eurozone economies are being buffeted by major headwinds. Hampered by high energy costs, eurozone economies are witnessing industrial hollowing out as energy-intensive industries shutter. How […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The Portuguese government this week introduced a new initiative to support migrants enrolled in the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP). In a recent statement, the European Commission said that, known as Programa Integrar, this program is designed for unemployed individuals, those seeking their first job, and migrants looking to change […]
Read MoreAbdullah Jan Lahore: Ambassador of Belgium Idesbald Vander Gracht said this week that Belgium served as a gateway to Europe which was a valuable opportunity for Pakistani businesses to expand their presence in the EU market. He held a meeting with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Mian Abuzar Shad. LCCI Executive Committee […]
Read MoreIn a village in central Denmark, archeologists made a landmark discovery that could hold important clues to the Viking era: a burial ground, containing some 50 “exceptionally well-preserved” skeletons. “This is such an exciting find because we found these skeletons that are so very, very well preserved,” said archeologist Michael Borre Lundø, who led the […]
Read MoreLow taxes are just one factor influencing where young people decide to set up Last week, Portugal decided to take matters into its own hands. The minority government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro unveiled an imaginative budget proposal to turn the country into a low-tax haven for young adults, offering a decade of tax breaks […]
Read MoreThe Cooperation Council between the European Union (EU) and Kazakhstan held its twenty-first meeting on Monday, 14 October in Luxemburg. During the meeting, both parties confirmed their commitment to deepening and widening their cooperation and to exploring the full potential of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). As Kazakhstan’s first trade partner and foreign […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal’s Institute of Registries and Notaries will launch a new platform to accelerate the process of granting citizenship. The platform aims to increase the capacity of the services to process citizenship applications by 50 per cent. The platform consists of new functionalities, automation and artificial intelligence. In a bid to accelerate the process […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) this week completed its ‘Enhanced Food and Nutrition Security for Vulnerable People in Flood-affected Areas of Pakistan’ project, funded by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). For eighteen months, WFP supported the most vulnerable households in Pakistan’s worst flood-hit districts to facilitate […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Evora, a popular tourist destination in Portugal known for its ancient ruins, plans to introduce a tourist tax in 2025. Visitors will have to pay a fee to stay overnight at the UNESCO World Heritage site, according to the mayor of Alentejo’s capital. Draft regulation approvals from the municipal assembly are expected by […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: In the second quarter of 2024, there were 780.1 million overnight stays in tourist accommodations across the EU, a slight increase of 0.2% compared with the same quarter of 2023. April recorded 193.6 million nights (-8.7% compared with April 2023), May 272.1 million (+7.9%) and June 314.5 million (-0.1%). Note that Easter fell […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: The EU’s trade chief, Valdis Dombrovskis, said Thursday he had held “constructive” talks with China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, as Beijing seeks a deal with Brussels to avoid steep tariffs on imported electric vehicles. The meeting was held as divisions grow in Europe over the proposed tariffs, after Spain urged the EU last […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo’s home country Portugal continues to find unique ways to honour the football legend who is known to be its greatest goal machine with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With over 130 goals for his national team along with numerous accolades, including leading Portugal to a historic victory in Euro […]
Read MoreJennifer Rankin Ursula von der Leyen was leaving nothing to chance. At a private meeting with members of the European parliament in Strasbourg last Tuesday, she chose not to reveal who would get what job in her incoming European Commission, due to take office at the end of the year. Then immediately afterwards, during a […]
Read MoreZhong Nan Beijing: China this week expressed its disappointment with the European Commission’s recent decisions regarding the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, stressing it will take all necessary measures to defend the interests of its businesses. On September 12, a spokesperson for the European Commission stated that the price commitment solutions submitted by […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo this week scripted history during the international break, scoring his 900th goal during Portugal’s Nations League fixture vs Croatia. The former Manchester United star is now back with his Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, and was also awarded a special ‘GOAT’ jersey by the club with the number 900 on […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador Frans van Daele, Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the European Union, this week concluded his week-long visit to Pakistan. FoRB is a key priority for the EU, including in the context of the strategic engagement with Pakistan. During the visit, he met Federal […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal’s Golden Visa, launched in 2012, is a residency-by-investment program aimed at attracting foreign investments. It is popular among non-EU citizens as it offers them a path to Portuguese residency, which if they stick to the law of the land can lead to permanent residency and in the end to citizenship. It also […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The European Investment Bank (EIB) this week expressed keen interest in financing the upgrade of the National Highway (N-5 from Karachi to Torkham and a major water project in Karachi) and committed £50 million ($55.5m) for the rehabilitation of a hydropower project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a visiting delegation of the EIB, […]
Read MoreBrussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week welcomed the nomination of the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s prime minister. “Congratulations,” said von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive arm. “I know that Michel Barnier has the interests of Europe and France at heart, as his long […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portuguese airline TAP said this week its second-quarter net profit fell 10% to 72.2 million euros ($80.3 million), as foreign exchange losses from the devaluation of the Brazilian real offset an operating income increase. The state-owned flag carrier’s operating income rose 3.4% to 1.1 billion euros during the period, with passenger revenues up […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Firefighters this week brought under control a large forest fire in the Portuguese island of Madeira that had been burning for 11 days, but authorities said on Aug 25 they would remain on the ground to stop it flaring up again. The blaze, which started on Aug 14, has burnt more than 5,000ha […]
Read MoreBrussels: If you love the tradition of collecting passport stamps, you might be in for disappointing news, and would want to prioritise getting one from the EU before November 10, 2024. This is because, after this date, the manual stamping of passports will become a thing of the past, and will be replaced by a […]
Read MoreNewswire Copenhagen: While the south swelters, Denmark’s mild temperatures and extended daylight hours are providing the perfect summer escape for many. With rising temperatures in southern Europe, more and more tourists are flocking to cooler destinations in the north. Denmark, in particular, has become an increasingly popular choice for those looking to escape the scorching […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: A group representing Chinese companies this week said the European Commission’s plan to slap import duties of up to 36 percent on Chinese electric cars was “unfair” and would worsen trade tensions. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) “expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EC’s protectionist approach,” […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: More than 63,000 requests for Portuguese citizenship have been received in the first four months of 2024. The figures provided by the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) reveal that there has been a significant increase in the number of citizenship applications. The surge in the number of citizenship applications has brought difficulties […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan, Dr Riina Kionka this week said the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status (GSP+) to Pakistan is an exemplary step for increasing economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. “Pakistan and the European Union are major trading partners and Pakistan’s annual […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Foreigners’ interest in obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa continues to remain high despite the summer season coming to an end soon. According to data from Google Trends, searches worldwide for a Portugal Schengen visa are currently up 90 per cent. Even though not everyone who searches for a Portugal visa applies for the […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: European Union Ambassador Dr. Riina Kionka this week extended congratulations to Pakistanis on their 77th Independence Day and honoured the country’s “vibrant diversity in the spirit of respect, unity, and inclusion envisioned by its founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.” At a special event on the premises of the European Union Delegation to […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Portugal offers a stunning blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, making it one of the popular tourist destinations. A huge number of visitors travel to the European country to explore historic sites like the Tower of Belém and Sintra’s fairytale palaces in Portugal. Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural […]
Read MoreBrussels: The European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the world’s first extensive and far-reaching legislation on AI, has come into force. Its purpose is to ensure that AI developed and used in the European Union’s member states is trustworthy and thus the Act is hedged around with comprehensive safeguards to protect people’s fundamental rights. The […]
Read MoreParis: France remained Europe’s top physical net power exporter in the first half of the year at 40.8 TWh – a 31% jump from the second half of 2023, a Montel Analytics report showed this week. The surge was due to increased nuclear output, a surplus of hydropower generation and persistently low demand, despite French […]
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