Celina Ali Islamabad: The European Union foreign policy chief this week urged Pakistan and India to defuse the ongoing tension. Kaja Kalas stated on X that she spoke with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Ishaq Dar, and that “I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The European Union (EU) sends more money to Portugal than the country has to transfer to Brussels, in the form of national contributions, which has helped external accounts. Between 1996 and 2024, the balance of flows with Brussels totalled, on average, 1.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to data released by […]
Read MoreNewswire London: The EU is prepared to make major concessions in negotiations to allow British and European 18- to 30-year-olds to travel and work freely, potentially paving the way for a long-awaited reset with Brussels. A scheme that would allow thousands of young Europeans to live and work in the UK has been seen as […]
Read MoreNewswire Paris: Paris this week raised its voice against any revision of the current EU rules on export control for defence gear within the bloc, sources with knowledge of the plans told Euractiv. To reduce administrative burdens and speed up weapons production, the Commission proposed facilitating the movement of defence components across EU countries, regulated […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: In a world where luxury often comes with a hefty price tag, Portugal stands out as an exception. Here, visitors can indulge in opulent experiences without the fear of overspending. Imagine staying in a plush hotel in Lisbon or Porto, enjoying gourmet meals, and partaking in exclusive activities—all at a fraction of the […]
Read MoreNewswire Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif this week invited companies from the European Union states to invest in the education, information technology, green energy and health sectors in the province. Welcoming the EU Parliamentary Delegation for South Asia to discuss matters related to mutual interests, bilateral relations, trade, education and investment, she agreed […]
Read MoreNewswire London: At this week’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the world’s biggest emission control area (ECA) has been agreed upon. The new Northeast Atlantic ECA, due by 2027, stretches along coastlines from Portugal to Greenland (see map below), joining existing nearby ECAs in the North Sea, […]
Read MoreBerlin: Germany is set to terminate its fast-track citizenship program, a policy that allowed eligible immigrants to obtain citizenship in just three years. The decision, reached in an agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), marks a shift in the nation’s immigration landscape. The Fast-track […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria continues its military modernization efforts, now surpassing NATO’s 2% defense spending target by dedicating 3% of its GDP to defense, writes Peter Suciu from the National Interest. The country’s latest acquisition, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, marks a significant step in replacing its outdated Soviet-era MiG-29 jets, which had been in service since […]
Read MoreCelina Ali ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to Europe grew by 9.41 percent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, state-run media reported this week, attributing the surge to rising demand for the country’s textile, garments and its GSP Plus status. The European Union (EU) is Pakistan’s second most important trading partner, accounting for […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portuguese authorities will fast-track agreement for foreign workers. Portuguese employers will need to meet several criteria to bring foreign workers to the country through the fast-track scheme. Under this agreement, Portugal will process work visa applications for foreign workers with job offers within 20 days from the date of application and will make […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has officially expanded to European travellers. Starting 2 April 2025, all European visitors will need ETA approval – or, for some non-EU nationals, a visa – to enter the UK. The system became mandatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, […]
Read MoreHenan Daily Zhengzhou: The second China-Europe Railway Express (Zhengzhou) Expo will be held in Zhengzhou, Central China’s Henan province, from June 28 to 30. Held at the city’s Central China International Convention and Exhibition Center, the expo aims to create a platform for cooperation and exchange among countries and cities along the China-Europe Railway route. […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal has been reported as the third most attractive country for hotel investment in Europe, according to a survey made in 2025 by real estate consultants CBRE. Above Portugal ranks just Spain and Italy. The survey shows that Portugal has seen significant growth in its appeal to hotel investors, with Lisbon, the country’s […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The inaugural EU-Pakistan Business Forum is set to take place in Islamabad from May 14-15 to enhance economic cooperation, according to a joint announcement by the government and European Union delegation this week. The EU is the largest single market in the world and the largest destination for Pakistani ex-ports. The EU […]
Read MoreAndrey Kortunov Lately the not-so-fresh idea of a “European strategic autonomy” has got back in circulation in many EU capitals. This should come as no surprise, given the condescending and even arrogant attitude displayed by the Donald Trump administration toward US’ European allies. Politicians and state officials across the European continent can no longer take […]
Read MoreAlex McClintock Lisbon: The Spanish Steps were closed for renovations when I visited Rome for the first time. The Flatiron Building was covered in scaffolding during my last trip to New York. And I’ve lost count of the number of museums and art galleries I’ve missed out on by turning up on the wrong day. […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria risks losing €2.5 billion in EU grants from the Social Climate Fund because it is late in preparing its national plan, influential NGOs such as WWF, Za Zemyata (For the Earth) and Habitat Bulgaria have warned. “There are concerns that Bulgaria will not be able to submit its Social Climate Plan to […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan, Dr. Riina Kionka, called on Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan this week to discuss strengthening bilateral trade ties and upcoming business engagements between the EU and Pakistan. During the meeting, Dr. Kionka invited the Commerce Minister to deliver closing remarks at […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Since the Annabelle doll became an instantly recognisable icon in the horror universe just over 10 years ago, the myth of the doll that comes to life (as old as cinematic horror itself) has come back into fashion. With Dollhouse, by Japanese director Shinobu Yaguchi, the big winner at this year’s Fantasporto, which […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of the European Union (EU), Dr. Riina Kionka on Friday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here at the Prime Minister’s House. At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked the EU Ambassador for expressing condolences on the recent terrorist attack on Jaffar Express train in Balochistan and […]
Read MoreCopenhagen: Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday said her government remains “open-minded” about deploying Danish soldiers to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force. “As I have said before, we have an open mind as a Danish government,” Frederiksen told TV2 following a high-level meeting in London hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: Returning home after sunset, a woman removes her headphones, lowers her hood, and keeps an eye on each man she passes. She cannot stop thinking about the man who followed her home and attacked her. She is 1 in 3 women to have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in the past 12 months […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Teresa Nicolau, the esteemed Portuguese author and journalist, has expressed her admiration for Pakistan, calling it a country vibrant with life, youthful energy, and a rich cultural heritage. In an interview at the residence of Portuguese Ambassador Frederico Silva, Nicolau shared her deep appreciation for Pakistan, highlighting the warmth of its people […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: With growing concerns over irregular migration and human smuggling, experts at a high-level dialogue this week underscored the need for structured and legal migration channels so that the root cause of irregular migration might be addressed. The dialogue on ‘Safe Migration Pathways for Aspiring Pakistani Migrants’ was organized by the Sustainable Development […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Acclaimed Portuguese journalist and author, Teresa Nicolau, arrived this week in Pakistan at the invitation of the Portuguese Embassy, to participate in events and activities in Islamabad and in Lahore, where she participated in the 2025 LLF-Lahore Literary Festival. Teresa Nicolau, a distinguished journalist and author known for her compelling storytelling and […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan Dr Riina Kionka this week said the EU was committed to supporting initiatives that enhance human capital and empower women in Pakistan. “I am excited to lay the foundation for a modern TVET centre that will prepare women for the […]
Read MoreEU-Pakistan dosti celebrated at EuroVillage 2025 Celina Ali Islamabad: Thousands of participants gathered at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) this week to enjoy the vibrant “EuroVillage” festival, organised by the Delegation of the European Union in collaboration with the EU Member States. The event provided a unique opportunity for the residents of Islamabad […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the 50th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, met with His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, at the Palácio de Belém this week. This was His Highness’s first official meeting with the President following his accession as Imam. During their discussion, the President extended […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Gujrat: Portuguese Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Frederico Silva this week visited the Hafiz Hayat Campus of the University of Gujrat (UoG) where he was warmly received by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zahoorul Haq, senior academics, and administration officials. Mian Imran Masood, former education minister of Punjab and vice chancellor of the University of […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: The European Union’s member states need to increase defence spending to keep pace with the threats facing the continent, its foreign policy chief warned this week. Kaja Kallas, who served as prime minister of Estonia until July 2024, said “every euro spent on school, healthcare and welfare [was] vulnerable” if the bloc didn’t […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon : Portugal’s green political party, Livre, has proposed to grant Portuguese nationality to stateless people who have been residing in Portugal for at least three years, provided they have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and don’t pose a risk to national security. The bill proposed by Livre was discussed in the Parliament […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The European Union’s mission in Islamabad this week reminded Pakistan that trade benefits it received under the GSP+ scheme depended on progress the country made on addressing a list of issues, including human rights, saying “tangible” efforts remained essential. The statement came after a week-long visit to Pakistan by Ambassador Olof Skoog, […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: The Pakistan Academy of Letters this week hosted the launch of the Urdu translation of Portuguese author José Luís Peixoto’s novel Nenhum Olhar (Blank Gaze), with the participation of Ambassador of Portugal Frederico Silva. The acclaimed novel, now beautifully rendered in Urdu as Viran Nazar by the renowned Pakistani author Muhammad Atif […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Authorities in Pakistan said this week they will begin surveillance of travelers between the ages of 15 and 40 on their way to Europe. This is to try and curb increasing incidents of migrant smuggling. Two Pakistani officials said they will begin questioning all passengers aged between 15 and 40 towards around […]
Read MoreEU funds trip Celina Ali Islamabad: The European Union is hosting a 23-member Pakistani parliamentary delegation led by Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani to visit the Parliaments and Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs) of Austria and Ireland. The European Union Delegation to Pakistan earlier hosted a pre-departure reception ahead of the visit, starting at the weekend. […]
Read MoreMark Segal Paris: The government of France has called for a significant implementation delay and major amendments to some of the key European sustainability reporting and environmental due diligence regulations introduced over the past few years, in a bid to help reduce bureaucratic burdens and simplify compliance obligations for companies, and for small and medium-sized […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Data provided by the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security in Portugal show that foreign workers’ contributions to Portugal’s social security system are already sufficient to fund 17% of national pensions and retirements. In 2023 the Portuguese social security system disbursed 15.8 billion euros in benefits, with immigrants to the country injecting […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: Pakistan’s Chargé d’affaires in Belgium Faraz Zaidi met Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, European Parliament, David McAllister here this week and discussed relations between Pakistan and European Union and avenues for deepening cooperation. They also shared views on matters of regional and global importance. In a post on X, Faraz Zaidi said, “A […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, met UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari this week. They exchanged views on a number of issues on the Security Council’s agenda including the Middle East, Afghanistan and UN’s role therein, according to a press release of the Pakistani Mission. Last week, […]
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