Celina Ali Islamabad: Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif this week announced that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for flights to Europe. In 2020, after a PIA plane crash in Karachi killed nearly 100, followed by a fake pilot licence scandal, the EASA banned […]
Read MoreNewswire Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Rome this week. The two leaders discussed several challenges facing the European Union. ‘Old friendship, new chapter, big plans,’ Orbán wrote in a post on X following the meeting. During their discussions, Meloni congratulated Orbán on Hungary’s successful EU Presidency, highlighting […]
Read MoreParis: French President Emmanuel Macron said this week he will stay on “until the end” of his five-year term, until May 2027, after a no-confidence vote in parliament toppled the government. Speaking to the nation in a televised address on Thursday, Macron said he would name a new prime minister in the “coming days”. “The […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal has won the award for “Best Golf Destination in the World” at the World Golf Awards 2024 in Funchal, and has also scooped the prize for “Best Golf Destination in Europe” for the third year running. The announcement came this afternoon, with Turismo de Portugal attributing the country’s success “to the integrated […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: In a show of solidarity following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union offered the prospect of eventual membership to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, signaling to the Kremlin that these countries are not within its sphere of influence. When United States President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January, […]
Read MoreFrancesco Fontemaggi Paris: France this week showed off to the world the gleaming restored interior of Notre Dame cathedral, just over a week before the 850-year-old mediaeval edifice reopens following painstaking restoration after the devastating 2019 fire. President Emmanuel Macron conducted an inspection of the restoration, broadcast live on television, saying workers had done the […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria is confidently moving towards its goal in tourism for 2024 – to attract 13 million visitors by the end of the year and achieve 14 billion in tourism revenue, which will set a new standard for success in the sector, the Tourism Ministry said. National Statistical Institute (NSI) data confirm that 2024 […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: In an effort to contribute more to social integration and public benefit, authorities in Portugal have unfolded plans to launch the new Solidarity Golden Visa. Although it has yet to be approved when it will enter into force, this program would grant residency to wealthy internationals, provided they make an investment of at […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Brussels: Romania and Bulgaria are poised to gain full Schengen Area membership by early 2025, following Austria’s decision to lift its opposition. This agreement, reached during ministerial discussions, paves the way for unrestricted travel across land borders, complementing their existing air and maritime access. Romania and Bulgaria are on track to become full […]
Read MoreBuenos Aires: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Javier Milei met in Buenos Aires after the G20 summit in Brazil to discuss strengthening ties between Italy and Argentina. This marked Meloni’s first bilateral meeting in Latin America since taking office in 2022—a choice she emphasized was no coincidence during their joint press conference. Both leaders […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: With 12.22 billion euros produced, it increased by 14% compared to the previous year, thus escaping the downward trend of 1.5% recorded in European Union. In 2023, agricultural production in the EU was valued at €537.1 billion at base prices, which represents a 1.5% decrease compared to the previous year (€545.4 billion), according […]
Read MoreBrussels: The EU Commission this week predicted a slight increase in growth in the eurozone currency union and a continued fall in inflation in 2025. However, the commission also pointed to risks arising from geopolitical tensions, as well as weak investment and a high cost of living. The EU Commission’s forecasts showed eurozone growth ticking […]
Read MoreZoe 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 […]
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