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President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday named former Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as his pick for the next ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a key alliance that Trump derided for years. He served just three months in the position until Bill Barr was confirmed as attorney general. Before becoming acting attorney general, Whitaker served as chief of staff to Sessions when he was attorney general. Trump has long criticized NATO, accusing European allies of not contributing enough toward defense spending. In February, Hillary Clinton warned that Trump would seek to withdraw the U.S. from NATO if he were to be re-elected.

Persons: Donald Trump, Matt Whitaker, Trump, Matt, Whitaker doesn't, Whitaker, Jeff Sessions, Bill Barr, George W, Bush, Ursula von der Leyen, Hillary Clinton, JD Vance, Putin Organizations: Donald Trump Wednesday, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Patriot, NATO Allies, AMERICA, Justice Department, Trump, Twitter, Sessions, Southern, Southern District of, Center of Law & Justice, Policy Institute, Union, NBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Ukrainian, U.S Locations: States, Southern District, Southern District of Iowa, Russia, Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Poland

☆ COP29: Azerbaijan’s leader takes a wrecking ball to climate talks as calls mount for a total ‘overhaul’
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —From the moment the US election results rolled in, climate leaders knew Donald Trump would be a blow to the COP29 talks in Baku. Amid the chaos, prominent global climate leaders on Friday issued an open letter calling for a “fundamental overhaul” of the entire UN climate process. COP29 marks the third year in a row that the climate talks have been held in either a petrostate, or economy that relies heavily on oil and gas. World leaders and delegates pose for a "family photo" on day two of the COP29 talks. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesThe geopolitical chaos comes as global climate leaders scramble to find ways to Trump-proof progress so far, as the president-elect has vowed to again pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ilham Aliyev, Sandrine Dixson, —, ”, Alex Scott, they’re, ” Aliyev, Aliyev, Agnès, Joseph Borrell, Azerbaijan’s COP29, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen didn't, Sean Gallup, Trump, Gerardo Werthein, “, Javier Milei’s Organizations: CNN, The, of Rome, United Arab, Getty, New York Times Locations: Baku, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Italy, Paris, France, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Azerbaijan, Armenia

☆ Europe could try to stop — or get around — damaging Trump tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Critics of the proposed tariffs say the policy could lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. That leaves Asia and Europe having to quickly consider ways to mitigate the future impact of export tariffs, and whether to retaliate or to try to negotiate a get-out deal. But economists also say that the EU could try to use the carrot instead of the stick with the U.S., suggesting there are three other ways Europe might try to stop, limit or avoid Trump's likely tariff policy altogether. German Chancellor Angela Merkel deliberates with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G-7 summit in Canada on June 9, 2018. Jesco Denzel | Bundesregierung | Getty ImagesWhether there Europe can reach consensus on how or whether to do a deal with Trump is debateable, however.

Persons: Caitlin Ochs, Reuters Donald Trump's, Europe scrabbling, Trump, Flach, Donald Trump, Jean, Claude Juncker, Andrew Kenningham, Didier Lebrun, Photonews, Mujtaba Rahman, Ursula von der, Von der, Joe Biden, Kenningham, Angela Merkel deliberates, Denzel, Carsten Brzeski, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, There's Organizations: Reuters, Trump, ING, Germany's, International Economics, Germany, U.S, EU, Capital Economics, European Union, Getty, Eurasia Group, Sustainable Steel, US Trade, Technology Council, Bundesregierung Locations: Upper Bay, New York, U.S, Europe, EU, China, Asia, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, France

☆ COP29: As Trump’s win tests the world order, diplomats are fretting over what it means for the planet
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Angela Dewan | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A U-turn on US climate policy could be disastrous for the planet, as it raises the risk of emulation. When America does something on the world stage, at least some countries tend to follow. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, negotiators will ramp down their expectations in terms of what’s possible at the talks, he said. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will host the climate talks next year in Brazil, bowed out after a head injury. The world is already 1.3 degrees warmer than it was before humans started burning fossil fuels at an industrial scale.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump’s, Trump, ”, Oli Brown, ” Trump, they’ve, Mukhtar Babayev, Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Ursula Von Der Leyen, Claudia Sheinbaum, Olaf Scholz, Dick Schoof, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Frederic J . Brown, Jonathan Pershing, Biden, “, Li Shuo, Trump’s, Joeri Rogelj, ” Rogelj Organizations: CNN, Union, Israeli, Maccabi Tel, Trump, Wilmington Oil, Getty, European Union, Asia Society Policy Institute, UN, Imperial College London Locations: Baku, United States, Paris, America, London, Mexico, Amsterdam, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Brazil, Wilmington, Los Angeles , California, AFP, China, EU, there’s

☆ ‘A huge victory’: World leaders react as Trump secures White House return
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Addressing his supporters in Florida, Trump said his return to the White House would usher in the "golden age" of America. Likewise, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban all offered their congratulations to Trump. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States," he added. "I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO," Rutte said. "I hope that the elections will be beneficial for our friendly and allied people in the United States and for all of humanity," he added.

Persons: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amos Ben, Gershom, Trump, Keir Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Pedro Sanchez, Giorgia Meloni, Viktor Orban, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump's, Volodymyr Zelensky, Alex Kent, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's, Maria Zakharova, Kamala Harris, Zakharova, Mark Rutte, Rutte, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Erdoğan, Tayyip Erdogan, Thaier Organizations: Mar, Anadolu, Getty, Wednesday, NBC News, Atlantic, Spanish, European Commission, Christian Democratic Union, Bloomberg, Ukraine, Republican, U.S, Russia, Russia's, White, NBC, Russian Foreign, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, sudani Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, United States, Florida, America, Italian, Hungarian, Berlin, Germany, Ukraine, New York City, Kyiv, Russia, Brussels, Belgium, Turkey, India, Australia, Israel, Iran, Dubai, United Arab

☆ Europe praises Trump's victory amid wider fears of an impending economic nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Some European officials woke up to election results on Wednesday "not wanting to believe" them, several sources told CNBC. Many European leaders did not enjoy Trump's style of confrontational leadership during his first presidency, and there were several moments of tension with the former White House leader. As a result, many in Brussels celebrated the victory of Joe Biden in 2020, hoping for a better engagement. watch nowA second EU source, who also did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the relationship, said: "It is not great, again." Any additional tariffs could further pressure the already moribund economic growth levels across the EU.

Persons: Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Pedro Sanchez, Giorgia Meloni, Viktor Orban, Trump Organizations: USA, NurPhoto, Getty, Democratic, White, Trump, CNBC, EU, Thursday, Spanish, Hungary's, European Union, U.S, European Commission, Political Locations: France, Biarritz, Brussels, EU, Italian, Hungarian, Budapest, United States, Ukraine

☆ The world prepares for a fresh era of tariffs under Trump 2.0
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

During his first term, Trump imposed tariffs on key industries in both Europe and China. AdvertisementThis time around, analysts told BI that Trump's policies could have a particular impact on Europe. Related storiesEurope is particularly vulnerable to Trump's aggressive trade policies for two main reasons, said Nigel Green, CEO of financial advisory firm deVere Group. AdvertisementDonald Trump met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020. Steven Kennedy, the most senior civil servant in Australia's Treasury department, said Wednesday he expected Trump's tariffs to impact the country's economy.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Bilal Hafeez, Nigel Green, Green, Morningstar, Trump's, Michael Brown, Ursula von der Leyen, JIM WATSON, Steven Kennedy, Kennedy, Fitch, Latinvex Organizations: Service, European Union, Macro, Economic, of Chicago, Street Journal, deVere, Pharmaceuticals, Morningstar DBRS, Trump, stoke, European, Getty, European Commission, Treasury, News.com.au Locations: Europe, China, Ukraine, Davos, Australasia, Latin America, America, Mexico

☆ European leaders breathe a sigh of relief as pro-EU candidate wins Moldova election
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The second round of voting pitted incumbent Maia Sandu against her Russia-backed Party of Socialists opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo, after neither candidate won a majority in the first round last month. With 99.9% of the responses at the poll counted on Monday morning, Sandu won 55.4% of the vote, compared to the 44.6% of Stoianoglo, according to Moldova's Central Electoral Commission. France will continue to stand beside Moldova on its European path," according to a CNBC translation. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, likewise praised Maia Sandu, stating on X that "it takes a rare kind of strength to overcome the challenges you've faced in this election. I'm glad to continue working with you towards a European future for Moldova and its people."

Persons: Maia Sandu, Alexandr Stoianoglo, Sandu, we've, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Sandu's, Ursula von der Leyen, you've, I'm Organizations: Electoral Commission, Moscow, CNBC, European Commission Locations: Soviet, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Europe, Georgia, Russian, Republic of Moldova, France

☆ Moldova’s pro-Western president wins 2nd term in runoff overshadowed by Russian meddling claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate country. Today, you have saved Moldova!” Sandu said after claiming victory after midnight. Moldova’s large diaspora, which cast ballots in record numbers of more than 325,000 voted, heavily in favor of Sandu in the runoff. The presidential role carries significant powers in areas such as foreign policy and national security and has a four-year term. But the results of the ballots including Sunday’s vote were overshadowed by allegations of a major vote-buying scheme and voter intimidation.

Persons: — Moldova’s, Maia Sandu, Sandu, Alexandr Stoianoglo, ” Sandu, Stoianoglo, ”, “, Ursula von der Leyen, you’ve, Stanislav Secrieru, Secrieru, Dorin Recean, Vladislav Culiomza, Silviana Zestrea, Ilan Shor, oligarch, Shor, Father Vasilii, it’s, Cristian Cantir, ” Savlina, Stringer Organizations: Western, European Union, Central Electoral Commission, CEC, Russia Party of Socialists, “, Sunday, Moldovan, Northampton, Reuters, ”, EU, Police, Associated Press, Oakland University, AP, ” Moldovan Locations: CHISINAU, Moldova, Russia, “ Moldova, Sandu, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Frankfurt, Germany, Liverpool, Soviet, Chisinau, Bucharest, Comrat, Gagauzia, EU, European, Ukraine, Brussels, Moscow

☆ Europe’s centrists are flocking to the right on migration, as a far right surge and a border crisis spooks the continent
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Increasingly, Europe’s centrist figureheads are dropping their once-high-minded rhetoric on irregular migration, reaching instead for positions that were previously the preserve of the continent’s populist rabble-rousers. In Poland, like in much of Europe, “voters across the board expect that border security and migration controls are the priority,” Kucharczyk said. But Thursday’s victory for Tusk in Brussels underscores a broader, rightward shift across Europe on the issue of irregular migration. “It’s an existential issue for this coalition, and they don’t want to take chances on issues like migration,” Kucharczyk said. The wider question is whether the longstanding principles of the border-free Schengen Area can survive an enduring era of rising migration and populist subversion.

Persons: Donald Tusk, ” Tusk, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez –, Tusk, ” Jacek Kucharczyk, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s, Olaf Scholz, ” Kucharczyk, ”, Adnan Beci, Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor Scholz, Keir Starmer –, –, Scholz, Thomas Niedermueller, Italy’s, Giorgia Meloni, “, Marta Welander, PiS, Poland’s, Kucharczyk Organizations: CNN, European Union Council, of Public Affairs, Wednesday, Getty, European Commission, EU, Committee, Law and Justice, SPD, ISIS, – Locations: Brussels, Poland, EU, Belarus, Europe, Russia, Albania, Warsaw, AFP, EU’s, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Solingen, Hungary, Slovakia

☆ Moldova faces a tug of war between Russia and the West in two crucial votes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Voters in Moldova will cast their ballots Sunday in two crucial votes, which have been billed as the most consequential in the country’s post-Soviet history. Alongside a more sophisticated misinformation campaign, Shor has resorted to cruder methods to meddle with Moldovan politics. Home to a Romanian-speaking majority and large Russian-speaking minority, many Moldovans had long viewed Russia as a benign big brother. “It reflects the loss of the national allure of Russia in Moldovan society,” he said. “There’s limits (to what can be achieved).”But even if Sandu prevails in both the presidential vote and the EU referendum, he expects the Kremlin’s campaign to continue.

Persons: Ilan Shor, Shor, ”, Dumitru Doru, Maia Sandu –, –, She’s, ” Vadim Pistrinciuc, Maia Sandu, Ursula von der Leyen, Elena Covalenco, Sandu, Nicu Popescu, Moldova’s, ” Popescu, “ Moldova can’t, ‘, Sandu’s, Daniel Mihailescu, Alexandr Stoianoglo, Stoianoglo, Maksim Samorukov, ” Samorukov, “, Viorel Cernauteanu, ” Cernauteanu, Dmitry Peskov, Pistrinciuc, ” Pistrinciuc, Lenin, Peter Dench, Samorukov Organizations: CNN — Voters, eventual, Union, Kremlin, Authorities, Western, World Bank, Party, Action, Solidarity, Communist, Institute for Strategic Initiatives, CNN, Getty, European Council, Foreign Relations, Gazprom, “, CBS, AXA, Russian Party of Socialists, EU, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Reuters Locations: Moldova, Russian, Moldovan, Russia, Chisinau, Shutterstock Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Transnistria, Soviet Union, Harvard, Romanian, Odesa, Moldova’s, Europe, AFP, Western Europe, Gazprom, “ Moldova, Bardar, ”, Moscow, Tiraspol

☆ Europe will loan war-torn Ukraine up to $39 billion to aid recovery
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

London CNN —The European Union will loan Ukraine up to €35 billion ($39 billion) to help rebuild its economy, the bloc’s executive arm announced Friday. Western nations froze Russia’s assets in bank accounts located in Europe and the United States as part of a massive wave of sanctions enacted after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv comes just as the winter heating season starts in Ukraine. Russia’s bombardments targeted at the country’s energy infrastructure have intensified in recent months, leaving Ukrainians vulnerable to power outages. On Thursday, the International Energy Agency said this coming winter will be the “sternest test yet” for Ukraine’s energy system.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, ”, Vladimir Putin, Von der Organizations: London CNN, European Union, International Energy Agency Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Europe, United States

☆ Ukraine’s energy supply faces ‘sternest test yet’ as war grinds toward third winter
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ukraine’s electricity supply risks “severe disruptions” this winter, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned, urging Kyiv’s allies to help address the country’s energy security. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, but its bombardments have intensified recently, leaving the country in a precarious position as colder weather approaches. Ukraine has also attacked Russia’s energy infrastructure. In its report, the agency outlines 10 measures that Ukraine and its allies should implement to tackle risks to the country’s energy supply. She also noted that the EU had contributed at least €2 billion ($2.2 billion) toward Ukraine’s energy system since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

Persons: Kyiv’s, Fatih Birol, Ukraine’s, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: CNN, International Energy Agency, European Union, Work, EU Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Denmark, Europe, Lithuania

☆ Von der Leyen names European Commission's new top team
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a press conference, on the day of a European Union leaders summit, in Brussels, Belgium March 22, 2024. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday named Spain's ecological transition minister Teresa Ribera as the bloc's next antitrust commissioner while Estonia's Kaja Kallas will be in charge of foreign policy. All commissioners will report to German conservative von der Leyen, who this summer was handed a second term as EU chief executive by member states after her political camp won the most votes in EU elections. A second Trump presidency could sharply alter Western unity on supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion and up-end EU trade relations with the world's biggest economy. There was some drama on Monday on the next Commission's line-up, when France picked Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne as its new candidate after the incumbent, Thierry Breton, abruptly quit with tough words for von der Leyen.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Teresa Ribera, Estonia's Kaja, Andrius, Stephane Sejourne, Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic, Ribera, Denmark's, Margrethe Vestager, der Leyen, Trump, Thierry Breton, von der Leyen Organizations: European Union, EU, French, Big Tech, U.S, Ukraine Locations: Brussels, Belgium, China, France

☆ Breton says he is stepping down as France's EU commissioner, citing spat with von der Leyen
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

French European Commissioner Thierry Breton on Monday said he would step down as a member of the EU executive body over a rift with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, alleging that she had asked Paris to withdraw his candidacy. Von der Leyen is finalizing her list of commissioners for her second term leading the governing body, due to be presented to the public this week. In his resignation letter, which Breton posted on X, he said von der Leyen "a few days ago" had asked France to withdraw his name as its pick for the Commission "for personal reasons" in return for an "allegedly more influential portfolio". Von der Leyen's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The French presidency did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Ursula von der Leyen, Paris, Von der, Breton, von der Organizations: French, Big Tech, Reuters, EU Locations: France

CNN —At least eight people have died after some of the heaviest rain in years hit central and eastern Europe, causing flooding and widespread disruption. Rescuers have been working hard to rescue hundreds of people left stranded by heavy rainfall there. Garages and a house flooded in the town of Kłodzko, in Poland's southwest, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, after days of unusually heavy rain. Krzysztof Zatycki/APRising water along the Wien River during heavy rain on September 15, 2024, in Vienna, Austria. Many municipalities in Lower Austria have declared a state of emergency as heavy rainfall continued into Sunday.

Persons: Boris, Prudnicka, Cătălin Predoiu, Predoiu, Sofia Basalic, “, Gica Stan, Storm Boris, Krzysztof Zatycki, Christian Bruna, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Petr Pavel, Vlček, Miroslav Binar, Gabriel Kuchta, Tomas Benedikovic, Sergei Gapon, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: CNN, Residents, AFP, Storm, Poland’s, ”, European Union, CNN Prima, Fire, Getty, European Commission Locations: Europe, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Klodzko county, Moszczanka, Romania, Galati, Kłodzko, Poland's, Sunday, Wien, Klodzko, Klodzko County, Czech, ”, Krnov, Jesenik, AFP, Glucholazy, Benešově nad Černou, Saxony, Lower Austria

☆ Europe's economy survived 'terrible prophecies' but must now tackle trade with China: EU's Gentiloni
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union has successfully avoided the "terrible prophecies" that threatened its economy in recent years, but must still contend with Russia's war in Ukraine and a tenuous trade relationship with China, outgoing European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said Saturday. A former prime minister of Italy, Gentiloni has served as the European Commissioner for Economy under EC President Ursula von der Leyen since December 2019. Gentiloni will not be returning for a second term as commissioner following Von der Leyen's tumultuous re-election as president — but he has laid out the economic picture that awaits his imminent successor. "The economy is growing, slowly, but growing. And the risks of differences among the European Union, that was very high when the pandemic happened, are very limited," he noted.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Gentiloni, Steve Sedgwick, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der, —, Russia's Organizations: European Union, Economy, European, European Central Bank, Moscow, European Commission Locations: Ukraine, China, Europe, Cernobbio, Italy's, Como, Italy

Nesmith said she had flown into Greece on Sunday, the day the wildfire initially broke out in the village of Varnavas, about 20 miles north of Athens. As the danger spread, Greece implored fellow European Union members to help respond to the blaze. “We stand with Greece as it battles devastating fires,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on X on Monday. While wildfires are common during the summertime in Greece, climate scientists have warned that unusually hot and dry weather connected to climate change can make fires more likely to ignite and spread. A satellite image shows the ongoing fire near Athens, Greece.

Persons: Nesmith, Vassilis, Ursula von der Leyen, Kikilias, Angelos Tzortzinis, Maria Sidiropoulou, Chantal Da Silva Organizations: Reuters, Officials, Volunteers, Aris Oikonomou, Getty, Union, Copernicus, NBC Locations: Greece, Varnavas, Athens, “, Vrilissia, AFP, EU, Italy, France, Czechia, Romania, Chalandri, European, Libya, Stamata, London

☆ EU moves high-level meetings out of Budapest to protest Orbán’s Ukraine war stance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Caitlin Danaher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“I can say that all member states, with one single exception, were very much critical about this behavior,” he added. “European Union policy is not a pro-war policy. Borrell’s decision comes after European Council President Charles Michel firmly hit back at Orbán’s claim that the EU has led a “pro-war policy” in a letter published last week. “Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim exercising its legitimate right to self-defense. Russia is leading a war of aggression in blatant violation of international law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter,” Michel wrote.

Persons: Viktor Orbán, ” Borrell, “, ’, ” Borrel, Putin, Borrell’s, Charles Michel, ” Michel, Orbán, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Orban, Niamh Kennedy, James Frater, Amy Cassidy, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: London CNN, European Union, Union, European, EU, UN, Ukraine “, CNN Locations: Budapest, Brussels, Hungary, Ukraine, Hungary’s, Hungarian, Russia, Moscow, Beijing, Florida

☆ Europe faces a hostile Russia and the prospect of an isolationist US. Unity is more crucial than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Together we will make our allies share in the burden of securing world peace,” he said at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “I think whoever wins the US race… it will be more America first,” Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told CNN. Europe needs to take care of its defense more.”Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argues Europe stepping up its commitment to its own security has nothing to do with the US. “We have to be more capable of defending ourselves, with a more and more aggressive Russia, not only when it comes to Ukraine,” she told CNN. Preserving European unity is critical to a long-lasting peace, he said.

Persons: JD Vance, ”, Vance, Donald Trump, Alexander De Croo, ” Finland’s, Alexander Stubb, “, Sen, Will Lanzoni, Mette Frederiksen, Keir Starmer, Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, ” Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelensky, … Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican National Convention, Munich, NATO, Trump, European Commission, EU, Ukraine Locations: Blenheim, Milwaukee, Ohio, Ukraine, Oxfordshire, Europe, States, Danish, Russia, Hungarian, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Von der Leyen Secures Second E.U. Term, but It’s a New World Out There
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Matina Stevis-Gridneff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and a major war in Europe, not many feel nostalgia for the past five years. Ursula von der Leyen soon might. On Thursday, Ms. von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, secured European Parliament approval to lead the European Union’s executive branch for a second five-year term. With the war in Ukraine in its third year and the prospect of a second Trump administration looming, the world is becoming a very different place from the one Ms. von der Leyen has helped the European Union navigate since 2019. A German conservative politician, Ms. von der Leyen was confirmed after a decisive approval vote at the Parliament on Thursday.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, messier, Trump Organizations: European Commission, European Union Locations: Europe, European, Ukraine, E.U

☆ Ursula von der Leyen elected to second term as European Commission president
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ursula von der Leyen has been reelected to a second five-year term as president of the European Commission after a vote by EU lawmakers, as the continent’s mainstream seeks to reassert itself in the face of a resurgent far right. After a secret ballot, von der Leyen was reelected with 401 votes in favor and 284 against. Addressing the parliament before the lunchtime vote, von der Leyen said the next five years of her term “will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades. Von der Leyen was reelected after 401 EU lawmakers voted in favor of her presidency. Johannes Simon/Getty ImagesEarlier Thursday, von der Leyen published a 31-page policy proposal, setting out her priorities if she won a second term.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, ” Von der, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron –, Von der, Johannes Simon, Getty, ” Von der Leyen, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban’s, Vladimir Putin, ” Organizations: CNN, European Commission, EU, European Defense Union ”, European People’s Party, EPP, Socialist, Green, European Defense Union, Ukraine, Covid Locations: Strasbourg, France, Ukraine, Brussels, Europe, United States, Hungarian, Moscow

☆ EU Commission head von der Leyen elected for second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being chosen President of the European Commission for a second term, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was elected for a second term on Thursday after pledging to create a continental "defence union" and stay the course on Europe's green transition while cushioning its burden on industry. It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others," von der Leyen said ahead of a secret ballot on her candidacy. Von der Leyen, a centre-right former German defence minister, pledged to create "a true European Defence Union", with flagship projects on air and cyber defence. Von der Leyen also promised a raft of climate policies including a legally-binding EU target to cut emissions 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der, von der Leyen, Von der, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban's, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump Organizations: European Commission, Green, Russia, European Defence Union, Hungarian, Defence, NATO, U.S Locations: Strasbourg, France, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, United States

☆ E.U. Court Rebukes Bloc’s Executive Arm Over Covid Vaccine Contract Secrecy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Jenny Gross | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The decision by the General Court in Luxembourg gives new momentum to critics of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, who led the bloc’s response to the pandemic. It came just ahead of what is expected to be a tight vote on Thursday that will determine if she will serve another term as the European Union’s top official. The European Union has refused to disclose the terms of the contracts it secured for Covid-19 vaccines, publishing redacted purchasing agreements. Green members of the European Parliament and private individuals had sued the commission, the bloc’s executive arm, seeking to gain access to the contracts and terms it negotiated with vaccine manufacturers. The court also said that the commission should have disclosed conflicts of interests by members of the team who negotiated the purchase of the vaccines.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, “ Organizations: European Commission, European Union, Covid, Green Locations: Luxembourg

☆ Trump ready to be ‘peace broker’ on Ukraine, Orban tells skeptical European leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told European leaders leaders that Donald Trump is “ready to act as a peace broker” between Russia and Ukraine if elected president, according to a letter seen by Reuters, amid concerns across the continent that Trump would attempt to force Kyiv into ceding territory to Moscow. Orban’s letter, addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and sent to all European Union leaders, was written in the wake of his controversial meetings with former President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I can […] surely state that shortly after his election victory, he will not wait until his inauguration, [Trump] will be ready to act as a peace broker immediately. But his visits with Putin, Xi and Trump have gone down poorly with EU lawmakers, who have accused Orban of vitally “misrepresenting” and “undermining” the EU’s stance on foreign policy. A letter signed by 63 European lawmakers, addressed to the three EU chiefs, said Orban had “caused significant damage” through his meetings.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Donald Trump, Trump, Charles Michel, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, “, ” Orban, Orban, pare, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Russia –, Orban –, ”, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump’s, Xi, Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Reuters, European, European Union, Ukraine “, EU, Ukrainian, ”, European Council Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Hungarian, Beijing, Florida, Kyiv, Hungary

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