EU Today

On Thursday night, a violent series of violent incidents took place in Amsterdam, reminiscent of the darkest periods of the 20th century. Israeli football fans, visiting the Netherlands for a match, became targets of orchestrated attacks apparently by pro-Palestinian factions. These incidents, which bore clear signs of anti-Semitic motives, recall memories of organised pogroms once thought banished from European soil. The perpetrators, coordinated in their efforts, pursued these visitors in an incident that few tried to disguise or downplay in its intent or motivation. #EUToday #AntiSemitism

In light of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S., European Union leaders gathered in Budapest on Thursday to assess their capacity to continue military support for Ukraine independently, should the United States withdraw or reduce its involvement. Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that the EU leaders discussed the prospect of bolstering their financial and military assistance to Ukraine if U.S. support were to wane under the new administration. #EUToday #StandWithUkraine

While Russia swiftly seized control of Georgia, Iran is encroaching on Armenia, seeking to exploit its molybdenum and other resources for the production of weapons and the development of its nuclear program. The West is rapidly losing its foothold in the Caucasus due to the shortsighted and often ignorant policies of certain EU members. First, the West lost in Georgia’s elections, where victory went to the pro-Russian Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, France played an active role in the recent Georgian elections, specifically through its diplomatic support and strategic influence on Georgian politics. In the lead-up to the elections, French officials publicly endorsed pro-European candidate Salome Zourabichvili. French President Emmanuel Macron voiced concern over Georgia’s political trajectory and urged adherence to European values. Russian propaganda interpreted these actions as an attempt to influence the elections, given that Zourabichvili is a French-born politician and a former French diplomat. #EUToday #Iran #Armenia #AxisOfEvil

Cadaqués, a picturesque coastal town in Catalonia, Spain, has been hit by severe flooding following intense rainfall during the early hours of 8th November 2024. The heavy downpour, concentrated between 2 am and 3 am, overwhelmed the town’s drainage systems, causing significant disruption and damage across the area. A local river burst its banks under the volume of rainwater, leading to torrents sweeping through streets and inundating public spaces and residential areas alike. #EUToday #Cadaqués

When historians look back on pivotal moments that reshaped Europe, they may well choose 2015-16. Not Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nor the way Covid laid bare our economic weaknesses, but when immigration started to tear Europe apart, writes Giles Merrit. Far-right populists have succeeded in inflaming voters across the EU, and now form an anti-immigrant bloc that threatens the Union itself. Member governments have generally made a hash of persuading voters that their economic interest is to rejuvenate and re-populate Europe through immigration and convince them that this far outweighs real or perceived social frictions. #EUToday #Immigration

When historians look back on pivotal moments that reshaped Europe, they may well choose 2015-16. Not Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nor the way Covid laid bare our economic weaknesses, but when immigration started to tear Europe apart, writes Giles Merrit. Far-right populists have succeeded in inflaming voters across the EU, and now form an anti-immigrant bloc that threatens the Union itself. Member governments have generally made a hash of persuading voters that their economic interest is to rejuvenate and re-populate Europe through immigration and convince them that this far outweighs real or perceived social frictions. #EUToday #Immigration

On Thursday night, tensions erupted in Amsterdam following a football match between Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, resulting in confrontations between Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, condemning the incident, assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that all responsible parties would face justice. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Schoof expressed his dismay over the events, denouncing the “absolutely unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis” and pledging that Dutch authorities would act decisively. I have been in close contact with everyone involved and will ensure that justice is served,” he stated. His remarks underscored his government’s commitment to addressing antisemitic incidents and maintaining public order. #EUToday #Amsterdam

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a key Putin ally, struck an optimistic tone, viewing Trump’s return as a chance to strengthen his influence across a politically fractured Europe. Shortly after Trump’s victory announcement, Orbán, a staunch nationalist, celebrated on social media, hailing it as “a much-needed victory for the world.” Orbán’s close ties with Trump, which were strengthened during the latter’s previous presidency, offer a platform from which the Hungarian leader hopes to enhance his standing both domestically and on the European stage. He envisions himself as a “mediator” between a future Trump-led United States and a Europe increasingly divided on key issues, including support for Ukraine and NATO’s role in global security. #EUToday #PoliticsToday

Germany’s governing coalition, a three-party alliance known as the “traffic light” coalition, collapsed this week, leaving Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a precarious minority government. The breakdown follows protracted clashes within the alliance, culminating in Scholz’s dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, whose fiscally conservative Free Democratic Party (FDP) immediately withdrew from the coalition. With the coalition unravelled, Scholz now faces a challenging road ahead, including a confidence vote scheduled for January, which could lead to snap elections as early as March 2025. #EUToday #PoliticsToday

With the re-election of former U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO’s dynamics and expectations around defence spending gained heightened attention, especially among new member states that were once part of the Soviet bloc (and some who appear to express nostalgia for the days of the Cold War). As nations like Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic States integrated into NATO, they committed to the alliance’s collective defence principles, which included pledges on military spending. #EUToday #PoliticsToday #NATO