Estimated time of reading: ~ 4 minutes The recent approval in Georgia of the controversial “transparency on foreign influence” bill, often dubbed the “foreign agents law,” created a really serious stalemate between Tbilisi and the European Union authorities. Just in December 2023, the EU granted the candidate status to Georgia, although “on the understanding that […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 4 minutes The EU strengthened its relationship with Georgia in the past few years, and energy has been an important component in such a dynamic. Georgia has a strategic location and the potential to become a hub for sustainable energy development in the Caucasus Region as well as in Eastern […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 4 minutes Migration from China to Europe has been a growing trend over the past few decades, driven by various factors including economic opportunities, educational prospects, and familial ties. Chinese communities have established themselves in numerous European countries, contributing to the cultural diversity and economic vitality of their host nations. […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 5 minutes In early May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a significant diplomatic mission to Europe, marking his first visit since the global pandemic began. This five-day tour included France, Serbia, and Hungary, reflecting China’s strategic objectives and foreign policy amid rising geopolitical tensions. The visit underscored China’s […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 4 minutes In the speech at the closing ceremony of the Sixth Meeting of the China-France Business Council on 7 May, President Xi Jinping stated, “We should turn China and Europe into each other’s key partners for business cooperation, priority partners for cooperation in science and technology, and trustworthy partners […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 3 minutes China is considered both a threat and a potential partner for the European Union, as the relationship between the two sides relies on interdependence and friction. Economically, such a relationship has fueled growth and created opportunities, especially in China, but in the last decades, a lot of concerns […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 4 minutes Energy has been an important issue during the almost one-week long visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Europe. The Chinese leader traveled to France, Serbia, and Hungary, and in both Belgrade and Budapest, he focused part of his meetings on energy-related programs. This is especially true in […]
The last meeting was in Budapest with the Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, whom he honored for his “independence” in foreign policy. In the preceding days, Xi Jinping had met Macron and Von der Leyen at the Élysée Palace and then Aleksandar Vučić, the President of Serbia, to strengthen what he called a “steel friendship.” The […]
As we mark two decades since the historic enlargement of the European Union in 2004, it’s imperative to reflect on the profound impact this event has had on the continent. On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU. With the exception of Cyprus, the other […]
Estimated time of reading: ~ 3 minutes In the Newsletter issued on 25 March 2024, I have illustrated the main funding programmes to support the enlargement process. In addition to funding schemes directly targeting it, like the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, some other projects contribute to the advancement of EU integration from different perspectives. Significant […]
