European Union

"No doubt" the company's products are being used for human rights violations, the fund's ethics council said

In today's edition: A confidence wager, Tsípras eyes comeback, Poland moves to curb Ukraine aid, Trump threatens more tariffs

Israël a automatiquement bloqué l'entrée de nourriture à Gaza, affirmant les agences humanitaires, alors qu'un organisme soutenu par l'ONU confirme une famine.

Calls for development policy to place greater emphasis on national self-interest are growing louder in many donor countries, including Germany. There are indeed good reasons to dovetail Germany’s international policies more effectively. Synergies between develop-ment cooperation (DC), foreign trade promotion and research partnerships have not been harnessed systematically to date, yet they could serve the interests of both Germany and its partner countries alike. Moreover, Germany is facing geopolitical competition from actors who have long been using their DC proactively to pursue strategic interests.
We advocate adopting a development policy that pursues German and European interests in those areas in which they are compatible with development policy objectives. Instead of focusing on the interests of individual companies, it is important to identify long-term ‘win-win’ potential, for example through a more strategic approach to planning DC offers that involves the private sector and ministries more actively prior to intergovernmental negotiations with the partner countries.
At the same time, we warn against subordinating DC to foreign economic policy objectives. Conditions such as tied aid provisions that link financial cooperation to business contracts for German/EU companies are expensive, inefficient and counterproductive in development terms. In addition, this approach would risk losing sight of Germany’s overarching interest in solutions to global problems, such as peacebuilding and climate and biodiversity protection.
We set out five guidelines for a development policy strategy that takes due consideration of Germany’s own interests without harming the partner countries:
1. Avoid strict tied aid provisions. These would be inefficient in development terms and would be of little benefit to German companies. As an export nation, Germany should comply with freedom of contract rules.
2. Pursue the interests of German society as a whole where they align with DC objectives. We distinguish between Germany’s global interests and those of individual companies. DC projects should align economic interests with the common good in the partner country.
3. Develop offers strategically prior to intergovernmental negotiations. The most effective synergies are generated if the private sector and other ministries are involved in preparing DC initiatives at an early stage. To do so, Germany needs to define joint national goals, coordinate ministerial instruments to achieve these goals and evaluate contributions by the private sector in advance.
4. Create strategic partnerships that serve as models. Germany has established a number of bilateral partnerships, especially on energy, raw material security and migration. None of these is exemplary in terms of effective interministerial coordination, private sector involvement or demons-trable benefits for both of the countries involved. At least one flagship project in each of the areas mentioned would make Germany attractive as a credible partner.
5. Expand minilateral formats with European states and influential third countries. Triangular and quadrilateral cooperation with ‘global partners’ and donor countries that share the same or similar interests can help advance Germany’s interests in international development for the common good.

La paix passera-t-elle par un déceçage de l'Ukraine ? Une fois de plus, le « précédent » du Kosovo est volontiers évoqué par la Russie. Le journaliste Augustin Palokaj démonte les faux-semblants de parallèles qui ne tiennent pas. Point de vue.

- Articles / Kosovo, Relations internationales, Ukraine, Koha Ditore, Relations régionales, USA Balkans, Poutine et les Balkans

The government's falling support, and no credible opposition figure, could provide fertile ground for a comeback.

From Silicon Valley to Strasbourg to Moscow, a loose alliance is rewriting the rules of power without asking for your vote

The uptick in business sentiment comes despite Germany’s profound economic weakness – which shows no sign of abating anytime soon

Brussels has developed distinct ecodesign and industrial carbon management policies. Combining them could stimulate the market for sustainable products.

Forecasts point to a positive economic outlook for Kazakhstan, with moderate to strong GDP growth driven by sectors including oil, services, and infrastructure.

To disrupt disinformation, a dual-front strategy is needed: curbing the supply of AI-enabled falsehoods while transforming the psychological and cultural structures.

“They call me the president of Europe," the US president said. "Which is an honour. I like Europe. And I like those people. They’re good people. They’re great leaders.”

What MPs will be asked to endorse for now is the scale of the effort: almost €44 billion in savings to shrink France’s spiralling deficit

The Caucasus and north Balkans regions were most affected by the drought followed by Bulgaria and Kosovo

Taking the summer for soul-searching, Habeck explained: “I need to distance myself from the overly restrictive constraints of Berlin's political system"

European collaborations are increasingly valued in a turbulent geopolitical environment. The Dutch-Danish tie-up aims to boost research, improve patient outcomes and deliver socio-economic dividends.

The deal ends Gibraltar’s legal limbo and sets out a new path for the British Overseas Territory

The Iranian president thanked Putin for supporting Tehran's "right to enrichment"

This is not the first time the vessel has been targeted. In 2022, a Libyan patrol boat fired on its speedboats during a rescue in international waters

In today’s edition: Lithuania urges progress on Ukraine’s EU push, von der Leyen defends US tariff deal, France braces for online protests