EU withdraws ambassadors from Belarus
The EU and Belarus have made tit-for-tat withdrawals of ambassadors in an escalating row over the EU's use of sanctions to punish Minsk's human rights record. READ MORE
Medvedev’s Foreign Policy: Period of Stabilization
The presidential election is still two weeks away and the inauguration of the next president more than two months off, but we can already analyze the results of Dmitry Medvedev’s presidency. The current focus is on his mentor and most likely successor, Vladimir Putin, who has made a number of policy statements as part of his tireless campaign efforts, including on foreign policy, which was not part of his brief as prime minister. READ MORE
Big things ahead' for Russia and EU
Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, head of the Russian mission to the EU, talks to New Europe about EU-Russian relations and the political situation in his country after the parliamentary elections and in the wake of the upcoming presidential election. READ MORE
The European Commission Declares War on Corruption
A new system for monitoring a criminal scourge is being put in place by the EU, strengthening the poorly enforced norms currently on the European books. Will this be enough to make a dent in Italy's endemic and widely tolerated culture of corruption? READ MORE
Eurasian Union 'not dependent on Russian elections'
The project of the creation of the Eurasian Union does not depend on the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections in Russia to be held on 4 March, Russian experts said during discussions within the framework of the video link Astana – Moscow on the topic 'The Future of the Eurasian project through the perspective of Russian elections'. READ MORE
Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption calls on the USA to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls for the United States of America to ratify the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and to fully incorporate it into the law. GRECO stresses that the United States is one of the very few member states which are not a party to the Convention and its Additional Protocol. Although the US legislation and practice provide for a high degree of “functional” consistency with the Convention and the enforcement regime is effective in prosecuting corruption offences, US law does not appear to meet all the requirements of the Convention, for example, as regards bribery in a foreign context and private sector bribery. READ MORE
Ukraine Expects “Explosive” Autumn
Ukrainian opposition is getting ready to a series of protests against unpopular social-economic reforms of the power. Authorities yet limit with only “decorative” reshuffle in the government. Which shall be the result of such situation? How probable is “Ukrainian spring” under Arab scenario? These and other questions “Politkom.ru” asked Ukrainian political analyst, Director of Applied Political Studies Center “Penta” (Kiev) Vladimir Fesenko. READ MORE
Denmark's European Minister: Responsibility and future growth are keywords for Danish EU Council presidency
I hardly exaggerate by saying that more than ever has the cooperation in Europe been put to the test in recent years. This test will continue for the foreseeable future as the debt crisis continues to worry the financial markets about the long-term sustainability of European economies. READ MORE
Commission deplores Serb's Northern Kosovo referendum
A referendum organised in the Serbia-populated northern part of Kosovo on whether to recognise the government of the Albanian majority received a frosty reception from the European Commission today (14 February). READ MORE
Russia changes tack, signals open to Syrian intervention
As the carnage in Syria worsened, Russia signaled a new-found willingness Monday to consider international intervention while the world’s nations planned a United Nations vote aimed at exposing the inaction of the great powers. READ MORE
