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EU Democracy Shield aims to protect democratic integrity

EU Democracy Shield aims to protect democratic integrity EU Democracy Shield aims to protect democratic integrity
  The European Parliament has taken a significant step toward safeguarding democracy with the establishment of the European Democracy Shield...
Read More...

Young Europeans losing faith in democracy

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  Recent findings from a comprehensive survey conducted by the YouGov institute for the Tui Foundation reveal a concerning trend among...
Read More...

European Parliament condemns human rights violations in Georgia, Iran, and Mali

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  On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions addressing serious human rights abuses in Georgia, Iran, and Mali. The...
Read More...

Denmark to champion Ukraine’s EU bid during Council presidency

Denmark to champion Ukraine’s EU bid during Council presidency Denmark to champion Ukraine’s EU bid during Council presidency
  Denmark has pledged to push forward Ukraine’s EU membership efforts when it assumes the presidency of the European Council on July...
Read More...

EU and Switzerland take major step toward modernised partnership

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  The European Commission has advanced a key initiative to renew and deepen ties with Switzerland, proposing that the Council approve a...
Read More...

EYE2025: thousands of young people to celebrate democracy in Strasbourg

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  On 13 and 14 June, around 8,500 young people aged 16 to 30 from across the globe will gather at the European Parliament in Strasbourg...
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EU approves Bulgaria’s eurozone membership for 2026

EU approves Bulgaria’s eurozone membership for 2026 EU approves Bulgaria’s eurozone membership for 2026
  Brussels has officially greenlit Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone, with the country set to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026. The...
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What are Denmark’s goals for Its upcoming EU presidency?

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  As Denmark prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council on July 1st, the country is setting its sights on a results-driven...
Read More...

New EU strategy for a secure, prosperous, and resilient Black Sea region 

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  The European Union has unveiled a new strategy aimed at fostering stability, security, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This initiative...
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Belarus's isolated leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday visits Austria, marking his first trip to an EU member in more than three years as he seeks closer ties amid tensions

with Russia. Lukashenko will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in his first official visit to the small Alpine nation following a trip of then Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz to Belarus in March.

Often dubbed "Europe's last dictatorship", Belarus has been the target of Western sanctions over its poor rights record and lack of fair elections, and 65-year-old Lukashenko has rarely travelled to Europe.

In recent years however the West and Belarus have sought to improve ties as the Kremlin has pushed for a closer relationship between Moscow and Minsk.

Karin Kneissl, Austria's foreign minister under Kurz's previous administration, said in January that her country wanted to develop closer ties with Belarus as a "buffer state" between Russia, the EU and Ukraine. 

Belarus's closest ally is Russia and the two have formed a nominal "union", with close trade and military cooperation.

In recent months Moscow has been pressuring Minsk into closer integration. While Lukashenko has welcomed closer ties with Moscow, he has pushed back at the idea of outright unification.

Moscow has denied that is on the cards. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said it was "normal" for Minsk to have contacts with other countries.

- 'Loyal' EU ally -

Being hosted by an EU member represents a "diplomatic success" for Lukashenko ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday, political analyst Artyom Shraibman said.

Lukashenko said in September he also wanted to improve ties with Washington as he welcomed then White House national security advisor John Bolton for rare talks in Minsk.

The Soviet-era collective farm chief became Belarus's first post-independence president in 1994 and has dominated the country ever since.

In 2016, Lukashenko visited Italy and the Vatican after the European Union lifted most of the sanctions it had imposed in recent years against him and other Belarusians in a move to encourage progress on human rights.

Belarus is the only country in Europe that still uses capital punishment.

Since 2016, Lukashenko has been repeatedly invited to visit Europe, but he had until now declined those invitations.

After Russia, Austria is one of Belarus's biggest sources of foreign direct investment, and Belarus media labelled it "the most loyal" of EU members to Minsk.

Lukashenko has been in Austria privately to go skiing with his family in 2002. Kurz gifted him a pair of hand-made wooden skis during his March visit to Belarus.

deneme