The European Union’s Commissioner for Industrial Strategy urged European countries to establish joint reserves of rare earth materials to reduce dependence on China and protect against supply disruptions.
Stephane Sejourne also announced plans to launch additional tenders this year aimed at securing alternative sources for critical raw materials. He highlighted that while European countries maintain strategic reserves for oil and gas, similar measures should be applied to essential raw materials.
In June, the EU unveiled 13 new projects outside its borders focused on boosting supplies of metals and minerals vital for its energy transition, defence, and aerospace industries.
This initiative comes after China imposed export restrictions on rare earth magnets in April, requiring new licenses and prompting concerns among European diplomats and manufacturers who fear factory shutdowns.
Sejourne also warned that the EU must be prepared to defend itself in a potential trade conflict, stating, “Europe must finally use the same weapons as its competitors.”
China responded in June by acknowledging the EU’s concerns, committing to expedite approval processes for rare earth exports to Europe.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday he will ask the EU Council to suspend the bloc’s agreement with Israel and back an arms embargo in response to human rights violations in Gaza.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
Several EU Member States have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist the departure of citizens due to the airspace closures in the Middle East. Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland and Portugal have requested UCPM support to assist the departure of their nationals.
In 19 EU countries, the share of renewable energy sources in net electricity generation decreased in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the first quarter of 2024. The largest drops were recorded in Greece (-12.4%), Lithuania (-12.0%) and Slovakia (-10.6%).
European foreign ministers are set to meet Iran’s top diplomat in Geneva for urgent nuclear talks amid growing fears that the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into a broader regional war.
An Azerbaijani delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 30th Shanghai Television Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious media events, held in China’s Shanghai city on June 23.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in talks in Moscow that aggression against Iran was groundless.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in talks in Moscow that aggression against Iran was groundless.
Italy has frozen Russian oligarchs' assets worth €2.3 billion ($2.6 billion) since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, as part of European Union sanctions, with additional seizures targeting Iranian-linked companies accused of aiding Moscow.
An Azerbaijani delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 30th Shanghai Television Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious media events, held in China’s Shanghai city on June 23.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in talks in Moscow that aggression against Iran was groundless.
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