Shrinking Europe meets rising right-wing politics
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe...
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has proposed exploring "return hubs" outside the EU as a strategy to manage irregular migration, citing a recent agreement between Italy and Albania as a potential model.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has proposed exploring "return hubs" outside the EU as a strategy to manage irregular migration, citing a recent agreement between Italy and Albania as a potential model.
In a letter to EU national leaders, von der Leyen emphasized the need for new approaches to address irregular migration, highlighting a significant drop in arrivals compared to previous years. EU leaders are set to meet this week for a summit focused on migration strategies, with the commission expected to introduce new measures.
The Italy-Albania deal, which allows Albania to host processing centers for male asylum seekers, is seen as a pivotal step in managing migration flows. The first group of migrants, including 16 men rescued by the Italian coastguard, is scheduled to arrive in Albania soon.
Countries like Germany, France, and Italy have implemented border controls to curb irregular migration, reflecting rising political pressures and public sentiment. Germany, previously more lenient on migration, is now taking a stricter stance ahead of upcoming elections.
Von der Leyen also pointed to successful agreements with Tunisia and Libya, despite criticism from human rights organizations. She noted a two-thirds reduction in irregular arrivals via the central Mediterranean route in 2024, attributing this decline to such agreements.
The Italy-Albania pact, signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, involves significant financial investment from Italy, totaling €670 million over five years. The deal includes three newly opened facilities in Albania designed to process asylum claims and manage migrants.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where world leaders, sports stars and FIFA officials have gathered for a ceremony shaping next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
Ukraine has rejected Russian claims that its forces have captured the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, stating that Ukrainian troops continue to hold the northern districts along a railway line.
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe’s demographic needs from its political choices.
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where world leaders, sports stars and FIFA officials have gathered for a ceremony shaping next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Thousands of students across Germany walked out of classrooms on Friday to protest a newly approved military service law.
Norway plans to buy two additional submarines from Germany and a separate procurement of long-range artillery, the defence ministry said on Friday, at a much higher cost than before partly due to high demand for military equipment.
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