Western Europe
Giorgia Meloni Addresses the Italian Parliament for the First Time as Prime Minister
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, Giorgia Meloni gave her first speech as the new Prime Minister of Italy, the first woman to hold the position in the country’s history.
France Leaves Controversial Energy Treaty
France is the latest country to pull out of the Energy Charter Treaty, which protects fossil fuel investments from policy changes that pose threats to profits.
Liz Truss Resigns as British Prime Minister
Liz Truss of the Conservative Party stepped down as British Prime Minister. She made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street on October 20th.
European Union Approves Training Plan for Ukrainian Soldiers
The European Union’s plan to assist Ukraine in the war against Russia has finally been approved by foreign ministers.
French Oil Strike Rages On As Shortages Worsen
Strikes by fuel refinery workers in France are leaving the country in turmoil, with motorists in every part of the country struggling to get gas for their vehicles. The strike first began on Sept. 20, 2022, when workers at the ExxonMobil refinery went on strike. The labor shortages were then exacerbated when TotalEnergies workers joined the strike on Sept. 26, 2022. The French government ordered workers to begin work again, yet the labor unions leading the strike decided to extend them as recently as Oct. 12, 2022, as their conditions have not been met. With an energy crisis already affecting the continent, this strike could not come have at a worse time.
Concerns Rise as Giorgia Meloni’s Far-Right Coalition Wins in Italy
Giorgia Meloni, a far-right candidate for Italy’s 2022 election, won and claimed her position as the new prime minister. As the first female prime minister in Italy, Meloni leads a strong far-right government which is expected to be the most far-right in Italy since World War II.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council Moves Further Away from Russian Dependency
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the EU outlined its next steps in phasing out the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels, and adopted several other measures at its meeting on October 4, according to the Council of the EU.
Economic Fears Grow as UK Government Shifts
The British economy is in a serious economic downturn. This trouble comes as the government experiences changes in the top two offices: the monarch and the Prime Minister. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8, 2022, her son, King Charles III, has been working to settle into his new role as the country’s figurehead. However, the person many people blame for this downturn is Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office on Sept. 6, 2022.
Rising Prices Grip EU As War in Ukraine Carries On
The economies of Europe seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place - that is, between record-high inflation and a potential recession.
Germany Sees Continued Controversial Far-Right Protests
As the conflict in Ukraine still dominates the political arenas across Europe, undercurrents of various far-right movements in the continent seem to be on rise once again.
Finland, Sweden Consider NATO Membership
As it has become increasingly evident with each passing week, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced nearly every country in Western Europe to reevaluate its security doctrines.
Europe Braces for Prospects of Gas Rationing
One month into the war in Ukraine, European countries started facing some of the harshest effects of the conflict – and showed a slight faltering in resolve on continuing facing off against Russia
EU Resolves to Collectively Buy Energy, Reduce Dependence on Russia
After summits with NATO and the G7, the European Union resolved on Friday to jointly purchase and store gas, hydrogen, and liquid natural gas (LNG).
EU Opts to Cut Individual Russian Banks from SWIFT, Sanction Central Bank
A coalition of Western allies - including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom - unleashed a flurry of sanctions against
Why Europe Must Embrace Nuclear Energy
As the world crawls farther into the 21st century, Western Europe has seemingly begun to realize two certainties: that Russian influence will continue to have a destabilizing presence on Europe for decades to come, and that the catastrophic threat posed by climate change must be confronted with unprecedented urgency.
Where Does Germany Stand in the Ukraine Crisis?
Germany’s new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is viewed by some as indecisive and reserved regarding the Ukraine crisis– the hardest foreign affairs challenge yet in his tenure.
Austria Enacts Sweeping Vaccine Mandate
Austria became the first European democracy to institute a sweeping vaccine mandate for nearly its entire adult population on Friday. The move is regarded as a bellwether for other countries struggling to increase vaccination rates as the coronavirus pandemic enters its third year.