Displaying items by tag: Europe

In 2017 Emmanuel Macron won 66% of the vote to become France's youngest-ever president. It was the first time in half a century that France had a president from outside its two main political parties. An incumbent's first term in office usually defines his political identity and policy agenda. But three years into a five-year term, in trying to win support from a politically diverse electorate, Macron has failed to define his political agenda or his natural political base. With preparation for re-election in 2022 firmly on his mind, he faces a series of challenges. His LREM party took a thrashing in recent local elections, a clear rebuke for tying his potential next term to a robust environmental and social agenda. The crushing of LREM's candidate in Paris' mayoral race was particularly embarrassing for the party.

In the aftermath of China's new national security law for Hong Kong, which ends the autonomy of the former British colony, the US, UK, Australia and Canada immediately protested. However the EU representative for foreign affairs ruled out sanctions against China and decided not to use its leverage as the world’s biggest trade bloc to support Hong Kong. The French foreign minister announced that Europe must not get carried away in a clash between US and China, and that ‘a new cold war’ must be avoided. The German parliament said, ‘A policy aimed at isolating China is not in Germany's or Europe's interests’. A European diplomat confessed that Europe is sacrificing Hong Kong to protect its economic relationship and investments in China.

As a statue in Lisbon is ‘jokingly’ and ‘inappropriately’ fitted with a face mask, new restrictions have been imposed on the city following a spike in coronavirus cases. Portugal has gone from a European ‘miracle’ to a partial outcast in a matter of weeks, amid a series of setbacks to the country's reopening plans. The capital, Lisbon, and the surrounding metropolitan area woke up on 23 June to increased restrictions and more power for police to enforce them, following a series of illegal parties with as many as 1,000 revelers in recent days. Prime minister Costa imposed new controls just days after celebrating his government's Champions League final phase coup.

Parliamentary prayer breakfast leaders in Europe, MPs, and MEPs are to have a time of prayer between 7 and 8am BST on Friday 26 June. They intend to implore God from the parliaments of Europe to rebuild our societies on His strong foundation. They say, ‘Let us humble ourselves, and pray in the name of Jesus for our countries, Europe, and the world. From the Atlantic to the Urals, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, may history say of us that “they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer” (Psalm 78:35).’ If you feel a strong sense of urgency about the new present and the near future you may want to watch live and join together with Christians across Europe here

The leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green party have struck a deal to form a coalition government in Ireland four months after a general election scrambled the political landscape. The proposed coalition, which still needs to be ratified by grassroots members, would bridge a century of rivalry between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and inject urgency into Ireland’s response to the climate crisis. It will also need to steer new laws, including one for a €6.5bn (£5.8bn) coronavirus support package, through a fragmented parliament.

The world’s smallest state, in the heart of Rome and the papal domain, is losing credibility through numerous scandals, aggressive papal doctrinal positions, and sustained decline in vocations (of priests, monks and nuns), which are bringing many changes to Catholicism. Pray for the impact of charismatic renewal on Catholics worldwide: a large proportion of the Catholic missionary force is charismatic. At the same time, the Church is expanding in theological conservatism, Marian devotion (prayers to Mary), and folk religious practices.

As governments across Europe seek ways to reopen borders, the EU is calling for a coordinated approach, especially as it seems each country is drawing different conclusions on how best to proceed. What happens over the coming weeks and months will be important both for ‘key’ travel as well as tourism. In May, the EU set out plans for a phased restart of travel from 15 June, giving guidelines about lifting restrictions at the internal borders. European legislation provides a framework for such reopenings. ‘It is up to each member state to decide how to regulate its own borders, but they must do so within the framework of the Schengen Code for the Schengen Area,’ said European law professor Alberto Alemanno. See

Thousands of Dutch minks became infected with coronavirus and were culled. Researchers are now urging other countries such as Denmark and Spain to test their animals, after infected minks passed the virus on to several mink farmers. The Dutch government says the culling is to prevent farms from becoming long-term reservoirs of Coronavirus. The animals were first infected by their handlers in April. In May, the government identified two cases in which humans had been infected by sick animals - the only animal-to-human transmissions known since the global outbreak began in China. The Humane Society is calling for the 24 countries still allowing mink farming to evaluate evidence from the Netherlands.

The challenge: Italy is facing its worst recession since the Second World War. To heal the decimated economy, it has no choice but to revive its tourism industry. As of today, European travellers are once again welcomed in, restrictions on movement between regions have been lifted, and international flights are set to resume in three major cities. Italy wants visitors, but it is unclear if visitors want Italy. Also, people have long hoarded banknotes in uncertain times, but the pandemic may prove an exception. Passed from person to person, cash is making people nervous. Across Europe, shopkeepers and customers are looking for ways to limit the chances of infection, prioritising card payments. Analysts see this rapid shift as a huge step towards a wholly cashless society.

The Covid-19 pandemic will increase the number of deprived people, and make it harder for those who are already struggling. Often they cannot afford to pay rent or utility bills, keep homes warm enough, eat good quality food, run a car, own a washing machine or TV, or pay for a telephone. In 2019, 5.6% of the EU’s population - 24 million people - found themselves in this situation. The risk of increased poverty is especially high for young people, those with low levels of education, and single-parent families, especially those headed by women. The highest levels of severe deprivation in the EU last year were in Bulgaria (19.9%), Greece (15.9%) and Romania (12.6%). Portugal also has over 2 million people in poverty or social exclusion, and unemployment is set to double in 2020.