Only 120 years ago women first gained the right to vote in national elections, and actually New Zealand was the pioneer. To celebrate this anniversary, a special event will be held from 27 to 29 November 2013 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Women in Parliaments Global Forum and the European Parliament have joined forces… Read More Women in politics
In the run-up to the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Vilnius, the expectations of the six partner countries are rather diverse. For some (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus) this summit will have little impact, whereas for others (Ukraine and Georgia) it could represent an epochal step on their road to deeper political and economic integration with… Read More The Vilnius Summit – what’s in for Moldova?
Vladimir Putin’s plan to create a Eurasian Economic Union by 2015 is Russia’s most ambitious attempt so far at the economic integration in the post-Soviet space. The Customs Union formed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2007, and the subsequent Common Economic Space in 2012, have already brought partial economic integration between the three states.… Read More Eurasian Union
The bumpy road towards the November 2013 Vilnius summit – supposed to be a milestone in the four-year-old Eastern Partnership – is heading to an increasingly uncertain destination. During the forthcoming summit, Association Agreements (AA) were set to be signed with Ukraine and initiated with three other partners: Armenia, Georgia and Moldova. However, the Ukraine’s parliament refusal… Read More The road towards the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius
This week’s key event is the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Vilnius on 28 and 29 of November, meant to be a milestone in the Eastern Partnership process: two countries – Moldova and Georgia – will initial agreements with the EU. However, just a week before the summit the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing… Read More Looking East: the EU’s Eastern Partnership Summit in focus
The decision of FIFA, world football’s governing body, to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite its climate constraints and the lack of a domestic football tradition, was a major victory in Qatar’s long-term strategy aimed at enhancing the Emirate’s international outreach, within a broader ambitious foreign policy. However commentators stress that the challenge… Read More Migrant workers’ conditions in Qatar: Prospects of change on the road to the 2022 World Cup
Written by Ulla Jurviste and Irene Hennigan Last update 23 February 2015 Female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the most brutal violations of human rights against young girls and women. Female genital mutilation consists of the (partial or complete) removal of the external female genitalia, and the infliction of other injuries to the female… Read More Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in EU
In recent years, the Russian Federation has actively looked to increase its international standing by hosting a series of prestigious sporting events including the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the 2018 Football World Cup and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Even if the start of the Olympics is still several months away, the eyes of the international community… Read More Human rights issues under the spotlight ahead of Sochi Olympics
On 15 October 2013, a new round of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme began between Iran and the group of major world powers known as the E3+3 (the group is also commonly referred to as the P5+1 and consists of France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia and the US). A second session was held from 7-10 November,… Read More Iran’s nuclear programme: 10 years of talks
Consumers in the Internal Market cannot always count on an honest stance from all enterprises. Prior to the adoption of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (‘UCPD’) in 2005, regulation to deal with such practices was partly at national level, and partly harmonised at EU level. The UCPD provides for full (maximum) harmonisation, which means that… Read More Combating unfair commercial practices