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Paris' red-light district Pigalle turned into hipster heaven

Paris' red-light district Pigalle turned into hipster heaven

France 248 hours ago
02:33
09/07/2025
French police raid far-right party HQ over campaign financing
France
09/07/2025
'Worrying': Single EU member states make asylum agreements with other countries
Europe
09/07/2025
EU probes far-right political group over alleged misuse of funds
France
08/07/2025
France wildfire shuts down Marseille airport
France
08/07/2025
UK-France: The tide of realpolitik rises as the sea of rhetoric fades on both sides of the Channel
UK
08/07/2025
Why are French police struggling to curb migrant Channel crossings?
France
08/07/2025
'Restatement of that historic commitment: Renegotiate important Franco-British bilateral agreements'
UK
06/07/2025
The Seine closes for a day due to bad weather in Paris.
France
05/07/2025
Tour de France gets under way on home soil for first time in five years
France
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US sanctions UN human rights expert conducting probe on Israel war crimes in Gaza

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EU Parliament censure vote leaves von der Leyen weakened
EU Parliament censure vote leaves von der Leyen weakened

Euronews

timean hour ago

  • Euronews

EU Parliament censure vote leaves von der Leyen weakened

As the European Parliament prepares to vote on a motion of censure against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the political fallout could be significant - regardless of the outcome, with the motion reigniting concerns about her leadership style, lack of transparency and political positioning. The motion was tabled by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea and signed by 77 members from the right-wing political groups, including the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Patriots for Europe, and the Europe of Sovereign Nations. At the heart of their criticism lies von der Leyen's opaque handling of the EU's Pfizer vaccine procurement and her increasingly centralised approach to power. Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law at HEC Paris, told Euronews that the motion's significance goes well beyond the numbers in Parliament, however. 'This motion of censure highlights many of the shortcomings that media and political observers have pointed out for some time—her presidential style, the centralisation of power, and her opacity,' Alemanno said. He argued that while von der Leyen will likely retain the support of a majority of MEPs, the damage to her public image and political standing will be lasting. 'More and more citizens will ask themselves: is she really the right person to lead the EU in such turbulent times—negotiating with a potential Trump administration or playing a key role in Russia-Ukraine peace talks?' Alemanno also noted that concerns about von der Leyen's leadership are not limited to the far-right. Her secretive handling of vaccine negotiations and unwillingness to engage with the media have drawn criticism across the political spectrum. 'This censure motion is acting as a lightning rod for broader frustration,' he added. 'It brings together complaints from multiple camps and highlights a growing desire for greater democratic accountability.' A senior European Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vote had been widely discussed within the Berlaymont headquarters. 'Officials see this as a warning. Her leadership style—extremely centralised and often politically ambiguous—has made her vulnerable. There's a sense she's become a prisoner of her own European People's Party (EPP),' the official said. Time for von der Leyen to realign her agenda, says MEP Von der Leyen and the centre-right EPP have faced criticism in recent months for accepting far-right support in several parliamentary decisions, breaking with the EU's traditional centrist coalitions involving socialists, liberals, and greens. One EPP decision-maker told Euronews that von der Leyen must now realign her agenda more clearly with the party's values. 'She should draw the consequences. An EPP-dominated Commission must better reflect the EPP's platform,' the source said. Dutch Green MEP Bas Eickhout suggested the damage from this episode could extend beyond von der Leyen herself. 'What's clear is that the centrist majority in Parliament isn't functioning well—and that reflects poorly not only on von der Leyen, but on Manfred Weber too,' said Eickhout. 'In terms of public image, Weber may have suffered even more.' Despite the motion's expected failure, political observers believe it will intensify scrutiny of von der Leyen's leadership and further limit her room to manoeuvre in a second term. 'She won't walk away strengthened,' Alemanno concluded. 'Even if the vote fails, the pressure to hold her accountable will only grow.' This will put her on the spot as debate turns from next week to the European budget, "which is expected to be very contentious within and among member states of the union", he said. "Up to now, up to this vote, von der Leyen could rely on both majorities based on political convenience," he says, referring to the traditional centrist platform on the one hand, and tie-ups with the right wing on the other. By the time of von der Leyen's State of the Union address to the Parliament in September, she will be constrained to pick one of the two that she can rely on, he said.

Macron wraps up UK state visit with defence pact 'reboot'
Macron wraps up UK state visit with defence pact 'reboot'

France 24

time2 hours ago

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Macron wraps up UK state visit with defence pact 'reboot'

Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are also expected to discuss maintaining support for Ukraine and curbing undocumented cross-Channel immigration. Ahead of the summit, which follows two days of events spanning pomp and politics, trade and culture, France and Britain announced their "defence relationship" will be "refreshed". They will order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles -- long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies -- while stepping up work on a replacement system. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia since 2022. Starmer and Macron will also agree to deepen nuclear cooperation and "work more closely than ever before on nuclear deterrence", according to Britain's defence ministry. A new declaration will for the first time state that the British and French deterrents are independent but can be coordinated, and that an "extreme threat to Europe" could "prompt a response by both nations", the ministry said. Threats 'multiplying' The partnerships -- to be developed under a refreshed Lancaster House agreement first struck in 2010 -- herald a new "entente industrielle", making "defence an engine for growth", it added. "From war in Europe, to new nuclear risks and daily cyber-attacks -- the threats we face are multiplying," Starmer said in a statement. "As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a deep history of defence collaboration and today's agreements take our partnership to the next level. "We stand ready to use our shared might to advance our joint capabilities -- equipping us for the decades to come while supporting thousands of UK jobs and keeping our people safe." Late Wednesday, at a speech to London's financial community, Macron said the two countries were "stronger together". Starmer and Macron will also on Thursday dial into a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the 30-nation coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. Starmer's office said this week that the call would "discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia". They will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency. 'Innovative solutions' Macron's visit, the first by an EU head of state since Brexit, has been loaded with Anglo-French bonhomie and unifying rhetoric, alongside the usual pageantry of such occasions. Macron and his wife Brigitte received a particularly warm welcome Tuesday from the Francophile King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The pair toasted a new "entente amicale" at a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, hailing the importance of cross-Channel relations amid various emergent threats. Wednesday saw the French president's visit turn to politics, with a Downing Street meeting with Starmer focused on migrant small boat crossings -- a potent political issue in Britain. It is set to feature again at Thursday's summit. Downing Street said the two leaders had "agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model" of cross-Channel people smugglers. Macron also met with Anglo-French business representatives during the visit, while joining Starmer at the British Museum to formally announce a landmark cultural exchange. France will loan the famous Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, to the British Museum for 10 months from September 2026. In return, London will lend French museums the collection from the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo site, one of England's most important archaeological sites, as well as other medieval "treasures".

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