The angry protests in Ukraine continue unabated. The opposition refused an offer to participate in government on Saturday, while demonstrators tried to occupy administration buildings in several cities. It’s too late for a compromise in Ukraine, commentators conclude, and accuse the EU of contributing to the dramatic situation by making empty promises
Power and opposition in Ukraine test their limits as protests spread
Police clashed with protesters in central Kiev yesterday (26 January) and the fate of Ukraine’s government remained uncertain after embattled President Viktor Yanukovich offered important posts to opposition leaders, including the role of prime minister to Arseny Yatsenyuk, the leader of the Batkivschchyna party of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Vitaly Klitschko, a former international boxing champion, was offered the job of deputy prime minister responsible for humanitarian issues, the presidential website said. Klitschko confirmed it on Twitter, adding he would give his reply later
Four Biggest Misconceptions About #Euromaidan Protests in Ukraine
Ucrainica Marginalis published an overview of the four largest misconceptions about #Euromaidan, written by scholars Sofiya Grachova & Stephen A. Walsh. What this overview points out is the vast gap between how international media and outside spectators view what is happening and the message that Ukrainians involved in Euromaidan protests are trying to get across to their government and the world.
Netizen Maps Spreading Unrest After Protesters are Killed in Ukraine
On January 22, 2014, during a fourth consecutive day of violent clashes between Euromaidan protesters in Kyiv and police, two protesters were reported dead with the death toll rising to at least five in the past several days. After this news, mass anti-government protests erupted in several regions of Ukraine and began to spread quickly through the country
Independent Ukrainian Filmmakers Create #Euromaidan Documentaries
In Ukraine, several filmmakers united to produce a video chronology of the events that came to be known as the Euromaidan protests. ?BABYLON’13?, named after a bar in which the filmmakers came up with the idea for the project, is a collection of short documentaries reflecting the development of the mass protests and particular incidents during the rallies
Can Europe protect the Euromaidan?
Among other more traditional ways of influence, the EU should reach out to the Ukrainian army and internal forces to emphasise the need to stay above the fray and refrain from the use of force, Andrew Wilson writes.
Andrew Wilson is a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. This commentary was originally published by the European Council of Foreign relations (ECFR).
?Events in Ukraine have taken a dramatic change for the worse. Five people were killed on Wednesday, some beaten to death, and further confrontation is likely this Sunday. NGOs have issued an emotive ?last plea for help?, saying ?the international community remains silent, upholding European values on paper only?, while ?people are dying for them in Ukraine
Top bankers expect EU stress tests to reignite mergers
Bankers expect a thorough European Central Bank (ECB) health check of the euro zone’s largest banks to reignite domestic and cross-border merger activity by rebuilding confidence among lenders.
The sovereign debt crises that nearly caused a break-up of the single currency in 2011/12 has generated mistrust among banks and caused an effective breakdown of cross-border bank investment flows as they hoarded capital at home.
The UK Doubles Down On Austerity
SEJ author John Weeks has recently been interviewed by the Real News Network about the strength of the British economic recovery and its current policy course. Weeks criticises that despite a poor economic recovery the government has announced significant further cuts to social spending.
Le Pen ‘optimistic’ about Eurosceptic group in EU Parliament
Four months ahead of the European elections, the creation of a Eurosceptic political group in the European Parliament is well under way, according to the president of the French far-right Front National (FN), EurActiv.fr reports.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (22 January), Marine Le Pen, who was elected to the European Parliament in 2009, said she was ?optimistic? about the chances of creating such a political group.
Germany’s Eurosceptic AfD launches EU elections campaign
Germany’s new Eurosceptic party launched its campaign for the European Parliament elections on Saturday (25 January) with an attack on EU federalism and a defence of national sovereignty, in an attempt to mend divisive infighting, EurActiv Germany reports.
About 300 delegates from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gathered at a party congress in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg to elect its candidates for the European vote in May, where fringe parties are expected to do well.
Schulz endorsed by Germany’s centre-left SPD
Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats have confirmed on Sunday (26 January) European Parliament president Martin Schulz as their top candidate to succeed Commission president José Manuel Barroso, who ends his term in November.
During a special SPD congress in Berlin that overwhelmingly voted for Martin Schulz to lead the centre-left party’s banner in the May 25 elections, the head of Germany’s Social Democrats in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition denounced eurosceptic parties on the far left and right as “stupid” and pledged a tough fight against them in the European parliamentary election campaign.
Can Europe protect the Euromaidan?
Among other more traditional ways of influence, the EU should reach out to the Ukrainian army and internal forces to emphasise the need to stay above the fray and refrain from the use of force, Andrew Wilson writes.
Andrew Wilson is a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. This commentary was originally published by the European Council of Foreign relations (ECFR).
?Events in Ukraine have taken a dramatic change for the worse. Five people were killed on Wednesday, some beaten to death, and further confrontation is likely this Sunday. NGOs have issued an emotive ?last plea for help?, saying ?the international community remains silent, upholding European values on paper only?, while ?people are dying for them in Ukraine?.
Iran, the economy and a “touchy-feely” Davos
Censorship and suppression in Belarus
Actors and musicians are battling state restrictions to tell the stories of people in ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’
