The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on May 21st-22nd will be a gloomy affair. Russia’s aggressive behaviour has put EU member-states on the defensive. Enthusiasm for further integration between the EU and its Eastern neighbours is on the wane. But Europe should be bolder: a grey zone to its east is not in the EU’s interests.
The UK doggedly maintains an ‘independent nuclear deterrent’ but a naval officer has blown the whistle on the system’s inherent insecurity—with its potentially incalculable implications.
The Republic of Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to legalise same-sex marriage in a historic referendum.
Irish vote for same-sex marriage caps extraordinary week
The recent violence in Macedonia is a reminder that the Balkans region remains a volatile mix of nationalism and economic frustration, underpinned by disillusionment about progress toward membership in the EU. But the EU continues to be the only alternative to a future as bad as the worst of the past.
Swedish singer Mans Zelmerlow has triumphed at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, beating Russia’s Polina Gagarina.
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