Europe
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Rights groups sue Netherlands again over jet parts to Israel
www.france24.com /en/live-news/20240628-rights-groups-sue-netherlands-again-over-f-35-parts-to-israelIn a landmark verdict in February, an appeals court ordered the Netherlands to stop delivering parts for fighter jets used by Israel in its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The court said at the time there was a "clear risk" the planes would be involved in breaking international humanitarian law.
But the rights groups are returning to court, saying that the ban has not prevented the parts ending up in Israeli planes.
"Unfortunately, everything indicates that these parts end up in Israel from the Netherlands via other routes," said Oxfam Novib, one of the groups involved in the case.
The Dutch government "has continued delivering (parts) to other countries, including the United States. And that contravenes the order of the court," Liesbeth Zegveld, a lawyer representing the rights groups, told the court.
"The court order (from February) applies to all F-35 parts with Israel as the final destination and the state must stop all such deliveries in practice," she argued.
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Tax the Rich - European Citizens' Initiative
The contribution would be used to combat climate change and inequality and would help to ensure that European citizens pay their fair share towards achieving these objectives.
The minimum threshold of signatories is only required a quarter of the EU countries, so in 7 of 27. France is already at 188% of the required threshold, Denmark at 88% and Germany at 80%
- www.theguardian.com French far-right leader condemns Mbappé’s anti-extremism remarks
Jordan Bardella criticises footballer’s call for young people to vote against ‘extremes’ in upcoming elections
The French far-right leader Jordan Bardella has criticised the footballer Kylian Mbappé over his call for young people to vote against the “extremes” in parliamentary elections this month.
“I have a lot of respect for our footballers, whether Marcus Thuram or Kylian Mbappé, who are icons of football and icons for youth … But we must respect the French, we must respect everyone’s vote,” Bardella told CNews TV on Tuesday.
“When you’re lucky enough to have a very, very big salary, when you are a multimillionaire … then I’m a little embarrassed to see these athletes … give lessons to people who can no longer make ends meet, who no longer feel safe, who do not have the chance to live in neighbourhoods overprotected by security agents.”
On the eve of France’s opening match at Euro 2024, which is taking place amid political turmoil after President Emmanuel Macron’s shock decision to call a snap election, Mbappé warned on Sunday “the extremes are knocking at the doors of power”.
The comment by France’s popular captain followed an intervention by the team’s forward Thuram, who had urged people to “fight daily” to prevent Bardella’s National Rally (RN) from gaining power.
Mbappé did not name the RN but said he supported the same values and position as Thuram. “Kylian Mbappé is against extreme views and against ideas that divide people. I want to be proud to represent France; I don’t want to represent a country that doesn’t correspond to my values, or our values,” Mbappé said.
That call resonated with some young people in Mbappé’s former neighbourhood, an underprivileged Paris suburb, but was immediately criticised by the RN. Bardella was speaking a day after France won its Euro 2024 opening match in which Mbappé sustained a broken nose.
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Finding an apartment is needlessly difficult (e.g. Poland)
skillissue.bearblog.dev Finding an apartment is needlessly difficultFinding an apartment is an unforgiving journey unto its own, actually I'd say it's a full-time job in certain areas of the world. So if you already work, stu...
not sure which community to post this to but... this is my personal account on one of the many EU countries that are experiencing a lovely housing crisis.
- www.theguardian.com Turkey rejects claim Lord Elgin had permission to take Parthenon marbles
Official says no sign of permit in Ottoman archives, in blow to British Museum, which defends legal right to statuary
Official says no sign of permit in Ottoman archives, in blow to British Museum, which defends legal right to statuary.
- www.eff.org Big Tech to EU: "Drop Dead"
The European Union’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a complex, many-legged beast, but at root, it is a regulation that aims to make it easier for the public to control the technology they use and rely on. One DMA rule forces the powerful “gatekeeper” tech companies to allow third-party app stores....
The DMA is meant to push us toward a world where you decide which software runs on your devices, where it’s easy to find the best products and services, where you can leave a platform for a better one without forfeiting your social relationships , and where you can do all of this without getting spied on.
If it works, this will get dangerously close to better future we’ve spent the past thirty years fighting for.
There’s just one wrinkle: the Big Tech companies don’t want that future, and they’re trying their damndest to strangle it in its cradle.
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The Alliance Attacking Freedom - How Trump’s troops are attacking gender rights and underpinning the far right in Europe
corporateeurope.org The Alliance Attacking Freedom | Corporate Europe ObservatoryHow Trump’s troops are attacking gender rights and underpinning the far right in Europe - the case of the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBT hate group fighting that has increased its spending in Europe dramatically in recent years. Their impact can be boosted after the European elections and ...
Money is pouring into Europe from ultraconservative US foundations. One of the biggest spenders is the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian right wing organization that has played a prominent part in rolling back gender, abortion, and LGBTQIA+ rights on both sides of the Atlantic. Its latest tax filing shows it has doubled its spending in Europe since 2018.
This unfolds in a context where we could see a new right wing majority in the European Parliament after the European elections on 9 June, that includes the far right, and in parallel we may see Donald Trump retake the US Presidency. Considering the work done by the Trump camp to unite the European far right – including by forging a close alliance with the Hungarian President Viktor Orbán – this is a dangerous prospect. A strengthened European far right also bolsters the Trump camp.
This goes beyond party politics. Groups such as the ADF have been working on the ground in member states to network and build up power to overturn rights won through decades of struggle. Currently, the foundations that support the ADF and similar organisations, are increasing their spending dramatically. That is likely to strengthen their impact.
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Utilisez votre voix. Ou d’autres décideront pour vous. Élections européennes, le 9 juin 2024.
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EU would need 50% tariffs to curb imports of Chinese electric cars
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/15025234
> EU would need 50% tariffs to curb imports of Chinese electric cars > > https://archive.md/AP2cA
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EDPB Opinion: Meta cannot rely on "Pay or Okay"
noyb.eu Statement on EDPB "Pay or Okay" OpinionFirst Update on the EDPB's "pay or okay" opinion on larger platforms.
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Riley Testut launches Delta emulator on US App Store (free) - shows middle finger to Europe /payment required)
9to5mac.com Riley Testut launches Delta game emulator on App Store for everyone, AltStore marketplace for EU - 9to5MacThe game emulation situation on iOS just got real. The oft rejected game emulator Delta has finally made its way...
Unfortunately I was proven to be right about Riley Testut. He's yet another greedy person barely batter than Apple. After bitching to Apple to remove GBA4iOS from the App Store he's now leveraging Delta to force people into his AltStore.
> Delta has finally made its way to the App Store. Additionally, the Delta developer has also published their alternative marketplace, AltStore, in the EU today.
If you're in the EU you'll only be able to get Delta on the AltStore and that requires:
This is complete bullshit he could've just launched Delta on the App Store in Europe as well but he decided not to.
Thanks Riley Testut for being a dick to the people that actually forced Apple into allowing alternative app stores in the first place.
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Github issue related to this dick move: https://github.com/rileytestut/Delta/issues/292
- kolektiva.media The Microsoft-Dilemma - Europe as a Software Colony | Full Documentary
Many state and public administrations from Helsinki to Lisbon operate with the software of the US corporation. It makes them vulnerable for hackers and spies, violates European public procurement l...
Many state and public administrations from Helsinki to Lisbon operate with the software of the US corporation. It makes them vulnerable for hackers and spies, violates European public procurement law, blocks technical progress and costs Europe dearly. Harald Schumann and his Investigate Europe research team have spoken to insiders and managers throughout Europe about this. Martin Schallbruch, the former head of IT at the German Government, reports how the states are becoming increasingly dependent on Microsoft. A top Dutch lawyer describes how the EU Commission and governments are violating European procurement law. In France, the Ministry of Defence has bypassed parliament in concluding secret contracts with Microsoft, so Senator Joelie Garriaud-Maylam now wants to set up a committee of inquiry. The Hamburg data protection officer Johannes Caspar warns that the Microsoft systems could expose private data of citizens to investigation by the US secret services. Internal documents prove that the Federal Office for Information Security shares this mistrust. Both the European Parliament and the German Bundestag have therefore repeatedly called for state IT systems to be converted to open source software that can be tested by Europe's own security authorities. Italy's army has also begun this change, tells Italian general Camillo Sileo. The same is true for police authorities in France and Lithuania or the cities of Rome and Barcelona. But why do most governments oppose against the alternatives, or even - as in the case of the city of Munich - return into the arms of the monopolist Microsoft? Andrup Ansip, EU Commissioner for the Digital Single Market and other stakeholders face the questions.
A film by Harald Schumann and Árpád Bondy
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First Commission report on real-world CO₂ emissions of cars and vans using data from on-board fuel consumption monitoring devices
climate.ec.europa.eu First Commission report on real-world CO2 emissions of cars and vans using data from on-board fuel consumption monitoring devicesToday, the Commission published its first report on the real-world CO2 emissions of new passenger cars and vans. The report is based on data collected in 2021 from fuel consumption monitors installed on-board of these vehicles.
The Commission published its first report on the real-world CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars and vans. The report is based on data collected in 2021 from fuel consumption monitors installed on-board of these vehicles.
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EU moving towards total monetary surveillance and banning all anonymous payments
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/13481220
> How to contact your MEP: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en/contact > > Source: https://snort.social/nevent1qqsvcedd6dg39eh6633uqqff0p9h2zqyhu3zd6kwyyhzqj7da02x4pszyqe2wpknmwkyd0t295d5ezvtaxr00ngxjtcfuct8pfvyec3snckpwqcyqqqqqqgz2f7lp
- www.edps.europa.eu European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 infringes data protection law for EU institutions and bodies
Following its investigation, the EDPS has found that the European Commission (Commission) has infringed several key data protection rules when using Microsoft 365. In its decision, the EDPS imposes corrective measures on the Commission. The EDPS has found that the Commission has infringed several .....
Following its investigation, the EDPS has found that the European Commission (Commission) has infringed several key data protection rules when using Microsoft 365. In its decision, the EDPS imposes corrective measures on the Commission.
The EDPS has found that the Commission has infringed several provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, the EU’s data protection law for EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (EUIs), including those on transfers of personal data outside the EU/European Economic Area (EEA).
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Delay, depress, destroy: How tech corporations subvert the EU’s new digital laws
edri.org How tech corporations subvert the EU's new digital laws - European Digital Rights (EDRi)When the DSA and DMA were passed in 2022, major tech industry associations praised the new laws as significant achievements.
As the EU’s new flagship tech laws, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, are coming into full application, Big Tech is working hard to shoot them down. As of today, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) becomes fully applicable, following its counterpart the Digital Services Act (DSA) on 17 February.
However, as the EU’s new tech laws are coming into full application, tech corporations like Apple, Amazon, Meta and TikTok are already undermining them at every turn. To subvert these new regulations, tech corporations have filed a number of lawsuits against the European Commission and attempted to weaken the rules with malicious compliance that protects their profits at the expense of their users.
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Let’s make Device Neutrality a reality in Europe!
fsfe.org Let’s make Device Neutrality a reality in Europe! - FSFEAs the Digital Markets Act comes into effect today, Device Neutrality starts to become a tangible reality in the European Union. While acknowledging the ne...
As the Digital Markets Act comes into effect today, Device Neutrality starts to become a tangible reality in the European Union. While acknowledging the new law, the FSFE alerts that this is only the first step and further commitment is necessary.
- www.euractiv.com French MPs voice sovereignty, competition concerns after Microsoft-Mistral AI deal
After Mistral AI and Microsoft announced their strategic partnership on Monday (26 February), sparking an outcry from lawmakers in the European Parliament, French MPs have voiced concern over the partnership's impact on competition and sovereignty in the cloud sector.
After Mistral AI and Microsoft announced their strategic partnership on Monday (26 February), sparking an outcry from lawmakers in the European Parliament, French MPs have voiced concern over the partnership’s impact on competition and sovereignty in the cloud sector.
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Apple Planning to Kill PWAs
open-web-advocacy.org Immediate Action Needed! - Open Web AdvocacyApple has officially announced that they attempting to kill web apps in the EU, which will have ramifications worldwide
- www.euractiv.com Bulgarian pro-Putin party announces joining EU far right group after Moscow visit
Far-right pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane has joined the far-right Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament, deputies from the Eurosceptic Bulgarian party announced on Wednesday after visiting Moscow at the invitation of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
> > > Far-right pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane has joined the far-right Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament, deputies from the Eurosceptic Bulgarian party announced on Wednesday after visiting Moscow at the invitation of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. > > > > In Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane is the third-largest political force in the national parliament, which gives them the potential to have up to four out of a total of 17 Bulgarian MEPs in the European Parliament – which would undoubtedly help ID, currently the sixth largest group in the EU Parliament with 59 members. > > > > According to the latest EU elections projections, the ID group is estimated to rank third, winning 92 seats in the new EU House. > (...) > >
- www.nd-aktuell.de Can't you even get a coffee in Germany without Nazi connections?
Backwerk has a founder who apparently supports far-right structures. This isn't an isolated case: Many big capitalists seem to have an affinity for the Far Right, says Nathaniel Flakin.
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Why Russia Tried to Block This Canal
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/11601446 >An informative video about the Vistula canal and its implications on Russia-Europe relationships and Kaliningrad.
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Apple to EU: “Go fuck yourself”
There's a strain of anti-anti-monopolist that insists that they're not pro-monopoly – they're just realists who understand that global gigacorporations are too big to fail, too big to jail, and that governments can't hope to rein them in. Trying to regulate a tech giant, they say, is like trying to regulate the weather.
This ploy is cousins with Jay Rosen's idea of "savvying," defined as: "dismissing valid questions with the insider's, 'and this surprises you?'"
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UN racism rapporteur criticises France's contested immigration bill
> > > A fiercely contested immigration bill violates France's constitutional commitment to equality and liberty, the U.N. special rapporteur on racism said, amid nationwide protests against the legislation that is backed by far-right lawmakers. > >
- www.dw.com Germany sees second day of large protests against far right – DW – 01/21/2024
The weekend of protests against right-wing extremism continued in Germany, as tens of thousands took to the streets in Berlin, Cologne and Munich.
The weekend of protests against right-wing extremism continued in Germany, as tens of thousands took to the streets in Berlin, Cologne and Munich.
- contre-attaque.net "Pushback" en mer Égée : 22 rescapés palestiniens refoulés par les gardes-côtes grecs - Contre Attaque
Le "pushback" est un "renvoi illégal de migrants". Il désigne un ensemble de mesures étatiques provoquant le "refoulement" d'exilé-es.
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Beyond failing forward? The Euro at 25
adamtooze.substack.com Chartbook 260 Beyond failing forward? The Euro at 25 (Part 1)The euro is not in the headlines. On the 25th anniversary of the first moves to irrevocably fix the exchange rates of the major European economies this lack of notice is good news. For too much of its history Europe’s common currency has lived under the shadow of alarmist speculation about its futur...
- www.theguardian.com Adopting rightwing policies ‘does not help centre-left win votes’
Study of European electoral data suggests social democratic parties alienate supporters by moving towards the political centre
>Adopting rightwing policies on issues such as immigration and the economy does not help centre-left parties win votes, according to new analysis of European electoral and polling data. > >Faced with a 20-year decline in their vote share, accompanied by rising support for the right, far right and sometimes the far left, social democratic parties across Europe have increasingly sought salvation by moving towards the political centre.
- www.opendemocracy.net RSA launches probe into pro-Israel bash that sparked walkout
The Royal Society of Arts claims it was not made aware of the event’s ‘geopolitically sensitive’ nature
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Europe’s 15-Year Slump
www.yanisvaroufakis.eu Europe’s 15-Year Slump - Project Syndicate op-ed - Yanis VaroufakisThe European Union’s supporters celebrate the survival of the euro, the fact that public debt is no longer the threat it was, and, crucially, that their mercantilist business model remains intact. But it has come at a steep price: Europe’s permanent stagnation and continuing fragmentation. ATHENS – ...
- theblankpageofficial.blogspot.com UNITED KINGDOM TO DESIGNATE RUSSIA’s WAGNER GROUP AS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION
TBPO's speaks about global geopolitical issues, Current Affairs, defense news and breaking news from India China Pakistan Bangladesh Russia & America
England government is considering the option of designating Russia’s Wagner mercenary group as a terrorist outfit. According to the local British media, the draft will be presented in the parliament for the approval
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MEPs to propose ending geo-blocking of films and series in the EU
Yesterday, the traditionally highly conservative legal affairs committee voted to end geo-blocking of films and series in some limited contexts. It's a tectonic shift from the previous position of the legal affairs committee, and comes ahead of today's vote in the more progressive Internal Market & Consumer protection, where MEPs will call for a gradual abolition of geo-blocking.
- www.reuters.com Turkey's Erdogan submits Sweden's NATO bid to parliament for ratification, presidency says
The move is welcomed by Stockholm as it clears the way for it to join the Western defense alliance. Hungary's parliament will also have to ratify Sweden's application before it can become a member.
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EU officials' stance on Israel and Palestine
Israel has cut off food from a region under its control, and has started bombing its towns. Israel has selected the people of this region for this treatment only because of their race and religion, which they share with Hamas.
Ursula von der Leyen says she fully supports Israel. She explicitly supports genocide.
Somebody like this does not represent the EU, and should not be allowed to hold any of its offices. She represents only the most despicable part of the EU's history.
Is there any mechanism to sack an EU official, given an outstanding demonstration of ineptitude for the job?
If not, several races of people within the EU are in grave danger.
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[pétition] Tax The Rich
www.tax-the-rich.eu Tax The RichNous voulons un impôt européen sur les grandes fortunes pour financer la transition climatique et sociale et aider les pays victimes des dérèglements climatiques.
publication croisée depuis : https://jlai.lu/post/1476405
- www.bbc.com Finland investigates suspected sabotage of Baltic-connector gas pipeline
It is still unclear what caused a leak on the Baltic-connector, which is shared with Estonia.
Finland says damage to an underwater natural gas pipeline with Estonia on Sunday may have been deliberate and was probably caused by "external activity".
The Baltic-connector pipeline was shut down after a sudden drop in pressure. A telecoms cable was also damaged.
Finland's prime minister said on Tuesday that the source of the leak had been found and was being investigated by both countries.
Petteri Orpo added that the cause was not yet clear.
Finnish sources have told the BBC the suspicion falls on Russian sabotage as "retribution" for Finland joining Nato in April this year.
Norway's seismological institute, Norsar, said it had detected a "probable explosion" along Finland's Baltic Sea coast at 01:20 on Sunday (22:20GMT on Saturday). The event was measured at 1.0, far smaller than the explosions that targeted the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022.
That appeared to contradict a statement from Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (KRP) that there were "no indications" that explosives had been used, although it added the damage was so serious it was expected to take months to repair.
Finnish authorities said damage to the cable and pipeline damage happened at two different spots in Finland's Exclusive Economic Zone.
"The discovered damage could not have been caused by normal use of the pipeline or pressure fluctuations," Mr Orpo told a press conference. Other possible causes such as seismic activity had already been ruled out.
The pipeline is Finland's only direct link to the wider European Union's gas network. Nevertheless, Mr Orpo said there were enough alternative sources of gas to ensure the country's energy security was not at risk.
Jens Stoltenberg, the head of the Nato military alliance of which both Finland and Estonia are members, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the bloc was "sharing information & stands ready to support Allies concerned".
"Frankly we were expecting something like this sooner," a Finnish source told the BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner. However, he says public statements from Helsinki have carefully avoided directing blame at Moscow in case a lengthy inquiry comes up with inconclusive results.
The prospect that the damage could be deliberate has pushed up European gas prices.
UK prices jumped as much as 13.5% on Tuesday to 124 pence per therm (a measurement of gas) - having traded as low as 88 pence on Friday.
Prices were already rising after Israel closed one of its largest gas fields, Tamar, in the Mediterranean Sea, in response to the recent aggression by Hamas.
The damage to the Baltic-connector pipeline has revived concerns about energy security following the Nord Stream pipeline blasts last year.
The Baltic-connector opened in 2020, and is used to send gas between Estonia and Finland, depending on which country is most in need at any point.
The pipeline has been Finland's only natural gas import channel since Russian imports were halted in May last year. Natural gas accounts for about 5% of Finland's energy consumption.