European Union
All topics-
Turkey in NATO
Relationship status difficult
A more active role for Turkey in NATO, as demanded by the Turkish government, would be appropriate in view of the geopolitical challenges, but is meeting resistance within the alliance. How can the defence alliance achieve greater unity?
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Relations with the Middle East
Europe can still make a difference
The European Union is faced with the challenge of finding a common line towards the Middle East that both takes into account the different national positions and promotes a coherent foreign policy. How can this be realized?
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Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan
Kurds drifting away from democracy
In Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan, regional elections are being repeatedly postponed, institutions weakened and structures are becoming more autocratic
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The Middle East's cosmopolitan tradition
Back to a Levantine future?
As regional and global problems rise, the once mixed cities of the Eastern Mediterranean may offer ideas for how we can escape our distress
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Migration
Why young Africans try their luck in Saudi Arabia
Every year, thousands of people die making the crossing from Senegal to Europe in rickety fishing boats. Many others from West Africa head for Saudi Arabia, where they end up as undocumented migrants – without papers, rights and prospects.
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UNRWA and humanitarian aid
EU releases frozen funds for Palestinians
The EU Commission intends to transfer 82 million euros to the UN Palestinian relief organisation UNRWA. Payments had been suspended following Israel's accusation that UNRWA was involved in Hamas terrorism
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Milan's La Scala
Migrant boats make music at the opera
Stringed instruments made from migrant boats met with sustained applause as they debuted at Italy's prestigious La Scala opera house in tribute to those who perish attempting the Mediterranean crossing to Europe
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The EU response to the Gaza war
A tale of contradiction and division
Faced with the worst-ever Israeli-Palestinian violence, Europe's selective moralism has also led to strategic blindness
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A different take on Gaza
Global South criticises Israel
Germany, the USA and the UK have stood firmly behind Israel following the Hamas attacks. The Global South, however, sees the Gaza conflict differently. Pro-Palestine voices can be heard across the region. By Kristin Palitza and Denis Duettmann, dpa
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Hamas terror attack aftermath
Understanding is crucial for change
Karim El-Gawhary has been reporting from the Middle East for more than 30 years. The wars he’s witnessed and reported on during this time have led him to the conclusion: security needs political solutions, not military ones
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Co-operation between Ankara, Athens and Berlin
New alliances in European migration diplomacy
If official statements are to be believed, the governments of Greece, Turkey and Germany share a common goal: to gain control of refugee flows in the Aegean Sea and along the River Evros on the Greek-Turkish border. By Ronald Meinardus in Athens
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Ataturk's republic turns 100
Turkey's enduring identity crisis
To mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, German journalist and Qantara.de contributor Cigdem Akyol has written a new history of what she calls "the divided republic". Marian Brehmer read the book