‘Defend Rojava, defend democratic confederalism’
[DE | NL] By Jürgen Klute When the long period of tyranny under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad came to an end with a rebellion on 8 December 2024, there was a brief moment of hope that a new era of democracy and peace could begin in Syria under the transitional government of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. A good year later, [...]
President Donald Trump on the EU
A former Brussels intern, who understandably wishes to remain anonymous and has been working in Washington for some time, has just sent us a translation of a manuscript. This speech is scheduled to open the US Republican Party conference on April 1st of this year, entitled "What's Next for Europe?" [DE | FR | NL] Since the content offers [...]
2026 – Quo Vadis?
From a Western European Perspective [DE | FR | NL] By Frank Schwalba-Hoth With Aristotle (384-322 BC) and his assertion "The rule of law is better than that of any individual," the Magna Carta (1215), and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679), the foundation was laid for replacing the law of the jungle with the rule of law, precisely as protection [...]
Trump’s illegal invasion of Venezuela
By Jürgen Klute "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations." This is stated in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the 1945 UN Charter. International law is clear. Not [...]
Concept for Sustainable Peace in Europe
By Frederik D. Tunnat In the negotiations for a peace treaty between Ukraine and Russia held so far, a crucial component is, in my opinion, missing. An Old Idea in a New Form What sounds foreign today once had a method: to secure peace, warring adversaries since antiquity exchanged hostages – not as a punishment, but as a guarantee [...]
Guinea returns to the path of democracy
On 28 December 2025, a new president will be elected in the West African state of Guinea (Conakry). This will bring to an end the nearly five-year period during which Mamady Doumbouya, installed by the military, has been at the head of the country. By Jürgen Klute When Guinea's president, Alpha Condé, was ousted from office by an elite [...]
Quo vadis Middle East?
By Moshe A. Friedman, Rabbi in Antwerp and former Chief Rabbi in Vienna (Antwerp, 10 October 2025) There is now reasonable relief – the Gaza peace treaty should end the massacres and starvation. Nevertheless, the international community should now focus of nine key issues. 1. The last treaty from the beginning of this year was broken in the middle [...]
A century of road safety
By Jürgen Klute In line with the theme, the closing ceremony for DEKRA's 100th anniversary took place on 30 September at Auto World in Parc Cinquantenaire in Brussels. This followed a larger celebration in Berlin, the ‘birthplace’ of DEKRA, and several smaller celebrations and company parties at various locations around the world. DEKRA stands for Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein e.V. (German [...]
Former MEPs call for suspension of EU Association Agreement with Israel
110 former members of the European Parliament from almost all political groups have signed an open letter dated 10 August 2025 calling on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas to call on EU member states to completely suspend the EU's association [...]
Paul Lim – an attempt at an obituary from a Brussels perspective
Paul Lim, the only Singaporean who managed to considerably influence EU policies toward his homeland (and the entire ASEAN region) - an attempt at an obituary from a Brussels perspective By Frank Schwalba-Hoth, Brussels And suddenly he was there. To this day, it remains a mystery to me what at the end of the 1980s exactly led to a [...]
In February 2026, Morocco is hosting a maritime trade fair in the historic port city of El Jadida
[DE | NL] By Jürgen Klute A dynamic world is undergoing radical change. Global warming requires us to phase out fossil fuels. This is leading to profound shifts in the global economy and international trade. Some old trade routes will lose importance, while new ones will gain significance. Due to these changes, the African continent will grow in economic [...]
The first Mongolian Naadam Festival in Brussels
[DE | NL| By Jürgen Klute Last Saturday (28 June), there was a premiere in Brussels' Bois de la Cambre. The Naadam Festival took place there for the first time. However, it was not only the first time in Brussels, but also the first time in Europe – and outside Mongolia. The Naadam Festival is Mongolia's national holiday. It [...]
The Mothers of the European Union
[DE | NL] By Jürgen Klute | March 2025 When discussing the foundations of today's European Union (EU), names like Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet are often mentioned first. They are widely recognized as the fathers of the EU’s predecessor, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), established in 1951 under the Schuman Plan. On International Women's Day, celebrated [...]
Afghans demand Pakistan’s government halt deportations
By Jürgen Klute (updated on 21 April 2025) On Easter Sunday this year (20 April 2025), between 5 and 7 p.m., around 60 to 70 people gathered on Place Luxembourg, directly in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels. The demonstrators, most of whom were from Afghanistan, had come to protest against the Pakistani government's threat of deportation. [...]
How Storytelling Can Redefine The Way We Connect
Since 1989, Frank Schwalba-Hoth, co-founder of the German Green Party and former Member of the European Parliament (1984-1987), has been hosting an event called Soirée Internationale about once a month in different restaurants in Brussels. Laura Mantilla Vargas, who first attended the Soirée Internationale on 20 March 2025 at the Tourane restaurant at 62-64 Rue du Luxembourg in Brussels, [...]