Fittex

Cross-border parental child abductions in the EU are governed by The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and (except for Denmark) the Brussels II-ter Regulation. Countries outside of the EU may or may not be Contracting States to ‘the Convention’, but will not be bound by Brussels II-ter. Research has found that the often negative, long-lasting impact of abduction may continue throughout the lifecycle of those who have been abducted. It may also affect future ...

In the context of the wars in Ukraine and other parts of the world, the increasingly global effects – material and political – of war make it more important than ever to measure the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world. The Normandy Index has presented an annual measurement of these threats since the 2019 Normandy Peace Forum. The results of the 2025 exercise suggest the level of threats to peace is at its highest since the index was launched, confirming declining trends ...

A series of recent economic and geopolitical shocks have led to rising fragmentation of global trade, whereby countries tend to boost economic ties with those sharing similar political values, economic policies and security interests. While a broad retreat from globalisation is not taking place, there are some signs of reconfiguration of supply chains along geopolitical lines. This is likely to have pronounced effects for EU economy due to its openness and high level of integration into global value ...

The Planet pillar – The African Union and European Union share a commitment to multilateralism, enshrined respectively in the Treaty on European Union and the African Union Constitutive Act. Both partners are committed to international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They advocate a more effective and accountable global governance system, with a stronger role for the African continent. However, differences in stances and procedures hamper their ability ...

The Peace pillar – The European Union (EU) is a long-standing and active partner for peace and governance in Africa, providing both substantial financial and operational support. Cooperation between the EU and Africa in the area of peace and security promotes Africa's ownership – the principle of 'African solutions to African problems' – and recognises the African Union as a central player in this field. EU common security and defence policy missions and operations, together with the European Peace ...

African and European Heads of State or Government will meet in Luanda (Angola) on 24 and 25 November 2025 for the Seventh European Union (EU)-African Union Summit. The Africa-EU partnership faces significant challenges, including global geopolitical shifts and shrinking development finance. Central to the EU's new approach, the Global Gateway strategy aims to mobilise €150 billion by 2027 to boost Africa's digital connectivity, transport infrastructure, and energy transition. However, questions remain ...

Prosperity pillar (2/2) – Youth and natural resources are key assets for Africa and its partnership with the European Union. To harness these assets, Africa and its European partners need to address climate-related challenges, energy poverty, health system gaps and education shortfalls. Joint initiatives are under way in all these areas; however, the Seventh European Union -African Union Summit will have to tackle asymmetries and tensions over differing priorities. This publication is part of a series ...

The Prosperity pillar (1/2) – Africa's economic transformation is central to the partnership between Africa and the EU. Unlocking the continent's potential is not only key to its own development but also to boosting global competitiveness for both Africa and Europe. This requires reducing investment risks, strengthening regional value chains, and supporting intra-African trade. Progress depends on improving the mobilisation of domestic resources and addressing unsustainable debt levels. Expanding ...

The Sudanese are caught in a devastating civil war, driven by deep political fragmentation, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences. While President Al-Bashir's ousting in 2019 had raised hopes for a democratic transition, deep divisions between the regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) derailed power-sharing attempts. This has triggered violent conflict across the country since April 2023, exacerbating hostilities between communities ...

The European Parliament's consent is required for the conclusion of a new protocol associated with the EU-Côte d'Ivoire fisheries agreement. The protocol sets out the fishing opportunities for the EU fleet in Côte d'Ivoire waters, and specifies the EU financial contribution in exchange, including increased support for the development of sustainable local fisheries. The consent vote will be on the plenary agenda during the October I session.