December 2018 – B2 Pro The daily life of geopolitical Europe

Best wishes for 2019

December 31, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde 0 min read

(B2) 2018 is coming to a close with a bang for B2. The entire team wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy 2019. This…

Joint EUTM-Minusca visit to the Bouar site (Credit: EUTM Rca)

Europeans are preparing to settle in the Bouar military training camp (V2)

December 31, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde bouar, Central, EUTM RCA, FACE, minusca 3 min read

(B2) Specialists from the United Nations force (MINUSCA) and the European Union force (EUTM RCA) established in the Central African Republic (CAR) have completed a study of the Bouar site…

Extension of sanctions against Russia for six months formalized

December 31, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Ukrainian conflict, European Council, carry-over, Economic sanctions 1 min read

(B2) The EU Council of Ministers approved, on Friday (21 December), without debate, the extension for a further period of six months (until 31 July 2019) of the economic sanctions...

Who is the boss ? by Nathalie Guibert

December 29, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde CEMA, Emmanuel Macron, General de Villiers, Jean-Yves Le Drian 0 min read

(B2) The journalist specializing in the world dissects the different moments that preceded the decision of Emmanuel Macron, newly elected President of the Republic, to 'turn' rather abruptly...

(credit: EUNAVFOR Atalanta)

Latest news from EU peacekeeping missions – CSDP (December 2018)

December 29, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Croatia, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, EUNAVFOR Med, libyan coastguard, PASSEX 0 min read

(B2) Split (Croatia). End of diving training Five trainees from the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy have just completed their diving training module, which began on November 12…

The registration of the PKK on the illegal terrorist list, for lack of motivation

December 28, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Cancellation, motivation, Court of the EU 2 min read

(B2) The General Court of the EU annulled on Thursday (15 November) the inclusion of the PKK on the European Union's blacklist of terrorist organisations whose assets are frozen. The Council...

The joint commission presenting the results on the choice of the F-16 (credit: MOD Bulgaria)

American lobbying is paying off. Bulgaria finally chooses the F-16

December 28, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Bulgaria, Company, F-16, Krasimir Karakachanov, Competitive bidding, Romania Radev 5 min read

(B2) The Bulgarian choice ultimately fell on the American aircraft. Sofia will begin negotiations with the United States to purchase F-16 aircraft. An eminently technical choice supports the government...

Benalla does have a diplomatic passport. The Quai d'Orsay confirms … but opens a series of questions

December 27, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Alexandre Benalla, Elysée, Diplomatic immunity 3 min read

(B2) The French Minister of Foreign Affairs has just confirmed, in large part, the information published by Mediapart on the fact that Alexandre Benalla, former advisor to the Elysée, responsible for...

Denuclearization, sanctions, dialogue. Three lessons from MEPs' visit to North Korea

December 27, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Humanitarian aid, North Korea, EU Delegation, Political dialogue, nuclear non-proliferation, European Parliament 2 min read

(B2) Reading the mission report of the three European parliamentarians visiting North Korea in early November reveals some interesting lessons. Participating in this visit, which took place…

We are recruiting in Iraq

December 26, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde EUAM Iraq 0 min read

(B2) The EU Internal Security Reform Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) is opening around twenty positions, some on secondment from a Member State, others on…

The announced catastrophe of the European elections in France?

December 25, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Abstentions, Editorial, Elections 2019, LREM 2 min read

(B2) Five months separate us from the European elections of May 2019. We know that these are shaping up to be particularly perilous in France, both in terms of participation and Eurosceptic or…

New step for the training of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

December 25, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR Althea 1 min read

(B2) The EU stabilisation operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR Althea) signed a new training and cooperation plan with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AfBIH) in Sarajevo on Wednesday...

The British Defense Minister, received in Odessa by his Ukrainian counterpart, meets Ukrainian sailors (credit: MOD Uk / HMS Echo)

London reaffirms its support for Ukraine. Gavin Williamson in Odessa

December 24, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Gavin Williamson, Hms echo, Odessa 2 min read

(B2) British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson visited Odessa, the Ukrainian navy's major port and base, with Stepan Poltorak, his Ukrainian alter ego. A…

Notebook (24.12.2018). Confidential (CAF). Sanctions (Russia extension). Operations (EUFOR Althea visit). Defense (Burkina Faso picks up, United Kingdom land drones, Spain cyber tests, Estonia 2019 budget). Diplomacy (Yemen UN resolution, EU-Japan, China presidential arrests, Madagascar). Aid (Burundi refugees, Indonesia). Security (Eurobarometer). People (Devogelaere, Salles, De Michelis, Williamson). To read

December 24, 2018 B2 Writing Burundi, China, COPS, cyber, Presidential elections, Spain, EUNAVFOR Med, Eurobarometer, immigration, Japan, Madagascar, NGO, Operation Sophia, Refugees, Russia, Sanctions, Terrorisme 5 min read

(B2) Recently published: The Netherlands says 'No' to too rapid progress and an overly integrated European defense (Bijleveld) (blog) End of mission within Sophia for the…

Ank Bijleveld, minister van het ministerie van Defensie

[Verbatim] The Netherlands says 'No' to too rapid progress and too integrated a European defense (Bijleveld)

December 24, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Germany, Ank Bijleveld, France, NATO-EU, Netherlands, PESCO 2 min read

(B2) For Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld (CDA/EPP), if we must move towards European defence, it must be within the framework of NATO, and not too quickly. The opposition with the…

End of mission within Sophia for the EV Jacoubet

December 22, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Jacoubet Ship Sign, EUNAVFOR Med 0 min read

(B2) The Royal (French Navy) offshore patrol vessel 'Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet' (F-794) left the anti-trafficking operation off the coast of…

Seven Burmese military or border police blacklisted

December 21, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Burmese Army, Human rights, freezing of assets, minorities, Myanmar, Rohingyas 2 min read

(B2) The Council of the EU added this Friday (21 December) seven names to the list of persons subject to restrictive measures due to the situation in Myanmar/Burma….

The eight current or potential European members of the Security Council gathered for a joint declaration (credit: German MFA)

CARD, PESCO, FEDef, Military Mobility, PSDC, the main meetings set for 2019-2020 by the Ministers of Defense

December 21, 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde calendar, Battlegroup, CARD, Military mobility, PESCO 6 min read

(B2) At their last meeting on Tuesday (November 20), the Defence Ministers adopted a series of positions and decisions, announcing the future schedule, which is particularly rich in...

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