August 2020 – B2 Pro The daily life of geopolitical Europe

[Interview] Mali, Mediterranean, strategic compass. Luxembourg speaks French (François Bausch)

August 31, 2020 Aurelie Pugnet Rebellion, EUTM Mali, François Bausch, Interview, irini, Mali, Turkey 5 min read

(B2 in Berlin) EU defense ministers had some sensitive topics on their table. François Bausch, Luxembourg's defense minister, delivers to B2…

Soldiers from the 19th Engineer Regiment and the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (REG) of the VENTOUX Tactical Group (GT) clear hangars destroyed by the explosion at the port of Beirut in Lebanon during Operation "Friendship" on Saturday, August 22 (credit: DICOD / EMA).

In the port and the city of Beirut, the soldiers of Operation Friendship are deployed

August 31, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde 2nd REG, Beirut, Cartography, Genius, PHA Thunder, disaster relief 8 min read

(B2) In Beirut, quietly, the French military is carrying out delicate but vital work: clearing and making the port safer. Interview with Captain Arnaud Tranchant…

Notebook (31.08.2020). Confidential. Defense. EU diplomacy. Crises. Human rights. Security. Powers

August 31, 2020 B2 Writing calendar, Humanitarian aid, Belarus, Christine Lambert, COPS, Ivory Coast, EU Defense, Ebru Timtic, arms embargo, espionage, Justice, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Egypt, Niels Annen, ONU, migration pact, Russia, Syria, Turkey, UNRWA, ylva johansson 7 min read

(B2) The week opens with a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday (September 1) in Vienna, where the agreement was signed…

Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, mediator of the dialogue between Ankara and Athens and Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU in Berlin (credit: MFA Germany)

Between sanctions and dialogue with Turkey, the Europeans try their hand at tightrope walking

August 28, 2020 Aurelie Pugnet gymnich, Josep Borrell, Options, Sanctions, Turkey 5 min read

(B2 in Berlin) The hot topic of the Gymnich meeting in Berlin was the future of EU-Turkey relations. What can be done to counter Turkey as it continues to...

Belarus. Europeans hesitate to strike and water down their wine

August 28, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Belarus, gymnich, Sanctions 4 min read

(B2 in Berlin) Foreign ministers finally managed to save their honor by agreeing on some principles for sanctioning Belarusian officials. But no more. One...

Rescue by European teams from Operation EUNAVFOR Med Sophia in 2016 (credit: EUNAVFOR Med - B2 archives)

In the Mediterranean, Operation Irini did not directly receive a distress call

August 28, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde EUNAVFOR Med Irini, Rescue at sea 1 min read

(B2) The situation off the coast of Libya continues to be complicated, with recurring crossings of ships laden with migrants. But Europe has chosen to no longer be at the forefront...

Notebook (28.08.2020). On the front page: gymnich and informal defense. Confidential. Defense. EU diplomacy. Crises. Powers. People

August 28, 2020 B2 Writing European Space Agency, calendar, Humanitarian aid, Alexei Navalny, Belgium, Biedron, Belarus, armored, Chantiers de l'atlantique, Battle Tank, Claude Van de Voorde, constitutional committee, conflict, Shipbuilding, COPS, EU Defense, Delegations of the European Parliament, Belgrade Pristina Dialogue, Poisoning, EUNAVFOR Med, Fincantieri, Libyan Coast Guard, Greece, Heiko Maas, irini, Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Lebanon, Marc Thys, MFF 2021-2027, Niels Annen, NATO, Petras Austrevicius, Phil Hogan, Poland, Rafic Hariri, United Kingdom, Russia, Syria, Thierry Dupont, Special court, Turkey, Ukraine, Zbigniev Rau 9 min read

(B2) The European Union is still searching for a way to calm tensions in the Mediterranean and respond to Belarus. Discussions between the '27' are heated. In the NEWS Informal…

Phil Hogan in his Berlaymont offices (credit: European Commission)

Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan resigns. The end of impunity

August 27, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde COVID-19, démission, Ireland, Phil Hogan, Accountability 3 min read

(B2) Caught in violation of the regulations imposed on the Irish on the coronavirus, the European Commissioner for Trade, the Irishman Phil Hogan, has finally let go of the handlebars After…

The 'friendly' approach of ships (here, the Blue Star I) by military vessels is one of the classic means of the operation to board ships (credit: EUNAVFOR Med Irini)

Operation Irini without additional reinforcements. Europeans reluctant to invest more in Libya (v2)

August 27, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde EUNAVFOR Med, Libyan Coast Guard, Force Generation, EU High Representative, informal defense, irini, Maghreb, Mediterranean sea, Sea Guardian, EU-NATO 3 min read

(B2 in Berlin – exclusive) The Defence Ministers meeting informally in Berlin on Wednesday, August 26, did not really show any eagerness to respond to the High Representative's requests...

Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg prior to the informal meeting of Defense Ministers of the European Union

No, NATO does not militarize its borders with Belarus, says Jens Stoltenberg

August 27, 2020 B2 Writing Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus, informal defense, Jens Stoltenberg 1 min read

(B2 in Berlin) As his influence wanes, the Belarusian president seeks to rally his troops against an enemy: the Atlantic Alliance. He accuses it of militarizing its borders. An attack...

Foreign Affairs Council by video conference, Wednesday (April 22) (credit: Council of the EU)

Türkiye, Belarus, Russia and Covid-19. On the agenda at the Gymnich in Berlin (August 27 and 28, 2020)

August 27, 2020 B2 Writing Berlin, Belarus, gymnich, Israel-Palestine, Lukashenko, German EU Presidency, Russia, Turkey 4 min read

(B2 in Berlin) The informal meeting of foreign ministers comes at the perfect time to take stock of the events of this busy month of August. Finding answers...

[Verbatim] For the right to self-determination of the Belarusian people (Svetlana Tikhanovskaïa)

August 27, 2020 B2 Writing Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus, democracy, elections, Sanctions 2 min read

(B2) Belarusian opposition voice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya delivered her message to MEPs from Vilnius, Lithuania, where she fled following violence, threats and prosecutions against…

(credit: EUTM Rca)

EUTM RCA guys are moving

August 27, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde M'Poko Airport, Bangui, bouar, EUTM RCA, FACE 3 min read

(B2) The European military have left their historic district which has housed them since the start of the EU missions in the Central African Republic six years ago. The European elements have...

(credit: Bundeswehr/Francis Hildemann - B2 archives)

Defense. Germany talks a lot and does little. Why ?

August 26, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Military equipment, Heiko Maas, Pacifism 8 min read

(B2 in Berlin) Germany is having some difficulty matching its words and actions when it comes to foreign policy and especially European defense. Will the German EU presidency change...

(credit: Greek General Staff)

Greece, France and Italy maneuver together in the Mediterranean. Facing Turkey

August 26, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde exercise, Naval air exercise, Greece-Turkey, Eastern mediterranean 3 min read

(B2) The Greek and Cypriot navies, with reinforcements from Italy and France, began an air and sea exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean on Wednesday (August 26). European solidarity in the face of...

(credit: European Commission)

Artificial intelligence. Parliament calls for control of military uses

August 26, 2020 B2 Writing code of Conduct, ethics, artificial intelligence, White Paper, European Parliament, PESCO 2 min read

(B2) With the development of projects linked to the European Defence Fund (EDF) and Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), artificial intelligence is becoming a central issue in defence. Who…

Compass on European flag and European map

Strategic compass planning: from the German presidency to the French presidency

August 26, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde strategic compass, informal defense, threat, French presidency of the EU, YES AC, CFSP strategy 1 min read

(B2) The implementation of the 'strategic compass' is a key element of Josep Borrell's strategy in his European defense policy. The schedule is now fairly well known...

(credit: Bundeswehr/Marco Dorow - B2 Archives)

[Preview] On the agenda of the informal defense of Berlin (August 26, 2020)

August 25, 2020 Nicolas Gros Verheyde strategic compass, framework nation concept, EUTM, informal defense, German EU Presidency, EU-UN, EU-NATO, EU-Turkey 5 min read

(B2) Defence ministers are meeting for their informal back-to-school session after the summer break in Berlin on Wednesday (August 26). The meeting will be followed by a meeting of allied countries…

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