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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the President of the European Union Council, Antonio Costa, in Brussels, where the two sides reviewed Pakistan-EU ties and agreed to broaden cooperation across key sectors.&nbsp;According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office, &ldquo;Both sides noted with satisfaction the positive trajectory of the Pakistan-EU relationship and agreed to further strengthen this mutually beneficial partnership.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both delegations exchanged views on various areas of mutual interest, including the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus, trade, the expansion of economic cooperation, and developments in regional and global security, reaffirming their steadfast commitment to multilateralism.&nbsp;The two delegations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and agreed to work together to advance shared priorities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Both sides agreed to continue working together to advance common priorities and deepen cooperation across key sectors,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s deputy PM was received by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi, and officials of the Pakistan embassy.&nbsp;The Foreign Office added that Dar expressed appreciation for the EU&rsquo;s support to Pakistan at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar met EU Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, agreeing to strengthen cooperation across trade, security, and economic sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and advancing shared priorities for mutual benefit.

Pakistan, EU vow broadening bilateral cooperation and partnership

BERLIN: Europe must strive to lead in the AI race, top officials urged Tuesday at a summit focused on propelling the region to the forefront of the digital era and reducing its reliance on US tech titans.&nbsp;As the Berlin gathering got underway, the EU also announced that Amazon and Microsoft cloud services could face stricter competition rules in the bloc as Brussels probes their market power.&nbsp;The summit brought together leaders from Europe&#39;s tech sector, and was to be addressed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron later Tuesday.&nbsp;&quot;Europe&#39;s goal is very simple: we want to lead, not follow, on AI and frontier technologies,&quot; European Commission digital chief Henna Virkkunen told the opening of the event.&nbsp;&quot;We have the market, we have the talent, we have the ambition. Now we must deliver scale in investment, innovation and uptake.&quot;&nbsp;Europe is responding to calls to blaze its own digital path and take steps to catch up in the AI race against China and the United States.&nbsp;Concerns about US tech dominance have also grown as ties with Washington become increasingly uneasy under the &quot;America First&quot; administration of Donald Trump.&nbsp;Despite the US-Europe tensions, a senior official from the French presidency said the summit was not about &quot;confrontation&quot; with the United States or even China.&nbsp;Rather it is about &quot;how we protect our core sovereignty and what rules need to be established, especially at the European level&quot;, said the official.&nbsp;&nbsp;Become a creatorAlso speaking at the opening, German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger said that &quot;for too long, Europe has been mainly a customer and a bystander.&nbsp;&quot;Now we must become a creator&quot;.&nbsp;But the continent is &quot;not moving fast enough,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;regulation is too complex and infrastructure is still behind&quot;.&nbsp;His comments came a day before the EU was set to propose a rollback of its rules on AI and data protection -- a move welcomed by businesses, but criticised by privacy advocates.&nbsp;Virkkunen also announced the move against Amazon and Microsoft cloud services in Berlin, saying that twin investigations aim to assess whether the tech giants &quot;should be designated as the gatekeepers on cloud computing&quot;.&nbsp;The European Commission, the bloc&#39;s digital regulator, said it will investigate whether Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft&#39;s Azure should come under the scope of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).&nbsp;Efforts to build up &quot;sovereign&quot; EU cloud computing capabilities, which proponents argue would better protect Europeans&#39; data, were also being discussed in Berlin.&nbsp;Digital ministers from across Europe, as well as CEOs of tech firms like France&#39;s Mistral and Germany&#39;s SAP, were attending, and announcements on new digital initiatives were expected.

Artificial Intelligence

Europe wants to lead in AI and is probing Amazon and Microsoft cloud services under the DMA for potential "gatekeeper" status. Officials at the German summit urged Europe to move faster, become a "creator," and protect its digital sovereignty.



Europe challenges US tech giants at AI summit

BRUSSELS: The European Union&#39;s 27-member states struck a deal Wednesday on the bloc&#39;s next big emissions-cutting targets, after making overnight concessions to win over reluctant capitals in time for the UN&#39;s COP30 summit. EU countries have been haggling for months over two separate targets for slashing greenhouse-gas emissions: a 2040 goal intended as a milestone towards carbon-neutrality, and a related target that they must bring to the climate talks next week in Brazil. In marathon negotiations that ran most of the night, the bloc finally agreed to target a 90% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, but countries will be allowed to count international carbon credits towards up to 10% of that goal. Major polluter&nbsp;Behind only China, the United States, and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels. But after blazing a trail, the EU&#39;s political landscape has shifted right, and climate concerns have taken a backseat to defense and competitiveness -- with concerns in some capitals that greening Europe&#39;s economy is harming growth. Denmark, which holds the bloc&#39;s rotating presidency, worked through the night to win over the countries most skeptical of the proposed targets -- notably Italy. Unanimous deal&nbsp;The EU needed to win the support of a weighted majority of capitals for the 2040 climate target set out by the European Commission -- which implies sweeping changes to industry and daily life at a time of growing concern over adverse impacts on Europe&#39;s economy. Ministers also needed a unanimous deal on the EU emissions target for 2035, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which Paris Agreement signatories are supposed to bring to the COP30. That objective, set at between 66.25% and 72.5%, was also agreed overnight. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Not pretty&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>To win over the staunchest skeptics, Tuesday&#39;s talks covered a range of &quot;flexibilities&quot; for member states, including letting countries count carbon credits purchased to finance projects outside Europe. A commission offer for credits to account for up to three percent of a nation&#39;s 2040 emission cuts failed to win over hardliners, with countries eventually securing a higher threshold of 10%. Countries including Poland and Hungary also secured backing for a one-year delay, from 2027 to 2028, to the launch of a new EU carbon market for the road transport and industrial heating sectors -- which critics fear will drive up fuel prices. And in a further big concession, EU countries agreed for the overall 2040 objective to be reassessed every two years. &lsquo;Muddy, messy, nasty real world&rsquo;Environmental groups have accused countries of undermining the bloc&#39;s climate ambitions by pushing for a series of loopholes. But an EU diplomat, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations, had defended the compromise taking form in Brussels, although it was &quot;not necessarily pretty&quot;. &quot;In the muddy, messy, nasty real world out there, we are trying to achieve something good,&quot; said the diplomat.

Europe

In marathon negotiations, the bloc finally agreed to target a 90% cut in emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, but countries will be allowed to count international carbon credits towards up to 10% of that goal.

EU strikes last-ditch deal on climate targets as COP30 looms

Reuters

BRUSSELS: European Union member countries began rolling out a new entry and exit system on Sunday at the bloc&rsquo;s external borders, electronically registering non-EU nationals&#39; data. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated system that requires travellers to register at the border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken, will be introduced over six months. The move is aimed at detecting overstayers, tackling identity fraud, and preventing illegal migration amid political pressure in some EU countries to take a tougher stance. &quot;The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework,&rdquo; European Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said in a statement. SIX MONTHS TO ADJUSTNon-EU citizens will have to register their personal details when they first enter the Schengen area - all EU member countries apart from Ireland and Cyprus, but including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Subsequent journeys will only require facial biometric verification. The system should be fully operational, with passport stamping replaced with electronic records, on April 10, 2026. &quot;Every third country national who arrives at an external border will undergo identity verification, security screening, and registration in the EU databases,&quot; Brunner said, adding that &quot;the six-month rollout gives member states, travellers, and businesses time to transition smoothly to the new procedures&quot;. For British travellers using the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, orthe&nbsp; Eurostar terminal at London&#39;s St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK. At Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal, only freight and coach traffic will be subject to EES checks from Sunday. Passenger vehicle checks will follow in November at Dover and by the end of the year at Eurotunnel, while the Eurostar at St Pancras will gradually introduce the new process, starting with some business travellers from Sunday. &quot;We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible,&quot; British Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said. &quot;The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders, and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration,&quot; Norris said.

 European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EU has begun a six-month rollout of its new Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamping with biometric registration to enhance border control, detect overstayers, and combat illegal migration across the Schengen area. 

EU Entry/Exit System to be rolled out over six months

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BRUSSELS: The European Union will set new climate targets for 2035 and 2040 ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil this November, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, after the bloc missed a United Nations deadline earlier this month.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Von der Leyen announced the plan in a video message to an EU event in Brussels, stressing that the commitments&mdash;known as nationally determined contributions under UN rules&mdash;would be ready in time for the high-profile negotiations in Belem. Other major economies, including China, submitted their targets by the UN deadline.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The move highlights the EU&rsquo;s challenge of balancing ambition with internal divisions. Several member states, including France, Germany and Poland, have urged that the targets be debated at a late October summit, leaving only weeks to finalize positions before COP30. A senior Polish official acknowledged uncertainty, saying it was unclear if agreement could be reached in time.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Von der Leyen acknowledged the political challenges, saying Europe must show flexibility but remain firm on its overall trajectory. &ldquo;The world has changed. Global competition is fierce and not always fair,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We need more flexibility, more pragmatism, but by staying the course, we provide stability for workers, clarity for businesses, and certainty for investors.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She said the European Union was cutting bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, investing in power grids, and ensuring consumers would see benefits from cheaper renewable energy.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The announcement comes as economic strains, a renewed focus on defense spending, and shifting political winds&mdash;particularly in the US&mdash;have complicated climate policy worldwide. Analysts say COP30 will be a critical test of whether major economies remain committed to climate action.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Europe&rsquo;s climate strategy, long seen as a global benchmark, will now depend on whether its member states can bridge their divisions and deliver new targets before the summit in November.

FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 10, 2025.

Climate

The European Union will set new climate targets for 2035 and 2040 ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil this November, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, after the bloc missed a United Nations deadline earlier this month.

New climate targets for EU by COP30 summit, Von der Leyen says

ISLAMABAD: The European Union on Thursday appointed French diplomat Gilles Bertrand as its new Special Envoy for Afghanistan, according to an announcement on the bloc&rsquo;s official X account.&nbsp;Brussels confirmed Bertrand&rsquo;s appointment, highlighting his extensive experience in EU diplomacy. He succeeds Tomas Niklasson, who previously held the post and played a key role in shaping EU policy on Afghanistan during a period of political uncertainty and humanitarian crisis.&nbsp;The EU stressed that it continues to remain engaged in Afghanistan despite the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in 2021, focusing on humanitarian assistance, human rights, and regional stability.&nbsp;On June 17, 2025, the bloc announced &euro;161 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable Afghans both inside the country and across the region. Most recently, on September 7, the EU committed an additional &euro;14 million to strengthen community resilience and provide support to women and girls facing restrictions under Taliban rule.&nbsp;The appointment of Bertrand comes as Afghanistan struggles with economic collapse, limited international recognition, and ongoing human rights concerns. The EU&rsquo;s envoy is expected to spearhead dialogue with regional partners while ensuring humanitarian needs remain a priority.

Afghanistan

The EU appointed French diplomat Gilles Bertrand as its new Special Envoy for Afghanistan, succeeding Tomas Niklasson. The bloc remains engaged through humanitarian aid, including over €175 million committed this year for Afghan communities and refugees.

EU names French diplomat Gilles Bertrand as new Special Envoy for Afghanistan

PARIS: The European Union on Thursday approved the highly contentious Alzheimer&#39;s medication Kisunla under strict conditions, with the drug&#39;s effectiveness hotly debated by the medical community. &nbsp;&quot;The European Commission has granted EU marketing authorisation for Kisunla, a medicine to treat mild cognitive impairment, including mild dementia in the early stages of Alzheimer&#39;s disease,&quot; the commission announced in a statement.&nbsp;Produced by US multinational Eli Lilly, the active substance of Kisunla is the antibody donanemab.&nbsp;It is considered a breakthrough form of treatment for Alzheimer&#39;s disease along with Biogen&#39;s and Esai&#39;s Leqembi.&nbsp;But the actual benefits of both drugs have provoked a heated medical debate.&nbsp;On the one hand, they have shown an unprecedented effect during clinical trials after decades of unsuccessful research aimed at slowing patient deterioration.&nbsp;On the other hand, this effect remains minimal, and some experts argue that the difference for patients is not substantial enough.&nbsp;They can also cause severe and sometimes even fatal side effects, primarily haemorrhages and cerebral oedemas.&nbsp;Based on recommendations from its European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU granted marketing authorisation for Leqembi in late 2024, under strict conditions and after initially refusing to do so.&nbsp;It did the same for Kisunla, which was also approved after an initial rejection: now, it may only be administered to patients in the early stages of Alzheimer&#39;s, and only if they do not have a genetic mutation that predisposes them to side effects.&nbsp;The authorisation gives EU member states free rein regarding reimbursement.&nbsp;In early September, France decided that Leqembi did not warrant an accelerated procedure for reimbursement approval, although it has not completely ruled out the possibility in the long term.&nbsp;Outside the EU, the United Kingdom has approved both treatments but will not reimburse them, deeming the cost too high for such limited benefits.&nbsp;The United States, both treatments have been authorised, but reimbursement is at the discretion of private health insurers.

The European Union approved Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug Kisunla under strict conditions, allowing use only in early-stage patients without high-risk genetic mutations, amid ongoing debate over limited benefits, severe side effects, and uncertain reimbursement across member states.

EU approves contentious Alzheimer's medication

ISLAMABAD: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed suspending parts of the European Union&rsquo;s free trade agreement with Israel and sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers, citing grave humanitarian concerns over the ongoing war in Gaza.Delivering her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen acknowledged the EU&#39;s &ldquo;painful&rdquo; inaction in response to the crisis and said the Commission is ready to act independently to hold Israeli leadership accountable.&ldquo;Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity, this must stop,&rdquo; von der Leyen told lawmakers.Proposed sanctions and trade suspensionThe Commission will put forward sanctions on certain extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers, as well as a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. A trade pact that currently grants Israel preferential access to European markets.&ldquo;We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters,&rdquo; von der Leyen said.The announcement marks a significant escalation in EU criticism of Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza, as pressure builds over alleged war crimes and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.Deepening EU fractures on GazaVon der Leyen acknowledged the divisions within EU member states over the Gaza conflict but insisted the Commission would lead with moral clarity.&ldquo;Europe needs to do more,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We will try to move the bloc forward, but even if unity is hard, we must take our own responsibility.&rdquo;The speech follows months of international criticism directed at Israel over its military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, and what rights groups have described as a looming famine.Strategic economic pressureA partial suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement would have wide-reaching economic implications for Israel. The EU is among Israel&rsquo;s largest trading partners, and the agreement governs the flow of billions of euros in goods annually.The European Parliament has increasingly debated whether Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank violate human rights obligations that are embedded in the EU&rsquo;s trade pacts.&ldquo;What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,&rdquo; von der Leyen told parliament.The Commission&rsquo;s proposed measures now await discussion and approval by the European Council, which includes heads of state from all 27 EU member countries.If adopted, it would represent the most serious diplomatic and economic rebuke of Israel by the European Union in decades.

European Commission vows tougher stance on Israel amid growing humanitarian concerns

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