Based on original archival research, interviews, media sources and wide ranging academic literature, this study focuses on the European Parliament’s leading and agenda-setting role in the process of European monetary integration. Important initiatives included the 1962 Van Campen Report on the coordination of monetary policies, the monetary chapter of the 1984 Spinelli Draft Treaty, the work of the intergroup on European Currency during the period 1984 to 1989, and the 1990 Herman Report to prepare the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union (EMU). The first part of the study discusses the long history of European monetary integration, from the Rome Treaties to the Delors Report. The second part analyses the role of the European Parliament in the intergovernmental conference and the adoption by the European Parliament of the Maastricht Treaty. The third part investigates the influence of the European Parliament on the EMU process. The European Parliament paid special attention to the democratic dimension of EMU, as well as to its social and regional cohesion and the issue of prudential supervision in a monetary union. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The European Peace Facility (EPF) was created in March 2021 as a funding instrument aimed at enhancing the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build and preserve peace, and strengthen international security and stability. The EPF rests on two pillars. The first is to fund EU military operations and missions under the common foreign and security policy. The second is to provide assistance to countries in the EU's eastern neighbourhood, the Middle East and Africa to strengthen security in their respective regions. Following Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU started using the EPF to rapidly deliver military aid to Ukraine. This support was provided alongside continued assistance to the EU's eastern neighbourhood, as well as to partners in the Middle East and Africa. The EPF has a total financial ceiling of more than €17 billion for the 2021-2027 period. As the facility is an off-budget instrument, EU Member States contribute directly to it, based on the gross national income key. Currently, the EPF lacks fresh resources to continue supfporting Ukraine in facing the war. Furthermore, since March 2023, Hungary has refused to mobilise EPF funds in military aid to Ukraine. In line with the sanctions imposed on Russia in 2022, Russian assets held in EU banks were frozen. In May 2024, the Council of the EU allocated 90 % of the 'windfall' (extraordinary) profits from these frozen assets to the EPF. A first transfer of €1.5 billion from these profits to Ukraine took place in mid-2024. A second payment, possibly amounting to €2 billion, is expected in spring 2025. Given Hungary's veto, the EU is looking for more reliable ways to continue assistance to Ukraine than by means of the windfall profits from the Russian assets channelled through the EPF. On 24 October 2024, the EU created the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism (ULCM) and issued an exceptional macro-financial assistance loan of €18.1 billion, the EU's part of an EU-G7 syndicated loan to Ukraine totalling €45 billion. Starting after March 2025, 95 % of the windfall profits from the Russian assets held in EU banks will be allocated to the EU budget and channelled through the ULCM to Ukraine. The remaining 5 % will be allocated to the EPF. Beyond Ukraine, for which the EPF-funded approved military support amounts to approximately €10.6 billion, the EPF has an available budget of €6.4 billion to fund, until 2027, both the common costs of EU military missions and operations abroad – including its military assistance mission in support of Ukraine – and assistance measures for the armed forces of partner countries. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The final autopsy results for Gene Hackman detailed the beloved Oscar winning actor's extensive medical history two months after he and his wife were found dead inside their home.

Shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables is always a tedious task.

Despairing homeowners of multi-million pound properties in a leafy village in the shadow of Windsor Castle say the introduction of asylum seekers has made their homes unsellable.

[allAfrica]

[New Times] World Vision Rwanda staff paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in a solemn commemoration held on April 24.

The US Coast Guard and police swiftly declared the Sunday night tragedy a 'mass casualty event' as they worked through the night to pull people ashore.

Chloe Chandler, who is from the UK, revealed how she made almost £4,500 on Vinted and she offered tips on how to get items to sell quickly.

Elizabeth Hurley has shared more photos from her shock new romance with Billy Ray Cyrus after the unlikely couple went public with their relationship last week.

James Williams, 45, repeatedly warned the Green-led authority in Bristol that the 30ft ash in public allotments next door needed to be felled.

The world's most popular messaging service has left scores of users furious at a new feature - which has just launched in Britain.

The MOEX had moved to the negative territory as it traded at 2,996.7 points, while the RTS was down by 0.31% at 1,142.13 points

Commenting on the humanitarian situation in the region’s border areas, Apty Alaudinov recalled that Russian troops had pre-emptively evacuated hundreds of civilians from the combat zone there

«The enemy is trying to divert us and halt our advance to Sumy, bringing certain resources to other frontline sectors,» Apty Alaudinov said

According to the report, since April 24, 537 Pakistani citizens have exited India through the Attari checkpoint in the Indian state of Punjab

«We have not seen any action so far,» Dmitry Peskov noted

The Ukrainian military launched a massive drone strike on several Russian regions, with the vast majority of UAVs intercepted over Bryansk Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian forces have found brothers in arms in North Korean soldiers deployed to repel a Ukrainian incursion, according to the message Read Full Article at RT.com

The death toll has risen to 11 after a driver plowed into a festival crowd in Vancouver Read Full Article at RT.com

A US pharmaceutical giant could face suspension in the UK for engaging in “unacceptable practices” Read Full Article at RT.com

Beijing has expressed hope that New Delhi and Islamabad will take steps to reduce tensions Read Full Article at RT.com

Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh has opposed to Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong claims that losing key ministers in Parliament because of more opposition Members of Parliament (MP) could place Singapore in «quite a lot of trouble». At the People's Action Party (PAP) rally held at Jalan Kayu yesterday (April 27), SM Lee said that if voters try to «count» and elect a few more opposition MPs, «you will not get it right and we can mess everything up.» In response to his remarks, Singh told reporters at Tampines Ave 2 this morning (April 28): «I think it's a weak argument because precedents inform us otherwise.» The 48-year-old brought up the example of former Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP for Aljunied GRC George Yeo, who retired from politics in 2011 after losing the ward to WP. Singh recalled that Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in 2011 that Yeo was a «core member» of the cabinet. «We know that within cabinet, there's a smaller group of people,» he said.

À moins de deux mois de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'Océan, le militant écologiste Jason Temaui Man parcourra l'île de Tahiti. Une marche symbolique qu'il effectuera chaque jour, du 28 avril au 8 juin. L'objectif : alerter sur les menaces qui pèsent sur l’océan et fédérer un large mouvement de mobilisation pour la protection de l'océan en Polynésie française.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- President William Ruto's unexpected attendance at Pope Francis' funeral in Rome on Saturday has sparked a fresh wave of criticism, particularly after he had earlier nominated National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to represent Kenya at the event.

[allAfrica] Cape Town -- At least 190 households were evacuated from fire-threatened neighbourhoods in Cape Town as crews battled at least five active fire lines in the city's South Peninsula, reports EWN.

[allAfrica]

B...

In the bustling heart of downtown Kingston, the Lenworth Jacobs Clinic (LJC) has quietly stood as a pillar of care and hope for nearly six decades. Since its establishment in 1962, this community clinic has opened its doors to everyone, from young...

The thoughtful brush strokes of York Castle High student Kimmeisha Wright produced a first-place finish in the recent Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) Poster Competition for secondary schools in Area 2 (St Ann, St Mary and Portland police...

East Portland: The inaugural electrification f, hosted by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) in collaboration with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), and which sought to educate and sensitise residents about saving energy and the importance...

How many of us, when our time on Earth is over, can say that we changed the world for good? Such was the life of Professor Graham Serjeant. His dual passions, for his wife of 60 years, Beryl, and research to improve the treatment and lives of...

[New Zimbabwe] End of last March 2025, Zimbabweans stayed away from their workplaces and businesses, turning urban areas into ghost towns.