Andrew Rettman

Brussels

Acting Editor-in-Chief at EUobserver

reporter for internet news agency euobserver

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Articles

EU trolls Putin's 'aberration' of WW2 parade

6 days ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

EU flight bans and Ukrainian drones have made two of Russia’s VIP guests look silly on the eve of a monumental parade. The only EU leader going, Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, almost didn't make it after the Baltic countries closed their airspace to him on Thursday (8 May).
EU names Emirati and Chinese firms in new Russia sanctions

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

The EU is preparing mini-sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet, Chinese tech firms, Russian sniper rifles, and gold — ahead of another potential Hungary-veto crisis. The EU Commission has proposed blacklisting a Russian insurance firm, VSK, and shipping firm, Volga Shipping, for allegedly running To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a member for as low as €1,75 per week. Become a memberAlready a member? Login
How to survive a Slapp for EU media

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

Incoming EU laws are helping to protect media, but in the meantime EUobserver gives its top tips on how to survive a Slapp (strategic litigation against public participation). It's been one year since the EU passed its
EU rolling out anti-war tariffs on Russian fertiliser

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

The EU is rolling out punitive tariffs against Russian fertiliser, using a trade bill which bypasses Hungary's foreign policy veto. MEPs in the EU parliament's agriculture committee will vote on a non-binding opinion on the tariffs in Strasbourg on Monday (5 May), in a project aimed at asphyxiating €2.2bn a year of income to Russia. Enjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a member for as low as €1,75 per week. Already a member? Login
EU seizes €14,000 in cash from Russian woman going to Moscow for breast surgery

2 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

ZZ, an unnamed woman, thought she was flying from Germany to Russia to do dental work and (cosmetic) breast surgery, but instead lost €13,950 and her privacy, in a cautionary tale for other Russian travellers. When ZZ (her name withheld in EU court documents) walked into security control in Frankfurt Airport, area B East, Hall B, Terminal 1, on 31 May 2022 she...
Malta's 'golden passport' buyers at risk after EU verdict

2 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

AnalysisNo one who bought a Maltese passport has called yet to ask for their money back, but a surprise ruling by the EU court has opened a potential Pandora's box of revocations, complaints, fines, and litigation. Malta has sold €1.4bn worth of EU passports in the past 10 years, but the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Tuesday (28 April) that they were sold illega... Get EU news that mattersBack our independent journalism by becoming a supporting memberAlready a member?
Funeral diplomacy: Trump makes nice on Ukraine, but no EU talks

2 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

A Trump-Zelenskyy tête-à-tête, a von der Leyen brush-by, and a Trump faux pas marked pope Francis' funeral in Rome on Saturday (26 April). The nose-to-nose talks saw US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelenskyy locked in a 15-minute conversation, without aides, on two simple chairs surrounded by the vast interior of the largest c... Get EU news that mattersBack our independent journalism by becoming a supporting memberAlready a member?
Cyprus and Greece wary of Syria sanctions relief

3 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

The EU is slow-walking its Syria sanctions relief due to Cypriot-led fear of violent Islamism and Turkish power. EU countries suspended several Syria sanctions on the transport, energy, and banking sectors in February to help the country rebuild after the Get EU news that mattersBack our independent journalism by becoming a supporting memberAlready a member? Login hereAuthor BioAndrew Rettman is EUobserver's foreign editor, writing about foreign and security issues since 2005.
Jailed in Belarus, Nobel laureate's only hope might be Trump (or the BBC)

3 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

There are two people who could instantly help a 62-year-old Nobel winner languishing in a Belarusian gulag, his supporters say, amid hope of a prisoner exchange. Ales Bialiatski is a human rights defender who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 and who is serving a new 10-year sentence on smuggling charges at Penal Colony No. 9 in Gorki in north-east Belarus.&nb...
Nato red carpet for Bosnia genocide-denier, despite US ban

4 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Andrew Rettman

Nato has warned against a "security vacuum" in Bosnia, while playing host to a Serb leader sanctioned by both the US and UK. "We will not accept any kind of security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And we will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardised," said Nato deputy secretary general Radmila Šekerinska in Brussels on Tuesday (15 April). Get EU news that mattersBack our independent journalism by becoming a supporting memberAlready a member?