Wester van Gaal

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Wester van |Wester van Gaal

The euro’s origin story usually centres on Jacques Delors, the French commission president who steered it from concept to treaty. But in 1988, West German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher quietly set the stage with a memo pushing for a single currency and an independent central bank — a move that helped crack open the door. The euro, in his view, was not just a tool for financial housekeeping and European integration but a geo-strategic imperative.

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Wester van |Wester van Gaal

With Russia’s war in Ukraine grinding into its fourth year, the EU is preparing for what senior officials now call a “high-intensity conflict” scenario. Not just abroad, but on its own soil. “We’re not trying to be alarmist here, but we’re just facing the facts,” EU commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters on Tuesday (17 June), as the commission un... 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?

1 week ago | euobserver.com | Wester van |Wester van Gaal

The EU’s efforts to roll back green reporting and due diligence rules adopted by the previous commission are moving fast. And last week's draft proposals from both member states and the

2 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Wester van |Wester van Gaal

The European Central Bank’s latest figures on the international role of the euro show the bloc’s currency treading water globally, even as US financial credibility continues to crumble under Donald Trump’s erratic economic policies. The ECB’s 24th 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. Already a member?

3 weeks ago | euobserver.com | Wester van |Wester van Gaal

In a time of fleeting online fame and short-sighted opportunism, it’s reassuring to see politicians who’ve held the same values for decades — and behave as if they still matter. When he entered the European Parliament as a member of the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) in 1999, Udo Bullmann had already been an active member of the German SPD since 1975.