Can the EU impose effective sanctions on Hungary for democratic back-sliding or limit its ability to block proposed EU actions?

Read the rules and summary of the current situation carefully.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/26/no-majority-among-eu-countries-to-sanction-hungary-over-rule-of-law

but

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-next-coalition-vows-punish-hungary-viktor-orban-friedrich-merz/

https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2025/05/28/7212591/

Gaza

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/israelpalestine-statement-high-representative-occupied-palestinian-territory_en

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/dalla-cisgiordania-a-gaza-non-ce-piu-tempo-210148

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/europe/article/2025/05/30/macron-says-europe-must-harden-position-on-israel-unless-gaza-situation-improves_6741827_143.html

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/31/brussels-my-love-war-in-gaza-whats-netanyahus-endgame

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/europa-israele-qualcosa-e-cambiato-209751

Things to read

https://www.osorin.it/uploads/model_4/.files/202_item_2.pdf?v=1748428173

https://www.osorin.it/uploads/model_4/.files/201_item_2.pdf?v=1748427920

https://www.osorin.it/uploads/model_4/.files/200_item_2.pdf?v=1748427773

Women's rights, gender equality, gender-based violence and femicide

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/07/tip-of-the-iceberg-why-is-gender-based-violence-going-under-reported-in-the-eu

https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/gender-equality-strategy_en

https://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/en/news/european-commission-2025-report-on-gender-equality-in-the-european-union-has-been-released

https://coface-eu.org/time-for-a-game-changing-eu-gender-equality-strategy-post-2025/

https://commission.europa.eu/news/eu-roadmap-womens-rights-renewed-push-gender-equality-2025-03-07_en

https://www.ub.edu/gedis/2025-gender-equality-in-the-eu-summary-of-the-annual-european-report/

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/769542/EPRS_BRI(2025)769542_EN.pdf

https://www.misereor.de/en/presse/press-releases/weltfrauentag-2025-gewalt-gegen-frauen-nimmt-weltweit-zu

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2025/03/07/one-in-three-violence-against-women-in-the-european-union_f50e35a5-7035-4309-9cad-78d95f2ef251.html

https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-approves-draft-law-targeting-killing-of-women/

https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/7-2%20Gender%20Based%20Violence%20EU%20%28Eurostat%29.pdf

https://eige.europa.eu/newsroom/eu-gender-based-violence-survey?language_content_entity=en

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01634437251336149#:~:text=In%20both%20Italy%20and%20the%20UK%2C%20gender%2Dbased%20violence%20and,have%20experienced%20gender%2Dbased%20violence.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls-in-2025/#:~:text=The%20government%20has%20committed%20to,(VAWG)%20in%20a%20decade.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/31/violence-against-women-girls-epidemic-uk

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/03/murders-of-two-female-students-prompt-calls-for-a-cultural-rebellion-in-italy

https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/cp_data_news/femicide-remains-all-too-common-in-italy-and-europe/

https://eige.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/20211564_mh0421097enn_pdf_0.pdf

https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/publications/measuring-femicide-italy

https://www.coe.int/en/web/cooperation-in-police-and-deprivation-of-liberty/-/2025-police-network-conference-tackling-femicides-and-violence-against-women-requires-law-enforcement-action

https://www.amnesty.eu/news/eu-historic-opportunity-to-combat-gender-based-violence-squandered/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/womens-rights/

https://www.amnestyusa.org/issues/gender-sexuality/

https://www.istat.it/it/files//2019/11/Violence-against-women-_2014.pdf

https://theconversation.com/femicide-in-italy-a-modern-phenomenon-deeply-rooted-in-countrys-cultural-past-222665

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/05/more-than-170-mothers-killed-by-sons-15-years-uk-report

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2024/dec/31/killed-women-count-a-project-highlighting-the-toll-and-tragedy-of-violence-against-women-in-the-uk

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/03/28/femicide-french-court-condemns-man-who-burned-his-wife-alive-to-life-in-prison_6739622_7.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/08/europe/france-spain-femicide-intl-cmd

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-records-rise-in-violence-against-women/a-70647309

https://www.coe.int/en/web/gender-matters/what-causes-gender-based-violence

https://www.svri.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2016-07-19/RBAP-Gender-2013-P4P-VAW-Report-Summary.pdf

https://www.concern.net/news/causes-of-gender-based-violence

https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/media/pdf/books/978-88-6969-747-0/978-88-6969-747-0-ch-16.pdf

Trump and Harvard

 https://abcnews.go.com/US/graduation-day-harvards-lawyers-head-court-defend-foreign/story?id=122307706

https://abcnews.go.com/US/graduation-day-harvards-lawyers-head-court-defend-foreign/story?id=122307706

https://abcnews.go.com/US/graduation-day-harvards-lawyers-head-court-defend-foreign/story?id=122307706

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-blocks-harvards-ability-enroll-international-students-nyt-reports-2025-05-22/

Italy has reached the 2% defence spending target ahead of the NATO summit in June. More will be challenging.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/italy-hits-2-defence-target-ahead-of-nato-summit/

https://www.reuters.com/world/italy-expects-nato-raise-defence-spending-target-between-35-5-gdp-2025-05-21/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_The_Hague_summit

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/nato-summit-could-see-5-spending-pledge-but-its-not-that-simple-analysts/

https://www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-embrace-5-percent-defense-goal-nato-summit/

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/politics/2025/05/27/canada-faces-massive-challenge-as-nato-eyes-new-5-spending-target-expert/

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/in-the-vanguard-eastern-europes-spending-efforts/

Italian diplomatic activity

 https://theconversation.com/italys-meloni-is-positioning-herself-as-bridge-between-eu-and-trump-but-will-it-work-254955

https://decode39.com/10811/meloni-hosts-landmark-eu-us-meeting-amid-trade-tensions/

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/18/italys-meloni-hosts-talks-between-eu-commission-chief-von-der-leyen-and-us-vice-president-

 https://tashkenttimes.uz/national/15295-giorgia-meloni-to-land-in-uzbekistan-on-may-28

https://www.specialeurasia.com/2025/05/26/giorgia-meloni-central-asia/

https://decode39.com/10907/italy-central-asia-meloni-trip/

https://www.adnkronos.com/politica/italia-uzbekistan-meloni-samarcanda-oggi-news_Y3hV1tReeDKO0dxbRzUHw

Populism and the decline of democracy in 2025

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/27/europe-maintains-fragile-democratic-stability-amid-global-decline-new-study-finds

https://democratic-erosion.org/2025/02/12/anti-democratic-populism-in-former-satellite-states/

https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/populism-and-the-decline-of-social-democracy/

https://esna.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/7-Smythe.pdf

https://politicsrights.com/populism-trap-discontents-challenges-democracy/

https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/434333-populism-s-threat-to-democracy-in-the-eu

https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-polisci-041719-102711

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/populism-and-democracy-the-road-ahead/D450F4194C21C2996CE12EAFE808E750

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvMFNKWibks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-W0cb1AiA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfW-qhZkMfo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BfBT2RwavCc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0GzbTcwbp0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSl4HIONvjc

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/25/polish-presidential-elections-2025-whos-leading-in-the-polls

https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/poland/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/19/romania-election-eu-relief-nicusor-dan-defeats-far-right-pro-russia-rival-george-simion

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanians-vote-presidential-test-trump-style-nationalism-2025-05-03/

Action Plan for Italian exports in high-potential non-EU markets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znLWD-mMWIY

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=189032514fe03f00&rlz=1C1GCEU_itIT1161IT1161&q=tajani+export&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8pLfUxcaNAxX60QIHHcDHPNwQ7xYoAHoECA0QAQ&biw=1366&bih=641&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:91f9ffe4,vid:PqEi3QAgliE,st:0

https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/comunicati/2025/05/il-ministro-tajani-presenta-il-piano-dazione-per-lexport-italiano-nei-mercati-extra-ue-ad-alto-potenziale/

https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/comunicati/2025/05/il-ministro-tajani-presenta-il-piano-dazione-per-lexport-italiano-nei-mercati-extra-ue-ad-alto-potenziale/

https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/trade-Italy-rises-to-sixth-place-among-exporting-countries%2C-volumes-decrease-but-value-increases/

https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/export-ecco-il-piano-del-ministro-tajani-per-raggiungere-l-obiettivo-dei-700-miliardi-202503200032343286

https://www.ufficiostampa.provincia.tn.it/Comunicati/Made-in-Italy-le-strategie-dell-Italia

https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/comunicati/2025/05/il-ministro-tajani-presenta-il-piano-dazione-per-lexport-italiano-nei-mercati-extra-ue-ad-alto-potenziale/

https://decode39.com/10238/italy-s-ambitious-export-plan-aims-for-e700b-surplus/

 

Assange, Wikileaks and whistleblowing

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxee24pvl94o

https://masterdirittiumanisapienza.it/il-consiglio-deuropa-riconosce-julian-assange-come-prigioniero-politico/

https://tg24.sky.it/mondo/2024/10/01/julian-assange-consiglio-d-europa

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68282613

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblowing

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Manning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden

https://www.wired.it/attualita/media/2020/12/31/casi-assange-snowden-manning-giornalismo/

The Gaza Strip

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/gaza-israele-e-lindignazione-del-mondo-209426

The UK-EU deal

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdy3r6q9mgo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/uk-eu-reach-landmark-deal-all-you-need-to-know

An update on the Middle East

https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-conference-on-two-state-solution-to-israel-palestinian-conflict-set-for-june/

https://unwatch.org/background-to-june-2025-un-conference-on-two-state-solution/

https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22631.doc.htm

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/5/14/this-is-trumps-moment-to-deliver-peace-to-the-middle-east

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396

https://acleddata.com/2025/05/08/middle-east-overview-may-2025/

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/trumps-gulf-tour-exposes-netanyahus-increasingly-isolated-position-gaza

The Veto Initiative (UNGA Resolution 76/262)

https://www.osorin.it/uploads/model_4/.files/199_item_2.pdf?v=1747211642

EU and Ukraine launch special tribunal to prosecute Putin’s war crimes

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ukraine-launch-special-tribunal-prosecute-vladimir-putin-war-crime/

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/09/ukraines-allies-endorse-special-tribunal-to-prosecute-putin-with-legal-limitations

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/10/europe-approves-creation-of-tribunal-to-judge-crimes-of-aggression-committed-by-russia-in-ukraine_6741119_4.html

PKK decides to disband

 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250512-kurdish-militant-group-pkk-says-disbanding-ending-armed-struggle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKWvVOZ71rA

https://bianet.org/haber/turkish-government-officials-welcome-pkk-disbanding-as-historic-turning-point-307352

https://ina.iq/eng/39852-iraq-welcomes-pkks-decision-to-dissolve-cease-armed-conflict.html

https://anfenglish.com/news/syrian-fm-pkk-decision-to-disband-is-a-pivotal-moment-for-regional-stability-79310

https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/05/12/pkks-disbanding-welcomed-globally-with-cautious-optimism-hopes-for-lasting-peace/

US-China Trade Agreement

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cedy09wq25qt

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/12/business/us-china-trade-deal-announcement-intl-hnk

French-Polish Nancy Treaty and the background

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-france-commit-helping-each-other-case-military-threat-2025-05-09/

https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2025/05/09/francia-e-polonia-siglano-il-trattato-di-nancy-sostegno-reciproco-in-caso-di-attacchi-a-uno-dei-nostri-stati/7981537/

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/05/09/france-poland-to-seal-alliance-with-strategic-treaty_6741086_7.html

https://it.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/07/come-funziona-lombrello-nucleare-francese-per-difendere-lue-di-cui-parla-macron

https://www.agenzianova.com/news/francia-polonia-macron-e-tusk-firmano-un-trattato-di-amicizia-con-una-clausola-di-difesa-reciproca/

https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/merz-macron-ombrello-nucleare-comune-francia-e-regno-unito-AHTjqhd

https://geopolitique.eu/en/2025/05/05/the-conditions-of-a-franco-german-deal-on-european-defense/

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/80-anni-dopo-leuropa-nel-disordine-globale-208190

Pope Leo XIV

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-first-speech-peace-be-with-you-2025-05-08/

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ln80lzk7ko

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/09/us/pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost-politics#:~:text=Prevost%2C%20the%2069%2Dyear%2D,ramifications%20well%20beyond%20its%20walls.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250509-progressive-outreach-traditional-doctrine-where-pope-leo-xiv-stands-on-key-issues

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/five-things-to-know-about-pope-leo-xiv

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-social-media-account-trump-vance-criticism/

https://time.com/7283867/pope-leo-challenges-diversity-globalization/