Melike Pala

🇧🇪Brussels correspondent for @anadoluagency, covers mainly EU&NATO affairs

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🇪🇺 European Commission president urges respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty

🗣️ Ursula von der Leyen says 'it is important that Israel respects both the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Lebanon' https://t.co/Yq64Cg1B6d

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🌍 NATO urges cheaper drone defence solutions

📍 Secretary General Mark Rutte says the alliance cannot rely on costly interceptor missiles to counter low-cost drones and must develop more sustainable defence methods https://t.co/NERuCQOsPh

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

📌 NATO chief Mark Rutte tells Anadolu that alliance is ready to help restore freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz

🗣️ Rutte says the alliance’s involvement depends on whether assistance is sought by countries already coordinating the initiative https://t.co/KyS2jD2XFp

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

💢 'Europe should change totally inside ... and also outside,' says Italian Member of the European Parliament Danilo Della Valle

🔹 Bloc needs more independent, diplomacy-driven approach less reliant on US, he tells Anadolu

🔹 He further blames Brussels for applying international law selectively in its responses to Russia and Israel, calling it 'geopolitical choice

🔹 While the bloc has rapidly adopted 20 packages of sanctions against Russia since 2022, it has taken no comparable measures against Israel, he says

🔗 More here https://t.co/R9I8cUTs2p

[Melike Pala @melikesyi]

MEP @Dani_DellaValle criticizes EU foreign policy as being driven by geopolitical interests and double standards rather than by a consistent adherence to international law. Bloc needs more independent, diplomacy-driven approach less reliant on US, he says.
https://t.co/KndGcbUrcU

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

💢 EU condemns Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's actions as furor grows over treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

➜ In response to an Anadolu question, EU spokesperson says Ben-Gvir’s ‘conduct was unbecoming of anyone holding office in a democracy’

➜ On rising calls for action against Israel, official says sanctions must be ‘discussed and adopted by the 27 EU member states … in unanimity’ https://t.co/firBuOG88r

[Melike Pala @melikesyi]

MEPs @BillyKelleherEU, @MatjaNemec, and @BarryAndrewsMEP urge the EU to impose sanctions and the suspend EU-Israel agreement over Ben Gvir's treatment of the Gaza-bound flotilla. Lawmakers say the case reflects a broader pattern of Israeli impunity.
https://t.co/n0gPF2BFNM

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

📌 NATO chief says allies not contributing evenly to Ukraine

🗣️ Mark Rutte says some countries are failing to do enough, and his proposal to spend 0.25% of GDP on Ukraine aid still lacks unanimous backing https://t.co/3Djc71wgwJ

[Melike Pala @melikesyi]

I recently spoke with @VulaTsetsi about the #EU's green transition progress and whether it is living up to its own promises amid soaring energy prices in Europe and the bloc's dependency challenges. She warns that the European Union has failed to learn from recent energy crises.

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🇪🇺 EU taking 'few steps forward, few steps backward' on green transition: Green Party co-chair

🌍 Vula Tsetsi says the Iran war, like the Ukraine war, exposed Europe’s dependence on oil and gas, stressing the importance of Green Deal for energy independence https://t.co/2oPBmuQdFp

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🗣 ‘Eurovision now is to protect Israel’

📍 Palestinian singer Bashar Murad and former Eurovision contestants Laura Tesoro and Gustaph criticize Israel’s inclusion in the contest, pointing to double standards after Russia’s ban

📍 They say Israel’s participation risks normalizing crimes against Palestinians and warn more countries could boycott Eurovision if no action is taken

🔗 https://t.co/0Rt4Dv4RZd

[Serdar Karagöz @serdarkaragoz]

The debate around Eurovision is no longer just about music.

Artists in Brussels staged an alternative event protesting Israel’s participation, reflecting wider questions about culture, politics, and public conscience.

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🎤 In protest of Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, artists staged an alternative musical event in Brussels

Katrien De Ruysscher, one of the organizers at the event, told Anadolu that Israel has no future in Eurovision ⤵️

— They say Eurovision is not political, but they made it political... Russia is not allowed to participate; Israel is. I think within the form that the Eurovision Song Contest is right now, it has no future https://t.co/1WEoaGfALZ

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

EU foreign ministers agreed Monday on a new round of sanctions targeting Israeli occupiers and organizations accused of supporting illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank https://t.co/HHRteKp49z

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

#BREAKING EU says it remains 'fully committed' to mutually beneficial ties, but keeps 'all options open' to protect interests after Trump tariff threats: Spokesperson

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

🇪🇺 🇺🇸 The European Commission on Monday said the EU remains 'fully committed to a predictable, mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship,' while warning that it is keeping 'all options on the table' to protect its interests following new tariff threats from US President Donald Trump https://t.co/r1eJpsXwvT

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

European democrats said on Tuesday that their proposal for a debate on the 'human cost' of the war, including the introduction of the death penalty for Palestinians, was rejected by Ursula von der Leyen's political group https://t.co/n2wT9V44iK

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

Former European Council President Charles Michel warned Friday that perceived double standards in foreign policy are undermining the European Union’s credibility

He cautioned against what he described as a temptation to appease' the US and Israel https://t.co/sxp0ZMsUcp

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

The EU on Friday declined to comment on reported tensions between the United States and Spain over NATO cooperation

Speculation has mounted about possible US measures against allies refusing to support military operations https://t.co/PwGHFLbSGJ

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

NATO’s founding treaty contains no provisions allowing for the suspension or expulsion of member states, an alliance official said Friday

The statement came amid reports that the US had considered measures targeting Spain https://t.co/NTXQ2Pku11

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

#BREAKING NATO founding treaty has no provisions to suspend or expel members amid claims US seeks to suspend Spain, alliance official tells Anadolu