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Brussels goofiest gifts: the weird world of EU Parliament gifts

Published

10 months ago

May 8, 2025

Brussels goofiest gifts: the weird world of EU Parliament gifts

A corruption scandal involving Chinese tech giant Huawei reignited discussions earlier this year around gifts and donations received by EU lawmakers.

While MEPs often find themselves on the receiving end of such tokens of appreciation, the whole gifting affair remains a delicate matter in Brussels and Strasbourg

According to the European Parliament’s code of conduct, MEPs must steer clear of gifts worth more than €150.

If a gift crosses that line, it lands in the hands of Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who then acts as judge, jury, and occasional reluctant gift recipient.

All these treasures (and some definite oddities) are logged in a public register and tucked away safely behind a locked door in Brussels, accessible only when an MEP asks to visit the collection.

We took a peek behind the door of this cabinet of curiosities and were left scratching our heads.

A dagger from far beyond

Among the stranger entries: a traditional Indonesian dagger called ‘Keris Luk 7 Pandawa’ – and no, it’s not part of the EU plan to boost defence investments in Europe.

The dagger made quite a journey: gifted during a parliamentary mission to Indonesia, passed to the vice-chair of the development committee, who later handed it over to the chair in a committee meeting.

The ceremonial blade now quietly sits in Brussels, just in case.

A flag from farther beyond

The European Space Agency reached for the stars when it gifted Metsola an EU flag that had been to the International Space Station.

That’s right, among the pens and plaques no one really wants, there’s a piece of space history.

Eurovision wannabes

In what might be the most optimistic pitch of all time, Italian singer Stefano Picchi sent Metsola a CD – yes, in 2023 – with 11 songs and even a chord booklet, in case the Maltese president felt like jamming.

One track was a tribute to late President David Sassoli, which Picchi hoped could be performed at the Eurovision Song Contest that year. A slight snag: Picchi was never chosen to perform in Eurovision – despite being listed in the Parliament’s archives as a 2022 Eurovision song contest participant.

Among the songs, there was also one Picchi claimed to have written with Pope Francis by quoting from some of the pontiff’s speeches, a type of divine telepathic coproduction

Modern art

Representing the “modern art” category: a reproduction of a nude female figure from Cyprus, gifted by Annita Demetriou, the President of the Cypriot parliament.

It’s modelled after an ancient idol housed in the Pierides Museum. Cultural, sure – but maybe not what you’d expect to unwrap at the office.

Radio days are so back

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib recently caused a stir by showing off a 72-hour emergency kit featuring, among other things, a portable radio.

Critics called her alarmist – until a blackout hit the Iberian Peninsula last week and everyone realised a little old-school tech isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Portable radios earlier made their way to Irish MEPs as gifts from Irish music rights organisations. So yes, vinyl might be trendy, but radios are still practical.

Sports memorabilia

Roberta Metsola was also gifted a signed jersey from Spain’s national women’s football team – the year before they won the World Cup. Call it a lucky charm.

She also received a signed Dinamo Kyiv shirt, and the European Parliament’s own rugby team made the list with commemorative gear from their historic Parliamentary World Cup debut.

Booze, books, and bric-a-brac

Some things never go out of style. Alcohol is still a go-to gift, with MEPs receiving everything from Scotch whisky to Bordeaux wines and French champagne. When in doubt in life, as at the European Parliament, bring a bottle.

Also scattered throughout the archives: traditional musical instruments like the viola braguesa from Portugal, a Moldovan kaval, and a Moroccan Arabic lyra.

But for every gem, there’s a handful of touristy trinkets: keychains, pins, mini-monuments, and enough paperweights to sink a filing cabinet.

Basically, a Brussels-style flea market behind locked doors.

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World

FAA grounds all JetBlue flights after request from airline

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

FAA grounds all JetBlue flights after request from airline

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded all JetBlue flights due to a request from the airline, the agency said Tuesday.

The ground stop impacts flights to all destinations, according to the advisory.

It was not immediately clear why JetBlue requested the ground stop or how long it would last.

The airline and the FAA didn’t immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press requesting more information.

The airline, which was founded more than 25 years ago, has its headquarters in New York City and its flagship terminal at the city’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

World

Trump says it’s an ‘honor’ to keep Strait of Hormuz open for China and other countries

Published

5 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Trump says it’s an ‘honor’ to keep Strait of Hormuz open for China and other countries

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President Donald Trump said he wants to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, saying it would be an “honor” to do so in an effort to help other nations that rely on the vital Middle East waterway.

Trump was speaking with reporters in Florida on Monday, when he was asked about the global energy choke point, which has been disrupted amid back-and-forth attacks between Iran and Israel and the United States.

IRAN SEIZES OIL TANKERS, THREATENS ‘MASSACRE’ IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ HOURS BEFORE US TALKS

People mourn slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Thursday, in Isfahan, Iran. (Payman Shahsanaei/ISNA via AP)

At about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz is between Iran and Oman and carries roughly 20 million barrels a day and about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas, making it a top-value target when conflict in the region erupts.

“We’re really helping China here and other countries because they get a lot of their energy from the Straits,” Trump said. “We have a good relationship with China. It’s my honor to do it.”

US POSITIONS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, STRIKE PLATFORMS ACROSS MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN TALKS SHIFT TO OMAN

A screenshot of a marine traffic terminal showing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on March 4. (Kpler/Marine Traffic)

Trump is slated to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month. While touting the United States’ new energy partnership with Venezuela, Trump noted that China gets its oil through the strait.

“I mean, we’re doing this for the other parts of the world, including countries like China,” he said. “They get a lot of their oil through the straits.”

“We have a very good relationship with President XI (Jinping) and China,” he added. “I’m going there in a short period of time, and we’re protecting the world from what these lunatics are trying to do, and very successfully I might add.”

President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on Oct. 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea. Trump said he wants to keep the Strait of Hormuz open in the Middle East for countries, including China. ( Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The U.S. will also waive all oil-related sanctions on some countries in an effort to reduce energy prices amid the conflict in the Middle East, Trump said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took to Iranian State TV vowing it would “not allow [the] export of a single liter of oil.”

Later, Trump reaffirmed his position on the strait in a fiery Truth Social post.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far. Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!,” he wrote.

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“This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

World

NATO intercepts another Iranian missile in Turkish airspace

Published

6 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

NATO intercepts another Iranian missile in Turkish airspace

Published on 09/03/2026 – 18:02 GMT+1•Updated
18:37

NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile heading to Türkiye for the second time in less than a week, as US-Israeli strikes on Iran throw the wider Middle East into conflict.

Last Wednesday, Türkiye’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile headed toward Turkish airspace close to the Syria border.

Confirming the incident, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said “NATO stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat”.

According to NATO sources, there is as yet no indication Türkiye is triggering formal proceedings within the alliance to initiate action against Iran.

However, the Turkish government summoned Iran’s ambassador to Ankara for a formal rebuke over the incident.

The US has a military presence at the Incirlik airbase in the south of the country.

“NATO has been clear it has strong interception capabilities”, Colonel Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for the ⁠Supreme ‌Headquarters ‌Allied Powers ⁠Europe, told Euronews, saying that while Iran is “targeting the US footprint in various countries” it is also attacking public spaces “indiscriminately”.

While NATO has increased its security posture to a heightened level until the threat subsides, O’Donnell reiterated NATO’s position that it is not a party to the conflict, despite the fact the conflict is being prosecuted by the US, the alliance’s most powerful member by far.

“The Secretary General has been clear that NATO is not part of this war, but NATO will defend itself”, he said, speaking to Euronews from NATO HQ in Brussels on Monday.