European Union

Negotiations are starting today, Wednesday, on a new round of sanctions against Russia that for the first time also extend to Chinese businesses set to send 'sensitive goods' to Russia. Previously the EU has always protested against such extraterritorial sanctions - such as when the US penalised foreign companies delivering sanctioned goods to Iran - arguing that this violates the states' right to self-determination.

One week ago a thirteen-year-old boy opened fire in his school in Belgrade, leaving eight pupils and a security guard dead and six others wounded. After the killing the boy turned himself over to the police and handed over the weapon that belonged to his father. The press asks how repeat occurrences may be prevented.

Candidates are neck and neck in the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey on 14 May: CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his opposition alliance have realistic chances of beating long-time President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AK Party. Commentators follow the race with bated breath.

The Greeks will elect a new parliament on May 21. Prime Minister Mitsotakis' ruling conservative Nea Dimokratia slumped in the polls after the train accident in March, but is still in the lead. In second place is former PM Alexis Tsipras with the left-wing opposition alliance Syriza.

The animal welfare legislation is under revision and some voices are questioning the economic feasibility of the changes benefiting animals. The main arguments are that it would be too expensive for farmers and consumers, but is that really the case?

 

On 22 March 2023, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The hearing focused both on domestic developments in Taiwan and on China’s policy towards Taiwan following the 20th CCP Congress in October 2022.
The key role of the US, as well as regional actors like Japan was also addressed, as well as the implications for EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy and security. Members debated with the invited experts from the US German Marshall Fund, Mercator Institute for China Studies and Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique the continuing trend of increases in breaches of Taiwan's defence zone. They also expressed support for a bilateral EU-Taiwan investment agreement and to attracting semiconductor investments into the EU. Experts encouraged continuing the EU-US and the G7 coordination, to develop the EU's own contingency approach and to deter China.
Draft Programme
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 182 - Draft report Uzbekistan
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Ilhan Kyuchyuk

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

An important piece of EU legislation outlawing products linked to deforestation is in the making, but its effect on the EU’s trade policy is far from certain, writes Piter Cleppe.

Ryanair v Commission (Lufthansa ; COVID-19)
State aid
The General Court annuls the decision of the Commission to approve the recapitalisation of Lufthansa by Germany, amounting to €6 billion euros, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic