⊂ EUROPE ⊃
Fighting continues in Aleppo: An evacuation of rebel-held districts of Aleppo is back on track and expected to begin within hours, officials on both sides of the war said late on Wednesday. An initial deal that would have seen thousands of civilians and opposition fighters granted safe passage out of the Syrian city stalled on Wednesday. MEPs in the EU Parliament have described the situation in Aleppo variously as hell on earth, a death factory and the meltdown of humanity. They called for an immediate cessation of hostilities as well as access for humanitarian aid. A number of speakers were highly critical of Russia’s role in the conflict.
reuters.com, europarl.europa.eu
End of term statement by EU Parliament President Schulz: Martin Schulz has summed up his five years as Parliament President in a statement to the House on Wednesday. Schulz will stand down next month so he can be a candidate for the Social Democrats in the autumn. Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt is rumoured to be the liberal candidate for the post, but he is still to declare whether he will run. The centre-left Social Democrats are putting up Gianni Pittella.
europarl.europa.eu, euronews.com
EU determined to maintain refugee pact with Turkey: The EU is determined to maintain its refugee pact with Turkey despite tensions with the country‘s leadership, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday. He insisted that the deal was working and should be maintained. Since the pact came into force in March, an average of only 90 refugees per day were landing on the Greek islands – in comparison to 10,000 on a single day in October 2015.
en.europeonline-magazine.eu
EU summit without Theresa May: British Prime Minister Theresa May has brushed off being excluded from a dinner at Thursday’s EU summit that will be attended by the leaders of the other 27 member states. May’s official spokesperson said it was reasonable that EU countries met to discuss preparations for Brexit talks without the UK present. Germany expects a consensus at the summit for extending economic sanctions against Russia by six months for its intervention in Ukraine.
indepedent.co.uk, reuters.com
Fed: US Federal Reserve raised interest rates reuters.com
Steel: EU squares up for battle over Chinese dumping euractiv.com
Rail services: MEPs back new rules to boost rail travel europarl.europa.eu
⊂ QUOTES ⊃
„This transnational democracy is in great danger today, and everywhere on this continent the splits and the ultra-nationalists are spreading again. Those who are bringing people against each other. I will certainly fight against this hate no matter where.“
Outgoing EU Parliament President Martin Schulz has hit out at so-called populist parties as he prepares to run in Germany’s federal elections.
euronews.com
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Spain’s constitutional court blocks Catalan referendum plans: Spain’s Constitutional Court has blocked a resolution by the Catalan parliament to hold an independence referendum next September. The court said Wednesday it was provisionally suspending the resolution before pronouncing a definitive judgement within five months. The court also warned Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont and assembly speaker Carme Forcadell to obey its ruling or face criminal charges.
uk.reuters.com
Debt relief for Greece suspended: Greece’s European creditors suspended proposed debt-relief measures for the country after the Greek government surprised them by announcing it would boost welfare benefits for low-income pensioners. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras refused to back down over his plans to give poor Greek pensioners a pre-Christmas bonus. Eurozone lenders said they had not been asked to approve the bonuses plan. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) said it would now be scrutinising the proposed handout.
bbc.com, wsj.com
New law on public gatherings in Poland: A year after roaring into office with a majority in the Polish Parliament, the governing party, Law and Justice, has embarked on a new round of what it calls necessary reforms to strengthen the power of the executive branch. Opponents call it a troubling slide toward authoritarianism. On Tuesday, the Polish parliament passed a law that gives state authorities greater power to regulate public gatherings. Critics of the populist ruling government have denounced what they consider an erosion of rule of law in the country.
nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com
Italian parliament approves new government: Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni has won a second vote of confidence in Parliament, paving the way for his new government to lead Italy until it holds a new election. Opposition parties have clamored for an early election, but the current law has one set of rules for the Senate and another for the lower Chamber of Deputies. Matteo Renzi resigned as prime minister last week after losing a referendum.
washingtonpost.com, bbc.com
Great Britain: Unemployment rate stayed at 4.8 percent and basic pay rose euronews.com
⊂ JOB-BOARD ⊃
politjobs.eu: PlasticsEurope seeks Public Affairs Manager (m/f) *** GIZ seeks Policy Advisor (m/f) *** Siegfried Mureșan MEP offers Traineeship *** European Sunlight Association seeks Communication Officer *** ChildFund Alliance seeks Director – Brussels Office *** Mototrola Solutions seeks Director of Government Affairs – Europe and Africa *** Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft sucht Praktikant (m/w) *** Uni Europa seeks Policy Officer (m/f)
politjobs.eu, politjobs.eu/submit (Inserat schalten)
⊂ MALFUNCTION ⊃
Putin tops „Forbes“ list of most powerful people: Russian President Vladimir Putin has beaten US President Donald Trump to top “Forbes” magazine’s annual list of the world’s most powerful people, taking the number one spot for the third consecutive year. The third most powerful person in the world also happens to be the most powerful woman: German Chancellor Angela Merkel. British Prime Minister Theresa May is a new addition to the list at number 13. Barack Obama drops to 48.
forbes.com, theguardian.com