⊂ EUROPE ⊃
Cargo ship capsizes in Baltic Sea collision: One person has died and another is missing after two cargo ships – a British and Danish vessel – collided in the Baltic Sea, Swedish authorities have confirmed. The body of one of the missing persons was later found inside the capsized vessel. The cause of the accident is not yet known. Swedish Coast Guard prosecutors said they had opened a preliminary investigation on potential charges of gross negligence in maritime traffic and “gross sea drunkenness.” Two people – a British national and Croatian national – have been detained as suspects.
euronews.com
Macron wants to find refugee solution with Orban: French President Emmanuel Macron called for a tough new EU pact to prevent asylum seekers travelling across Europe on Monday following a meeting with Hungary’s anti-immigration leader Viktor Orban. Despite being an outspoken critic of Hungary’s right-wing government, Macron said the country would have to work together for Europe and be loyal partners. „There had been tensions in the past,“ Macron said, but added: „I think what we have been through in Europe in recent weeks… is allowing us to reconsider a common organisation to better prevent migrant flows.“
telegraph.co.uk
Russia threatens military action in Ukraine crisis: The EU is discussing a possible new round of economic sanctions on Russia as national foreign ministers gathered in Brussels on Monday. EU envoys have repeated that strong measures would be taken if Russia’s military launches a full invasion of Ukraine. Tensions have heightened in recent weeks over Russia’s growing military presence near the border with Ukraine. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that tensions could lead to a situation similar to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when the US and Soviet Union came close to nuclear conflict. On Monday, Ryabkov threatened military action if the US and NATO did not provide security guarantees that the military alliance would not expand further east or deploy weapons systems near the Russian border.
dw.com, bbc.com, tagesspiegel.de
- EU imposes sanctions on Russian mercenary group Wagner over human rights abuses france24.com
- NATO approves drone defence system for Kyiv faz.net
- Russian President Vladimir Putin tells UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urgent talks needed over NATO’s plans for Ukraine theguardian.com
Nord Stream 2: Austria calls for launch of the controversial gas pipeline; European gas prices rise after German concerns over Nord Stream 2. faz.net; ft.com
UN Security Council: Russia vetoes climate resolution that cited global security. bloomberg.com
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Anti-Semitism accusations: Austria’s new interior minister Gerhard Karner distances himself from anti-Semitic statements he made in a state election campaign in 2007. spiegel.de
Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law breaches human rights standards, say experts: Hungary’s ban on portraying homosexuality to minors violates international human rights standards, a body of constitutional law experts at Europe’s major human rights institution said Monday. The assessment from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission is the latest international criticism of Hungarian legal changes that restrict access to content depicting LGBTQ+ identities for people under 18.
politico.eu
Ethiopia: EU foreign policy chief Borrell criticises countries over reaction to Ethiopia conflict politico.eu
Suu Kyi imprisonment: Will the EU impose sanctions on Myanmar? dw.com
Mali: EU sets up autonomous framework for sanctions against those obstructing the political transition consilium.europa.eu
Brexit: EU moves closer to guaranteeing NI medicine supplies euractiv.com
⊂ QUOTE OF THE DAY ⊃
„We will step up our support with a new €30 million for youth, independent media, SMEs in exile and cultural actors – that the Lukashenko regime continues to repress.“
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the Commission will mobilise an additional €30 million to further strengthen its support to the people of Belarus.
ec.europa.eu
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Former Danish minister convicted over illegal asylum seeker policy: Inger Støjberg, a former Danish immigration minister, has been convicted of illegally separating asylum-seeking couples where one partner was under 18. Støjberg was found guilty in a rare impeachment trial and sentenced to 60 days in prison on Monday. The court found that the former minister had neglected her ministerial duties „intentionally or through gross negligence“. In 2016, Støjberg initiated the policy of separating minors from their partners over concerns that the relationships may have involved forced marriages. The court ruled that the instruction was illegal, highlighting in particular that it did not allow for cases to be examined on an individual basis.
euronews.com, politico.eu
Dutch parties reach coalition deal: The four parties negotiating to form the next ruling Dutch coalition in The Hague reached a coalition deal Monday, bringing an end to the country’s longest talks to form a government and paving the way for Mark Rutte to serve a fourth term as prime minister. Negotiations between Rutte’s liberal VVD, the centrist D66, the Christian Democratic CDA and the Christian Union (CU) spanned 271 days after March’s national election. The deal must now be reviewed by each party’s parliamentary group for approval.
politico.eu
Bulgarian parliament backs Kiril Petkov as PM: The Bulgarian parliament on Monday approved a new government led by political newcomer and Harvard graduate Kiril Petkov, bringing to an end months of political turmoil. His party, Continuing the Change (PP), reached a deal to form a coalition with the left-wing Socialist Party (BSP), the populist There is Such a People party (ITN) and the liberal Democratic Bulgaria alliance. Sofia has been rocked by a rule-of-law crisis since the summer of 2020, when thousands of anti-corruption protesters hit the streets to demand that then-Prime Minister Boyko Borissov resign.
politico.eu
German cabinet passes climate fund booster with €60 billion extra budget: The supplementary budget, passed unanimously by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet, will channel €60 billion of unused debt in this year’s federal budget into the government’s climate and transformation fund for future spending. The coalition wants to deploy the funds to make critical public investments in climate protection measures – from charging points for electric vehicles to better insulating homes – and the digitalisation of the economy.
euractiv.com
Scandal over old party photo: Did Swedish Interior Minister Ida Karkiainen show the Hitler salute? n-tv.de
Spain orders 30,000 people to seal themselves indoors as volcano spews toxic gas: Spain on Monday ordered more than 30,000 people to remain indoors on La Palma island because of toxic gases from a volcano that has been erupting for months. The authorities recommended that people turn off air conditioning and heating and use tape to seal doors and windows. The stay-at-home orders were lifted on Monday afternoon.
cbsnews.com, english.elpais.com
Norway in partial Covid lockdown: Norway will further tighten restrictions and speed up vaccination in a bid to limit a surge of the Omicron variant. The government announced a ban on serving alcohol in bars and restaurants, a closing of gyms and swimming pools to most users and stricter rules in schools, among other things.
reuters.com
- Vaccinations of children start in Germany zeit.de
- Spain receives first shipment of Covid vaccines for children english.elpais.com
Swiss prosecutors drop money-laundering case against Juan Carlos: Geneva’s chief prosecutor said Monday that a criminal investigation into allegations that Spain’s former king, Juan Carlos, laundered illegal commission payments from Saudi Arabia related to a high-speed rail deal has been closed because of insufficient evidence.
nytimes.com
Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Fiala wins showdown with President Milos Zeman faz.net
Lithuania: Taking a stand against China dw.com
Spain: Two dead in flooding caused by heavy rains english.elpais.com
Romania wants to buy 32 used F-16 fighter jets from Norway euractiv.com
Finland orders 64 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets for $9.4 bln reuters.com
⊂ POLITJOBS ⊃
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⊂ LAST BUT NOT LEAST ⊃
Poland latest to probe Apple’s app tracking transparency shift: Poland’s competition watchdog is the latest to investigate Apple over policy changes to its mobile platform that impact how third-party apps can track iOS users by requiring they request permission before they can grab data.
techcrunch.com