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Every Wednesday, the European Circle delivers an overview of the most important topics from the European Union and the European nations.

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Every Wednesday, the European Circle delivers an overview of the most important topics from the European Union and the European nations.

Newsletter

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Tuesday, 7 December 2021: Anger over Covid measures, Redesign of Euro banknotes, EU extends China sanctions
7. Dezember 2021

⊂ EUROPE ⊃

Anger over Covid measures: Attack on house of Belgian lawmaker: MEPs on Monday expressed their solidarity with their Belgian colleague Pascal Arimont after his house was attacked on Friday night while his family was inside. Arimont, a fervent advocate for vaccinations, told Belgian news VRT he believes the attack is linked with his outspoken stance on pandemic strategy.
politico.eu

  • European Parliament President David Sassoli: „We will never tolerate this kind of hatred. In a democracy, disagreement must be solved with words, not violence. Those responsible must be brought to justice.“ twitter.com
  • Manfred Weber, leader of Arimont’s group the Europen People’s Party (EPP): „Dear Pascal Arimont, we are shocked to hear your home was threatened this weekend. We will never give in to this kind of hate. You have our full solidarity and support.“ twitter.com
  • Fabio Castaldo, Vice-President of European Parliament: „The threats and intimidation against my colleague Pascal Arimont and his family this weekend are shocking. I condemn the attack on his house in the strongest possible terms: violence and hate are unacceptable. All my support and solidarity to him and his family.“ twitter.com

COVID-19: EU to discuss easing Omicron travel curbs on Southern Africa. bloomberg.com

Euro banknotes set for first full redesign in 20 years: The European Central Bank (ECB) will select a new design for euro banknotes by 2024. “After 20 years, it’s time to review the look of our banknotes to make them more relatable to Europeans of all ages and backgrounds,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said in a statement. The Frankfurt-based bank will create focus groups to gather opinions from people across the euro area on possible themes for future banknotes.
euronews.com

EU extends China sanctions by one year: The EU has extended its sanctions against China for oppression of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region by one year. This was announced by the Council of EU member states in Brussels. The US is also increasing the pressure with regard to Chinese human rights violations. The Biden administration won’t send US officials to attend the coming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the White House said, deciding instead to hold a diplomatic boycott that drew immediate criticism from China. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s foreign minister is asking the EU to intervene on its behalf as China steps up political and economic pressure against the Baltic country in a diplomatic dispute over relations with Taiwan.
dw.com, wsj.com, politico.eu

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Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi faces two years in jail: Myanmar’s deposed civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faces two years in jail after her sentence was halved by the country’s military, state media MRTV reported on Monday. Earlier in the day, Suu Kyi was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of incitement and breaking COVID-19 rules, in the first verdict against the Nobel Peace Prize winner since the military seized power in February. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the trial and sentencing “another step towards the dismantling of the rule of law and a further blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar.” United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called the trial a “sham” and said it was “politically-motivated.”
cnn.com, nbcnews.com

UN General Assembly delays action on Myanmar and Afghanistan’s bid for seats. abcnews.go.com

Ukraine crisis: US says it will send troops to eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine. theguardian.com

EU-US to start new defence and security dialogue in early 2022: A previously touted US-EU dialogue on security and defence is set to be launched in early 2022, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell announced in a statement on Friday.
euractiv.com

EU plans ‘digital product passport’ to boost circular economy: The European Commission plans to introduce a “digital product passport” early next year that would contain information about the composition of goods on the European market to help boost their chances of being reused and recycled.
euractiv.com

Covid recovery fund: Spain first to receive EU pandemic recovery funds, as other countries lag behind euronews.com
Far-right divisions on display after parties fail to agree on EU-wide political group euronews.com
India, Russia strike trade, arms deals during Putin visit reuters.com

⊂ QUOTE OF THE DAY ⊃

Gas produces more CO2; nuclear is much better.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he favours nuclear power being integrated into the taxonomy on green finance in an address before the European Committee of the Regions.
euractiv.com

⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃

Germany taps epidemiologist as new health minister: Incoming German Chancellor Olaf Scholz named outspoken epidemiologist Karl Lauterbach, a champion of tough measures to tackle the coronavirus, as the country’s next health minister. „We will be better equipped for further pandemics than we were for this one,“ Lauterbach said. The new government’s goal, he said, is to reduce the number of new Covid infections to the point where travel over the holidays can be recommended with a clear conscience. Incumbent Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht will become defence minister, while outgoing Environment Minister Svenja Schulze switches to the international development portfolio. Social Affairs Minister Hubertus Heil will stay in the same role.
dw.com, politico.eu

New Austrian chancellor sworn in: Karl Nehammer has been sworn in as Austrian Chancellor at an official ceremony in Vienna. The former interior minister replaces Alexander Schallenberg, who announced on Friday that he would step down from the role. He is the third person to hold the role of chancellor in the last two months after Schallenberg and Sebastian Kurz. Last week, Kurz said he would retire from politics amid corruption scandals and the birth of his first child. “There is much to do! The pandemic is not over and it is straining our people,” Nehammer posted on Twitter. “It must be our goal to drive back the division in our country and to fight together against the real enemy of our freedom and thus regain the trust of the people.”
euronews.com, politico.eu

Chaotic scenes as French far-right candidate launches presidential bid: France’s far-right candidate, Eric Zemmour launched his presidential campaign on Sunday amid fanfare and fighting. Thousands of supporters came to Zemmour’s launch event in Paris. However, violent scenes soon took centre-stage as scuffles with anti-racism protesters broke out on the event’s fringes. Zemmour supporters threw punches and chairs at several protesters wearing anti-racism T-shirts. Separately, as Zemmour moved through the crowd towards the stage to give his speech, a man lunged and grabbed him briefly by the neck before being tackled by security and later put in custody by police.
dw.com, cnn.com

European Court of Human Rights has obliged Poland to improve the situation of refugees at the border with Belarus through emergency measures. zeit.de

EU has donated more than 350 million doses of vaccine: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU is so far the biggest donor of Covid vaccines in the world. She said EU member states have shared more than 350 million doses for donation to countries around the world.
ec.europa.eu

  • EMA recommends approval for use of RoActemra in adults with severe COVID-19 ema.europa.eu
  • From Friday, nightclubs in France will be shut for four weeks and the government also called on citizens to voluntarily limit private and professional gatherings reuters.com
  • Italy tightens restrictions for unvaccinated bbc.com
  • Slovakia extends lockdown tagesschau.de
  • Denmark warns of Omicron, cluster in Norway grows derstandard.at
  • The Netherlands holds off on restrictions for the unvaccinated — for now politico.eu

Belgian unions demand better wages and help with high energy bills: Thousands of Belgian workers took to the streets on Monday to demand better wages after a national day of protest was called by unions. Around 6,000 demonstrators were out in Brussels to protest stagnating wages amid rising inflation.
euronews.com

Sweden starts oil-fired plant to help Poland avoid outages bloomberg.com
France to mimic Musk with own SpaceX-style launcher, minister says reuters.com
Hungary to boost pensions more than planned in 2022 bloomberg.com
Italy’s deficit worries Brussels handelsblatt.com
Spain’s former king seeks immunity over claim he used spy agency to threaten ex-lover theguardian.com

⊂ POLITJOBS ⊃

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⊂ LAST BUT NOT LEAST ⊃

Germany: Torchlit rally against Covid measures in Saxony prompts outcry: German lawmakers have condemned torch-bearing protesters who gathered outside the home of Saxony’s health minister. A far-right group protesting the latest COVID-19 measures has claimed responsibility for the rally.
dw.com