⊂ EUROPE ⊃
Germany’s Scholz and Putin hold talks: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday he saw scope for more diplomacy to avert a war between Russia and Ukraine after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. „It should be possible to find a solution. No matter how difficult and serious the situation seems to be, I refuse to say it is hopeless,“ Scholz said. Long-term security in Europe could only be achieved with Russia, he added. Putin confirmed a “partial” drawdown of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: “We believe there is some ground for cautious optimism based on the signals and signs coming from Moscow, that they are ready to engage in a diplomatic effort and we are ready to continue to engage in a diplomatic effort.” Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Putin, Scholz also said that Putin’s use of the word “genocide” to describe the situation in east Ukraine’s breakaway Donbass region was wrong.
reuters.com, theguardian.com, reuters.com
Biden says Russian invasion of Ukraine still possible: US President Joe Biden says the United States will give diplomatic talks aimed at averting a Russian invasion of Ukraine „every chance to succeed.“ But he reiterated that Russia will face „powerful sanctions“ if it launches a military attack against its neighbour. In remarks at the White House Tuesday, Biden noted that the Russian defence minister reported that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. Biden said „that would be good“ but added the US has not verified that. „An invasion,“ Biden said, „remains distinctly possible.“
npr.org
Despite Ukraine crisis: Brazil’s President Bolsonaro is visiting Putin despite US criticism. time.com
EU Parliament: MEPs back €1.2 billion aid package for Ukraine, but divisions emerge. euronews.com
Refugees: A war in Ukraine could trigger the next refugee crisis in Europe. handelsblatt.com
Russian gas: How EU countries want to reduce their dependence on gas from Russia. handelsblatt.com
Greece says two expatriates killed in eastern Ukraine: Greece’s foreign ministry said on Monday two Greek expatriates were killed and another two seriously injured in an incident involving Ukrainian soldiers in the country’s east. The ministry said the violence erupted after the Greeks and Ukrainian soldiers got into an argument „for an insignificant reason“. It did not say what the Greeks were doing in the area but a Greek foreign ministry official said the incident had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict in the region.
reuters.com
-Advertisement-
Welted men’s footwear: Superior craftsmanship in shoemaking. Buy directly from our manufactures avoiding expensive middlemen. Experience true shoe freedom, handcrafted and custom made from the finest Italian leather. No matter the occasion; be it for the office, leisure or weddings – we have the appropriate pair of shoes
shoepassion.com
EU initiates satellite-based connectivity system: The EU Commission is putting forward a plan for an EU space-based secure communication system that will ensure the long-term availability of worldwide uninterrupted access to secure and cost-effective satellite communication services. It would also allow for the provision of commercial services by the private sector that can enable access to advanced, reliable and fast connections to citizens and businesses across Europe, including in communication dead zones ensuring cohesion across EU member states. Citizens would also benefit from the technological advantages, reliability and operational performance of such satellite communication services ensuring high-speed internet connections across the EU.
ec.europa.eu
NSO spyware: European Parliament to set up Pegasus inquiry. politico.eu
COVID-19 in Europe:
- Germany looks to loosen stricter Covid measures dw.com
- Netherlands to scrap all restrictions politico.eu
- Austria’s Chancellor Nehammer no longer rules out ending compulsory vaccinations merkur.de
- Cyprus eases restrictions on unvaccinated tagesschau.de
- Mask mandate in Romania ruled unconstitutional zeit.de
Covid protest: ‚Freedom convoy‘ fails to make a splash in Brussels as police thwart demonstration. euronews.com
Animal welfare: Parliament wants better protection for transported animals: Long journeys create stress and suffering for farm animals. EU lawmakers want stricter controls, tougher penalties and shorter traveling times to increase animals‘ welfare across the EU. MEPs argue that journeys should be as short as possible, and recommend alternative solutions, such as the transport of animal products rather than live animals and the development of on-farm or local slaughter and meat processing facilities.
eureporter.co
Governments begin final consultations on world climate report: The member states of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have begun their two-week final consultations on the second part of the world climate report. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas warned on Monday not to frighten young people. „We have to be careful how we report on the results of science, on tipping points, and whether we are talking about a collapse of the biosphere or the disappearance of humanity,“ said Taalas, who is not himself involved in the report.
zeit.de, faz.net
Plastic pollution: EU raises €4 billion to fight marine plastic pollution. euractiv.de
Carbon: EU in balancing act over carbon border levy, industry concerns. euractiv.com
Energy: EU Commission sees Africa as Europe’s future hydrogen supplier. heise.de
German economics minister criticises France’s energy policy: Economics Minister Robert Habeck has described France’s energy policy as backward. „What France is doing at the moment is a very planned, capped energy supply for an old-fashioned industry,“ Habeck said on Wednesday. He said France had 50 nuclear power plants, ten of which were currently off the grid due to maintenance and defects. „France is currently importing electricity from Germany with the oh-so-safe nuclear power“. With a view to the world market, Habeck pointed out that new nuclear power plants were already producing more expensive electricity than new offshore wind farms.
tagesspiegel.de
German finance minister wants way for member states to reduce debt: Until now, numerous EU member states have been able to violate EU financial guidelines without any consequences. Italy and France want to fundamentally reform the EU budget rules. But Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner is against far-reaching changes – and is pushing for debt reduction. Raising the debt limits of the Stability Pact would be wrong and also politically unrealistic, Lindner told German media. He said it was important to achieve a binding path to reduce debt ratios in Europe.
handelsblatt.com, spiegel.de
Lagarde says ECB will act at right time: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde repeated that officials won’t rush to remove stimulus in the euro region as she sought to highlight the limits of their powers at a time of volatile prices. “We need to be open about what we can and cannot do as a central bank,” she told European Parliament lawmakers on Monday. “For example, our monetary policy cannot fill pipelines with gas, clear backlogs at ports or train more lorry drivers.”
bloomberg.com
ECB may need to raise rates in 2022, new Bundesbank chief says: The European Central Bank’s German policymakers openly discussed prospects for an interest rate hike on Wednesday, with new Bundesbank chief Joachim Nagel arguing that a move could come this year, as inflation remains uncomfortably high. Maintaining the Bundesbank’s historically conservative line, Nagel, who took charge of the German central bank in January, warned that acting too late in normalising policy could be especially costly.
reuters.com
Social taxonomy: Arms industry appalled by EU plans: The EU Commission is currently examining large parts of the European economy to see whether they are socially beneficial or harmful. A so-called social taxonomy, similar to the controversial green option, is to signal to investors which companies serve the community and are therefore suitable for the increasingly important investment according to social standards – and which are not. Armament companies in particular see themselves at a disadvantage – and are protesting vehemently.
welt.de
Global freedoms have hit a record low, report says: The state of democracy around the world fell to a record low last year, according to a new report released Thursday that placed blame in large part on pandemic restrictions that have seen many nations struggle to balance a public health emergency with personal freedoms.
washingtonpost.com
Global Gateway investment scheme: EU reveals €150 billion investment plan for Africa dw.com
EU launches infringement proceedings: Germany should have created whistleblower law by December 2021 handelsblatt.com
Genetic engineering: MEPs demand EU funding for research into gene editing surveillance euractiv.com
⊂ QUOTE OF THE DAY ⊃
„I don’t know how long the president plans to stay in office. I’ve got a feeling it will be a while, but not forever.“
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a small swipe at the Russian president and his term in office at his joint press conference with Vladimir Putin.
twitter.com
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Trump encouraged French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour in phone call: Former US President Donald Trump gave French presidential hopeful Eric Zemmour advice on how to win an election during a 40-minute phone call on Monday, according to the latter’s spokesperson. “Donald Trump told Eric Zemmour ‘never give in, hold on, be brave, it’s tenacity and endurance that end up paying at the end of a campaign,’” Zemmour’s spokesperson Guillaume Peltier told France 2.
politico.eu
EU Parliament revokes immunity for ex-AfD head: Jörg Meuthen, the former co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has lost his delegate immunity in the European Parliament following a vote by fellow lawmakers, the EU announced on Tuesday. There is now nothing standing in the way of a criminal investigation into claims that Meuthen illegally accepted money to fund an AfD election campaign in the state of Baden-Württemberg in 2016.
dw.com
Prince Andrew settles sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre: The Duke of York has settled the sex assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum. The out-of-court settlement in the US civil case means Prince Andrew makes no admission of guilt over claims by Giuffre that he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Andrew will make a “substantial donation” to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights. Andrew also pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association” with the sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein, by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims”.
theguardian.com
France announces major nuclear power buildup: French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major buildup of France’s huge nuclear power programme last week, pledging to construct up to 14 new-generation reactors and a fleet of smaller nuclear plants as the country seeks to slash planet-warming emissions and cut its reliance on foreign energy.
nytimes.com
France to use UK funds for CCTV network to stop Channel migrant crossings: France is to create a network of nearly 40 hi-tech CCTV cameras along its coast to stop Channel migrants and catch smugglers through number plate recognition. The cameras, funded from the £54 million offered by the UK government, will cover more than 10 miles of coast. The move is part of an attempt by France to increase the proportion of crossings it blocks from the current average of around 40%.
telegraph.co.uk
„Ocean Viking“ in the Mediterranean: More than 200 refugees rescued. tagesschau.de
German foreign minister commemorates Holocaust victims: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem last Thursday. Baerbock said it was the „unconditional obligation“ of the younger generation to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, especially as there „are fewer and fewer contemporary witnesses among us.“ After meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Baerbock also said a two-state solution in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians would be „the best option“ for both sides. However, the foreign minister criticised Israeli settlements being built on Palestinian-claimed territory in the West Bank as a threat to the peace process.
dw.com
Main suspect in Paris 2015 attacks trial tells court he did not kill anyone: Salah Abdeslam, the main surviving suspect on trial for the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, has given evidence for the first time – telling a court in France that he had never killed or wounded anyone.
independent.co.uk
Germany: Right-wing extremist soldier back in custody: A spokesperson for Frankfurt’s Higher Regional Court on Monday said a German military officer who made headlines in 2017 was back in police custody. Franco A. has been on trial since May last year over preparing a „serious act of violent subversion.“ He allegedly plotted to attack prominent politicians while posing as a Syrian refugee. The court announced that, during an identity check, new objects were found in his possession that could serve as evidence.
dw.com
Boris Johnson confronted over picture revealing open bottle of bubbly at No 10 Christmas quiz: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been confronted over a new picture revealing an open bottle of what appears to be champagne or sparkling wine at a No 10 “virtual” Christmas quiz during lockdown. In the Commons, Johnson was told it looked like “one of the Christmas parties” that he had denied took place – but insisted the claim was “completely in error”. The gathering is not one of the 12 being investigated by the Metropolitan police, a probe which has left the prime minister’s survival in office hanging by a thread.
independent.co.uk
- Johnson speeds up plan to end Covid self-isolation rule reuters.com
- Brexit has piled up costs and paperwork for UK companies washingtonpost.com
- Controversial state aid: EU Commission takes London to court handelsblatt.com
Swiss reject ban on animal testing in referendum: Swiss voters rejected a proposal by animal rights activists to make Switzerland the first country to ban medical and scientific experiments on animals, but approved tougher restrictions on cigarette advertising in referendums held on Sunday.
reuters.com
Germany sees no reason for military presence in Mali if elections delayed: Germany sees no reason to keep its troops in Mali if the country delays presidential and legislative elections by four to five years, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement on Tuesday. „If elections are postponed by four or five years there will be no reason for further German engagement,“ Lambrecht said.
reuters.com
German President Steinmeier reelected for second term: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected to a second five-year term Sunday by a special assembly of lawmakers and state-nominated delegates. The position of president in Germany is largely symbolic, but its holder is nonetheless the country’s highest authority.
politico.eu
Hungary: President Viktor Orban threatens to leave EU zeit.de
Slovenia to hold general election on 24 April politico.eu
Belgium: Teachers protest working conditions and financial cuts; Museum returns Nazi-looted painting to Jewish family euronews.com; dw.com
Belgium is latest country to join four-day workweek forbes.com
Bosnian Serb region to form parallel legal body; West warns of violations reuters.com
Should Scotland have women-only rail carriages? bbc.com
Bulgaria issued ‘golden passports’ to Russia’s top bankers euractiv.com
⊂ POLITJOBS ⊃
MDF Training & Consultancy is looking for a Business Development & Project Manager (m/f/d)+++FRONTEX – European Border and Coast Guard Agency is looking for a Security Officer (m/f/d)+++Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) sucht eine:n Entwicklungshelfer:in (m/w/d)+++FOUR PAWS is looking for a senior media officer (m/f/d)+++Erste Lesung sucht Berater:innen (m/w/d)+++ Activist in Risk Zones (ARZ) Fridays for Future (FFF) is looking for an Emergency Evacuation Coordinator (m/f/d)+++ GIRP – European Healthcare Distribution Association is looking for a German-speaking Association Affairs Executive (m/f/d)+++Jobs at politjobs.eu +++ Don’t miss any jobs with the politjobs.eu job alert +++
⊂ LAST BUT NOT LEAST ⊃
Gazpacho or Gestapo – US lawmaker earns ridicule for slip of the tongue: US Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on One America News last Tuesday and accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of using Capitol police as “political pawns” and “sending them into our offices” — referring to a complaint from her colleague Rep. Troy E. Nehls. Greene referenced “Pelosi’s gazpacho police spying on members of Congress.” Greene’s word soup quickly went viral online, sparking memes and reactions shared by politicians and other prominent figures.
washingtonpost.com