⊂ EUROPE ⊃
EU vaccine passports only valid 9 months without booster: The EU Commission announced Tuesday that Covid vaccine certificates in the European Union would only be valid for nine months without a booster shot. The new rule concerns travelling within the EU, but the Commission said in a statement that it recommends EU countries also apply it on a national level to „provide certainty for travellers and reduce disruptions.“
dw.com
- World Health Organization (WHO) warns of Omicron surge in Europe abcnews.go.com
- Germany to limit private gatherings after Christmas dw.com
- Finland closes pubs on Christmas Eve zeit.de
- Omicron dominant in Denmark as daily infections reach new record reuters.com
- Sweden hardens Covid curbs amid worries over Omicron reuters.com
- Portugal to close bars and nightclubs theguardian.com
Czech porn firm can claim compensation in France for online abuse, EU court rules: The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled on Tuesday that a Czech porn company can claim financial compensation for online abuse it could have suffered in any EU country where the abusive content can be accessed. The court also said that getting online content removed or rectified can only be ordered by courts in countries where the person publishing abusive comments is based and where the victim lives.
politico.eu
EU court emphasises primacy of EU law in national rulings on corruption: In the case of several Romanian legal disputes, the EU’s Court of Justice has ruled that the case law of a constitutional court in an EU member state cannot be applied if there is a systemic risk that corruption or fraud to the detriment of the EU will go unpunished. Accordingly, national courts cannot be prosecuted under disciplinary law if they ignore such decisions of a constitutional court. Two Romanian courts had asked the Court of Justice to interpret EU law.
dw.com
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EU court backs passengers‘ rights when flights moved forward: Passengers in Europe are entitled to compensation not only if their flights are delayed but also if they are brought forward by more than an hour, the EU’s top court ruled on Tuesday. The court found that “a flight must be regarded as having been ‘cancelled’ in the case where the operating air carrier brings that flight forward by more than one hour.” That, it noted, “may result in serious inconvenience for passengers, in the same way as a delay.”
reuters.com, abcnews.go.com
Money for border protection and education: EU Commission approves 560 million for refugees in Turkey ekathimerini.com
Energy industry: EU in row over inclusion of gas and nuclear in sustainability guidance theguardian.com
Carbon market: EU split on proposals to extend carbon pricing to road transport, ban polluting cars euractiv.com
ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos: Eurozone inflation hike not as temporary as expected reuters.com
EU Court of Justice: Nine judges of the General Court appointed consilium.europa.eu
Fishing: The deals attempting to make global fishing more sustainable euronews.com
⊂ QUOTE OF THE DAY ⊃
„If there is no longer access for products that come from regions like Xinjiang, where forced labour is common practice, this is a big problem for an exporting country like China. We Europeans should make much more use of this lever of the common internal market.“
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock argues that abuses in China should be clearly addressed and, if necessary, sanctioned.
focus.de
⊂ COUNTRIES ⊃
Romanian protesters try to storm parliament: Romanian protesters have tried to force their way into parliament, blocking traffic and vandalising some cars in the capital Bucharest, in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from making a Covid health pass mandatory for workers. Riot police were caught off guard on Tuesday when hundreds of protesters poured in through a yard gate, spray painting cars and forcing security staff to block the building’s entryways.
independent.co.uk
Germany’s Scholz and Russia’s Putin discuss Ukraine: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about security issues in their first telephone call on Tuesday. The two leaders „discussed the increased Russian military presence near Ukraine,“ according to a German government statement. Scholz also „expressed his concern about the situation and the urgent need for de-escalation“ in the region. According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin urged for „serious negotiations“ over security proposals offered to the United States and NATO. During a speech in Moscow, Putin said he will consider a military response if Russia feels threatened by NATO. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu claimed Tuesday that US mercenaries were preparing Ukrainian special forces and radical armed groups for “active hostilities” in eastern Ukraine.
dw.com, theguardian.com, politico.eu
Yamal-Europe pipeline: European gas prices hit record as Russian flows via Yamal reverse. reuters.com
China’s Xi urges Scholz to stay pragmatic with China: Chinese President Xi Jinping told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he was hopeful that the two countries could maintain continuity and „stay on course“ in the development of relations, according to Chinese state media. It’s thought that the comments about leadership style suggest Xi is hoping Scholz will determine Germany’s policy on China rather than Foreign Minister Anna Baerbock, who has spoken of dialogue but also of „toughness“ with China.
dw.com
Hungary’s Orban nominates confidante Novak to be next president: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has nominated Katalin Novak, vice-chairwoman of the ruling Fidesz party, as the next president of the country. She is to replace Janos Ader in the highest state office. Parliament elects the holder of the highest state office. Novak’s election is considered certain after Orban’s nomination, as the Fidesz faction has an overwhelming majority in the parliament.
dpa-international.com
Belarus and Poland block UN team from accessing border amid migrant crisis: The United Nations (UN) said Tuesday that its investigators had not been granted access to the Belarus-Polish border but their probe had uncovered „dire conditions“ for migrants camped there. A UN rights office team had travelled to Poland from 29 November to 3 December, but „was not granted access to the restricted border area,“ spokeswoman Liz Throssell told reporters. And „Belarus regrettably did not accept our request to visit,“ she said.
france24.com
Denmark: Former immigration minister facing jail voted out of parliament dw.com
Berlin: Franziska Giffey sworn in as first elected female mayor dw.com
Finland activates its new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor reuters.com
French army kills key Isis group suspect in 2020 murders of Niger aid workers france24.com
⊂ POLITJOBS ⊃
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⊂ LAST BUT NOT LEAST ⊃
Scotland could soon pardon thousands of women executed for witchcraft: The Scottish Parliament could soon consider pardons for thousands of people – mostly women – who were put on trial and executed centuries ago for witchcraft. Scottish parliament member Natalie Don wrote on social media that she would begin the process of a members‘ bill in parliament to seek a pardon for those convicted and executed. „The incorrect criminalisation of these women only strengthens gendered stereotypes in the modern-day and I believe righting this wrong will make a real impact in challenging gendered and patriarchal attitudes which still exist in society,“ Don said.
euronews.com