The essential press review for EU professionals who come back from holidays
10 news you might have missed. Bring yourself up to speed on what happened in Europe in the last weeks.
This year, I enjoyed three weeks of holidays. I’m back to the job only today.
And for these three week—oh boy!—did I disconnect. No news, no POLITICO brief, no EURACTIV newsletter. Nothing. And it was nice.
But now, I’m back to the bubble. And so are you. That’s why I prepared this essential list you don’t want to skip to bring yourself up to speed on what happened in Europe in the last weeks.
Sweden takes over the EU presidency
And that’s bound to make some noise.
Mainly because the current government is in a coalition with the far-right, you can expect a more conservative agenda.
Promoters of a reform of the EU will be disappointed.
EPP-ECR’s entente cordiale in Rome
European People’s Party president Manfred Weber met with Italian Prime Minister and far-right leader Giorgia Meloni in Rome on 5 January.
This meeting is an additional step in a series of rapprochements between the two right-wing parties (Weber’s EPP and Meloni’s ECR).
It seems that Weber and Meloni discussed potential collaboration, mainly in Poland, which will host elections in October.
The February EU-Ukraine summit will be held in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a chat with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in early January—probably not only to exchange the traditional yearly wishes.
The summit will be held on 3 February in the war-torn country, with Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel attending on behalf of the EU.
The announcement comes after Germany and France agreed to increase their military help to the country, notably sending armored vehicles.
Germany and Norway to sign on a hydrogen pipeline
Hydrogen technology is gathering momentum.
After France, Spain and Portugal signed a new Barcelona-Marseille Hydrogen pipeline, natural gas importer Germany and natural gas exporter Norway are investing in the future of energy.
“Initially, this would be in the form of hydrogen produced using natural gas,” German vice-chancellor said, as reported by EURACTIV.
Caution and mandatory tests for travelers from China
As the COVID epidemic restarts in China with the end of the Zero-COVID policy, the EU is asking its members for caution.
France, Belgium and others already reinstated mandatory tests in airports for travelers for the Empire of the Middle.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety tweeted that “China must share data transparently on its current situation.”
Gas prices are down to their pre-war level
With the warm start of the year and thanks to the efforts of consumers, gas prices are down to €65 per megawatthour (MWh) at the Dutch TTF (Title Transfer Facility).
The last time the TTF was under the €70/MWh was height days before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, euronews reported.
Post-war recovery: not for now
Economists of the European Central Bank predicted a 'very strong' near-term wage growth in the coming months.
But the economic outlook remains bleak: “beyond the near term, the expected economic slowdown in the euro area and uncertainty about the economic outlook are likely to put downward pressure on wage growth.”
Furthermore, inflation in the eurozone fell to 9.2% in December, (from 10.1% in November).
Kosovo officially asked to join the EU
On 15 December, Kosovo prime minister Albin Kurti officially introduced his country’s candidacy to the EU.
Toute l’Europe recalls that Kosovo’s independence is not recognised by five EU member states: Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus.
The Qatargate is now a Moroccogate too
The Belgian investigation into systemic corruption at the highest level of the European Parliament incriminates Morocco as a key player.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, visited the country after it was made clear that Morocco was involved in the corruption of MEPs and assistants.
At the occasion of his trip, Borrell said that EU aid to the country would increase to €1.6 billion during 2021-2027 from 1.4 billion in 2014-2020, EURACTIV wrote.