April 2025 – European Neighbourhood Monitor

Tensions Escalate as Russia Attempts to Establish Buffer Zone in Ukraine’s Sumy Region

Sumy, Ukraine – Russian forces are attempting to establish a strategic buffer zone in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to local authorities. Oleh Hryhorov, Governor of Sumy, reported via Telegram that four villages near the border are currently in a “grey zone” due to ongoing hostilities. Despite repeated efforts, Russia has so far failed to […]

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Doubts raised on effectiveness on newly proposed EUDR simplification

Indo-Pacific / ENM

The European Commission has announced simplifications to the implementation of its Deforestation Regulation in response to complaints about the cost of it for businesses. The initiative is part of its more general ongoing focus on streamlining regulatory processes while continuing to apply the overall ambitions of the Green Deal. Regarding EUDR simplification, the Commission published

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Sudan’s civil war enters its third year

Africa / ENM

Sudan’s brutal civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has entered its third year, as the involvement of rebel groups and persistent violence continue to destabilize the region, exacerbating what the United Nations calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. In a recent escalation of violence, Sudan’s paramilitary

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Trump tariffs put India’s pharmaceuticals sector in the EU’s spotlight

Indopacific / ENM

U.S. Tariffs Propel EU-India Free Trade Agreement Talks Forward In the wake of escalating U.S. tariffs, the European Union (EU) and India have intensified efforts to finalize a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA), aiming to conclude negotiations by the end of 2025. This renewed vigor in discussions underscores both parties’ desire to bolster economic ties

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EU and UAE Launch Free Trade Talks

Middle East / ENM

In a significant development for international trade, the European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to initiate negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Announced on April 10, 2025, this move aims to strengthen economic ties between the two entities, focusing on enhancing trade in goods and services, investment, and

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USTR Pressures EU to Dismantle Green Regulations in Exchange for Tariff Relief

Americas / ENM

As the Trump administration revives its aggressive trade posture, non-tariff barriers have come to the center of U.S. trade demands. This week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has ramped up pressure on the European Union, urging it to scrap key environmental regulations that the U.S. sees as unfair obstacles to trade—most

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Saudi Arabia Pushes OPEC+ Oil Output Hike as Prices Slide and Global Demand Weakens

Middle East / ENM

Saudi Arabia has coordinated a new oil production increase with its OPEC+ partners, including Russia, marking a significant departure from recent supply restraint policies. The move comes amid growing concerns about a global economic slowdown and increasing uncertainty in international trade, particularly in the context of escalating tariff tensions. The production hike, described as a

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Asia is strongly impacted by Trump tariffs

Indopacific / ENM

President Donald Trump’s recent tariff impositions have significantly impacted the Asia-Pacific region, with varying effects across different nations. Vietnam faces one of the highest tariffs at 46%, reflecting its substantial trade surplus with the U.S. Similarly, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are subjected to tariffs of 49%, 44%, and 37% respectively, primarily targeting their exports

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Norway Launches Major Oil Extraction in the Arctic

Arctic / ENM

The Johan Castberg Field Begins Production In a landmark development for Arctic energy exploration, Norway has officially commenced oil production at the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea, a region located within the Arctic Circle. The project, led by state-owned energy giant Equinor alongside partners Vår Energi and Petoro, marks one of the most

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