On 5 March, a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel has ruled that the EU’s policies of employing indirect land use change (ILUC) methodology to ban palm oil biofuels needs to be changed. A so-called Delegated Act was found to be discriminating against palm oil produced in Malaysia. In response, Malaysian Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk […]
WTO panel orders EU to change biofuels policy Read More »
Armenia threatens to suspend membership of the Russian-led military alliance CSTO, if it continues to meet certain expectations. The decision is indicative of the deteriorating relationship between the two countries. Founded in 1992, the CSTO is led by Russia. Like its Western counterpart, the CSTO regards an attack on one member state as an attack
Armenia threatens to leave Russian CSTO alliance Read More »
The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova has ruled to declare the SOR party, a prominent opposition party, unconstitutional. According to the Constitutional Court, any actions or administrative acts of this party adopted after the promulgation of the decision lose their legal significance. The organisation, whose leadership is accused of forming a criminal organisation,
European Court of Human Rights to review ban on Moldovan opposition party Read More »
In a paper for the European Foundation for Democracy, Holger Loewendorf, a senior advisor at the think tank, takes a closer look at Mongolia and how its rule of law is progressing. He writes: “Following a peaceful revolution in 1990, Mongolia has transitioned to a multi-party electoral democracy with institutionalized political rights and civil liberties.
A closer look at Mongolia’s anti-corruption drive Read More »
By Thomas Matussek, Germany’s Former Ambassador to the UK, the UN and India This week, the World Bank announced it would expand the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement initiative in Central Asia, with the aim of further improving the region’s capacity to produce, refine and transport key resources and minerals. This news has once again
Germany and Kazakhstan: A win-win relationship Read More »
The United Kingdom’s Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has officially confirmed that Malaysia’s standards to prevent deforestation – called the MSPO – are equivalent to the UK’s. The MSPO scheme, shorthand for “Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO)” Certification Scheme is the national scheme in Malaysia for palm oil plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm
UK officially recognises Malaysia’s environmental standards as equivalent Read More »
A European Union naval mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from missile attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen is expected to be launched on February 19, EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced today, according to Euronews. Borrell stated: “Maritime security in the Red Sea has significantly deteriorated over the last weeks and we
EU launches mission in Red Sea as European energy security hit by Houthi attacks Read More »
On 15 January, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship, the U.S. military has announced. The ship has reportly no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey. Earlier in the day, at approximately
European Commission warns for risk of higher inflation as a result of Red Sea attacks Read More »
Novatek, Russia’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has sent force majeure notifications to some of its clients over future supplies from its Arctic LNG 2 project, four industry sources have told Reuters. Commenting on the issue, Italian academic Francesco Sassi, describes this to be “a consequence of US sanctions against Russia’s LNG industry”
Russia’s largest LNG producer sends force majeure notifications Read More »
”Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, has issued fundamental criticism at the EU’s trade policies, stating they hurt developing countries. She told the Financial Times: “Many trade rules forbid policies that can be used by developing countries. And the developed countries have more fiscal space to subsidise in the areas
UN official slams EU for using green policies to hold back developing countries Read More »