By Pieter Cleppe The EU summit that blocked the Ukraine loan plan championed by Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz was widely framed as a setback for European unity. In reality, it was something else entirely: a rare moment where escalation was paused before doing lasting damage. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (picture) […]
A Belgian EU Summit win Read More »
As diplomatic efforts continue to address the war in Ukraine, developments beyond the battlefield are reshaping the strategic environment of the wider Black Sea region. One of the less visible but increasingly significant dimensions of the conflict concerns energy security and the way energy infrastructure has become entangled in the hostilities. Since the beginning of
A security reset in the Black Sea Region Read More »
The European Union has reached a political agreement to delay and amend its flagship Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), thereby also confirming that books, newspapers and other printed materials will no longer fall under the law’s requirements. After intensive trilogue negotiations on December 4, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission agreed
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NGOs still remain influential in policy debate on EU spending By Pieter Cleppe The Danish Presidency has ignited a major political storm in Brussels after introducing a last-minute overhaul of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) that dramatically raises taxes on heated tobacco products. A newly circulated Council draft reveals that both the Presidency and the
Danish EU Presidency pushes ‘super tax’ on heated tobacco Read More »
Satellite analysis from CSIS indicates that Tehran’s already severe water shortages are worsening at an accelerated pace. President Masoud Pezeshkian issued one of the strongest warnings yet, stating that if meaningful rainfall does not arrive within the next month, Tehran will have to impose water rationing—and, in the most extreme scenario, consider evacuating parts of
Tehran Faces Severe Water Emergency as Drought Deepens and Rationing Looms Read More »
Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly acknowledged that he personally ordered the intensified customs controls that have caused weeks-long traffic jams involving tens of thousands of trucks at the Russian-Kazakhstan border. Speaking at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 27, Putin told reporters that the measures were necessary to stop massive illegal imports
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European gas storage levels have fallen below the 80% threshold, reigniting concerns in energy markets as an early Arctic blast drives up consumption across the continent. Despite a global supply glut and declining benchmark prices, analysts warn that gas geopolitics remain a dominant factor shaping Europe’s energy landscape. According to energy researcher Francesco Sassi, gas
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EU governments have endorsed a proposal to postpone the implementation of the bloc’s deforestation rules for an additional year and to introduce a mechanism that could allow the legislation to be revised as early as next spring, according to diplomats briefed on the talks. The decision, taken during negotiations on Wednesday, opens the door to
EU governments back one-year pause and potential reopening of deforestation law Read More »
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors on Monday approved a resolution calling on Iran to immediately provide information on the status of its enriched uranium stockpiles and to grant the access required for verification activities. The decision follows months of limited cooperation between Tehran and the UN watchdog, particularly after a series
Tensions between India and the European Union have intensified in recent weeks as New Delhi raises concerns about the growing number of EU environmental regulations affecting trade, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). India’s commerce minister warned at the end of October that complying with the expanding list
India–EU Tensions Rise Over CBAM Read More »