ENM – Page 3 – European Neighbourhood Monitor

Malaysia and the European Union Near Completion of Free Trade Agreement

Malaysia and the European Union are in the final stages of concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), alongside a broader partnership framework intended to enhance economic cooperation and bilateral relations. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, indicated that progress has accelerated as the EU increasingly views Southeast Asia as a strategically important region. This shift comes […]

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Concerns Rise Over Stability of Kazakhstan Oil Transit to Germany

Eastern Europe / ENM

Reportedly, Russia may be exerting additional pressure on European energy infrastructure, particularly through the Druzhba pipeline, one of the continent’s major oil supply routes. According to these claims, oil deliveries originating in Kazakhstan and transiting through Russian infrastructure toward Germany could face disruptions or rerouting beginning in early May. While such flows are technically non-Russian

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Debate on EU Russian Gas Ban and EU Energy Mix Intensifies

Eastern Europe / ENM

Claudio Descalzi, chief executive of Eni, has publicly suggested that the European Union may need to reconsider its planned ban on Russian gas imports if current energy market pressures persist. Speaking at a public event in Italy, Descalzi described the present energy situation as one of the most significant in recent decades. He indicated that

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“Iran and Iraq Reach Deal to Allow Iraqi Oil Through Strait of Hormuz”

Middle East / ENM

Baghdad and Tehran appear to have reached an agreement allowing Iraqi oil shipments to resume transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to statements attributed to Iraqi and Iranian officials on Monday. The reported arrangement would grant Iraqi tankers a form of exemption from restrictions Iran has imposed on maritime traffic in the

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Reported Drone Strike on Oil Tanker in Dubai Raises Concerns Over Gulf Energy Security

Middle East / ENM

Unverified reports circulating on social media have described a drone strike on a large oil tanker in the port of Dubai, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure in the Gulf region amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Claims and available information According to posts published on X (formerly Twitter) by analyst Francesco Sassi, a

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Europe’s Energy Policy Reckoning

Energy / ENM

By Pieter Cleppe Europe’s energy strategy is no longer sustainable. What once passed as long-term planning has collided with geopolitical reality, and the consequences are now impossible to ignore. The war in Iran has merely accelerated a crisis that was already years in the making: a system built on fragile assumptions, increasing dependency, and political

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Energy Markets Drive Palm Oil Higher, Reshaping Global Trade Pressures

Indopacific / ENM

Palm oil prices are rising again, but the movement is about more than commodity cycles. What is unfolding is a convergence of energy markets, biofuel demand, and increasingly complex global trade rules. In Malaysia, palm oil futures have been trending upward, supported by higher crude oil prices and a weaker ringgit. These factors are making

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EU Reassesses Russian Oil Ban Timeline

Eastern Europe / ENM

Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are increasing concerns about global energy supply, particularly following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Industry leaders, including Wael Sawan, have warned that Europe could face shortages of key fuels such as diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline in the near term. These developments have contributed to heightened

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Turkey Is Determined to Stay Out of the Iran War

Middle East / ENM

Turkey has multiple reasons to be wary of the escalating conflict in Iran: the potential refugee crisis, disruptions to oil and gas supplies, impacts on trade, and losses in tourism. Above all, Ankara prefers to stay out of the fighting and maintain a role as a neutral mediator. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made this

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EU Tax Policy: Ever Closer Coordination

European Union / ENM

By Pieter Cleppe Taxation has traditionally been regarded as one of the core prerogatives of national sovereignty within the European Union. Member states determine their own tax rates, structures, and revenue priorities, reflecting domestic political choices and economic models. Yet over the past decade — and particularly since 2020 — the EU’s role in shaping

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Author name: ENM