Natural gas stocks across the European Union have fallen to exceptionally low levels for this point in the season, raising concerns about higher purchasing costs in the coming winter months. Storage facilities currently stand at just below 58 percent of capacity, a figure well short of the long-term average recorded at the same time in […]
European Gas Storage Levels Reach Unusually Low Levels Ahead of Winter Read More »
When Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently addressed the consequences of the war in Ukraine in carefully chosen public remarks, the message was widely interpreted as a diplomatic signal directed toward Moscow. Yet the substance of his comments pointed to concerns that extended well beyond the battlefield. The economic pressures generated by the conflict have complicated
Kazakhstan’s President Warns about Regional Consequences of the Ukraine Conflict Read More »
By Pieter Cleppe In June, the Cypriot EU Presidency came up with a compromise proposal on the EU’s long term budget, which intended to cut a modest 33 billion euro. That didn’t get much more love than the proposal of the European Commission, which wants to spend about 2 trillion euro between 2028 and 2034,
The Road to the EU’s Next Long-Term Budget Remains Long Read More »
By Pieter Cleppe Last week, the European Commission decided to impose a fine of 890 million euros on Google, this time under the new European “Digital Markets Act” (DMA). It is yet another European fine running into the billions levied on an American tech company. Once again, Google is being forced to cough up money
The EU’s regulatory frenzy causes more and more tensions with its trading partners Read More »
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
Malaysia and the European Union Near Completion of Free Trade Agreement Read More »
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
Europe’s Energy Policy Reckoning Read More »
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
EU Reassesses Russian Oil Ban Timeline Read More »
India has moved to deepen its economic ties with both the European Union and the United States, advancing two significant but structurally different trade arrangements within weeks of each other. While both initiatives signal New Delhi’s intention to expand global trade partnerships, the agreements differ in ambition, scope and political context. Great news for India
India Balances Brussels and Washington in Parallel Trade Deals Read More »
France and Italy are urging the European Union to temporarily exempt fertilisers from its carbon border levy, arguing that the measure risks further straining Europe’s agricultural sector at a time of low crop prices and high input costs. According to documents seen by Reuters, the two countries are seeking a delay or suspension of the
France and Italy push for temporary exemption of fertilisers from EU carbon border levy Read More »
The European Union’s decision to delay the implementation of its deforestation law is increasingly seen as a stark illustration of how difficult it has become for Brussels to project its regulatory power beyond its borders. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), first proposed in 2021, was intended to prevent products linked to deforestation from entering the bloc’s
EUDR delay seen as exposing the limits of the “Brussels effect” Read More »