Following the Russian attack on Ukraine, the USA, the G7, and the EU have agreed on far-reaching sanctions against Russia. We take a closer look at the individual sanction areas. Till Hoppe analyzes the planned punitive measures against the Russian financial sector. The US, UK, and EU are significantly increasing the pressure on Russia’s banks. […]
Putin’s decision yesterday is likely to further fuel the Russia-Ukraine conflict: The Russian president has recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine as independent states. This makes it possible to station Russian soldiers there. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced EU sanctions against Russia in response to the recognition […]
Even if the Kremlin wants to give the opposite impression: concerns about a Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to grow. “These episodes that heralded an apparent de-escalation are not being taken seriously at the moment,” said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi after the special meeting of EU leaders on the sidelines of the EU-Africa summit. […]
Yesterday, the ECJ dismissed the actions brought forward by the governments in Poland and Hungary against the EU’s rule of law mechanism. This allows the EU Commission to withhold funds for member states if democratic rights and freedoms are violated. But there is no question of Brussels taking swift action: it could take “weeks” before […]
Following his visit to Kiev yesterday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is traveling to Moscow today. Several hours are scheduled for the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz’s trip is actually an inaugural visit, but the looming threat of war in Ukraine will likely overshadow all other issues. In Kiev, the chancellor said that he […]
The Federal Assembly yesterday confirmed Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Federal President with a broad majority for another five years. After his re-election, he used the first speech for clear words to Vladimir Putin, whom he blamed for the escalation in the Ukraine conflict. At the same time, he appealed to the Russian president: “Help us find […]
There have been repeated delays, but the directive on sustainable corporate governance is finally due to be adopted on February 23rd. This was preceded by two negative assessments by an internal Commission body, the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. Some of the content of the proposed legislation is already known – for example, it appears that the […]
The discussion about the green EU taxonomy is in full swing, now the next taxonomy project could cause conflicts. The expert group “Platform on Sustainable Finance” will present its final report on the social categorization of economic activities this month. The EU Commission must then decide how to deal with the suggestions on the social […]
“Putting sensitive gas infrastructure in Germany in the hands of Gazprom was not a smart policy,” says Reinhard Bütikofer, foreign policy coordinator of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, referring to skyrocketing energy prices and historically empty gas storage facilities. Germany and the EU want to position themselves better in the future. Timo Landenberger […]