This week's European news

Letter n°1086 of Tuesday 5^th November 2024

Draghi Report: as strategic a guide as it is diplomatic for Europe

Jean-Paul Betbeze - 05 Nov 2024

'The European Union has to get on track for more growth and jobs in a world that is moving faster than the former is at present; and the European Commission, which holds the legislative initiative, has to be shaped accordingly', says Jean-Paul Betbeze, before he goes on to say "No one will be able to say they didn't know what was going on: there are ways out of the spiral we are in, caught between the two world powers, the United States and China, a spiral that could well crush us".

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■ Front page! :

How can we preserve peace which is now under threat?

"Wars are flaring up all over the world. The fait accompli and the use of force are once again making a brutal comeback. They are drawing closer." For Jean-Dominique Giuliani, against a backdrop of multiplying and diversifying conflicts, Europe must strengthen its positions to dissuade its potential adversaries from resorting to the threat and use of force, with a view to prolong what is one of its founding principles, namely peace. Read more

■ Foundation :

The Schuman Network celebrates its 1st anniversary

In November the Schuman Network celebrates its 1st anniversary! This initiative by the Foundation works to promote the sharing of ideas on a European scale. With 21 members from 13 European countries, the Schuman Network is a forum to pool research on topical European issues. Since its launch 137 studies have been published. Read more

■ Commission :

New customs duties on Chinese electric vehicles

On 29 October, the European Commission announced the end of its anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles from China. This investigation, announced in September 2023 by Ursula von der Leyen, concluded that there were unfair subsidies threatening to cause injury to European manufacturers. As a result, the Commission raised customs duties on these vehicles for a period of 5 years. China responded on 30 October by announcing that it had referred the matter to the WTO, deeming the decision 'protectionist'. Read more

Investment in breakthrough innovations

The European Innovation Council will support European research in the field of deep technologies to the tune of €1.4 billion for the year 2025, an increase of €200 million compared to 2024. The Council is part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation. The work programme for 2025 was adopted on 29 October. Read more

Competition agreement with the United Kingdom

On 29 October, the European Commission and the United Kingdom concluded negotiations on a cooperation agreement in the field of competition. This agreement will complement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and will facilitate direct cooperation between the Commission, the national competition authorities of the Member States and the UK competition authority. It is the first agreement in the EU to provide for the 27 national competition authorities to cooperate directly with an authority outside the EU. Read more

Reports on Enlargement

On 30 October, the European Commission published its enlargement reports, which provide a detailed assessment of the progress made by each candidate country towards accession to the European Union. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania officially began talks during the year, or are preparing to do so, while Montenegro is on track to provisionally close several negotiation chapters. Serbia has met the benchmarks for opening chapter group 3 (Competitiveness and Growth). The Commission remains ready to draw up an opinion on Kosovo's application for membership as soon as the Council so requests. The accession process has been de facto interrupted in Georgia due to the course of action adopted by the government, which runs counter to the values and principles on which the Union is founded. Read more

■ Council :

New restrictive measures against the Burmese military junta

On 29 October, the Council approved new restrictive measures against three individuals and one entity associated with the military junta in Burma. In particular, they are considered to be responsible for swindling the Burmese population and citizens of countries in the region. The EU had already suspended its financial aid to the Burmese government and frozen any assistance that might legitimise the junta. The Council reiterated its concern at the escalation of violence in Burma, which has regional implications. Read more

■ Diplomacy :

Security and Defence Pact between Japan and the EU

On 1 November, Japan and the European Union announced a new security and defence pact in Tokyo, described as a "historic step" by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The pact provides for more joint military exercises, high-level dialogue and cooperation in the defence industry. This agreement demonstrates Japan's concerns about China and the rapprochement between North Korea and Russia. Read more - Other link

■ European Agencies :

Dismantling of malicious software by Eurojust

A network of 1,200 servers was dismantled by Eurojust on 29 October, in an operation involving several countries. The targeted software running on these servers was used to steal personal data and carry out other cybercrimes. Several million people around the world were infected by this software. This operation was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the Dutch, American, Belgian, Portuguese, British and Australian authorities. Read more

Dangerous chemicals found in cosmetic products

The European Chemicals Agency carried out a test in 13 countries on almost 4,500 products. The results of this test, published on 30 October, show that 285 of the cosmetics inspected (6% of the total) contained dangerous substances whose use is prohibited. Read more - Other link

SpaceRISE selected for IRIS2 multi-orbit satellite constellation

The European Commission announced on 31 October that it had chosen the SpaceRISE consortium (Eutelsat-Hispasat-SES) to develop the Iris² European constellation of secure communications satellites. The Iris² project calls for a network of 290 multi-orbital satellites to be brought into service by 2030. Read more

■ Germany :

Olaf Scholz visits India

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and several members of his government visited India on 25 October to mark a rapprochement with the country. Several cooperation agreements were signed, notably on legal assistance in criminal matters and the exchange of classified information. The implementation of the Agreement on Migration and Mobility was announced, with the two countries recognising their close ties in terms of skilled labour immigration. Read more

■ Croatia :

Agreement with Germany for the acquisition of Leopard tanks

On 28 October, the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, and his Croatian counterpart, Ivan Anušić, signed a memorandum of understanding on the acquisition of Leopard 2A8 tanks by Croatia. In exchange for financial support for this purchase, Croatia is to supply combat vehicles to Germany, which will then send them to Ukraine. Read more

■ Spain :

Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean

The 9th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean took place on 28 October in Barcelona, chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union. A multilateral organisation for dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean, the summit, attended by representatives of the 43 member states, focused on the reform of the institution and the situation in the Middle East. Read more - Other link

■ France :

State visit to Morroco

The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, made a State visit to Morocco from 28 to 30 October. The aim is to strengthen relations between the two countries through 'an exceptional and reinforced partnership', with a view to reinforcing cooperation on immigration as well as in the political, economic and military spheres. Read more

■ Portugal :

Signing of an arms agreement with France

France and Portugal signed an agreement on 26 October for the joint procurement of Caesar guns. Strengthening cooperation between the two countries, Portugal joins Croatia and Estonia in this partnership, which will boost artillery capabilities under the aegis of European funding via the EDIRPA mechanism. Read more

■ Georgia :

Joint declaration by European ministers on the elections in Georgia

On 28 October, the foreign affairs ministers of thirteen Member States issued a joint statement on the elections in Georgia on 26 October. They expressed their concern at the violations of international rules for free and fair elections during the electoral campaign, but also on polling day. After expressing their solidarity with the Georgian people, the ministers stated that the violations of electoral integrity were incompatible with the standards expected of a candidate for membership of the European Union. Read more

■ Moldova :

Maia Sandu re-elected President

Two weeks after the victory of the 'yes' vote in the referendum on the European Union, Moldovans confirmed their European trajectory on 3 November by re-electing outgoing president Maia Sandu in an election marked by suspicions of Russian interference. She won 55.41% of the vote, against her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo, supported by the pro-Russian socialists, who won 44.59%, according to the near-final results published by the Electoral Commission. Read more - Other link

■ Montenegro :

Ministerial forum on justice and security in the Balkans

On 28 and 29 October in Budva, Montenegro, the interior and justice ministers of the six Western Balkan countries met with European Commissioners Ylva Johansson and Didier Reynders and their Hungarian counterparts, acting on behalf of the Council. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against regional and transnational organised crime networks. A new counter-terrorism action plan for the Western Balkans is planned for 2025. Read more

■ UK :

New series of sanctions against Russian companies

On 28 October, the United Kingdom announced that it had adopted a new series of sanctions against Russian companies and their directors for foreign interference operations. More specifically, these sanctions concern three Russian public relations companies accused of conducting disinformation campaigns against Ukraine and European institutions. Among the sanctioned companies is the Kremlin-run Social Design Agency (SDA), which has already been criticised by the British government for inciting the organisation of demonstrations against Ukraine and the European authorities in a dozen countries. Read more

■ Ukraine :

NATO confirms deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on 28 October that North Korean troops had been sent to Russia and were deployed in the Kursk region, where the Ukrainian army made a breakthrough in August. Prior to this statement, a meeting took place at which a South Korean delegation provided information on the subject. Read more

Ukraine-Nordic countries summit in Iceland

The 4th Ukraine-Northern countries summit was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 28 and 29 October. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was able to exchange views with the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden on how the Nordic countries can support Ukraine and move the Victory Plan forward. The final declaration addresses the needs of the defence sector, the financing of Ukrainian production and the strengthening of air defence. Read more

■ NATO :

Meeting between Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, met on 29 October. They announced the creation of a new "high-level task force" to strengthen existing cooperation between the European Union and NATO. Read more

■ WTO :

Conference by Charles Michel, President of the European Council

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, gave a speech to the WTO in Geneva on 1 November. The conference focused on the role of the multilateral trading system in a world facing major crises and challenges. He presented three main points: trust, trade and change. Read more

■ Eurostat :

Progression of the GDP in the 3rd quarter

According to Eurostat figures published on 30 October, GDP in the eurozone rose by 0.4% and that of the European Union by 0.3% in the third quarter of 2024. This represents an improvement on the second quarter, when the respective increases were 0.2% and 0.3%. Read more

■ Studies/Reports :

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023

The progress report on climate action was published by the European Commission on 31 October. Among its conclusions is the figure of an 8.3% drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 compared to the previous year. This is the biggest drop in decades, with the exception of 2020 with the Covid virus. Net emissions are now 37% below 1990 levels, leaving the European Union on track to meet its reduction targets of at least 55% by 2030. Read more

Towards an intelligence cooperation service

The Niinistö report, named after the former President of Finland, was presented to the Commission on 30 October. The report looks at the Union's state of preparedness in the civil and military spheres. It sets out the new challenges facing the Union and its Member States, along with some 80 recommendations on how best to tackle them. Read more - Other link

■ Culture :

450th anniversary of the death of Giorgio Vasari

Until 2 February 2025, the Theatre of Virtues is showing the works of the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari at the Museum of Arezzo. A friend of Michelangelo and a favourite at the court of Duke Cosimo de' Medici, Vasari is being honoured in an exhibition that presents multiple perspectives on his work, including achievements that are little known or unknown to the general public. Read more

World Press Photo in Kyiv

The World Press Photo 2024 exhibition will run until 17 November at the Dovzhenko Centre in Kyiv. The annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the past year. The winners were chosen by an independent jury of 31 professionals from around the world. Read more

Jackson Pollock at the Picasso Museum in Paris

With its exhibition 'Jackson Pollock: the early years (1934-1947)', the Musée Picasso in Paris is paying tribute to the American artist until 19 January 2025. This exhibition retraces the early years of Jackson Pollock's career, focusing exclusively on his very first works, marked by the influence of regionalism and Mexican muralists. Read more

Salvo in Turin

Until 25 May 2025, the Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin is presenting an exhibition devoted to the Italian artist Salvo. An independent painter of the second half of the twentieth century, his style, marked by the study of light and the languages of conceptual art, is revealed to the general public, in collaboration with the Salvo archives. Read more

Stefan Sagmeister in Malaga

Until 2 March 2025, the La Térmica centre for contemporary culture in Malaga is unveiling Stefan Sagmeister's collection of works entitled 'Better'. Drawing on data provided by international institutions such as the World Bank and the UN, the Austrian artist masterfully blends it with design to create captivating visual representations for the public. Read more

London Art & Antiques Fair

The Winter Art Fair in London will run until 10 November. This art and antiques fair is a real showcase for art and antique dealers. It offers an opportunity to appreciate collections comprising a wide range of high-quality items from all over the world, spanning several centuries. It is one of the best places to discover beautiful objects. Read more

International Film Festival in Stockholm

The Stockholm International Film Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary from 6 to 17 November. It focuses on independent and auteur cinema, with an emphasis on first works and films by emerging directors. This year, almost 135 films from 50 different countries will be screened, representing a wide range of cultures and genres. Read more

Brive Book Fair

The 42nd Brive Book Fair takes place from 8 to 10 November. A major event in France's literary life, the book fair, in partnership with local authorities and private players, brings together over 400 authors and illustrators in a wide variety of meetings, forums and readings. Read more

Opera Europa Next Generation

Opera Europa, the consortium of opera companies and festivals, presented its new initiative, Opera Europa Next Generation, at its conference in Turin on 25 October. This platform, supported by the Creative Europe programme, will be active from January 2025 and dedicated to young opera and dance artists in Europe. From 2025 to 2028, more than 140 emerging artists will benefit each year from an unprecedented programme of support, training and promotion. Read more

"Passeurs d'Histoire" at the Verdun Memorial

From 7 to 10 November, the Verdun Memorial is presenting its first 'Passeurs d'Histoire' festival, with a programme focusing on the theme of the post-war period. This festival is dedicated to all forms of transmission of History and brings together people from very different backgrounds who wish to share their passion for History with the public. Read more

■ Sport :

Start of the 10th Vendée Globe

The 10th Vendée Globe race will set off from Les Sables d'Olonne on 10 November. 40 skippers will be starting this single-handed, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world race. The previous race took place 4 years ago and was won by Yannick Bestaven. Read more