Grasp the pattern, read the trend

No. 2, December/2021

Brought to you by CPG

Supported by KAS

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Europe in Review’s second Europe Monthly issue providing you with a rich stream of information on European governance as well as international relations, collective security, human rights and constitutional politics in Europe.

Please also note that this is also the first Europe Monthly issue that will be translated in parts in Thai language as well. If you are interested in receiving the Thai issue, please register here. 

We value your feedback and comments which are especially useful in this early phase of implementing the full Europe in Review and hope you enjoy reading what the EiR team has produced for you.

With best regards,

Henning Glaser

Editor in Chief

Webpage: www.cpg-online.de, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPGTU

Main Sections

• EU, International Relations and Geopolitics

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Western Europe

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Northern Europe

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Central Europe

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Southern Europe 

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Eastern Europe

• Constitutional Law and Politics in Southeastern Europe

EU, International Relations and Geopolitics

Russia stages military drills amidst rising tensions with Ukraine

Russian army personnel conducted completed military drills in the Black Sea area on 24 November amidst escalating fears of an invasion. The Russian military have carried out the drills in what they say is in response to the increased NATO activity near its borders.

Moscow has said that it needed to sharpen the combat-readiness of its conventional and nuclear forces in response to the presence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Ukraine, who are fearful that a Russian attack is imminent, has conducted military drills of its own near the frontier in Belarus. The increase in military activity by both sides follows weeks of continued hostility between Kyiv and Moscow. [Reuters]

It is now estimated that there are in the region of 100,000 Russian troops positioned at the Russia-Ukraine border. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has reached out to the international community for help as Russia continues to strengthen its military presence. 

The military drills are the latest escalation in the continued conflict between the bordering countries which began in March 2014, when Russian troops took control of Ukraine’s Crimean region, and subsequently annexed the region after Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation after a contentious local referendum. 

Russia has kept some ambiguity about their reasons for the continued growth in military presence, with many inside Ukraine fearing a looming attack on the Donbas region in the east of the country, where Russia supports separatists who have declared the region autonomous.

Both NATO and the White House have pledged their unwavering support for the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who visited Ukraine earlier this year, said that if Russia “commit[s] further aggressive acts against Ukraine, we are committed, and Germany is committed, to taking appropriate action.” [EUobserver]

Blinken’s comments came after US President Joe Biden sent CIA Director Bill Burns to Moscow earlier in November. Burns was sent to inform the Kremlin that the US is keeping a close eye on the actions of troops near the Ukrainian border but also to determine what the underlying motives are for Russia’s actions. [CNN]

Russia has downplayed the movement of its troops towards the border, with Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, saying that “the movement of troops on our territory shouldn’t be a cause for anyone’s concern.” [Deutsche Welle] His comments echo those of Vladimir Putin, who dismissed the idea of Russia plotting a military invasion as “alarmist” in an interview with Rossiya 1 earlier this month. [CNBC]

The comments from the Russian leadership have done little to comfort the Ukrainian government, which has been on increased alert since Putin’s essay published in July entitled On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, called into question the legitimacy of Ukraine’s borders. [Atlantic Council]

The conflict which began in 2014 has killed over 14,000 and displaced 1.5 million people to date.  

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United States voice warning against Russia after missile test in space, sale of air defence systems

A Russian missile test that destroyed one of the country’s satellites in orbit on 16 November, forced the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to seek shelter from possible debris. [RFE/RL]

During a briefing, United States authorities said that “the Russian Federation recklessly conducted a destructive satellite test of a direct ascent anti-satellite missile against one of its own satellites.” Russia’s space agency stated in response that the satellite was not in the ISS orbit and posed no immediate risk. [BBC News]

A higher frequency of new weapons’ tests has opened a rift between the United States and Russia as well as China in recent years. [South China Morning Post] On 18 November, the Russian military announced the test of a hypersonic cruise missile in the Arctic, which are more difficult to intercept than conventional missiles. [Moscow Times]

Russia is known for its expertise in missiles and defence systems, among others its S-400 air defence system.  The supply of these missile systems to Turkey and India has created tensions with the United States, which reportedly considers imposing sanctions on India and excluding Turkey from the acquisition of its latest-generation F-35 fighter jets. [Al Jazeera] [Asia Nikkei] [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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EU agrees new sanctions against Belarus over migrant crisis amid geopolitical tensions

The European Union on 15 November agreed on a series of new sanctions against Belarus over an ongoing migrant crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border that has fueled geopolitical tensions, threatening to draw in Russia, the United States and NATO. [Euronews]

The build-up of mostly Middle Eastern migrants on the EU’s eastern flank prompted accusations that Belarus was mounting a “hybrid” attack that aimed to destabilise Poland and the EU as a whole by inciting thousands to illegally cross its border. [Reuters]

The US State Department suggested that the migrant crisis was orchestrated by Russia-allied Belarus in order to distract attention from a build-up of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border – a claim the Kremlin denied. [Reuters] 

The migrant crisis prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity, with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen meeting US President Joe Biden; European Council President Charles Michel travelling to Poland to express “full solidarity” with the country; and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki heading for talks with the leaders of Germany, France and Britain. [Euractiv] [Reuters] 

In Berlin, Morawiecki told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate aim was to cause rifts in the EU and NATO. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “We are also dealing with a connection to Russia here.” She added: “We know that Lukashenka and President Putin have a very close relationship.” [Politico Europe] 

NATO on 12 November condemned Belarus for its alleged role in the crisis, and called on the country to “abide by international law.” Minsk continues to deny responsibility, despite Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka saying on 19 November that it was “absolutely possible” that his forces assisted migrants in reaching the country’s borders with the EU. [NATO] [Euronews] [Guardian]

The new sanctions agreed by European Union foreign ministers are likely to target and freeze the assets of “people, airlines, travel agencies and everyone involved in this illegal push of migrants,” said the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. [Guardian]

In an attempt to prevent more migrants from arriving at the border, the European Commission on 23 November threatened to sanction airlines that help transport migrants aiming to enter the EU via Belarus. The proposed measures would block these companies from entering EU airspace. 

Lukashenka’s role in the migrant crisis is thought to be a response to previous sanctions imposed by the EU following a crackdown on political opposition in Belarus. [Politico Europe] 

The tension on the border has at times escalated into violence, with Polish authorities employing water cannon and tear gas against groups of migrants on the Belarusian side. Poland’s defence ministry said that this was in response to violent tactics used by migrants who attempted to force their way through barriers and threw objects across the border, injuring a number of Polish officers. The defence ministry in Warsaw also alleged that Belarus was supplying the migrants with sound grenades to throw across border fences. [Reuters]

Thousands of migrants were stuck on the border in makeshift camps in low temperatures as winter approached, and at least 11 are known to have died in the region since the crisis began. Belarusian authorities on 17 November began moving around 2,000 migrants from forests into warehouses, saying that food and warmth was being provided. Syria and Iraq have begun coordinating with Minsk to repatriate some of their citizens, with hundreds of migrants having already been flown back home. [Reuters] [Guardian] [BBC News] [Al Jazeera]

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Belarus: OSCE countries accuse Belarus of human rights violations as crackdown on media continues

Thirty-five countries of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a European inter-governmental organisation focused on security and human rights, have requested Belarus to provide detail about “serious human rights violations” taking place in the country.

The OSCE countries invoked the “Vienna Mechanism”, a tool that is used by the organisation to allow for the exchange of information concerning human rights and related issues. The request expresses a growing concern over possible unjust arrests, torture, declining media freedom and restrictions to fundamental freedoms. [RFE/RL]

In Germany, two human rights organisations have accused Belarusian authorities of human rights abuses in a complaint filed in Germany under the principle of universal jurisdiction on 3 November. [Deutsche Welle]

An investigate committee in Belarus has recently launched an investigation into former law enforcement officers who are now supporting the regime’s opposition. [RFE/RL]

The country’s authorities have also renewed its attacks on journalists. The country’s oldest newspaper and its social media channels were banned by a court on 23 November, following a request from the public authorities. [RFE/RL]

On 3 November, the Belsat news channel that is operating from Poland was declared an “extremist” organisation. [Reuters] A journalist and her husband were sentenced by a court in Belarus for publishing “extremist” content on social media. [RFE/RL]

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Germany: Federal Agency suspends Nord Stream 2 certification procedure

The Federal Network Agency, Germany’s energy regulator, suspended on 16 November the certification procedure for the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, built to transport gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Without the agency’s approval, the controversial pipeline cannot be brought into service. [FAZ]

The agency said that the pipeline operator, Swiss-based Nord Stream 2 AG, must be organised under German law before continuing the certification procedure. In response, the company, largely controlled by the Russian energy corporation Gazprom, announced it would set up a German subsidiary. [Spiegel]

The agency’s announcement led to gas price rises across Europe, further exacerbating Europe’s energy crisis and fears about European energy security during the winter. [Tagesschau] 

In the past, some European countries such as Poland and Lithuania and the US have accused Russia of intentionally keeping gas deliveries at a low volume to force the launch of Nord Stream 2. Russia has denied these allegations. [RFE/RL] [Handelsblatt]

The prospect of increased European dependence on Russia is the main reason for the project’s controversiality. [Economist] The US has notable expressed the fear that Russia intends to use the pipeline to “divide Europe and weaken European energy security.” [Guardian]

In 2019, the US used sanctions to force a halt of construction and announced new sanctions against entities connected to Nord Stream 2 on 23 November. [Zeit] [Zeit]

Central and Eastern European countries, particularly Ukraine and Poland, have raised concerns about the military and security implications of Nord Stream 2. They fear that because the pipeline enables Russia to bypass them as transit countries, it will become more aggressive. [Deutsche Welle] 

Despite these concerns, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has continued to defend the project and tried to mitigate Ukraine’s concerns by promising to ensure continued gas transit through Ukraine. [Tagesschau]

The Nord Stream 2 issue also splits the political parties who concluded a federal coalition agreement this week. While the Greens and the liberal FDP oppose the project, the social-democratic SPD is in favour. [Tagesschau] However, the parties decided not to discuss Nord Stream 2 during their negotiations. [Spiegel]

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Latvia: Defence minister asks for permanent US military presence in country

Defence Minister Artis Pabriks of Latvia said that his country “would like to have a permanent United States military presence” in the future. Pabriks spoke in the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference held in Riga on 29 November, a day before a NATO meeting of foreign ministers in the capital. [Reuters]

The NATO foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, reportedly will discuss the security situation in countries bordering  Belarus and the Russian troop deployment near the Ukrainian border.

In the run up to the meeting in Riga, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg spoke about NATO’s next Strategic Concept that is expected to be adopted in 2022.

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Netherlands extend military missions to Iraq and Lithuania amidst scrutiny of armed forces

In an effort to lend continued support to the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State, as well as to contribute to the stability of the region, the outgoing cabinet has extended the Dutch military mission in Iraq by one year. The aim of this mission is to continue to train and advice Iraqi and Kurdish forces. The mission also gained the responsibility to protect advisers.

The outgoing cabinet also agreed to extend the Dutch military contribution in Lithuania until 2024. The presence also became larger with an increase in military personnel from 270 to 350. According to the cabinet, this mission is needed to deter a possible Russian aggression. [NOS]

These announcements were made in a week in which the armed forces came under increased scrutiny after 14 soldiers, on a training mission in Curacao, were arrested in late October for the possession and consumption of drugs. [Curaçao Chronicle]

Outgoing Minister of Defence Henk Kamp said it was unacceptable that drugs are used in difficult situations and by people who could be deployed at any moment. As a result, he initiated preventive drug tests. Kamp could not confirm whether drug use within the military was high or not. Instead, he stated that it is a “societal issue” that also affects the military. [NOS]

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EU’s draft security strategy warns of threats; sets out autonomous capabilities

The European Union has drawn up a response to strategic threats posed by geopolitical and economic adversaries such as Russia and China, as the bloc seeks to develop more autonomous defence capabilities while preserving defence cooperation with the United States.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, announced on 12 November a policy document that outlines the bloc’s strategic decision-making priorities in terms of security and defence. 

Borrel said that a “Strategic Compass” as a policy is needed to sustain the EU’s influence as a regional and global actor, integrating assets to respond more effectively to threats and challenges. 

The foreign policy chief also said that the “EU’s political sphere is being squeezed, and our liberal values increasingly contested”, in what media reports described as a message to Russia and China. Meanwhile, according to Borrell, the strategic document “in no way contradicts Europe’s commitment to NATO.” [Project Syndicate] [Politico Europe] [Monde]

The “Strategic Compass” raises the prospect of “rapid deployment capabilities”, which are reportedly to take the form of an EU crisis force comprising 5,000 troops. Earlier attempts to develop similar capabilities, including an agreement to create “EU battlegroups” in 2007, have not been put into practice. [Deutsche Welle] 

Expected to be adopted in the first half of 2022, the “Strategic Compass” document will replace the European Union’s “Global Strategy” that was developed by Borrell’s predecessor Federica Mogherini and adopted by the EU in 2016. The 27 member states will need to find a consensus on the bloc’s foreign policy priorities, including joint troop deployments abroad, in the midst of political unrest in the Sahel and a refugee crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

Asked whether the new strategic plan would have an impact on cooperation with the United States, EU officials have previously argued that autonomous military capabilities will bring benefits to their American ally and do not exclude the possibility of common defence projects. [Reuters] [Monde]

The US and the EU have pursued negotiations on defence cooperation in recent months although progress has been slow as a result of technical issues and administrative arrangements. [Defense News] 

Meanwhile, EU defence ministers considered at a November meeting ways in which the European Defence Agency can spur technological innovation for Europe’s armed forces [Defense News]

In early November, the US Army announced the resurrection of its artillery command in Europe, a unit that was last active on the continent between 1986 and 1991. The move is reportedly intended to put the US Army in a better position against “key adversaries” such as Russia and China. [Army Times]

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European Parliament groups urge Commission to block Poland’s post-Covid funds

The leaders of most political groups in the European Parliament have urged the EU’s executive to hold back from approving billions for Poland’s post-pandemic recovery plan until the country meets democratic and rule-of-law standards.

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the group leaders said: “Polish courts of all instances have demonstrated that they cannot ensure the right to a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.” [Euractiv]

Critics say Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has subjected judges to political control and eroded the rule of law. Law and Justice argues that sweeping changes are needed to rid Poland of the remnants of a tainted, communist-era judicial clique.

The letter to von der Leyen, sent in mid-November, drew an angry response from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, to which Law and Justice MEPs belong in the European Parliament. The ECR group’s co-chairs slammed the demand that Poland should be penalised as “outrageous.”

The European Commission has been withholding its required approval for Warsaw's plan on how to spend over EUR 20 billion in EU recovery funds. [Reuters] However, von der Leyen in October outlined a compromise for unlocking such funding and de-escalating tensions with Warsaw, which has accused Brussels of overstepping its powers and unwarranted interference in Poland’s domestic affairs. [Euractiv]

The Politico news website reported that Brussels planned to tie the payout of Poland’s EU recovery money to “milestones” under which Warsaw would commit to re-establishing judges’ independence. [Politico Europe]

The European Court of Justice on 27 October ordered Poland to pay a fine of EUR 1 million a day for refusing to suspend a disciplinary chamber within the Supreme Court in Warsaw, even though the Luxembourg-based tribunal previously said the Polish chamber violated judicial independence, a central tenet of the EU. [Reuters]

The European Union’s top court argued in July that the Polish chamber allows judges to be punished for the content of their rulings.

In their letter to von der Leyen, the European Parliament group leaders said: “The Court of Justice’s measures can be summarised as ‘comply immediately or pay’, to which the Commission cannot take a stance of ‘commit to comply in the future, and we will pay’.” [Euractiv]

The EU’s top court on 16 November again rebuked Warsaw, announcing that Polish rules allowing the justice minister to assign and remove judges from higher criminal courts breach the bloc’s laws. Poland’s justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, is a key member of the country’s ruling right-wing coalition and is also chief prosecutor. [Politico Europe]

In a clash between two EU bodies over another channel of European funds, MEPs in late October filed a lawsuit against the European Commission for failing to use a mechanism which links payouts by Brussels to the maintenance of rule-of-law standards in member states. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

Tensions between Brussels and Warsaw heightened when Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal – its top court – ruled on 7 October that parts of EU treaties are not compatible with the country’s constitution. Von der Leyen responded by saying the verdict posed a “direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order.”

In a further clash with a European institution, Poland’s top court on 24 November said that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had no right to question its appointment of judges.

The ruling came after the ECHR in May questioned the legality of judges’ appointments to the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw, which is seen by many as being subject to political control by Poland’s ruling nationalists. [Politico Europe] [Euractiv] [Notes From Poland]

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European Union-led peacekeeping mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina: extended amid constitutional crisis

On 3 November, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted in favour of renewing EUFOR - the 600-strong European Union-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina - as a growing constitutional crisis threatens to “unravel” the 1995 Daytona Accords which brought peace to the country after the Bosnian War. [Reuters] [Euractiv]

The crisis was sparked by the intention of President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska – the Serb-majority federal entity of Bosnia – to withdraw from federal institutions such as the judiciary and armed forces, and to establish an independent army for the entity. [RFE/RL]

The EU’s High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, described the plans as “tantamount to secession” and the country’s “greatest existential threat of the post-war period.” [Reuters]

Dodik’s move, though supported by Russia and Serbia, has been condemned by European Union and by opposition parties within Republika Srpska itself. His intentions are to achieve full autonomy within Bosnia for the entity. [Balkan Insight] [Reuters]

While he has walked his initial threat back, the announcement left international observers alarmed. [Euractiv]

EUFOR has a mandate to “guarantee a safe environment” and to support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s federal army – which the Security Council has extended for another year. [Sarajevo Times]

The mission’s renewal overcame initial opposition from Russia and China. In a compromise, any mention of the office of the High Representative was removed from the text of the resolution. [RFE/RL]

Russia and China argue that the office of High Representative is illegitimate because its existence was not approved by the Security Council. The Russian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina said that “[Schmidt] is biased and his goal is to disturb the peace in [Bosnia]”. [Euractiv] [Reuters]

The High Representative is the civilian counterpart to the EUFOR mission. The office has considerable powers, including the ability to dismiss officials and impose emergency laws on the country. [Reuters]

EUFOR’s renewal is one of many international reactions to developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States has taken a leading diplomatic role in the crisis. [Politico Europe]

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar met with Dodik on 8 November. While he described the meeting as “productive”, he warned that Dodik’s plans were “very destabilizing”. [RFE/RL]

On 17 November Derek Chollet, Counsellor of the US Department of State, echoed Escobar’s message by saying that the plans would “damage regional stability and would do nothing to improve the lives of ordinary people.” [Euractiv]

Germany has also put pressure on the European Union’s External Action Service to draft sanctions against officials in the Republika Srpska government. Hungary, which hosted an official visit by Dodik on 6 November, is expected to strongly oppose these measures. [RFE/RL]

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European Union sets sights on fiscal reform before 2023 to avoid debt ‘time bomb’

Debate officially began in November on reform of the European Union’s fiscal rules before stricter pre-pandemic rules return in 2023 – a controversial issue that will define the future of public spending in the bloc. [Reuters] [Politico Europe]

In a 9 November address to EU finance ministers, Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj said that it was time to “reflect on the future of our economic governance.” [Euractiv] [Reuters]

The current fiscal rules, called the Stability and Growth Pact, impose restrictions on how much member states can borrow and how steep their budget deficits can be relative to GDP. 

The rules were suspended in 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced governments to borrow and spend at emergency levels. [Euractiv]

The suspension is set to end in 2023, meaning that the EU faces what observers have called a “ticking time bomb” – where some governments would be required to drastically cut public spending to address high debt levels, which have only increased since the pandemic began. [Politico Europe]

The European Commission renewed discussion on reforming the rules in October, when it set a deadline for national governments to outline their positions by 31 December of this year. [Politico Europe]

The debate touches on controversial issues, and sides are already being taken.

France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, which all have high debt-to-GDP ratios, are pushing strongly in favour of more flexible rules – citing the financial challenges of the green transition and post-pandemic rebuilding. [Euronews]

Others are more conservative. Austria, Denmark, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden have signed a position paper opposing plans to soften the rules around debt, in the interest of “reducing excessive debt ratios”. [Politico Europe]

There are indications that Germany may join this side. 

The country’s new coalition government has advocated reform of the bloc’s fiscal rules while also promising to “maintain fiscal discipline.” [Reuters] [Politico Europe]

The coalition’s finance minister, Christian Lindner, is the leader of the fiscally conservative Free Liberal Democrats. Observers describe him as a hardliner on debt and budget deficits, and his presence is certain to moderate German support for looser fiscal rules. [Financial Times] [Die Zeit] [Politico Europe] 

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Next year’s French presidential election puts new EU trade agreements on hold

France has sought to slow the negotiation process for two new EU trade agreements with Chile and New Zealand over fears that food imports could lead to domestic opposition before next year’s presidential election in April. [Politico Europe]

While both France and the Netherlands have asked for the EU’s trade deals to include clearer rules to protect the environment, other EU member states allege that recent delays in negotiating the trade deals are chiefly intended to help Emmanuel Macron’s re-election campaign.

In response to the allegations, France’s foreign minister said that the EU needs to “fully take into account sustainable development issues and agricultural sensitivities” when negotiating the deals. [Financial Times]

One issue of concern between the EU and Chile is the agreed increase of poultry imports from the South American country that would compete with domestic products on the European market. With New Zealand, negotiations have been slow over privacy and the protection and labelling of recognised food products. [Financial Times] [Euractiv]

The first round of the French presidential election is scheduled to take place on 10 April 2022.

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EU member states oppose linking agricultural subsidies to green ambitions

Member states have so far resisted linking the Green Deal – the European Union’s programme to cut carbon emissions to reach climate neutrality by 2050 – to the bloc’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The CAP is currently undergoing reform as member states draw up their “strategic plans” – which govern the programme’s implementation between 2023 and 2027. As part of the process, the European Commission is developing legislation to specify what those plans should include. [Irish Examiner]

The CAP is an agricultural subsidy programme that takes up a significant part of the EU’s budget – and is fiercely defended by member states with significant agricultural interests, like France.

The programme has long been criticised for favouring larger corporate farms over smaller farmers, which is a problem the new reforms claim to fix. However, those reforms will not put environmental goals to the fore. [Reuters] [Deutsche Welle]

Speaking to Euractiv, a source said that the European Commission’s proposed requirement for member states to explain how their strategic plans will contribute to the Green Deal was “likely to disappear or be watered down” during the legislative process – which is due to conclude in 2023. [Euractiv]

That process is at an advanced stage. The European Parliament approved the Commission’s plan for CAP reform on 23 November, but Green MEPs criticised the plans as “almost purely symbolic” and as for preserving “the destructive status quo”. [Euractiv]

This is not the first time the European institutions have tried to tie CAP reform to other policy goals. 

This year, the European Parliament succeeded in its bid to add “social conditionality” to the CAP, which would require that beneficiaries prove compliance with the EU’s social and labour laws to receive subsidies. [Politico Europe] [Euractiv]

However, attempts to link agricultural subsidies to green policy have historically run up against strong resistance from what pro-green MEPs called “conservative agricultural interests” in the member states. [Politico Europe]

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European People’s Party chooses Maltese MEP to run for European Parliament president

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the biggest group in the European Parliament, has chosen Maltese politician Roberta Metsola as its candidate to succeed the legislative body’s president, David Sassoli. The decision by the EPP means Metsola is in pole position to assume one of the EU’s most senior posts.

However, Sassoli, an Italian who belongs to the centre-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D) grouping in the European Parliament, is rumoured to be seeking to stay in his post, despite a 2019 deal under which he had been expected to make room for a conservative when his two-and-half-year term ends in January.

Sassoli indicated that he wanted to remain in the wake of a number of election victories by left-of-centre groups around Europe, including in Germany. [Politico Europe]

EPP group chairman Manfred Weber said: “We call on the S&D to honour the [2019] agreement.” [EPP]

The European Parliament is scheduled to select its next president on 18 January.

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Top EU court decides on derived right to refugee status on German court´s request

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on 9 November that children of recognised refugees have a derived right to refugee status in a case referred to it by a German federal administrative court.

The case concerned LW, the child of a Syrian father who was recognised as a refugee in Germany, and a Tunisian mother who was not granted asylum. The child was born in Germany in 2017 and shares the nationality of her mother.

The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees denied an application to grant refugee status to LW, stating that the child could enjoy effective protection in Tunisia as the reason for its decision. [NZZ] 

After an unsuccessful appeal against the decision, LW’s family brought the case before the German federal administrative court, which decided that LW was eligible for refugee status under national law. Uncertain about the compatibility of this decision with EU law, the court referred the question to the CJEU. [ZDF]

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European Court of Human Rights rules against Croatia: Police violated rights of Afghan girl in pushback case 

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Croatia violated the rights of a six-year-old Afghan girl who was killed by a train after police forced her family out of the country without giving them a chance to apply for asylum. [Guardian]

Madina Hussiny died in the dark on the Croatian-Serbian border in November 2017, a year after her family left Afghanistan during a wave of migration towards the European Union. [BBC News]

Her death on a train track highlighted the problem of so-called pushbacks and drew attention to the problems of migrants in the Balkans as they tried to find ways of reaching Western Europe. [AP]

The European Court of Human Rights ruled on 18 November that Croatia must pay the family EUR 40,000 in compensation and EUR 16,700 in costs. [Euractiv]

The Croatian authorities have denied a string of claims that they violated migrants’ rights. But Massimo Morratti, Deputy Director for Europe at Amnesty International, said the court ruling confirmed “consistent reports of widespread pushbacks and abuse by the Croatian police repeatedly denied by Croatian authorities.”

He added the court decision sent a message to other European governments that pushbacks, collective expulsions and denying people the opportunity to seek asylum were violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Council of Europe criticises Bulgaria for poor treatment of residents in psychiatric hospitals

The Council of Europe’s Committee for Prevention of Torture has published a report that criticises the treatment of mentally ill patients in Bulgarian mental and social care facilities. The committee strongly advises Bulgarian authorities to improve the living conditions of their residents. [RFE/RL]

Bulgaria is reprehended for not improving the living conditions of patients in mental health institutions and social care facilities. According to the report, Bulgarian authorities have not taken sufficient action against continuous physical abuse, lack of hygiene, understaffing and isolation in said facilities. [Euractiv]

Since its first evaluation in 1995, the Council of Europe has visited 14 such institutions, but it has not reported significant improvement of conditions. [Mediapool]

The report mentions physical abuse by personnel and extremely unhygienic living conditions. The committee is critical of the fact that staff bind patients to their beds for several days. [Deutsche Welle]

The conclusions of the report highlight the need for more personnel and funding as well as information and education about mental health, to improve the treatment and care of vulnerable people. [Euractiv] [RFE/RL]

Last year’s committee report noted the same issues although it also noted a positive trend on the improvement of the material conditions of the institutions. [RFE/RL]

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Facebook whistle-blower says EU digital services act to be ‘global gold standard’ on big tech regulation

Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen has described the EU’s upcoming Digital Services Act as a potential “global gold standard” for regulating social media platforms, as the bloc moves forward with its broad effort to govern the new digital economy. [Euractiv] [Parliament Magazine] [Politico Europe]

In an 8 November speech to the European Parliament, Haugen also criticised her former employer’s inaction on hate speech and illegal content on its platform, telling MEPs that decisions made by Facebook’s leadership were “a huge problem for children, for public safety, for democracy.” [Politico Europe]

Haugen said the Digital Services Act would be a “game-changer for the world” in governing social media platforms, but only if potential loopholes were omitted in the final draft. [Euronews] [Politico Europe]

The Digital Services Act is the EU’s attempt to force social media platforms, like Facebook to act against illegal content through hefty fines. [Reuters]

The Digital Services Act has been paired with the Digital Markets Act, which intends to regulate so-called “gatekeepers” – defined as large online platforms that enjoy considerable influence over the internet, such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. [Euractiv] [Politico Europe] 

On 10 November, one of the act’s chief architects, European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager, had a 2017 fine levied against Google for anti-competitive behaviour upheld by the European Union’s General Court. [Politico Europe]

The two proposed acts have been criticised by some observers, such as the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group which warned that “false quick fixes” would do more harm than good. [Euractiv] [EFF]

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European ombudsperson calls for transparency law reform after deletion controversy

The European Ombudsperson, Emily O’Reilly, has called for a “makeover” of the European Union’s freedom of information laws in response to an ongoing controversy regarding the European Commission’s handling of internal communications. [Politico Europe]

O’Reilly, whose office is responsible for investigating complaints against EU institutions, described the current regulations – which came into force in 2001 - as “from a radically different era”. [EUobserver]

In a 15 November opinion piece for EUobserver, she said that the institutions have failed to adapt their document recording procedures to technological advances, such as smartphones and social media. [EUobserver]

The controversy began after a freedom of information request by Dutch law professor Martijn Nouwen on corporate tax deals yielded just three documents. [Der Spiegel] 

Replying to Der Spiegel, a spokesperson for the Commission, said that any documents not uploaded to the institution’s electronic register were subject to instant deletion after six months. [Der Spiegel]

Commission Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone said that “short-lived” documents, such as text and WhatsApp messages, are not retained at all. [Politico Europe] 

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Members of the European Parliament call on Serbian officials to end genocide denial

European parliamentarians urged the President of Serbia and other Serbian officials to stop praising war criminals, two days after police barred human rights activists from painting over a mural of Ratko Mladić in Belgrade. [AP News]

Activists of the “Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)” gathered in front of the mural on 9 November with the intention to remove it. The gathering had been previously banned by the Serbian police, citing a risk of incidents between YIHR members and nationalists who consider Mladić “a hero”.[Euronews]

After activists threw eggs on the mural, police intervened and arrested two of them. The Serbian Ministry of Interior asserted that the police were not protecting the mural but “securing public peace and order”. [Balkan Insight]

Ratko Mladić, termed the “Butcher of Bosnia” by survivors of his atrocities, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017, for genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian War in 1995. [Reuters]

Serbian officials have insisted on not recognising that the genocide took place while Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the criticism by the EU parliamentarians stating that “they literally have nothing else to do but to hate Serbs”. [AP News]

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MEPs chastise European Commission over ‘substandard’ written answers

In the latest clash between EU institutions, nearly 200 Members of the European Parliament have signed a letter to the European Commission complaining about the standard of the written answers it has been providing to MEPs. [EUobserver]

The November 15 letter, written by Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld, said that the Commission’s answers were “evasive…incomplete, void of substance…and deliberately vague and general”. The Commission is yet to respond to the letter. [Politico Europe]

As Europe in Review has previously reported, the European Parliament is suing the Commission over what it sees as the institution’s failure to use its powers to enforce rule-of-law standards in certain EU member states, such as Hungary and Poland. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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EU court upholds EUR 2.42 bn fine on Google for breaching competition rules

The General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union dismissed on 10 November Google’s appeal against a fine of EUR 2.42 billion for breaking competition rules. [Reuters]

European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who levied the fine in 2017, described the result as “good news” that would “feed into our legislative work” in the EU’s upcoming Digital Markets Act. [European Commission]

The fine was originally imposed in 2017 by the European Commission over what it described as “an abuse of Google's dominant position” as a search engine. The Commission’s argument, upheld by the General Court’s ruling, was that Google had favoured and promoted its own shopping service over competitors. [Politico Europe]

Speaking to Politico Europe, a Google spokesperson said that the company would “review the decision closely,” adding that changes made when the fine was originally imposed had resulted in “billions of clicks for more than 700 comparison shopping services.” [Politico Europe]

MEPs welcomed the ruling. Andreas Schwab, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the Digital Markets Act, said that Google had “not only damaged European companies, but also other online shopping platforms” through its market dominance. [Parliament Magazine]

Politico Europe’s competition policy reporter, Simon Van Dorpe, said that the case could lead to further action against online platforms that use their dominance over “crucial online infrastructure” for their own gain. [Politico Europe]

The case is part of the EU’s broader efforts to regulate big tech. 

Vestager, as the Commission’s antitrust chief, was an architect of the Digital Markets Act. [Reuters]

That act, which is currently before the European Parliament and the European Council, is intended to regulate large online platforms that enjoy considerable influence over the internet, such as Google. [Irish Independent]

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Climate summit vows to ‘phase down’ coal power, campaigners disappointed

Officials from almost 200 countries including 120 world leaders meeting in Scotland for a UN COP26 environmental summit reached an agreement that aims to reduce damage from climate change, but campaigners said it was too little, too late.

After last-minute objections by China and India, both big polluters, a key commitment to “phase out” coal power was diluted to a vow to “phase down” fossil fuels. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the watered-down deal struck on 13 November in Glasgow was “frustrating.” [Times] Several countries, including small island states, voiced disappointment. 

Nevertheless, it was the first time a COP conference drew up an explicit plan to cut the use of coal, which has accelerated global warming. The agreement reached at the summit vowed to allocate more funds to help poor countries deal with the impact of climate change and to switch to “clean” energy. [BBC News]

British government minister Alok Sharma, the president of COP26, hailed the agreement as historic, though he admitted that in the final hours a deal had looked in danger. He added: “We can credibly say that we kept the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels in reach.” [Guardian]

According to scientists, such a target – which world leaders agreed to work towards under the Paris climate agreement of 2015 – will see the world escaping the most disastrous effects of environmental change, which has seen a rise in heatwaves and droughts but also floods. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

During the summit, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal signed a joint declaration calling on the European Commission to keep nuclear power out of the EU’s green finance taxonomy - a set of guidelines for investors on conditions under which technologies can be deemed sustainable. [Euractiv]

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EU member states clash over classing nuclear energy, natural gas as ‘sustainable’

The battle over “sustainability” in the European Union’s taxonomy has continued in November as member states take sides over the future of nuclear energy and natural gas. [CNBC] [RTÉ News]

The EU taxonomy lists what the bloc classes as “sustainable economic activities” that are environmentally friendly. [Deutsche Welle]

The plan to include nuclear energy in the taxonomy faces strong opposition from some member states. Germany, Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Portugal formed an “anti-nuclear alliance” at the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. [Euractiv]

Austria has threatened to sue the European Commission over any inclusion of nuclear energy in the taxonomy. Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler argued that nuclear energy is not legally “compatible” with the taxonomy and said its use would be “too expensive and much too slow” to help the EU reach its climate goals. [Euractiv]

Ten member states have already signed a joint statement endorsing nuclear power’s inclusion in the taxonomy. This group has also had support from the Netherlands and Sweden, neither of which signed the original statement. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

Observers see France as a leader in this effort, as the country continues to invest in nuclear energy and has committed to building new reactors. [Deutsche Welle] [Reuters]

Germany’s new ruling coalition, consisting of the Social Democrats, Greens and the Liberal Democrats, opposes nuclear energy and has faced pressure from climate NGOs to veto any mention of it in the taxonomy. [Euractiv]

The coalition’s domestic agenda promises new gas power plants, but no new nuclear reactors. The country is due to shut down three of its remaining six reactors by the end of the year. [Deutsche Welle]

The inclusion of gas in the taxonomy has also proven controversial, to the point of almost derailing the German coalition talks. However, at a European level, the inclusion of gas has not provoked the same backlash as nuclear energy. [Euractiv] [EUobserver]

The fight is likely to continue into December, when the Commission’s final proposal for the taxonomy is due. [Euractiv]

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Bulgaria: Russian gas pipeline rupture causes disarray in Southeastern Europe

The rupture of a gas pipeline in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria on 1 November, caused disruption in gas supplies for the wider region. While nobody was injured, the burst pipeline halted deliveries as part of the Balkan Stream regional gas network, which brings Russian gas from Turkey through Bulgaria to Romania, Hungary, Serbia and neighbouring countries. [BTV] [Euractiv] [BNR]

Gas transportation to Romania was cut off and the Serbia-Hungary supply line was suspended during the early hours of the rupture. [RFE/RL] The transport of gas was renewed by the end of the second day. [NOVA] Bulgaria’s gas transmissions operator said that the slow speed of repair is due to the region’s rocky soil. [BTV]

The rupture was the result of an explosion in a part of the pipeline. It remains unclear what caused the explosion. [Kapital] An ecological inspection by a regional inspectorate concluded that the rupture did not have detrimental effects on the immediate environment. [BTA]

Bulgaria currently faces legal action at the Court of Justice of the European Union for not protecting its biodiversity, after the European Commission referred the case to Europe’s top court in November. [RFE/RL]

The pipeline rupture also came at a time when one of the main oil providers, Lukoil Bulgaria was being investigated for taking advantage of its dominant market position, particularly when it comes to liquid fuel storage facilities. [Euractiv]

Bulgaria is dependent on fossil fuels for energy generation but also acts as a transit country for Russian gas supplies to Southeastern Europe. Russia’s Gazprom provides 70 percent of gas supplies to Bulgaria. [Euractiv]

In November, Bulgaria’s gas transmissions operator received a discount from Gazprom on the gas price, reducing it to half of the market price offered by other European gas providers [Euractiv]. The discount occurs after a EUR 684 million loan was given by Gazprom in the summer for the completion of a pipeline to Turkey. [Kapital]

The debt of Bulgaria’s gas transmissions operator increased by 250 percent in 2020 and despite the loans and discounts offered by Gazprom, predictions show that the Bulgarian gas provider expects a number of years of no profits which will affect future investments and the construction of new pipelines. [Kapital]

Russia plans to discuss the renewal of its long-term supply contract with Bulgaria once a new government takes office after the 14 November parliamentary elections. [Euractiv]

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Moldova defuses gas dispute with Gazprom as former president leaves for Moscow

Moldova has resolved its energy crisis after the government promised on 25 November it would pay off its outstanding debt to Russian gas company Gazprom. [Euronews]

While there was an agreement between the Moldovan government and Gazprom in October over the price for a new gas agreement, the country’s outstanding debt for previous gas supplies from Russia remained an outstanding issue. [RFE/RL]

Gazprom, which is the main exporter of gas to Moldova, had threatened to cut gas supplies if the issue could not be resolved in time, thereby exacerbating a regional supply crisis. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

Moldovia’s continued reliance on Russia for energy has been a major discussion point in relations between the two countries. Since pro-European politician Maia Sandu was elected as President of Moldova in November 2020, the country has sought closer association with the EU and financial support from Brussels. [Euractiv]

Documents leaked in November showed that Sandu was under surveillance by authorities under a previous government, an activity which journalists in Moldova described as “illegal.” [Ziarul de Garda] [Balkan Insight]

In other news, it was reported that former President Igor Dodon, known for his pro-Russian leanings, stepped down from his position as leader of the Socialist Party and left for Moscow. The Socialist Party is currently in opposition after losing both in the presidential and parliamentary elections in recent years. [Balkan Insight]

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Switzerland resuming talks on future relations with EU

Dialogue on the future of EU-Swiss bilateral relations has resumed following a meeting between Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and EU Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič on 15 November. [NZZ]

While Switzerland is not an EU member, it is associated with the EU through numerous bilateral agreements, giving it access to the Union’s single market and the Schengen area, which enables free movement of persons without permanent border controls. [BBC] In 2014, the EU and Switzerland began negotiations to formalise their relations through an institutional framework agreement (IFA). [NZZ]

In May 2021, Switzerland announced it would not sign the IFA, citing substantial differences on the issues of wage protection, free movement and state aid. Cassis attended the November meeting to reactivate bilateral relations, and afterwards, both sides declared they were ready to resume and intensify their political dialogue. [NZZ]

However, Swiss media outlets have commented on the apparent differences in opinion between the EU and Switzerland. [NZZ] For one, Šefčovič has stated that a “roadmap on how to solve all the open structural issues” should be drawn up by January 2022 and requested Switzerland to give a “clear political signal” of its willingness to make progress on these issues. [European Commission]

As Swiss journals have remarked, these demands contrasts with Cassis’ plan not to discuss institutional questions before 2024. [NZZ] Commentators have suggested that Cassis’ motivation for delaying the discussions is his reluctance to make unpopular decisions regarding the domestically controversial EU dossier and jeopardise his chances of re-election in 2023. [Luzerner Zeitung]

Another point of conflict concerns the fact that the EU has made discussions on other topics, such as research cooperation, conditional upon progress in talks about institutional questions. Foreign Minister Cassis described this as “counterproductive and incomprehensible.” [NZZ]

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Armenia: Common aviation area agreement signed with European Union

Armenia and the EU have signed an agreement on a common aviation area so that people who are travelling to and from the country have access to more direct connections. Through this, all EU carriers will be able to run direct flights from anywhere in the EU to any Armenia-based airport. [Armradio]

In his statement, European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “The agreement signed today will allow the EU and Armenia to strengthen their aviation relations through gradual market integration. It is a key stepping-stone in our strategy to achieve closer cooperation with our neighbours.”

“The agreement will allow for more travelling choice for citizens, new opportunities for the aviation industry and better connectivity with new routes and destinations to the benefit of consumers, the tourism sector and people-to-people contacts,” stated Vălean.

According to the European Commission, Armenia will amend its legislation to meet EU aviation rules and standards when it pertains to aviation safety, air traffic management, consumer protection, as well as environment and economic regulations.

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Nordic countries vow joint efforts over future threats

Northern European countries grouped in the Nordic Council have said they need to step up cooperation in preparing for future crises.

The Nordic Council, a regional cooperation platform, said in a statement after a meeting of the body that the countries stand united against major fires, floods, and incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks, while also recognising the dangers of climate change.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the council also pointed to the importance of access to global supply chains, and of maintaining food security and sustainable energy systems. 

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters that by stepping up Nordic cooperation on the security of supplies and other forms of emergency preparedness, “we help to safeguard a Nordic Region that can take action in any situation." 

Prime ministers and senior politicians from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and three leaders from Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland islands, gathered for the talks in Copenhagen in early November. [Xinhua] [Euractiv]

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Italy-France friendship treaty: attempt at new balance of power in Europe?

After several years of diplomatic tensions, France and Italy have sealed a landmark pact of friendship and cooperation. The agreement will also aim to tilt the balance of power in Europe as German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves office, the Reuters news agency cited an Italian government source as saying. [Reuters]

At a ceremony in the Quirinale palace in Rome on 26 November, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi addressed the need for greater EU co-ordination on budget rules, investment, and migration, and to tackle other common challenges such as energy transition. [Financial Times]

The treaty benefits both countries, according to commentators. Italy will play a more active role at the European level. Meanwhile, the agreement could also help Macron, who is expected to seek re-election. France will vote to choose a new president in April. [Financial Times]

Paris and Rome have clearly signalled they are ready to leave tensions behind after their disputes from 2018 to 2019 over migration, the conflict in Libya, and industrial projects. 

In 2019, then Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio met in France with a leader of the anti-Macron “yellow vests” protest movement. [Euronews] In response, France temporarily  recalled its ambassador to Italy. 

After Draghi took over in February 2021, ties between the two countries improved, with Paris and Rome becoming close while coordinating over the EU’s post-pandemic economic recovery plan. [Politico Europe]

The timing of the Quirinale treaty is important as the departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel creates a vacuum in European politics and nudges the EU’s centre of gravity towards France and Italy for now. 

The France-Italy pact is reminiscent of the Elysée Treaty between France and Germany that was created after WWII and renewed in 2019 by Macron and Germany. [Politico Europe]

However, Macron said: “You shouldn’t see, in the friendship that we’re building across the Alps, a substitution for the friendship we’re consolidating across the Rhine.” [Financial Times] 

The new 60-page co-operation treaty between Rome and Paris includes a list of priorities from strengthening security and defence to cross-border cooperation. [France 24]

“We must equip the EU with instruments that are compatible with our ambitions and the expectations of our citizens. The treaty we signed today marks the start of this journey,” Draghi said. [Financial Times] 

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France, UK trade blame as migrants die crossing the Channel

Tensions between the UK and France have risen as migrants attempt the dangerous crossing of the English Channel, one of the continent’s primary shipping areas. November alone has seen major developments in an ongoing migrant crisis, with record numbers attempting the journey. Twenty-seven people died on 24 November in a tragedy that caused shock in both countries. [Reuters]

France told Britain to stop “giving lessons” amid British accusations that the French are not doing enough to halt migrants making the life-risking journey. Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, said that Britain incentivises the crossing, with the promise of a labour market that encourages “irregular workers employed at low cost.” The minister also said that it is the work of British non-governmental organisations that “prevent the police and gendarmerie from working.” [France 24]

On 25 November, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked French President Emmanuel Macron in a letter published on Twitter to “put in place a bilateral readmissions agreement to allow all illegal immigrants who cross the Channel to be returned.”

The tensions came as a new daily record for migrant crossings was set on 11 November with 1,185 people attempting the journey. Sporting equipment retailer Decathlon said on 16 November that it would stop selling canoes in Calais and at the Grande-Synthe Store near Dunkirk. A spokesperson for the retailer said that the sale of canoes in the region could be “used to cross the Channel” and that “lives would be endangered.” [Euronews]

On the same day, Darmanin ordered the clearance of a Grande-Synthe migrant camp, in an attempt to encourage migrants to apply for asylum in France and seek proper shelter, rather than making the crossing to Britain. 

Between early January and the end of August 15,400 migrants attempted the crossing this year alone, compared to 9,500 in 2020. At least 27 people died on 24 November in their attempt to cross the Channel after their boat sank near Calais. It was “biggest single loss of life in the channel” according to the International Organisation for Migration. [BBC News]

Government representatives from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium met with EU officials but without the United Kingdom in Calais on 26 November to discuss a common approach to the ongoing crisis. [Politico Europe] [Guardian]

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France: US Vice President visits Paris in aftermath of diplomatic dispute

Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, spent five days in France to discuss international peace, Libya, and cybersecurity. The visit follows a diplomatic spat between France and the US over a British-US submarine deal with Australia, which snubbed an agreement between France and Australia. Harris was also the only foreign dignitary present at the Arc De Triomphe for the Armistice Day commemorations. [Politico Europe]

Despite the recent diplomatic spat between the two countries, Harris was keen to avoid questions from reporters on the subject, answering one reporter who asked if she would “make amends” outside the Elysee palace with the phrase “I’m very happy to be in Paris.” [New York Times]

In a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron, Harris assured that the US-French relationship was about looking forward, not about looking back, and agreed with president Macron that the meeting sparked a “new era” in the relationship between the two countries. [New York Times]

Harris began her visit on 9 November with a visit to the Institut Pasteur, with whom her own mother, a scientist, collaborated on breast cancer research in the 80s. Following this, she attended the Paris Peace Forum which focused on global health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where her speech included the need to tackle “rising inequalities and the need for leaders around the world to join together and take bold action.” [France 24]

During the final stint of her visit, Harris attended a conference on Libya on 12 November, where she expressed her support for the running of democratic parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya, a move which human rights groups have warned against. In a statement, the White House said of the decision that "we want to build a stable and prosperous Libya free from foreign interference and capable of combating terrorism within its borders." [The Guardian]

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Sanctions off the table for now, but France-UK fishing row rumbles on

France and the United Kingdom have been unable to find an agreement to resolve their fishing dispute. While the EU is in regular talks with the UK to negotiate all issues following the UK’s departure from the European Union, disagreements over a licensing system have seen relations between Paris and London deteriorate.

On 18 November, Maritime Minister Annick Girardin said during a trip to the French coast that the government in Paris will “not give up at all” and will support fishermen who did not obtain a UK fishing license. [Euractiv] [Bloomberg]

A possible escalation of the dispute was halted on 1 November when France announced it would not apply sanctions against the UK, in order to give a chance to EU-led negotiations. [Monde]

While talks continued in November, there were few signs of progress towards a resolution of the dispute. French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said that sanctions were not an option for the time being, although they could be used if the talks between the UK and the EU fail. [Reuters]

Paris and London have been at odds over rights to fish in English Channel waters for most of the year. However, a security partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom announced in September, side-lining France, led to a rapid escalation of the fishing dispute. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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Greece unhappy at Spain-Turkey defence deal amid tensions within NATO

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have agreed to boost collaboration in the defence industry, a move that prompted criticism from the Greek government and underlined disunity between NATO member states.

The defence deal in November came amid long-standing territorial disputes between the Greek and Turkish governments, and jockeying between France and Spain for influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

A spokesperson for the Greek government, Yannis Economou, voiced dissatisfaction with the defence agreement, specifically with fellow EU member Spain.

However, Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, reassured his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias that Spain's solidarity with EU member states is “beyond doubt.” Albares is preparing to visit Athens to provide “clarifications” about the defence agreement with Turkey, the Spanishforeign ministry said on 19 November. [Ekathimerini]

In August last year, Greece and Turkey, which are both part of NATO, nearly came to hostilities over their opposing claims to the Eastern Mediterranean.  [Al Jazeera]

In 2020, Dendias sent letters to his counterparts from Spain, Italy and Germany, asking them to impose an arms embargo on Ankara. He requested that they do not allow exports to Turkey of military equipment such as aircraft, submarines, frigates and specific armour upgrades. Italy and Spain are the main European weapon suppliers to Turkey. [Euractiv]

The deal between Spain and Turkey comes after a recent France–Greece agreement, in which the latter two countries ratified a mutual defence pact. The agreement promises mutual assistance if one party comes under attack by a third country, even if the third party belongs to NATO. [Al Jazeera]

The Turkish government said the security and defence deal between Paris and Athens “threatens to harm the NATO alliance.” Meanwhile, the extension of a military defence and cooperation deal between the United States and Greece was received without enthusiasm in Ankara. Turkey has been excluded from buying hi-tech US F-35 fighter jets because it bought Russian S-400 air defence systems in 2019.  [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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Arrests in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania as European prosecutors probe tax crimes

Six members of a suspected tax-evasion gang have been arrested and assets worth EUR 23 million seized after authorities carried out searches in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Romania, European prosecutors have said.

The recently launched Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which focuses on major cross-border cases involving EU funds, believes the suspects created a tax evasion crime ring in Germany. [Reuters]

The core of the criminal activity was in the German city of Hamburg, while money laundering operations were mainly organised in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, “with important links in Romania,” the EPPO said in a statement.

It added that the main suspects organised a so-called VAT carousel, involving the repeated circulation of platinum coins through the same companies. Some of these firms, “the so-called missing traders, did not fulfil their tax obligations, and therefore permitted another of these companies, based in Germany – the so-called broker – to claim undue VAT credit,” the EPPO said.

The suspects were detained in the first half of November.

Meanwhile, European prosecutors will also investigate an EU-funded national cyber security project in Slovakia amid suspicion of fraud and other offences.

If the EPPO confirms shortcomings in the project, which was worth over EUR 50 million and launched during the government of ex-Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia may have to return money to Brussels. [Euractiv]

Pellegrini’s Smer-Social Democracy party was defeated in parliamentary elections in 2020 by the centre-right Ordinary People grouping, which campaigned against corruption.

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Kosovo: PM Kurti says final agreement with Serbia possible during his term

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said in an interview on 16 November that a conclusive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia could be reached during his term.

Kurti conveyed his willingness to engage in dialogue with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić but stated that this will depend on the results of the talks between the lead negotiators of the two parties. Kosovo’s PM also said he was concerned about Serbia’s “militarisation” and high military spending. [Euronews Albania]

On the same day as Kurti’s interview, the new round of talks between the negotiating teams of the two parties began in Brussels. 

The office of Petar Petković, Serbia’s chief negotiator, said that the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, which was part of a 2013 agreement between the two parties, would be the primary topic of the agenda. PM Kurti has rejected the establishment of an association of municipalities based on ethnicity, stating that it would be unconstitutional and would enable the “Bosnianization” of Kosovo. [Euronews Albania] [Euractiv]

This round of discussions comes after a tense period between the two countries. In September, new measures regarding the licence plates of cars entering Kosovo caused clashes between Kosovo police and ethnic Serbs while tensions rose again in October during an anti-smuggling raid of the police. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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Open Balkan initiative: Leaders of the three member-countries agree to create implementation council

The prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić and the deputy prime minister of North Macedonia, Nikola Dimitrov, have agreed to establish a council that will support the implementation of the Open Balkan initiative.

Initially referred to as “Balkan mini-Schengen”, the Open Balkan initiative came as a result of the stalled European Union integration process of the Western Balkan countries. The initiative aims to create a unified market and allow the free movement of goods and people between participating countries by 2023. [Euronews]

The meeting took place in Belgrade on 4 November. President Vučić said that there would be another meeting by the end of this year, where a “Memorandum of Understanding” would be signed by the parties regarding work permits. Rama said that he disputed the reasons why Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina decided not to participate in the initiative. Albania’s prime minister re-invited them to join the initiative. [Euractiv]

Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti, has rejected the Open Balkan initiative, saying that it is open to Russian and Chinese influence “as well as an Open Balkan to corruption, autocracy, war criminals…”. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro have declared that they do not find the initiative beneficial to them because bilateral agreements already cover travel and trade facilitation. [Euronews Albania] [Balkan Insight]

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Romania and United States partner up for nuclear power plant, decarbonisation of power sector

The United States and Romania announced on 2 November the planned construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) plant in Romania. US company NuScale power has agreed to build a six-module nuclear power plant that will create jobs both in the United States and Romania. [Euractiv]

The announced partnership for civil nuclear technology is a key component of Romania’s strategy to decarbonise its power sector and meet net greenhouse gas emissions goals set by the European Union, of which Romania is a member.

The United States consider Romania a strategic ally and long-standing partner for energy security in the region.

The small-sized nuclear reactors, which have not yet been widely used in power plants and await a license in Europe, will replace currently operating and recently closed coal-fired plants. [Romania Insider] [Science-Business]

Romania is also considering other options beyond the SMR plant to decarbonise its energy production. The country is also in talks with US officials about bilateral cooperation for the construction of offshore wind farms in the Black Sea. Investments in solar energy are also underway in Romania with the help of US companies. [Romania Insider] [Energy Industry Review]

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United Arab Emirates agree to invest as currency crisis hits Turkey

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey have signed agreements that will increase investments in the energy and technology sectors of the Turkish economy while a currency swap deal will help to support an embattled lira.

The UAE gave their agreement to the establishment of a USD 10 billion fund that is expected to make “strategic investments” in health and energy. [Al Jazeera] [Reuters]

A meeting between Abu Dhabi crown prince and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 24 November in Ankara was initially announced as an occasion to “improve relations” after the UAE and Turkey had fallen out over a number of regional issues related to the Arab Spring’s aftermath in Egypt, Syria and Yemen and the attempted coup d’état in Turkey in 2016. [World Politics Review] [Al Jazeera]

Turkey has been actively seeking out regional allies in recent months because of a worsening currency crisis that puts the economy under pressure. On 24 November, the Turkish lira lost 15 percent of its value after President Erdogan said that recent rate cuts would not be overturned despite soaring inflation and a weakened currency on the global market. [Reuters]

The country has sought to mend ties both with Egypt and the Gulf states as Turkey feels isolated in the Eastern Mediterranean and needs investment in its domestic economy. [Al Jazeera] In a phone call on 16 November, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about “peace, stability, and security of the Middle East.” [Times of Israel]

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Turkey agrees with UK on deal for large solar energy power plant

Turkish energy company Kalyon has agreed a financing deal with the United Kingdom’s export credit agency for government-backed funds to build Turkey’s and Europe’s largest solar power plant in the next decade. [Reuters] [Dünya]

The UK’s export credit agency will provide GDP 217 million in financial support for the construction of the solar facility. Once operational, the power plant is expected to provide electricity to two million people. [Reuters]

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Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on ceasefire after clash at Nagorno-Karabakh border

After hostilities at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, both countries agreed to reinstate a ceasefire on 16 November. The eruption of violence on 13 November and lasting several days was the deadliest clash since a war over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave fought last year, which came to an end after Russia brokered a peace deal. [Reuters]

In early November, both Armenia and Azerbaijan held separate commemorations of the six-week war fought over territory in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, which resulted in over 6,000 deaths for both countries. [RFE/RL]

Renewed fighting on the border was responsible for the ceasefire violations. Azerbaijan said that Armenia’s army “committed a large-scale provocation” while Armenia stated that Azerbaijan’s armed forces “attempted to break through Armenia’s state border.” [Al Jazeera]

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on 27 November for talks to discuss the border of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. [Euronews] Pashinian and Aliyev are also expected to meet in Brussels in December to talk about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh together with EU representatives.

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EU, US, Japan agree to boost trade ties amid concerns over China

Senior officials from the European Union, the United States and Japan have agreed to revitalise trade ties in the face of “global challenges posed by non-market policies and practices of third countries” – a statement seen as a reference to China. [European Commission] [Mainichi] [South China Morning Post]

Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel aimed to encourage trade in industrial products and promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region through a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on 29 November.

Michel’s visit to Japan was seen by commentators as the latest sign of Europe’s concerns over the disruptive effects of China’s growing assertiveness in the region. [Kyodo News] 

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Azerbaijan: Agreement with World Bank to open offices in Baku

The Government of Azerbaijan and the World Bank Group signed an agreement on 20 November regarding the establishment and operation of offices in Azerbaijan. 

The agreement is set to facilitate the World Bank’s operations in Azerbaijan so that the organisation “can support Azerbaijan’s 2030 vision and development goals,” said Anna Bjerde, the World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.

Prime Minister Ali Asadov state that “our partnership with the World Bank has seen Azerbaijan’s incredible transition from a lower-income country to a donor of the International Development Association, the part of the World Bank Group that helps the world’s poorest countries. This agreement will help augment these achievements.” [Modern Diplomacy]

The World Bank has previously been supporting the private sector in Azerbaijan while the new agreement will focus more on a green economic recovery and sustainable growth.

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Merkel warns ‘decoupling’ would be damaging, despite concern over China’s record

Amid strains in EU-China relations over accusations of human rights violations by Beijing, outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that “total decoupling” from the Asian giant would be damaging.

Despite worries about Chinese espionage at German institutions and technology theft, Merkel argued in an interview with the Reuters news agency that China is an important contributor to science and industry.

But she admitted that Germany needed to reconsider some of its partnerships, as it was initially “rather too naive in our approach to some cooperation.” 

She referred in particular to standards of protecting critical infrastructure, and Germany’s new IT security law, giving the government more power to vet companies like China’s Huawei which produce equipment for next-generation telecommunications networks.

Under Merkel’s 16-year long chancellorship, China in 2016 became Germany’s biggest trade partner. However, she has faced criticism that Germany has become too dependent on China. [DW] [South China Morning Post]

Meanwhile, acting German Health Minister Jens Spahn called for a more open debate on how to reduce overreliance on China in a swathe of areas. He called on Germany and the European Union to diversify trade with other countries and regions. [Reuters]

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Lithuania: Relations with China downgraded; ties with Russia at low point amid spy ruling

Lithuanian authorities have sought to distance themselves from Beijing in recent weeks, while a court sentence related to spy charges has caused a row with Russia.

Ties with China have deteriorated since Vilnius decided in August to allow the establishment of Taiwanese diplomatic representation in Lithuania. Taiwan opened its diplomatic office in Vilnius on 18 November.

Lithuania has also withdrawn from the “17+1” cooperative platform that brings together the People’s Republic of China and the majority of Central and Eastern European states.

Foreign Minister Arnoldas Pranckevičius said the issue with Beijing is a “wake up call” for the rest of Europe to “"get its act together vis-à-vis China.” [Reuters]

Beijing retaliated on 21 November against Taiwan’s decision to open a diplomatic office in Lithuania by downgrading diplomatic ties with Vilnius. [Euractiv]

China’s Global Times said that the Washington is the “hidden hand” responsible for Lithuania’s politics regarding Taiwan. [Global Times] The US government stated that other countries should not interfere in bilateral relations between Lithuania and Taiwan. [Euronews]

In related news, Lithuania’s defence ministry announced in November it would initiate legal changes that will make it impossible for Chinese, Russian and Belarusian manufacturers to sell technology to the country. The ministry is reportedly concerned about the involvement of contractors from “unreliable” countries in the management of “critical information infrastructure.” [LRT]

Meanwhile, relations with Russia have cooled after two Lithuanian citizens were sentenced on spy charges. A court in Klaipeda ruled that the accused were guilty of collecting data and passing on information to Russia’s security services. [RFE/RL]

In statement published after the court’s decision, the Russian Embassy in Lithuania said that the “actions of the Lithuanian government” were “disgraceful.” [Delfi]

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Russia, India to hold first ‘2+2’ talks

The first Russia-India “two-plus-two” talks are likely to be held on the sidelines of an annual summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 December. [Business Standard] [Hindu]

Russia and India, which define their ties as a “strong strategic partnership”, in April agreed to establish a two-plus-two meeting between the two nations’ foreign and defence ministers to deepen bilateral cooperation [Asia in Review No. 18 May/2021] New Delhi has so far been conducting joint foreign and defence ministerial meetings only with members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a grouping which brings together Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.

During the upcoming talks, Russia and India expected to conclude a Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), which will simplify interoperability and enable support of military assets such as warships and aircraft, as well as a navy-to-navy cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. There is also a proposal to establish a separate Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation to look at areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum and nano-technology.

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EU-Taiwan ties sparks tensions with China; NATO will not label China as adversary

Following reports that the EU is willing to strengthen its ties with Taiwan, a visit by members of the European Parliament to the capital of Taipei in November drew strong criticism from the People’s Republic of China.

Seven European parliamentarians visited the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, in early November and met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to express solidarity with the country “for its efforts to deal with unprecedented pressure from the People’s Republic of China.”

In October, the European Parliament adopted a recommendation to the EU’s foreign policy chief on political relations and cooperation with the authorities in Taipei. The recommendation asks to “consider Taiwan a key partner and democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific on its own merit.”

Most of the EU’s member states do not have formal relations with Taiwan, and the visit was seen as an important step to build a more formal partnership. Commentators say the European Union is increasingly preoccupied by China’s growing influence over European politics, disinformation and cyber-attacks. [Al Jazeera]

Beijing responded to the visit saying that the EU should correct its “mistake” and warning that European countries will “pay a price” for taking steps to build closer ties with Taiwan. [Politico Europe]

The People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan a province rather than an independent country, although the territory is outside of its administrative control.

The European parliamentarians’ visit to the Republic of China came after a trip by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu to Europe, during which he held a covert meeting with EU officials. [Politico Europe]

Despite the ongoing tensions, the chair of NATO’s Military Committee has ruled out labelling China as an “adversary” or “enemy” in the alliance’s upcoming strategic document, because there is no immediate threat to NATO’s sphere of interest. [Defense News]

In June, heads of state and government from NATO member countries said in a statement that “China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security.”

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Western Europe

Belgium: Prosecutor’s office investigates extremist, anti-vax threat within military

The federal prosecutor’s office has searched three military barracks and eight private homes as part of an ongoing investigation into ties between the military and far-right extremism. [VRT]

“These searches are part of a file of the federal prosecutor’s office which was initiated at the express request of the state security services,” said army chief Admiral Michel Hofman. While no persons were arrested during house searches that took place on 3 November, the defence ministry continues to cooperate closely with the federal prosecutor’s office in the identification of suspects. [Vif]

A number of military officers and civilians working for the defence ministry are thought of having ties to extremist circles. The investigation aims to uncover employees who have spread messages online with the intention of inciting people to acts of terrorism.

Public attention to possible far-right infiltration in military circles rapidly grew after a soldier under suspicion of extremist and anti-vaccination leanings took weapons from a military base and went on the run in May of this year after he threatened a well-known Belgian virologist.

The soldier’s case revealed how the pandemic situation became a fertile ground for resistance against lockdown measures and widespread vaccination among the general population. Police reports confirmed the soldier’s death by suicide one month later, after his body was found in a forest. [Conversation] [Politico Europe]

More than 35,000 protesters took to the streets of Brussels on 21 November to demonstrate against the latest coronavirus restrictions imposed by the federal government. [Reuters]

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France: Crowded field for next year’s presidential election as Macron holds off announcement

With the next French presidential election now only five months away, due to take place in April 2022, the number of presidential candidates grew in recent weeks. Because French President Emmanuel Macron did not officially announce his re-election campaign yet, attention has focused on who will become his main contenders and the possible late entry of an outsider such as far-right essayist and media personality Éric Zemmour.

Emmanuel Macron still has to announce whether or not he will run for re-election in April. Within his party The Republic on the Move (LREM), support for Macron remains high, with around 599 other local elected officials expressing their support for the president. Former PM Edouard Philippe, who recently established his own party, also supports Emmanuel Macron as part of the alliance named “Together Citizens!”, where he is joined by political centrist movements such as Modem and Agir. [Monde] [Euractiv] [EiR Monthly November 2021]

Marine Le Pen will be running for the presidency for the third time. Le Pen is the candidate for the National Rally, a far-right party formerly known as the National Front, whose main campaign points comprise immigration and security. Le Pen is widely seen as Macron’s primary rival in the run up to the election. [Politico Europe]

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo won the race for the Socialist Party’s nomination in October with more than 72 per cent of the party voting for her candidacy. Hidalgo has been the Mayor of Paris since 2014 and is known primarily for her action on tackling vehicle pollution in the capital. She faces the task of trying to regain the voters’ trust in the Socialist Party. Popular support plummeted during François Hollande’s single-term presidency from 2012 until 2017. [Euronews]

Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the candidate for Rebellious France, a left-wing political party. He came fourth in the last presidential election, and current polls give him around 10 percent of the vote at the moment. His stance is mainly on social issues and of the high cost of living in France. [Euronews]

The Greens have chosen Yannick Jadot as their candidate. Already a member of the European Parliament, Jadot is no stranger to politics. The Greens have seen huge victories in local elections in Bordeaux and Lyon recently but will have to compete with the Socialist Party and Rebellious France for left-leaning voters. [France24]

Centre-right party The Republicans are still yet to choose their candidate for the election, but president of Ile-de-France Xavier Bertrand, former European commissioner Michel Barnier, and president of Hauts-de-France Valérie Pécresse are all in the running for their party’s nomination [Le Monde]

The first candidate to announce their running for the presidency in 2022 was François Asselineau, the founder of the Popular Republican Union. He announced his intention to run for the presidency back in April 2019. [Connexion France]

Far-right media pundit Éric Zemmour has indicated he is considering a run in the presidential election next year, but has not yet officially announced his candidacy. [Euractiv] He is known for his outspoken views on Islam and the “feminisation of society.” [Washington Post]

A recent poll puts Zemmour at around 14 per cent of the vote, close to Macron’s main rival Marine Le Pen (18 percent) and slightly above centre-right politician Bertrand (13 percent). [Politico Europe]

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Germany: Three parties present coalition agreement after month-long negotiations

Following about a month of negotiations and delay over a consensus on climate and finance issues, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) unveiled their coalition agreement, entitled “Dare More Progress”, on 24 November. [Tagesschau]

Coalition talks originally began in late October but were stalled by the Greens in early November. [Spiegel] [Euractiv] As the reason for the delay, the party cited “too little progress as far as the substance of the issues is concerned”, among others things in the areas of climate protection, social policy and finance. [Süddeutsche Zeitung]

Earlier during the negotiations, the distribution of posts had also been disputed, with FDP leader Christian Lindner and co-leader of the Greens, Robert Habeck, both hoping to lead the finance ministry. [ZDF]

The final agreement accords the finance ministry and three other ministries to the FDP, while five ministries, including the foreign ministry and a new super-ministry for the economy and climate protection go to the Greens. The SPD will head seven ministries, including those of the interior and labour and social affairs. [Tagesschau]

Other key points of the agreement are increasing the share of renewable energy to 80 per cent by 2030 and returning to a restricted debt-rule while making investments into infrastructure and climate change. The parties also agreed on investment in public transport and a higher minimum wage. [FAZ]

The coalition agreement awaits formal approval at FDP and SPD party conferences and through a referendum of Green party members. [Tagesschau] After internal quarrels over the allocation of cabinet posts, the Greens began the referendum one day behind schedule on 26 November. The 125,000 party members can vote until 6 December. [t-Online]

It is expected that the coalition parties will formally elect SPD politician Olaf Scholz as chancellor in the second week of December. [Spiegel]

Meanwhile, following the party’s election defeat in October, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) announced that it would select a new party leader between 4 and 16 December in a vote open to roughly 400,000 party members. [Politico Europe]

Current candidates for the position are foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen, current acting chancellery head Helge Braun, and party veteran Friedrich Merz. [FAZ] [Spiegel]

Leadership changes are also on the horizon for the SPD. Its members are expected to formally elect current party leader Saskia Esken and current secretary-general Lars Klingbeil as new co-leaders in early December. [FAZ]

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Ireland: Nationalist party Sinn Féin gains support according to polls

Opposition nationalist party Sinn Féin has surged in opinion polls, raising the possibility that despite its links to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the party could lead the next government. Were this to happen, it would be first time in Irish history that the government was led by a left-wing party.

A new opinion poll from the Sunday Times puts the level of support for the party on a record high of 37 percent, far ahead of its main centre-right rivals Fine Gael (21 percent) and Fianna Fáil (20 percent). [Journal]

At the 2020 general election, all three parties received almost the same number of votes, which makes the rise of Sinn Féin all the more signifcant.

The party has a controversial past as the political wing of the IRA and supported armed struggle against British rule in Northern Ireland during the so-called Troubles from 1968 to 1998. The IRA is classed as a terrorist organisation in Ireland and abroad, and several elected members of Sinn Féin have previously served prison time for terrorism offences. [Irish Times]

It has been alleged that the leader of the party from 1983 to 2018, Gerry Adams, was a senior member of the IRA, although he has always denied this. [Irish Times]

Unlike some nationalist parties in Europe, Sinn Féin is not anti-immigration or Eurosceptic, instead the party is left wing and opposed Brexit. Its leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has worked to develop a new image of the party and appeal beyond its traditional nationalist core. The base of the party is among the young, the working class and voters who live along the border with Northern Ireland, but opinion polls show it is breaking through with middle class voters. 

Sinn Féin’s rise in support is more connected to its calls for greater state intervention in the economy, particularly providing housing and universal healthcare, although critics accuse it of populism and not respecting the institutions of the state. [Irish Examiner]

Irish politics has traditionally been dominated by the centre-right Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties, who agreed to form a coalition government together for the first time, last year, partly to prevent Sinn Féin from achieving power. If the trends in the opinion polls hold, then Sinn Féin will break this domination and be the most likely leader of the next government. Not only will this be the first left wing government Ireland has ever had, but also the first led by a woman, party chief Mary Lou McDonald.

One of the party’s main promises is to call a border poll among the voters of Northern Ireland for them to decide whether they wish to remain as part of the United Kingdom or to join the Republic of Ireland. While the goal of a United Ireland has long been a dream of the Irish Catholic population, it is opposed by the British Protestant population. [Irish Examiner] 

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Ireland: Government bans new licenses for oil, gas exploration

The Irish government has banned new oil and gas explorations to help the country meet the targets agreed at the COP26 global climate summit in Scotland in early November.

The pledge was made as Ireland joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, a coalition of countries that wish to not only reduce emissions but also prevent fossil fuels from being extracted in the first place.

The Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, stated: “Through the Climate Act 2021, Ireland has closed the door on new exploration activities for oil and gas. There is no longer a legal basis for granting new licences.” The government also plans to expand the ban to include coal. [Irish Times]

However, unlike other countries, Ireland will not buy back existing exploration licences held by fossil fuel companies. There is only one extraction licence currently active in Ireland, the Corrib gas field, which will expire in the next decade. [Irish Independent]

The prime minister, Micheál Martin, declared Ireland would cut methane emissions by 30 percent and announced Ireland would double its contribution to developing countries, with a goal of donating EUR 225 million a year by 2025. [Irish Times]

However, the commitment was criticised as “unfair” by the Irish Farmers Association, as the world’s largest methane producers, Russia, China and India, did not sign up to cut methane emissions. [Farmers Journal]

Ireland currently has a legally binding commitment to reduce emissions by 2030 to 51 percent below 2018 levels and reach climate neutrality by 2050. [RTE]

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Netherlands: Negotiating political parties break record of longest government formation

The ongoing Dutch cabinet formation has broken the post-war record for longest-running government formation. The conservative VVD party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been in talks with the left-liberal D66 party, the Christian-democratic party CDA and the smaller Christian Union party for over 250 days amid a worsening health crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. [Standaard]

While the parties have been in substantive phase of the negotiations, subjects related to the decarbonisation of the country’s energy provision and agricultural sector have taken up more time than anticipated by the negotiators. Disagreements over the cost of additional social spending and climate change-related measures continue to divide the four parties. [NOS]

According to insiders, the discussions have led to an agreement about the creation of a EUR 50 billion climate and investment fund to decarbonise the Dutch economy in the next ten years. [NRC] Outgoing PM Rutte said that he hopes a coalition agreement will be agreed before Christmas. [NU]

Meanwhile, the outgoing cabinet led by Rutte announced a partial lockdown and a more extensive use of the “green pass” with proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19 on 11 November in response to a recent increase in the number of new infections. [NOS]

A number of Dutch citizens took to the streets in opposition to the recent coronavirus measures and several arrests were made on 22 and 23 November because of acts of vandalism and public disturbances. Street violence also erupted in March when a curfew was announced by the cabinet following the pandemic.[Dutch News] [NRC]

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Netherlands: Privacy legislation, military surveillance raises concern in Dutch politics

The Dutch data privacy authority has expressed concern over new legislation that will allow the exchange of information between the government and private institutions about alleged financial crimes. [NOS]

While banks and the government are in favour of closer cooperation and greater data collection in the fight against fraud and organised crime, there are fears the law could target large groups of people as potential suspects without reasonable grounds.

“This law is so general, so vague and it gives so much scope, that you have to fear a new affair such as the benefits scandal,” said the president of the privacy watchdog to the country’s public media. [NOS]

The benefits scandal emerged earlier this year after families were falsely accused of defrauding the government’s childcare allowance scheme. The affair brought down the cabinet in January. [EiR Monthly November 2021] 

In November, the country’s top administrative court apologised to the benefit scandal’s victims because of insufficient legal protection while a parliamentary commission said that the “fundamentals of the rule of law have been violated.” [Dutch News] [AD]

The draft financial information exchange law has passed through the lower house of parliament, despite the alarm raised by the privacy authority. Currently, the legislation is being discussed by the upper house, where senators have asked the data privacy authority for a more detailed assessment of the legislation. [Dutch News]

In November, the Dutch defence ministry also came under scrutiny for collecting information about citizens that violated the country’s privacy rules.

Although legal experts noted a lack of a legal basis or mandate to collect, process and analyse data during the pandemic in 2020, the former defence minister and military authorities did not put a stop to soldiers tracking the behaviour of anti-vaccination and other protest groups. [Computable] [NOS]

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Netherlands: Oil company Royal Dutch Shell announces name change, move of headquarters to UK

The Dutch-British oil company Royal Dutch Shell has announced it will change its name to Shell and move its headquarters from The Hague to London, because of a disagreement over taxes with the Netherlands.

The company cooperated was in talks with the Dutch finance ministry about a dividend tax deemed to create a competitive disadvantage between the Netherlands and the UK. Dutch authorities refused to abolish the tax, which prompted Royal Dutch Shell’s announcement on 15 November. [Telegraaf]

While the company under a new name will keep some of its renewable projects in the Netherlands and its listing on the Amsterdam stock exchange, the move is expected to see top personnel relocate to London.

Last year, multinational consumer goods company Unilever announced a similar decision concerning a merger of activities that led to the unification of the company’s activities in London. [Volkskrant]

Despite global agreement on a minimum tax rate for big companies, adopted at last month’s G20 summit, competition between countries’ tax regimes remains a sensitive international issue. The move is seen as a way for Shell to limit its payment of taxes and dividends only in the United Kingdom. [Handelsblatt]

Shell was created in 1907, the result of a merger between the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company in the Netherlands and the UK-based Shell Transport and Trading Company. 

Shell has been criticised by environmental activists and investors for its continued reliance on fossil fuels for energy production, a legacy of its dominant position in the oil and gas markets during most of the twentieth century. [Guardian]

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Switzerland: Referendum approves greater support for care workers 

With a 61 percent majority, Swiss voters approved the popular initiative “For strong nursing care” in a referendum on 28 November. It is the first time that the country’s voters have lent their support to a health policy initiative with a trade union character. [NZZ]

Prompted by the strain put on care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the so-called “Care Initiative” called for an improvement of access to care and the working conditions of care workers. [SRF] Key components of the referendum initiative were financial support for care workers in training and a new way of directly invoicing an offered treatment with insurance companies. [NZZ]

On the same day, voters decided to accept COVID-19 law amendments and they rejected an initiative that would select federal judges using a lottery system. [Tagblatt] [Tagesanzeiger]

The COVID-19 legal changes facilitate federal contract tracing, allow the federal government to promote tests, and make it possible for the government to issue COVID-19 certificates for vaccinated, recovered and tested people. [Tagesanzeiger]

Following a referendum campaign which some commentators described as “extreme”, the law was accepted with a 62 percent voting majority. [Tagblatt] [Tagesanzeiger]

The so-called “Justice Initiative”, which all Swiss parties campaigned against prior to the referendum, envisaged the selection of federal judges based on a lottery system. Currently, justices are elected by parliament every six years, which also ensures a balanced composition of gender, language and political stances. [Tagesanzeiger] The initiative was rejected by a 68.1 percent majority of voters. [Tagesanzeiger] 

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United Kingdom: Conservative party under pressure over mounting corruption scandals

Recent, overlapping corruption scandals have put pressure on the United Kingdom’s ruling Conservative Party as polls now show the opposition Labour Party in the lead. [Politics] [Politico Europe]

A former cabinet minister quoted in the Guardian described the situation as “certainly the worst crisis” Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced since becoming leader of the Conservatives in 2019. [Guardian]

A 26 October report by Parliament’s independent standards commission found that Conservative member of parliament Owen Patterson had “egregiously” breached lobbying rules by advocating for two companies that employed him as an advisor. The commissioner, Kathryn Stone, recommended that Patterson be suspended from Parliament. [Guardian]

Prime Minister Johnson and his government immediately defended Patterson, who denied the report’s allegations. In a contentious parliamentary sitting that saw several Conservatives vote against their government, Johnson passed a motion to overlook Patterson’s suspension and to overhaul the independent disciplinary system that had recommended it. [Guardian]

Following an outcry, the prime minister reversed his plans and Patterson resigned on 4 November. However, further scandals are also piling pressure on the Conservatives. [BBC News] [Irish Times]

The Patterson scandal was soon followed by one involving Prime Minister Johnson directly. Interviews given by Jennifer Arcuri, an American businesswoman with whom Johnson had an affair between 2012 and 2016. These have raised further questions over whether Johnson had abused his position as Mayor of London to help advance her career. [Guardian]

In November, Conservative party co-chair Oliver Dowden was accused of rigging the selection process for the head of the UK’s communications regulator in favour of long-time Conservative ally Paul Dacre, while Politico reports that former party chair Andrew Feldman helped several client companies of his lobbying firm to secure government contracts during the Coronavirus pandemic. [Politico Europe]

Questions are also being asked of former Conservative party leader and sitting MP Ian Duncan Smith over his advocacy for alcohol-free hand sanitizer while being employed as an adviser for Byotrol, a major manufacturer of the type. [Independent]

Johnson has proposed new standards for MPs with consulting jobs, like Feldman and Smith. The Labour Party have criticised these as a “watered-down cop-out” and have called for a full ban on MPs holding second jobs. [Guardian] [BBC News]

Since 2019, polls have shown the Conservative party enjoying a considerable and consistent lead until this November. [Reuters]

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United Kingdom: Supreme Court blocks phone tracking lawsuit against Google

On 10 November, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court blocked a 3 billion GBP data misuse lawsuit against Google. [Guardian]

The lawsuit was brought by consumer rights activist Richard Lloyd in 2018 on behalf of over 4 million people in England and Wales. Lloyd claimed that Google had illegally tracked user data between 2011 and 2012. [Reuters]

Had the case been allowed to continue, it would have set a precedent allowing a single representative to file suit on behalf of millions, without those affected needing to opt in or prove specific damages. [BBC News]

The court unanimously granted Google an appeal against Lloyd’s case. The ruling argued that an individual would not have a right to compensation from Google unless they could definitively prove material damages, a precedent that may affect similar claims. [Law Society Gazette] [Week]

A similar case against video-sharing app TikTok, filed by former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield on behalf of millions of children in the UK and EU, is yet to be heard by the court [BBC News].

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United Kingdom: New constitutional commission for the future of Wales 

An independent constitutional commission has been established in Wales this November. The newly created commission follows a report published by the Welsh government in July 2021 that expressed concerns about the United Kingdom’s rejection to a four-nation approach for a more centralised mode of governance.

“The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales” is tasked with developing reforms of the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom as well as options to strengthen Welsh democracy.

An expert panel will support the commission in areas including finance and the environment.

The commission’s establishment has happened against the background of the UK’s departure from the EU, which has meant losing direct access to the single market. In economic terms, the EU’s single market made up over 60 percent of identifiable Welsh goods exports. Wales is also receiving a smaller amount of support from the new aid funding scheme administered by the UK, which compensates for the loss of EU funds dedicated to regional cohesion and investment. [BBC News]

Wales’ current constitutional arrangements and their sustainability in the face of post-Brexit changes will be one of the main objectives to be looked at by the commission, next to finding viable solutions for the future. Greater Welsh autonomy or independence was not ruled out as one of the possible options. [Deutsche Welle]

The first interim report is to be expected by the end of 2022.

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United Kingdom: Campaign for, against Scottish independence gathers pace

The prospect of a second referendum vote on Scottish independence sees the pro-unionist and pro-independence movements step up their bid to engage voters for their idea of Scotland´s future. Because the governing Scottish National Party is currently preoccupied by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no clear answer yet whether a second independent referendum will take place. [BBC News]

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in September that her government intends to hold an independence referendum by the end of 2023. The Scottish government’s preference is to proceed based on an agreement with Westminster, similar to the first referendum, but the UK government is opposed to the idea of another public consultation. 

Nevertheless, the wake of a possible new referendum splits the Scottish people. Data shows that Scotland is almost evenly divided on the question of independence, with “No” narrowly ahead in the most recent polls. [Institute of Government]

In the clash between the two sides for the majority of votes claims have been made that a pro-union campaign group received donations that may have breached political fundraising rules. The campaign group “Scotland Matters” received over GBP 46,000 (around EUR 54,700) in the run-up to the Holyrood elections in May from the “obscure” Centre for Economic Education and Training (CEET). [Guardian]

Limited information available about CEET and the motivation behind the donations have about the use of unincorporated associations. The majority of funds was used for advertisements against Scottish independence on social media and via postal mail. [Times]

Scottish referendum campaigns are gathering pace even though the 2023 referendum is yet to be confirmed. Among others, a pro-independence campaign project wants to deliver one million “Yes”-special edition newspapers. To make this happen, the Scottish newspaper The National is teaming up with Sturgeon’s governing party, the SNP, and “Believe in Scotland”, an organisation campaigning for Scottish independence. [National]

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Northern Europe

Denmark: Anti-immigration party chief quits after poor local election result

The leader of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP), which once rode the crest of a wave of populism in Europe, announced he was quitting in the wake of a lacklustre performance in local and regional elections.

The far-right party, headed by Kristian Thulesen Dahl, was a major political force in Denmark for two decades. But in municipal elections on 16 November, it picked up around 4.1 percent of votes, less than half its result in the previous such ballot, held in 2017. [Local]

The nationalist DPP’s strength has been waning after other, mainstream, parties adopted a tougher line on immigration.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s governing Social Democratic Party also saw its support receding in the local elections, but remains the country’s biggest, with some 28.5 percent of votes.

Backing for the ruling party fell after Frederiksen last year decided on a cull of Denmark’s entire mink population in an effort to stop Covid-19 spreading from the animals to humans. [Reuters]

Denmark’s legislative elections are due to take place by June 2023.

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Finland: Commission to probe discrimination against Sámi people 

The Finnish government has given the green light for a commission which will investigate discrimination and rights abuses suffered by the country’s 10,000-strong indigenous Sámi people as a result of official policies.

The Sámi, who are spread across Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia, have been subjected to assimilation policies which eroded their culture. [Arctic Today]

The Finnish commission is expected to conclude its work in two years. Some 40 countries have launched similar commissions for indigenous people, including Norway. Sweden, meanwhile, is set to establish its own body of this kind. [Euractiv]

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Norway: Pension fund giant divests from arms companies

Norway's largest pension fund has stopped investing in companies involved in the production of nuclear and conventional arms. 

KLP, which manages more than EUR 30 billion for municipal employees, said in November it had divested from 14 such firms following a review of its ethical guidelines on weapons. [Deutsche Welle]

The step is the latest in a slew of moves by funds across the world to unhitch themselves from enterprises they consider to be engaged in morally unsound or ambiguous operations.

The decision means KLP will no longer conduct business with firms including Britain's Rolls Royce Holdings PLC, French company Thales, or US-based Raytheon Technologies Corp. [Deutsche Welle] KLP earlier this year divested from 16 firms which operated in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [AP]

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Sweden: First woman PM reappointed amid political turbulence 

Sweden's first female prime minister has been reappointed as head of a fragile minority government days after she resigned amid political turbulence and a lost budget vote.

In the run-up to parliamentary elections next September, Magdalena Andersson was elected again on 29 November to lead a one-party government comprising only her Social Democrats.

She quit the week before after just hours in the top job when her budget proposal failed to pass and the Greens, the junior members of a two-party coalition, left the government.

Lawmakers instead backed a budget drafted by opposition parties including the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats – a move the Greens deemed unacceptable. Some analysts have said the uncertainty surrounding Andersson’s appointment may have eroded trust in the country’s political system as a whole. [BBC News]

Aside from leading one of Sweden's weakest governments in recent decades, Andersson, who was previously finance minister, faces challenges including a health service that has struggled to cope with the Covid pandemic and gang violence in city suburbs. [Reuters]

Sweden has never before had a woman prime minister, even though it has long been seen as one of the most progressive countries in Europe. [AP]

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Central Europe

Austria: Mandatory Covid shots plan sparks debate and protests

A decision by Austria to introduce compulsory Covid vaccinations from February – the first such move by an EU country – has sparked debate over how far democracies can go in forcing health safeguards on their citizens.

With Europe once again an epicentre of the worldwide pandemic, Austria on 22 November reintroduced a national lockdown, its fourth since the global outbreak began. The authorities ordered residents to stay home except if they had a pressing need such as going to work, exercising or shopping for food. [Reuters] [BBC News]

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Vienna, voicing anger at the restrictions and at mandatory inoculations. Austrians who refuse to be vaccinated face hefty fines from 1 February.

As recently-appointed Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg received death threats, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen warned that the new rules may deepen rifts in society. [Euractiv]

The plan for mandatory shots, announced as the country’s intensive care wards were flooded with Covid patients, triggered debate across Europe. Some argue that pressure needs to be brought to bear on those who refuse a jab, while others insist that people have the right to make decisions about their own health, even during a pandemic. [Eurotopics]

Meanwhile, World Health Organization regional director Hans Kluge has warned that the coronavirus could claim half a million more lives by spring unless governments across Europe tighten anti-Covid measures. [BBC News]

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Austria: Ex-Chancellor Kurz loses parliamentary immunity, faces corruption probe

Austrian lawmakers have voted to strip conservative former chancellor Sebastian Kurz of his parliamentary immunity, a move that allows him to be investigated in a corruption probe.

Kurz, who has denied wrongdoing, quit in October amid accusations that he used taxpayers’ money to pay for manipulated polls published in a newspaper in order to show him in a flattering light and smooth his rise to the chancellery. 
Prosecutors carried out raids at the chancellery, offices of Kurz’s senior aides and at the finance ministry, causing shock in Austria and abroad. [EiR Monthly November 2021] Kurz remains leader of his centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and a lawmaker.

He said before the 18 November vote to waive his immunity that he was happy at such a move “because that is the basis for a quick process.” [Politico Europe]

Analysts say that if Kurz is found guilty, he will have no chance of making a comeback as chancellor. [Euronews]

The allegations against him saw his meteoric career trajectory veering off course. Kurz, aged 35, was appointed foreign minister at 27 and was chancellor by the time he was 31. [Deutsche Welle]

Following the scandal, he was replaced as chancellor by Alexander Schallenberg, a member of the ÖVP and a career diplomat.

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Croatia: Strategic partnership with France, fighter jets deal signed

Croatia and France have inked a strategic partnership and a deal under which Zagreb is buying 12 used French Rafale warplanes for almost EUR 1 billion.

The agreement was signed during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the Croatian capital on 25 November. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told reporters that talks with Macron marked the start of a new phase in relations between the two countries, which are both members of the EU and NATO. [Xinhua]

Croatia is keen not to fall behind its neighbour Serbia in defence capabilities. Serbia, an ally of Russia, recently took delivery of six used Russian MiG-29 fighter planes and of four similar jets from Belarus. [France 24/AP]

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Czech Republic: Centre-right leader Petr Fiala appointed PM

Czech President Miloš Zeman on 28 November appointed centre-right leader Petr Fiala as the country’s new prime minister after Andrej Babiš, a billionaire populist and eurosceptic, was ousted in October parliamentary elections. [Euronews] [Politico Europe] 

Fiala leads a broad five-party coalition which holds 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament after winning the election. That result was seen by some analysts as victory for moderate opposition forces over the populist illiberalism of Babiš. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

The coalition, which has agreed to a power-sharing deal, is closer to the European Union than the previous government. [Euronews] [Reuters]

Appointing Fiala, Zeman said he would interview prospective government ministers in the next couple of weeks, despite the choice of candidates being the prerogative of the incoming premier. [BBC News]

Fiala’s induction ceremony followed unusual procedures as President Zeman, who was in a wheelchair and suffering from Covid-19, had to speak from behind a plastic box barrier in his Prague residence. The same day as Fiala’s appointment, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch also announced he had tested positive for Covid. [Euronews] [Politico Europe]  

One of the most pressing challenges for the new government will be to tackle a new surge in coronavirus infections. [Euronews]

The Czech Republic has one of the lowest rates of vaccination in the EU, only lagging behind neighbouring Slovakia, and has been going through its worst wave of Covid infections since the start of the pandemic, battling with the second-highest infection rate per million in the world. [Politico Europe] [Reuters]

After his appointment, Fiala quickly called on people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. [Reuters]

Fiala, the 13th prime minister of the Czech Republic, is the first to hold an academic background in political science. [Aktuálně] [Czech Radio] 

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Hungary: Top EU court rules against ‘Stop Soros’ law on migrants

A move by Hungary making it a criminal offence to help refugees and migrants apply for asylum infringes EU law, the bloc's top court has ruled.

The European Court of Justice decision was a blow to Hungary’s right-wing prime minister. Viktor Orbán, who is among European leaders most outspoken against migration, tightened rules on asylum after the 2015 European migrant crisis. [Euronews] [Reuters].

Orbán accused Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros and groups linked to him of encouraging migrants. Three years ago, the government in Budapest brought in measures dubbed the “Stop Soros” laws, which would criminalise helping migrants apply for asylum. [AP]

The European Court of Justice said on 16 November that the Hungarian law restricts “the effectiveness of the right afforded to asylum seekers to be able to consult, at their own expense, a legal adviser or other counsellor.”

It added that criminalising such activities “impinges on the exercise of the rights safeguarded by the EU legislature in respect of the assistance of applicants for international protection.”

The Hungarian government’s treatment of refugees and migrants has seen it clash repeatedly with the European Commission, the bloc’s executive, and with many of Budapest’s European Union partners. [AP]

If Hungary fails to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling, and refuses to change or withdraw the controversial law, the European Commission can request the court to impose financial penalties. [Euronews]

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Hungary: Opposition chief urges pro-European stance, caution on Russia, China

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay has called for a change in foreign policy, saying his country should send a signal that it “really wants to be part of Europe” and join more institutions such as the European public prosecutor’s office. [Politico Europe]

Márki-Zay was picked by an alliance of six opposition parties in October to contest Hungary’s parliamentary elections in the spring. He is gearing up to take on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been accused of undermining democratic norms and has repeatedly clashed with the European Union. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

On his first official visit to Brussels as opposition leader in mid-November, Márki-Zay, a conservative mayor, met high-level EU officials.

He said that the heads of the Socialist and Green groups in the European Parliament, who had an interest in his country being committed to European values, were “open to a Hungary that is reinventing itself.” [Budapest Times]

The opposition leader claimed that Orbán has become a “puppet” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also criticised Orbán for drifting too close to China and for allowing it to build the Fudan university campus in Hungary, the first such complex in Europe. [Politico Europe]

Márki-Zay, who has used an anti-corruption stance to appeal to voters, urged the European Union to be cautious in how it doles out money to Hungary so that funds reach citizens, rather than oligarchs from Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party. [Euractiv]

Meanwhile, at a congress on 14 November, Orbán was confirmed as leader of the governing Fidesz for another two years. [Euractiv]

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Poland: Death of pregnant woman sparks protests against tough abortion law

The death of a woman after pregnancy complications has sparked criticism of the Polish government amid claims that strict abortion laws have left doctors afraid to carry out medically justified terminations.

The 30-year-old woman, named only as Izabela, died in September. The tragedy was later brought to national attention following statements from the family’s lawyer. [TVN24] [BBC News]

Despite complications with the pregnancy, doctors opted not to perform an abortion while a foetal heartbeat was still detected. They instead chose to wait for the foetus to die on its own. [BBC News] [TVN24]

The death of the woman triggered nationwide protests on 6 November, with thousands of demonstrators wielding signs saying "not one more" and "her heart was beating too." This prompted the government to clarify when abortions are permitted. [BBC News] [Reuters]

Strict new anti-abortion legislation was passed after the Polish Constitutional Tribunal ruled in October 2020 that most terminations are unconstitutional. The law now allows abortions to be carried out only if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or if the health or life of the mother is endangered. [Deutsche Welle] [BBC News]

The latter condition, the government indicated, would have allowed an abortion to be carried out in accordance with the law. The government instead placed the blame on medical error. [BBC News]

Critics, however, say that the tougher abortion rules have made doctors afraid of performing such procedures. Many are also worried that other women could die if the law is not changed. Polish courts can issue prison sentences of up to eight years for illegal terminations. [Deutsche Welle]

A number of rights groups and charities have requested the European Commission to step in and penalise Poland for not upholding European Union values. [Euronews] [Deutsche Welle]

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Slovenia: President plans to call elections for April amid tensions

Slovenia’s president has said he wants to call parliamentary elections for April – the earliest date possible – amid simmering political tensions and claims by critics that the government is eroding the rule of law and mismanaging the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Borut Pahor said that many citizens wanted to hear when the scheduled election would be held if early elections did not take place beforehand.

Opposition politicians in Slovakia, which holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, said they would keep up their calls for an early parliamentary ballot, regardless of Pahor’s announcement. [Euractiv]

Right-wing Prime Minister Janez Janša in May survived an impeachment bid launched by the opposition, who claimed he was muzzling the media and failing to secure sufficient Covid-19 vaccines for Slovenians. Thousands demonstrated earlier this year, calling for the government to resign. [US News/AP]

Janša has been criticised for attacks on the independence of the judiciary and accused of undermining democratic standards in his country. [Guardian]

Meanwhile, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), a public institution, in November finally won state funding for this year. Critics have claimed the authorities are putting pressure on the agency, while European institutions have voiced similar concerns. 

The government has said a row over the press agency was not linked to media freedom. However, criticism of journalists by Janša has sparked worries that the media in Slovenia are being intimidated. [Politico Europe]

Janša came under fire over a social media outburst during a visit to Slovenia in October by European Parliament lawmakers to assess press freedom and the state of the rule of law in his country. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

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Slovenia: Justice minister survives no-confidence vote

Slovenia’s justice minister, Marjan Dikaučič, has survived a no-confidence vote tabled amid claims that he tolerated delays by the government over the appointment of European delegated prosecutors.

Opposition politicians claimed Dikaučič was responsible for publishing an unlawful public call for applications for the appointment of two such prosecutors. They also complained of cuts in budget funds for the judiciary, and pointed out that Dikaučič is under investigation for suspected tax evasion and forgery of documents. [Euractiv] [Slovenia Times/STA]

Dikaučič denied wrongdoing, and claimed he was being targeted in the motion simply because he was part of the government.

Forty-two members of parliament on 22 November voted to back the no-confidence bid, four short of the required majority.

Even though Dikaučič remains in his post, the vote exposed the shaky level of support for him. Among abstainers were the centre-right New Slovenia (NSi), who are junior partners in the ruling coalition, and two opposition groupings that have supported the government in key votes. [Euractiv]

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Southern Europe 

Italy: Gov’t under pressure amid spike in boat migrants, more deaths at sea

At least 74 people died on 12 November off the coast of Khums, Libya, in the latest in a series of tragedies in the Central Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said amid a rise in migrants trying to reach Italy by sea.

The increase is putting added pressure on Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government to reach a deal with European Union partners over how to handle the influx. [Reuters]

At least 900 people have drowned in the Mediterranean so far this year while trying to reach Europe, some because of delays in rescues, the International Organization for Migration said.

It added that over 11,000 others had been returned to Libya, putting them at risk of suffering human rights violations, detention, abuse and trafficking.

“The mounting loss of life in the Mediterranean is a manifestation of the inability of states to take decisive action to redeploy much needed, dedicated Search and Rescue capacity in the deadliest sea-crossing in the world,” said Federico Soda of IOM. [International Organization for Migration]

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Malta: Migrants held at sea launch legal case

Around 30 migrants who were held at sea for over a month on vessels chartered by the Malta authorities have filed a constitutional complaint with a court in that country, alleging inhuman treatment and violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. [AP]

More than 400 migrants had left Libya on a number of boats in late April 2020. But they were not allowed to disembark in Malta at a time when the country had closed its ports amid the Covid pandemic.

The migrants were eventually permitted ashore in early June after more than a month aboard tourism vessels not intended for long-term accommodation. The Maltese government denies wrongdoing. It said it respected the migrants’ dignity and rights, adding that they had been given suitable temporary accommodation, given the pandemic. [ABC News/AP]

The case had its first procedural hearing on 18 November. The next hearing is expected in January. [Independent]

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Portugal: Snap elections in January amid political turmoil

Portugal will hold early elections on 30 January after the president decided to dissolve parliament amid political turmoil sparked by MPs rejecting the minority Socialist government's draft budget for 2022.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on 4 November announced he was calling the elections two years ahead of schedule. The defeat of the budget bill has ended six years of relative political stability under Prime Minister António Costa’s governing Socialist party. Opinion polls suggest there may be no easy way out of the crisis.

Recent surveys indicate the centre-left Socialist Party will be re-elected, but again lack a majority. That would mean the Socialists would need parliamentary support for legislation and put Portugal back where it started before the political crisis. [AP]

As complex coalitions scramble to assemble before the election date, Portugal’s first right-wing populist party, Chega! (Enough!), is on the rise. According to polls, it could win as many seats as 20 seats in the 230-parliament, and serve as a kingmaker. [AP]

The Communists and Left Bloc parties, who had been allies of the government, blocked the budget bill, saying that Costa was too keen on deficit cuts, and had ignored their call for better protection of workers, more generous social security and greater investment in public health services. [DW]

A new state budget proposal may not come before parliament until April. [AP]

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Spain: Centre-left coalition pushes for Franco-era crimes to be prosecuted

Spain’s centre-left governing coalition has started a drive to bypass legal blocks which hinder the investigation of crimes committed during the country’s civil war and General Francisco Franco’s 1939-1975 dictatorship.

The coalition, made up of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and its junior partner Unidas Podemos, aims to create a new interpretation of the country’s 1977 Amnesty Law by amending it to adhere to international humanitarian law. The latter specifies that pardons of political crimes do not apply to crimes against humanity such as war crimes, genocide and torture.

The 1977 Amnesty Law was enacted to ease Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of Franco by pardoning the regime’s political prisoners, although it later became a tool to prevent the prosecution of individuals from the dictatorship who committed crimes prior to 1977. It became known as the “Pact of Forgetting.” [País] [Reuters]

Over half a million people died during the 1936-39 civil war, while historians have estimated that another 150,000 were killed in later repression by Franco’s government. [Reuters]    

Getting the bill passed has been a key priority for Spain’s centre-left administration, but gathering sufficient parliamentary approval is proving more difficult than expected.

If the bill is passed, it would be the first time that crimes under the Franco regime can be taken to the Spanish courts. So far, legal proceedings related to the Franco era have been possible only outside of the country. [País]

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Vatican City: Pope thanks journalists for exposing sex abuse by clerics 

Pope Francis has thanked journalists for revealing clerical sexual abuse scandals that have left a shadow over the Catholic Church.

The spiritual leader of the world’s Roman Catholics, who had been criticised for not reacting quickly enough to allegations, praised reporters for giving a voice to victims of abuse. [Washington Times] 

“[I] thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet,” the pope said at a ceremony at the Vatican City in mid-November.

The scandals came to light in 2002, when The Boston Globe, a US daily, revealed a string of cases in which minors had been sexually abused by clerics, as well as a culture of concealment inside the Church. 

In the years that followed, sex abuse scandals have shaken the Catholic Church in countries around the world. An inquiry in France concluded in October that clerics had sexually abused over 200,000 children during the last seven decades. In 2018, the same year that a French investigation commission was set up, the pope vowed that the Church would never again try to cover up such deeds. [Reuters]

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Eastern Europe

Azerbaijan: Top court implements European human rights ruling on four political prisoners

On 19 November, Azerbaijan’s highest court implemented the European Court of Human Rights’ decision from 2018 to rehabilitate four members of the “NIDA” protest movement, who were arrested in 2013. The names of the political prisoners are Zaur Gurbanli, Rashadat Akhundov, Rashad Hasanov and Uzeir Mammadli. [RFE/RL] [JAM News]

During their trial, the four were accused of organising riots, illegal distribution of ammunition as well as causing damage to the properties of others. Gurbanli and Akhundov were sentenced in 2014 to eight years, Hasanov was sentenced to seven and a half years and Mammadli to seven years in prison.

While Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev eventually pardoned them, the released prisoners did not return to their political activity and some of them left the country. According to the Europe’s top human right court, the arrests were in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights’ Article 18 on limits of use of restrictions on rights, which prohibits the misuse of power. [JAM News]

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Estonia: Centrist parties retain power after local elections

Estonia’s centrist governing parties retained their control over local government after last month’s municipal elections. The Reform Party has achieved office in 30 of Estonia’s 79 local municipalities with the Centre Party close behind with power in 28. Both parties lost 50 seats each in the election. [ERR] [Postimees]

However, the biggest loser on election night was the Social Democratic Party whose vote halved and lost 100 seats, leaving it with only 48 seats. The biggest winners were the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), a nationalist and conservative party that some have labelled as far right, whose vote doubled and won 158 new seats. 

The new liberal party Estonia 200 won 40 seats in its first local election and the conservative party Ismaa held steady, losing only a small number of seats.

The results are a three-way tie with the Centre Party on 247 seats, the EKRE on 245 and the Reform Party with 244 seats.

Although the election took place last month, there has been a long period of negotiation between the parties to decide how the local governments will be formed in each municipality. 

A quarter of voters did not vote for a party but instead chose an election coalition, which are usually based around a local issue or personality and whose members may be members of other political parties. These groups play a crucial role as most local governments are formed from coalitions. 

The results were somewhat marred after a Reform Party councillor was detained by police on suspicion of vote buying in the Narva region.

The EKRE has already lost three councillors who resigned in protest after leading members of the party took part in an anti-lockdown protest in the capital of Tallinn. [Postimees] [ERR]

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Georgia: Saakashvili’s move to military hospital ends his hunger strike

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ended his hunger strike after he was moved from a prison facility to a military hospital on 19 November. In the preceding days, Saakashvili had temporarily lost consciousness and experienced a rapid deterioration of his health situation.

Earlier in November, both the United States and the European Union expressed concern over the conditions of Saakashvili’s imprisonment and the conduct of the local elections in Georgia for which he returned to his native country in early October. [RFE/RL] [France 24]

The streets of Tbilisi were marked by protests for a number of weekends, organised by Saakashvili’s party the United National Movement (UNM). The UNM’s leader Nika Melia had asked that the former president should be released from detention and the elections are reorganised, demands which the government immediately rejected. [RFE/RL]

Saakashvili wrote an open letter in November, in which he urged the US government to support Georgians in their “democratic and pro-Western aspirations against the threat of authoritarianism.” [Politico]

The former president’s trial resumed on 29 November in a court in Tbilisi. [RFE/RL]

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Russia: Freedom of expression under threat as authorities target journalists, human right activists

Public authorities in Russia have singled out journalists and human rights activists with legal and political measures that seek to discourage them from investigating human rights abuses or sensitive political issues such as Russian military operations abroad.

Russia’s prosecutor general’s office asked the country’s top administrative court to liquidate a prominent human rights group named Memorial, because it does not comply with legislation concerning “foreign agents.” Memorial, an organisation known for its investigations into past and present human rights abuses as well as political repression was added to the “foreign agents” register in 2016. [Monde] [RFE/RFL]

In a similar manner, prominent human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov was added to the registry, after he defended opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who currently resides in jail, and provided legal support to Ivan Safronov, a journalist accused of treason after he allegedly sold information about Russia’s military operations in Syria. [RFE/RL] [Reuters]

Last month, the International Commission of Jurists called upon the Russian authorities to “stop their harassment” of Ivan Pavlov.

In November, Russian authorities also expelled “minor administrative violations” a Dutch reporter who was active as a foreign correspondent in the country. [Guardian] The publisher of an independent Russian media website was added to the interior ministry’s wanted list because he holds dual citizenship of Canada and Russia. [RFE/RL]

In its World Report of 2021, an annual review of worldwide human rights trends, international non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch stated that Russian authorities rely on “wrongful prosecutions against journalists on terrorism and treason-related charges and other tactics aimed at interfering with their journalistic work.” 

The protection of human rights and the freedom of expression has steadily deteriorated in recent years. 

A Russian former inmate and currently an asylum seeker in France told the international press about widespread torture and abuse occurring in the country’s prison system, which he documented in secretly-recorded videos. [Guardian]

In response, Russian prosecutors have started a local investigation into torture of inmates that took place at a prison hospital. [RFE/RL] On 25 November, President Vladimir Putin sacked the head of Russia’s federal prison service system. [Moscow Times]

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Constitutional Law and Politics in Southeastern Europe

Bulgaria: Centrist party wins third parliamentary elections; outgoing president is re-elected 

Centrist and centre-right parties are expected to form a coalition government after Bulgaria’s third parliamentary elections this year took place on 14 November. In the parliamentary elections, a majority of voters have given their trust to an untested centrist party while in a same-day presidential-election opting for stability by re-electing incumbent President Rumen Radev. [RFE/RL]

The newly formed centrist party “We Continue the Change”, won the party elections with 25.67 per cent, providing the party 67 seats in the Bulgaria’s chamber of representatives [RFE/RL].

The party has to form a coalition government because, according to the Bulgarian constitution, the leading party requires 121 out of 240 parliamentary members to govern. The party submitted one of its co-chairs Kiril Petkov for the position of  prime minister. [Standart News]

The centre-right, pro-European party, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) gained nearly 23 percent and centrist party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) was supported by 13 percent of the voters. 

Other parties entering the Chamber of Representatives include, the centre-left BSP for Bulgaria, centre-right populist party There is Such a People, the centrist coalition Democratic Bulgaria and the far-right pro-Russian Revival party. [RFE/RL]

A coalition between centrist and centre-right parties is expected to be negotiated in the upcoming weeks. [Bulgaria On Air].

The chairman of the pro-European party GERB, Boyko Borisov, said he will not be part of the chamber of representatives [BTV]. Borisov served as PM last year when anti-corruption protests broke out. Due to the electoral result, members of the BSP asked for the resignation of party leader Kornelia Ninova. [Darik News]

After a second ballot between the two primary candidates, Rumen Radev secured his role as Bulgarian president, receiving 66.72 percent of the votes, while Anastas Gerdzhikov was supported by 31.8 percent of Bulgarian voters. 

Several days before the elections, Radev and Gerdzhikov debated on public television topics such as assembling the government, COVID-19, North Macedonia, Russia [BTV]. During the debate, Radev caused controversy for his statement that Crimea region was part of Russia. Later, he corrected himself by explaining that Crimea was a Ukrainian territory in judicial terms, but is currently controlled by Russia. [RFE/RL]

The third parliamentary elections of this year were marked by low voter turnout and scandals surrounding the candidates. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Boyko Rashkov, there was an increase in vote buying compared to the elections in July, with GERB and DPS behind most of the cases of electoral fraud. [BTV]

Earlier in the month the leader of NSFB was implicated in a falsified COVID-19 “green pass” scheme. [Euractiv]

Another presidential candidate, Boyan Stankov, was arrested on charges of attacking an LGBTQIA+ centre in Sofia [News.bg]. During a live broadcast of a presidential debate, candidate and singer Luna Yordanova was asked to leave because she disregarded the rules of the debate. [BTV]

The presidential election caused a regional dispute, as the current interior minister said that Turkey was trying to influence the elections through a targeted televised campaign aimed at influencing the voting decisions of Bulgarian citizens living in Turkey. [BTA] The allegations led to protests in front of the Turkish embassy in the capital.  [News.bg] Turkey’s foreign affairs ministry dismissed the allegations. [BTV]

At a European level, the outcome of the parliamentary elections will reportedly have an impact on Bulgaria’s position towards the accession of Albania and North Macedonia to the EU. [Euractiv] After the victory of “We Continue the Change”, the North Macedonian government is said to be optimistic that Bulgaria will lift its the veto over the EU accession negotiations. [Euractiv]

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Greece: Government’s pandemic measures, surveillance under fire as Greeks demonstrate on streets

Social unrest and protests have beset Greece after the government imposed additional pandemic-related restrictions on unvaccinated Greeks.

Health care workers protested in early November against compulsory measures in the health care sector while the catering industry went on strike on 16 November to voice its disagreement with a COVID-19 health pass requirement in pubs, cafés, and restaurants. [AP] [Euractiv]

Greece has witnessed a sharp rise in new COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks. Around 60 percent of the general population has been fully vaccinated.

Earlier in November, a Greek journal revealed that the prime minister’s cabinet allegedly asked the country’s intelligence services to monitor citizens and health workers who are opposed to the government’s pandemic restrictions. [Euractiv]

The country also faced criticisms after the Greek parliament passed on 11 November a new law to fight fake news. Opposition parties, a journalist union and sources at the European Commission expressed concern over measures included in the law that may hinder the work of journalists. [Euractiv] [Euronews]

Press freedom has decreased in Greece in recent years, according to Reporters Without Borders, as the country saw a drop in the organisation’s 2021 World Press Freedom Index.

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Kosovo: Governing party underperforms in municipal elections 

Only four out of twelve candidates of the ruling party Lëvizja Vetëvendosje (LVV) won in the second round of local elections held on 14 November.

The first round, which took place about a month earlier, saw the centre-left LVV fail to win any of Kosovo’s 38 municipalities. In the race for Pristina, former Health Minister of the current government Arben Vitia was defeated by Përparim Rama, a candidate of the centre-right opposition party Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), in the final round of the elections. [Euronews]

LVV leader and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that flaws within his party and the opposition-wide coalition against LVV were to blame for this defeat while the leader of another centre-right opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, stated that these election results brought LVV’s political dominance to an end. [KosovaPress] [Balkan Insight]

Opposition parties LDK and PDK performed better than anticipated before the elections.

The electoral loss comes only nine months after LVV’s victory with more than 50 percent of all votes in last February’s parliamentary elections. [KosovaPress] Promising to fight corruption and bring social justice, LVV’s win delivered a heavy blow to LDK and PDK. [Euronews]

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Montenegro: Corruption allegations, coalition infighting give rise to political uncertainty

Claims about President Milo Đukanović having ties to a money laundering scheme and disagreement within the governing coalition have cast uncertainty over the future of Montenegro’s political leadership.

Đukanović is suspected of having ties to an Albanian businessman Rezart Taci who is accused of money laundering and organised crime in Albany. According to a report published on 13 November, he is said to have helped Taci launder money through Montenegro’s banking system. [Balkan Insight]

Đukanović said on 17 November he denies wrongdoing but agrees to lend his cooperation to the investigation.

On 23 November, the Council of Europe said in a new report that Montenegro has taken insufficient steps to investigate and halt money laundering. [Balkan Insight]

Montenegro has previously been requested by the European Parliament, in 2016, to address money laundering schemes operated through the country’s banking system. [Balkan Insight]

The allegations against the president come at a time when there are questions over the fate of the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić.

Krivokapić formed a government with the support of four parliamentary groups (comprising more than ten parties), unseating President Milo Đukanović’s Democratic Party of Socialists from government after the 2020 parliamentary elections.

The position of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić came under pressure on 12 November, with pro-Serbian parties in the coalition threatening a no-confidence vote against the PM because he has ruled out a government reshuffle. [RFE/RL] [Balkan Insight] In late November, the opposition led by President Đukanović’s Democratic Party of Socialists filed a no-confidence vote against the government. [Euractiv]

The coalition was brought together last year because of a wish to the limit influence of Milo Đukanović and his party in Montenegrin politics.

A previous government led by the Democratic Party of Socialists came under fire on 16 November for allegedly exaggerating the cost of a highway construction project, for which feasibility studies were done between 2009 and 2012. [Balkan Insight]

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North Macedonia: PM Zaev resigns after attempts to consolidate government’s majority

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will step down after his party Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) accepted his resignation in late November. [Politiko]

Zaev had been searching for an opposition party to join his governing coalition, after the government was left with 60 parliamentary representatives in November, which is half of the number of seats in North Macedonia’s legislative chamber.

Zaev held talks this month with the leader of the ethnic Albanian Alternativa party, Afrim Gashi, to discuss whether Alternativa could support the governing coalition with its four parliamentary members, after the ethnic Albanian BESA party withdrew from the ruling coalition. [Balkan Insight]

Zaev had previously announced his resignation as PM and leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) party, following a heavy loss in local elections held at the end of October. The SDSM failed to win the capital and most important city, Skopje, which was won by a VMRO-DPMNE-backed candidate. [AP News]

SDSM persuaded Zaev to delay his resignation in order to maintain political stability and to continue reforms towards North Macedonia’s integration to the European Union (EU). [AP News] The SDSM will elect Zaev’s successor on 12 December.

VMRO-DPMNE, the centre-right and main opposition party which won about half of the country’s municipalities, attempted to overthrow the government with a no-confidence vote, but failed to do so after one MP did not show up to vote. [Politico Europe]

Zoran Zaev came to power in 2017 promising to accelerate his country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. In 2018 he ended a decade-long dispute between North Macedonia and Greece with the Prespa Agreement that settled the country name and in 2020 North Macedonia joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The pause in the country’s EU integration process took its toll on Zaev’s popularity.

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Romania: President confirms three-party coalition after months-long political crisis

Following a strong endorsement in Romania’s representative chamber, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the three-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă on 25 November.

The coalition comprising the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) and ethnic Hungarian minority party Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) have a large majority in the legislature, with 318 voting in favour. [RFE/RL] Both the president and the prime minister are from the liberal PNL.

The government was confirmed after a long-lasting political crisis that saw a number of PM-candidates, including newly confirmed PM Ciucă, not mustering enough votes in Romanian’s representative chamber. [EiR Monthly November 2021]

An agreement between the PNL and PSD, who are considered as the main political rivals, together with junior coalition partner UDMR cleared the path for a new executive that will have to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the country’s budget and the economic recovery. [Euractiv]

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