NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : Radar Africa
By Fleur Elizabeth Philip
BELARUS
Prime Minister Turchin to discuss on energy and industrial policy during his visit to Russia
On 07 April, Belarus’s Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin has landed in Russia. He is to hold talks with Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Both the Prime Ministers are to discuss the bilateral cooperation, which includes the possibility of a new loan for a joint import substitution project. Apart from this, they are to discuss the advancements of the digital agenda, unifying the energy markets, common industrial policy, further unification of the market regulation, and bringing fairness among the business entities of both countries. (“Belarus’ PM arrives in Russia on official visit,” Belta, 07 April 2025)
FRANCE
France's foreign minister relations with Algeria “going back to normal”
On 06 April, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France's ties with Algeria have returned to normal, after a two-hour talk with Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. For decades France and Algeria have had a complicated relationship but became even worse when Macron angered Algeria by recognizing a plan for autonomy for the Western Sahara region, under Moroccan sovereignty. This resulted in major security, economic, and social repercussions. With trade being extensive and nearly 10 per cent of France's 68 million population linked to Algeria, the visit comes as a larger roadmap to relax the tensions. President Tebboune said: “We are reactivating as of today all mechanisms of cooperation in all sectors, and will be going back to normal.” Barrot mentioned that he had specifically discussed the difficulties regarding the economic exchanges, notably in agriculture, automobiles, and maritime transport. (John Irish, “French, Algerian ties 'back to normal', France says after talks,” Reuters, 06 April 2025)
“Macron takes leadership but France lacks the material to really put that forward” says an opinion in DW
On 07 April, Deutsche Welle in an opinion was observed how France’s President Emmanuel Macron has emerged as Europe’s important figure, since the war in Ukraine, political shift in the EU and a new US President. According to the article, earlier it was Germany who led the Europeans, under the Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and after her retirement, an unstable successor government led by Olaf Scholz saw Germany face economic turmoil post pandemic. Currently, Germany is under coalition talks with the new government led by CDU’s Friedrich Merz, while Macron has made himself the most recognizable, through efforts taken as a Ambassador of Europe. Since 2025, Macron has contributed to the continent's interests in Ukraine and is currently addressing the tariffs imposed on the EU. He was the first European President to establish a good relationship with Donald Trump. Challenges that Macron will have to face are that first, despite Macron taking charge and leading, France lacks the material base to put forward on its own, and secondly, after the barring of his presidential rival Marine Le Pen from the upcoming elections, has become into a political momentum. The French know that Macron and his pro-European stance will be of high risk after 2027, which will put pressure on Germany. Jacob Ross, a research fellow in Franco-German Relations at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) said: “Macron takes leadership and has been doing so since 2017 and now the environment really favors his position. But France lacks the material base to really put that forward on its own.” (Matthew Ward Agius, “Could Macron be the new leader of Europe?” Deutsche Welle, 07 April 2025)
GERMANY
Schools suspended after violent and death threats
On 07 April, many schools in Duisburg, Germany remained closed over the precautionary warnings to be the target of criminal actions. Police in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia said: “The messages contained the threatening and right-wing extremist statements.” Police say that the school received an anonymous letter on the criminal actions to take place on Monday, and received another along with thirteen other schools in the city. The state government has suspended physical classes for all secondary and comprehensive schools, and in one grammar school in Duisburg, with the option of online classes being open. A total of 17,980 students at 15 comprehensive schools were affected. The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, a newspaper said: “The decision-makers have classified it as a ‘Threat Level 2,’ which includes the dangers of violent attacks and death threats.” (Richard Connor, “Germany: Schools closed over extremist right threats,” Deutsche Welle, 07 April 2025)
GREECE
Report in Hungary Today finds the Balkan route most used by migrants to enter Greece
On 03 April, the Hugarian-Siberian route is the most commonly used route for migrants during the summer season. In 2025, there have been five attempts, whereas in 2024, more than 714 migrants have been apprehended. According to the border guard, and lawyer György Bakondi, the reason for the significant increase in migration is that the Balkan route is active, which paves the way for the migrants arriving by boat from Turkey and Libya to Greece. Bakondi observed that in the past, tunneling and ladders were the methods by which illegal immigrants entered the country, but presently, the people simply cut through the fence using power cutters. At the same time, they are taking offensive action against the Hungarian police forces at the border. He said: “This also shows that they are not refugees but migrants because refugees who are persecuted in a country because of their religious, racial, or political views or affiliation do not start their journey by throwing cocktails at the Hungarian border guard who is trying to help.” He pointed out that this behavior has had tangible political consequences in the large host countries such as Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, and Spain where many do not feel safe, and see no justification for letting in illegal immigrants in such large numbers. (“Balkan Migration Route Is Becoming More Active ahead of Summer,” Hungary Today, 03 April 2024)
HUNGARY
Chinese industry giants to open their markets in early 2026
On 04 April, Chinese industry giants are to begin their markets in Hungary, by early 2026, which creates a breakthrough for the Hungarian economy. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjártó said before the Hungarian-Chinese Joint Economic Committee press conference, the advantages of this cooperation between the two, and to further develop a strategic partnership, that cover important areas. He pointed out: “Between 2020-2024, Chinese companies bought most investments into the country. Around 54 modern Chinese large-scale investments worth HUF 7000 billion have been created in the past years.” The investments will start with BYD setting up its first factory in south Hungary, while Debrecen will start its production in east Hungary this year, and many more to come. (“Chinese Companies to Have a Crucial Role in Hungary’s Economic Breakthrough,” Hungary Today, 04 April 2025)
A study finds link between air pollution and declining birth rates
On 03 April, a comprehensive study was done on the various air pollutants and their effect on the birth rates in Europe which were carried out by researchers in the HUN-REN Center for Economic and Regional Studies, which have studied the co-relation between air pollution and decline in fertility rates. The study shows that around 657 regions in Europe in the last decade, as a quasi-experimental approach, the causal effects of pollution. The study examined the major pollutants, Nitrogen dioxide (NOâ‚‚), Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Ozone (O₃), and many more. According to their recent study, the number of cold days does not affect fertility, but the colder days have resulted in heating, which raises the pollution levels. Ágnes Szabó-Morvai, A Senior Research Fellow at HUN-RES CERS concludes by saying that “By leveraging this, we can isolate the periods of lower and higher pollution levels.” (“Study Finds Direct Link between Air Pollution and Falling Birth Rates,” Hungary Today, 03 April 2025)