Photo : AP/Le Monde
23 March 2024, Saturday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #789
By Alka Bala and Rosemary Kurian
RUSSIA
Launch of Russian Spacecraft to ISS aborted
On 21 March, according to Le Monde, the launch of the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-25 due to take off from Kazakhstan was aborted at the last minute. The spacecraft carrying three astronauts from Russia, the United States and Belarus was cancelled 20 seconds before the launch through an announcement by Roscomos, the Russian Space Agency. Although there had been no comment from Roscomos on the launch failure, a NASA broadcast elaborated that the failure of “engine sequence start” led to an "automatic command to abort the countdown." The crew on board was reported to be safe and had been transported to their crew quarters. The mission planned to launch Marina Vasilevskaya, the first Belarusian astronaut into space. (“Russian spacecraft aborts launch to ISS,” Le Monde, 21 March 2024)
FRANCE
Macron urges EU leaders to increase defence spending
On 21 March, according to Financial Times, Emmanuel Macron, the French President is set to urge leaders at the EU summit to increase defence funding, in the backdrop of Russia’s threat, Europe’s struggles to increase support for Ukraine and the possibility of withdrawal of the US support if Donald Trump ascends presidency. The demand arises as the bloc explores innovative solutions to fund increased defence spending. One of the proposals includes the use of earnings from frozen Russian assets, to invest more in defence and use the funds for weapons for Ukraine. However, this has been met with opposition as countries show concern over the legality of the same. The joint borrowing option was discussed but later ruled out by Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Charles Michel, European Council President voiced his support for European defence bonds as “…a powerful means to strengthen our technological innovation and industrial base.” (Henry Foy, Paola Tamma, Leila Abboud, and Guy Chazan, “Emmanuel Macron to revive demands for European defence bonds,” Financial Times, 21 March 2024)
REGIONAL
Report indicates lack of competitiveness for EU fisheries sector
On 21 March, Euractiv reported on the study presented at the European Parliament on the EU fisheries sector, which indicated the EU’s increased dependency on imports of seafood products. According to the report, the EU fisheries sector faces a lack of competitiveness, challenges of unfair competition and increased imports from third countries. Experts attribute Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, increased subsidies and low labour costs in third countries as the reasons for unfair competition. Martin Aranda, co-author of the study, stated that “imported fishery and aquaculture products do not meet European environmental and social sustainability requirements.” The report emphasised the EU to ensure that imported products comply with conservation and management regulations as outlined in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This demands “increased inspections at the place of origin to check compliance with European standards, as well as at the EU’s borders” as stated by Aranda. The scientists have urged increased support for research and innovation to achieve a more sustainable and productive aquaculture. ( Hugo Struna, “EU must protect fishing industry from unfair competition, study warns,” Euractiv, 21 March 2024)
Europe’s wind power industry confident on reaching EU’s targets
On 22 March, according to Euractiv, Europe’s wind power industry is “back on track” as stated by Giles Dickson, CEO of the industry association WindEurope as the industry concludes the end of instability and high-interest rates and prices ushered with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There has been a 70 per cent increase in the approval of permits in Germany and Danish company Vestas reaps profits, with the company installing two new factories in Poland and three foundation factories in Europe. According to Dickson, the EU’s new binding rules on emergency permitting for national governments have simplified the permit process. Germany’s conception of renewables overriding public interest has become reformative in Europe. ( Nikolaus J Kurmayer, “Europe’s wind power targets ‘back on track’,” Euractiv, 22 March 2024)
EU agrees to curb imports from Kyiv, post farmers’ protests
On 20 March, according to Financial Times, the EU agreed to curb imports of Ukrainian food items starting from 06 June as a result of domestic protests across Europe. According to a provisional deal, the EU will impose tariffs on Ukrainian poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, maize, honey and groats if the quantity imported surpasses the mean average imported in 2022 and 2023. The EU is also planning to impose tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grains, which has been demanded by the Ukrainian and the East European governments. In Poland and France, the agricultural lobbies protested intending to increase restrictions on imports to lower the imports back to pre-war levels. However, their efforts were blocked by Germany, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands. Marc Fesneau, French Agricultural Minister stated that solidarity should not be “…at the cost of excessive destabilisation of agricultural markets.” (Andy Bounds, “EU agrees fresh curbs on Ukrainian food after farmers protests,” Financial Times, 20 March 2024)
Commission recommends start of accession talks for Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 21 March, according to the BBC, the European Commission recommended that Bosnia and Herzegovina begin negotiation processes for its membership into the EU, eight years after it applied to join the bloc. The Baltic country was given a green light by leaders of the EU as Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, congratulated the country, welcoming them into their “European family.” Borjana Krišto, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated the importance of “mutual determination and effort” in having achieved the feat. Leaders of Germany and Croatia welcomed the country, which has over the past years passed laws focusing on democratisation as a criteria to join the bloc. (“EU: Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin talks to join bloc, BBC, 21 March 2024)
Grossi warns of global warming use of nuclear energy in Europe
On 21 March, according to Deutsche Welle, Rafael Grossi, the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noted the importance of the role of nuclear energy to secure the goal of low carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels, but highlighted the challenges faced due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Grossi stressed on the “international consensus” reached to include nuclear energy in tackling global warming, especially for Europe. However, with Russia being a key supplier of fuel for nuclear power plants, the attempts at reducing the reliance on Russia by the US and Europe might take some time. Currently, “the majority of the market” for supply lies with Russia. He further emphasised on the dangers posed by the war to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the front lines, a catastrophe that has so far been prevented due to certain guidelines by the UN Security Council. Grossi predicted that “probably within the next four or five years,” Western Europe and North America will witness the arrival of the first Small Modular Reactors (SMR), which have one-third the capacity of regular large nuclear power plants but which are cheaper and easier to install for regions with limited grid coverage. (Alex Berry, “Nuclear energy offers fossil fuel alternative — IAEA chief”, Deutsche Welle, 21 March 2024)