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29 March 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #794
By Rosemary Kurian
ARMENIA
Despite a sanctions regime; Armenia’s trade with Russia increases
On 28 March, according to Euractiv, Armenia’s exports to Russia tripled in 2022 and doubled in the initial months of 2023 despite the Western sanctions regime, increasing concerns over its relations with Russia. While the political relations between Armenia and Russia have deteriorated, their trade has flourished, especially since the former joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in 2014, making Russia its largest trading partner. According to 2023 data, Russian trade accounted for 35 per cent of Armenia’s foreign trade compared to the EU’s 13 per cent share. Such dependency risks the implementation of any sanctions without guaranteed economic downfall in Armenia. (Anna Pambukhchyan, “Armenia’s exports to Russia raise concerns over sanctions circumvention,” Euractiv, 28 March)
FRANCE
French lower house approves bill banning hair discrimination
On 29 March, according to Deutsche Welle, the French National Assembly approved a bill outlawing any discrimination based on hair and hairstyle with 44 votes in favour and two against. The bill was drafted by Olivier Serva, a Black MP from Guadeloupe, stating that the bill would help the victims of such suffering, especially for Black women who have been observed to be ruled out for jobs because of their hairstyles. The bill also includes redheads, blondes and bald men. After the National Assembly approval, the bill will go to the Senate for approval, but a majority of conservatives in the upper house means that a favourable outcome is less certain. The opponents of the bill call it unnecessary and merely “symbolic” since any discrimination based on looks is already banned by law. Laws to prevent hair discrimination already exist in 20 US states and as guidelines in Britain to prevent such discrimination in schools. (“French National Assembly votes to outlaw hair discrimination.” Deutsche Welle, 29 March 2024)
France set to connect Flamanville nuclear reactor to the grid by mid-2024
On 28 March, according to Deutsche Welle, EDF, the French state-owned energy company, announced that it received approval from the nuclear supervisory authority to put a new nuclear reactor in the grid. The reactor, located in Flamanville on the English Channel, is set to be loaded with fuel in the coming weeks. It will be connected to the grid in mid-2024, late by 12 years per initial plans, the construction for which began in 2007. The plant is excessively over budget, with initial planned costs at EUR 3.3 billion and current estimates as high as EUR 12 billion. France is the second largest producer of nuclear energy after the US, and a shift to nuclear energy comes as concerns over global warming increase. France is set to extend the operating life of 32 of its 56 reactors if safety concerns are met. Germany, on the contrary, is phasing down its nuclear power and focusing on renewable sources like wind energy. (“France set to commission new nuclear plant,” Deutsche Welle, 28 March 2024)
France condemns the 1961 Algerian massacre in Paris
On 28 March, according to Le Monde, the French Assemblée Nationale approved a resolution condemning a brutal police crackdown on protests supporting the Algerian independence in 1961, calling it “bloody and murderous repression”. The bill was introduced by Sabrina Sebaihi, a Green lawmaker and Julie Delpech, a Renaissance party MP, which was voted in favour by 67 lawmakers and 11 against. Emmanuel Macron, the French President, after years of coverup by the French, condemned the act as “inexcusable” in 2021. The text calls for official commemoration of the massacre, which was undertaken “under the authority of police prefect Maurice Papon”, a Nazi collaborator in the 1980s. Sebaihi described the act as “the first step” towards “recognition of this colonial crime”. (“French lawmakers condemn 1961 Paris massacre of Algerians,” Le Monde, 28 March 2024)
France set to provide EUR 30 million to UNRWA
On 28 March, according to Le Monde, France will provide EUR 30 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) conditional on the agency’s neutrality, according to the French foreign ministry. Christopher Lemoine, the foreign ministry spokesperson, stated the importance of the aid agency in Gaza, urging that “it must imperatively be able to continue its work”. No timeline for the payments have been given so far. France had funded the agency with EUR 60 million in 2022. The employees of the UNRWA had earlier been accused of their alleged involvement with Hamas’ attacks by Israel leading to a UN investigation into the matter and firing of accused employees. (“France set to provide €30 million to UNRWA Palestine aid agency,” Le Monde, 28 March 2024)
THE UK
Illegal immigrants increase in Britain, putting pressure on Sunak’s government
On 28 March, according to Euractiv, the pressure on the government of Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Prime Minister, increased as 4,644 people were detected arriving illegally via the dangerous English Channel in small boats, a record total in the first three months of 2024. The numbers increased from 3,770 in 2023 and 4,162 in 2022, the credit for which was claimed by Sunak amid concerns over immigration which could determine the election results in favour of the Labour Party. Sunak believed that his scheme to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda will deter people from crossing into the UK, and the plan is due in parliament next month. (“Migrant crossings to UK hit new record, heaping pressure on Sunak,” Euractiv, 28 March 2024)
TURKEY
Istanbul elections to determine the fate of Turkey ahead of 2028 presidential elections
On 28 March, according to the BBC, several Turk voters voted on Sunday to decide the fate of Istanbul and thereby the national elections in 2028. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President born in Istanbul, had lost it to the opposition in 2019 to popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which the former intends to claim back. Istanbul’s results can be observed as a crucial test for what happens in the 2028 presidential elections and if the opposition can pose a threat to Erdogan’s AK Party. After Erdogan won for a third term in 2023, his main opposition, the secular CHP, aims to claim major cities including Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. Seda Demiralf, a professor of political science at Isik University, stated that “there is still a strong link between winning Istanbul and winning Turkey”. (Cagil Kasapoglu, “Turkish vote: Battle to run Istanbul becomes key to country's future,” BBC, 28 March 2024)