Photo : Ludovic Marin, AFP
30 April 2024, Tuesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #821
FRANCE
President opens discussion on use of nuclear weapons for common European defence
On 28 April, in an interview, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, expressed that France was ready to contribute more to the EU's common defence strategy. Macron pushed for a “European Dimension” but also maintained role of France. The debate comes at the light of the EU elections in June 2024 and highlights Macron’s agenda to include sharing of France’s anti-missile defence, long range capabilities and nuclear weapons for a more “credible” European Defence. This was criticised by the opposition member parties. The right-wing party LR Leader, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, described the comments as "exceptionally serious." Whereas the Far-left French lawmaker Bastien Lachaud said France's nuclear deterrent "cannot be shared."
PORTUGAL
Government denies to pay reparations to their former colonies
On 27 April, the Lisbon government stated that it seeks to "deepen mutual relations, respect for historical truth and increasingly intense and close cooperation, based on reconciliation of brotherly peoples." However, stressing that it had no plan to pay reparations for trans-Atlantic slavery and colonialism. This was stated as a response to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who said Portugal could find ways to compensate its former colonies. The Lisbon Government led by Luis Montenegro, the leader of Portugal's center-right Democratic Alliance who won the elections in March. Over five centuries passed during Portugal's colonial era, six million Africans were forced to travel across the Atlantic by Portuguese ships between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries in order to be sold into slavery. While the president believes that Lisbon had an obligation for reparations, the government said that Portugal maintained "truly excellent" relations with its former colonies, including financial and economic cooperation.
ITALY
Prime Minster Meloni to run for European Election in June
On 28 April, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni announced her candidacy at a party event at Pescara, Italy, for the European Elections as the lead candidate of her ruling party Brothers of Italy. Her move of using her popularity to boost chances of their party to win is for a greater goal of pushing the left to the opposition so that the centre-right will rule Europe. Meloni’s party already tops the latest polls in Italy, and is predicted to get 27.2 percent of the vote. Both Elly Schlein, leader of the PD, and Antonio Tajani, the current foreign minister who is from the conservative Forza Italia party, have entered the race for the European Parliament.
Energy Minister says Italy not affected by the sanctions on Russian gas
On 26 April, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Energy Minister explained Italy’s steps into diversification so that Italy “has no reason to oppose a process of new sanctions" on Russian LNG. as prepares to host climate talks by G7 ministers in Turin, Fratin claims that “Italy is right now in a condition to even do without Russian gas altogether." Italy, once seen heavily reliant on Russian gas, has swiftly diversified after the 2022 Ukraine invasion through an Algerian pipeline and LNG imports. While Italy’s import of Russian gas fell under five per cent in 2023 from 43 per cent in 2020. The EU has imposed 13 packages of measures against Moscow since Vladimir Putin, Russian President move against Ukraine, but the bloc has refrained till now from targeting Russia's gas sector. The Italian government intends to invest in Africa to turn Italy into an energy transit hub between Africa and Europe. While there are accusations on Meloni’s government for not taking the environment seriously, Pichetto Fratin argues that the government's target is to generate nearly two-thirds of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of the decade.
THE UK
Rwanda Policy a threat to Ireland’s immigration issues says Irish Prime Minister
On 25 April, Simon Harris, Irish Prime Minister asked Helen McEntee, Ireland's justice minister to bring legislation to cabinet to enable asylum seekers to be sent back to the UK. After the MPs and peers approved of the UK’s Rwanda Policy and laws that ensured the safety of third world countries, over 500 migrants crossed the English Channel in two days. McEntee testified before a committee of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) earlier this week that there has been an increase in the number of individuals entering the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland across the land border, accounting for 80 per cent of all asylum seekers. Micheál Martin Deputy Prime Minister criticised UK’s policy as it raises fears among the migrants and thereby leading to immigration problems in the neighbouring states. As a response to this, Ms. McEntee stated that "My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.”
REGIONAL
ACEA reports lag in pace of Electric car charging stations with increased electric cars
On 29 April, a report by European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said that since 2017, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have increased three times faster than the number of EV charging stations installed across the EU member states. According to the European Climate Law, adopted in 2021, which aims for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050, sets the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. In a press release, ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vrie said: "We need mass-market adoption of electric cars in all EU countries to achieve Europe's ambitious CO2-reduction targets." The ACEA report claims that the EU will need to install 22,000 points every week — eight times the current rate. The study also stated that the development of EV infrastructure was essential to encouraging more individuals to purchase electric vehicles, which is necessary to meet the European Union's 2050 carbon neutrality goal.