Photo : Samyang
13 June 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #859
By Govind Anoop and Ken B Varghese
DENMARK
Instant Ramen banned to be sold under health hazard norm
On 12 June, three South Korean instant ramen products were recalled by the Denmark food agency as they were so hot it might cause “acute poisoning.” These three products were assessed to have active high levels of capsaicin, chilli peppers according to the Danish Veterinary and food administration. These three products from the Samyang instant ramen line – Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew Were being asked to withdraw from sales in Denmark. It has also issued a warning against children eating the noodles and has asked the parents to contact “Poison Line” if their children appeared to show “acute symptoms.'' This is the first time Samyang foods have been recalled because they were deemed too hot and said that they would work to better understand local regulations in export markets. (“Denmark recalls South Korean firm’s instant noodles for being too spicy,” The Guardian, 12 June 2024)
FRANCE
Macron asks the voters to unite against extremism
On 12 June, Emmanuel Macron, French President asked the voters to reject extremism in the upcoming elections in France. He called for unity against the far Left and right, for national stability. This is due to the rise of the far right across France for the European Election. After the defeat in the European Elections that damaged his domestic authority on losing parliamentary majority. Macron called for a new election: “I don't want to hand the keys of power to the far right in 2027,” for the next Presidential election. Macron also highlighted on building eight new nuclear reactors for the energy transition than the pension proposal pitched by the other parties as it would “bankrupt” the pension system. He also said: “The dissolution of the National Assembly is a test of truth between those who choose to strengthen their hand and those who chose to strengthen the hand of France." While addressing the far-right: "We need greater security, we need to reduce illegal immigration, we need to have a stronger response to youth violence and the authority of the Republic must be visible at all levels." Macron has warned that the Far Right under Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella could take France out of NATO and usher in a new "ambiguity" towards Russian aggression in eastern Europe. (“France: Macron calls on voters to reject 'extremism',” Deutsche Welle, 12 June 2024)
LR party expels chairman following decision to join RN
On 12 June, Annie Genevard, spokesperson for the French centre-right party Les Republicains (LR) announced the unanimous decision of the party’s political committee to expel their Chairman Eric Ciotti. This came in response to Ciotti’s surprise announcement to offer alliance to the Far-Right National Rally (RN) and the unfavourable response from members of his own party, mainly since it would have to be a junior partner since it only had seven per cent of votes in the European Parliamentary elections in comparison to the 31 percent the RN received. Ciotti did not agree with the vote, believing that the rules were not followed for the vote and that his position as chairperson was unchanged, as suggested by his post on social media: “I am and remain the president." Both Ciotti’s expulsion and the declaration of him as the Rightful leader of the LR has been signed in the party’s name, suggesting the beckoning of a legal battle. The LR also promised to release their list of candidates by 30 June and 07 July for the snap elections which was announced by President Emmanual Macron and has shaken French politics. Macron’s decision has been largely attributed to the RN’s emergence as the largest party in the European Parliament elections last week. (“French conservatives boot leader over far-right pact call,” Deutsche Welle, 12 June 2024)
GERMANY
Top environmentalist and Politician Klaus Topfer dies
On 12 June, Klaus Topfer popular politician and environmentalist died at the age of 85. A member of CDU and former Federal Environment Minister for about 18 months was successful in cleaning the Rhine River which was so contaminated with chemicals. Klaus Topfer, born on 29 July 1938 in Waldenburg was politically active in Maniz. He stepped up the party in environmental policy and took over the office vouching for "a future without nuclear energy, but also with fewer and fewer fossil fuels." He is also known as the father of the Rio Declaration, the climate change which the United Nations Conference adopted, also known as the “Earth Summit.” As the head of the Environment Ministry in Bonn for seven years and was succeeded by Merkel from the former East Germany. He later moved on to become the head of the Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development. But this was by no means a step down for him. An economics graduate, he had worked extensively on location policy and spatial planning since the late 1960s and became professor and director of the Institute for Spatial Research and Planning at the University of Hanover in 1978. Topfer was also officially responsible for the relocation of large parts from Bonn to Berlin. Later he gave up his position as Federal minister in 1998 and then at 59, he was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly to become executive director of the UN Environment Program in Nairobi, Kenya. As the world's top environmentalist, Töpfer was the highest-ranking German at the UN and held this post for two terms until 2006. Anyone who visited him there at the time, in an elegant building complex in a green area of the city, met a committed player with a world view. Topfer was held in high regard in Germany. He was considered a worthy candidate for the office of German President, but rather he chose to become the advisory committees and remained an expert advocate for the expansion of renewable energies and the abandonment of nuclear power. (Christoph Strack, “Germany: Top environmentalist Klaus Töpfer dies,” Deutsche Welle, 11 June 2024)
THE UK
Asylum seekers scheduled to depart to Rwanda bailed
On 12 June, 79 detained asylum seekers who were to be sent to Rwanda has been released on bail. The confirmation came through when government lawyers told the High Court that the latest flights would start from 24 July. This was after Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of UK, confirmed that if he returned to power, there would be regular flights starting from July. The Labour party has promised to scrap the policy if it wins the 04 July elections. The Liberal Democrats and the SNP also agreed to scrap the policy because it violates international law. The Home Office denied to comment on the actual number of detainees. Immigration rules say that people can be held in removal centres by ministers only if there is a “realistic prospect” that they will be put on the flight within a “reasonable timeframe.” The High court has also ruled that the United Nations Refugee agency needs to provide evidence of ongoing abuses in the country that the detainees were being allegedly subjected to. (“Dozens of Rwanda detainees released on bail,” BBC, 12 June 2024)
REGIONAL
Research finds low voter confidence for general elections
On 12 June, National Centre for Social Research reported on the lack of general trust in UK’s politics and election system. The report recorded a high number of 45 per cent of the voters saying that “almost never” trust governments prioritise the country over the party and 58 per cent of the voters do not believe in politicians to tell the truth when in a tight corner. It also suggested that the dissatisfaction with over Brexit among voters is one of the main reasons for the loss in trust. Political scandal and the cost-of-living crisis are also some of the domestic causes. When if they preferred a voting system that was fairer to smaller parties, 53 per cent agreed, the highest proportion ever to question first-past-the-post elections. This was in response to a 79 per cent of voters believing that Britain’s system of Governance requires improvement. (“Voter confidence at record low, says report,” BBC, 12 June 2024)
EU reports on extreme delay in Malta in civil case resolution
On 11 June, European Commission’s EU Justice Scoreboard reported on the extreme delays for resolving civil, commercial and administrative cases in Malta and on the lack of data the time taken to resolve corruption and bribery cases. Out of the 25 countries surveyed in the EU, Malta has an average of 2.8 years to settle administrative cases. Although the figures show an improvement in prosecuting money laundering cases in 2022 in comparison to the previous year, reports submitted at this time occurred when Malta was added to the Greylist, and the government made every effort to create the impression it was serious about tackling money laundering which has resulted in Malta escaping the Greylist in 2022. Malta has also not reported a single successful case of prosecuting money laundering. Malta has also not provided for the average length it took for the corruption and bribery cases in 2021 and 2022. (“Malta still slow to resolve court cases – EU Justice Scoreboard,” The Shift, 12 June, 2024)