Photo : REUTERS/Axel Schmidt
18 July 2024, Thursday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #888
By Neha Tresa George
GERMANY
The coalition government agrees on the budget for 2025
On 17 June, Deutsche Welle reported on Germany’s draft budget for the year 2025. The new budget resulted from weeks of negotiations among Germany’s cabinet. The total budget for the year is EUR 480.6 billion which was EUR 8 billion less than this year. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, Robert Habeck, the Green Party’s Vice-Chancellor and Christian Lindner, the finance minister had been trying to close a financing gap of EUR 30 billion for weeks. Lindner said: “A balanced budget was only possible by curbing the politicians' appetite for ever higher government spending.” The budget allocates increased payments to families, more investment in kindergarten and climate crisis. According to Lindner, this budget was the “start of the economic turnaround" for Germany. Several initiatives were planned to provide incentives to the employees along with tax advantages to attract foreign skilled workers. Lindner aims to bring an extra EUR six million as revenue next year. (“Germany's coalition agrees on a budget for 2025,” Deutsche Welle, 17 July 2024)
The government plans to expand its ties to West Africa
On 17 July, Deutsche Welle reported on Germany’s plan to expand its ties to West Africa in the Senegal region. Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister visited Senegal with a 10-member business delegation. The region is ruled by two former opposition members, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko who seek to rebuild a self-determined Senegal. Baerbock considered the investments as for “Germany’s security interests” and not as a “charity campaign” since she intended to treat the African partners as “equals.” According to her, "The security and future opportunities of this region are closely linked to German security." When asked about the withdrawal of German troops from Nigeria, she explained that it would not affect the Development funds flowing from Germany to the affected people. She also assured the safety of Ivory Coast, a country in West Africa. Germany also supports the International Counter-Terrorism Academy of Ivory Coast and funds around EUR 2.5 million per year. (“German ties in West Africa not a charity campaign',” Deutsche Welle, 17 July 2024)
REGIONAL
Record high temperatures recorded across Europe triggering heatwave
On 18 July, Deutsche Welle reported on the heatwave sweeping across the European countries. In Italy, Greece and several other Balkan countries, the intense heatwave had resulted in wildfires and a dried-up lake in Serbia. With the temperature to hit 43 degrees Celsius in Greece, the government had closed one of the most famous landmarks of the city, he Acropolis archaeological site. Meanwhile, the Italian government had ranked Palermo, Sicily under the 13 hottest cities in the country. In North Macedonia, around 200 wildfires had been ranging since this month with the government proclaiming a month-long state of emergency. In Albania, the government had rescheduled the working time for civil servants. Most of the Balkan countries had issued heat alerts against the scorching climate. (“Europe: Scorching heatwave bakes Greece, Balkan region,” Deutsche Welle, 18 July 2024)
Ursula accused of concealing information on the COVID-19 vaccine contracts
On 17 July, POLITICO reported on the accusation against Ursula Von der Leyen, the European Commissioner over transparency issues about COVID-19 vaccine contracts. The EU court’s ruling came just over 24 hours before her future would be decided by the MEPs. It could be seen as a major blow to her bidding to become re-elected to the position of European Commissioner as she needs the support of 361 lawmakers out of the 720 in a secret vote. Back in 2021, the Greens had filed requests to access the vaccine contracts and related documents to understand the agreement between the Commission and the manufacturers. However, the Commission only gave partial access to the documents over the argument that it had to protect the commercial interests over privacy matters. This decision of the Commission was condemned by the court. It framed the Commission over charges of concealing provisions on indemnification. The European Commission believed that the court needed to opt for a balanced opinion in these kinds of cases. The Commission can appeal within two months and 10 days of the decision. (“Von der Leyen loses court case in blow to her 2nd-term bid,” POLITICO, 17 July 2024)
INTERNATIONAL
Australia and the European countries commemorate 10 years MH17 flight
On 17 July, Deutsche Welle reported on the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of MH17, the Malaysia Airlines flight by Australia and the EU. Ceremonies in the EU were near Amsterdam's Schipol Airport, where the plane took off. Out of 283 passengers and 15 crew killed in the plane crash,193 were from the Netherlands. In Australia, a memorial was conducted in the Parliament House’s Great Hall for the 29 dead Australians in the plane crash. Peter Hutton, Albania’s opposition party’s leader condemned Russia for providing Ukrainian rebels the firepower to shoot down the plane, citing a foreign investigation. The EU also called on Russia to accept the responsibility for the plane crash. MH17, which took from the Amsterdam airport on 17 July 2014 was allegedly shot down when it reached the eastern Donetsk oblast, by the Ukrainians with Russian support according to foreign investigations. (“Australia, Netherlands lead MH17 commemorations, 10 years on,” Deutsche Welle, 17 July 2024)