Photo : Reuters
17 September 2024, Tuesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #938
By Advik S Mohan and Neha Tresa George
REGIONAL
Storm Boris trigger massive floods across Central Europe
On 17 September, the BBC reported on the devastation caused by Storm Boris in central Europe. Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary were the worst-affected countries. Kordian Kolbiarz, the mayor of the Nysa city in Poland had called for the evacuation of all 44,000 residents. The country had declared a state of natural disaster. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland assigned one billion zloty for the victims and applied for the EU relief funds. The number of deaths rose to around 16 with seven in Romania. Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland also saw casualties. Slovakia was affected by the overflowing Danube River with water levels exceeding nine metres. Hungary was preparing for a further rise in water levels in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic received the highest amount of rainfall. In Austria, the Ministry of Climate allocated EUR 300 million as recovery funds. The intense rainfall was supposedly due to climate change and atmospheric pressure. The weather conditions were expected to stabilise in the coming week with much drier conditions in Central Europe. The weather forecasts indicated that the storm was expected to move further south into Italy, especially the Emilia-Romagna region. (“Polish city urged to evacuate as floods batter central Europe,” BBC, 17 September 2024
Western Balkan states witness brain drain, argues an opinion in Euronews
On 16 September, an article in Euronews informed about the worsening brain drain in the Western Balkans states. The six states of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia are among the brain drain leaders of the world. Research by the German Marshall Fund stated the countries could lose 25-50 per cent of their skilled and educated workforce in the coming decades. Due to massive emigration, the countries lost significant proportions of their population. This ranges from nine per cent in Serbia to 24 per cent in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 37 per cent in Albania. Peter Barlakovski, a Macedonian student stated corrupt institutions and the lack of improvement in the situation were responsible for students leaving. According to experts, the Macedonian Ministry of Education neglects students after spending money on scholarships. ( Borjan Jovanovski, “Brain drain in Western Balkans spikes amid absence of opportunities,” Euro News, 16 September 2024)
Italy and Spain face austerity as a result of green financing
On 16 September, Euronews reported that the economies of Italy and Spain were likely to face higher levels of austerity due to their climate investments. A study conducted by think tank Agora Energiewende stated the energy transition of the European economy could involve 2 per cent of growth by 2040. However, it warned Spain and Italy faced specific challenges, owing to their high debt levels. According to the report, debt levels in the two countries were likely to increase, unless additional austerity measures were implemented. Agora informed that EU member states must begin assessing and addressing fiscal risks connected with their green transition in national budget plans and debt sustainability analyses. The think tank also estimated that investment of at least EUR 462 billion or 2.7 per cent of the economic output of the EU would be required every year throughout this decade, to sustain the green transition. According to the study, investment needs would further increase to EUR 564 billion or 3.3 per cent of EU economic output in the 2030s. Agora also stated investments in areas like clean tech and net-zero infrastructure would strengthen manufacturing and create jobs in the EU. According to Agora, economic convergence between Western and Eastern Europe is essential, and the EU needs to ensure funding for its programme to safeguard poorer citizens during the transition. The Agora report comes amidst a probe by the European Court of Auditors into the alleged misuse of green funds. Luke Haywood, Policy Manager for Climate and Energy at the European Environmental Bureau stated a lack of oversight at the EU level had contributed towards the funding of projects not aligned with green policy. (Marta Pacheco, “Italy and Spain at risk austerity in climate-neutrality race, new study suggests,” Euronews, 16 September 2024)
BELGIUM
Rally in Brussels urges industrial action in support of Audi employees
On 16 September, Euronews reported about a rally in Brussels that demanded support for the employees of the Audi factory. In July, Audi announced the restructuring of its Brussels plant. This sparked anger amongst employees. The restructuring comes amidst concerns over the auto sector in Europe. There are concerns over the arrival of Chinese electric cars in the market, and passenger car sales in Europe have declined by 4.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Keeping this state of affairs in mind, demonstrators at the Brussels rally stated the EU required new worker-friendly policies. Robin Tonniau, a forever Audi employee and Member of Parliament from the PTB party stated a more global strategy and an industrial plan for the future of jobs of workers was required. Tonniau gave the example of how big brands neglected the required investment in electrification in the car industry. (Gregoire Lory, “Thousands rally in Brussels to back Audi workers and call for EU industrial action,” Euronews, 16 September 2024)
FRANCE
French EU Commissioner resigns over internal discord
On 16 September, Deutsche Welle News reported on the resignation of Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. Breton’s resignation was just a short while after Emmanuel Macron, the President of France proposed his name for France’s spot in the incoming European Commission. However, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission requested the Government of France to withdraw Breton’s candidacy. According to Breton, von der Leyen requested for personal reasons. He also alleged that she had offered a more lucrative position for France in the incoming Commission. The French government expected Breton to be a counterweight against the influence of the EU by the Federal Government of Germany. Stephane Sejourne, the current Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France will be proposed as the next French candidate. (“French EU commissioner quits after clash with von der Leyen,” Deutsche Welle News, 16 September 2024)
GERMANY
Expanded border controls come into effect
On 16 September, Deutsche Welle reported on enforcing Germany’s temporary border controls introduced by the Federal Government of Germany. The new checks are for all of Germany's land borders for an initial period of six months. Previously, only the eastern and southern land borders were being checked. The stricter border regulations are a response to recent extremist attacks inside Germany. The German government stated that regulations are needed to tackle cross-border crime and irregular migration. Raphael Bossong, an expert on European migration policy at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs stated the border controls were sending a message that "Germany isn't open anymore." Janine Wissler, co-chairwoman of The Left Party stated that the border controls would create new problems, rather than solving the existing issue. According to Wissler, border controls would primarily affect individuals without a typical German appearance. She also stated that the measures could trigger a “European chain reaction” with barriers everywhere. Ricarda Lang, the co-leader of the German Green Party warned that these measures must not become permanent. Lang stated that the police had limited staff to impose the border controls and businesses were expressing concerns over rising costs in the supply chain. She stated that border measures needed to be proportionate. (“Germany’s expanded border controls come into force,” Deutsche Welle, 16 September 2024)
Germany and Uzbekistan sign a bilateral deal to ease entry of skilled migrants
On 16 September, Euronews reported on the bilateral deal signed between Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan's President. It was a migration agreement signed in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand. The deal aimed to facilitate the entry of skilled workers from Uzbekistan, specifically from the healthcare sector. It would also speed up and ease the deportation of Uzbeks, residing illegally in Germany. According to the estimates of a German press agency, the number of Uzbeks in Germany, eligible for deportation stands at 200. Scholz and Mirziyoyev also signed seven other agreements on sustainable water resource management and a critical minerals partnership. The agreements were part of Scholz’s three-day trip to Central Asia. (“Scholz and Mirziyoyev ink migration deal to simplify entry of skilled Uzbek workers,” Euronews, 16 September 2024)
SPAIN
Study warns Spain shifting towards desert climate
On 16 September, Euronews published a study by researchers at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) warning Spain was moving towards a desert climate. The study predicted rainfall in Spain will decrease by up to 20 per cent in comparison with recent levels, by 2050. This would shift the country away from the present temperate Mediterranean climate towards a cold, semi-arid and steppe climate. It is predicted this will lead towards a desert-like climate eventually. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at present, the daily mean temperature in Spain will reach 15.84 degrees Celsius in 2050. Temperatures in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands rose by 3.27 degrees Celsius, between 1971 and 2022. The number of summer days with temperatures 25 degrees Celsius and above increased from 82.4 in 1971 to 117.9 in 2022, an increase of 43 per cent. Tropical nights with a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius also rose from 1.73 to 14.12 in the same period. The study found an increase in the frequency of heatwaves as well; from an average of less than one per year between 1971 and 1980 to almost two per year between 2013 and 2022. The heatwaves last for an average of nine days now, compared to three earlier. According to the study, rainfall decreased at a rate of 0.93 mm per year between 1971 and 2022. The scarcity of rainfall and the increasing temperatures have led the country towards increasing levels of drought. The study also noted that while Spain receives extreme rainfall, it is mostly concentrated on the Mediterranean Coast. Moreover, the extreme rainfall does not compensate for droughts. (“Barcelona and Majorca will shift to a desert-like climate by 2050, new drought study warns,” Euro News, 16 September 2024)