Photo : Anadolu Ajansi
27 September 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #946
By Samruddhi Pathak
THE EU
Brexit takes a toll on EU plant exporters
On 26 September, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said that the trade between the EU and British garden retailers and growers is under strain due to the new border processes that have been implemented due to Brexit. The HTA wrote a letter to Lady Hayman, the borders, biosecurity and plant health minister which mentioned that some EU nursery traders are now completely withdrawing from the UK. On 30 April, the UK government introduced new border checks for plants entering from the EU to the UK. The letter also mentioned an incident where lorries carrying decorative plants from Italy were held for more than eight days over concerns that they might be transporting pests into the UK in a border control post in Ashford. The HTA has said, “We recognise the need for a strong biosecure system yet one that still facilitates and encourages legitimate trade.” (Jack Simpson and Angela Giuffrida, “EU plant exporters turning backs on UK over post-Brexit border checks, says trade group,” The Guardian, 26 September 2024)
“Cyprus is ready for peace talks with Turkey,” says Nikos Christodoulides
On 26 September, Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, said that he is ready to negotiate on the reunification talks with Turkey. Cyprus was split from Turkey after the coup was carried out through Greek intervention. This led to violence among Turkish Cypriots and Greeks as well. There were reunification talks but they reached a deadlock in 2017 and have not resumed since then. Thus, there is a divide in Cyprus among Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots demand a two-state solution while Greek Cypriots refer to the UN resolutions on reunification. Emphasising on the urgency to find a solution, Christodoulides said, “I am committed and I am ready to sit at the negotiating table today. Not tomorrow. Today.” According to Reuter, the Cyprus issue is eclipsed by other conflicts in the Middle East. (“Cyprus leader says he is ready to resume peace talks 'today',” Reuters, 26 September 2024)
HUNGARY
Chief Prosecutor asks the European Union to suspend opposition leader's MEP status
On 26 September, Peter Polt, Hungary’s Chief Prosecutor, said in a statement that Peter Magyar, the chief political opponent of Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, allegedly confiscated the cellphone of a man who recorded Magyar in a bar in June 2024. Further he said that Magyar then dumped the phone in the Danube river. The device was found and returned to its owner, Polt alleged. Magyar gained popularity in February when he spoke against corruption in Orban’s party. Viktor Orban has been in power in Hungary since 2010. Magyar is now supported by 39 per cent of votes, according to a recent poll. The next election is due in 2026. Tizsa party, the opposition party in Hungary, won seven seats in the European parliament in June. They won 32 per cent of the votes in Hungary. (“Hungary's chief prosecutor seeks to suspend legal immunity of Orban's chief rival,” Reuters, 26 September 2024)
SPAIN
Carles Puigdemont refused MEP status by the European Court of Justice
On 26 September, the European Court of Justice gave the ruling denying Carles Puigdemont and Antonio Comín their MEP status after the 2019 elections. Comin won the consecutive elections in 2024 as well. According to Spanish law, elected MEPs are required to visit the national parliament and declare their allegiance to the constitution in order to be verified as a representative of Spain in the European parliament. However, Puigdemont and Comín failed to verify themselves as they had an arrest warrant due the independence referendum organised for Catalonia’s independence in 2017. Thus, their names were taken off from the MEP list and their seats were declared vacant. In January 2020, their MEP status was given back after the ECJ reaffirmed their immunity and ruled that member countries had no right to ban elected MEP members from taking their seats. Thus, the recent ruling by ECJ came as a surprise to lawmakers and politicians. In 2024, Comin refused to travel to Spain after being re-elected as an MEP. The ECJ upheld the Spanish government's decision to reject their MEP status. (Aida Sanchez Alonso & Paula Soler, “EU's top court rejects Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont's claim to MEP status,” Euronews, 26 September 2024)
SWEDEN
Sweden’s gang violence makes neighbours sceptical
On 26 September, Politico reported on the numerous cases of shootings in Sweden motivated by gang violence. The Norwegian police also suspect Swedish gangs behind a bombing planned in the town of Drøbak. Norwegian authorities also said that there are Swedish drug gangs operating in Norway as well. Meanwhile, Danish authorities have also reported of Swedish gangs and criminals carrying out recruitments of young people in Denmark. In September, Denmark’s police reported two murders of Danish individuals that were carried out by Swedish nationals. Peter Hummelgaard, Denmark’s Justice Minister, said that children are being hired by these gangs to attack people. Meanwhile, Sweden has taken measures like increasing sentences for gun violence and lowering the juvenile bar age for gang criminals to counter the problem. Scandinavian countries are facing problems with Sweden’s gang violence problem entering their territory as well. (Charlie Duxbury, “Sweden’s spreading crime epidemic alarms its neighbors,” Politico, 26 September 2024)
THE UK
UK water company plans to tanker water from Norway
On 26 September, Southern Waters, the UK’s biggest water company, held discussions with Extreme Drought Resilient Services, a UK-based private water company, to deal with water shortages. Southern Waters has around 2.7 million customers. The companies are in talks to import water from Norway through Norwegian fjords. Tim McMahon, the Managing director of Southern Waters, said that the company is exploring options like temporary distillation plants as well. Meanwhile, water companies are also lobbying the British parliament to pass the bills to raise water bills. (Julia Kollewe, “Southern Water considers shipping supplies from Norwegian fjords to UK,” The Guardian, 26 September 2024)
INTERNATIONAL
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump meet in New York
On 26 September, Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, and Donald Trump, the Republican Presidential candidate of the UK, met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. The UK government office issued a statement on the meeting. Meanwhile, the office also said that Starmer was unable to meet Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the US, due to a tight schedule. According to Politico, this meeting was also to make up for statements previously made by British leaders on Trump. For instance, David Lammy, U.K. Foreign Secretary has once called Trump “woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.” Even Starmer has criticised Trump at various occasions. Politico also reports that the UK is concerned that the US might pull funding from the UN if Trump is elected as the President. (Emilio Casalicchio, “Keir Starmer and Donald Trump dine for 2 hours,” Politico, 27 September 2024)