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08 November 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #980
By Abhiruchi Chowdhury
GERMANY
Chancellor Scholz faces pressure to call for an early “vote of confidence”
On 07 November, Deutsche Welle reported that Christian Democratic Union(CDU)’s Friedrich Merz held a meeting with President Steinmeier after the former did not achieve any results with his earlier meeting with Chancellor Scholz regarding early elections. Sources hint that when Friedrich Merz met with Chancellor Scholz, the former said to him that a “lame duck chancellor would not even get a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump.” Chancellor Scholz had earlier confirmed that a “vote of confidence” would take place in January 2025. However, the opposition parties are demanding that the “vote of confidence” must take place immediately. A survey also indicated that 65 per cent of the people in the survey would want to see an early election. It also predicted that the opposition CDU would have a 34 per cent vote share in the next elections followed by Alternative for Germany (AfD) which would have 18 per cent while Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democratic Party(SPD) would receive 16 per cent votes. This has prompted CDU’s Merz to pressure the government to call early elections. On the breakaway of a coalition, a spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry of Russia argued that the reason for it was the government not using gas from Russia which has led to a downfall of the German economy. (“German opposition wants confidence vote now,” Deutsche Welle, 07 November 2024)
IRELAND
Elections scheduled for 29 November
On 06 November, Politico reported that elections are to be held in the country on 29 November. The opinion polls predict Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris’s party Fine Gael along with its coalition partners Fianna Fall and Green Party could possibly form the next government as well. The three-party coalition led current Irish government includes Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green party. Prime Minister Harris has declared that he would dissolve the current government on 8 November. This seems to be an apt time to call for elections to take advantage of infighting in the opposition Sinn Fein party and the goodwill earned by the government by giving a “cash bonus” to the public. The next elections in Ireland would be contested on 174 seats instead of 160 in 43 constituencies instead of 39. (Shawn Pogatchnik, “Ireland faces a snap election on Nov. 29https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-faces-snap-election-november-29-prime-minister-simon-harris/,” Politico, 06 November 2024)
REGIONAL
“Hoekstra has won hearts and minds in the parliament” with his approach to combat climate change claims an editorial in Politico
On 06 November, an editorial in Politico titled “EU climate chief’s pitch: Adam Smith will save the planet” deliberated upon the EU climate action commissioner Wopke Hoeskstra’s “market based approach” to reduce the use of fossil-based energy resources. Hoeskstra’s focus has been on increasing duties for the use of fossil-based resources and “carbon pricing.” He envisions making the use of fossil-based resources costly so that people automatically shift towards using renewable energy resources. Some legislators are, however, reluctant to adopt this approach as they do not want to upset voters with increased prices of oil and gas. Hoekstra’s approach has created a rift even in his own European People’s Party (EEP) such as Member of European Parliament (MEP) from Bulgaria Radan Kanev termed it as “recipe for political revolution in Europe.” He also has received support for his approach from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The editorial mentions Bulgaria’s MEP Radan Kanev who opined that though Hoekstra’s proposed measures would bring down the rate of emission, however, this would ultimately lead spike in the prices of goods for the end consumer. The editorial further argues that though costly use of fossil-based resources might discourage consumers from using it, however, this might not be enough to save them in case of a climate calamity. (Zia Weise, “EU climate chief’s pitch: Adam Smith will save the planet,” Politico, 06 November 2024)
“As Brussels gears up to challenge Beijing in funding and construction, many of the projects it is funding are being built by Chinse state-owned companies” says an editorial in Politico
On 08 November, an editorial in Politico titled “Brussel’s global infrastructure plan isn’t challenging Beijing – it’s relying on it” discussed the increasing number of projects which are funded by the EU, however, are built by Chinese companies. It mentions how China-based firms were able to secure contracts that amounted to EUR 1 billion which were financed by European Investment Bank(EIB) in non-EU countries such as Senegal and Senegal since 2019. In 2019 and 2024, Chinese companies had more contracts with EU firms which were financed by EIB. The editorial focuses on the lack of a “level playing field” for the EU countries. It mentions how there were no European firms to be seen in the “Belt and Road Initiative” projects which are funded by China. The projects often are given to China-based companies without even issuing a “tender” notice. The editorial mentions Frank Kehlenbach, director of European International Contractors who expressed dismay over competition from Chinese companies which he alleged are financed by the Chinese government. (“Brussel’s global infrastructure plan isn’t challenging Beijing – it’s relying on it” Politico, 08 November 2024)
SWITZERLAND
Frequency of wet avalanches to go up in Switzerland due to climate change
On 07 November, Swissinfo reported that from 2100 Switzerland due to the perils of climate change would see a spike in wet avalanches however, the count of dry avalanches would go down. It is also predicted that avalanches would not pose a threat in valleys, but would increase the same at “higher altitutdes.” The frequency of life-threatening snowfalls is also likely to go up. (“Climate change tipped to alter Swiss avalanche patterns by 2100,” Swissinfo, 07 November 2024)
International Computation and AI Network intends to intensify the access to AI across developing countries
On 07 November, Swissinfo reported that the International Computation and AI Network (ICAN) would work towards connecting science-related projects in the global south to AI to reduce the inequality in access to AI. Katharina Frey who leads the “digital foreign policy” in the foreign office of Switzerland conveyed that a larger proportion of people across the world do not have access to state-of-the-art supercomputers that are available in the developed world. ICAIN is involved in two programs in Africa with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC). The programs have been allowed to access the use of supercomputers and AI specialists. ICRC has maintained that it must be permitted to have total authorization from ICAN over the collected data so that it is not disclosed at any stage. Swiss government has also conveyed that it does not wish to have a grip on the workings of ICAN and would rather serve as a self-dependent “legal entity.” (Matthew Allen, “How a Swiss-led global network fosters greater access to AI,” Swissinfo, 07 November 2024)