Photo : Protestors in Georgia. Source: Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP
01 January 2025, Wednesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #1025
By Padmashree Anandhan and Neha Tresa George
GEORGIA
Pro-EU protests rally for 34th day calling for new elections
|On 01 January, Euronews reported on thousands of protestors demonstrating outside Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi. The protests continued for the 34th day following the Georgian Dream Party announcing the end of its EU bid. The waves of protests have continued since the suspension of the EU accession talks at the end of November. The protestors who were found to be pro-EU demanded new parliamentary elections and called for the release of earlier captured activists. Another separate rally was held outside Gldani Prison where many demonstrators were detained. According to the report, the protests were observed as a symbol of unity rather than defiance. In response to continuing protests, foreign ministers from Germany, France and Poland issued statements condemning the violence against the protestors, media and opposition. They also called the democratic backsliding of the Georgian Dream Party to be deteriorating the country’s relations at the regional level. (Malek Fouda, “Tens of thousands take to the streets of Tbilisi in anti-government protests on New Year's Eve,” Euronews, 01 January 2024)
GERMANY
Elon Musk criticises President Steinmeier in his social media post
On 01 January, Deutsche Welle reported on the insults hauled at Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier by the CEO of social media platform X, Elon Musk. He criticized him through a response to the post uploaded by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)-affiliated influencer Naomi Seibt. Musk wrote: “Steinmeier is an anti-democratic tyrant! Shame on him." While Steinmeier’s office noted the post, they refused to make a comment on it. Earlier, Musk had also criticised Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him a “fool.” He had also misspelled his name when he said that Scholz would lose the upcoming election. Responding to these, Germany’s Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said that Musk had “billions and unbridled communication power.” Habeck further said that he was trying to weaken Europe through his close interest in AfD and its members. He called for the EU to use its powers systematically. (“Elon Musk insults German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier,” Deutsche Welle, 01 Janaury 2025)
Four dead and several injured in new year eve fireworks
On 01 January, Deutsche Welle reported on the casualties that happened during the New Year’s Eve celebration in Germany. Four people were reported to have died due to fireworks. A large warehouse explosion was also reported in Neuwied in western Germany. The locals were evacuated from the place and the emergency services were bringing the fire under control. In some of the cities, the police officers and emergency services were pelted by Pyrotechnics. One of the officers got severely injured and was undergoing medical treatment. Berlin’s University Hospital said that the total number of people getting treatment had come up to 15. According to the Berlin spokesman Florian Nath: “We have had to carry out around 320 arrests, in several cases both rescue workers and police came under fire from pyrotechnics.” He added that several police officers were injured by illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, pyrotechnics had complained about illegal fireworks usage. They cited the deaths and injuries to these fireworks. (“Germany: 4 killed, warehouse fire amid New Year's fireworks,” Deutsche Welle, 01 January 2025)
REGIONAL
WMO publishes a report highlighting instances of climate change in 2024
On 30 December, Deutsche Welle reported on the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ New Year’s Eve address, highlighting the devastating effects of climate change. He said: “The world has endured a decade of deadly heat with 2024 capping 10 years of unprecedented temperatures.” He urged the countries to end this as there was hardly any time. According to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate change exacerbated 26 out of 29 extreme weather events in 2024. This had led to the death of at least 3700 people and displacement of millions. The report recorded around 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024. Despite the wildfires caused by the intense heat, 2024 also recorded a large number of flooding events due to the record-breaking rainfall. WMO called for the countries to work together and combat these threats. (“Climate change: 2024 caps 'decade of deadly heat,' UN says,” Deutsche Welle, 30 December 2024)
Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen area
On 01 January, Euronews reported Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area as “full-fledged members.” This means 25 million residents in Bulgaria and Romania jointly will have no barriers (land border checks) to move across the Schengen zone. The move has been on schedule for a long time since both countries joined the EU in 2011. In December, the European Commission's positive signal now enables the citizens to feel like EU members. The Schengen zone which was established in 1985 now consists of 29 countries including non-EU members such as Iceland and Switzerland. Till now the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania had to go through long queues to complete official checks using identity documents and passports which no longer needed. (Jen Marsden, “Romania and Bulgaria become fully fledged members of the Schengen area as land border checks lifted,” Euronews, 01 January 2025)
One million across the EU support safe access to abortion initiative calling for action
On 01 January, Euronews reported on the success of the “Citizens’ Initiative, “My voice, my choice” which received one million signatures demanding “safe access to abortion,” in the EU. The initiative demands for “safe and accessible abortion” with support from more than 15 EU countries surpassing the threshold. It was led by a Slovenian non-profit organisation which calls for gender equality. It wants the European Commission to propose solid measures across citizens of the EU to guarantee safe and legal abortion services. Abortion rights and access has been widely debated across the EU and in April 2024, the European parliament voted in favour to make abortion accessible in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It was seen as symbolic however the right has to be unanimously supported by all 27-members to be included in the charter. According to Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib: “It's a member state competence, so we will need an agreement from all of us. We will need this unanimity, but I hope that we will be able to protect women's lives.” (“Abortion rights initiative hits 1 million signatures, prompting EU action,” Euronews, 24 December 2024)