Photo : Farmers protest against the EU-Mercosur deal. Source: Jean-Francois Badias/The AP.
07 January 2025, Tuesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #1030
By Samrudhi Pathak
AUSTRIA
President Van der Bellen commissions the leader of the far-right party Kickl to form a government
On 06 January, Deutsche Welle reported on the new government formed in Austria. President Alexander Van der Bellen asked the leader of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), Herbert Kickl to form a new government. This move followed Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s resignation due to failed coalition talks. After Kickl won the election in September 2024 with 28.8 per cent of votes, no other party was willing to work with him. Van der Bellen asked Kickl to negotiate with conservative ÖVP for the formation of a government as the latter talks with Social Democratic Party of Austria had failed. Kickl then confirmed that he was sure of formulating solutions for government negotiations. (“Austria's far-right Freedom Party asked to form government,” Deutsche Welle, 06 January 2025)
GERMANY
Inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in December
On 06 January, the Statistics office in Germany issued preliminary data showing that the inflation rate had risen to 2.6 per cent year-on-year in December, faster than expected. The annual inflation rate was 0.4 per cent higher than in November. Energy prices fell by 1.7 per cent compared to 2023, while food prices rose two per cent year-on-year in December. Core inflation excluding food and energy rose to 3.1 per cent in December, up from three per cent in November, 2.9 per cent in October and 2.7 per cent in September. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic's impact on supply chains and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia resulted in huge rise in prices in Germany. The Russian invasion forced the German government to give up Russian gas which resulted in higher energy costs in Germany. (“Germany: Inflation rose to 2.6% in December,” Deutsche Welle, 06 January 2025)
FRANCE
Farmers’ protest against Mercosur deal in Paris
On 06 January, farmers in France staged a protest in Paris against the Mercosur deal signed between the EU and Latin American countries. Farmers are demanding a better compensation package. The procession that started at early hours in the morning was met with roadblocks by French law enforcement, causing traffic delays. The union wants to obtain a guarantee from French Prime Minister François Bayrou regarding the protection of small farmers in the agricultural industry. French farmers argue the Mercosur agreement is part of a broader trend which threatens rural livelihoods in France. The EU-Mercosur trade deal is a proposed free trade agreement aimed at boosting economic ties and cooperation between the European Union and South American nations. A main feature of the agreement is the elimination or reduction on tariffs on a wide range of goods, including agricultural products. (David Sullivan, “Tractors head towards Paris in protest against the EU-Mercosur deal,” Euronews, 07 January 2025)
Marine park closes after ban on shows featuring marine mammals
On 06 January, a French marine park on Sunday closed down due to a 2021 law banning shows featuring marine mammals. The closure leaves two last orcas in captivity in the country, hundreds of other animals as well as dozens of staff uncertain about their future. The closure of the park was marked by a final show by its two orcas, also known as killer whales, who were applauded by crowds that came for its last day of operations. The park has said 90 percent of its visitors come for its orca and dolphin performances. The park has said that the priority is to "relocate all of the animals to the best facilities currently available." (“French marine park closes over law banning orca shows,” France24, 06 January 2025)
Records its first mpox virus
On 07 January, France’s Health Ministry reported on the first mpox virus case, detected in the western Brittany region of France. The detected case was that of clade 1b variant. The ministry added that necessary measures were implemented. The case came from a man who had not travelled to Central Africa. However, he was in contact with two people who returned from Central Africa. Inquiries were underway to detect the origin of the infection. This came after the World Health Organization declared an emergency due to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024. Mpox gets transmitted to humans from infected animals. It could then be transferred to other humans through close physical contact. Symptoms range from fever, muscular aches and large boils on the skin. (“France detects first case of new mpox variant,” France24, 07 January 2025)
RUSSIA
Severe environmental damage caused by oil spill from tanks
On 06 January, Euronews reported the further deterioration of the situation in Russia. Officials have warned of severe environmental damage after tons of fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers in the Kerch Strait, near Crimea. Local media reported that over 10,000 people volunteered to rescue wildlife and remove vast amounts of sand saturated with mazut, a heavy, low-quality oil product. Authorities in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region announced a region-wide emergency as the fuel oil reached the coastline. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the oil spill an “ecological disaster.” Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that more than 71,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil had been removed along 56 kilometres of shoreline since the original spill. There are fears the spill may have killed more than 20 dolphins. (“‘An ecological disaster’: Russia deals with aftermath of massive fuel oil spill,” Euronews, 06 January 2025)
SWITZERLAND
Gerhard Pfizer steps down as Swiss Centre Party leader
On 07 January, Gerhard Pfizer announced that he will be stepping down as the head of the Swiss Centre Party in summer 2025. The party made this announcement in the press release on 06 January. The successor of the part will be chosen in the party meeting that will be organised in June 2025. Pfister took over the leadership of the Centre Party in April 2016 when the party was called the Christian Democrats People’s Party. Under his leadership, the party not only changed its name, but also merged with the Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland. (“Gerhard Pfister to step down as Swiss Centre Party leader,” Swiss.info, 06 January 2025)
Melting glaciers will result in loss of biodiversity
On 05 January, a research team working on melting Swiss glaciers found ten new species of bacteria and one new fungus that was living in the glaciers. This breaks the general belief that life cannot exist on glaciers due to low temperatures, lack of light and nutrients. Similarly, even Chinese researchers identified more than 10,000 species of viruses in the ice of the Tibetan plateau. Microorganisms trapped for centuries or millennia in ice are now being released into the environment due to global warming. Microorganisms, among the world’s oldest life forms, offer valuable insights into climate evolution.A few hundred meters upstream, WSL researchers have set up equipment to collect microorganisms from the ice. They are testing a new filtering method developed in Switzerland that could be used in other regions, too. (“Secrets revealed by melting Swiss glaciers could eat plastic and cure disease ,” Swiss.info, 06 January 2025)
REGIONAL
Two of the sabotaged cables undergone repairment
On 07 January, Deutsche Welle reported on the reconstruction of two telecom cables connecting Estonia and Finland. Finnish authorities were undertaking a probe into the sabotage of these four telecom cables and one power cable which were damaged in December 2024. The cables carried steel reinforcement with some layers of insulation protection. An oil tanker, supposedly part of Russia’s shadow fleet, was suspected to have caused the sabotage. The police have placed the tanker's crew under investigation. (“Two Baltic Sea cables repaired after suspected sabotage,” Deutsche Welle, 07 January 2025)