Photo : Stelios Misinas/REUTERS
27 June 2025, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #1168
By Vaihali Chittrothu and Fleur Elizabeth Philip
GREECE
Wildfires and heat waves lead to evacuation of 40 residents
On 26 June, Deutsche Welle reported that Greece was experiencing its first heatwaves and even wildfires that affected Athens. The wildfire led to evacuations all over the city. The firefighters dealt with burning holiday homes and fires in the countryside near the Coastal town of Palaia Fokaia, 40 km south of Athens. The cause of the Wildfire was not yet discovered, but the spokesman of the fire department, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, said 12 water-dropping planes and 12 helicopters were providing air support to 80 fire engines and 130 firefighters, backed up by volunteer firefighters. 40 residents were evacuated with early notice, and two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby near the sea in case evacuation by sea was necessary. The Civil Protection agency wants small fires to transform into major fires in a matter of minutes due to extreme heat, dry conditions, and high winds. Earlier, weak it took 100S 4 days to bring a major welfare under control on the eastern Aegean island of Chios. (Dmytro Hubenko, “Greece: Wildfire erupts near Athens amid heat wave Deutsche Welle, June 2025)
SPAIN
Constitutional court backs amnesty for Catalan separatists
On 26 June, Deutsche Welle reported that Spain's Constitutional Court upheld the main provisions of the amnesty for Catalan separatists; under the law, 300 were pardoned. In 2024, this bill was approved, but the opposition deemed it to be unconstitutional, and it was passed to continue Socialist manoeuvres to rule. The Constitutional Court rejected their accusations and said amnesty wasn't completely banned but it and its adoption when it completely responds to an exceptional situation and a legitimate public interest it would be admissible. The Constitutional Court said it does not directly benefit Former Catalan Separatist, Carles Puigdemont, who was sued for an embezzlement case. The court said the Amnesty does not apply to him, and he has appealed the decision, saying that the funds earmarked for the referendum were not for his gain. According to a court's spokesman, the constitutional court will not rule on the matter until later this year or next. He was head of government in 2017 when the region unilaterally declared Independence from Spain to impose direct control, sparking Spain's worst political crisis in decades. (Dmytro Hubenko, “Spain: Top court backs amnesty for Catalan separatists 26 June 2025)
INTERNATIONAL
Iranian nuclear facilities are intact after US attacks, says European intelligence
On 26 June, the European Intelligence Assessments state that two officials have confirmed that Iran’s enriched uranium is intact, following the attacks made by the US on the nuclear sites. They said that the European capitals believe that Iran’s 408 kgs of uranium was moved to a different location, and they were not in Fordow before the attack. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed all claims of the movement of uranium from the nuclear sites. She said that they were watching closely, and no signs of the movement were visible. The initial assessment will not go well with US President Donald Trump, who is fighting against his spy agents on the impact of the US on the nuclear plants. Additionally, CIA Director John Ratcliff said that the attacks from the US caused severe damage to the nuclear facilities. He added that the key sites have been destroyed, and it would take years to rebuild. The Israel Atomic Energy Commission supports the US attacks were successful, and the underground enrichment sites are “inoperable.” A leaked report from the Defence Intelligence Agency reveals that the extent of destruction was not major, and several components of the nuclear programme could restart in a few months. In the NATO Summit, Trump rejects the assessment, by stating that his spies did not have the full picture and that American bombs have destroyed the facilities. (Gavin Blackburn, “Iran's uranium stocks said to be intact, UK media citing European intelligence probe says,” Euronews, 26 June 2025)
US push for ocean mining clashes with Switzerland’s legal commitments to deep-sea mining
On 26 June, Swissinfo reported that in April 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting deep-sea mining in the US as well as in international waters, to collect one billion tons worth of minerals over 10 years. However, in early June, the UN held an Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where they discussed major changes to the marine activities. The Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Leticia Reis de Carvalho, warned that any unilateral decision could destabilise the entire global governance and any commercial activities. She said that per the convention, in international waters, the seabed and its resources are considered a common heritage to humas, and no state can claim, or excercise sovereignty over any part of the seabed, or its resources, and this applies to all, even those that have not agreed to the convention. The UN body looks at imposing sanctions such as financial penalties, termination of their contracts. Swiss-based MNC Allseas specialises in the construction of underwater infrastructure, has confirmed to take part in the US executive order. They are involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and have developed Hidden Gem, a giant vessel made for collecting polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor. Switzerland, however, has approved the Convention on the Law of the Sea and supports the moratorium on seabed mining until the impact is better understood. This agreement put Allseas in trouble, as the Law of the Seas convention undermines the company’s provisions. This issue is under discussion in the Swiss parliament and is in question. Ocean Specialist of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Clement Chazot, said that the chances for the demand for critical minerals to increase are slim, as it would be a violation of international law, and many states do not want to participate in this framework. Regarding the regional waters, there is no moratorium or treaty; countries can access the marine resources, as technology is evolving, and there have already been alternatives found to the ocean minerals. The ISA is to finalise the mining code by the end of the year, but until then, mining companies can start their work. The code is a framework that records all mining activities in the international seabed, preserving the marine ecosystems. Carvalho added that the legal proceedings and the complexities are time-consuming, as there are 169 countries involved. The mining framework must also look into whether the minerals extracted are used to their full capacity and are reused, before a new set of minerals is extracted. He concluded and said that so far, 33 countries favour the moratorium on sea-bed mining. (Racheal Barbara Haubi, “Deep-sea mining: has Trump unleashed a scramble for the seabed?” Swissinfo, 26 June 2025)