Photo : Department of National Defense, Philippines
01 July 2025, Tuesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #1171
By Vaihali Chittrothu
INTERNATIONAL
Lithuania and the Philippines sign security alliance to foster defence cooperation
On 01 July, Lithuania and the Philippines signed a security alliance as they perceive growing aggression threatening their regions by countries such as China. The MoU was signed in Manila by Lithuania's Defence Minister DovilÄ— ŠakalienÄ— and the Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to foster defence cooperation, particularly in cyber security and defence industries. It covers munitions production and addressing maritime security, the Philippine Department of National Defence said. ŠakalienÄ— described Lithuania’s alarm over an emerging "authoritarian axis" of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, which she raised in an international defence forum in Singapore last month. The emerging alliance needed to be confronted by a unified response from pro-democracy countries. She said: “What we see now is that authoritarian states are really cooperating very efficiently." The agreement attempts to build an arc of security alliances in Asia and with Western countries, aside from Manila's treaty alliance with Washington, to boost the Southeast Asian country’s territorial defence in light of Chinese actions in the South China Sea.(Gavin Blackburn, “Lithuania and the Philippines sign security pact to counter 'authoritarian axis' of China and Russia,” Euronews, 30 June 2025)
HUNGARY
100,000 march Budapest Pride event despite the ban
On 01 June, Euronews reported that the Budapest Pride march attracted an unprecedented turnout, serving different political interests. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called the march "repulsive and shameful," and accused "puppet politicians" in Brussels of conducting the event. "This is proof of what life would be like if our country were not run by a national government defending our sovereignty," the Prime Minister warned on the Facebook group "Warriors' Club", an organisation close to his party, Fidesz. This comes despite a government ban; more than 100,000 people took part in the march through Budapest. Pro-government media claimed it as a success for the Prime Minister.
TURKEY
950 personnel deployed for four days to tackle wildfires
On 30 June, Daily Sabah reported that the wildfires erupted in Turkey for four days, and firefighters were being deployed to mitigate them. The deployment, supported by helicopters, aircraft and fire trucks, was affected by strong winds and dry conditions fuelling the ongoing wildfire emergency. The wildfires were in Sakarya's Taraklı district, Bilecik's Gölpazarı district, Izmir’s Seferihisar and Menderes districts and Manisa’s Akhisar district, western Türkiye, scorched vast areas and evacuated 13 villages: two in Sakarya and 11 in Bilecik. Several houses located in Bilecik’s rural zones were also damaged or destroyed by the advancing flames. No casualties but impact on wildlife and local ecosystems was significant.It started from PaÅŸalar locality of the Hacıyakuplar and spread to Bilecik’s Gölpazarı district in the Marmara Region. Over 950 personnel were deployed to combat the fire, supported by 174 fire trucks, 16 helicopters and one firefighting aircraft. Turkey Agricultural and Forest Minister, Ibrahim Yumaklı said wildfires were now controlled but wind could be unpredictable. (“Türkiye fights against wildfires in western regions amid strong winds,” Daily Sabah, 30 June 2025)
THE UK
High Court rejects the case accusing government supply of defence equipment to Israel
On 01 July, Human rights groups lost their legal challenge to the British government's decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment, in a ruling declared by London's High Court. The court, which looked into the allegation that the UK selling arms to Israel through a global pool was against the law, stated that the courts weren't allowed to tell the government to withdraw from the group. The case was brought by the UK-based Global Legal Action Network and a Ramallah-based human rights group Al-Haq and Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam. They argued that about a “clear risk” that the UK's indirect supply of essential F-35 components to Israel which were linked to its recent military actions, especially in Gaza represented a breach of domestic and international law, accusing the UK government of operating through a “deliberate loophole." However, in a 72-page ruling, two High Court judges ruled that the issue was one of national security, given that the parts were considered vital to the defence collaboration, as well as the UK's security and international peace. Justices Stephen Males and Karen Steyn said: “Under our constitution, that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts." The court said that the components were manufactured in the UK, before being sent to assembly lines in the US, Italy and Japan, which supply partners including Israel with jets and spare parts. (Estelle Nilsson-Julien, “UK high court rejects challenge against selling military parts to Israel,” 01 June 2025)
REGIONAL
Deaths per year in Europe could be avoided through public health policies targeting alcohol and tobacco, or better-quality medical finds Eurostat
On 01 July, Euractiv reported that new data from Eurostat show that around 1.1 million deaths per year in Europe could be avoided through public health policies targeting alcohol and tobacco, or better-quality medical care. According to new figures from 2022 released by the EU’s official statistics agency, the deadliest diseases affecting people under 75 in Europe are not caused by viruses, but by chronic health conditions. The agency found that 386,710 deaths were from treatable diseases avoidable through high-quality medical care and 725,625 deaths were due to preventable chronic diseases. These include lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and alcohol-related poisoning. Latvia recorded the highest rate of avoidable deaths, followed by Romania and Hungary. Sweden, Italy, and Luxembourg were the lowest. Since 2010, gaps between Western and Eastern countries have been growing on tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, the WHO found in a recent report. The World Health Organization's Europe chief, Hans Kluge called for 'bold' prevention policies. Several unions, including ETUC and EPSU, said the figures reflected a broader problem with the bloc’s health workforce, linked to cuts in national and EU-level social spending. According to the OECD, the EU faces a shortage of 1.2 million healthcare workers. (Emma Pirney,“Avoidable chronic diseases are Europe’s deadliest killers, says Eurostat data,” Euractiv, 01 June 2025)
REGIONAL
Arctic Six proposes research program to improve Arctic research in the EU
On 02 June, the UMEA University reported that the Arctic Six proposed a research program to improve research on the Arctic. They urged the EU to fund their research as the EU was undergoing rapid environmental, social and Geopolitical change. This was a joint position paper calling for an Arctic research program in the EU using the upcoming Framework 10(FP10). The Arctic Six universities believed in their indigenous communities for the co-production of knowledge and developing the regional areas. Even the European Polar Board(EPB) recommended the EU secure that position to fund and conduct a dedicated research team for the polar program. This position paper will be presented ahead of the meeting in June in the EU Arctic and Indigenous Peoples' Dialogue in Kittilä, Finland. The Arctic Six is an alliance between Luleå University of Technology, Nord University, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Umeå University, the University of Lapland, and the University of Oulu that will advance and share knowledge, education and innovations for the development of the region and a sustainable Arctic.(“The Arctic Six urge the European Union to prioritise the Arctic in research funding,”UMEA University, 27 June 2025)
Europe witnesses maritime heat wave causing extreme temperatures
On 30 June, Severe Weather Europe reported that a significant marine heatwave developed in the Mediterranean Sea during summer 2025, characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures. This phenomenon is part of a larger pattern affecting Europe, where a persistent high-pressure system (heat dome) is dominating the region's weather patterns. The current climatic readings exceed 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), some areas reaching temperatures above 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit), significantly warmer than typical summer values. The European weather experiences certain patterns as persistent high-pressure systems (heat dome) over Europe, clear skies and light winds contributing to warming, warm air masses dominating the region, and stable atmospheric conditions maintaining heat retention. This heatwave would affect the entire Mediterranean basin, particularly pronounced in eastern regions, connected to broader European heat wave patterns and contributing to regional climate extremes. This could play an important role in part of the larger European heat wave pattern, contributes to regional climate extremes, indicates potential for continued warm conditions and influences subsequent weather patterns. This marine heatwave represents a significant deviation from normal Mediterranean conditions, contributing to the broader pattern of extreme temperatures across Europe during summer 2025. (Marko Korosec, “Mediterranean Marine Heatwave brings water temperatures at record levels,” Severe Weather Europe, 30 June 2025)