Leading EPP Group MEPs have strongly criticised the British Government’s intention to launch unilateral action against the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit Treaty as reckless and disappointing. The move was attacked by MEPs Seán Kelly and Christophe Hansen. They issued a statement which said “The anticipated announcement is reckless and disappointing, but sadly what…
The EU’s Global Gateway initiative is the right step forward in improving connectivity with non-EU partners and like-minded developing countries. In its relevant opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) underlines that civil society representatives must be included on the board that will be set up to coordinate Global Gateway investments. It also stresses…
The European Parliament has backed a one-year suspension of EU import duties on all Ukrainian exports, to support the country’s economy. This temporary trade liberalisation, endorsed by 515 votes, with 32 against and 11 abstentions, is a response to the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which is hampering the country’s ability to trade. The…
The European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade has adopted a mandate for trilogue negotiations on the reform of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). The GSP provides significant tariff reductions to developing countries’ exports to the EU, and is a major opportunity to improve the lives and livelihoods of over 2 billion people. The…
While Russia is targeted by economic sanctions, importers are actively seeking for the ways to evade them. Money transfer and logistics are the key issues to their strategies. According to open source intelligence (OSINT), the Kremlin may be opting for the following ways to avoid the restrictions imposed by sanctions. Running entities in third countries…
Russian propaganda is trotting out the tired old idea of “Novorossiya” again, which was last talked up when Russia invaded Donbass in 2014. The concept of “Novorossiya” is now being used to justify the second phase of the Russian aggressive war in Ukraine, a kind of “cultural and historic cover” for barbaric actions on the…
As from the end of this month, trade in shellfish – such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops – will resume between the EU and the US. Two EU Member States (Spain and the Netherlands) will be allowed to export shellfish to the US, whilst two American states (Massachusetts and Washington) can do the same…
The EU is requesting consultations with Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning export restrictions placed by Russia on wood products. The export restrictions consist of significantly increased export duties on certain wood products and a drastic reduction in the number of border crossing points through which exports of wood products can take place….
The European Commission has adopted a ban on the use of Titanium Dioxide as a food additive (E171). The ban will apply after a six-month transitory period. This means that, as from this summer, this additive should no longer be added to food products. Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, in charge of Health and Food Safety, said: “The safety of the…
ECR MEP Zbigniew Kuzmiuk’s Opinion pertaining to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has been adopted by the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (AGRI). The Opinion voices firm support for the introduction of the new mechanism, but also expresses some concerns of Committee members’ surrounding the potential consequences of its implementation. “I am very pleased with…
