This week in Europe: Four planes from the EU firefighting fleet have been sent to France from Greece and Sweden, following a request from the French authorities, as forest fires ravage the southwest of the country. Furthermore, Italy requests the opening of proceedings against Slovenia over balsamic vinegar rules.
On August 5, the European Commission strenuously denied that EU sanctions are responsible for Russia not being able to reintroduce the gas turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) supports Austrian authorities in implementing the voluntary return of refugees. Washington says the US is a strong partner encouraging a rapid EU accession for North Macedonia.
Energy crisis, Ukraine war, Corona Pandemic – Europe is in the midst of a difficult time. With a proposal, the EU wants to obligate member states to put on reserves. More news of the week: An EU action plan shall improve the rights and freedoms of LGBTI persons in Bosnia and Herzegowina and Brussels purchases 250 million doses of Hipra’s coronavirus vaccine.
The EU Court of Justice has decided: Vessels belonging to humanitarian organizations such as Sea Watch can be inspected, if the state can prove “serious indications” of a risk. More news of this week: According to the Digital Economy and Society Index, even the most advanced EU countries have gaps in digitization, and Slovenia plans to apply to EU fund for the mitigation of damage caused by fires.
A top EU court has refused to lift the ban on Russia Today (RT) France. This week also saw the opening of the Pelješki Bridge, one of the largest and most expensive EU-funded projects in Croatia. Austria voted in favor of an EU exemption to have fallow land rededicated to agricultural cultivation.
The EU Commission is taking Brexit disputes to court, the government crisis in Italy is worrying the EU and the US, and forest fires resulting from the heat wave have destroyed more than 500,000 hectares in the EU so far this year – more than in the whole of 2021.