The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief takes place this Thursday, on August 22. A study by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance shows that key challenges in Europe remain the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism as a result of the current Middle East conflict.
Record-breaking heatwaves and droughts, devastating wildfires, torrential rain and hailstorms all across Europe are costing lives, damaging infrastructure, diminishing biodiversity and hitting tourism, harvests and the economy. Some governments have imposed rules to ensure the safety of their workers and are calling for rigorous measures to combat climate change.
Croatia plans to request a loan from the European Commission to finance projects in energy and education, among others. Furthermore, the Commission considers Romania to be one of 11 countries to increase production capacities in defence. Austria opposes the introduction of an EU gigabit levy and the German Economic Minister calls for stricter control of sanctions against Russia.
It feels like a déjà vu. In a time when Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, the EU started the year with a meeting to discuss adopting a joint approach given the surge of infections in China after Beijing reversed its strict zero-Covid policies. Talks did not yield a binding result.
The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the public deficit and inflation. EU officials had initially welcomed this as a step in the right direction towards mitigating climate change. However, at the time they overlooked the protectionist aspects of the law.