The temporary import ban on Ukrainian grain for the country’s five EU neighbours ended on September 15. Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland – parliamentary elections are due in the latter two in the upcoming weeks – unilaterally extended their bans to the dismay of the EU. Ukraine consequently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation.
Over 4,000 migrants are currently on the Italian island of Lampedusa. In other news: Five EU member states jointly push for the extension of the import ban for Ukrainian grain until the end of this year. The President of the European Council Charles Michel visits flooded areas in Slovenia.
The commitment of Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets as soon as the conditions are met is the hottest topic in Europe in recent days. In other news: Bulgaria’s Mariya Gabriel advocates the country’s Schengen accession – and Germany’s Chancellor Scholz defends border controls with Austria due to the migrant crisis.
Germany has welcomed more than a million refugees from Ukraine since the start of the war, according to European Union figures. The newcomers have had to register and apply for temporary protection status, which replaces the need to apply for asylum, as agreed by the EU Council following Russia’s invasion. An old claim, which has recently resurfaced on social media, alleges that Germany has also imposed another requirement: that Ukrainian refugees must report all of their assets and sell their car if its value exceeds 7,500 euros. This is false.
Leaders from the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean made progress during a two-day summit on trade deals and global investment between the regions. Discussions on technology, human rights and climate change took place. However, the 60 countries failed to unanimously condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.