The European Union is increasingly deporting non-EU citizens, with a growing proportion being returned to countries outside the bloc. This trend reflects a hardening stance on irregular migration, driven by concerns over rising arrivals and pressure from nationalist parties. The number of deportation orders and successful deportations has risen significantly, with France and Germany leading the way.
Peter Liese, a leading member of the European People’s Party (EPP), has called for a two-year delay to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to ban the marketing of goods linked to deforestation in the EU. Liese cites international pressure, including a warning from the US government, and argues that the law in its current form is overly bureaucratic. The EPP, now the largest political group in the European Parliament, has expressed concerns over various aspects of the Green Deal, including CO2 emissions standards for cars.
Despite initial concerns about a shift away from green priorities, a leaked draft of the EU’s Strategic Agenda reveals a continued commitment to climate action, energy transition, and environmental protection. The document, set to be adopted by EU leaders during their summit in Brussels, emphasizes the importance of achieving net-zero goals while also ensuring competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
The European Union and Lithuania and Estonia signed security agreements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels, pledging support in defense, military training, and demining. These pacts complement other agreements with Ukraine’s allies, aiming to bolster its defense against Russia’s invasion.
The European Union has agreed on a new sanctions package targeting Belarus, aiming to close off a route used to circumvent restrictions against Russia. The package strengthens existing measures and addresses concerns about the export of dual-use goods and agricultural products.
The European Union has accused Microsoft of engaging in illegal bundling practices by tying its Teams chat app to its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscriptions. This is the first antitrust charge against Microsoft in the EU in 15 years and could lead to a hefty fine and changes to its software products.
Lufthansa, the German airline giant, announced it will implement an environmental charge of up to €72 on European flights to cover the increasing costs of EU climate regulations. The charge will be added to flights departing from EU countries, Britain, Norway, and Switzerland starting in January 2024. The airline cites the EU’s requirement to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a major driver of the new charge.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on 19 Chinese companies, alleging their support for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. The sanctions target companies involved in the sale of satellites and satellite imagery to the Wagner mercenary group, among other activities.
The European Union has fined International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) €15.9 million for obstructing a cartel probe after an employee deleted WhatsApp messages. The company deleted the messages after being notified of an inspection, but later helped recover the data. The EU’s antitrust regulator is investigating several fragrance companies, including IFF, for suspected price fixing.
The European Union has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet of tankers transporting liquefied natural gas through Europe and several companies. The EU also expressed concern about a rise in Russian hybrid attacks, including election interference, cyberattacks, and sabotage. The sanctions aim to hinder Russia’s energy earnings and limit its ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
