The United States has received a new response from Iran on reviewing the nuclear deal to which the US thinks is 'not constructive'. This is the latest back and forth between the adversaries via mediators in European Union.

US: New Iran response 'not constructive', declines to discuss details publicly

The European Union has cancelled a 2007 VISA agreement with Russia. Russian citizens will now have to pay more and wait longer to get VISAs from EU member states. Is Europe right in punishing civilians for Putin's war? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: EU scraps VISA agreement with Russia

Why ethnic tensions are flaring again in northern Kosovo

Aiming at ensuring electricity prices reflect cheaper renewable energy, the &nbsp;European Union is preparing an emergency plan to separate power prices from the soaring cost of gas.

In order to discuss how to ease the burden of soaring energy prices on businesses and households, energy ministers from the bloc will meet on September 9.

Driven by record gas prices as Russia curbed supply to Europe, European power costs have surged in the last year.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed crippling sanctions on Moscow and in retaliation Kremlin cut the gas supply of several members of the bloc.

Following cuts imposed by Russia, gas prices have soared as they are determined by global competition for the fuel.

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Racing to find a short-term solution, the 27 members of the European Union are considering energy market reforms.

With the cheapest sources coming in first, gas plants in Europe set the wholesale electricity price by the last power plant needed to meet overall demand.&nbsp;

To incentivise more investment in renewable generation, the cheaper renewables generators end up with a bigger profit margin.

Resulting in cheap renewable energy being sold to consumers for the same price as costlier fossil fuel-based power, Spain said the system is unfair.

Highlighting the EU needed to decouple the price of gas and power, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that severe drought in the continent has hampered hydropower output and affected coal deliveries.

Rallying support for a cap on the price of gas used to generate electricity, the Czech Republic said it has received support from France to separate the price of electricity from the price of gas.

According to Italy, EU countries should agree on a cap on the price of gas imported from Russia or pay gas companies the difference between the capped price and the higher market price.

Saying it would effectively subsidise fossil fuel generation with public funds that they said would be better spent on the shift to cheaper clean energy, Germany and the Netherlands pointed out other options that could include restricting financial speculators' participation in gas markets.

Rather than a hasty market overhaul, the bloc can target financial support for low-income households and businesses hit hardest by the soaring prices, according to analysts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Aiming at ensuring electricity prices reflect cheaper renewable energy, the European Union is preparing an emergency plan to separate power prices from the soaring cost of gas.

Aiming at ensuring electricity prices reflect cheaper renewable energy, the European Union is preparing an emergency plan to separate power prices from the soaring cost of gas. In order to discuss how to ease the burden of soaring energy prices on businesses and households, energy ministers from the bloc will meet on September 9. Driven by record gas prices as Russia curbed supply to Europe, European power costs have surged in the last year. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed crippling sanctions on Moscow and in retaliation Kremlin cut the gas supply of several members of the bloc. Following cuts imposed by Russia, gas prices have soared as they are determined by global competition for the fuel. × Racing to find a short-term solution, the 27 members of the European Union are considering energy market reforms. With the cheapest sources coming in first, gas plants in Europe set the wholesale electricity price by the last power plant needed to meet overall demand. To incentivise more investment in renewable generation, the cheaper renewables generators end up with a bigger profit margin. Resulting in cheap renewable energy being sold to consumers for the same price as costlier fossil fuel-based power, Spain said the system is unfair. Highlighting the EU needed to decouple the price of gas and power, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that severe drought in the continent has hampered hydropower output and affected coal deliveries. Rallying support for a cap on the price of gas used to generate electricity, the Czech Republic said it has received support from France to separate the price of electricity from the price of gas. According to Italy, EU countries should agree on a cap on the price of gas imported from Russia or pay gas companies the difference between the capped price and the higher market price. Saying it would effectively subsidise fossil fuel generation with public funds that they said would be better spent on the shift to cheaper clean energy, Germany and the Netherlands pointed out other options that could include restricting financial speculators' participation in gas markets. Rather than a hasty market overhaul, the bloc can target financial support for low-income households and businesses hit hardest by the soaring prices, according to analysts. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Why is Europe considering energy market reforms?

Paying heed to the incessant calls raging since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis,&nbsp;European Union on Wednesday agreed to suspend a 2007 visa travel deal with Kremlin. Under the suspension, the number of Russian tourists entering the 27-nation bloc for holidays, shopping and other reasons&nbsp;will be curbed.

"We agreed on full suspension of the European Union-Russia visa facilitation agreement. This will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by the EU member states. It's going to be more difficult, it's going to take longer," said&nbsp;Josep Borrell,&nbsp;EU’s high representative for foreign policy.

Reportedly, while the informal agreement has been struck, a formal law will have to be passed; meaning the date when the suspension comes into force is still unknown.&nbsp;

EU announcing partial restrictions is a toned-down version of the demands of a complete travel ban on the Russians.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-gas-supply-though-nord-stream-1-pipeline-eu-chief-calls-out-russia-for-manipulation-511731">WATCH |&nbsp;No gas supply though Nord Stream 1 pipeline, EU chief calls out Russia for 'manipulation'</a>

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Borrell further&nbsp;described the border crossing by Russians as a security risk for neighbouring states while asserting that these were not usual times.&nbsp;

“We have seen many Russians travelling for leisure and shopping as if no war was raging in Ukraine.&nbsp;Member states considered that we are not business as usual. It cannot be business as usual.”

The European Union, along with other western countries have been on Russia's tail since February in the form of sanctions and other restrictions. However, so far, it is the EU that is paying much of the price for its stand.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-energy-giant-gazprom-halts-nord-stream-gas-supplies-for-maintenance-511723">Russian energy giant Gazprom halts Nord Stream 1 gas supplies for maintenance</a>

Russia and its state-owned gas company Gazprom has stopped the supply of natural gas to Europe through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing maintenance. The pipeline is closed from today till September 2. However, many countries in the bloc fear that Russia may not resume the supplies, even after the said date.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Paying heed to the incessant calls raging since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, European Union on Wednesday agreed to suspend a 2007 visa travel deal with Kremlin.

Paying heed to the incessant calls raging since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, European Union on Wednesday agreed to suspend a 2007 visa travel deal with Kremlin. Under the suspension, the number of Russian tourists entering the 27-nation bloc for holidays, shopping and other reasons will be curbed. "We agreed on full suspension of the European Union-Russia visa facilitation agreement. This will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by the EU member states. It's going to be more difficult, it's going to take longer," said Josep Borrell, EU’s high representative for foreign policy. Reportedly, while the informal agreement has been struck, a formal law will have to be passed; meaning the date when the suspension comes into force is still unknown. EU announcing partial restrictions is a toned-down version of the demands of a complete travel ban on the Russians. WATCH | No gas supply though Nord Stream 1 pipeline, EU chief calls out Russia for 'manipulation' × Borrell further described the border crossing by Russians as a security risk for neighbouring states while asserting that these were not usual times. “We have seen many Russians travelling for leisure and shopping as if no war was raging in Ukraine. Member states considered that we are not business as usual. It cannot be business as usual.” The European Union, along with other western countries have been on Russia's tail since February in the form of sanctions and other restrictions. However, so far, it is the EU that is paying much of the price for its stand. Read more: Russian energy giant Gazprom halts Nord Stream 1 gas supplies for maintenance Russia and its state-owned gas company Gazprom has stopped the supply of natural gas to Europe through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing maintenance. The pipeline is closed from today till September 2. However, many countries in the bloc fear that Russia may not resume the supplies, even after the said date. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EU agrees to suspend visa travel deal with Russia. Defers full tourist visa ban

A day before Gazprom shut the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, the Russian-state-owned company announced it had made a staggering profit of $41.75 billion, in the first six months of 2022.

A day before Gazprom shut the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, the Russian-state-owned company announced it had made a staggering profit of $41.75 billion, in the first six months of 2022. Reportedly, the energy major has also proposed a dividend of $0.85 per share for its shareholders, taking the overall dividend payout to $20.26 billion. The decision on the payout, however, will have to be approved in the September 30 extraordinary general meeting. Talking about the company's growth despite the dangling sword of western sanctions, Gazprom's deputy chief executive, Famil Sadygov stated: "Despite sanctions pressure and an unfavourable external environment, the Gazprom Group reported record IFRS revenues and net profit in the first half of 2022, while reducing net debt and leverage to a minimum." It is pertinent to note that after the announcement on Tuesday, Gazprom's shares soared more than 27 per cent in early trade in Moscow on Wednesday. Read more: Russian energy giant Gazprom halts Nord Stream 1 gas supplies for maintenance While Gazprom mints billions, the rest of Europe is anxiously waiting for the next three days to pass. As reported extensively by WION, Gazprom, which maintains the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has closed it for three days, beginning today, citing maintenance work. The pipeline which runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea is the lifeline of the European countries. Despite being against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, the European countries remain toothless against Moscow which has used its position of energy dominance to circumvent the sanctions. The West has imposed sanctions on several hundred Russian companies since February, however, none of the countries have dared touch Gazprom. The reason is quite obvious. Russian natural gas accounts for more than 40 per cent of the EU's demands. If Gazprom is sanctioned, the entire economy of Europe could go into a tailspin. Read more: Russian energy giant Gazprom posts record-high net profit of $29 billion in 2021 (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Gazprom makes $41.75 billion in profits in first six months, announces dividend for shareholders

Europe is reeling under a major energy crisis in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. Now, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten has shot off a warning that the continent faces terrible winters for the next 5-10 years if no cap is put on the gas prices.

Europe is reeling under a major energy crisis in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. Now, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten has shot off a warning that the continent faces terrible winters for the next 5-10 years if no cap is put on the gas prices. “The next 5 to 10 winters will be terrible if nothing is done, We must act at the source, at [the] European level, and work on freezing gas prices,” tweeted Van der Straeten. Les 5 à 10 prochains hivers seront terribles si on ne fait rien. Il faut agir à la source, au niveau européen et travailler sur un blocage des prix pour le gaz. On pourrait ainsi réduire la facture énergétique de 770 euros. — Tinne Van der Straeten (@TinneVdS) August 28, 2022 × The minister further stated that if the gas prices are capped, it could help reduce energy bills by $771 per year, per family. "There is an urgent need to introduce a European price cap. This can reduce the energy bill by 770 euros per year per family. At the EU level, the price cap has the greatest impact, but we can no longer rule out price blocks at the Belgian level either," The Belgian minister also asserted that her country had put the proposal in front of the EU with Germany backing it as well. “The European energy market is failing and urgently needs reform. This is no longer tenable for many families and companies. Electricity is produced as cheaply as last year but sold at record prices. By reforming, we are tackling exuberant excess profits.” added Van der Straeten. Read more: Electricity prices hit record highs in Europe, affect supply chains, spark fears of fertiliser shortage What is the crisis? As reported extensively by WION, the 27-nation bloc is majorly dependent on Russian energy for survival. However, ever since Moscow invaded Kyiv and the EU imposed sanctions, Putin has leveraged his position to turn the faucet off the 40 per cent gas quota of Europe. While most European nations are facing soaring prices, very few have capped the prices. Of the major countries, it is France that has put a four per cent cap on gas prices up until the end of the year. Read more: France to 'limit' soaring electricity rates next year; cap on prices to continue till the end of year Moreover, last week, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire remarked that the hike in electricity prices in 2023 will also be limited. "Increases that the President and Prime Minister have spoken about will be limited increases. The four per cent cap will be maintained to the end of the year." said Bruno Le Maire. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Terrible winters await Europe for the next 5-10 years, warns Belgian Energy Minister

The European Union says it's received Tehran's response on the final proposal to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and are now mulling the way forward.

EU studying Iran's response to final nuke text

Britain and regulators square up over post-Brexit financial reform

2022 was a record year for wildfires in southwestern Europe. The year is also the fourth-highest in terms of wildfire carbon output globally.

Scientists have warned that heatwaves like the recent hot and dry stretch over Western Europe are becoming much more common as a result of man-made climate change.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: Devastating &amp; Treacherous wildfires | EU nations to aid French wildfire fight

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According to Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), tens of thousands of hectares of forest in France, Portugal, and Spain have gone up in smoke&nbsp;this year.

Because of an extended heatwave that saw temperature records shatter, France has reached unprecedented levels of carbon pollution from wildfires in the last three months, reports AFP. As per the European Union's satellite monitoring programme, they are at their highest level since records began in 2003.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/bolsonaro-climate-change-and-fires-the-story-of-amazon-rainforests-devastation-506070">Bolsonaro, climate change, and fires: The story of Amazon rainforest's devastation</a>

CAMS reported that the daily total fire radiative power in France, Spain, and Portugal in July and August was "significantly higher" than usual.&nbsp;The agency has warned that&nbsp;a huge chunk of Western Europe is currently in "extreme fire danger," with other areas in "very extreme fire danger."

"The very extreme fire danger ratings that have been forecasted for large areas of southern Europe mean that the scale and intensity of any fires can be greatly increased, and this is what we have been observing in our emissions estimates and the impacts it has on local air quality,"&nbsp;said Mark Parrington, CAMS senior scientist.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wildfires-continue-to-rage-in-france-mass-evacuation-ordered-505781">Wildfires continue to rage in France; mass evacuation ordered</a>

​​​​​​​Elsewhere, in Brazil, according to official numbers released Monday, the number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon climbed by 8 per cent last month compared to July 2021, sounding the latest alarm for the world's largest rainforest.

While far from the worst July on record (19,364 fires in 2005), satellite monitoring recorded 5,373 fires last month, up from 4,977 in July last year, according to INPE, Brazil's space agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

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(With inputs from agencies)

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2022 was a record year for wildfires in southwestern Europe. The year is also the fourth-highest in terms of wildfire carbon output globally. Scientists have warned that heatwaves like the recent hot and dry stretch over Western Europe are becoming much more common as a result of man-made climate change.

2022 was a record year for wildfires in southwestern Europe. The year is also the fourth-highest in terms of wildfire carbon output globally. Scientists have warned that heatwaves like the recent hot and dry stretch over Western Europe are becoming much more common as a result of man-made climate change. Watch | WION Climate Tracker: Devastating & Treacherous wildfires | EU nations to aid French wildfire fight According to Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), tens of thousands of hectares of forest in France, Portugal, and Spain have gone up in smoke this year. Because of an extended heatwave that saw temperature records shatter, France has reached unprecedented levels of carbon pollution from wildfires in the last three months, reports AFP. As per the European Union's satellite monitoring programme, they are at their highest level since records began in 2003. Also read | Bolsonaro, climate change, and fires: The story of Amazon rainforest's devastation CAMS reported that the daily total fire radiative power in France, Spain, and Portugal in July and August was "significantly higher" than usual. The agency has warned that a huge chunk of Western Europe is currently in "extreme fire danger," with other areas in "very extreme fire danger." "The very extreme fire danger ratings that have been forecasted for large areas of southern Europe mean that the scale and intensity of any fires can be greatly increased, and this is what we have been observing in our emissions estimates and the impacts it has on local air quality," said Mark Parrington, CAMS senior scientist. Also read | Wildfires continue to rage in France; mass evacuation ordered Elsewhere, in Brazil, according to official numbers released Monday, the number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon climbed by 8 per cent last month compared to July 2021, sounding the latest alarm for the world's largest rainforest. While far from the worst July on record (19,364 fires in 2005), satellite monitoring recorded 5,373 fires last month, up from 4,977 in July last year, according to INPE, Brazil's space agency. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate change in 2022 brings unprecedented fire activity in SW Europe, record wildfire carbon output globally

Reports say a European Union proposal to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “can be acceptable if it provides assurances" on Tehran's key demands. This comes as tensions continue to soar between Washington and Tehran. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint: Can the world powers salvage the Iran nuclear deal?

A blanket ban on visas for all Russian travellers could be European Union's next sanction on Moscow as the Ukraine war rages on. The Czech Republic said on Friday (August 12) that the idea will be proposed to the bloc at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague at the end of August.&nbsp;

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in a statement obtained by the news agency AFP, "The flat halting of Russian visas by all EU member states could be another very effective sanction."&nbsp;

Lipavsky added, "In a time of Russian aggression, which the Kremlin keeps on escalating, there cannot be talks about common tourism for Russian citizens."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frankly-irresponsible-zelensky-asks-officials-to-stop-sharing-ukraines-military-tactics-506237">'Frankly irresponsible': Zelensky asks officials to stop sharing Ukraine's military tactics</a>&nbsp;

The foreign minister further said that the move would send "a very clear and straightforward signal to the Russian society" and it will show that "the Western world does not tolerate the Russian regime's aggression and hateful rhetoric aimed at free, democratic countries that pose no threat to Russia."&nbsp;

This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the West to ban all Russian travellers during an interview with the Washington Post this week. Zelensky said that Russians should "live in their own world until they change their philosophy".&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-backs-indias-call-for-urgent-un-security-council-reforms-506169">France backs India’s call for ‘urgent’ UN Security Council reforms</a>&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russian Defence Ministry releases footage of SU-35 jet in action over Ukrainian skies&nbsp;

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, announced the invasion of Ukraine what he calls a "special military operation".&nbsp;

Moscow said that it aims to "demilitarise" and "de-nazify" its neighbouring country and protect Russian speakers in the country.&nbsp;

In the aftermath of the invasion, multiple sanctions were imposed on Russia by the United States and several other Western countries.&nbsp;

A day after the invasion, i.e. February 25, The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, stopped issuing visas for ordinary Russians.

But Russian tourists are still flowing into Europe through Finland. And once they enter the visa-free Schengen zone, they can travel across most of Europe.&nbsp;

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A blanket ban on visas for all Russian travellers could be European Union's next sanction on Moscow as the Ukraine war rages on. The Czech Republic said on Friday (August 12) that the idea will be proposed to the bloc at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague at the end of August.

A blanket ban on visas for all Russian travellers could be European Union's next sanction on Moscow as the Ukraine war rages on. The Czech Republic said on Friday (August 12) that the idea will be proposed to the bloc at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague at the end of August. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in a statement obtained by the news agency AFP, "The flat halting of Russian visas by all EU member states could be another very effective sanction." Lipavsky added, "In a time of Russian aggression, which the Kremlin keeps on escalating, there cannot be talks about common tourism for Russian citizens." ALSO READ | 'Frankly irresponsible': Zelensky asks officials to stop sharing Ukraine's military tactics The foreign minister further said that the move would send "a very clear and straightforward signal to the Russian society" and it will show that "the Western world does not tolerate the Russian regime's aggression and hateful rhetoric aimed at free, democratic countries that pose no threat to Russia." This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the West to ban all Russian travellers during an interview with the Washington Post this week. Zelensky said that Russians should "live in their own world until they change their philosophy". ALSO READ | France backs India’s call for ‘urgent’ UN Security Council reforms WATCH | Russian Defence Ministry releases footage of SU-35 jet in action over Ukrainian skies × Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, announced the invasion of Ukraine what he calls a "special military operation". Moscow said that it aims to "demilitarise" and "de-nazify" its neighbouring country and protect Russian speakers in the country. In the aftermath of the invasion, multiple sanctions were imposed on Russia by the United States and several other Western countries. A day after the invasion, i.e. February 25, The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, stopped issuing visas for ordinary Russians. But Russian tourists are still flowing into Europe through Finland. And once they enter the visa-free Schengen zone, they can travel across most of Europe. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

European Union's next step could include blanket ban on visas for all Russians

Russian oil giant Transneft on Tuesday made a sensational claim that Ukraine had suspended Russian oil pipeline flows to countries in central Europe citing payment issues.

Reportedly, the southern Druzhba pipeline, also called the Friendship pipeline, has been halted since August 4.&nbsp;The suspension of oil was confirmed by MOL, a Hungarian energy firm and Transpetrol, a Slovak pipeline operator.

An estimated 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) is supplied by the Russian side through this pipeline and&nbsp;if the suspension continues, countries such as Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic might run out of oil as all of them are heavily reliant&nbsp;on Russian crude without any alternative in sight.&nbsp;

An uneven payment system

Transneft explained the issue by citing European financial sanctions which were acting as the bottleneck. Reportedly, Transneft made the payments through&nbsp;Gazprombank which is not on the list of sanctioned Russian companies.

Gazprombank made the payment last month on July 22 but a few days later, July 28 to be precise, the money was returned. It is pertinent to note that under the European Union sanctions, the banks in Europe have to seek approval from respective government authorities.

Read More: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-asks-countries-to-cut-gas-use-to-tackle-russian-blackmail-499302">EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail'</a>

Earlier, the banks had the authority to decide amongst themselves on accepting and rejecting the payment. However, the officials in Brussels are yet to come up with a cogent mechanism that can help streamline the payment system.

European countries have tried to present a united front against Russia, however, whenever the situation has turned a little pear-shaped, they have backtracked.

The war has been going on for months and yet the European continent has only been able to reduce their combined gas dependency on Russia by a tiny five per cent.&nbsp;Last year, Russia provided a whopping 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas.

Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-turbine-conundrum-russia-and-germany-play-blame-game-on-the-delivery-of-nord-stream-1-turbine-503342">The turbine conundrum: Russia and Germany play blame game on the delivery of Nord Stream 1 turbine</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Russian oil giant Transneft on Tuesday made a sensational claim that Ukraine had suspended Russian oil pipeline flows to countries in central Europe citing payment issues.

Russian oil giant Transneft on Tuesday made a sensational claim that Ukraine had suspended Russian oil pipeline flows to countries in central Europe citing payment issues. Reportedly, the southern Druzhba pipeline, also called the Friendship pipeline, has been halted since August 4. The suspension of oil was confirmed by MOL, a Hungarian energy firm and Transpetrol, a Slovak pipeline operator. An estimated 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) is supplied by the Russian side through this pipeline and if the suspension continues, countries such as Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic might run out of oil as all of them are heavily reliant on Russian crude without any alternative in sight. An uneven payment system Transneft explained the issue by citing European financial sanctions which were acting as the bottleneck. Reportedly, Transneft made the payments through Gazprombank which is not on the list of sanctioned Russian companies. Gazprombank made the payment last month on July 22 but a few days later, July 28 to be precise, the money was returned. It is pertinent to note that under the European Union sanctions, the banks in Europe have to seek approval from respective government authorities. Read More: EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail' Earlier, the banks had the authority to decide amongst themselves on accepting and rejecting the payment. However, the officials in Brussels are yet to come up with a cogent mechanism that can help streamline the payment system. European countries have tried to present a united front against Russia, however, whenever the situation has turned a little pear-shaped, they have backtracked. The war has been going on for months and yet the European continent has only been able to reduce their combined gas dependency on Russia by a tiny five per cent. Last year, Russia provided a whopping 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas. Read more: The turbine conundrum: Russia and Germany play blame game on the delivery of Nord Stream 1 turbine (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ukraine suspends oil supply to European countries, says Russian oil major Transneft

An agreement to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers could be near. European Union has now submitted a final text to salvage the high-stakes agreement in Iran's current nuclear program.

EU raises fresh hope for Iran Nuke deal

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday (August 1) that a European Union (EU) drone is helping Libyan forces to intercept boats of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea who are then subjected to "arbitrary detention and abuse". HRW said that the drone is operated from Malta, an EU member. It detects the boats leaving Libya and European border agency Frontex then passes the information on to the Libyan coast guard.

"Frontex claims the surveillance is to aid rescue, but the information facilitates interceptions and returns to Libya ... (despite) overwhelming evidence of torture and exploitation of migrants and refugees in Libya," HRW said in a statement.

Libya itself is war-torn. It is a launchpad for people fleeing from violence further south in&nbsp;Africa continent. These peole attempt to seek refuge in Europe.

HRW said Frontex's drone appeared to have helped Libyan forces intercept a boat in international waters, without informing nearby rescuers.

It is now investigating how "the shift from sea to air surveillance contributes to the cycle of extreme abuse in Libya"

HRW is a New York-based rights group. It said that last year, some 32,450 people were intercepted by Libyan forces. These people then faced abuse.

United Nations experts have said acts of "murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment (and) rape" against detained migrants in Libya may amount to crimes against humanity.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday (August 1) that a European Union (EU) drone is helping Libyan forces to intercept boats of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea who are then subjected to "arbitrary detention and abuse".

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday (August 1) that a European Union (EU) drone is helping Libyan forces to intercept boats of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea who are then subjected to "arbitrary detention and abuse". HRW said that the drone is operated from Malta, an EU member. It detects the boats leaving Libya and European border agency Frontex then passes the information on to the Libyan coast guard. "Frontex claims the surveillance is to aid rescue, but the information facilitates interceptions and returns to Libya ... (despite) overwhelming evidence of torture and exploitation of migrants and refugees in Libya," HRW said in a statement. Libya itself is war-torn. It is a launchpad for people fleeing from violence further south in Africa continent. These peole attempt to seek refuge in Europe. HRW said Frontex's drone appeared to have helped Libyan forces intercept a boat in international waters, without informing nearby rescuers. It is now investigating how "the shift from sea to air surveillance contributes to the cycle of extreme abuse in Libya" HRW is a New York-based rights group. It said that last year, some 32,450 people were intercepted by Libyan forces. These people then faced abuse. United Nations experts have said acts of "murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment (and) rape" against detained migrants in Libya may amount to crimes against humanity. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

EU drone helping Libya send migrants to 'abuse': HRW

Russia Today, a media outlet controlled by the Russian state on Wednesday (July 27) lost court fight against ban imposed by the European Union (EU). The ban was imposed in the month of March over alleged disinformation. The court verdict has led to Kremlin warning of retaliation against Western media.

Europe's second-highest court has upheld the decision to impose the ban.

"The Grand Chamber of the General Court dismisses RT France's application for annulment of acts of the Council, adopted following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, temporarily prohibiting that organisation from broadcasting content," the Luxembourg-based General Court said.

Brussels had accused Russia Today of systematic disinformation over Russian invasion of Europe.

Judges of the General Court dismissed Russia Today's argument that ban curtailed its freedom of expression.

"The limitations on RT France's freedom of expression which the restrictive measures at issue are liable to have are proportionate, inasmuch as they are appropriate and necessary to the aims pursued," judges said in their ruling.

"The Court also finds that those measures do not disproportionately infringe the essential content of RT France's freedom to conduct a business since they are temporary and reversible," they said.

The Kremlin termed the court's decision as "extremely negative". It said that Moscow would take similar measures against Western media.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-one-of-our-guys-and-he-has-to-win-the-election-russian-state-television-501113">Trump is one of our guys, and he has to win the election: Russian State Television</a>

Dmmitry Pescov, Kremlin spokespersom said Russia Today was unable to work in Europe. But said that he hoped loopholes can be found in the judgment to resume broadcasting.

RT France said it would appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe's highest.

"The Court's confirmation of this general ban with an uncertain term unfortunately shows that the judicial power of the European Union cannot or does not want to oppose political power," Xenia Fedorova, president of RT France, said in a statement.

The EU sanction applies to RT's English unit and operations in Britain, Germany, France and Spain.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russia Today, a media outlet controlled by the Russian state on Wednesday (July 27) lost court fight against ban imposed by the European Union (EU). The ban was imposed in the month of March over alleged disinformation.

Russia Today, a media outlet controlled by the Russian state on Wednesday (July 27) lost court fight against ban imposed by the European Union (EU). The ban was imposed in the month of March over alleged disinformation. The court verdict has led to Kremlin warning of retaliation against Western media. Europe's second-highest court has upheld the decision to impose the ban. "The Grand Chamber of the General Court dismisses RT France's application for annulment of acts of the Council, adopted following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, temporarily prohibiting that organisation from broadcasting content," the Luxembourg-based General Court said. Brussels had accused Russia Today of systematic disinformation over Russian invasion of Europe. Judges of the General Court dismissed Russia Today's argument that ban curtailed its freedom of expression. "The limitations on RT France's freedom of expression which the restrictive measures at issue are liable to have are proportionate, inasmuch as they are appropriate and necessary to the aims pursued," judges said in their ruling. "The Court also finds that those measures do not disproportionately infringe the essential content of RT France's freedom to conduct a business since they are temporary and reversible," they said. The Kremlin termed the court's decision as "extremely negative". It said that Moscow would take similar measures against Western media. Also Read | Trump is one of our guys, and he has to win the election: Russian State Television Dmmitry Pescov, Kremlin spokespersom said Russia Today was unable to work in Europe. But said that he hoped loopholes can be found in the judgment to resume broadcasting. RT France said it would appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe's highest. "The Court's confirmation of this general ban with an uncertain term unfortunately shows that the judicial power of the European Union cannot or does not want to oppose political power," Xenia Fedorova, president of RT France, said in a statement. The EU sanction applies to RT's English unit and operations in Britain, Germany, France and Spain. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

EU court upholds ban on Russia Today, Moscow warns of retaliation

The European unity against Russia in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine crisis was always going to be tested to the hilt come winters. However, it seems like much before winter, European solidarity has collapsed.

According to multiple news sources, the proposal put forth by the European Union to cut gas use by 15 per cent in anticipation of possible Russian supply cuts, has been met with disapproval from member countries.

Give us a say or a veto power: EU member states

Reportedly, at least 12 of the 27 member states have raised questions regarding the proposal. France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Portugal and Malta among other countries demanded the EU give the member nations a chance to present their opinion about the proposal, or perhaps even, a veto power.&nbsp;

It is pertinent to note that the EU had brought this proposition last Wednesday and asked the EU countries to use 15 per cent less gas, compared to their average over the last five years, from August to March.&nbsp;

The gas conundrum

As reported extensively by WION, ever since Russia closed the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing maintenance, the entire EU had gone into a fit. Russia and its state-owned gas company Gazprom even threatened to close the supply for good.

Read More: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-asks-countries-to-cut-gas-use-to-tackle-russian-blackmail-499302">EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail'</a>

However, after 10 days, the supply resumed but it still hasn't reached the pre-maintenance levels and is much below what Europe used to receive prior to the war broke out.&nbsp;

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nord-stream-1-supply-to-eu-to-be-cut-further-says-russias-gazprom-500800">Nord Stream 1 supply to EU to be cut further, says Russia's Gazprom</a>

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European countries have tried to present a united front against Russia, however, whenever the situation has turned a little pear-shaped, they have backtracked. The war has been going on for months and yet the European continent has only been able to reduce their combined gas dependency on Russia by a tiny five per cent.&nbsp;Last year Russia provided a whopping 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The European unity against Russia in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine crisis was always going to be tested to the hilt come winters. However, it seems like much before winter, European solidarity has collapsed.

The European unity against Russia in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine crisis was always going to be tested to the hilt come winters. However, it seems like much before winter, European solidarity has collapsed. According to multiple news sources, the proposal put forth by the European Union to cut gas use by 15 per cent in anticipation of possible Russian supply cuts, has been met with disapproval from member countries. Give us a say or a veto power: EU member states Reportedly, at least 12 of the 27 member states have raised questions regarding the proposal. France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Portugal and Malta among other countries demanded the EU give the member nations a chance to present their opinion about the proposal, or perhaps even, a veto power. It is pertinent to note that the EU had brought this proposition last Wednesday and asked the EU countries to use 15 per cent less gas, compared to their average over the last five years, from August to March. The gas conundrum As reported extensively by WION, ever since Russia closed the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing maintenance, the entire EU had gone into a fit. Russia and its state-owned gas company Gazprom even threatened to close the supply for good. Read More: EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail' However, after 10 days, the supply resumed but it still hasn't reached the pre-maintenance levels and is much below what Europe used to receive prior to the war broke out. WATCH: Nord Stream 1 supply to EU to be cut further, says Russia's Gazprom European countries have tried to present a united front against Russia, however, whenever the situation has turned a little pear-shaped, they have backtracked. The war has been going on for months and yet the European continent has only been able to reduce their combined gas dependency on Russia by a tiny five per cent. Last year Russia provided a whopping 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

No unity in European Union? Member nations oppose EU's gas curb proposal

At least 12 countries have opposed the European Union's proposal to cut gas consumption by 15%. Hungary's foreign minister visited Moscow seeking more gas shipments from Russia. Palki Sharma tells you how Putin's gas war is dividing Europe.

Gravitas: Putin's gas war divides Europe

The European Union is planning to unfreeze Russian bank assets to ease global food supply bottlenecks. Canada is violating western sanctions to send turbines to Russia's Gazprom. Palki Sharma tells you how the west is diluting its own sanctions.

Gravitas: How Europe is sidestepping its own sanctions

The European Commission on Wednesday urged the EU countries to cut demand for natural gas by 15 per cent over coming months. This step is being recommended to secure winter stocks and fight Russian "blackmail". EU commissioners have announced an emergency plan and has urged member states to give Brussels powers to impose compulsory energy rationing in case Russia cuts Europe's gas.

Last year Russia provided 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas. However, in the wake of Ukraine conflict and EU imposing sanctions on Russia, it is widely expected that Russia would significantly reduce gas supply as a retaliatory measure. It has already started to do so.&nbsp;

Any further disruption to supply would also push consumer prices higher and raise the risk of a deep recession.

"Russia is blackmailing us," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.&nbsp;

"Russia is using energy as a weapon and therefore, in any event, whether it's a partial major cut off of Russian gas or total cut off... Europe needs to be ready."&nbsp;

Europe is eagerly watching whether Russia will resume gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Thursday when scheduled maintenance is due to be completed.

German pipeline manager Gascade said it expected Russian gas deliveries to resume at 40 percent of capacity, the level of supplies before maintenance work.

On Wednesday evening, the president of Germany's Federal Network Agency Klaus Mueller estimated on Twitter that the delivery on Thursday might only be "around 30 percent" of the capacity, after updating the data.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The European Commission on Wednesday urged the EU countries to cut demand for natural gas by 15 per cent over coming months. This step is being recommended to secure winter stocks and fight Russian "blackmail".

The European Commission on Wednesday urged the EU countries to cut demand for natural gas by 15 per cent over coming months. This step is being recommended to secure winter stocks and fight Russian "blackmail". EU commissioners have announced an emergency plan and has urged member states to give Brussels powers to impose compulsory energy rationing in case Russia cuts Europe's gas. Last year Russia provided 40 per cent of Europe's total consumption of natural gas. However, in the wake of Ukraine conflict and EU imposing sanctions on Russia, it is widely expected that Russia would significantly reduce gas supply as a retaliatory measure. It has already started to do so. Any further disruption to supply would also push consumer prices higher and raise the risk of a deep recession. "Russia is blackmailing us," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters. "Russia is using energy as a weapon and therefore, in any event, whether it's a partial major cut off of Russian gas or total cut off... Europe needs to be ready." Europe is eagerly watching whether Russia will resume gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Thursday when scheduled maintenance is due to be completed. German pipeline manager Gascade said it expected Russian gas deliveries to resume at 40 percent of capacity, the level of supplies before maintenance work. On Wednesday evening, the president of Germany's Federal Network Agency Klaus Mueller estimated on Twitter that the delivery on Thursday might only be "around 30 percent" of the capacity, after updating the data. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail'

As tensions fray between Beijing and the bloc, China has denied a report that claimed that President Xi Jinping had invited top European leaders to meet him.

Referencing the report published in the South China Morning Post, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “I don’t know what’s their source of information.” “I can tell you that is fake news,” he added.

Citing a person familiar with the matter, the newspaper had reported that French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi had been asked to meet the Chinese president in Beijing this November.

Interestingly, if the meeting would have taken place it would have clashed with the G20 summit along with a major Communist Party congress in China.

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Due to the nation’s zero-tolerance virus strategy, Jinping has not left China since the outset of the pandemic in January 2020 and this meeting would have marked his return to in-person diplomacy with the West.

With an exception made for the Beijing Olympics, foreign dignitaries visiting China during the pandemic have typically been hosted in cities such as Tianjin.

Weeks before Moscow invaded Ukraine, Jinping declared a “no limits” friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin at that time.

According to an earlier statement from the European Commission, news of the invitations comes as the European Union and China prepare to hold a high-level dialogue on economy and trade Tuesday.

In the first official visit by a high-ranking member of the bloc’s legislative body, European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer landed in Taiwan on Tuesday.

Over accusations of human rights abuse in Xinjiang, relations between China and European Union members soured leading to the freezing of a long-awaited investment deal.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As tensions fray between Beijing and the bloc, China has denied a report that claimed that President Xi Jinping had invited top European leaders to meet him. Referencing the report published in the South China Morning Post, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “I don’t know what’s their source of information.

As tensions fray between Beijing and the bloc, China has denied a report that claimed that President Xi Jinping had invited top European leaders to meet him. Referencing the report published in the South China Morning Post, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “I don’t know what’s their source of information.” “I can tell you that is fake news,” he added. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the newspaper had reported that French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi had been asked to meet the Chinese president in Beijing this November. Interestingly, if the meeting would have taken place it would have clashed with the G20 summit along with a major Communist Party congress in China. × Due to the nation’s zero-tolerance virus strategy, Jinping has not left China since the outset of the pandemic in January 2020 and this meeting would have marked his return to in-person diplomacy with the West. With an exception made for the Beijing Olympics, foreign dignitaries visiting China during the pandemic have typically been hosted in cities such as Tianjin. Weeks before Moscow invaded Ukraine, Jinping declared a “no limits” friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin at that time. According to an earlier statement from the European Commission, news of the invitations comes as the European Union and China prepare to hold a high-level dialogue on economy and trade Tuesday. In the first official visit by a high-ranking member of the bloc’s legislative body, European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer landed in Taiwan on Tuesday. Over accusations of human rights abuse in Xinjiang, relations between China and European Union members soured leading to the freezing of a long-awaited investment deal. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

'Fake news': China denies that President Xi Jinping invited European leaders for meeting in Beijing

The ongoing crisis Ukraine has resulted in the United States and the European Union (EU) imposing hard sanctions on Russia. One of the sectors that the western countries targeted was the gas exports but considering Europe’s dependency on Russia, a total boycott has been difficult to pull off. However, with rising fears of Russia cutting down on the gas supplies, the EU has now found a new source. On Monday, they signed a new gas deal with Azerbaijan who have committed to deliver 20 billion cubic meters by the year 2027, according to the statement released by the two parties.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-of-rishi-sunak-will-he-be-the-next-prime-minister-of-the-united-kingdom-498555" hreflang="en">Rise of Rishi Sunak: Will he be the next prime minister of the United Kingdom?</a>

Azerbaijan is slowly becoming a major supplier of gas in the region since they started exporting to Europe in 2020. They had prior agreements with Bulgaria, Italy and Greece.

With the new agreement with EU, they are expected to increase their supply from 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 12 billion cubic meters in 2022.

The deal was finalised in the presence of Europe’s energy chief, Kadri Simson, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who travelled to Azerbaijan for the official signing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scientists-produce-antibodies-from-hen-eggs-can-be-used-to-treat-covid-19-patients-498553">Study reveals antibodies can be produced from hen eggs</a>

“Amid Russia’s continued weaponization of its energy supplies, diversification of our energy imports is a top priority for the EU,” the European Commission said in a statement earlier on Friday.

Although there were some doubts regarding Russia’s use of gas supplies as a threat, a letter from Russian energy company Gazprom said that they were unable to “fulfil their commitments” due to “extraordinary” circumstances., Reuters reported.

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The ongoing crisis Ukraine has resulted in the United States and the European Union (EU) imposing hard sanctions on Russia. One of the sectors that the western countries targeted was the gas exports but considering Europe’s dependency on Russia, a total boycott has been difficult to pull off.

The ongoing crisis Ukraine has resulted in the United States and the European Union (EU) imposing hard sanctions on Russia. One of the sectors that the western countries targeted was the gas exports but considering Europe’s dependency on Russia, a total boycott has been difficult to pull off. However, with rising fears of Russia cutting down on the gas supplies, the EU has now found a new source. On Monday, they signed a new gas deal with Azerbaijan who have committed to deliver 20 billion cubic meters by the year 2027, according to the statement released by the two parties. Also read | Rise of Rishi Sunak: Will he be the next prime minister of the United Kingdom? Azerbaijan is slowly becoming a major supplier of gas in the region since they started exporting to Europe in 2020. They had prior agreements with Bulgaria, Italy and Greece. With the new agreement with EU, they are expected to increase their supply from 8.1 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 12 billion cubic meters in 2022. The deal was finalised in the presence of Europe’s energy chief, Kadri Simson, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who travelled to Azerbaijan for the official signing. Also read | Study reveals antibodies can be produced from hen eggs “Amid Russia’s continued weaponization of its energy supplies, diversification of our energy imports is a top priority for the EU,” the European Commission said in a statement earlier on Friday. Although there were some doubts regarding Russia’s use of gas supplies as a threat, a letter from Russian energy company Gazprom said that they were unable to “fulfil their commitments” due to “extraordinary” circumstances., Reuters reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

EU signs new gas deal with Azerbaijan amid fears over Russian supplies cutoff

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is benefiting Europe’s defence sector amid proposals for greater collaboration on military programmes and the streamlining of weapons manufacturing.

Hoping to benefit from the war in Ukraine, hundreds of defence and aerospace executives have assembled for the Farnborough International Airshow.

In order to bolster Europe’s status as a cohesive global military power and confront a newly aggressive Russia, members of the European Union are boosting their expenditure on defence projects.

“In the past . . . people have been saying this in the context of [defence] budget cuts. And now we are saying it in the context of budget increases,” said Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch minister of defence.

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Before considering new hardware, stockpiles of weapons that have been depleted need to be replenished along with boosting the salaries of the armed forces.

After announcing it would launch a €100bn military modernisation fund, Germany’s first big purchase was the American-made F-35 fighter jet.

Michael Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space said “I see an inherent risk that we focus too much on satisfying short-term demands by predominantly buying non-European off-the-shelf equipment.”

Not only would this create “additional dependencies” but also undermine Europe’s “long-term technological excellence”, according to Schoellhorn.

The success of the Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, designed by Sweden and assembled by the UK, is one of the most visible examples of how the war could boost the European defence industry.

In comparison with the US (66 per cent, the bloc’s combined spending on defence rose just 20 per cent between 1999 and 2021.

To help deter the Russian advance, European countries scrambled to find multiple rocket launch systems and artillery from national stockpiles, exposing their general lack of preparedness.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is benefiting Europe’s defence sector amid proposals for greater collaboration on military programmes and the streamlining of weapons manufacturing.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is benefiting Europe’s defence sector amid proposals for greater collaboration on military programmes and the streamlining of weapons manufacturing. Hoping to benefit from the war in Ukraine, hundreds of defence and aerospace executives have assembled for the Farnborough International Airshow. In order to bolster Europe’s status as a cohesive global military power and confront a newly aggressive Russia, members of the European Union are boosting their expenditure on defence projects. “In the past . . . people have been saying this in the context of [defence] budget cuts. And now we are saying it in the context of budget increases,” said Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch minister of defence. × Before considering new hardware, stockpiles of weapons that have been depleted need to be replenished along with boosting the salaries of the armed forces. After announcing it would launch a €100bn military modernisation fund, Germany’s first big purchase was the American-made F-35 fighter jet. Michael Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space said “I see an inherent risk that we focus too much on satisfying short-term demands by predominantly buying non-European off-the-shelf equipment.” Not only would this create “additional dependencies” but also undermine Europe’s “long-term technological excellence”, according to Schoellhorn. The success of the Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, designed by Sweden and assembled by the UK, is one of the most visible examples of how the war could boost the European defence industry. In comparison with the US (66 per cent, the bloc’s combined spending on defence rose just 20 per cent between 1999 and 2021. To help deter the Russian advance, European countries scrambled to find multiple rocket launch systems and artillery from national stockpiles, exposing their general lack of preparedness. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Ukraine war is transforming fortune of Europe’s defence sector

The European Union is investing €8 million in a safe bunker in Brussels so that leaders can discuss their sensitive topics without any eavesdroppers. Around 100 persons may be seated in the chamber, including 34 leaders, their 34 note-takers, protocol, technical, and culinary staff. The secure area will also be used for discussion by ambassadors and senior EU officials. The bloc currently has 27 members that may increase in the future, as reported by EUobserver.

Additionally, to “mitigate the risk of exploitation of compromising emanations,” or the electro-magnetic and radio waves produced, both the conference space and booths will be surrounded by a Nato-certified insulation cage. The area will be unplugged, furnished with a big screen conferencing system to 30 secure interpretation booths.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-plans-for-life-without-russian-gas-amid-inflation-spike-491442">European Union plans for life without Russian gas amid inflation spike</a>

The EU memo said that every precaution would be taken to prevent anyone from bringing listening devices. Before and after the meetings, the bunker will be swept “to detect, locate and neutralise any eavesdropping device,” the memo claimed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-european-union-advises-second-booster-for-people-above-60-years-496380">COVID-19: European Union advises second booster for people above 60 years</a>

The bunker will offer a properly fixed decorum like flags, but no flowers or any other objects. A sufficient level of comfort will be provided to the VIPs like furniture and seats, the memo added.&nbsp;

The European Union Council would house the envisioned bunker. By 2024, the facility will be constructed in Brussels’s EU Council building, which already serves as a place for meetings. Although the precise place has not been chosen, officials are searching for a place close to make it easier for leaders to move back and forth.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
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The European Union is investing €8 million in a safe bunker in Brussels so that leaders can discuss their sensitive topics without any eavesdroppers. Around 100 persons may be seated in the chamber, including 34 leaders, their 34 note-takers, protocol, technical, and culinary staff.

The European Union is investing €8 million in a safe bunker in Brussels so that leaders can discuss their sensitive topics without any eavesdroppers. Around 100 persons may be seated in the chamber, including 34 leaders, their 34 note-takers, protocol, technical, and culinary staff. The secure area will also be used for discussion by ambassadors and senior EU officials. The bloc currently has 27 members that may increase in the future, as reported by EUobserver. Additionally, to “mitigate the risk of exploitation of compromising emanations,” or the electro-magnetic and radio waves produced, both the conference space and booths will be surrounded by a Nato-certified insulation cage. The area will be unplugged, furnished with a big screen conferencing system to 30 secure interpretation booths. Also read | European Union plans for life without Russian gas amid inflation spike The EU memo said that every precaution would be taken to prevent anyone from bringing listening devices. Before and after the meetings, the bunker will be swept “to detect, locate and neutralise any eavesdropping device,” the memo claimed. Also read | COVID-19: European Union advises second booster for people above 60 years The bunker will offer a properly fixed decorum like flags, but no flowers or any other objects. A sufficient level of comfort will be provided to the VIPs like furniture and seats, the memo added. The European Union Council would house the envisioned bunker. By 2024, the facility will be constructed in Brussels’s EU Council building, which already serves as a place for meetings. Although the precise place has not been chosen, officials are searching for a place close to make it easier for leaders to move back and forth. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

European Union to invest €8mn for bunker to prevent evesdropping on secret talks

Croatia formally became the 20th member of the euro common currency as European Union finance ministers on Tuesday approved the country's request. The approval will come into being at the start of 2023. The European Council, the grouping of 27 EU governments, adopted three legal acts required to allow Croatia - an EU member since 2013 - to introduce the euro on January 1. One of those acts set the conversion rate for entry at one euro to 7.53450 Croatian kuna, with Croatia now having a few months to prepare the practicalities for the currency switch, as reported by Reuters.

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the use of the European currency would bring economic benefits to Croatia - the first country to join the euro since Lithuania in 2015. "It will help stabilize interest rates, making it easier and cheaper for people and companies to borrow and it brings a positive impact on growth thanks to the full integration into EU single market," he said.

To adopt the euro, Croatia had to fulfil criteria of price and exchange rate stability, sound public finances and moderate long-term interest rates, all measured against EU benchmarks. "I know that it's a wonderful club to be a member of but it requires commitment, dedication, and continued respect of the rules," European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said at a signing ceremony, reports Reuters.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-no-more-sushi-for-japan-fatty-katsuo-fish-may-foreshadow-climate-change-heres-how-496614">&nbsp;In pics: No more sushi for Japan? Fatty 'katsuo' fish may foreshadow climate change, here's how</a>

Matthias Kullas of the Centre for European Policy (CEP) points out that Croatia's debt level of just under 80 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) is below the average of the euro countries, which climbed to a good 95 per cent in the wake of the Covid crisis. But the Stability Pact actually sets the maximum limit at 60 per cent. Among the eight EU members that have not yet joined the monetary union, Croatia has the highest debt, as reported by Daily Express.

The European Commission examined Croatia's economic convergence with the rest of the eurozone, including balance of payments trends and the integration of its labour and financial markets, and verified that Croatian legislation is compatible with EU laws governing the European Central Bank. Croatia, in southeastern Europe, has been an independent country since 1991 when it left then-federal Yugoslavia. Neighbouring Slovenia, also an ex-Yugoslav republic and now EU member, adopted the euro in 2007.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Croatia formally became the 20th member of the euro common currency as European Union finance ministers on Tuesday approved the country's request. The approval will come into being at the start of 2023.

Croatia formally became the 20th member of the euro common currency as European Union finance ministers on Tuesday approved the country's request. The approval will come into being at the start of 2023. The European Council, the grouping of 27 EU governments, adopted three legal acts required to allow Croatia - an EU member since 2013 - to introduce the euro on January 1. One of those acts set the conversion rate for entry at one euro to 7.53450 Croatian kuna, with Croatia now having a few months to prepare the practicalities for the currency switch, as reported by Reuters. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the use of the European currency would bring economic benefits to Croatia - the first country to join the euro since Lithuania in 2015. "It will help stabilize interest rates, making it easier and cheaper for people and companies to borrow and it brings a positive impact on growth thanks to the full integration into EU single market," he said. To adopt the euro, Croatia had to fulfil criteria of price and exchange rate stability, sound public finances and moderate long-term interest rates, all measured against EU benchmarks. "I know that it's a wonderful club to be a member of but it requires commitment, dedication, and continued respect of the rules," European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said at a signing ceremony, reports Reuters. Also Read: In pics: No more sushi for Japan? Fatty 'katsuo' fish may foreshadow climate change, here's how Matthias Kullas of the Centre for European Policy (CEP) points out that Croatia's debt level of just under 80 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) is below the average of the euro countries, which climbed to a good 95 per cent in the wake of the Covid crisis. But the Stability Pact actually sets the maximum limit at 60 per cent. Among the eight EU members that have not yet joined the monetary union, Croatia has the highest debt, as reported by Daily Express. The European Commission examined Croatia's economic convergence with the rest of the eurozone, including balance of payments trends and the integration of its labour and financial markets, and verified that Croatian legislation is compatible with EU laws governing the European Central Bank. Croatia, in southeastern Europe, has been an independent country since 1991 when it left then-federal Yugoslavia. Neighbouring Slovenia, also an ex-Yugoslav republic and now EU member, adopted the euro in 2007. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why is croatia's joining of Eurozone a matter of concern for other EU countries?

Italy’s data protection authority has formally warned Chinese-owned app TikTok about an alleged breach of existing European Union rules to safeguard user privacy.

Italy's data protection authority claims of TikTok privacy breach

From harassment to spying on rivals: Uber's litany of controversies

You must be aware of the China Taiwan issue; it’s happening since 1949. On October 1 of last year, when China observed its National Day to commemorate the founding of the People's Republic of China, tensions between the two countries resumed. Over 100 fighter jets from China flew into Taiwan's air defence identification zone during the 72nd-anniversary festivities, rattling Taiwanese emotions and raising concerns about a possible military invasion of the island. We must first see the cause of the China and Taiwan split to fully understand this matter. After World War II, there was combat in mainland China between nationalist government troops and the Chinese Communist Party, which led to the division between the two. In 1949, the communists prevailed, and Mao Zedong seized power in Beijing.&nbsp;The Kuomintang, a nationalist party, withdrew to neighbouring Taiwan during this time. Since then, the Kuomintang has been one of Taiwan's leading political parties and has ruled the island for a sizable portion of its history. China puts a lot of diplomatic pressure on other nations to avoid any actions that can be seen as recognition of Taiwan. Only 13 nations currently recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state.

Taiwan's authorities assert that their country is an independent state, but China regards Taiwan as a part of its territory and is desperate to seize control of it by force. Now here the question is why&nbsp;does Taiwan matter to China? Apart from the territorial integrity the reason China wants Taiwan is because of its economic capabilities and western influence.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will observe the same thing in Ukraine as well; why do you think Russia attacked Ukraine? Because Russia doesn't want any military bases close to its borders, it has repeatedly urged Ukraine not to join NATO or any other western allies. Taiwan experiences a similar issue. China does not want Taiwan to be the next Ukraine.&nbsp;because China is aware that American and NATO forces intend to erect military infrastructure in Taiwan and China's foreign policy will be directly threatened by it. We should also keep in mind that China is quite savvy and is aware that whatever sanctions Russia is dealing with could apply to China in the future. Additionally, Taiwan's electronic industry draws the largest proportion of its foreign investment. China and Taiwan's economies are highly interdependent, with Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing industry being the largest contract chip manufacturer in the world and Asia's most valuable listed company at 600 billion dollars. With an export value of 515 billion dollars from January 2017 to January 2022, China is Taiwan's largest export partner, more than twice as much as the next-largest partner, the United States. More chips from Taiwan are imported into China than crude oil. This means that China is heavily dependent on Taiwan for the essential components of its manufacturing and electrical industries.

Anyway, we know that Taiwan recognizes itself as a sovereign nation. Taiwan maintains diplomatic ties with 15 nations, including major powers including the US, Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, and New Zealand. Consequently, Taiwan's sovereignty is essentially supported by all western nations. Additionally, Taiwan has full membership in World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and other intergovernmental organizations. So, if you look at Taiwan of course they have full right to be a sovereign country, I am not denying that. However, if you take a step back and look at it from a more traditional perspective, you'll find that the western nations do not support Taiwan because they favour democracy or because they have comparable democratic values. Since the west does a lot of business with China, in recent years it has begun to forge closer ties with Taiwan to keep China in check and prevent it from straying too far from the norm. And if you recall, in 2018—Trump's first year in office—China and the United States were engaged in a continuing economic struggle known as the "China-US trade war." Additionally, both nations had imposed sanctions on one another. As a result of the US-China trade war and the subsequent COVID-19 outbreak, China’s name around the world began to decline. Many Taiwanese and foreign companies that were based in mainland China, started relocating back to Taiwan because of this if you see Taiwan became an indirect beneficiary of the US-China trade war.

So, the western countries do not want to let go of the leverage on China and the leverage is Taiwan. Because of this, the United States, Australia, and Japan expressed alarm and disapproval when Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed the security arrangement with China and extended his country's allegiance to Beijing rather than Taiwan. 

Despite US President Joe Biden's comments that he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, White House officials maintain that the US has not altered its policy. United States President Joe Biden suggested that any attempt by China to invade Taiwan will result in American military action during the Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. At the G-7 summit in Madrid, the UK's foreign secretary, Lizz Truss, recently warned China, saying, "I do think that with China extending its influence through economic coercion and building a capable military, there is a real risk that they draw the wrong idea, which results in a catastrophic miscalculation like invading Taiwan, and that is precisely what we saw in case of Ukraine, a strategic miscalculation by Putin.&nbsp;Invoking Taiwan as an example, Truss argued that NATO needed to have a global perspective that included democracies outside of its membership.&nbsp;To protect the Pacific, she said, "we need to anticipate dangers in the Indo-Pacific, working with friends like Japan and Australia." "We must ensure that democracies like Taiwan can defend themselves." "We must ensure the self-defence of democracies like Taiwan."China dwarfs Britain, the sixth-largest economy in the world, both economically and militarily, but London still hopes to influence Beijing to abide by the rules of a new, more dynamic international order through the use of soft power and strategic partnerships.

Along with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, which brought an end to the Cold War, China's rapid economic and military development over the previous 40 years is seen as one of the most important geopolitical developments in recent times. Taiwan views the Ukraine scenario as a lesson in how to cope with China's military adventurism even though a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is not near. If recent actions by the US and Japan are any indication, both nations are stepping up their efforts to support Taiwan's resolve to counter the Chinese security threat. This is a natural move on the part of the US and Japan, and it provides a platform for other democracies and like-minded nations to contribute to preventing geopolitical instability in the Indo-Pacific. The effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be felt well beyond the Western world, notwithstanding how some foreign policy experts portray a controlled West-only situation. Due to a protracted border dispute and ongoing standoffs with China, India has maintained a low profile with Taiwan. There has been a widespread belief that any attempt to engage Taiwan will provoke a fierce response from China. Due to their unresolved border conflict and China's frequent territorial incursions into Indian territory, China represents a serious threat to India. It would be appropriate for India to quit paying attention to China at the expense of engaging Taiwan after the Galwan skirmishes, which were preceded by decades of Chinese duplicity and attempts to halt India's development.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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You must be aware of the China Taiwan issue; it’s happening since 1949. On October 1 of last year, when China observed its National Day to commemorate the founding of the People's Republic of China, tensions between the two countries resumed.

You must be aware of the China Taiwan issue; it’s happening since 1949. On October 1 of last year, when China observed its National Day to commemorate the founding of the People's Republic of China, tensions between the two countries resumed. Over 100 fighter jets from China flew into Taiwan's air defence identification zone during the 72nd-anniversary festivities, rattling Taiwanese emotions and raising concerns about a possible military invasion of the island. We must first see the cause of the China and Taiwan split to fully understand this matter. After World War II, there was combat in mainland China between nationalist government troops and the Chinese Communist Party, which led to the division between the two. In 1949, the communists prevailed, and Mao Zedong seized power in Beijing. The Kuomintang, a nationalist party, withdrew to neighbouring Taiwan during this time. Since then, the Kuomintang has been one of Taiwan's leading political parties and has ruled the island for a sizable portion of its history. China puts a lot of diplomatic pressure on other nations to avoid any actions that can be seen as recognition of Taiwan. Only 13 nations currently recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state. Taiwan's authorities assert that their country is an independent state, but China regards Taiwan as a part of its territory and is desperate to seize control of it by force. Now here the question is why does Taiwan matter to China? Apart from the territorial integrity the reason China wants Taiwan is because of its economic capabilities and western influence. You will observe the same thing in Ukraine as well; why do you think Russia attacked Ukraine? Because Russia doesn't want any military bases close to its borders, it has repeatedly urged Ukraine not to join NATO or any other western allies. Taiwan experiences a similar issue. China does not want Taiwan to be the next Ukraine. because China is aware that American and NATO forces intend to erect military infrastructure in Taiwan and China's foreign policy will be directly threatened by it. We should also keep in mind that China is quite savvy and is aware that whatever sanctions Russia is dealing with could apply to China in the future. Additionally, Taiwan's electronic industry draws the largest proportion of its foreign investment. China and Taiwan's economies are highly interdependent, with Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing industry being the largest contract chip manufacturer in the world and Asia's most valuable listed company at 600 billion dollars. With an export value of 515 billion dollars from January 2017 to January 2022, China is Taiwan's largest export partner, more than twice as much as the next-largest partner, the United States. More chips from Taiwan are imported into China than crude oil. This means that China is heavily dependent on Taiwan for the essential components of its manufacturing and electrical industries. Anyway, we know that Taiwan recognizes itself as a sovereign nation. Taiwan maintains diplomatic ties with 15 nations, including major powers including the US, Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, and New Zealand. Consequently, Taiwan's sovereignty is essentially supported by all western nations. Additionally, Taiwan has full membership in World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and other intergovernmental organizations. So, if you look at Taiwan of course they have full right to be a sovereign country, I am not denying that. However, if you take a step back and look at it from a more traditional perspective, you'll find that the western nations do not support Taiwan because they favour democracy or because they have comparable democratic values. Since the west does a lot of business with China, in recent years it has begun to forge closer ties with Taiwan to keep China in check and prevent it from straying too far from the norm. And if you recall, in 2018—Trump's first year in office—China and the United States were engaged in a continuing economic struggle known as the "China-US trade war." Additionally, both nations had imposed sanctions on one another. As a result of the US-China trade war and the subsequent COVID-19 outbreak, China’s name around the world began to decline. Many Taiwanese and foreign companies that were based in mainland China, started relocating back to Taiwan because of this if you see Taiwan became an indirect beneficiary of the US-China trade war. So, the western countries do not want to let go of the leverage on China and the leverage is Taiwan. Because of this, the United States, Australia, and Japan expressed alarm and disapproval when Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed the security arrangement with China and extended his country's allegiance to Beijing rather than Taiwan. Despite US President Joe Biden's comments that he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, White House officials maintain that the US has not altered its policy. United States President Joe Biden suggested that any attempt by China to invade Taiwan will result in American military action during the Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. At the G-7 summit in Madrid, the UK's foreign secretary, Lizz Truss, recently warned China, saying, "I do think that with China extending its influence through economic coercion and building a capable military, there is a real risk that they draw the wrong idea, which results in a catastrophic miscalculation like invading Taiwan, and that is precisely what we saw in case of Ukraine, a strategic miscalculation by Putin. Invoking Taiwan as an example, Truss argued that NATO needed to have a global perspective that included democracies outside of its membership. To protect the Pacific, she said, "we need to anticipate dangers in the Indo-Pacific, working with friends like Japan and Australia." "We must ensure that democracies like Taiwan can defend themselves." "We must ensure the self-defence of democracies like Taiwan."China dwarfs Britain, the sixth-largest economy in the world, both economically and militarily, but London still hopes to influence Beijing to abide by the rules of a new, more dynamic international order through the use of soft power and strategic partnerships. Along with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, which brought an end to the Cold War, China's rapid economic and military development over the previous 40 years is seen as one of the most important geopolitical developments in recent times. Taiwan views the Ukraine scenario as a lesson in how to cope with China's military adventurism even though a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is not near. If recent actions by the US and Japan are any indication, both nations are stepping up their efforts to support Taiwan's resolve to counter the Chinese security threat. This is a natural move on the part of the US and Japan, and it provides a platform for other democracies and like-minded nations to contribute to preventing geopolitical instability in the Indo-Pacific. The effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be felt well beyond the Western world, notwithstanding how some foreign policy experts portray a controlled West-only situation. Due to a protracted border dispute and ongoing standoffs with China, India has maintained a low profile with Taiwan. There has been a widespread belief that any attempt to engage Taiwan will provoke a fierce response from China. Due to their unresolved border conflict and China's frequent territorial incursions into Indian territory, China represents a serious threat to India. It would be appropriate for India to quit paying attention to China at the expense of engaging Taiwan after the Galwan skirmishes, which were preceded by decades of Chinese duplicity and attempts to halt India's development. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

China-Taiwan conflict turning into another Russia-Ukraine situation?

The European Union Chief Ursula Von Der Leyen addressed Ukraine's parliament after granting candidate status to the country. During her address, she said that Ukraine has came a long way since 2014 and is fighting bravely against Russia.

EU Chief addresses Ukraine's parliament after granting candidate status

The European Union approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles with&nbsp;combustion&nbsp;engines&nbsp;by 2035 in Europe, the 27-member bloc announced early Wednesday, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions to zero.&nbsp;

The measure, first proposed in July 2021, will mean a de facto halt to sales of petrol and diesel cars as well as light commercial vehicles and a complete shift to electric&nbsp;engines&nbsp;in the European Union from 2035.&nbsp;

The plan is intended to help achieve the continent's climate objectives, in particular, carbon neutrality by 2050.

At the request of countries including Germany and Italy, the EU-27 also agreed to consider a future green light for the use of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or plug-in hybrids.

While approval would be tied to achieving the complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, the technologies have been contested by environmental NGOs.

Environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg also approved a five-year extension of the exemption from CO2 obligations granted to so-called "niche" manufacturers, or those producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year, until the end of 2035.&nbsp;

The clause, sometimes referred to as the "Ferrari amendment", will benefit luxury brands in particular.

These measures must now be negotiated with members of the European Parliament.&nbsp;

"This is a big challenge for our automotive industry," acknowledged French Minister of Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who chaired Tuesday night's meeting.&nbsp;

But she said it was a "necessity" in the face of competition from China and the United States, which have bet heavily on electric vehicles seen as the future of the industry.&nbsp;

These decisions will "allow a planned and accompanied transition", the minister said.&nbsp;

Openness to synthetic fuels

Europe's automotive industry, which is already investing heavily in the move to electric vehicles, fears the social impact of a too-rapid transition.&nbsp;

"The overwhelming majority of car manufacturers have chosen electric cars," said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission Vice President in charge of the European Green Deal, at a press conference.&nbsp;

He affirmed the EU body's willingness to be open-minded to other technologies -- like synthetic fuels, which are also referred to as e-fuels.&nbsp;

"We are technology neutral. What we want are zero-emission cars," he explained.&nbsp;

"At the moment, e-fuels do not seem a realistic solution, but if manufacturers can prove otherwise in the future, we will be open."&nbsp;

The technology of synthetic fuels, currently under study, consists of producing fuel from CO2 from industrial activities using low-carbon electricity, in a circular economy approach.&nbsp;

Like the oil industry, the automotive sector has high hopes for these new fuels, which would extend the use of internal&nbsp;combustion&nbsp;engines&nbsp;now threatened by the emergence of completely electric vehicles.&nbsp;

But environmental organisations object to the use of this technology in cars, as it is considered both expensive and energy-consuming.

The synthetic-fuelled&nbsp;engines&nbsp;also emit as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as their fossil fuel equivalents, they say.

Cars are the main mode of transport for Europeans and account for just under 15 percent of total CO2 emissions in the EU. It is also one of the main gases responsible for global warming.&nbsp;

In response to manufacturers' concerns about insufficient consumer demand for 100 percent electric cars, the Commission has recommended a major expansion of charging stations.&nbsp;

"Along the main roads in Europe, there must be charging points every 60 kilometres (37 miles)," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last year.&nbsp;

Manufacturers regularly complain about the lack of such infrastructure, especially in southern and eastern European countries.

The European Union approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles with combustion engines by 2035 in Europe, the 27-member bloc announced early Wednesday, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions to zero.

The European Union approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles with combustion engines by 2035 in Europe, the 27-member bloc announced early Wednesday, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions to zero. The measure, first proposed in July 2021, will mean a de facto halt to sales of petrol and diesel cars as well as light commercial vehicles and a complete shift to electric engines in the European Union from 2035. The plan is intended to help achieve the continent's climate objectives, in particular, carbon neutrality by 2050. At the request of countries including Germany and Italy, the EU-27 also agreed to consider a future green light for the use of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or plug-in hybrids. While approval would be tied to achieving the complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, the technologies have been contested by environmental NGOs. Environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg also approved a five-year extension of the exemption from CO2 obligations granted to so-called "niche" manufacturers, or those producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year, until the end of 2035. The clause, sometimes referred to as the "Ferrari amendment", will benefit luxury brands in particular. These measures must now be negotiated with members of the European Parliament. "This is a big challenge for our automotive industry," acknowledged French Minister of Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who chaired Tuesday night's meeting. But she said it was a "necessity" in the face of competition from China and the United States, which have bet heavily on electric vehicles seen as the future of the industry. These decisions will "allow a planned and accompanied transition", the minister said. Openness to synthetic fuels Europe's automotive industry, which is already investing heavily in the move to electric vehicles, fears the social impact of a too-rapid transition. "The overwhelming majority of car manufacturers have chosen electric cars," said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission Vice President in charge of the European Green Deal, at a press conference. He affirmed the EU body's willingness to be open-minded to other technologies -- like synthetic fuels, which are also referred to as e-fuels. "We are technology neutral. What we want are zero-emission cars," he explained. "At the moment, e-fuels do not seem a realistic solution, but if manufacturers can prove otherwise in the future, we will be open." The technology of synthetic fuels, currently under study, consists of producing fuel from CO2 from industrial activities using low-carbon electricity, in a circular economy approach. Like the oil industry, the automotive sector has high hopes for these new fuels, which would extend the use of internal combustion engines now threatened by the emergence of completely electric vehicles. But environmental organisations object to the use of this technology in cars, as it is considered both expensive and energy-consuming. The synthetic-fuelled engines also emit as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as their fossil fuel equivalents, they say. Cars are the main mode of transport for Europeans and account for just under 15 percent of total CO2 emissions in the EU. It is also one of the main gases responsible for global warming. In response to manufacturers' concerns about insufficient consumer demand for 100 percent electric cars, the Commission has recommended a major expansion of charging stations. "Along the main roads in Europe, there must be charging points every 60 kilometres (37 miles)," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last year. Manufacturers regularly complain about the lack of such infrastructure, especially in southern and eastern European countries.

EU approves end of combustion engine sales by 2035

The European Union approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles with combustion engines by 2035 in Europe, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions to zero.

EU to end sales of combustion engine vehicles by 2035

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