Soaring energy prices come as the severity of the climate crisis requires giving up most of the current fossil fuels. Beyond the policy conducted at European level, it is up to national governments to decide between reacting to the emergency and maintaining purchasing power.
Since mid-December 2021, the Kosovo is facing the most serious energy crisis since its independence 13 years ago (2008).
Daily cuts had to be put in place and it is in this tense context that the small Balkan country has just banned the mining of cryptocurrencies.
In the world of cryptocurrencies, “mining” does not mean digging the earth, or extracting coal. The term relates to a crucial step and fundamental principle of cryptocurrencies. It is the act that ensures the integrity of the blockchain, creates new cryptocurrency units, and makes the whole ecosystem work. The details of Simon Rico.
In Bulgaria, electricity prices have tripled since last summer (2021). If, for individuals, the tariffs are regulated by an independent public body, this is not the case for companies which have to face intense speculation on energy tariffs. Already affected by the Covid pandemic, many small family businesses are now on the brink and could well go bankrupt. In Sofia, Damian Vodenitcharov.
In Sweden, soaring electricity prices have revived the debate on nuclear power. Nine months before the legislative elections, in September 2022, the conservative right and the far right have launched a campaign to stop the shutdown of the last power stations and build new ones. Anne-Francoise Hivert.
Turkey: the patron Kavala in front of the judges before a new ultimatum addressed to Ankara
Osman Kavala has been imprisoned for more than four years in Turkey, accused of having financed the anti-government protests in Gezi Park in June 2013, and of being involved in the failed coup of July 2016. However, the European Court of Human Rights considers that Osman Kavala is prosecuted without evidence and detained for political reasons.
By a majority of two-thirds of its members, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided on 2 December 2021 to launch infringement proceedings against Turkey. An extremely rare procedure, motivated by the Turkish refusal to release the businessman and patron. A new hearing of his trial takes place this Monday, January 17… Turkey still has a chance to escape sanctions if Osman Kavala is finally released. In Istanbul, Anne Andlauer.
Franceline Beretti’s European Eye
On Wednesday January 19, 2022, Emmanuel Macron will present to MEPs the priorities of France, which has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the EU for 6 months… He already announced in December 2021, at a press conference, the three axes of this French presidency: revival, power and belonging. But, however proactive the French president may be, will that be enough to leave his mark on Brussels politics?