The European Newsletter tells you the essentials about the European Union every Friday. You can order the full version of the letter to your email.
On Thursday I woke up in an awkward mood. War had broken out in Europe. The issue of the news channels seemed unreal.
Despite the gloomy preconceptions, I had deeply hoped that there would still be conditions for dialogue.
There were none, and the initial reactions of EU leaders were shocked.
RUSSIA ‘S ATTACK is a big disappointment, but hardly a surprise. The United States and NATO have made intelligence public in the past months in an exceptional way.
The open line has also been reflected in the journalist’s daily life: information about Russia’s intentions and actions has been widely distributed. The disinformation carried out by Russia or the attempts to justify the attack have not been given a foothold.
However, the final decision on the attack was made by Russia and the president Vladimir Putin. Western warnings of massive consequences echoed in deaf ears.
WHEN YOU READ THIS LETTER, EU leaders are likely to approve the new sanctions package. These are the massive consequences that the EU and the West have warned Russia about.
Are we moving with too little stakes and too late? Should sanctions have been triggered as a deterrent to Russia, as some Member States have called for? We will never know the answer to this.
The focus is now on what Russia is doing in the next few days and how far-reaching the attack will have on the civilian population in Ukraine. The EU is also preparing to receive Ukrainians fleeing war and distress.
Commissioner for Immigration Ylva Johansson according to (you switch to another service) Poland and other front-line countries have the capacity to react if Ukrainian aid workers arrive at the borders.
HERE IN BELGIUM, On the west coast of Europe, there is no acute change in the security situation, although the situation is being monitored very closely. It is a trip to Russia from here.
Belgium, on the other hand, has not always been surrounded by friendly countries. Numerous military cemeteries in Brussels and elsewhere in the country remind us of this.
The history of Europe is the history of warfare and killing. The idea that the same spending will continue in the new millennium is depressing.
Despite this – a good weekend,
This time, there is only one issue in the letter of Europe. The package around it has been compiled by my colleague, a financial journalist specializing in the EU Janne Toivonen.
PS. The renewed Europppa letter will now only be available in full by e-mail. This is a condensed version.
Next week: the EU’s basic roll is also spinning, even though the focus is on the crisis
The European Parliament will hold an extraordinary plenary session next Tuesday over the Russian attack. Otherwise, the interior ministers and the ministers responsible for regional development will meet during the week.
In regional aid, the new programming period is about to begin, and the EU should prioritize the worst post-interest rate period. The interior ministers will continue to grind the reform of immigration policy and consider changes to the Schengen system.
You can discuss the topic from the link below. The discussion is open on 26.2. until 11 p.m.