Europe is in the grip of its ‘biggest energy crisis ever’, with growing concerns over the cost of fuel and doubts over the holiday season so vital to many economies. However, an “informal” ministerial summit held on Wednesday in Cyprus limited participation by the bloc’s energy ministers – also as the Commission revealed its ‘targeted, timely and temporary’ interventions.
The EU executive has tried to allay fears that the summer will be engulfed in flight cancellations, dealing a major blow to the European tourism sector. Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said in April that “there is no safer, more stable and more beautiful place to visit than Europe this summer”.
But the assurances look increasingly unconvincing as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues.
The meeting in Nicosia also saw renewed calls to massively increase European gas production, as argued the Eastern Mediterranean countries that the energy crisis makes it a strategic imperative to exploit their abundant resources.
Briefing
Who will be in the Taliban delegation in Brussels? – Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Taliban’s foreign affairs spokesman, is expected to do so leads a delegation in Brussels in June for migration talks, according to EU officials. Balkhi is one of the Taliban’s most internationally engaged officials and has often acted as the Taliban’s public face and advocate since the Islamists returned to power in 2021.
A new EU peacekeeping role in Lebanon – The European Union is weighing a future role in Lebanonbut any potential EU military presence would be radically different from the current UN peacekeeping mission, with the EU’s blue helmets likely to give up positions in the south of the country near the border with Israel. “The Europeans are ready to set up a mission to specifically help the Lebanese Armed Forces,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday.
Russian gas imports to the EU reach new levels – European Union imports of Russian liquefied natural gas hit the highest level in the first quarter since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022according to research published Wednesday. The increase came as nations around the world scrambled for energy supplies to replace supplies cut off amid the war in the Middle East.
All over Europe
Magyar cabinet decides to break with Orbán’s Hungary – Hungary’s incoming government used parliamentary hearings this week to do so outline a broad political reform agenda intended to make a break from Viktor Orbán’s 16-year legacy in power. The ministers proposed by Péter Magyar promised a more pro-EU economic policy, institutional reforms and closer ties with Brussels during mandatory parliamentary sessions. All 16 of his candidates were approved.
Kubilius calls on the eastern flank to strengthen its defenses – EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Wednesday appealed to the countries of the eastern wing to play a stronger “strategic role” to build a new European collective defence. “It would be a mistake if the entire region was not intellectually active in presenting its own ideas on what this new European collective defense architecture should look like,” Kubilius said.
Albania’s Rama is close to Italy – Edi Rama, the Albanian Prime Minister, has withdrew after charging Euractiv of publishing a misleading interview with his foreign minister on the future of a controversial Italian-Albanian migration deal. “Let me repeat… that our Protocol with Italy is here to stay, as long as Italy wants it,” he wrote.
