Europe is Ukraine. Ukraine is Europe.

Європа це Україна. Україна це Європа.

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The EU will give member countries the right to block imports of Russian gas

According to a bill proposed by Brussels, any member state will be able to ban companies from Russia and Belarus from buying capacity in its gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.

This will allow EU energy companies to withdraw from contracts with companies from the Russian Federation “without having to pay hefty compensation.”

The European Commission wants to push member states to cut off remaining gas imports. Some member states including Poland and the Baltic states have been vocal in demanding tougher action against Moscow.

Source:
Financial Times
Financial Times (De-Paywalled)

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Finland Refuses Russian Nationalist Fighter’s Extradition to Ukraine

A court in Finland has refused to extradite a Russian nationalist fighter to Ukraine and ruled to release him from detention, Finnish media reported Friday.

Since 2016, Ukrainian authorities have sought the arrest of Yan Petrovsky, a Russian-Norwegian national, on terrorism charges, accusing him of assisting pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine as a member of the far-right group Rusich in 2014-15.

Sources:
HS (Finnish)
The Moscow Times (English)

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The workers' wing of the CDU (CDA) is discussing if AfD should be banned.

The AfD is "a danger to democracy in Germany", according to a CDA statement issued on Sunday. A parallel was also drawn with National Socialist Germany. The NSDAP also "did not gain power through a coup, but through elections". History must not be allowed to repeat itself.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz rejects a ban on the AfD. He recently told ZDF television: "Banning parties has never solved a problem". In view of the AfD's high poll ratings, his party must instead strive to regain people's trust. Andrea Lindholz (CSU) expressed a similar view according to the Tagesspiegel. She warned against debates on banning the party, with which the AfD could "portray itself as a victim and profit from it".

Only the Bundestag, Bundesrat or federal government can submit an application for a ban. The decision then lies with the Federal Constitutional Court. According to ARD, the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) believes that the requirements for a party ban are theoretically fulfilled due to the AfD's extreme right-wing and anti-constitutional goals, but advised against it in June. With its latest analysis, the DIMR would rather point out the responsibility of political actors to "unmistakably distance themselves from the AfD".

*In an earlier press release of the CDA it was said that the workers wing of the CDU is clearly in favor of a ban of the AfD and called on the federal executive for it, but it was retracted as "not authorized".

Source (German)

?? EU_Report ??

Spiegel

Arbeitnehmerflügel der Union soll sich mit Verbot der AfD beschäftigen

Sollte die AfD verboten werden? Angesichts steigender Umfragewerte der Rechtsextremen wurden zuletzt entsprechende Rufe laut. Der Arbeitnehmerflügel der CDU diskutiert ebenfalls darüber.

Sweden prepared to help with Finland's border issues, PM Kristersson says

The issues Finland is facing along its eastern border is one that affects the entire EU, and Sweden is prepared to help, according to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The Swedish premier made the comments on Monday in Helsinki, alongside Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) at a joint press conference.

The issues Kristersson was referring to were the hundreds of asylum seekers that been arriving from the Russia August. Finland has accused Russia of conducting a hybrid attack, effectively driving the migrants to the border. As a result, last week Finland shut down seven out of its eight eastern border crossings.

In the past it has been southern member states like Greece, Spain and Italy that have dealt with problems along the EU's external borders.

But now, according to Kristersson, those problems have shifted northward. He suggested that Russia appeared to be trying to create troubles, divisions and disruptions in Europe.

"It is a serious thing to take advantage of asylum seekers and make people end up in this situation. That's not how neighbours are supposed to behave," Kristersson said.

Orpo pointed out that even though Finland has not seen the amount of migrants as the southern EU states, the situation along the Russian border still poses a serious threat.

"This is Russian aggression towards the European Union. This is a hybrid attack, and that's why this is so serious for the EU," Orpo said.

During their meeting, the Nordic PMs discussed other security matters. Sweden's defence and foreign ministers as well as military experts were also in Finland on Monday, meeting with their Finnish counterparts.

Photo : Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomes his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson (on right) at the Prime Minister's official residence Kesäranta in Helsinki

??@ukraine_report???Liz

An important day in Brussels.
Significant results. ??*??***

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the European Parliament.

Powerful messages from the leaders of the European Parliament to support the early opening of the negotiation process.

Conference on the European future of Ukraine.

Bilateral meetings with representatives of political forces of the European Parliament. Thank you all for your support.

And special words of gratitude to Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, for her personal leadership and advocacy for Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan StefanchukFacebook/ Website
Instagram/ Twitter

Putin on trial, this satire moves Bulgaria

Soberly titled The Hague, the play, which depicts the trial of the master of the Kremlin by the International Criminal Court. A show currently performed at the National Theater in Sofia that, according to its creators, wants to awaken a "nation that is too passive".

In this EU country, a former communist state in Eastern Europe, where the Kremlin's theses still appeal to a large part of the population, the perhaps risky gamble worked out. The room was packed, the actors received a standing ovation, and the audience was moved to tears.

Read more

@freerussia_report

Finnish Military Assisting With Fence Construction Along Border With Russia

The Finnish Defense Forces are helping the country’s Border Guard construct temporary fences on the Russian border after the Finnish government closed four border crossing points in response to an increased flow of third-country asylum seekers coming from Russia.

Since September, over 300 undocumented asylum seekers, mostly young men from Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, have arrived at the Finland-Russia border, mostly at the four southern crossings that have now been closed.

Sources:
YLE (English)
YLE (English)
The Moscow Times (English)
The Moscow Times (English)

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