Regardless of the European quarter in Brussels regularly coming again to life after a much-needed summer time break, the week was a sluggish one in comparison with earlier ones.
On individuals’s minds although had been Europe’s worst drought for 500 years, rising inflation, a weakening euro, and a struggle in Ukraine with no sign of ending.
However the EU establishments did pull out all of the stops this Wednesday to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, which coincidentally fell on the identical day because the six-month mark of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
To make it clear whose facet she was on, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen joined the Ukrainian neighborhood for the event within the metropolis centre of the Belgian capital.
A large flag was unveiled and a day of festivities adopted.
The temper was constructive as conveyed by von der Leyen throughout a recorded message about the way forward for the war-torn nation.
"Along with you we are going to rebuild your cities, brick by brick and replant your gardens and fields seed by seed. Due to your sacrifices, your youngsters will develop up in a Ukraine that's simply and free," the Fee president mentioned on Wednesday.
However this actuality remains to be far-off and what EU capitals are processing proper now's that this struggle will likely be a long-term affair.
In line with Bruno Lété from the German Marshall Fund, the long run for European-Russia relations, for now, is bleak.
"Whether or not we prefer it or not, Russia is a geographic neighbour. This isn't one thing you may change," he informed Euronews. "And so the query is: what sort of structure do we have to provide you with that may assure peace within the coming years? That is the issue proper now as a result of Russia and Europe can not speak to one another.
"Their targets and views on European safety are essentially totally different. So, this elementary distinction between Moscow and European member states, I'm afraid, is an ingredient for extended rigidity and insecurity on the European continent."
Dutch sanctions aid
Town of the Hague within the Netherlands mentioned this week that it's going to apply for a brief waiver of EU sanctions in opposition to Russia to proceed receiving fuel from Gazprom because it struggles to seek out another provider.
In a letter to town council, alderman Saskia Bruines wrote that a European tender in June and July to safe fuel from different suppliers has didn't get any bids.
European governments and public our bodies are required by the bloc's fifth bundle of sanctions in opposition to Russia over its full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine to finish current contracts with Russian corporations by 10 October on the newest.
"Restricted exceptions could also be granted by the competent authorities the place there isn't a viable different," the European Fee mentioned on the time.
That is what the Netherlands' third-biggest metropolis, which has a pre-existing contract with Gazprom, now intends to do.
Bruines wrote that town is now in negotiations with quite a few potential suppliers for a contract that will begin on 1 January 2023, and that as such "we are going to ask for an exemption for our present association till Jan. 1 2023 to ensure the protection of provide and to facilitate negotiations."
She opined that the waiver "will (most definitely) be granted because the situation for this has been met, particularly a well timed tender process for a brand new fuel contract."
She warned nevertheless that the brand new contract "will result in (considerably) increased prices for pure fuel" and that "with the present unstable market, it isn't but potential to make a concrete assertion on the extent of the rise."
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