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Energy

Politics

EU energy ministers formally approved legislation to phase out imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027, the European Council said in a press release on Jan. 26.

EU, Russia: EU Adopts Binding Ban on Russian Gas Imports by 2027

Americas

Paraguay

France

Belgium

Poland

Austria

Italy

Ireland

Economics

Global Trade

EU member states gave provisional approval for the European Commission to sign the long-delayed free trade agreement with South America's Mercosur bloc, Reuters reported Jan. 9.

EU, Mercosur: EU Member States Approve Mercosur Trade Deal

Ukraine

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The European Commission unveiled its proposal for the EU's 19th package of sanctions against Russia on Sept. 19, Reuters reported the same day. The measures propose a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports (LNG) starting Jan. 1, 2027, a year earlier than previously planned.

EU, Russia: European Commission Proposes Faster Phaseout of Russian LNG

The European Union delayed the presentation of its 19th package of sanctions against Russia from Sept. 17 to an unspecified date, Politico reported Sept. 16, citing EU diplomats.

EU, Russia: Brussels Delays 19th Sanctions Package Against Moscow

The governments of Hungary and Slovakia sent a letter to the European Commission saying that Ukraine's recent attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline "severely threaten the energy security" of both countries and are "totally unacceptable," Reuters reported on Aug. 22.

Hungary, Slovakia: Ukraine’s Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline Labeled 'Totally Unacceptable'

Russian crude oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline were suspended on Aug. 18, Reuters reported the same day, citing officials from both European countries who attributed the disruption to Ukrainian strikes on a transformer station.

Hungary, Slovakia: Russian Crude Flows Via Druzhba Pipeline Halted Following Ukrainian Attack

Israel

Germany

Slovenia

Netherlands

Spain

The European Commission proposed suspending Israel's participation in the Horizon Research fund due to human rights concerns associated with Israel's ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported on July 28.

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

The European Commission is exploring legal and financial measures to bypass potential Hungarian vetoes on key decisions related to Ukraine's EU accession and sanctions against Russia, according to reports by Bloomberg and the Financial Times on May 13. 


EU, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine: Brussels Weighs Measures to Bypass Hungary's Vetoes on Russia Sanctions 

Assessments

Palestinian Territories

Indonesia

Vietnam

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

Columns

On Geopolitics

China

European Council President Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a meeting of the European Council on Oct. 23. The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

Europe's Dual Challenge From China and Russia

Canada

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Panama

Lebanon

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette Rubio arrive at the State Department in Washington, D.C., to speak to employees on Jan. 21, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Expires, Rubio Tours Latin America

Chad

Serbia

Panamanian presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino on May 1, 2024, in Panama City. Panamanians will vote May 5 to select their next president and all 71 members of the National Assembly.

The Weekly Rundown: Panama Holds General Elections, Xi Visits Europe

Snapshots

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen between the Chinese and French national flags in Beijing on Jan. 9, 2018. 

During the rare visit, the Chinese president will seek to ease EU trade tensions and secure Beijing's economic presence and influence in Central and Eastern Europe.

What To Expect During Xi's Trip to Europe

Egypt

Qatar

An Air China aircraft takes off at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney, Australia.

Cyber

U.S.-China Relations

The Weekly Rundown: China Braces for Lunar New Year Travel, EU Discusses Funding for Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (center left) and French President Emmanuel Macron (center right) shake hands ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 14, 2023. 

While EU leaders agreed to start accession talks, their failure to unanimously approve more funding for Kyiv offers a preview of what will likely be a yearslong process fraught with stumbling blocks.

Ukraine's Long and Bumpy Road to EU Membership Officially Begins

Luxembourg

Lithuania

Malta

Finland

Latvia

Czech Republic

Greece

Estonia

Sweden

United Kingdom

Portugal

Romania

Croatia

Cyprus

Members of the European Parliament take part in voting on the Artificial Intelligence Act during a plenary session at the European Parliament.

The EU's recently negotiated Artificial Intelligence Act will bolster the European Union's dominance as a regulatory heavyweight in emerging technologies, yet anticipated enforcement challenges and stringent stipulations with the Act risk impeding AI innovation within the bloc.

EU Lawmakers Clinch Agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act 

Denmark

Israeli and EU Flags

A lack of a unified EU response to the Israel-Hamas War highlights divisions among member states' foreign policies, complicating the bloc's plans to play a meaningful role in the conflict, as well as efforts to maintain unified support for Ukraine.

Israel-Hamas War Highlights Divisions Among EU Member States

Rail cars loaded with steel sit at the ThyssenKrupp Schwelgern steel plant on May 30, 2018 in Duisburg, Germany. 

The European Union and the United States will increase efforts to deconflict their trade and climate policies ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential and EU parliamentary elections, but lingering disagreements will not allow for a complete respite of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminum.

EU-U.S. Steel and Aluminum Negotiations Make Limited Headway

Solar panels on Aug. 9, 2023, in Neuss, Germany.

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Resistance to environmental initiatives in Europe will likely continue beyond the 2024 EU elections, portending less ambitious climate targets and greater protectionism.

Europe Faces a Less Ambitious Environmental Agenda

EU flags fly outside the headquarters of the European Commission on Feb. 23, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Brexit, COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis have increased the influence of southern and eastern EU members to the detriment of traditionally more influential countries in the north.

The EU's Shifting Balance of Power

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe located in the heart of the Pannonian Basin, a major agricultural area. Two major rivers cross the country from north to south: the Danube and the Tisza. Flat, fertile lands and rivers that facilitate trade explain why Hungary emerged as a regional power in the late ninth century; the combination also explains why Hungary attracted invaders. In fact, Hungary fell under partial Ottoman occupation between the 16th and 17th centuries, and then came under Habsburg rule. By the late 19th century, Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire along with Austria.    Hungary's modern borders were defined after World War I, when the country lost 70 percent of its territory and almost 60 percent of its population to its neighbors. The new borders led to a series of territorial and ethnic disputes that have not been fully solved. During the Cold War, Hungary was a Soviet satellite. Like most of its neighbors, Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.    Hungary is an exports-oriented, high-income economy, and one of the main receivers of foreign direct investment in Central Europe. Its main trade partners are in the European Union, and the country is a net receiver of EU cohesion funds. However, in recent years the Hungarian government has been critical of some aspects of EU integration, and has so far decided not to join the eurozone. Hungary is also interested in keeping close ties with its Central European neighbors in the Visegrad Group, which also includes Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. While Hungary's main policy goal since the end of the Cold War has been to integrate into Western economic and security organizations, Budapest also seeks good ties with Russia, from whom it purchases most of its natural gas.    After five centuries of being under the influence of bigger powers, Hungary's main geopolitical goal is to achieve as much autonomy as possible and to keep its options open, especially during times of competition between greater powers.

SITUATION REPORTS

EU, Russia: EU Adopts Binding Ban on Russian Gas Imports by 2027

EU, Mercosur: EU Member States Approve Mercosur Trade Deal

EU, Russia: European Commission Proposes Faster Phaseout of Russian LNG

EU, Russia: Brussels Delays 19th Sanctions Package Against Moscow

Hungary, Slovakia: Ukraine’s Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline Labeled 'Totally Unacceptable'

Hungary, Slovakia: Russian Crude Flows Via Druzhba Pipeline Halted Following Ukrainian Attack

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

EU, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine: Brussels Weighs Measures to Bypass Hungary's Vetoes on Russia Sanctions

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