- Sanctions against Russia imminent
- EU Health Data Space: consortium tinkering with test version
- Letter to von der Leyen: disadvantages for automotive suppliers in the taxonomy
- CAP strategy plan submitted to EU Commission
- BDI on energy prices: ‘The situation is dire’
- Competition: MEPs demand more jobs for EU Commission
- Date set for TTC meeting
- Credit Suisse: EPP proposes inclusion of Switzerland in dirty-money blacklist
- Opinion: proposals for reform of EU fiscal rules
Putin’s decision yesterday is likely to further fuel the Russia-Ukraine conflict: The Russian president has recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine as independent states. This makes it possible to station Russian soldiers there. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced EU sanctions against Russia in response to the recognition of the Ukrainian territories. Ukraine had already wanted immediate punitive measures and received backing for this from the Baltic states. But some member states are calling for restraint. Sanctions should only be implemented if Russia actually attacks Ukraine – “but not before”, said a government spokesman in Berlin. Eric Bonse reports on the European discussion about the appropriate time for sanctions and gives an outlook on the planned punitive measures.
In early April, the EU Commission plans to present a draft regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Not much is known so far, but a call for tenders from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency gives a first insight into the plans for the European Health Data Space. The EU agency apparently has a consortium in mind to start work on a kind of beta version of the EHDS before the end of the year. A group of 16 partners, including one from Germany, led by the French Health Data Hub HDH, has applied for this tender. Eugenie Ankowitsch summarizes what tasks the group would face and how well the responsible partner in Germany is positioned.
Sarah Schaefer
Feature
Sanctions against Russia imminent
The decision on tough economic sanctions against Russia is drawing closer. Following the European Council and the EU Commission, the EU foreign ministers also declared their readiness to impose punitive measures on Monday. They will be prepared when the moment comes, said High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell in Brussels.
However, there were differences of opinion on when would be the right moment for sanctions. Does it have to come to a “full” invasion of Ukraine first, as the US expects? Or is recognition of the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine enough? Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states yesterday. State television shows him signing a decree to that effect.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union would respond with sanctions to Russia’s recognition of Ukrainian territories as independent regions. The USA also announced sanctions against Russia.
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