European Union

Poland did not invite the Hungarian ambassador to the EU presidency ceremony because of the granting of asylum to a suspected former deputy minister. Hungarian Minister Szijjarto called the decision “pathetic and childish.

The Georgian Interior Ministry has started expulsion proceedings against 91 foreigners, including 25 protesters against the freezing of EU accession talks. 10 people have already left the country.

A large-scale opinion poll showed that Zaluzhnyi has 24. 29% of voter support, ahead of Zelenskyy and Tymoshenko. 73.4% of Ukrainians support peace talks, and 89% believe the country's direction is wrong.

In Bratislava, 4,000 people protested against Prime Minister Fico's pro-Russian policies. Protesters with EU flags accused Fico of “treason” and called on him to “go to Moscow.

In Warsaw, thousands of farmers protest against the Green Deal and imports from Ukraine outside the European Commission. Politicians from the Confederation and Law and Justice parties are seen at the rally.

The government plans to create a mechanism for the full confiscation of Russian frozen assets this year. Ukraine expects $50 billion from the G7 and the EU to be secured by frozen Russian assets.

The President of Ukraine outlined the key elements of a just peace, including a powerful army and reliable security guarantees. Zelenskyy emphasized that NATO was the best option, and that guarantees without US participation would be weak.

Robert Fico announced that the Smer party is ready to reduce support for Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia. This is a reaction to the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, which resulted in a loss of 5 billion euros in revenue.

Chinese automakers achieved record sales in 2024, but expect a challenging 2025. Market growth will slow to 2% due to trade tensions and fierce competition.

On January 3, farmers will protest in Warsaw under the slogan “5 x STOP” against the EU and Ursula von der Leyen's policies. The participants are opposed to the Green Deal, imports from Ukraine and other EU initiatives.

Popular medicines in the EU are much more expensive than in Ukraine.

The European Commission has announced that Hungary will lose its right to EU assistance due to violations of the rule of law. The country failed to fulfill the requirements for reforms to overcome corruption and conflicts of interest by the end of 2024.

Moldova was granted the right to increase its electricity import quota from the EU from 315 MW to 600 MW. This is possible provided that the electricity is not used by other importers.

Robert Fico said that the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine would have a negative impact on the EU, but not on Russia. Fico announced a “two-track policy” for 2025, focused on all sides of the world.

More than UAH 100 billion remained in the single treasury account and more than UAH 163 billion in foreign currency accounts. During the year, Ukraine attracted USD 41.7 billion in external financing, of which USD 12.6 billion were non-repayable grants.

Tens of thousands of pro-European demonstrators celebrated the New Year outside Georgia's parliament, continuing their protests against the government. President Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters, refusing to hand over power to a successor.

Starting from January 1, 2025, Ukraine will introduce new rules for compulsory motor insurance. The amount of payments will increase, the system for calculating the cost of policies will change, and a direct settlement mechanism will be introduced.

On January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria officially became part of the Schengen area. Passport checks at land borders have been canceled, making it easier to travel between EU countries.

The government plans to cover the 2025 budget deficit with $36. 9 billion in external borrowings. The EU, IMF, and the US will be the main donors, and Ukraine's economy may grow by 4.3%.

President Zelenskyy said that the Hungarian and Slovak people support Ukraine, and their authorities should recognize the truth. He emphasized the importance of European unity and warned against cooperation with Russia.

And how much will you have to pay.

A series of New Year's Eve protests demanding new elections are planned in the Georgian capital. Participants will collect humanitarian aid for the needy and hold several marches on Rustaveli Avenue.

Producers of alcohol and bioethanol will pay a guaranteed tax on the maximum possible production volume. The law will remain in force until Ukraine joins the EU or until 2030.

Wholesale prices for tangerines in Europe have reached record levels, approaching €2 per kilogram. The reason was a poor harvest in Turkey and weather disasters in the EU in 2024.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised to increase military presence in the Baltic Sea after the incidents with the cables. Poland proposed to make the Baltic Sea a zone of enhanced NATO military control.

Germany suspends 232 million euros worth of development projects in Georgia because of the country's rejection of European integration. Thousands of Georgians protest against the pro-Russian course of the Georgian Dream and demand new elections.

According to a Rakuten Viber survey, 63% of Ukrainians regularly donate to support the Armed Forces, and 27% help in other ways. The majority (53%) learn about the collection from friends and acquaintances.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the creation of a register of certificates for working with animals, which will be launched in 2026. The system will contain data on certificate holders, areas of training, and cases of violations of the law.

Slovak Prime Minister Fico writes a letter to the EU leadership regarding Ukraine's termination of Russian gas transit after 2024.

Zoran Milanovic received almost half of the votes in the first round of the Croatian presidential election. The second round will be held on January 12, as no candidate has gained an absolute majority.