Brussels

The third round of bilateral EU-Ukraine sessions within the framework of the legislative compliance screening has started in Brussels. The meetings are taking place in a hybrid format from October 8 to 10, covering economic criteria and other important areas.

The EU plans to impose sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. The first package of restrictions will apply to about a dozen individuals and legal entities, including companies in the machine-building, metallurgical and aviation industries.

Shalva Papuashvili signed a package of laws restricting the rights of LGBT people in Georgia. The country's president refused to sign the document, but the speaker of the parliament did so in accordance with the constitution.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says Putin's nuclear threats should not prevent military assistance to Ukraine.

Audio guides in Ukrainian have been launched in three museums in Belgium and the Barberini Museum in Germany. In total, 89 Ukrainian audio guides operate in 47 countries as part of the First Lady's initiative.

russia remains an important energy supplier to Europe, accounting for 15% of the EU's gas imports in 2023.

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of an international alliance to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution. The alliance includes Arab, Muslim and European countries, and the first meetings will be held in Riyadh and Brussels.

Pope Francis has arrived in Brussels, beginning a visit to Belgium. This is the third visit of the Pope to the country after two visits by John Paul II in 1985 and 1995.

Ursula von der Leyen announces a €35 billion loan to Ukraine secured by frozen Russian assets. The EU decided to move forward with a smaller loan without US participation due to disagreements over the revision of sanctions.

The EU and China have agreed to reconsider the possibility of setting a minimum price for Chinese electric vehicles instead of tariffs of up to 35. 3%. The European Commission postponed the vote on the final introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU's readiness to step up support for Ukraine before the start of the heating season. She is traveling to Kyiv to discuss these issues with President Zelenskyy.

Penalty imposed for longstanding restrictions on the right to asylum, which Hungary refuses to lift.

The EU is considering sanctions against financial institutions that support military supplies to Russia and supplies from Southeast Asia.

On October 17-18, 2024, NATO Defense Ministers will meet in Brussels. This will be the first meeting chaired by the new Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considered a potential editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph. Nadhim Zahavi discusses this idea with investors during negotiations to buy the newspaper.

Hungary's Foreign Minister reacted sharply to the European Commission's response to oil transit. Szijjarto called it a scandal and criticized the proposal to use an alternative route through Croatia.

The European Commission has formed a special group to develop strategies in case Trump wins the US election. The team is analyzing potential consequences for trade, support for Ukraine, and relations with NATO.

Hungary's Foreign Minister accused the EU of cutting off Russian oil supplies through Ukraine. Hungary is demanding the resumption of transit, which accounts for a third of its oil imports.

The Polish Foreign Minister said that Hungary did not receive support at the EU Council meeting. Its position between Moscow and Brussels irritates other members, and the proposal to hold the meeting in Ukraine was vetoed by Hungary.

Hungary borrowed €1 billion from three Chinese banks in the spring of 2024. This is the largest loan in the country's history, to be repaid within three years, and is aimed at financing infrastructure and energy.

The EU countries have rejected a call by Hungary and Slovakia to lift sanctions against Lukoil in order to resume oil transit through Ukraine. The European Commission said that additional time was needed to assess the situation.

Radoslaw Sikorski called on the EU to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons for self-defense. He also suggested holding an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lviv as a sign of solidarity.

Georgian NGOs and media organizations, along with the president, have filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court against the controversial Law on Foreign Agents, which requires NGOs and media outlets receiving foreign grants to register as foreign agents, citing violations of citizens' rights and Georgia's integration into the EU and NATO.

Some European countries are considering reopening their embassies in Afghanistan, which would mean diplomatic recognition of the Taliban almost three years after the fall of the previous government.

Volkswagen is considering closing its plant in Brussels due to low demand for electric vehicles, which could be the first plant closure for the automaker since 1988, when it stopped production in Alabama.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "peacekeeping mission" visits to Moscow and Beijing during Hungary's EU presidency have angered the EU, which may strip Hungary of its presidency within weeks because Orbán's diplomacy undermines the bloc's unity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine and the European Commission have started bilateral meetings as part of the process of assessing the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law, an important step on the road to EU membership.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky, speaking about Georgia, said that EU leaders have decided to freeze the accession process and are patiently waiting for more clarity from the Georgian government.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacted to Zelenskyy's statement that Hungary would be "an important tool to make the first step towards peace" in Ukraine. Tusk wondered in whose "hands is this instrument".

British investors have suspended several significant deals in Georgia due to political instability caused by the adoption of the law on foreign agents, which jeopardizes Georgia's EU accession process and foreign investment.