Luxembourg

40 years after the establishment of the Schengen area, internal border controls are being tightened, limiting freedoms. Poland has introduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, and other EU countries are also strengthening checks.

In the first quarter of 2025, housing prices in the European Union increased by 5. 7%, and rental prices by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Since 2010, housing prices in the EU have risen by 57.9%, and rental prices by 27.8%.

Germany will increase the minimum wage to 13. 90 euros per hour in 2026 and to 14.60 euros in 2027. This will make it the second highest in the EU after Luxembourg.

EU countries have agreed to increase the European Investment Bank's annual lending limit to €100 billion and triple financing for the defense industry. The bank also plans to invest €70 billion in technological innovation and renewable energy sources.

The European Union is developing a scheme to increase profits from almost €200 billion in frozen Russian assets by moving them into riskier investments. This will ensure long-term support for Ukraine.

The world's largest crypto players are preparing to obtain licenses in the EU under the new MiCA regulation. This is happening despite disputes between regulators regarding the speed of approval of permits.

The European Union is extending temporary protection for Ukrainians, but is developing a plan for their return to rebuild Ukraine. 4.3 million Ukrainians live in the EU, and the protection program has been extended until March 2027.

Favbet Team celebrated a year: the team has come a long way from a startup to a cyberclub with a Ukrainian squad, victories and support for the Armed Forces. The plans include new activities for the community.

France has begun a large-scale reconstruction of the Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur airbase worth $1. 7 billion. This is being done to accommodate the latest Rafale fighters and ASN4G missiles with nuclear capabilities.

The European Commission and the European Central Bank will give their consent for Bulgaria to join the Eurozone. This is expected to happen on January 1, 2026, making the country the 21st member of the currency union.

Latvia has sent 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine as part of an international coalition. Two Latvian companies will supply 12,000 drones within six months.

German bank Sparkasse stopped transferring money to Schroeder from "Gazprom" due to the threat of US sanctions. The ex-chancellor of Germany received about 200,000 euros twice a year.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands and 7 other EU countries have called for an urgent strengthening of civil preparedness for man-made and natural disasters. They insist on accelerating work on threat analysis.

In February 2025, the number of first-time asylum seekers in the EU decreased by 23% compared to last year. Most applicants are from Venezuela, Spain received the most.

The finalists of Eurovision-2025 have been determined in Basel after two semi-finals. Ukraine has reached the final, where the founding countries and winners of the qualifying rounds will also perform.

13 countries of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession. Ukraine is absent among them, although it was expected that it would be one of the first to ratify the document.

Prime Minister Shmyhal announced the approaching start of a special tribunal for Russian officials who gave criminal orders. The formation of the tribunal within the Council of Europe will begin soon.

A step towards formalizing the tribunal will be taken at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Technical work on draft legal instruments has been completed.

Oleksiy Poroshenko did not pay the military tax on income abroad for 2023-2024. The amount of unpaid taxes is estimated at UAH 770 million.

Luxembourg will provide Ukraine with 10 million euros to support energy infrastructure in 2025. 1 million euros will also be allocated for psychological support of young people through the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel, stated that the ceasefire announced by Russia for May 8-10 is an attempt to use the truce for propaganda purposes. True peace cannot be "for three days".

President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a complete ceasefire to start negotiations with Russia. Ukraine is ready for any format of conversation.

Latvian companies will supply 12,000 drones within the framework of the Drone Coalition. Support for the coalition to Ukraine in 2024 amounted to EUR 1.8 billion.

EU member states are in no hurry to use the European Commission's proposal to increase defense spending. Many fear the risks to debt sustainability and market reaction.

The Ministry of Defense received a batch of equipment from the IT coalition, funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, worth almost 2 million euros. The delivery included access points, routers, charging stations and telephones.

At the European Championship in Luxembourg, the Ukrainian sports acrobatics team won 13 medals. Among the medals won are three gold, three silver, and seven bronze.

The US voted against a UN resolution on cooperation with the Council of Europe, which condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine. The resolution mentions Russian aggression and the establishment of a tribunal.

Lithuania calls on the EU for new sanctions against Russia, including restrictions on Rosatom, LNG exports, and measures against the "shadow fleet. " Ukraine is ready to join the EU by 2030.

Since 2010, the largest increase in house prices has occurred in Hungary (+234%) and Estonia (+228%).

Ukraine took 73rd position in the ranking of the most powerful passports in the world, sharing it with Colombia, Tuvalu and El Salvador. Ireland took first place, surpassing other European countries.