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☆ EU leaders to debate economic security amid global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A European Union flag flutters outside the congress palace ahead of the European Political Community summit in Granada, Spain, October 4, 2023. The EU executive plans to work with the 27 EU members to assess by the end of the year whether there are any risks to the bloc's economic security linked to advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology. It is part of the European Economic Security Strategy unveiled by the Commission in June that calls for strengthening the EU's own internal market, fostering research, forging alliances with reliable partner and using existing trade defence tools and considering new ones. Part of the debate will centre on the degree to which countries are willing to harmonise their policies on national security and transfer certain powers to Brussels. Countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands want more open markets, while others such as France has more focus on protecting domestic producers.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Charles Michel, Russia's, Philip Blenkinsop, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Commission, EU, European Economic Security, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights GRANADA, China, Ukraine, Europe, Brussels, Sweden, Netherlands, France

☆ With eye on China, EU maps out de-risking, economic security strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

EU also relied on China during the COVID pandemic for protective equipment and now for medicines and pharmaceutical raw materials. ECONOMIC SECURITY STRATEGYA reassessment of risk due to rising geopolitical tensions is also a key part of the European Economic Security Strategy unveiled in June. The strategy focuses on risks to supply chain resilience, physical and cyber security of critical infrastructure, technology security and leakage and weaponisation of economic dependencies or economic coercion. However, while the economic strategy does not name China, it talks of partnering with link-minded countries and de-risking, its policy of reducing reliance on China. The Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, has said the strategy, including the assessments, will be carried out with EU governments.

Persons: Philip Blenkinsop, Nick Macfie Organizations: European Union, EU, European Economic Security, European Commission, Commission, The, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, China, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, EU, Moscow, Brussels

☆ Choppy waters as Europe navigates China-US rivalry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The fracturing of the rules and bonds tying the global economy together - so-called "geo-economic fragmentation" - seemed implausible only a few years ago. Nowhere is it more pressing than for Europe, whose wealth has always relied on trade, from its rapacious colonial history through to its reinvention as self-styled champion of WTO rules. Both the United States and Europe have been hardening their stance towards Beijing while stressing the rules of world trade must be fairly applied. The main EU concern is that the U.S. proposals could break WTO rules by discriminating against third parties. "And we really hope ... that after the election in the United States this is going to continue."

Persons: Jon Nazca, Gordon Brown, Brown, Brad Setser, Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Wang Huiyao, Petra Sigmund, Philip Blenkinsop, Joe Cash, Belen Carreno, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: Triple, Majestic, APM, REUTERS, Trade Organization, USA, International Monetary, European, Reuters, for, Thomson Locations: Algeciras, Spain, China, Europe, America, American, United States, Moroccan, Marrakech, Beijing, Washington, Brussels, U.S, EU, for China, IMF, Madrid

☆ China rebukes EU after formal launch of EV subsidy probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Car miniature, "Electric vechicles (EVs)" words, EU and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 26, 2023. China also urged the European Union to safeguard the stability of the global supply chain and a strategic partnership between the two, while "prudently" applying trade remedies. The formal launch of the EU investigation came with an announcement in the bloc's official journal, which said China had been invited for consultations, although it did not give a timeframe. Information gathered by the Commission tended to show that producers in China benefited from subsidies to the detriment of EU industry, it added. The European Commission has said China's share of EVs sold in Europe has risen to 8% and could reach 15% in 2025.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, EVs, Chen Aizhu, Philip Blenkinsop, Christian Schmollinger, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, European Commission, World Trade Organization, Commission, European, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, BRUSSELS, China, Europe

☆ EU to assess tech security risks and consider controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Commission said on Tuesday it had established a list of four technologies, as well a further six to look into later, as part of the European Economic Security Strategy it unveiled in June. The Commission stresses that it must first carry out a risk assessment with the EU's 27 members and consulting companies before determining any measures. "The risk assessment will be country agnostic, but we will take into account geopolitical factors to determine how severe those risks are," an EU official said. In advanced semiconductor technologies, areas of focus include microelectronics and chip-making equipment, in AI data analytics and object recognition, and for quantum cryptography, communications and sensing. The EU has previously carried out an assessment of the security of its 5G networks, which has led some EU countries to restrict use of equipment made by China's Huawei and ZTE.

Persons: China's, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Harvey Organizations: European Union, European, European Economic Security, EU, China's Huawei, ZTE, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, China, EU, U.S, Japan, Britain, Australia

☆ At WTO, growing disregard for trade rules shows world is fragmenting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A logo is seen at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters before a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. Those depositing cases include China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea and the United States. The result is a growing disregard for global trading rules among WTO members. Countries have taken advantage of exceptions to WTO rules, such as for national security used by the United States to limit metal imports and some Gulf states to restrict trade with Qatar. Beijing has restricted exports of critical minerals, while Washington has sought to prevent Chinese access to U.S. technology, with national security trumping global trading rules.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, ”, Alan Wolff, Donald Trump, Keith Rockwell, Biden, Ngozi Okonjo, Philip Blenkinsop, Emma Farge, Christina Fincher Organizations: World Trade Organization, REUTERS, WTO, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, European Union, Foundation, Washington, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, China, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Korea, United States, Ukraine, North America, Washington, Qatar, Beijing, U.S, Lake Geneva, Indian

☆ U.S. optimistic it will reach critical minerals deal with EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Shelley Christians/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The United States is optimistic it will conclude an agreement with the European Union to allow critical minerals mined or processed in Europe to qualify for U.S. clean vehicle tax breaks, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. The transatlantic partners are negotiating whether and how EU critical minerals, such as lithium and nickel, can qualify for green subsidies under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes products manufactured in North America. He added there was no plan to tie an agreement on critical minerals to the result of separate transatlantic negotiations to resolve a bilateral dispute over U.S. import tariffs on EU steel. The United States signed a minerals deal with Japan in March. Fernandez also said he was meeting EU officials to discuss an agenda for the next joint Trade and Technology Council, which the United States will host before the end of the year.

Persons: Jose W, Fernandez, Shelley Christians, Jose Fernandez, Philip Blenkinsop, Mark Potter Organizations: United, State, Economic Growth, Energy, Mining, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, U.S, State Department, Japan, EU, Trade, Technology Council, Thomson Locations: United States, Cape Town , South Africa, Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, U.S, North America, Brussels, Britain

Meanwhile, Germany is examining options including trade protections to shield local solar manufacturers from falling global prices, a government document seen by Reuters showed. "Tariffs are not a good answer to the current challenges in the European solar industry," said Gunter Erfurt, Board Director at industry group SolarPower Europe, whose members include producers, large buyers and companies involved in installation. "Instead of sanctioning the entire industry through tariffs, we must incentivize solar installations that originate from resilient European solar production. This way, the deployment of solar energy can continue undisturbed while the European solar manufacturing can grow steadily," said Erfurt, who is CEO of Swiss solar cell maker Meyer Burger. But industry fears restricting Chinese supplies would cause a repeat of the 2013-2018 period, when Europe's solar energy installations dipped temporarily - coinciding with EU limits on tariff-free imports of Chinese solar panels and cells.

Persons: Gunter Erfurt, ", Meyer Burger, Kate Abnett, Philip Blenkinsop, Riham Alkousaa, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Meyer Burger Technology, European Commission, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: China, Brussels, Europe, Germany, Erfurt, Swiss, EU

The planned tariff has caused disquiet among trading partners and at a forum last month, China's top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua urged countries not to resort to unilateral measures such as the EU levy. The bloc will not begin collecting any CO2 emission charges at the border until 2026. Importers will from 2026 need to purchase certificates to cover these CO2 emissions to put foreign producers on a level footing with EU industries that must buy permits from the EU carbon market when they pollute. Companies in the European Union, Britain and Ukraine have told Reuters they expect little initial impact during the trial phase. Among Europe's significant trade partners, China's foreign ministry, Turkey's trade ministry and a U.S. official declined to comment on the launch.

Persons: Xie Zhenhua, Paolo Gentiloni, Gentiloni, Philip Blenkinsop, Kate Abnett, Valerie Volcovici, Nevzat, David Stanway, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Union, Companies, Reuters, European Commission, World Trade Organization, U.S, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Britain, Ukraine, Europe, Washington, Ankara, Beijing

☆ EU ministers weaken position on vehicle emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign directing towards electric vehicle charging points is seen in a car park in Manchester, Britain, September 8, 2023. The European Union has progressively tightened road vehicle emission limits since 1992. Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, presented a compromise text agreed by the Council of the European Union, the grouping of EU ministers. The EU countries agreed not to change the existing "Euro 6" test conditions and emissions limits for cars and vans, although they will be lower for buses and heavy vehicles. They also accepted new particle emissions limits for brakes and tyres.

Persons: Phil Noble, Hernández, Adolfo Urso, Roberto Vavassori, Sudip Kar, Alvise Armellini, Giulio Piovaccari, Philip Blenkinsop, Hugh Lawson, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, European Union, of, The, European Commission, EU, Italian Industry, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain

☆ England coach sees new options after three flyhalves test
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LILLE, France, Sept 23 (Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick said playing three flyhalves for part of Saturday's 71-0 thrashing of Chile had brought a new dimension to his side that he could deploy again in future. "As I've been saying for quite a long period now I think this squad is packed full of talent and it's packed full of different options. The England coach also praised 20-year-old man of the match Henry Arundell, who equalled an England record of five tries. Saturday's victory means England have taken a decisive stride towards the quarter-finals. The England coach did not give hints on his team for their next test against the Samoans in two week's time, insisting the Chile match should not be viewed as a try out of reserves but instead as proof of the depth of England's squad.

Persons: Steve Borthwick, George Ford's, Marcus Smith, Borthwick, Ford, Owen Farrell, Smith, I've, Owen, George, Marcus, Henry Arundell, Tom Curry's, Philip Blenkinsop, Ken Ferris Organizations: LILLE, England, Samoans, Thomson Locations: France, England, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Samoa

☆ Five-try Arundell stars as England thrash Chile 71-0
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

England, who made 12 changes from the starting line-up against Japan, scored 11 tries, including five for 20-year-old winger Arundell that equalled an England record, albeit against the lowest ranked team in the tournament playing at their first World Cup. Samoa and Japan have five, Argentina four and Chile are yet to register after three defeats. It was one-way traffic by then and Arundell got his fourth, chipping and gathering his own kick. Chile showed touches of ambition in the first half but never really threatened and were chasing shadows after the break. Their coach Pablo Lemoine, who scored a try for Uruguay against England in that 2003 match, said: "I'm not really disappointed, that's reality.

Persons: Winger Arundell, debutants Smith, Winger Henry Arundell, Steve Borthwick, Arundell, Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith, Smith, Marcus, Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Matias Dittus, maul, Dan, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Farrell, England's, Josh Lewsey, Rory Underwood, Daniel Lambert, Ford, Jack Willis, Borthwick, Freddie Steward, Pablo Lemoine, Philip Blenkinsop, Ken Ferris, Clare Fallon Organizations: England, LILLE, Japan, Wales, Samoa, Ford, Fiji, France, Thomson Locations: France, England, Chile, Marseille, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Japan, Argentina, flyhalf, Uruguay

☆ EU set to demand e-fuel cars have no climate impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

All new cars sold in the EU from 2035 must have zero CO2 emissions, under the EU's main climate policy for cars, which countries agreed earlier this year. A draft EU legal proposal, seen by Reuters, showed Brussels plans to set strict conditions for e-fuel cars - requiring them to run on fully CO2 neutral fuels. E-fuels are considered carbon neutral when they are made using captured CO2 emissions that balance out the CO2 released when the fuel is combusted in an engine. The draft rules would be stricter than the low-carbon fuel rules in some other EU climate policies. For example, countries can use certain fuels to meet EU renewable energy targets if they achieve a 70% emissions saving, rather than 100%.

Persons: Jan Schwartz, Ralf Diemer, Kate Abnett, Riham Alkousaa, Philip Blenkinsop Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European, European Commission, Reuters, eFuel Alliance, Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Allersberg, Germany, Hamburg, Munich, Rights BRUSSELS, Brussels, Berlin

☆ EU trade chief seeks more balanced economic ties on China visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will take part in a joint economic and trade dialogue, meet Chinese officials and European companies active in China and deliver two speeches during his Sept. 23-26 trip to Shanghai and Beijing. For the European Union, the visit is designed to renew dialogue with China after its COVID-19 closure and as EU wariness grows over Beijing's closer ties with Moscow following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The EU blames its 400 billion euro ($426.32 billion) trade deficit partly on Chinese restrictions on European companies and says the EU market is largely open. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said in a report on Wednesday that Chinese authorities were sending contradictory messages to foreign businesses. The EU is also expected to be asked during the visit to clarify what it means by "de-risk" in the context of China.

Persons: Valdis, Francisco Seco, Valdis Dombrovskis, Dombrovskis, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, Rights, Beijing, Trade, European Union, EU, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, China, Shanghai, Beijing, Moscow, Ukraine, EU

☆ EU to investigate 'flood' of Chinese electric cars, weighing tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Global markets are now flooded with cheaper electric cars. It is also unusual in that it is brought by the European Commission itself, rather than in response to an industry complaint. GRINDING GEARSThe influx of cheaper Chinese electric vehicles has already prompted some European carmakers to take action. At the same time Von der Leyen stressed the importance of electric vehicles to the EU's ambitious environmental objectives. The founder of Nio warned in April that Chinese EV makers should brace for the possibility that foreign governments would impose protectionist policies.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, BYD, EVs, Nio, Mercedes Benz, Stellantis, France's, Tesla, VDA, Von der Leyen, Simone Tagliapietra, Kingsmill Bond, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Kim Miyoung, Brenda Goh, Anne Marie Roantree, Nick Carey, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Louise Heavens Organizations: EU, Investigation, European EV, European Commission, European Union, Renault, BMW, HK, China Passenger Car Association, Dynamics, Volvo, EV, VW, France's Renault, Japan, Rocky Mountain Institute, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, China, Moscow, Ukraine, Germany, France, Europe, U.S

☆ EU to assess whether to hit Chinese electric cars with tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission started an investigation on Wednesday to assess whether the European Union needs to impose tariffs to protect itself against Chinese electric vehicle producers benefiting from state subsidies. And their price is kept artificially low by huge state subsidies," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual address to the bloc's parliament. Von der Leyen stressed the importance of electric vehicles to the EU's ambitious environmental objectives. "So I can announce today that the Commission is launching an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles coming from China.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, Von der Leyen, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Gabriela Baczynska Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Strasbourg, France, Rights BRUSSELS, China, Europe

[1/4] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 13, 2023. Von der Leyen, who has been at the head of the bloc's executive Commission since the end of 2019, also said she would appoint an envoy to help small and medium-sized enterprises tackle red tape to make it easier to do business. Lawmakers gave a standing ovation after von der Leyen recounted the fate of Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian writer and activist who was killed in a Russian attack on Ukraine. An upcoming package to support Europe's wind industry would be aimed at helping the sector as renewable energy companies struggle with steep inflation, von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen also said the wealthy bloc must engage more with African countries and accused Russia of stirring chaos in the Sahel region of the continent.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Victoria Amelina, Héctor Abad, Yves Herman, Jan Strupczewski, Marine Strauss, Foo Yun Chee, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Ingrid Melander, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: European, European Union, REUTERS, EU, STRASBOURG, EU Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Lawmakers, Thomson Locations: Strasbourg, France, Europe, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Colombian, China, Russia, Sahel, Africa, Brussels

☆ EU Commission cuts euro zone growth forecast as Germany in recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jan Strupczewski | Thomson Reuters | Jan Is The Acting Bureau Chief In Brussels. He Has Been Covering European Union Policy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Commission forecast euro zone consumer inflation of 5.6% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024, both well above the European Central Bank's target of 2.0%. Inflation this year is to be lower than the 5.8% forecast in May, but higher than previously forecast in 2024, as the May forecast was for 2.8%. The ECB has been rapidly raising rates since the middle of 2022 to stem record price growth, making credit for the economy more expensive - a factor that hit the growth forecast. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, will shrink 0.4% this year, the Commission forecast, revising down a 0.2% growth prediction from May. But France and Spain will grow faster than previously expected in 2023 , the Commission said, projecting 1.0% and 2.2% growth respectively instead of the previously seen 0.7% and 1.9%.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Philip Blenkinsop Organizations: ECB, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Germany, Europe, Europe's, Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain

☆ Romania finds new suspected Russian drone fragments on its territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I firmly condemn this incident caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian Danube river ports." The attacks on Ukraine's river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border, have increased security risks for NATO whose members have a mutual defence commitment. The defence ministry said Romania's Naval Forces deployed search teams after local authorities alerted them to suspected drone fragments discovered 2.5 km southeast of the village of Plauru, across the Danube from the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Since July, when Moscow abandoned a deal that lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, it has repeatedly struck Ukrainian river ports that lie across the Danube from Romania. Ukraine had said on Monday that drones detonated in Romania during an overnight Russian air strike on Ukraine's Izmail, but Romanian officials initially denied the reports before finding fragments on Wednesday.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Ukraine's, Luiza Ilie, Philip Blenkinsop, Ros Russell Organizations: NATO, U.S . State Department, Romania's Naval Forces, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Ukraine, NATO, Romanian, Russian, Russia, Plauru, Izmail, Moscow, Ukraine's, Constanta, Brussels

☆ Norway's Ingebrigtsen breaks 2,000m record in Brussels
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke a 24-year-old world record in the rarely run 2,000 metres in the Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday. "I think I'm at a point in my career where I can challenge all the records as well. Kitaguchi threw a 2023 world-leading distance of 67.38 metres in the final round to secure victory against a strong women's javelin line-up. In the 400 metre hurdles, Dutch world champion Femke Bol destroyed the opposition to set a meeting record of 52.11 seconds. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, additional reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Morocco's Hicham El, Ingebrigtsen, Shericka Jackson, Haruka Kitaguchi, Jackson, Kitaguchi, Femke Bol, Elaine Thompson, Laura Muir, Ciara Mageean, Philip Blenkinsop, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Diamond League, Irish, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgian, Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj, Paris, Eugene, Budapest, Gdansk

☆ Belgium toasts its beer riches with new visitor centre
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] An inside view of the Belgian Beer World, the world's largest interactive experience center about beer, that opened in the renovated stock exchange building "La Bourse/De Beurs", in Brussels, Belgium September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Belgium is promoting its centuries of beer-making and 430 breweries with a new visitor centre in Brussels that recounts the history of Belgian production and aims to show what is unique about the country's beer and beer culture. Belgian Beer World will open on Saturday in the neoclassical former Brussels Stock Exchange, renovated at a cost of 90 million euros ($96.25 million). Visitors will learn about "Belgitude" - Belgian identity - and what distinguishes Belgian beer from others - such as the four different fermentation methods and the culture of each beer having its own branded glass. Belgium produces some 1,600 beers and its beer culture secured a place on the UNESCO global list of traditions worthy of preservation in 2016.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Krishan Maudgal, Mayor Philippe Close, Philip Blenkinsop, Frances Kerry Organizations: Belgian Beer, REUTERS, Rights, Brussels Stock Exchange, Belgian Brewers, UNESCO, Mayor, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgian, Dublin, Amsterdam

☆ Heineken exits Russia with one-euro sale of operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Dutch brewer Heineken (HEIN.AS) said on Friday it had completed its exit from Russia by selling its operations there to Russia's Arnest Group for a symbolic one euro. Heineken announced its intention to exit Russia in March 2022, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, acknowledging that the process had taken longer than expected. Many multinational companies flocked to leave Russia after the West imposed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow, but the Kremlin has retaliated by seizing some assets. Heineken had seven breweries in Russia and 1,800 employees, who will receive employment guarantees for the next three years. The Dutch brewer removed its Heineken brand from Russia last year and production of Amstel is to be phased out within six months.

Persons: de, Dolf van den Brink, Vladimir Putin, Turkey's, Heineken, Philip Blenkinsop, Jane Merriman Organizations: Heineken, REUTERS, Rights, Arnest, Kremlin, Anheuser, Busch InBev, Arnest Group, Thomson Locations: Nijmegen, Netherlands, Dutch, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Amstel

☆ Euro zone pulls out of dip with higher growth than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, July 31 (Reuters) - The euro zone returned to growth in the second quarter of 2023, with a greater than expected expansion after narrowly avoiding a technical recession around the turn of the year, preliminary data showed on Monday. Gross domestic product in the euro zone expanded by 0.3% in the second quarter, above expectations of 0.2% in a Reuters poll of economists. Compared to a year earlier, growth was 0.6% against expectations of 0.5%. That compared with zero growth in the previous quarter for the 20-nation euro zone and a 0.1% quarter-on-quarter decline in the fourth quarter of 2022. But even if the bloc is doing better than expected, growth in 2023 is likely to be weak due to a large drop in real incomes and surging interest rates.

Persons: Philip Blenkinsop, Charlotte Van Campenhout Organizations: Gross, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ukraine

Summary Eight of 10 accused convictedSentencing to follow in SeptemberBRUSSELS, July 25 (Reuters) - A Belgian court convicted six men of murder and two others of terrorism charges on Tuesday after the country's largest ever trial involving the 2016 Islamist bombings in Brussels that killed 32 people. The six, of 10 facing charges, were found guilty of murder and attempted murder in a terrorist context for their part in the twin bombings at Brussels airport and third bomb on the city's metro on March 22, 2016. Among those convicted was Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the trial over the Paris attacks that killed 130 people. The four are among six accused already convicted in France over the November 2015 Paris attacks. The 12 jury members reached a decision on Monday after two weeks in isolation at the end of a seven-month trial at the former headquarters of NATO specially set up to host the Brussels bombings trial.

Persons: Pierre Bastin, Aline, Pierre, Yves Desaive, Salah Abdeslam, Mohamed Abrini, Swedish Osama Krayem, Oussama Atar, Laurence Massart, Philip Blenkinsop, Marine Strauss, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Brussels Airport, NATO, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgian, Swedish, Oussama, Syria, France, Paris, balaclavas

☆ EU seeks to revive Latin America, Caribbean ties as it turns away from China, Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Regardless of the outcome, officials said the meeting itself marked a step towards stronger ties. "The most important issue of the meeting is the meeting itself," Argentine Undersecretary for Latin American and Caribbean affairs Gustavo Martinez Pandiani told a small group of reporters in Brussels. The EU has said it wants a joint declaration condemning Russia, but knows this will be difficult to achieve. The EU and Argentina will sign a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation before the summit starts. The EU may also offer details on plans to invest 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) in CELAC infrastructure projects, part of its Global Gateway initiative.

Persons: Gustavo Martinez Pandiani, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Union, UN, European, EU, Mercosur, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, America, Caribbean, EU, Ukraine, China, Caribbean States, Brussels, Argentine, Russia, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Beijing, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

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