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BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders aim on Tuesday to settle on a united approach to the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel after days of confusion, infighting and mixed messaging. Some officials and lawmakers also criticized von der Leyen, who visited Israel on Friday, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did. Von der Leyen stated that position publicly for the first time at the weekend. Commission officials have insisted von der Leyen had already conveyed the message privately to Israeli officials and defended her swift visit to Israel as an important sign of solidarity. The EU leaders are likely to task ministers with exploring potential risks in more detail, according to officials.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Von der, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, der Leyen, Michel, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Howard Goller Organizations: Union, European Council, EU, European, Von der Leyen's, Israel, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Europe

☆ EU Leaders Warn That Kremlin Seeking to Exploit Israel-Gaza Crisis to Its Advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The European Union’s two top officials warned that Russia is seeking to take advantage of the conflict between Israel and Gaza, using it to claim double standards in the West about respect for international law. European Council President Charles Michel said that underscored why it was important for European governments to urge Israel to act carefully in its military response to the Hamas attack, just as they have pointed to Russia’s breach of international law in attacking Ukraine.

Persons: Charles Michel, Israel Locations: Russia, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ Clean energy fans should not expect too much from pro-EU Poland
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Indeed, the pace of Poland's clean energy supply growth may more often undershoot expectations than exceed them over the near term, even with a significant swing in political power. POWER SYSTEM CHANGES ALREADY UNDERWAYA major reason for climate trackers to expect only modest shifts in clean energy policies and momentum going forward is that Poland's energy system has already substantially cleaned up its electricity generation mix in recent years. Between 2018 and 2022, Poland's electricity producers boosted clean electricity supply capacity by over 150% so that clean sources now account for roughly 40% of total electricity capacity, up from 20% in 2018, data from think tank Ember shows. BACKLOGS BREWINGEmerging problems linking new clean generation assets with Poland's electric grid are a key reason why clean power growth may slow going forward. Pushing power costs lower may even trump plans to further clean up the power generation system, which may only add to power generation costs over the near term despite resulting in lower emissions in the long run.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Donald Tusk's, Gavin Maguire, Sonali Paul Organizations: European Union Civic Coalition, European, Poland's Institute, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Europe, LSEG, Western Europe

☆ Polish Stocks, Currency Jump After Election Upends Ruling Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Poland's currency and stock market rallied after exit polls put opposition parties on track for a parliamentary majority, potentially leading to an improvement in troubled relations with the European Union. The opposition Civic Platform under Donald Tusk won 31% of the vote, an Ipsos poll showed. Tusk, a centrist former prime minister who then led the European Council, has pledged to improve ties with the EU.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Tusk Organizations: European Union, European Council, EU

Partial results with two-thirds of the voting districts reporting their results also showed the opposition parties with a clear lead. The earlier results tend to come from rural areas and small towns, with large cities where opposition parties do better reporting their results later. The Ipsos poll showed that three centrist opposition parties that campaigned on a promise to reverse the illiberal drift of the government had together secured 249 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, or Sejm, a clear majority. “No matter how you look at it, we won,” Law and Justice campaign manager Joachim Brudziński said Monday in an interview on RMF FM radio. Even if the opposition parties take power, they will face difficulties in putting forward their agenda.

Persons: Ipsos, Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, “, Magdalena Chmieluk, ”, Douglas Wake, Jacek Kucharczyk, ” Kucharczyk, Mateusz Morawiecki, Joachim Brudziński, Andrzej Duda, Duda, haven't, Kamysz, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Elżbieta, Cezary Tomczyk, ” Tomczyk, Kucharczyk, Pietro De Cristofaro, Kwiyeon, Raf Casert Organizations: European Union, Law, Justice, Russia's, Organization for Security, Cooperation, Institute of Public Affairs, Associated Press, ”, RMF, Third Way, Civic Coalition, European, Third, EU Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Poland's, Ukraine, Wroclaw, EU, Brussels, Berlin, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, Europe, Warsaw, Rome, Belarus

Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), speaks after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. A late Ipsos exit poll published early on Monday gave PiS 36.6% of the vote, which would translate into 198 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house of parliament. RECORD TURNOUTThe late exit poll had been delayed, and some commentators linked this to a record turnout of nearly 73%, the highest since the fall of communism in 1989. Tusk, 66, was jubilant following the announcement of the first exit poll results on Sunday. This is the end of the PiS government," he told party members.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, Tusk, Donald Tusk's, Cezary Tomczyk, Andrzej Duda, Duda, Mateusz Morawiecki, Joachim Brudzinski, Brudzinski, Wladysław Kosiniak, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Lidia Kelly, Alan Charlish, Shri Navaratnam, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, EU WARSAW, European Union, Law, Justice, European, EU, TVN, Polish Peasants's Party, Local, Democracy, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Brussels, Europe, Wrocław, Gdansk, Melbourne

☆ Analysis: EUphoria! Poland election surprise spurs investor hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), delivers a speech after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. As Europe’s sixth-largest economy, a revitalised pro-EU attitude in Poland would be particularly welcome. The 66-year old Tusk and his pro-EU coalition allies may still have to wait weeks or even months though before getting a turn at forming a government. Duda has referred the issue at the heart of that row to a constitutional tribunal in Poland. The central bank though has slashed interest rates at its last two meetings as the election campaign burst into life.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, Poland's, Daniel Moreno, Mirabaud, PiS, Moreno, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, Duda, Viktor Szabo, Fitch, Szabo, Adam Glapinski, PiS ., Simon Quijano, Evans, Libby George, Karin Strohecker, Josie Kao Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, European Union, Law and Justice, European, EU, Brussels, PiS, Gemcorp, Ukraine, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Brussels, Europe, EU, Slovakia, Britain, London

☆ EU seeks to ease US tariff, green subsidy threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington has asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in particular in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, with an end-October deadline to reach an agreement. Those subsidies, largely in the IRA, have irked EU countries because they contain local content requirements. Half of the tax break is reliant on extraction of processing of critical minerals taking place in a country with which the United States has a free trade agreement. The EU is hoping that the summit will also yield an agreement on critical minerals - cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese and nickel - that would benefit EU suppliers. EU exports to the United States of these minerals or products principally containing them totalled 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) in 2022, Eurostat data shows.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Philip Blenkinsop, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: European Union, Trump, U.S, European Commission, European Council, Washington, WTO, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Brussels, China, United States, U.S, North America, EU

Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), speaks after the exit poll results are announced in Warsaw, Poland, October 15, 2023. The incumbent Law and Justice (PiS) party has repeatedly clashed with the European Union over the rule of law, media freedom, migration and LGBT rights since it swept to power in 2015. An Ipsos exit poll published early on Monday gave PiS 36.6% of the vote, which would translate into 198 lawmakers in the 460-seat lower house of parliament. On Monday, Duda urged patience until the full election results were known. However, with the far-right Confederation seen winning just 6.4%, below expectations, according to the exit poll, PiS will struggle to forge a new government.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, Donald Tusk's, Tusk, Lee Hardman, Andrzej Duda, Duda, PiS, Wladyslaw Kosiniak, Kamysz, beholden, Iga Frackiewicz, Lidia Kelly, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, EU, Justice, European Union, European, Polish Peasants ' Party, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, WARSAW, Brussels, Europe, Polish, Wrocław, Gdansk, Melbourne

☆ Poland votes in high-stakes election, as populist ruling group looks to cling to power
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

PiS has been accused by the EU and Polish opposition figures of dismantling Poland’s democratic institutions during its time in power. High inflation and the security of Poland’s borders have been front of mind for voters during the campaign. Developments will be closely watched in Kyiv, after a tense period that saw relations between the two close allies sour. Voters are electing members of both houses of Poland’s parliament, with 231 seats in the Sejm – Warsaw’s lower house – needed for a party to clinch power outright. But any messy power-sharing pact could ultimately increase the likelihood of another election being called in the near future.

Persons: Donald Tusk, PiS Organizations: CNN, European Union, Populist, Justice, EU, Soviet Union . Law, European, Confederation Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Soviet, Polish, Brussels, Berlin, Kyiv, Warsaw, Poland’s

☆ Israel's No.1 Hamas kill target is Yahya Sinwar, the 'Butcher from Khan Younis'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Yahya Sinwar was nicknamed "the Butcher from Khan Younis" for killing Palestinian collaborators. AdvertisementAdvertisementA military spokesman said the Israel Defense Forces are particularly intent on killing Yahya Sinwar, a top Hamas official, The New York Times reports. The 'new face of evil'Palestinian militants march with their weapons in Khan Younis refugee camp south of the Gaza Strip March 27, 2005. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis," said Col. Hecht, per LBC News. A 2022 security analysis determined that the Palestinian Authority's weakness and Israel's inaction on undermining Hamas' control strengthened Sinwar and Hamas' leadership.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Butcher, Khan Younis, —, Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Abu Mustafa AJ, JJ Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, Gazans, Yair Lapid, Richard Hecht, Hecht, Din, Israel, Gilad Shalit, Daniel Hagari, Hagari Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, The New York Times, The Telegraph, Israel, REUTERS, Jewish Virtual Library, Islamic, of, US Department of State, IDF, Israeli, New York Times, LBC, Brigades, European Council, Foreign Relations, European Council of Foreign Relations, Institute for National Security, Tel, Aviv University Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Gaza City, Israel, Khan Younis, of Gaza, The

☆ Poland holds high-stakes election amid rows over democratic rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Justyna Pawlak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Robert Biedron, Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, Anna Maria Zukowska, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Adrian Zandberg and Magdalena Biejat of the New Left (Nowa Lewica) alliance gesture during the final day of campaigning for the parliamentary elections in Warsaw, Poland, October 13, 2023. Opinion polls suggest PiS will come out ahead but could lose its majority amid intensifying discontent over its democratic record, which has cost Poland billions of euros in EU aid, and concerns over women's rights and the cost of living. "This election will show whether Poland will be governed by Poles, or by Berlin or Brussels," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told supporters at the party's last campaign rally on Friday. It has built its support on generous social handouts, which it says rival parties will stop. Tusk says his party would maintain social support.

Persons: Robert Biedron, Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, Anna Maria Zukowska, Joanna Scheuring, Adrian Zandberg, Magdalena Biejat, PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Rafal Trzaskowski, Pawel Florkiewicz, Giles Elgood Organizations: New, Law and Justice, European Union, EU, NATO, liberal Civic Coalition, European, Warsaw, Confederation, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Slawomir, WARSAW, Ukraine, Washington, Kyiv, Berlin, Brussels, Skarzysko Kamienna, Kalisz

☆ Poland's elections this weekend could mark a crossroad for EU solidarity — and Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Leader of Civic Coalition Party, Donald Tusk delivers a speech during the Women for Elections Campaign rally on October 10, 2023 in Lodz, Poland. EU tiesLaw and Justice's leadership has seen Poland's relationship with the EU and its various institutions become increasingly strained. It resulted in Morawiecki saying last month that his country would no longer supply weapons to Ukraine as it was "now arming Poland." Poland's vote follows elections in neighbor Slovakia which saw populist former Prime Minister Robert Fico return to power. Hungary's firebrand rightwing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has persistently used inflammatory language regarding the EU, attacking it repeatedly on social media.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Omar Marques, Tusk, —, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Robert Fico, Fico, Viktor Orbán Organizations: Civic Coalition Party, Women, Elections, Getty, European Union —, rightwing Law, Justice, Civic Coalition, European, Law, EU, Nurphoto, Consultancy Eurasia Group, Eurasia Group, Confederation, Ukraine, ING, U.S, NATO, rightwing, European Union Locations: Lodz, Poland, Ukraine, Krakow, Berlin, Brussels, Slovakia, Russia, rightwing, Hungary, Germany

☆ Poland's toxic politics is splitting the country in two, one family at a time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“We always end up talking about politics,” Karolina says with an exaggerated weariness. An increasingly toxic politics has polluted kitchens and dining rooms in every region of the country. But the negativity of the country’s politics – arguments echoed each hour on state TV, which is almost always turned on – has worn her down, she says. The efforts sparked years of legal challenges, protests and international confrontations – and hardened the Polish public. Asked whether Polish politics is more divided than they remember it, three generations of this family explode in agreement.

Persons: Karolina, “, – Stella, Patrycja, – Stella’s, Stanisława –, ” Karolina, ”, Stanisława, Stella Martynowska, Rob Picheta, PiS, –, ” Stella, Rob Picheta “, “ That’s, Stella, billows, Piotr Buras, ” Women’s, Donald Tusk, patsy, Tusk, Lech Walesa, Poland’s, Jarosław Kaczyński, ” “, ” Jacek Kucharczyk, Ewa Majewska, I’m, Igor Konior, Konior, Wanda, … I’m, ” Lucyna, Aleksandra Lukasiewicz, Lukasiewicz, “ It’s, “ We’re, ” Aleksandra Lukasiewicz, they’re, they’ve, Michal, I’ll, gesturing, ” Patrycja Organizations: Poland CNN, Soviet, Justice, CNN, European Council, Foreign Relations, Civic Coalition, Warsaw’s Institute of Public Affairs, Tusk’s Civic Coalition, PiS, Union Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Rob Picheta Poland, Polish, Hungary, Russia, Western Europe, Brussels, Berlin, Lublin, “, Rotterdam, Łódź, Bonita

☆ Poland set for high-stakes election amid disputes over EU, democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Alan Charlish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Donald Tusk, the leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), walks towards an election convention in Lodz, Poland, October 10, 2023. "I know... that they are planning systematically, in cold blood, to take Poland out of the European Union," Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO) told supporters. He repeated these words very often," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told a campaign rally, hammering home his party's message that Tusk is a German stooge. The KO leader said he would unblock billions in funds withheld by the EU over rule-of-law concerns on day one after winning the election. Opinion polls suggest that PiS will remain the largest party in parliament but may fall short of a majority.

Persons: Donald Tusk, Kacper, PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, Szymon Holownia, Alan Charlish, Jan Strupczewski, Gareth Jones Organizations: Civic Coalition, REUTERS, Sunday, Ukraine WARSAW, European Union, Law and Justice, European, PiS, NATO, Confederation, Thomson Locations: Lodz, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, German, European, Belarus, Warsaw, Brussels

☆ EU plans anti-subsidy probes to secure steel deal with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou, Chongqing, China August 6, 2018. Washington has asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in particular in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, with an end-October deadline to reach an agreement. Washington has said it wants to prevent "leakage" of Chinese steel and aluminium into the U.S. market. China's shipments have steadily fallen since 2015, when they made up 25% of EU steel imports in volume terms, to below 10% since 2018, according to EU steelmakers federation Eurofer. The extra annual emissions would by 2026 be more than the CO2 emissions of the entire EU steel sector, he said.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Washington, Axel Eggert, der Leyen, Nilutpal, Philip Blenkinsop, Amy Lv, Simon Cameron, Moore, Mark Potter, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Chongqing Iron, REUTERS, Rights, European, Trump, Financial Times, European Union, European Commission, EU, World Trade Organization, China's Ministry of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Chongqing, Changshou, China, Rights BRUSSELS, United States, European, EU, Brussels, Washington, U.S, East, North Africa, Bengaluru, Beijing

☆ Next EU chief will need cash more than trade wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

What she sidestepped was how to find more cash and convince member states to pay up. Von der Leyen, or her successor, will have to figure out how to pay for enlargement. Von der Leyen tapped into trade frustrations with her pledge to investigate and possibly punish Chinese subsidies for car and battery makers. During her first term, von der Leyen succeeded in connecting the EU with bond investors via the 800 billion euro NextGenerationEU borrowing programme. A second term will require even more finesse to convince EU member states to raise money not just from markets, but from themselves.

Persons: Ursula von der, European Union won’t, der, von der Leyen’s, Greens –, der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Thierry Breton, Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg, Von der, Carlo Bastasin, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, sceptics, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel’s, Jens Stoltenberg’s, Francesco Guerrera, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Bank, EU, European Commission, Socialists, Greens, NATO, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Brookings, handouts, Organisation for Economic Co, Transport, Environment, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Moldova, Western, Brussels, Germany, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Turkey, Georgia, Spain, Poland, United States, China, Ireland, Netherlands, EU, EU’s, Hungary

☆ EU plans anti-subsidy probe into Chinese steelmakers - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou, Chongqing, China August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - The European Union is planning to announce anti-subsidy investigations against Chinese steelmakers at a summit with the U.S. this month, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Washington had asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel, the newspaper said. In September, Brussels launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports it says are benefiting from state subsidies. Additional reporting by Amy Lv in Beijing; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Washington, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Nilutpal, Amy Lv, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Chongqing Iron, REUTERS, European, U.S, Financial Times, Trump, China's Ministry of Commerce, EVs, Thomson Locations: Chongqing, Changshou, China, Brussels, Beijing, Bengaluru

☆ Any new Armenia conflict would be France's fault, Azerbaijan's president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attend a meeting in Yerevan, Armenia October 3, 2023. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev last week pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at which Brussels said it was standing by Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada," the Azerbaijani presidential office said. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts. The Azerbaijani president visited Georgia on Sunday and thanked Tbilisi for offering to mediate for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Nikol Pashinyan, Hayk, Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol, Charles Michel, Emmanuel Macron, Tigran Balayan, Guy Faulconbridge 私 Organizations: European Affairs, Armenian, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, European Union, European Council, Reuters Locations: Yerevan, Armenia, Photolure, Azerbaijan, Georgia, MOSCOW, European, South Caucasus, EU, Brussels, France, Granada, Baku, Nagorno, Karabakh, Tbilisi

☆ Azerbaijan's president says France will be to blame if new conflict starts with Armenia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev speaks during a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's president scolded the European Union and warned that France's decision to send military aid to Armenia could trigger a new conflict in the South Caucasus after a lightening Azerbaijani military operation last month. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev last week pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at which Brussels said it was standing by Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada," the Azerbaijani presidential office said. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts.

Persons: Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Olaf Scholz, Annegret, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol, Aliyev, Charles Michel, Catherine Colonna, Emmanuel Macron, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Armenian, European Council, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Berlin, Germany, European, Armenia, South Caucasus, EU, Brussels, France, Granada, Yerevan, Baku, Nagorno, Karabakh

☆ Poland will vote in a pivotal election next week. Its outcome will reverberate in Europe, Ukraine and the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Nonetheless, Poland remains in a powerful position in Europe, and this month’s vote could dramatically flip those dynamics. “Poland is a major player in Europe; it borders Ukraine, it has a major land army, substantial military spending, and is the key hub for supporting Ukraine,” Stola said. Poland pushed European partners to send Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine earlier this year. “One likely outcome is a coalition between PiS and Confederation, and that would be very bad news for Polish-Ukrainian relations,” Kucharczyk said. “Poland has very deep interests in supporting Ukraine,” Kucharczyk added.

Persons: White, Donald Tusk, Poland’s, –, ”, Tusk, ” Jacek Kucharczyk, ” Kucharczyk, Mateusz Morawiecki, Kacper Pempel, Piotr Buras, PiS, ” Buras, ” Dariusz Stola, Poland's, Omar Marques, ” Stola, “, Wojtek Radwanski Organizations: CNN, Justice, European, Tusk’s Civic Coalition, stoke, Public, Warsaw’s Institute of Public Affairs, European Council, Foreign Relations, Communist, EU, Warsaw, Institute of Political, Polish Academy of Sciences, Getty, ”, NATO, PiS, “ Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Brussels, Berlin, Polish, Warsaw, Hungary, Europe, Germany, Russia, ” Kyiv, Washington, Kyiv, AFP, “, Ukrainian, “ Poland

☆ 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

☆ A second war could easily erupt in Europe — while everyone's distracted by Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Violence erupted in northern Kosovo in September, and Belgrade responded with a military build-up on its border with its neighbor. Given the current political and security context, analysts say an outbreak of violence in northern Kosovo "should raise alarm bells." Open hostilityLong-simmering animosity between Serbia and Kosovo has broken into open hostility in northern Kosovo in recent months. Northern Kosovo, which borders Serbia, has an ethnic Serb majority whereas the country as a whole is around 93% ethnic Albanian. Mojsilovic stated that number of troops on the Kosovo border had been reduced to 4,500 from 8,350.

Persons: Milan Radoicic, Majda Ruge, Stringer, Milos Vucevic, Staff Milan Mojsilovic, Mojsilovic, Aleksandar Vučić, Vučić, Ian Bremmer, Bremmer, Ruge, Aleksandar Vucic, Krusha, Armend Nimani, Slobodan Milošević, Serbian, Albin Kurti, Andrius, Tursa, Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic Organizations: Kosovo Police, Kosovo Serb, Milan, Anadolu Agency, Getty, European Council, Foreign Relations, Albanian, Kosovo, Afp, NATO, Serbian, Staff, Financial Times, EU, Eurasia Group, Yugoslavia, Yugoslav, Yugoslav Ministry of Defense, Federal, Nato, Kosovo Albanians Locations: Banjska, Jarinje, Serbia, Zvecan, Kosovo, Ukraine, Europe, Belgrade, destabilising Kosovo, Northern Kosovo, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Russia, Mitrovica, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Balkans, Kosovo Albanian, Krusha, Madhe, Albanian, Yugoslav, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Central, Eastern Europe, Stagovo

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European leaders are expected to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of long-term support on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could hurt American policy on continuing aid to Kyiv. Zelenskiy is expected to attend a summit in the Spanish city of Granada of the European Political Community - a forum to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a general election at the weekend after pledging to halt military aid to Ukraine. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month his country was no longer arming Ukraine and was focusing on rebuilding its own weapon stocks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to attend the summit and European officials said they were keen to find ways to help his government cope with the immediate humanitarian crisis and provide political and economic support.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Scholz, Ilham Aliyev, Macron, Charles Michel, Nikol Pashinyan, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Grant McCool Organizations: Political, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, Senate, European Union, NATO, Kyiv, European, EU, Baku, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Kyiv, Zelenskiy, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Slovakia, Poland, BALKANS, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Berlin

☆ 'Loyalty alone is not enough': Kremlin reveals the qualities Russia's Vladimir Putin values the most
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link in Saint Petersburg on October 10, 2022. "But for Vladimir Putin, loyalty alone is not enough. Russia's president Vladimir Putin (R) and his spokesman Dmitry Peskov (L) attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting at the Congress Hall in Bishkek on December 9, 2022. Contributor | Getty ImagesDuring Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, as it calls its invasion, questions have been raised about the strategy and competency of Russia's military leadership. FILE - Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, left, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, around his factory which produces school meals, outside St. Petersburg, Russia on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Gavriil Grigorov, Putin, Andrei Kondrashov, it's, Dmitry Peskov, Vyacheslav Oseledko, —, Sergey Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu, Sergei Lavrov, Nikolay Patrushev, Mikhail Mishustin, Sergei Sobyanin, There's, Vladimir Solovyov, Nikolai Patrushev, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Sergei Medvedev, Dmitry, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Alexander Ermochenko, Sergey Shoigu, Shoigu, Prigozhin, Wagner, Kirill Shamiev, Prigozhin Prigozhin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexei Druzhinin Organizations: Afp, Getty, CNBC, Economic, Kremlin, Security, Moscow, SVR, Russian Security Council, Ukraine, West ., Kyiv, Russian, Luhansk People's, Reuters, Wagner Group, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Saint Petersburg, Bishkek, Russian, Yerevan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Luhansk, Luhansk People's Republic, Crimea, Moscow, Belarus, Prigozhin, St . Petersburg

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