U.S. sanctions on Serbia’s NIS refinery set for 1 October
The move ends months of temporary waivers and places Serbia’s energy infrastructure in precarious limbo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on 25 September, during a media briefing in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, that U.S. sanctions against Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Serbia’s largest oil producer and sole…
Norway boosts aid to Ukraine
As Norway’s defense spending and support for Ukraine sharply increase, Russia has taken notice. At the start of this year, Norway came under attack. Not from a hostile power, but from its traditional Nordic friends. How, they asked, could Oslo benefit so much from rising oil and gas prices following…
Europe’s security depends on Russia’s post-imperial transformation
In contrast to the former colonial powers of Western Europe, Russia has maintained a deep attachment to its imperial tradition into the 21st century. Restoring long-term stability to the European continent will require Russia to develop a robust sense of nationhood — one that respects the independence and sovereignty of…
Europe moves toward shadow fleet seizures
European authorities are no longer confining their response to Russia’s shadow fleet to sanctions lists. This year, some European port authorities began to require tangible proof of insurance and registry documentation. Finland, for example, implemented systematic checks in its exclusive economic zone on 11 December. The requirement applies to tankers…
EU Commission sued over lack of environmental transparency
On Monday (22 September), the London-based NGO ClientEarth is expected to sue the European Commission for what it says is an anti-transparency push which will weaken public scrutiny of EU decision-making. “With this legal case, we want to defend citizens’ fundamental right to know – what pesticides end up in…