.
Europe
European Commission
31 March 2023 EU is cautious on summer payments of blocked funds to Hungary. On 30 November, the European Commission recommended freezing the disbursement of EU recovery funds until Hungary complies with 27 'essential milestones' linked to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Commission recommends EU funds for Hungary remain frozen. While recommending the freezing of EU funds under the rule of law conditionality mechanism, the European Commission gave a formal green light to Hungary’s recovery plan. However, the disbursement of the recovery money would be linked to 27 ‘supermilestones’. Hungary has made progress on bolstering guarantees of judicial independence but is 'not quite there yet', and needs to improve democratic credentials in other areas before getting billions worth of blocked European Union funds, officials said yesterday. Four officials cautioned about expecting aid for Hungary from the bloc’s long-term budget, or up to €15.4 billion from the EU’s COVID recovery stimulus to start flowing this summer. “We are progressing well. We are reaching the end of the discussions on the judicial milestone,” said one. 'But we don’t only have the judicial reforms. There also is a whole list of corruption reforms” needed, including on improving public procurement, to get the money, they said. In more than a decade in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has had many bitter run-ins with the EU and its executive arm, the European Commission, over Budapest 'restricting the rights of gays' and migrants, as well as tightening state controls over non-governmental organizations, academics, media and courts. Last month, Hungary’s negotiator said ironing out remaining issues with Brussels over democratic reforms prescribed to win the recovery funds could last until the summer. “We are almost there, not quite there yet, but we are getting there” with the judicial reforms, said the second EU official, who is involved in negotiations between the Brussels-based Commission and Budapest. Hungary’s parliament passed the first of a series of anti-corruption bills on March 27, as Budapest seeks to avoid a loss of European Union funds when its economy is headed into recession, 'and the forint has plunged to record lows'. The person said that meeting those requirements would open Budapest’s access to up to €20 billion in development funds, but it was unlikely that any would be sent straight away. The lag is due to how these funds are spent, with member countries first financing projects on their own and only later asking the Commission for reimbursement. The officials said Budapest would unlikely have the bills ready to send in even if it unlocks access to the money mid-year. The sources said some recovery payments could be possible this summer but that mostly the money would come later in the year if Hungary meets the necessary conditions. Hungary and Poland are the only EU members lagging behind in getting the recovery funds, which the Commission has blocked over accusations that the countries’ governments 'damage democracy and the rule of law'. The Commission is withholding Hungary’s access to the development funds over the same concerns around corruption and freedom of courts. Under pressure from high inflation at home, Orbán has sought to strike a deal with Brussels on the money, while also 'wrangling' with the EU on issues including support for Ukraine and punishing Russia for invading its neighbour. (Source: euractiv)
Russia
31 March 2023 President Putin today signed new guidelines aimed at curbing Western "dominance" and identifying China and India as key partners for the future. The 42-page document - a de facto handbook for Russian diplomats - was published on the Kremlin's website. The document designated the United States as the greatest threat facing the country. It describes the US as "the main instigator, organizer and executor of the aggressive anti-Russian policy of the collective West." Russia's foreign policy, according to the document, should reflect that the US is "the source of the main risks to Russia's security, international peace and a balanced, just and sustainable development of mankind." "The Russian Federation intends to give priority to the elimination of vestiges of the dominance of the United States and other unfriendly countries in world politics,' the strategy document read. The doctrine also described Russia as a "state-civilization" tasked with defending what it called the "Russian world" and "traditional spiritual and moral values" against "pseudo-humanistic and other neo-liberal ideological attitudes." Russia would aim to "create the conditions for any state to reject neo-colonialist and hegemonic aims." Russia has sought to boost political and economic ties with countries in Asia such as China, India and in Africa, that taken a more neutral stance towards its offensive in Ukraine. The document stressed the importance of "the deepening of ties and coordination with friendly sovereign global centers of power and development located on the Eurasian continent." The doctrine singled out China and India as Russia's strategic partners and argued that Moscow will position itself towards other countries. Moscow has stepped up energy supplies to both China and India. Presenting the new strategy, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov told a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council that the country faced "existential threats" to its security and development from "unfriendly states.' 'According to Lavrov, the start of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine had ushered in 'revolutionary changes" in world affairs that now needed to be reflected in Russia's main foreign policy document. Putin said that updates to Russia's strategy for engagement on the global stage were necessary due to "radical changes" in the world. (Source: DW)
31 Mar 2023 Putin calling up extra 147,000 men aged between 18 and 27 from tomorrow. Russia is also planning to raise the draft age from 27 to 30 in 2024, while moving the younger age bracket from 18 to 21. Putin made the shock announcement earlier this week to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and said the move was triggered by Britain’s decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia plans to maintain control over those it sends to Belarus, and construction of storage facilities for them will be completed by July 1, Putin said. “We are doing what they (the West) have been doing for decades, stationing them in certain allied countries, preparing the launch platforms and training their crews, he said. (Source: DailyStar)
North America
United States
March 31, 2023 Former US president Trump has been indicted by a grand jury. He will be the first former president in US history to face criminal charges. Grand jury proceedings in the US remain secret until the defendant is in custody. The hearings focused on an alleged hush money payment made to adult performer Daniels in 2016. It's believed this jury was asked to decide whether it was illegal for Trump to order his former fixer Cohen to pay Daniels for her silence. In 2016, when Trump was running for presidency, the adult star went public with her claim that she had sex with him when he was married. Cohen alleged he was directed to give her $US130,000 and conceal the nature of the payment as a legal expense. In a statement, Trump declared "this is political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history", describing the charges as part of a "witch hunt" by "the radical left". He did take direct aim at the Manhattan District Attorney Bragg, who has been overseeing the case. Trump is currently residing at his sprawling Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, so as part of that process he will have to make his way to New York City. In the unlikely scenario that Trump refuses to cooperate with authorities and surrender, he may choose to hunker down at Mar-a-Lago. Officials would need to negotiate with Florida for permission to extradite the former president to New York. DeSantis today announced on Twitter that Florida "will not assist" in an extradition request. Once Trump arrives at the New York court house, he will be processed as a defendant. He will be fingerprinted and photographed, and read his Miranda rights (have the right to remain silent). Trump will then wait in a holding cell to be called before a judge to enter a plea in what's called an arraignment - which will be open to the public. Trump will be accompanied by Secret Service agents throughout the process. It's likely Trump will be released on his own recognisance, which means he will get bail without having to pay a bond. Given he has publicly maintained his innocence in the lead-up to this indictment, it appears more likely Trump will plead not guilty, which would mean the case proceeds to trial. It could take more than a year for the trial to begin. If Trump is found not guilty, he would be acquitted. Bragg may be considering charges related to falsifying business records with the intent to conceal another crime, likely related to campaign finances. This would be considered a low-level felony, with a maximum sentence of four years in prison. However, it is entirely possible the charges could be downgraded, or a lesser sentence handed down. This means even if Trump is convicted of a felony charge, he may not spend any time in jail. In any event, a conviction would not legally prevent Trump from running for president again in 2024, though the pending case may complicate his campaign. (RNZ)
.
