Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like the fact that Turkey is expected to approve Finland’s NATO membership, as it will do in the case of Sweden. The goal is to update the agreement before the Turkish elections in May. Hungary is also expected to approve the accession of the Scandinavian countries, paving the way for them to join the alliance; this development is important at a time of international upheaval and challenges.

I like the news that the European Parliament voted to cut emissions by 40%. The European Parliament has approved the revision of the “Effort Sharing” Regulation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also sets binding reduction targets for each EU country on road transport, agriculture, small industrial facilities, etc. With this regulation, Europe comes closer to achieving the goals that the EU has set regarding climate and environmental protection. It is particularly important that each state meets these conditions and contributes to the effort to create a greener Europe.

I dislike the episode between Russia and the US over the Black Sea. A Russian fighter jet harassed a US drone and touched down on its propeller, causing the unmanned aircraft to crash in international territorial waters. The US MQ-9 Reaper drone and two Russian SU-27s were conducting a routine operation in international airspace when one of the fighters initially flew in front of the drone and deliberately dumped fuel. The Russian Ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, was summoned to the State Department for a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Europe and Eurasia, Karen Donfried, where he was served with a letter of protest.

I dislike the news about the first case of a criminal charge against an activist for assisting in a medical abortion after the controversial 2021 law banning the process in Poland. On March 14, Justyna Wydrzynska, an activist of the Polish women’s rights group “Aborcyjny Dream Team”, was found guilty and sentenced to eight months of community service for sending abortion medicine to a female rape victim in an abusive relationship. The penalty for helping a woman seeking an abortion under the Polish Criminal Code is up to three years of imprisonment. This decision practically sets the precedent on the universal prohibition of abortion, including in the cases of necessary termination of pregnancy as a result of sexual abuse.