The European Union will exclude defense companies from the USA, UK, and Turkey from a new €150 billion defense fund unless their countries sign security agreements with Brussels. Open only to EU firms and third countries with defense pacts, the initiative also bans advanced weapons systems like the U.S.-made Patriot, pushing a “Buy European” approach amid concerns over U.S. reliability.
Tag: third countries
Greek exports began 2025 with strong momentum, recording a 9.9% increase excluding petroleum products and a 2.2% rise overall. Key sectors like food, industrial products, and beverages saw significant growth, while energy and machinery exports declined. Despite the positive trend, rising imports widened the trade deficit, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. Experts emphasize the need for Greece to diversify its export markets, particularly beyond the EU, to maintain economic resilience and competitiveness.
Cyprus plans to revoke subsidiary protection status from migrants involved in serious criminal activities, integrating EU provisions into its new legislation. Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides emphasized the withdrawal of protection as a consequence for those abusing their hospitality. While direct repatriation remains a challenge, agreements with third countries may offer relocation solutions. This decision has stirred criticism from the UN due to concerns over human rights violations faced by returning Syrian refugees and asylum seeker pushbacks to the UN buffer zone.