Italy to nationalize the country's main steel plant, mostly owned by ArcelorMittal

File - Logo of the steel company ArcelorMittal. - ARCELORMITTAL - Archive

The government of Georgia Meloni takes decisive measures to nationalize Acciaierie d'Italia, ensuring the economic and labor stability of one of the country's leading steelmakers, in a strategic move to strengthen the national industry.

The Italian government headed by Prime Minister Georgia Meloni will nationalize the country's main steel company, Acciaierie d'Italia, which is 62% owned by ArcelorMittal and the remaining 38% by the public entity Invitalia after talks between the state and the multinational have failed.

The Executive himself announced the initiative after meeting with trade union organizations and motivated the decision that the plant, located in Taranto (southern Italy), is of strategic interest. This would empower the State to place the factory under the figure of the special administration, even despite the opposition of private actors.

In any case, the measure would be temporary, since the government would be looking for new partners, but it will require a bridge loan of 320 million euros to guarantee the continuity of the plant's operations.

The factory currently employs about 10,000 people, although it operates below its capacity, since it produces less than four million tons of steel per year, when it could reach about ten million.

The EU approves a framework of sanctions against Hamas and includes six people responsible for its financing

EU officials in Brussels after approving sanctions against individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, stepping up the European response to violence in the Middle East.

In an effort to counter the violence in the Middle East, the European Union approves a new framework of sanctions aimed specifically at Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, blacklisting six key people in the financing of these terrorist organizations.

The European Union member States have approved on Friday a new framework of specific sanctions against the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, already including six people responsible for financing the activity of both terrorist groups.

In this way, the EU takes a step forward in its response to Hamas after the unprecedented attacks of last October 7, which have been responded by Israel with an offensive in the Gaza Strip that has lasted for more than three months and leaves more than 24,600 dead.

Through this mechanism, the Twenty-Seven will be able to sanction "those who support, materially or financially" both groups. In a statement, the EU Council explains that it will also serve to impose measures against individuals or entities that collaborate in the "planning, preparation or facilitation of violent actions by Hamas or Islamic Jihad."

The sanctions will be aimed at those who facilitate the supply, sale or transfer of weapons or anyone involved in actions that threaten Israel or go against International Humanitarian Law.

In the first decisions related to this new framework of sanctions, six people responsible for their finances, including people living in Algeria and Sudan, have been placed on the EU's 'blacklist'.

"With today's decision of a specific framework of restrictive measures against those who support the violent actions of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the EU shows that we are ready to take decisive measures to react to the brutality shown by the terrorists on October 7," EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell said in a statement in which he stressed that Israelis and Palestinians "deserve to live in a just, lasting and secure peace."

In this way, the European bloc is making progress in its promise to impose sanctions against Hamas in order to economically suffocate the group and cut off the supply of weapons. In the same context, Borrell proposed measures against radical settlers responsible for episodes of violence in the West Bank, a step that has not yet seen the light of day within the EU.

The EU plans to approve more sanctions against Russia on the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine

EU representatives in Brussels are discussing new sanctions against Russia, in an ongoing effort to support Ukraine and respond to the Russian invasion.

In a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Ukraine, the European Union is preparing to approve the thirteenth round of sanctions against Russia, coinciding with the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, marking a milestone in its firm response to Russian aggression.

The European Union plans to approve a new round of sanctions against Russia to coincide with the second anniversary since Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, in a new sign of support for Kiev as it enters the third year of conflict.

The thirteenth round of sanctions against Russia will come two years after Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in what it hoped would be a quick war to overthrow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The EU's own High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, is in favor of marking the anniversary with a symbolic gesture of support for Kiev such as approving more sanctions against Russian individuals and entities responsible for the aggression in Ukraine, a senior EU official explains.

In the European capital, they emphasize that Ukraine has withstood and repelled the Russian military attack "spectacularly", highlighting that the duty of the EU is to support Kiev's efforts to repel the attack and recover territory occupied by the Russian army.

Likewise, several European sources confirm that the plans are for the new package of restrictions to see the light around February 24. "It's too early to go into details, but it's a good idea to have a package ready around the date of the second anniversary," a diplomatic delegation said.

Last year, the EU already marked the first anniversary of the invasion with the tenth round of sanctions. Then the Twenty-Seventies approved restrictions on exports of European technological elements key to the functioning of the Russian army and also began sanctioning entities from Iran for their support to Russia in the context of the war.

The EU responded to the Russian aggression against Ukraine with the largest range of sanctions ever approved by the Twenty-Seven that, in fact, has minimized commercial and political relations with Moscow.

In total, almost 2,000 people and entities linked to the attacks on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine are subject to EU sanctions, including Putin himself and his closest political, family and business circle.

These unprecedented sanctions come to redouble the bet of the Twenty-Seven against the Kremlin when in 2014 it imposed sanctions following the annexation of Crimea and the breach of the Minsk Agreements. The punitive measures also affect Belarus and Iran, two actors involved in the invasion of Ukraine.

The Baltics will build "defensive facilities" on their borders with Russia to prevent what happened in Ukraine

Defense ministers of the Baltic States met in Riga to agree on the construction of defensive facilities in response to the threat of conflicts similar to that of Ukraine.

Baltic States strengthen their borders with Russia and Belarus to prevent military conflicts

The Baltic States announced on Friday the joint construction of "defensive facilities" on their borders with Russia and Belarus in order to avoid a "military conflict" in the region like the one that occurred in Ukraine.

The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia met this Friday in Riga, the Latvian capital, to ratify an agreement that began to take shape at the NATO summit that was held in Madrid in 2022.

"Russia's war in Ukraine has shown that, in addition to equipment, ammunition and manpower, or physical defenses, facilities are also needed at the border to defend Estonia from the first meter," said the country's Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur.

"We are carrying out this effort so that the people of Estonia can feel safe, but if the slightest risk arises, we would be quickly prepared for various events," Pevkur said.

According to the Estonian Ministry of Defense statement, these "defensive facilities" combine prevention and security measures, as well as other elements on the ground that support the defense to stop the aggressor troops if necessary.

"In peacetime, no explosives, sharp wires or other obstacles are placed on the Estonian border. Instead, a network of bunkers, footholds and distribution lines is established," the statement explains.

The holders of the respective Baltic Defense portfolios have also agreed to launch a joint plan to operate with HIMARS model multiple rocket launchers "both in peacetime and wartime".