00:00Dzień dobry, jest Wednesday 17 December.
00:18I'm Maeve McMahin, and this is Europe Today.
00:21Europe News' daily live fix of European news and analysis.
00:26Coming up today, at a meeting in The Hague, 35 countries signed up to an international
00:31commission to compensate Ukraine for hundreds of billions of dollars in damage from Russia's
00:37ongoing war.
00:38This, as Ukraine's President Zelensky says, proposals negotiated with US officials in
00:43Berlin this week to end Russia's war in Ukraine could be finalized within days.
00:48For more on this, I'm joined here in the studio by our Ukraine correspondent, Sasha Bakalina.
00:52Good morning, Sasha.
00:53Good morning.
00:54So, Ukrainians standing a little bit hopeful, but what have been the reactions from the
00:57Kremlin?
00:58There's been great progress and development on the side, coming from Berlin, talks from
01:02Ukraine and the European partners.
01:04But from Moscow, we've heard some radical rejection on some of the points, including those commitments
01:08that were revealed Monday by the European nations, specifically when it comes to the European-led
01:13multinational force Ukraine made up from willing countries to assist securing Ukraine's skies
01:20and seas.
01:20Now, this one caused lots of criticism from Moscow.
01:23This is what Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said about it.
01:27He said that the coalition of the willing is the same thing as NATO and perhaps even worse,
01:33because such a decision can be implemented even without the standard NATO procedures for
01:37such cases.
01:38You can see they are not taking it and not accepting it.
01:42And, of course, one of the most important things that's been here from the very beginning of
01:45Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine is the territories of Ukraine.
01:49Russia still wants to have full control of five regions, even the territories it's never
01:54controlled.
01:54So it feels like we could be back to square one here, because, of course, territorial concessions
01:59still the major sticking point, Sasha.
02:01Same as for Ukraine, maybe, because Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when he was in The Hague, he also
02:06said that Ukraine is not willing and is not going to accept any possibility of Russia controlling
02:11east of Ukraine, specifically the region of Donbass.
02:15This is two regions, Luhansk region and Donetsk region.
02:18Let's take a listen.
02:19Russia has invaded our home.
02:23It's destroying our cities, our villages, killing Ukrainians, our children, and at the
02:30same time, demanding that we give up parts of our land they haven't even managed to conquer.
02:38According to the latest poll, May 63 percent of Ukrainians said that they continue to be willing
02:44to endure Russia's war against Ukraine for as long as necessary, instead of accepting
02:49territorial concessions and practically, you know, giving it up.
02:53Indeed.
02:53OK, Sasha Vakilina, Ukraine correspondent, thank you so much for all those details and
02:57bringing us up to speed.
02:59Well, ending Russia's war in Ukraine is top of the wishlist of MEPs gathering this week
03:04in Strasbourg.
03:05And that's where we can go now, as our Maria Tadeo is standing by for us this morning.
03:09Good morning, Maria.
03:10Great to see you.
03:11Very busy schedule in Strasbourg.
03:13What do we need to know?
03:16Well, it's a monster day, and it was a monster day yesterday in the European Parliament.
03:20It's a monster week of decision-making in Europe, too, with that European Council scheduled
03:24for yesterday.
03:26In terms of the vote, well, three major topics were debated yesterday.
03:30We did see new safeguards for Mercosur.
03:32Remember, that is that major trade deal with Latin America, including Brazil.
03:37New safeguards were approved, but this is now a deal that depends entirely on the member
03:42of the United States, and we should note, in particular, in the hands of the Italian Prime
03:44Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
03:46Of course, there was also that scrapping on the combustion engine cars by 2035.
03:51That was a big win for the German carmakers.
03:54And then, of course, housing.
03:56But let me now turn to the Housing Commissioner, Dan Giorgison, because we are going to debrief
04:01with you live yesterday, Commissioner.
04:04You're putting now measures forward to make housing more available and more affordable
04:08for Europeans.
04:10It's a big concern.
04:11But what can you really do?
04:12This is, for the most part, a national competence.
04:15Well, yes, it is true that it is a big concern.
04:17We are in a housing crisis and thereby a social crisis.
04:21So we've put forward a whole range of different measures that we will introduce in the months
04:27and years to come.
04:28One is, for instance, short-term rentals.
04:30So not that short-term rental as such is a bad idea.
04:34They can be good.
04:35But some places we've seen how they push the prices up on housing and sometimes even crowd
04:41out normal people from their homes.
04:43And we need to do something to remedy that.
04:45And, of course, is there speculation when it comes to both rent and buy-in houses?
04:50There's a generation of Europeans, and you could argue this is a big societal failure,
04:54who believe, I will never be able to buy a house.
04:57It's also the case, actually, unfortunately, that young people are not able to leave their
05:02parents' house.
05:03So I think the average age is more than 26 now.
05:06In some countries, it's more than 30.
05:08Sometimes it's because they want to buy a house and they can't.
05:10Other times it's because there simply is no renting available.
05:14So we need to build more houses.
05:16We need to also use the buildings that we have better.
05:18So in some cities, even cities where they're experiencing big problems with not having
05:23enough houses, there are also a lot of vacant houses and a lot of vacant buildings.
05:27So we need to find ways of using these buildings better, renovating them.
05:32And we're also telling countries, look at the rules that you have, because maybe you can
05:36actually regulate this yourself so that, indeed, these buildings will be available for housing.
05:41And, Commissioner, just to help us understand, of course, Europe is very complex at times,
05:45and the situation in every country is different.
05:48But is this an issue of speculation in the market?
05:50Is this an issue of permits that are not given, a lack of construction stock?
05:55What is the issue now in this market?
05:58Yeah, well, it's many different things.
05:59And one thing certainly is that there's a lot of bureaucracy and red tape that we need to deal
06:03with.
06:03So permitting needs to be easier.
06:05We also need standardization for different types of goods and services in the building
06:12industry so that the internal market will start working here, also in the construction industry.
06:18And finally, speculation you mentioned.
06:20Well, yes, some are arguing, some experts are arguing that this is indeed a problem.
06:24Others are saying probably not so much.
06:26So what we'll do is we will start an analysis, and then we will present next year our take on
06:31on that, because we do need more transparency if we are to deal with it.
06:36And this is the first time the Commission tackles this issue.
06:39Some argue it's very difficult to change things from the Commission's perspective, because
06:43this is really a national competence, and you're just trying to do politics.
06:47So how are you going to prove critics, Ron?
06:49And what do you think is going to be achievable in the short term?
06:53Well, it is true that there are many things that need to be done on a local and national level.
06:57But what we can and will do on a European level is, for instance, state aid rules,
07:01So today they are blocking countries helping support affordable housing, the building of
07:07affordable housing, so that we will change.
07:09We can provide funding.
07:11So, for instance, a pan-European investment platform has been set up together with EIB.
07:17That will provide a lot of funding for building of new houses, renovating of old ones.
07:21And we are also allocating funding on our own budget to help boost the supply.
07:26Okay, so you say this is not just optics and politics.
07:29There will be changes coming from the executive.
07:31But I have to ask you now a final question, perhaps a broader politics and the geopolitics.
07:36This is a very important week for Europe, a very important European Council slated for
07:40tomorrow, reparations loan for Ukraine.
07:43What do you hope will come?
07:45And what do you wish to see from European leaders by the end of Thursday?
07:49We obviously hope for agreement.
07:52This is, as you say, a very turbulent time.
07:54It's also a time where we need to stand together in Europe to show decisive action.
08:00So yes to reparations loan.
08:02We hope, of course, that what has been proposed by the European Commission will be supported.
08:06Well, thank you so much, Commissioner.
08:08And, of course, Maeve, that was Housing Commissioner, and also Energy, it's a double portfolio.
08:13Dan Jorgensen joining us on Euronews.
08:15Of course, the session continues in Strasbourg.
08:17And tomorrow, we take you back to Brussels.
08:19Indeed.
08:20Maria Tadeo, Euronews' EU News Editor.
08:22Thank you so much for joining us for that live update from Strasbourg.
08:25And, of course, to your guest, Dan Jorgensen, the Danish Commissioner.
08:28But now, since the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical turmoil around us, EU enlargement is back on the political agenda.
08:35Today, Brussels is rolling out the red carpet for aspiring EU members from the Western Balkans.
08:40For the day that's in it, our Jakob Janis has been taking a look at European attitudes towards this expansion.
08:49Once, there were just six.
08:52Not long ago, there were 28.
08:54Today, there are 27.
08:56These are not lottery numbers.
08:58It is the story of our European Union.
09:01And that story is set to gain a new chapter.
09:04But should it?
09:05Europeans are cautiously supportive.
09:07The latest Eurobarometer shows 56% are in favor of a bigger union.
09:14Nine countries are in the queue, including Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan states.
09:19For them, it means locking in democracy and prosperity.
09:23For us, it means growing our influence.
09:26Combine that with some delicious borscht and Ivar, and it's a richer table for everyone.
09:31But it's not that simple.
09:33EU citizens are concerned, demanding candidates should first tackle corruption and uphold the rule of law.
09:40These are critical conditions that cannot be ignored.
09:44At the same time, leaving these countries in grey zone risks ceding influence to Russia or China.
09:51And while Ukraine is a large nation, most other candidates are small.
09:56Like Montenegro, with its 600,000 people, which can be compared to the size of Antwerp.
10:03But as they say, it's not always about size.
10:06It's about securing the European family.
10:09The question isn't if the EU will grow, but how it will manage it.
10:13And you, would you support it?
10:15Do let us know your view.
10:21You can write to us at europetodayatyournews.com or reach out to us on social media.
10:26But now, coming up, we'll be joined by Vyosa Osmani, the president of Kosovo.
10:30Elected on a promise to tackle corruption and normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia,
10:36President Osmani has been in Paris since 2021.
10:39And she's in Brussels today for the EU Western Balkan Summit.
10:43Good morning, President.
10:44Good morning. Thank you for having me.
10:45Lovely to have you with us here on Europe Today.
10:47So, of course, Kosovo is not yet a candidate country for EU membership.
10:51It's not recognized by five EU countries.
10:53Will it ever be a member of the EU, do you think?
10:55Absolutely. It's our destiny.
10:58It's something that we've worked for for a very long time.
11:01And while, practically speaking, we've only applied a few years ago,
11:05and we're hoping for our application to be on the table of the members of the Council very, very soon.
11:11In fact, as an identity, as a country, as a nation,
11:14we've been contributing to the values on which the European Union stands for centuries.
11:19So we strongly believe that while it's a very complex process,
11:23if the merit-based criteria is used, Kosovo actually would have been a frontrunner by now.
11:28But it's complex in our case, additionally, because of the five non-recognizers,
11:32who we truly do hope will understand that having Kosovo as a member of the Union,
11:36it's not just at the benefit of the people of Kosovo, but it's a strategic imperative.
11:40It's a security imperative for the entire continent.
11:43As you say, it's a very complex process.
11:45How would you rate, perhaps, your progress towards getting in line with EU standards
11:49and making sure that reforms are done, the most urgent ones?
11:52Well, if we look at what the EU says about that progress,
11:55Kosovo is right now at a 100% alignment with the common foreign and security policy of the European Union.
12:02Every single decision in these areas is completely aligned,
12:05whether it's sanctions against Russia or against other adversaries of the Western world
12:10and what the EU represents today.
12:13In terms of values, Kosovo is also entirely aligned.
12:16In terms of rule of law reforms, we are a frontrunner.
12:19And based on international indices, such as Gallup International, which was recently published,
12:26Kosovo is actually number one in Europe in terms of the rule of law index.
12:29It's topping all of the European countries,
12:32and it's third in the world when it comes to fighting crime and corruption.
12:36This has been the top priority of our institutions.
12:39And right now, in terms of the corruption perception index, we have the lowest in the region.
12:44So these are some of the issues that we've worked on hard in terms of economic reforms.
12:48Again, according to the European Union reports that we get yearly, we are the best in the region.
12:54In terms of administrative reforms, we're the best in the region.
12:58Obviously, there are still some things and some homework that we have to complete.
13:01But I think if there were no political complications that have nothing to do with reforms,
13:06we would have absolutely been the top country in the region so far.
13:10Because now, of course, Ukraine is the top, if you like, because, of course, the situation there,
13:14it was speedily given candidate status.
13:16How does that make Kosovo feel?
13:18We do support Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
13:22As I said, this is beyond just the internal reforms in a certain country.
13:27If we want Europe to be whole, free and at peace, which was the dream of the founders,
13:32we need to understand that we need to be given a chance to move forward.
13:36And while, of course, we would want Ukraine to complete all of the reforms that are required
13:40of the rest of us, too, it is a security imperative as well.
13:45Look, adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran do not leave any space without having it used.
13:54So there's no vacuum.
13:55If the European Union, if the transatlantic relationship is not, of course, having its influence
14:01in the Western Balkans, someone else will come.
14:03Not for charity, but because they have strategic interests there.
14:07So we need to make sure that whether it's Ukraine or the Western Balkans, again, on a
14:11merit-based process, move forward.
14:13That is your destiny, as you say.
14:15President Osmani, thank you so much for coming into us today on Europe Today and all the best
14:18for your long, busy day here in Brussels.
14:21But that, in fact, does bring this edition of Europe Today to an end.
14:24Thank you so much for tuning in.
14:26For more on those votes in Strasbourg today or the EU Western Balkans Summit, do visit our
14:30website, euronews.com, for longer reads.
14:32And join us again tomorrow morning as the EU summit gets underway.
14:35We'll be joined by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luke Frieden.
14:38So don't miss that.
14:39See you soon on Euronews.
14:41We'll see you soon on Euronews.
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