sweden

Delor of "EEC-NATO…"

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Delor of "EEC-NATO..."

Jacques Delors, the former President of the European Commission, had the strategic goal of deepening cooperation among the existing members of the European Economic Community (EEC). He aimed to expand and strengthen this cooperation, as well as replace the German mark with a pan-European currency accepted by all. Delors believed that adopting a common currency required a framework of overall enforced fiscal and financial discipline. This framework was later established through the Maastricht criteria. Delors received support from various European leaders, including Chancellor Kohl of West Germany, Prime Minister Thatcher of the UK, and President Bush of the US. During his tenure, the EEC expanded with the accession of Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, and Cyprus. It is noteworthy that Cyprus applied for membership and eventually joined the EU with the support of the AKEL party, despite previously criticizing the EEC as being the same as NATO.

Cyprus slides in global Corruption Perception Index

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Cyprus slides in global Corruption Perception Index

– Cyprus ranks 49 out of 180 countries in the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International.
– Cyprus was awarded a score of 53 points in the 2023 CPI, which is a slight increase from 52 in 2022 but the same as in 2021.
– This score marks Cyprus’s lowest point since 2012, indicating a trend of increasing corruption levels.
– Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand are the top-ranked countries in the CPI as the least corrupt.
– Western European countries are showing a decline in the CPI, suggesting a need for stronger anti-corruption measures.
– Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria are the lowest-ranked countries in the Western Europe region.
– Cyprus has satisfactorily dealt with nine out of 16 recommendations from the latest Greco report on tackling corruption.
– One recommendation not implemented by Cyprus concerns the independence of prosecutors.
– A bill regarding the independence of prosecutors is currently before the Cypriot parliament.

Nuland: If the S400 issue is resolved, Turkey can return to the F35 program

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Nuland: If the S400 issue is resolved, Turkey can return to the F35 program

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United States, Victoria Nuland, stated that if the issue of the S400 is resolved, the US will welcome Turkey back into the F35 family. She also mentioned that Turkey's approval of Sweden's accession to NATO is significant and that the US wants to revive its relationship with Turkey. Nuland emphasized the importance of Turkey's participation in the development of the F-16 fleet and the need for a strong defense system. She also discussed the possibility of resolving the S400 issue and returning to F-35 negotiations. Nuland had productive discussions in Ankara regarding various aspects of the US-Turkey relationship, including energy, environment, trade, and defense cooperation. She expressed the desire to strengthen dialogue on counterterrorism actions and address challenges in the Middle East.

Turkey moving swiftly to conclude Sweden’s NATO bid with F-16s in sight

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Turkey moving swiftly to conclude Sweden’s NATO bid with F-16s in sight

Turkey is expected to send the final instrument of ratification for Sweden’s NATO membership to Washington, which will clear the way for Turkey’s purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets. President Tayyip Erdogan signed off on Sweden’s membership after parliament endorsed it, ending 20 months of delays. The final document needs to be deposited in the U.S. State Department archives. Turkey’s approval was seen as the main obstacle in securing Sweden’s accession into NATO. The U.S. and U.K. welcomed Erdogan’s approval. The approval is linked to the billion sale of F-16s and modernization kits to Turkey. U.S. President Joe Biden intends to begin the formal notification process for the sale once Ankara completes Sweden’s NATO accession process. Turkey is now awaiting the U.S.’s move on the F-16 sale.