Key facts
- Jared Kushner advocated for a fundamental shift in Gaza's financial support, calling current initiatives flawed.
- A €900 million recovery package for Gaza was pledged by European and Arab delegates.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas signed a Status of Forces Agreement in Djibouti, solidifying an EU military presence.
- Greece is questioning a proposed EU ban on Russian LNG transfers to non-EU countries, impacting its maritime industry.
- The EU is set to release its annual rule of law assessment for member states, with Hungary and Slovakia highlighted.
- The EU plans to reform its carbon market (ETS) to meet 2040 climate targets and make electricity cheaper than gas.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law to US President Donald Trump, has called for a significant overhaul of financial support for Gaza, criticizing past initiatives as flawed and influenced by terrorists. This statement came during a closed-door meeting of the Palestine Donor Group in Brussels, where delegates pledged nearly €900 million for Gaza's recovery. Kushner is a board member of the US-led body overseeing Gaza's reconstruction.
Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Djibouti to sign a Status of Forces Agreement, strengthening the EU's security presence in the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb strait. This move signals the EU's intent to act as an independent security actor in critical global waterways, a region increasingly threatened by Houthi attacks.
Meanwhile, negotiations for the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia are stalled due to Greece's objections to a ban on Russian LNG transfers to non-EU countries. Athens argues the ban, set to take full effect in January 2027, will not significantly impact Russia's revenue as Moscow will find alternative operators. This stance is causing friction among diplomats.
Further complicating EU policy, the entry ban on Russian soldiers has been weakened, and a request from Austria to lift sanctions on Raiffeisen Bank International due to losses in Russia remains unresolved.
The European Commission is also set to release its annual rule of law assessment for member states, with concerns raised about Slovakia's recent legal changes. Additionally, the Commission will propose reforms to the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) to align with 2040 climate goals and aims to make electricity cheaper than gas, promoting the electrification of the economy.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reshaped his wartime cabinet, appointing Naftogaz chief Sergii Koretskyi as prime minister amidst a public rift within the military leadership.