Since hostilities broke out between Ukraine and Russia in 2014, the United States has provided $2.5 billion in security aid to Kyiv, with more than $400 million in the last year alone. U.S. security assistance has come in the form of training, equipment, and weaponry, including tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, night vision devices, sniper rifles, small arms, Javelin anti-tank missiles, high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, and Mark VI patrol boats.

1. Portugal: Portuguese legislative election 30 January 2022
2. Spain: Castilian-Leonese regional election: 13 February 2022
3. Germany: Saarland state election: 27 March 2022
4. Serbia: Serbian general election: 3 April 2022
5. France: French presidential election: 10 and 24 April 2022
6. Hungary: Hungarian parliamentary election: April 2022
7. Slovenia: Slovenian parliamentary election: 24 April 2022
8. United Kingdom: Northern Ireland Assembly election: 5 May 2022
9. Germany: Schleswig-Holstein state election: 8 May 2022

1. Increased military support for Ukraine
2. Bolstering of NATO’S eastern flank (Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria)
3. More restrictions on Russia’s ability to refinance its sovereign debt (Russian debt market disrupted)
4. Sanction the secondary market in Russian bonds, where they are resold and packaged with other investments.
5. Limits on interbank operations of major Russian banks including currency conversion (Bank operations, cross-border financing, trade impeded)

1. It is difficult to be optimistic about 2022. Despite all the corporate pledges and media attention focused on climate change, the COP26 conference was a failure. In 2022, we will continue to realize that greenhouse-gas emissions are not declining, and that more radical responses are needed. Climate politics will significantly worsen US-China relations, which are already at a breaking point. Add the intensification of repression in China and the tensions over Taiwan and you have the makings of a prolonged bout of instability.

1. The vast majority of the world will have been vaccinated by the end of 2022, but the gap between rich countries (after multiple waves of boosters and amid the roll-out of antiviral drugs) and poor ones (where logistical bottlenecks could hamper distribution even when vaccines are delivered) will be larger. Expect at least one more breakout variant (“sigma”?) from one of the many under-vaccinated corners of the world.

France will assume command of NATO's highest-readiness military force for one year on 1st January 2022. In case of deployment, French soldiers would be on the front line. The formation, formally known as NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force or VJTF will comprise a multinational force of several thousand troops. The Franco-German brigade of 3,500 troops will serve as the core of the force, drawing on the 1st Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Hussar Regiment. Other NATO countries, including Spain, Portugal, and Poland will also provide forces.

European Green Deal

1. Proposal for a DECISION concerning the amount of allowances to be placed in the market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme until 2030

2. Proposal for a REGULATION establishing a Social Climate Fund

3. Proposal for DECISION on the notification of offsetting in respect of a global market-based measure for aircraft operators based in the Union

4. Proposal for a REGULATION establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism

The Commission will continue to work with and support Member States to ensure the swift and full implementation of new and existing EU rules and will not hesitate to uphold EU law through infringement proceedings where needed. Achieving this is a prerequisite for meeting our policy goals in areas such as the proper functioning of the single market, driving Europe into the Digital Age, delivering the European Green Deal and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The better regulation agenda ensures that political decisions are taken based on the best available evidence, taking into account the impact they will have on the ground and the views of people and businesses likely to be affected. This approach helps ensure that regulation is targeted, easy to comply with and does not add unnecessary regulatory burdens.

The EC will