| Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede, from the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party, responded to a statement made by Donald Trump, by reiterating that Greenland is not for sale. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom”, Egede said. This reaction came after Trump, as president-elect, suggested that the US should own and control Greenland for national security reasons. Greenland is strategically important due to its rich mineral resources, potential for military bases, and control over emerging Arctic shipping routes. Additionally, Greenland's position could enhance US national security and influence in the Arctic, counterbalancing the presence of other global powers like Russia and China in the region. Trump has expressed interest in purchasing Greenland before, for example in 2019. At that time, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea "absurd," and Greenland's Premier Kim Kielsen firmly stated that Greenland was "not for sale." Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. In Germany, the far-right AfD party held a rally on Monday near Magdeburg’s Christmas market, a few days after a deadly attack by a Saudi man that cost the lives of five people and left 200 injured. While the country is still mourning, local media report that AfD is trying to capitalise on the attack and escalate its anti-immigration rhetoric ahead of the federal elections in February. In Athens, Governor of the Bank of Greece Yannis Stournaras said Europe urgently needs migrants as the workforce is decreasing due to ageing. Referring to the new US administration, he said if Trump intended to impose 10% tariffs on Europe horizontally, then the bloc would have a 1% decrease in GDP. He, therefore, suggested that EU leaders should coordinate and agree on a “Brexit-style” negotiator. “I hope sobriety prevails when he [Trump] sits down to discuss this with his advisors”, the Greek economist said, adding that within the ECB, there is starting to be some certainty about what kind of global economy we will have in 2025. Meanwhile, a health law expert said members of Trump's presidential transition team are preparing for the United States to withdraw from the WHO on the first day of his second term. Poland's former deputy justice minister under the Law and Justice government, Marcin Romanowski, wrote an open letter to the current Polish justice minister, demanding conditions for his return. He is wanted for 11 charges related to his mismanagement of the Justice Fund, money designated to aid crime victims. Following his evasion of the Polish authorities, Romanowski was granted political asylum by Hungary, significantly worsening diplomatic relations between the two countries. Romania’s coalition government has been invested for a second term and will present a joint candidate in the upcoming presidential elections to prevent the far right from winning. The previous vote was cancelled due to alleged Russian interference. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu (Social Democratic Party, PSD, S&D) leads the three-party coalition, which has selected retired liberal politician Crin Antonescu (National Liberal Party, PNL, EPP) as the presidential candidate. The annulment of the previous election, following the unexpected victory of pro-Putin ultranationalist Călin Georgescu, led to political and economic instability, including a downgrade of Romania's credit outlook to negative by Fitch. The government now faces significant economic challenges, including adopting a budget and reducing the public deficit. Meanwhile, on the Ukraine front, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea could send more troops to Russia while NATO chief, Mark Rutte, commented that Zelenskyy should not criticise Germany's Olaf Scholz over his refusal to provide Taurus missiles.
Ukraine’s president also lashed out at Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico over his surprise visit to Moscow. Lastly, the Kosovo electoral authorities have refused to certify the ‘Serb List’ political party for the upcoming general elections. This party holds all 10 seats reserved for ethnic Serbs in the Kosovo parliament. Two CEC members voted against certification, two voted in favour, and seven abstained. Prishtina claims the party, formerly headed by the man who admitted to the September 2023 terrorist attack in the north, is the arm of Belgrade and refuses to acknowledge Kosovo’s independence. "I can't raise my hand and vote for an entity that openly does not recognise the state of Kosovo," said CEC member Sami Kurteshi. | 