People checks at internal land and sea borders between Croatia and other Schengen zone countries will be abolished from January 1, 2023, according to an EU Council decision of December 8, 2022.
Checks at internal air borders will be abolished from March 26, 2023, given the need to coordinate with International Air Transport Association (IATA) timetable dates, Brussels explained the decision, under which Croatia became the 27th member of the Schengen area and its rules now apply to the country.
“I am very pleased that during the Czech Presidency (of the EU Council in the second half of 2022 – IF-U) Croatia was able to take two important steps in its European integration by joining both the euro area and the Schengen area. I am confident that these successes will pave the way for other member states that fulfill the conditions to take the next step in their European advancement,” said Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakušan, announcing the EU Council decision.
At the same time, the applications of Bulgaria and Romania to join the free movement zone remained unsatisfied.
Commenting on this situation, the Czech Interior Minister assured: “Both I and my colleagues will continue to work hard so that we can welcome Bulgaria and Romania to the family of the Schengen area in the near future.
According to Western media reports, Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen zone was opposed by Austria and the Netherlands, and Romania’s accession was opposed by Austria.
Agreement on the gradual abandonment of border control was signed June 14, 1985 in the Luxembourg village of Schengen, where the borders of Luxembourg, France and Germany, the representatives of five countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Germany. The Schengen area began its existence on March 26, 1995 when border and customs controls were abolished at the internal borders of these countries which had by then been joined also by Spain and Portugal.
Due to the further increase in the number of Schengen countries, the agreement with its legal framework was included from 1999 into the unified community legislation (Treaty of Amsterdam). After Croatia joined the Schengen Area, there are 23 EU states and four European Free Trade Association countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
De facto, without the conclusion of formal agreements, the dwarf states of Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino joined the Schengen rules.
Portugal will support Ukraine’s recovery and help build international support for the country’s victory, says First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko.
She expressed this opinion after her meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, where the Ukrainian delegation, led by Sviridenko, attended the inauguration ceremony of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
“I am grateful to Marcelo Rebelo de Souza for his personal involvement and diplomatic efforts in achieving victory and peace. I am convinced that economic and political cooperation with Portugal will only increase. It is not unreasonable to expect assistance in the movement of our state to the European Union and the participation of Portugal in the reconstruction of Ukraine,” Sviridenko said, as quoted by her press service in a statement on Monday.
As the economy minister noted, Portugal will help Ukraine “in the reconstruction of educational facilities. We are also grateful for help in strengthening our cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking community around the world.”
Portuguese President Rebelo de Souza reaffirmed his country’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its willingness to expand cooperation during the meeting.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation in the economic sphere, the situation in Ukraine, in particular in connection with missile attacks on energy infrastructure, practical issues of reconstruction, etc.
Quotes of interbank currency market of Ukraine (UAH for 1 pln, in 01.11.2022-30.11.2022)
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Kyiv has received the first two of 20 planned high-capacity generators (300-800 kVA) as part of a memorandum between Kyiv and Taiwan on assistance in acquiring alternative power sources, the press service of the capital’s mayor said Monday.
“The first two generators have already been transferred to Kievteploenergo, they are used in city boiler houses. As part of the project, about 20 generators are expected to be transferred to power critical infrastructure facilities in the capital. We are very grateful to our partners for support of Kyiv and Ukraine,” Vitalii Klitschko said during the transfer of generators to the communal enterprise “Kyivteploenerho”.
Last December, Kiev and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding to help the Ukrainian capital purchase diesel power generators with the help of a donation from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ukrainian car market of new passenger cars decreased by 61.5% compared to the prewar year 2021 – down to about 40 thousand units, informs AUTO-Consulting.
“But the main thing is that the Ukrainian car market survived, it exists even during the war. Thanks for that to the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” – the website of information-analytical group reports.
At the same time, AUTO-Consulting states that the results of last year for the car market were the worst since 2000.
“For example, in 2015, when there was also a significant drop due to military action, the market reached 46.5 thousand cars and showed a 50% decrease,” – noted in the message.
On its Facebook page AUTO-Consulting also cites preliminary results of sales of new passenger cars in December – sold 4,009 cars, which is almost 23% more than in November-2022. Toyota remained the leader with 27.4% market share, Skoda came second in November (10.3%), while Suzuki (7.9%) moved up to third place from eighth. Renault, which was in second place in November 2022, moved down to fifth place (5.7% of the market).
According to the group, the market of new light commercial vehicles (LCV) in 2022 decreased by 69% – to 4 thousand units, and, as the analysts note, the total volume of 44 thousand sold cars and light commercial vehicles was the lowest since 1997-1998, when the market of new passenger cars was about 30 thousand units.
At the same time, the company noted that this year the leading operators of Ukrainian car market expect positive dynamics.
As reported, in 2021, sales of new cars, according to Auto-Consulting increased by 20% in 2021 – to 103.65 thousand units.
Quotes of interbank currency market of Ukraine (UAH for 1 rub, in 01.11.2022-30.11.2022)
minfin.com.ua
