Citizens of Ukraine who left for the EU countries after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, evaluate online public services in Ukraine much better (71%) than in the EU countries (16%).
As noted in the results of the “All-European survey of Ukrainians in Europe”, conducted by the sociological group “Rating” on July 4-11, financial and banking services in Ukraine will also significantly benefit (70% vs. 14% in the EU). Ukrainians also assessed the sphere of medicine better in Ukraine than in Europe: both the availability of medical services (71% vs. 21%) and their quality (60% vs. 25%).
Preschool and school education was better in Ukraine (42%) than in the EU (35%), higher education – on the contrary: slightly better in the EU (43%) than in Ukraine (32%). Ukrainian students of European universities agree more than others that higher education is better in the EU.
The absolute majority of Ukrainians surveyed agreed that public transportation is much better in the EU (77%) than in Ukraine (14%). The opinion is similar regarding European roads, which are considered better there (85%) than in Ukraine (5%). But respondents consider housing in Ukraine more affordable (57%) than in the EU (22%).
According to Ukrainians, Ukraine has a much better beauty industry than the EU (85% vs. 5%), as well as cafes and restaurants (60% vs. 16%), postal and delivery services (54% vs. 25%), online shopping (51% vs. 22%), but with regard to retail chains and stores, opinions are divided: 42% consider them the best in Ukraine, 36% – in the EU.
Ukraine loses a lot to European countries in the level of corruption, however, in terms of bureaucracy and taxation rates, at home, according to the majority, more favorable climate than in the EU. 84% of respondents believe that the level of corruption in Ukraine is higher than in the EU (3%), at the same time the level of bureaucracy is higher in the EU than in Ukraine (50% vs. 25%). Also, according to the respondents, the level of taxation is higher in Europe (59%) than in Ukraine (16%). However, by the level of economic freedom Ukraine (25%) is inferior to Europe (52%), as well as by the level of income (3% vs. 87%).
87% of respondents assessed opportunities in the EU as a whole as higher than in Ukraine, especially in income (87% vs. 3%), social security (75% vs. 15%), protection of rights and freedoms of citizens (67% vs. 19%), opportunities to live comfortably (60% vs. 26%), to find a job (54% vs. 30%). According to the respondents, it is possible to succeed both in the EU (40%) and in Ukraine (41%), but doing business is still somewhat better in Ukraine (45%) than in the EU (34%).
4% of Ukrainians have bribed an official in the host country (most often in southern Europe), the same number refused to answer.
The study anonymously interviewed 2116 Ukrainians aged 18 and older who found temporary asylum in 31 European countries after February 24, 2022 using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing) method. Results are weighted using current UNHC (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) data. The study’s representativeness error at a confidence level of 0.95: no more than 3.2%.
Nova Post Group has announced the opening of NovaPost branches in Latvia and Estonia in October and November 2023.
“The opening of the first Nova Post branch in Latvia is expected in October and in Estonia in November,” Svetlana Knizka, CEO of Nova Post in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, was quoted as saying in the group’s press release on Monday.
It is indicated that before the opening of branches in these countries will work the possibility to call a courier to any address throughout Latvia and Estonia to receive parcels or send them to Ukraine. The group announced the launch of this service for mid-September 2023.
It is specified that the courier service will work on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00, it will be possible to send or receive documents and parcels up to 30 kg, delivery from 5 days.
As reported, NovaPost already operates in Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Moldova, Romania and Germany.
The network of NovaPost in Ukraine at the beginning of July included more than 10 thousand offices and more than 14 thousand post offices.
According to Standard-Rating, revenue of Nova Posta in the first quarter of 2023 increased 2.1 times to UAH 8 billion 83.1 million, EBITDA – almost 4.4 times to UAH 1 billion 307.8 million, and net profit – almost eight times to UAH 1 billion 54.91 million.
Extremely high temperatures since the beginning of this week are again registered in the countries of southern Europe, including popular tourist destinations, European media reported on Monday.
Temperatures are expected to reach about 44 degrees Celsius in the Seville region of Spain this week. More wildfires are feared in the country.
In Cyprus, where a major fire is raging near Limassol, it is recorded at about 35 degrees, with strong winds likely to increase the burning area. There, local authorities have appealed for help from European and regional partners, Jordan and Greece have already sent firefighting aircraft to Cyprus.
In Greece, firefighters finally managed to bring about 70 fires under control over the weekend, but several regions of the country are still under the threat of fires due to increased winds. In July, severe fires led to the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the island of Rhodes.
Fire brigades are fighting fires on the Italian island of Sardinia. At least three people have been injured, about 600 had to be evacuated, two highways have been blocked. On Monday, the island declared the maximum, red level of danger.
At the same time, temperatures in central Europe and the northwest were below normal. It is expected that in London and Paris the temperature in the evening may fall to about +14 degrees Celsius.
Storm Hans has reached the north of Europe, causing widespread flooding in several countries, with warnings even issued in Sweden. Big delays are observed at Stockholm airport, ferry service to Poland has been interrupted.
The Norwegian Water and Energy Authority has raised the flood warning to the highest possible level.
Mining company Ferrexpo with assets in Ukraine in January-June this year due to the blockage of sea ports by Russia was able to supply pellets only to European countries and Turkey.
According to the semi-annual report of the company on Wednesday, Ferrexpo in the first half of the year-2023 all 100% of the realized products supplied to Europe, including Turkey, while in January-June-2022 this share was 92%, in the first half of the year-2022 – 79%.
Earlier it was noted that in H1-2022 the company increased the share of sales to Europe, including Turkey to 79% (in IH-2021 – 60%), Northeast Asia – to 5% (8%). Deliveries to the Middle East and North Africa were absent at that period (2%), as well as to North America (2%). Meanwhile, sales to Southeast Asia (SEA), including China, fell to 16% from 29%.
According to the report, the group was mainly limited to exports to Europe either by rail or inland waterways via the Danube River in the current year. It produced 1.967 million tons of pellets, operating one to two of four pelletizing lines, each capable of producing about 3 to 3.5 million tons of pellets per year, depending on the product types produced.
As at the end of July, the group operates one pelletizing line to reduce existing product inventories.
C1 production cost in H1-2023 was $71/tonne, down from H1-2022 ($85/tonne) due to the hryvnia devaluation in H2-2022 and lower prices for some consumables and the positive effect of energy savings. At the same time, iron ore prices in H1-2023 on the global market decreased by 5%, the outlook for the third quarter is slightly worse due to weak demand in Asia and increased iron ore supplies from Brazil and Australia.
Total selling and distribution costs in H1 2023 were $74 million (H1-22 – $147 million), mainly due to lower shipping volumes in the period due to the closure of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in February 2022 and higher alternative freight costs that followed access to European customers. C3 freight rates declined 26% year-on-year to average $20/tonne in 1H 2023 as a result of lower global energy prices and lack of demand from Brazilian miners.
It is also stated that previously the group’s maritime logistics routes represented the cheapest and most efficient way to deliver products to customers. However, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group has had to adapt and establish new logistics corridors and relationships with logistics service providers and port operators. These routes rely heavily on rail, where capacity is limited and demand is high, including from businesses and industries, and transportation by barge is also limited and costly.
“The Group continues to explore its logistics options and has made progress in reducing transportation time and improving efficiency where possible,” the report said.
It also reminds that rail tariffs in July-2022 increased by 70% for 20 types of cargo, even when the group uses its own railcars.
During the first six months of 2023, the average monthly iron ore price remained in the range of $100 – $200/tonne, royalties for iron ore mining are charged to the group at a rate of 5% in this period.
Ferrexpo is an iron ore company with assets in Ukraine.
Ferrexpo owns 100% of Poltava GOK PJSC, 100% of Yeristovskiy GOK LLC and 99.9% of Belanovskiy GOK LLC.
Countries in southern and central Europe are preparing for an abnormal heat wave expected to arrive there over the weekend due to the Cerberus anticyclone, the Associated Press reports.
“Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland are facing a powerful heatwave, with temperatures on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia potentially rising to 48 degrees Celsius – potentially the highest ever recorded in Europe,” the European Space Agency, which is tracking the Cerberus anticyclone that brought the abnormal heat to the region, said in a statement.
Temperatures across much of Italy are expected to exceed the 40 degrees Celsius mark over the weekend, with Spain expected to reach around 44 degrees Celsius.
In some countries, the authorities are taking measures to protect the population from the effects of abnormal heat. In particular, in Greece, the working hours of public institutions and the private sector have been changed. People are notified by SMS-messages about the danger of being on the street. The authorities of Cyprus urged the islanders to avoid forest areas because of the danger of fires.
At the same time, “Cerberus” is expected to soon hit the north of Europe. Thus, in the Arctic has already registered the day before the record high temperature in the history of observations – 28.8 degrees Celsius in the north of Norway. The previous record was recorded in 1964, when the thermometer reached 27.6 degrees Celsius.
The International Committee of the Red Cross urges tourists in Europe to exercise extreme caution and pay attention to the people around them, especially those who are most vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures, recalling that last summer Europe has already faced an abnormal heat wave, and then its victims for various reasons were about 60 thousand people.
Saudi Arabia will increase prices in August for all oil grades for US, Northwest Europe and Mediterranean customers as well as for some grades for Asian customers.Saudi Arabia raises oil prices slightly for US and Europe
The most significant price increases will be for customers from the Mediterranean (1-1.1%) and Northwest Europe (0.8%). For the US, Saudi oil will rise by 0.1%.
The cost of the main grade supplied to Asia, Arab Light, will increase by $0.2 per barrel next month. As a result, it will be $3.2 a barrel more expensive than the Oman and Dubai oil basket.
EUROPE, OIL, SAUDI ARABIA, US
