e. u. leaders have approved ukraine and mold though as bids for candidate status. the 1st official step towards joining the european union. it's a big political boast for ukraine as it faces big challenges on the battlefield. leaders from germany, france and italy had all back to cranes application, but all 27 member states needed to give it the go ahead. yes. yes we are. protestors outside the you council building here in brussels, found their views reflected by the 27 european leaders meeting inside. all of them agreed to grant ukraine e u candidate status, along with moldova french president emanuel my call spoke glowingly after the vote . the pupil, unusual to complete from day one of this conflict, europe has been reacting in a quick historic and united way body's function. firstly was the sanctions as then economic, military and financial support. legal to me committee annoyed with this political gesture, im not suggested, but i think the decision did not come as a surprise. mccall, along with 2 other powerful e u leaders. germany's olaf schultz and italy's m

all of them agreed to grant ukraine e. u candidate status, along with moldova. french president emanuel mccomb spoke glowingly after the vote . the peter pub usual to complete a from day one of this conflict as europe has been reacting in a quick historic and united way body function. firstly with the sanctions. a few, then economic, military and financial support a committee day. and now, you know, by this political gesture suggest politic. the decision did not come as a surprise. my call along with 2 other powerful e u leaders. germany's olaf schultz and italy's mario doggy had travelled to keep earlier in june, where they endorsed ukraine's e. u membership bid. many of the leaders acknowledged that russia's invasion played a large role in their decision making. these put the whole european union in such a motion. they will, we see is a result of totally new i would say utmost within europe in council. it says, i would say this is a new european council at this moment. it's clear ukraine will have to fulfill a long list of

challenges. government says policy will act as a deterrent, but critics have called the move in humane the e u is threatening legal action after the u. k. government proposed new legislation that would override the post breaks at trade deal signs less than 2 years ago. at the center of a long running dispute is how to regulate trade through northern ireland. it's a part of the u. k but borders you member of the republic of ireland and effectively remains within the e u. single market. earlier i spoke to dw, correspond christine manuel and brussels. i asked her to explain why trade rules for northern ireland were still proving to be so controversial. terry, the e u has specific food roles, especially when it comes to products like meat are and eggs and the and the block requires that goods coming in specifically from non e u. countries are subjected to customs checks. now because of the political history, which is very sensitive between ireland and northern ireland, bricks it negotiators afford it wise not to impose a hard border between ireland and northern island, which is effectively the kin

of course, the e u is threatening legal action of beauty briggs, the current agreement, or what sort of legal action are we talking about here, christine? while you can expect to see the, the u. k ab all is, excuse me, the, the european union. i argue that the u. k is effectively breeching international law. that is because the northern ireland protocol and was put into international law. and by all accounts that the british government is making the concession that it is contravene that it is, are in the way undermining its obligations to international law. it argues that the doctrine of necessity in necessity are warrants that, oh, that is for a court of lot to determine. but, but the use of vice commission president met maurice if georgia said this. he said the unilateral action is damaging to, to mutual trust. he said that this will simply bring further legal uncertainty for the people and businesses in northern ireland. the ear says it is interested in negotiating. some of the concerns are, are on the u. k. government side. ah, but given the momentum of this bill and, and 2 source

both of them seeing e u. member state and also nato, a fellow member bulgaria, holding up their candidacy essentially for reasons of nationalist populism. and bulgaria saying, you both have to do more to protect bulgarian speaking groups within their countries, but absolutely dissatisfaction, frustration on the part of the western balkans. that was one of the things that had concerns french president mac kron going into this very important summit. he is currently holds the rotating presidency of the council of member state leaders. and he had said that he's really concerned about what a clear declaration for ukraine and moldova would mean for the western balkan states. and one reason for the concern, quite frankly, is geo politics. there's real, a fear that this could push some of these western balkan countries closer to both russia and china. china, of course has it's on a number of these countries as potential cooperation partners in the belt and road initiative. the big logistics corridor and dutch and ind

e. u leaders say moscow is retaliating by restricting gas supply to the e. u. by now it's 12 member states that either have been totally cut off the russian gas or partially, and therefore the best is always hope for the best prepare for the worst. that's what we're doing right now. the worst case scenario is russia completely cutting off all of its gas supply to europe. the impact of that would be devastating for members, states like germany and others, whose economies depend on russia's energy. now let's take a quick look at some of the stories making headlines. of this are thousands of people have rallied in the georgia capital tbilisi to show their support for the former soviet republic joining the european union protest as an angry that unlike ukraine, georgia was not being given candidate status. they calling on the georgian government to resign or implement the 12 points listed by the you for their application to be reassessed. protesters of clashed with police in ecuador, capital, quito for the 12th day in a row. thousands of indigenous ecuadorian have

were they endorsed ukraine's e u membership bid. many of the leaders acknowledged that russia's invasion played a large role in their decision making. these put the whole european union in such a motion. i will, we see is a result of totally new i would say utmost through within europe in council. it says, i would say this is a new european culture. at this moment. it's clear ukraine will have to fulfill a long list of criteria before being able to enter the union. a process that could take years even decades. but the possibility of a lengthy wait didn't dampen the spirits of ukraine's president who thank the council via video link. each of these yeah ve to show property given us, i believe that the flag of the european union will fly in every ukrainian city that we have to liberate from russian occupation. great. the ukrainian and european flags will be together when we rebuild our country. it, after this war, the rubble, the slits ye lini. ras. you leaders will also have to discuss whether the union is even able to welcome new fam

the e u and u. k agreed, there would be no new checks on goods crossing the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland and you member. but the arrangements been destroyed, disrupted trade between northern ireland and mainland britain. setting the province apart from the rest of the u. k. his banker reports from london. if he saw the battle over breaks, it was done and dusted. think again, because a thorny detail and the tray deal signed 18 months ago has come back to haunt all involved with the british government plan to unilaterally scrap the know of an island protocol, infuriating brussels. this is illegal. that is why the commission has they decided to take legal action against the united kingdom for not complying with significant parts of the protocol on islands northern islands sun in the u. k. angus grows across the floor of parliament over the government's apparent, disregard of international law, unknown. a threat to the trade war with our european friends, triggered by a la

and the republic of ireland and e. u member that arrangements protected by the good friday agreement that entered 30 years of sectarian violence in the north. but instead, it effectively created a border in the irish sea with goods imported from mainland britain, subject checks, and going duty, this and others who want the province to be a seamless part of the rest of the u. k. the british government hopes it's bill will be a quick fix. it's hoping under the changes to allow good destin solely for northern ireland to avoid old shacks, other goods going to the republic of ireland launched the e. you would go down a separate channel, wet checks would take place. the problem is the border between northern island and the republic of island is open and porous, making it near impossible to know what goods a going where the u. k. government argues the problems arising from the protocol justify scrapping the plan. the youth firmly disagrees challenging the u. k for failing to implement checks on goods entering northern ireland.

so this is the hope that we also share with ukraine on its path to the e. u. and in this way to we are support claire with the organ. this is june for georgia who's perspective z e o we want to support as well. at the same time, we're well aware of the fact that the e u must prepare itself aside for the obsession is a new member states. that means that our internal structures must be reformed. the severity and this is why i'm advocating in the future that more decisions are made with a qualified majority, say in foreign policy, all appears from the european union has to be the support and ready to take on new members. this requires institutional reforms. we should use for his reforms to strengthen democracy in law within the as a spanish ha.

now we are only one step away from fully fledged integration into the e. u. we have a positive assessment from the european commission concerning candidate status for ukraine, and it is a historic achievement for all who work for our country. we just have to wait for the decision of the european council next week. i think ukraine made everything possible for this decision to be positive. russian president vladimir putin says it's ukraine's choice. if it wants to join the block, bought it risks, becoming a semi colony. if it does, it, will it use kimball, ultimately shirt enough to pay them when we've seen the, the use not a military alliance, unlike nato. but that's why we've always said our position here is consistent and clear. we have nothing against it. it's a sovereign decision of any country to join an economic alliance or not. and it's up to this economic union to accept new member states or not. well, it could take many years for ukraine to achieve full e u membership. countries submit a membership application to the e council, which then collectively

the e. u is set to discuss ukraine's candidacy on friday. but even if all member states gray, it could still take years 15 to gain actual membership. so roman a show of solidarity. therefore ukraine by the leaders of the for you countries, was that as much as beloved meal zalinski could hope for? or was he expecting more well, the landscape himself shall said he was satisfied. i think he was pretty happy with that support for the ukrainian you bid. ah, maybe he was a bit disappointed that there were no or very few new commitments to, to supply ukraine with arms with hey, we arms with artillery in the 1st place. and i think he might have been disappointed that there was a, there were no specific commitments as to the sanctions, new sanctions against russia, especially known your sanctions. i am no embargo on russian gas, which is which would hit russia really hard. and this is something that ukraine is hoping for, but in general, i think your king is rather satisfied with the results of that visit. yes. if ukraine does formerly become an e. u

e. u, and international trade. i spoke to the former director of the south african bridge, the think tank, who believes that groupings development is a challenge to western in germany but need to know game to much more prominent story than to the action was turned away. and. ready with these economy, crises of critics, countries are looking to russia and looking towards themselves and i done continue. dependence on with 10 gemini, which can lead the american c opperation of critics. when indeed to be reading, because mentions can see that they cannot rely on trust with the, from the west. now that we will need to bring in part as a project. again, i mean, in the countries in a way now it's not going even even more options than trying to make it on all also just to let you know, in the news line, russia's top diplomats has been holding high level talks with other patients, president and minister of foreign affairs circular from expressed this determination to settle the bubbling armenian or by jelly conflict as soon

almost 70 percent of voters in the region wanted britain to leave the e. u. but now that's happened, they feel let down. i almost feel embarrassed. i bolted out. i wish i could stand by the blow the way the from was does the sound of the overly where soft now? we have the whistle, some people but a ah, grimsby a port town by the north sea. yeah. oh good. so 10 minutes away. i to rush daren kenyon is one of grims these last working fishermen. while he waits for one of his fishing boats to return to shore. he's repairing his lobster pots. he's been working since the age of 13 these days. it's mainly the younger fisherman working for his company who head out to see his labs as he calls them. o darren takes care of everything on dry land. he learned his trade from his father. they used to spend weeks at sea. but in the 19 ninety's, the use common fisheries policy took its toll on the family business offices. the company switched its focus the shellfish with on nails in the coffin as we've gone along. but i think we're getting to the end of a now where we're getti

have risen since britain left the e u. he's here 20 pounds the fact this time last year there was 10 pound havoc, cool, massive buff doubling price because there is no eastern european whackers coming over to pick the peas in the field. so obviously the office did and the market is always reduced which increase his price. so again, major problem when carl opened his shop in the 1980s, beverly road was a part of a vibrant neighbourhood with shops and pubs lining the street. 168 percent of people and whole voted for brakes it they thought it would help turn the economy around. sancho works at the shop. coral tries to take things in stride. these to there are for a promotion for cheap booties which is chips inside the bone, normally would be to found $85.00 today's special off a warm bomb. my fair is a pound is rather nothing. so let's take a pound also. about an hour until opening in grimsby. some 50 kilometers away. darren canyon need some new equipment for his boat. he still hasn't found a buyer for his trawler. place thes

that's where british trawlers fished when britain was part of the e. u. common fisheries policy. boris johnson promised to negotiate better terms, but the u. k. government failed to strike deals with these countries, and fishermen are now facing financial ruin. if the fisherman, a thought about the bridget arrangement in the 1st life that would have voted to stay in the you role is home from the colman that you policy was a system in place. so now will the u. k. goldman figures are doing is written, engaging. what was there in the 1st place? the negotiating, we know, i about reciprocal arrangement. i'm not getting them though, negotiating with iceland about access to walters on the go in it. and the whole thing has become a mess. so all of the people that thought about leave in and it would also be rosy . it doesn't happen. growing unemployment in the humber side area is one result. was the city of whole is north of the humber bridge. karl malone works at cave st. fisheries, a traditional fish and chip shop. he's also feeling the cold winds of bricks. it

after the leaders of member states voted to give the war torn country e. u. candidate status. president, a lot of years lensky has hailed the decision as historic. the u. s. supreme court has handed down a landmark victory to gun rights advocates. it ruled that restrictions put in place by new york state on carrying concealed handguns and public are unconstitutional. the u. s. house select committee is holding its 5th hearing into last year, storming of the capital building, and whether then president donald trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. the former acting deputy attorney general robert donahue described how he responded during the near daily discussions between trump and members of the justice department about allegations of voter fraud. i felt in that conversation that was incumbent on one on me to make it very clear to the president what our investigations had revealed. and that we had concluded based on actual investigations, actual witness interviews, actual reviews of documents that these allegations simply hadn't a

but all 27 e. u government still need to sign off on the proposal before it can become law in sport, paris, paris is a police chief, has told an inquiry that police action during the champions league final was a quote failure. he also admitted that there was no evidence to support claims that 40000 liverpool fans tried to enter with fig tickets. authorities initially claim livable fans and provoke the intervention of riot police with their unruly behavior and invalid tickets. women and children were among the injured when police dispersed them using tear gas. one of frances greatest cultural sights has been almost inaccessible until now because it's under the mediterranean sea. but after years of construction, a millions of euro's visitors can now see it without wet suits or an oxygen tag, or at least a replica ah, on frances mediterranean coast, just a few kilometers from mar, say, lies, a cultural treasure. hidden for thousands of years under water, when diver aniko scouts set out exploring in 1985

e. u leaders say moscow is retaliating by restricting gas supply to the e. u. by now it's 12 member states that either have been totally cut off the russian gas or partially, and therefore the best is always hope for the best prepare for the worst. that's what we're doing right now. the worst case scenario is russia completely cutting off all of its gas supply to europe. the impact of that would be devastating for members, states like germany and others, whose economies depend on russia's energy to ecuador now wear protest. this and police have clashed for a 12 consecutive day as a nationwide strike tons increasingly violent. indigenous groups are leading the demonstrations triggered by soaring fuel prices and the high cost of living. with tensions at boiling point to ecuador president is accused the protest leader of trying to stage a coup. ah, police and protesters square off in ecuador is capital quito. several protesters have died in scores on both sides have been injured. the economy has taken a massive hit all while the country citizens struggle to feed t

as an e. u. member. other members of the block agree, this could be a very long way all use of abuse. we all know perfectly well the, the process to allow ukraine to join this would take several years. indeed, probably on several decade. some countries such ifs turkey have been waiting since the end of the last century. and even if you crane can fulfill the very long list of requirements, the dream of becoming a member of the you could still be just fat, becoming a candid, it may signal the intention, but it's certainly no guarantee human rights lawyer and social is just martin dozer believes the latest decision is just a symbolic show of support for kith. i think it's a symbolic move in any way. and if you have your own as well. if you look at the ukraine, the ukraine further, megan crit area, which means that there has to be a democratic society. the human rights have to be kept alive and in ukraine, we have impunity of torture us. we have a lot of corruption. we have partial involved in the state, so

if ukraine does formerly become an e. u. candidate country roman. would that change any thing in the effort to end the russian invasion? well, this will not change anything immediately on the battlefield, but we shouldn't underestimate. it's an extremely important sign, put a sign of political support for ukraine. it's a moral booster for the ukranian society, which i'm has been hoping for that a chance to be to become a new member for, for many decades, for 2 decades actually. and it's, it's a historic event and we've heard those words historic yesterday during the press conference several times. but practically speaking, this will give you crane more money from the european union, a to conductor forms to tools, chunk thing, democracy. and it will give also new expertise to ukraine will give her your opinion and a possibility to send more experts to ukraine to help it become a member of the european union one day roman. thank you very much. that was d. w, as roman gone to ranko in chief so today the european commission will issue it's recommendatio

the 2 countries that did not mutually recognize each other will become members of the e. u. o. else both sides. once again, for a clear commitment to this dialogue, according to sholtes, they would then be able to join the e u something. the western balkan states have been waiting 19 years full. watching the w news, g w business things as of next with christie plants and have a good weekend everybody to the dark side where intelligence agencies are pulling the strings. there was a before 911 and an after 911. he says after $911.00, the clubs came off.

all of them agreed to grant ukraine e u candidate status, along with moldova french president emanuel my call spoke glowingly. after the vote . the pupil, unusual to complete from day one of this conflict, europe has been reacting in a quick historic and united way body's function. firstly was the sanctions as then economic, military and financial support. li gonna mean committee to annoy with this political gesture. im not suggested, but i think the decision did not come as a surprise. mccall, along with 2 other powerful e u leaders. germany's olaf schultz and italy's mario to hockey, had traveled to keith earlier in june, where they endorsed ukraine's e. u membership bid. many of the leaders acknowledged that russia's invasion played a large role in their decision making. these put the whole european union in such a motion. they will, we see as a result of totally new, i would say utmost through within europe and cancel it. i would say this is a new european culture. at this moment. it's clear ukraine will have to fulfill a long list of criteria before being able to enter the union.

and he said he would seek a positive decision on ukraine's e u candidacy during talks next week. ok, no good thought of ukraine forms part of the european family and my aunt and one milestone on its promising european path as attaining candidate status for the e. u. the european union member states will be discussing that in the coming days. if we know that it requires a unanimous decision on by member states, germany is in favor of a positive decision on ukraine. i don't stop michael, and i will work in the european council to gain unanimous support for that good. they'll come in the same applies to the republic of moldova public model. and it's a matter of european credibility that we also finally on our promise to the states of the west and balcony. have been on this path for years and for, for i lose a short time ago. i spoke to d. w correspondent rebecca readers who was at that press conference in key. if i began by asking her if the ukrainian president got what he was looking for, i think you'd have to say absolutely. marianna, i mean this is something that the entity has b

the restrictions, a part of a range of e. u sanctions. tens of thousands of rail staff of walked off the job in britain. they want better pay a more job security. it's the biggest rail strike of the u. k. is experiencing more than 3 decades at emergency workers in bangladesh and northeast on india, struggling to deliver food and drinking water in several regions. devastated by flooding. more rain is forecast on the water level. major rivers is likely to rise even further. south korea says that it's successfully launched a test commercial satellite, which could be a big boost for it. space industry. it follows the failure of a similar rock it last year. i'll 0 rob mcbride reports now from near the narrow space center of south korea, south coast. mm. with this launch, south korea has joined an exclusive international club, one of only a handful of nations, able to put satellites into all bit commercially. the 3 stage rocket called newry meaning world was carrying a one and a half ton test satellite up to 700 kilometers above the

reminder of the top stories here on al jazeera, the european union has voted to give water in ukraine, e u candidate status. moldova was given the same status. european council president shall, michelle and ukrainian president vladimir zalinski. both described the decision as a historic moment is coincided with the u. s. preparing to send more military assistance to you.

the hearing mixed messages from russia on the e u decision. in the last few days, we've heard messages from the kremlin the spokesperson for the kremlin, dmitri pess golf a few days ago saying that sir, the russians were very concerned about ukraine's move closer towards europe. specifically, he said because of the deals that are being made in terms of weapons supplies from european and nato members. but then in the last couple of days, we heard from the president vladimir putin who seemed to imply and st. petersburg that he didn't have a problem with with, with this, or possibly a face saving statement made by him. because the fact remains that the fighting now is arguably heavier in the east than it has been since this war started. it's been described as a battle of artillery heavy shelling in multiple locations most focus in and around that city of civil than it's one of 2 cities that the russians do not yet control in the low guns province. so ukrainians very much up against it in the east. so today's decision in brussels of huge significa

the values of the e u. i was through a significant change, i would say in the last couple of years and even more so in the last couple of months. of course, this is only a political again, to raise the stakes and to draw european societies, i'd say who war psychology, of course, rally them against russia, which would not be the 1st time in history, but that to happen so. so on, on the lamb are really from top to her hawkish rhetoric and last couple of months. and she's talking language ultimatum. and she's not the only one recently, mr. charles, who may be seen as a moderate in me that you mention actually advised in serbia as, as a hawk as well. he said that serbia must join sanctions and must recognize that even a it's not a province at the cynicism or it is that it should do that in order to preserve the territorial integrity of the brain. for we acquainted prime minister julia tim shank and was using her political clout to fan the flames of anti russian sentiments in the country, including advertising,

they all backed ukraine's application, but all 20 southern member states of the e. u. they had to say yes to moving forward. yes, yes, yes, we protested outside the new council building here in brussels, found their views reflected by the 27 european leaders meeting inside. all of them agreed to grant ukraine. you candidate status along with mold over the decision was not unexpected. given the comments made by many leaders ahead of the meeting for that. and we will again show solidarity with ukraine. and we will also take an important decision for ukraine's european prospective. fisher perspective though, craner tougher. germany's chancellor schultz along with 2 other powerful e u leaders. italy's mario draggy and francis emmanuel macro had travel to keith earlier in june where they endorsed ukraine's u membership bid. others have the more skeptical, however, due to issues linked to corruption and the rule of law. but the war has loomed large in discussions. they are now at a stage where a granting can the say, this is possible, of course, given the geopolitical situat

e. u. leaders say moscow is retaliating by restricting gas supply to the e. u. by now it's 12 member states that either have been totally cut off the russian gas or partially, and therefore the best is always hope for the best prepare for the worst. that's what we're doing right now. the worst case scenario is russia completely cutting off all of its gas supply to europe. the impact of that would be devastating for members, states like germany and others whose economies depend on russia's energy. our correspondent, marina strauss. she is in brussels as she has more on the summit where that historic decision was taken after this is some eds here in brussels, german chancellor, will i shoulds, put the meetings most important decision. in a few words. we said 27 times. yes. he said, all you leaders said yes, when it comes to granting e candidate status to ukraine. and toward of us, it was a historic decision, a clear sign towards russia that ukraine and more to why are part of the european family, even if it will take years, may be decades for both countries to ent

the safe shore is over the e. u. now sa har is facing possible deportation in a break from the rest of europe. danish authorities have decided the damascus region is safe enough for refugees to return, leaving people like the har and her family to wonder what lies ahead. a mile a syrian refugee feels devastated. her daughter saw her is to be separated from her family in denmark and sent back to damascus, where she doesn't know any one. i can fire cobb and miss miller, a young girl that cannot live alone in damascus. i learned that gets over mac. i mean, it's impossible. what out one machine there are rapes and kidnapping was another one. mind that if to the it's not safe at all, that if cube last of a deal on is that she just can't go there alone to them. a few ashville have been to the refi family has been living in auburn ra, southern denmark for 6 years now. they found safety here from the civil war in syria. they are compared to the market. when i came to denmark at, i wanted to start a new life with my family he

it lies between nato and e. u members. lithuania and poland. it was cut off from the rest of russia after the collapse of the soviet union in 1991. as a result, the regions main rail linked to russia and it's half a 1000000 residents goes through lithuania and belarus. it is strategically vital for russia's navy. it's where it keeps its black c fleet with around 80 warships and submarines. some of them can fire nuclear missiles. i'll to 0 is dominick cain reports now from berlin. well, now there are 2 perspectives. there is the perspective of russia that sees its territory now with sanctions being imposed on it. and then the baltic states and poland, who look at the russian presence, and wondered what might happen from there. for many people in the baltic states and in poland who see alanine grad close to their territory, know that there are substantial russian forces in that territory and wonder what they might be used for. certainly the fear amongst members of the baltic states, most of the senior elements of government there have warned abou

want a trade war because ultimately it's, you know, it's, it's, it's about the whole trade between the e u and, and the u. k. we were very, very important trading partners and the u. s. threatening to, to, to, to take some action against the u. k. and, ah, but at the moment this is really not happening. so this is much further down the line because this bill also needs to go through parliament house and then it needs to go to the house of lords that there will be quite a lot of backlash, especially from the house of lords. so both sides will be hoping that there is a lot of posturing at the moment from the u. k, as well as from the you, but that really earn the goal is solution can be negotiated in the end. is of residents living in china's capital are facing compulsory testing after you outbreak of coven 19 the latest cluster of cases has been traced to a ball. were what were at one customer later. infected dozens of other people, schools, shops, and restaurants in beijing have been closed. and sports events, canceled beijing is back to mandatory testing and targeted locked downs for resi

so hitting russia and letting that ricochet back at the e u as ideally within the u. s. plans so. so he's got the bull sheila's. how's that? western journalists can interview you at your briefings, but i'll see can do the same thing with other officials abroad because both of them all with our capital self, my sickness. while this is an issue of free speech, you the west is refusing to allow us to question them even going as far as to block our t as a media outlet in our country. the situation is quite the opposite. we're open to any media, but when our sanctions opposed against us, they are giving us accreditation. they're not giving us visas and we're imposing sanctions in response. but what that, what, what that means is we read them both of us. can we see how much pressure washington is trying to put in other countries and how it's trying to force them not to engage with russia? do you somehow feel this from your own colleagues, pocketbook? we apply his, bring my po. no. well, they understand that their own countries are the one suffering they suffer from the policies of their

with the e u, a key consumer of all rubber produced in the region. that commodity is exempt from the blog legislation that prevents imports of goods linked to the destruction of forests spark the fury of the environmental watch dog, global witness from cameroon. to count if you are the eas, voracious appetite for rubber as devastating indigenous communities in eroding a vital carbon sink, yet astonishingly, a draft law to prevent deforestation. linked products from being sold in europe doesn't include rubber failed to oblige banks to stop funding, deforestation, and does not uphold indigenous communities rights. the main owners of these rubber plantations are companies from sing of poor and belgium who received funding from major european banks. the sectors expansion is also seeing per are local communities cut off from vital lum that they had previously used for farming for hunting. locals accused foreign firms of siphoning resources from their countries. here's one view we heard in cameras. i says on campus, these companies use our land for their b

the e. u is trying to move away from its dependence on russian energy and ease solar and gas prices. but it's smith reports from west jerusalem. the israel sits on about 0 point one percent of global gas reserves. not much, but the european union is looking everywhere it can to reduce its reliance on russian gas. so egypt already taking in 26 percent of israel gas production will start liquefying more at its 2 mediterranean plants. it'll trim just a few percent of the 40 percent of gas t e u bies from russia. this is a quick fix. it's not going to store the whole thing. i mean, if you look at the deck capacity in the system on its failure digits, it's something like 678 percent of what we are receiving from much. and it is the most that but we need other steps. we did noise ratio. net more in the bit, israel had frozen gas exploration. i didn't try to meet renewable energy targets. but the search alternatives to russian fuel has offered the israeli government to lucrative and opportunity to tu

it requires custom declarations and sometimes checks the e. u in britain jointly agreed to this in the northern ireland protocol. but now the british government says it's too costly and no longer wants to adhere to the agreement. what it does is it creates unnecessary barriers on, on trade, east west, ah, what we, what we can do is fix that. it's not a big deal. we can fix it in such a ways to remove those bureaucratic barriers. the northern ireland protocol is intended to ensure the free movement of goods between ireland and northern ireland . britain now wants to repeal large parts of it, no more controls for some goods coming into northern ireland. even the european court of justice will no longer have any influence. johnson's fellow party members warn him that unilaterally changing the international treaty would be foolish and probably illegal. e representatives are disappointed and are already threatening punitive measures. the u. k has been in many ways a standard bearer for international law and the protection of international law for man

plenty of other reasons why ukraine isn't in ship shape and bristol fashion when it comes to being an e. u. candidate in 2021. ukraine ranked a 100 and 22nd out of a 180 countries on the corruption index that was significantly lower than the most corrupt e country. according to one recent democracy index, ukraine didn't do particularly well there, either. it scored less than 40 percent in democracy with independent media, also seeing a decline in recent years. ukraine, which markets 30th anniversary of independence in 2021 cannot be described as a stable consolidated democracy. and as the war continues, the idea of a potential candidate being caught up in 1 may not be particularly appealing to the block. while there are also questions over whether ukraine is really pro european or just pro european funds or by then has just put 4 of the, his 40000000000 package for the ukraine, which is utterly insane when you consider the economic mass for the united states is in and i would say the same bang for the e u and the u. k. there is no way that the u. s. or the u. k. or any country, any natal m

well, he says it's ukraine's choice if it wants to join the e. u. but warns cave risks becoming what he called a semi colony. believe you skin below. conversely, certain us to pay them and we've seen the value is not a military alliance, unlike nato. but that's why we've always said our position here is consistent and clear, and we have nothing against that. it's a sovereign decision of any country to join an economic alliance or not. and it's up to this economic union to accept new member states or not. but anyway, all right, let's take a closer look at the process to join the european union. countries 1st have to submit a membership application to the e you council. it then assesses their ability to meet the so called copenhagen criteria. and this includes of functioning market economy, a stable democracy, and the rule of law, as well as the acceptance of all you legislation and the euro. if the commission's opinion is positive, the council then begins to negotiate membership, often on a subject by subject basis which can take years. 5 nations cur