EU in 2022: War, energy crisis, inflation…

The European Union (EU) passed 2022 with many tests, from tensions with Russia to energy, from the economy to security and immigration.

2022 started with the French presidency of the EU. After 14 years, France’s agenda included increasing the EU’s autonomy in security and defense, better protection of the EU’s external borders, preventive and urgent measures regarding irregular migration and returns.

However, towards the end of 2021, Russia’s military fortification on the border with Ukraine gradually increased tension with Ukraine, causing the EU to shift its approach towards relations with Russia in 2022, with different dimensions. With the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine on February 24, tensions reached their peak and new challenges opened up for the EU, which has been fighting against the effects of Covid-19 for the last 2 years, especially in the fields of the economy and energy.

THE ENERGY CRISIS CONTINUES

EU countries experienced energy and inflation crises together in 2022. European countries, which are dependent on foreign energy, have faced rapidly rising prices for natural gas and electricity, especially since the first months of 2022 .

Inflation in European countries, which were powerless against the rise in energy prices, also entered an upward trend and thus, inflation in Europe exceeded the 2 percent target of the European Central Bank (ECB).

Inflation in the EU and the Eurozone broke records in the first month of the year, while the rise in inflation accelerated with the Russia-Ukraine war. The increase in energy prices began to be reflected in other products.

As this situation continued throughout the year, the purchasing power of workers in many European countries declined rapidly, sparking protests on a scale unprecedented for many years.

CONSEQUENTIAL SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

Following the war that began in February, the EU has implemented a series of economic sanctions targeting Russia. In 2022, the EU implemented a total of 9 different sanctions packages against Russia.

The rapidly rising prices of natural gas and electricity have also plunged European heavy industry into an unprecedented crisis. Factories in critical sectors such as iron, steel, fertilizers, aluminium, zinc and glass, facing high bills, experienced production difficulties due to rising energy costs and uncertainty.

WAVE OF IMMIGRATION

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has created a new immigration problem. About 8 million people, mostly women and children, emigrated to EU countries.

Thanks to the temporary protection status, which was activated for the first time in the history of the EU, Ukrainians were able to obtain residence and work permits in EU countries and benefited from education and health services.

Ukrainians also received benefits such as social assistance, housing assistance, and livelihood assistance. Considering that those fleeing armed conflict in places like Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or Africa can enter the EU by circumventing practices such as “rejection”, some countries are not even offered refuge and only 40 per cent of them are accepted, and the EU is criticized for treating Ukrainians with privileges. (AA)