Europe must improve its relationship with Russia and should not let this be something decided by Washington, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday.

• October 8, 2015

Russia's military build-up in Syria includes a "considerable and growing" naval presence, long-range rockets and a battalion of ground troops backed by Moscow's most modern tanks, the U.S. ambassador to NATO said on Wednesday.

• October 7, 2015

The International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecasts for a second time this year on Tuesday, citing weak commodity prices and a slowdown in China and warned that policies aimed at increasing demand were needed.

• October 6, 2015

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged the European Union on Monday to consider safe havens and no-fly zones in Syria as a way to resolve the bloc's migrant crisis but signaled a readiness to discuss Europe's calls for more camps in Turkey.

• October 5, 2015

Issue # 75
10/05/2015
It discussed local elections in Ukraine, immunity for separatist candidates, withdrawal of arms smaller than 100 mm in calibre and control over the border. READ MORE

• October 5, 2015

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wants to avoid an adversarial relationship with Moscow and is unsure how Russia's recent military intervention in Syria will affect the situation there.

• October 3, 2015

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics
June - October 2015
By Ben McPherson, Principal Editor and Standing Expert on the Black Sea Region

Key Points:

• Surprising 7 June election results have led to extreme political measures, as President Erdoğan forces a do-over in an attempt to get a better result
• The PKK/government ceasefire breaks down, which offers political opportunity for Erdoğan and the AKP but comes at a steep price:
  • The outbreak of violence has killed between 150-500 soldiers and police, and reportedly over 2,000 PKK members
  • Sources differ on whether Erdoğan or the PKK deserve blame for the re-ignition of hostilities, while all parties attempt to use it to their advantage
• The Kurdish HDP and Selahattin Demirtaş walk a tightrope as they try to maintain their place as an accepted political party, while keeping their base of support
• The situation over the border in Syria threatens to overwhelm all plans, as both the US and Russia make recent moves that are taking the conflict out of Erdoğan"s control

• October 1, 2015

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Dr Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

• Gazprom and the EU: Gazprom submits response to EU antitrust ‘statement of objections’, one week after submitting its own proposals in the hope of an out-of-court settlement; Gazprom and Wintershall complete their asset swap; Gazprom and OMV sign preliminary agreement on asset-swap
• Nord Stream: OMV Gazprom signs shareholder agreement with Wintershall, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell for Nord Stream II
• Turkish Stream: Gazprom proposes reduction of Turkish Stream project to two lines with 32 bcm capacity, with negotiations on hold until after Turkish elections on 1st of November
• Ukraine: Uncertainty reigns for Gazprom and Naftogaz as winter approaches
• Asia: Gazprom continues to promote the expansion of the Sakhalin-II LNG export terminal; US sanctions against the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas field – clarification; The significance of US sanctions against the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas field; Power of Siberia Eastern Route: back to square one?; Gazprom hopes to sign deal on ‘Western Route’ of Power of Siberia in 2016
• Other: Gazprom Export holds its first auction for gas exports, marking the beginning of ‘spot price’ pipeline exports

• October 1, 2015