The coming weeks will tell whether Francois Hollande can pick up the pieces of his accident-prone presidency and start to pull the euro zone's second-largest economy out of decline. It may be his last chance to do so.

• January 13, 2014

Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month that would enable Iran to lift oil exports substantially, undermining Western sanctions that helped persuade Tehran in November to agree to a preliminary deal to curb its nuclear program.

• January 12, 2014

Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month that would let Iran lift oil exports substantially, in defiance of Western sanctions that helped force Tehran to agree a preliminary deal to end its nuclear program.

• January 10, 2014

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

Key points:

• Gazprom prepares to settle in EU Antitrust investigation
• Gazprom finalises asset-swap with BASF Wintershall, with deal approved by EU competition watchdog
• Russia offers Ukraine 33 percent discount on gas price as part of package designed to keep Ukraine in Russia’s political orbit
• Nord Stream: EU and Gazprom to agree terms for use of OPAL pipeline in early 2014
• South Stream faces legal hurdles as European Commission claims aspects of South Stream’s intergovernmental agreements are in breach of EU law
• Gazprom fails to conclude deal with CNPC before year end
• Gazprom opens representative office in Brussels

• January 8, 2014

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during December 1-31st 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• Investigators and police believed to be tied to the Gulen Movement arrest dozens with ties to government and big business in Turkey, including the sons of three cabinet ministers.
• Prime Minister Erdogan forces the resignation of nine cabinet members, some going quietly, others like Environment and Urban Planning Minister Bayrraktar condemned the prime minister himself for seeking the cabinet shuffle.
• State-owned Halkbank’s connections with a money laundering scheme for the Iranian nuclear program threaten to alienate Turkey’s Western allies.
• The political uncertainty emanating from the investigations and subsequent interference with the judiciary by the prime minister have caused sharp drops in Turkey’s markets. The lira closes the year out near a record low.

• January 4, 2014

The European Union sought to calm fears in countries like Britain, France and Germany that they face a mass influx of Romanians and Bulgarians following the lifting of restrictions on Wednesday, a change that risks fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.

• January 3, 2014

Catalonia's president has called on European Union prime ministers for support as the region seeks a vote on independence in November this year, the source of an increasingly bitter fight with Spain's central government.

• January 3, 2014

China's increasingly sophisticated military will establish a joint operational command structure for its forces to improve coordination between different parts of the country's defense system, the official China Daily reported on Friday.

• January 3, 2014