Just three months after coming to power, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to be ousted. He lost a vote of no confidence in the country's parliament and is expected to soon submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. On Wednesday, December 4, 331 members of France's 577-member parliament voted against Barnier's government, according to a report by the British news outlet BBC. The report states that no French government has been forcibly removed through such a vote since 1962. BBC reported that Prime Minister Michel Barnier faced heavy criticism for passing a controversial budget bill under special powers, bypassing a parliamentary vote. This led the main opposition party and left-wing groups to decide to propose a no-confidence motion against his government. The proposed budget aimed to address France’s growing fiscal deficit by increasing taxes by €60 billion and cutting expenditures. According to the BBC, a survey conducted last November showed that 67% of the population opposed the budget. Despite this, Barnier passed the bill without a parliamentary vote using special powers, which escalated the crisis. The main opposition party, National Rally (NR), and left-wing groups decided to proceed with the no-confidence motion. Following the loss of the confidence vote, Parliament Speaker Yaël Braun-Pivet stated that Barnier must now submit his resignation to President Macron and dissolve the parliament. Notably, early national elections were held in France in June and July. No single party secured a majority to form a government, leaving the French parliament politically divided into three major blocs. Approximately two months after the elections, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister on September 5. A veteran member of the right-wing Republican (LR) party, Barnier has had a long political career, serving in senior positions in both France and the EU. The 73-year-old was the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, leading discussions with the UK government from 2016 to 2019.

Russia's state-owned natural gas company Gazprom will end its natural gas deliveries to Austria this weekend, the country's largest energy supplier, OMV said on Friday. OMV announced that Gazprom will stop supplying it with gas on Saturday. The Austrian energy company said it had expected this development and that the country will continue to get gas through import from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the country has a secure supply of alternative fuel and that "no one will freeze." "The supply is secure," Nehammer said in an appearance at the chancellery to address the situation. "Our gas storage facilities are full and we have sufficient capacity to obtain gas from other regions," he added. Most of Austria's gas supply is Russian Austria's energy relationship with Russia dates back to the Cold War, as it was one of the first Western European countries to import gas from the Soviet Union in 1968. The end of Russian gas deliveries to Austria follows an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce, that awarded OMV some €230 million ($242 million) in a contractual dispute with Gazprom. OMV then said it would stop paying Gazprom until it received an amount of gas equivalent to the €230 million that the Russian company owed them. Austria gets most of its natural gas from Russia, as much as 98% in December 2023, according to Energy Minister Lenore Gewessler. The long road to green hydrogen No change to Ukraine policy Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, only three European countries —Austria, Slovakia and Hungary — continued to import Russian gas via a pipeline that travels through Ukraine, despite the Russian invasion. But Ukraine announced it will not continue gas transit on the pipeline after January 1, 2025, which would force those countries to find other suppliers. Nehammer said in a statement on Friday that despite the halt in gas deliveries, his country would not change its Ukraine policy. "We will not be blackmailed and will not be brought to our knees," he said.  Nehammer accused Gazprom of not fulfilling its delivery obligations on several occasions, with the goal of exerting pressure on Austria for its support of EU sanctions against Russia. (Source: Deutsche Welle)

Thousands celebrated in Berlin Saturday on the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the subsequent disintegration of former Communist East Germany, and eventually the Soviet Union, which led to German reunification. Many placed flowers in a rare remaining chunk of the structure at the site the Berlin Wall memorial, including President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Economy Minister Robert Habeck also visited the commemorations. And in a display that took rather longer to set up, an art installation of more than 5,000 placards spanning around 4 kilometers (roughly 2.5 miles) — made by children and adults alike under a motto that roughly translates to "we hold freedom aloft" — marked the path of the structure that once divided Germany's capital.  These signs included messages like "a wall should protect, not divide," "freedom of opinion without hate," and "freedom's not a gift."  An series of concerts were also planned, to offer what organizers touted as the "Soundtrack of Freedom," involving everything from East German rock to David Bowie, who famously spent time in divided Berlin, and culminating on Sunday with a performance from the Russian protest band Pussy Riot. Scholz calls reunification 'a win for all of Europe'  Chancellor Olaf Scholz, likely more preoccupied with his coalition's sudden collapse at present, published a video message on Saturday commemorating the anniversary.  Alluding to the pro-democracy movements and protests in much of Eastern Europe that preceded the bringing down of the wall, Scholz said "the victory of freedom in the fall of 1989 was a win for all of Europe."  "The fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago was the happy climax of a movement spanning all of Europe," he said, calling November 9 "a day of joy, for which we Germans are grateful to this day."  He also said the "revolution of freedom" in 1989 had a core message that remained as current as ever, namely: "Courage, confidence and solidarity pay off. Against each other we achieve nothing, we're only strong together."

European leaders have pledged to boost the bloc’s competitiveness following an informal European Council summit in Budapest. The meeting was hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who told a press briefing that he believed the common aim of the leaders assembled was "to make Europe great again," in a nod to the slogan of recently elected US President Donald Trump. The specter of an upcoming Trump presidency loomed large over the summit, where leaders discussed how the bloc can move politically with Trump going forward and how the European economy can compete with the US. Orban, an ally of Trump, said measures laid out in the Budapest declaration included urgent steps to reduce high energy prices across the bloc. Orban: Europe must 'move from war to peace' The Hungarian prime minister told fellow Europeans on Friday that Donald Trump's reelection will change the game regarding Russia's war in Ukraine, and urged the EU to "move from war to peace." "The situation at the front is obvious, there is a military defeat" for Ukraine, Orban said separately in a radio interview. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a joint statement in Budapest reaffirming their "determination to provide unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people." They reiterated their resolve to "maintain and reinforce their support" for Kyiv with the aim of repelling Russia’s aggression. Scholz: Europe to 'work well with Trump' On the topic of Trump, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed his willingness to work with the future US president. But he emphasized that Europe must also look out for its own security. "We must work together as the European Union, as Europeans, to do what is necessary for our own security," he said. "This will be successful if everyone plays their part," he added. In Budapest, Scholz said Europe would "continue to work well with the future American president." On the potential for Trump's tariffs and their effect on the EU economy, Scholz said the bloc was prepared to take it on. "I don't think we should speculate too much on this issue with the US. The EU has the competencies to do what is necessary. But we should all very clearly seek talks," Scholz added. Von der Leyen: EU must make economic reforms On the topic of the EU's economy, Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that the bloc needed to implement economic reforms quickly. Ex-European Central Bank head Mario Draghi released a sweeping report that raised the alarm over Europe's failure to keep up with the US, underlining the EU's low productivity and economic slowdown. "The recommendations in this report are already urgent, given the economic situation we are in today. They have become even more urgent after the US elections," Draghi said. Von der Leyen also promised on Friday to propose a "clean industrial deal" to support the decarbonization of the European economy in "the first 100 days" of her new European Commission set to start work in December. She also put forth cutting red tape for businesses as well as the creation of a savings and investments union to help companies access capital to flow into research for innovation.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there will be a vote of confidence on his government on January 15, 2025. The move could push Germany's parliamentary elections, scheduled for fall of 2025, to March 2025. Scholz said he planned to ask for a vote of confidence so that MPs "can decide whether to clear the way for early elections" which could be held by the end of March -- six months earlier than scheduled. He bitterly attacked Lindner's "petty political tactics" and accused him of a level of egoism that is "completely incomprehensible". Max Hofmann, head of DW News, said that Scholz has been criticized by the opposition for proposing a vote of confidence in January, instead of at an earlier date. Hofmann said that there might be some calculation on behalf of Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrats that "given a little more time" they may be able to "convince voters that they are worth another vote in March." "Scholz wants to introduce laws, get laws passed by the end of the year, and get things done that he still had planned. Whether this is going to be successful or not is a different story, and that lands him on January 15 for a vote of confidence," Hofmann said. "If he loses that vote, which seems extremely likely at this point, that brings us to March for early elections, and probably a new government for Germany," he added. Germany could face snap elections According to the German constitution, a decision to hold early federal elections cannot be made by the members of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, nor by the chancellor. An early dissolution of parliament can only come about in one of two ways: In the first case, if a candidate for chancellor does not win an absolute parliamentary majority — at least 367 votes in the 733-seat Bundestag — the German president can dissolve the parliament. This has never happened in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the second case, a chancellor can call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag to confirm whether he or she still has sufficient parliamentary support. If the chancellor fails to win a majority, he or she can formally ask the President to dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days. Following the dissolution of parliament, new elections must be held within 60 days. They are organized in the same way as normal general elections. The Federal Republic of Germany had three early Bundestag elections in its history. Read more on how they unfolded. Far-right AfD says traffic light collapse is 'liberation' for Germany The opposition far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party says it welcomed the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition as long overdue and a "liberation" for Germany. The AfD leaders in Germany's lower house of parliament, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, accused the coalition of leading the country to an economic abyss. "After months of gridlock and countless self-centered therapy sessions, we now urgently need a fundamental political fresh start to lead the economy and the country as a whole out of the severe crisis into which it has been plunged by the ideology-driven policies of the SPD, Greens and FDP," they added. The leaders urged Scholz to immediately call a vote of confidence. Left Party welcomes potential snap elections After the breakdown of the traffic light coalition, Germany's socialist Left Party has already started its election campaign. "The battle for the seats for the left of center has begun — and that is a good thing," the party leadership and the Left's Bundestag group declared together.  The Left would bring "a fresh left-wing wind into the country," said party leaders Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken, and the chairs of the Bundestag group, Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann. They accused the traffic light coalition members of causing instability and ruining the country with austerity. "Now it is plunging the country into the next crisis. As democratic parties, the SPD, Greens and FDP have a responsibility to ensure stability," the statement said. It said the traffic light coalition had not only failed recently but had "not managed to create security for the vast majority of the country" throughout its three years in power.

At least 14 people lost their lives on Friday when the concrete roof above the entrance of a railway station in Novi Sad, a city in northern Serbia, collapsed. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic reported, "When we reached eight victims, we knew that five more individuals were still trapped under the debris, though we couldn't confirm whether they were alive or dead." Dacic confirmed that those recovered had died "on the spot." Earlier, he noted that "over 80 rescuers are working on the scene, aided by heavy machinery." Emergency teams, alongside excavation crews, were using heavy equipment to cut and clear through the wreckage in search of any additional survivors. The Blood Transfusion Institute in Novi Sad urged residents to donate blood to aid the response. Station recently renovated It was not immediately clear what caused the partial collapse, but the Novi Sad Railway Station had only reopened in July after three years of renovation work. Construction work was still ongoing in parts of the building. Surveillance footage showed people entering and exiting the building and sitting on benches on a sunny day before the concrete structure suddenly collapsed. Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic described it as "a black Friday for us, for all of Serbia." "We will insist on finding those responsible, those who should have ensured the structure's safety. My condolences to the families of the deceased," he said. The Serbian government has declared Saturday a national day of mourning. (Source: Deutsche Welle)

Key Highlights: Russian drones and missiles killed at least six people including women and children Over seven hours of sustained shelling were reported in Kyiv, Dnipro and a village in Kherson G7 leaders announced that frozen Russian assets would be used to provide $50 billion (€46 billion) in loans to Ukraine Ukraine was subjected to a night of Russian missile and drone strikes that witnesses and authorities say lasted nearly 8 hours. In all, at least six people were killed — including women and children — and dozens more were injured as Russian forces attacked the capital Kyiv, the central city of Dnipro, and a village in the Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fumed on social media, posting images of burning and bombed-out buildings on X, formerly Twitter. Zelenskyy, referencing the BRICS summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin posted: "After everything said in Kazan, Russian murderers have resumed their usual business." "In Dnipro," Zelenskyy wrote, "one of Ukraine’s most important hospitals, the Mechnikov Hospital, was damaged, along with ordinary residential buildings. Tragically, three people were killed, including a child." "This war has continued for three years now," the Ukrainian leader added, "and there is only one culprit—Moscow."  G7 leaders finalize $50 billion loan to Ukraine from Russian assets G7 leaders on Friday finalized an agreement to provide some $50 billion (€46 billion) in bilateral loans to Ukraine over the next three years, funded from frozen Russian sovereign assets. The aid is scheduled to begin as early as December 1 and continue until the end of 2027. "These loans will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian Sovereign Assets," read a statement from G7 finance ministers. "The loan proceeds will be disbursed through multiple channels to support Ukraine's budgetary, military and reconstruction assistance," the statement added. The US this week promised to contribute $20 billion in loans to Kyiv as part of the package. The timing of the US loan is seemingly meant protect it from Donald Trump potentially reversing aid to Ukraine should he win the upcoming presidential election. Trump, who is seen as a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly threatened to cut all support for Ukraine if reelected. Outgoing President Joe Biden said the loans would be repaid with interest earned from frozen Russian assets. He said the plan allows the US to support Ukraine "without burdening taxpayers."