Ukraine has not been able to reach an agreement with a group of bondholders over restructuring some $20 billion of international debt during formal talks, it said on Monday (17 June), raising the spectre that the war-torn country might slip into default.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP/EPP) opted against dissolving the government after environment minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) voted in favour of the EU nature restoration law in spite of his party’s rejection of the initiative.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official said on Monday (17 June), in a widely expected move following the departure from government of centrist former general Benny Gantz.

Countries in the Union will now have to respect legally binding targets regarding national efforts to restore degraded land and sea ecosystems in compliance with the newly endorsed Nature Restoration Law. Due to its politicized nature, the text risked falling through multiple times during the past few months.

European Union member state leaders were not able to seal a preliminary deal for a trio of top job positions for the next five years when they met on Monday, despite earlier hopes there could be a swift agreement.

Launching the Trans-Caspian Corridor Coordination Platform strengthens vital trade routes linking Central Asia to Europe. Euractiv spoke with the European Commission’s Henrik Hololei, Hors Classe Adviser, DG for International Partnerships, about the road ahead.