Author: Efthimia Palili

Systemair is to cease production at its Menerga products factory in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany. The products currently manufactured at the Muelheim an der Ruhr, which includes ventilation units for swimming pools, waterparks, and low energy buildings, will be transferred to Systemair’s existing plant in Slovenia. The process is expected to be completed in 2024. Resources for product development, sales, and support will remain in Muelheim an der Ruhr. The service business will remain unchanged. The structural change is said to entail a cost of approximately SEK125m (€10.7m) for severance pay and impairment of assets, but will generate annual…

In this week’s essential articles, we look at topics including how the new budget could affect you, our readers’ tips for finding a cheap first-hand rental, and who’s who in Swedish politics, as well as a long read on the Swedish wine industry from our archives. They’re often high quality and cheaper than the market rate, but oh so hard to come by. The Local’s readers share their best tips for how foreigners without years in the housing queue can rent a so-called first-hand apartment in Sweden. Foreigners in Sweden are affected by many aspects of the budget to the…

The US think tank Freedom House released a report on Wednesday indicating that, despite a global decline in internet freedom for the 13th consecutive year, Estonia retains second place in the world, following Iceland, in terms of internet freedom. The main message, articulated by one of the Estonian reporters, Hille Hinsberg, an e-governance expert from Proud Engineers, is, “Estonia, known for its high level of digital society, ensures network availability and the country provides strong protection for user rights. Restrictions on internet content and channels concern curbing the spread of hostile propaganda and disinformation and sanctions against Russian media channels.”…

The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, has held talks with Austria’s Minister of Labor and Economy Dr. Martin Kocher on ways to enhance economic cooperation between the Kingdom and Austria. Representatives from the public sector attended on Wednesday the meeting that took place during Alibrahim’s official visit to Austria. During the visit, the Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning also participated in a roundtable discussion with the Federation of Austrian Industries. Representing over 80% of manufacturers in Austria, the forum provided an excellent opportunity for fruitful dialogue. In his remarks at the roundtable, Alibrahim stressed…

The Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have signed two partnership agreements, aimed at promoting the digital transformation of the administration and the digital inclusion of very small, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco. The two agreements, worth €8 million, were inked in Rabat by Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Ghita Mezzour, and resident director of GIZ Morocco, Kathrin Lorenz, and project manager for eGov and DigiTPME at GIZ, Timo Muller. Covering the project entitled “Digital Transformation of the Moroccan Administration”, the first three-year agreement, worth €3 million, aims to…

Hungarian Deputy Minister of Defense Tamás Vargha shared with Kuwait Times an upcoming milestone in Hungary’s economic diplomacy as the country prepares to sign an investment protection agreement with Kuwait in the coming year. This agreement underscores Hungary’s commitment to nurturing economic ties with Gulf region countries and solidifying its position as a hub for investment and trade in Central Europe. With Hungary’s strategic location within the European Union and Kuwait’s substantial investment potential, Vargha, during an exclusive interview, revealed that several agreements are slated to be signed with Kuwait next year, coinciding with the remarkable 60th anniversary of their…

The French president on Friday vowed that the government will be uncompromising on the overgarment ban in schools. Emmanuel Macron visited a high school in the town of Orange, southern France, where he made comments on the ban on wearing abaya, or qamis overgarments at school. “Schools in our country are secular, free and compulsory, but foremost, secular … and religious signs, whatever they are, do not have a place (there),” Macron said, according to broadcaster BFMTV. The president backed Education Minister Gabriel Attal’s stance, saying: “We will be uncompromising on this topic. … We will take actions beyond words.”…

Tax and Customs Board (MTA) officials on Friday detained a truck carrying almost a million illegal cigarettes which had crossed the border from Russia. The truck was detained at the Narva border crossing on Friday morning after an x-ray was carried out that raised suspicions about its cargo. Sniffer dogs’ behavior also suggested the presence of illegal goods. Upon further investigation, 969,900 cigarettes were discovered on the floor of the vehicle. The boxes bore Belarusian tax stamps and “NZ Gold” branding. The driver had not declared the goods during the border crossing process. “Taking into account the amount of contraband…

Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, is to acquire an initial 35% shareholding in Innovo Renewables. Italian-based Innovo develops, constructs and manages renewable energy projects across Italy, the UK and Spain. The agreement, which can be raised to 50% within 24 months, will help Innovo scale up its business and increase the development of renewable energy projects across its primary markets.The finance will also support the development of its construction and operational capabilities as it aims to transform from a renewable energy developer into one of Europe’s leading independent power producing platforms. Innovo Renewables currently has…

Denmark’s government has paid out DKK 791 million (USD 116.4 million, EUR 106.2 million) to Danish fishers who lost quota as a result of the U.K.’s departure from the European Union. On 19 July, the Danish Fisheries Agency announced the completion of compensatory payouts for losses of quota value due to renegotiated fishing agreements following Brexit. The scheme is state aid approved by the European Commission and financed by E.U. funds from the E.U.’s Brexit adjustment reserve. “The funds paid compensate the fishermen for the permanent loss of value that the reduction of their individually owned quotas has brought about,”…