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In today’s news from The Capitals:
BRUSSELS
Internal discussions in the EU’s centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) – the largest political family in Europe – saw an “unsettling” exchange about the drafting process of its EU election manifesto, Euractiv has learnt.
There was “much nagging” as some party members even opposed considering amendments to the draft manifesto, an early version of which was first reported by Euractiv, that were submitted after the scheduled deadline. Read more.
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PARIS | BERLIN
Le Pen questions EU-level alliance with AfD, spelling trouble for ID unity. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen questioned the collaboration with the German AfD over allegations that some members were involved in discussions about deporting German citizens with migration backgrounds, prompting her French competitor Eric Zemmour to rush to the German far-right’s defence. Read more.
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PARIS
French farmers call for Paris blockade, eagerly await PM’s announcements. French farmers have called for the blockade of Paris on Friday afternoon, a week after they began protesting across the country, as new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is due to announce concrete measures. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM | PARIS
Macron to visit Sweden to talk EU defence amid Hungarian NATO block. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Sweden from 30 to 31 January at the invitation of Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf to discuss European defence issues, as Hungary remains reluctant to vote on Sweden’s NATO bid and EU states hold differing views on defence policy. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Polish ruling parties divided over abortion law. Poland’s ruling parties have presented separate bills to liberalise the country’s abortion laws, proposing to make abortion legal up to the 12th week of pregnancy, but some MPs remain sceptical. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA | ATHENS | BUCHAREST
Renew MEPs propose a mini-Schengen between Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. Renew Europe MEPs have proposed the rapid creation of a mini-Schengen between Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, to be operational this summer, to ease the heavy tourist traffic between the three EU Balkan countries. Read more.
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SOFIA
Ex-Bulgarian justice minister appointed judge at European Court of Human Rights. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted Wednesday to elect Bulgaria’s former GERB justice minister and current ombudsman, Diana Kovatcheva, to a nine-year term as the next Bulgarian judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Ukrainian grain transits through Romania as export licences effective. Ukrainian grain has successfully transited through Romania since the country introduced export licences under its grain export plan to help protect farmers last autumn, Adrian Pintea, state secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, said on Thursday. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatian MP calls to reinstate quotas for third-country workers. Far-left Croatian MP Katarina Peović called for the reintroduction of quotas for third-country workers on Thursday as the number of immigrants working in low-paid jobs has risen sharply in recent years. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers speech at the Hamburg Climate Summit, in Germany;
- Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn delivers keynote speech at “Blue Innovation Dock – Boot Düsseldorf”, in Germany;
- Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius speaks at “Gates to the Sea, LT Harbours’ Breakthrough”, in Palanga, Lithuania;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with Euractiv
Croatian MP calls to reinstate quotas for third-country workersFar-left Croatian MP Katarina Peović called for the reintroduction of quotas for third-country workers on Thursday as the number of immigrants working in low-paid jobs has risen sharply in recent years.
Source: euractiv.com
