Von der Leyen faces delicate balancing act to indulge EU leaders

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

BRUSSELS

Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to re-run for the EU Commission presidency has prompted some positive reactions in several EU capitals, but her quest to secure enough support from governments may prove to be a little more challenging. Read more.

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BERLIN

German Liberals double down on criticism of coalition partners. Germany’s liberal FDP party is taking an increasingly confrontational stance on the economic policies of the three-way coalition government in which it is a junior partner, saying it has more in common with the conservative opposition. Read more.

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PARIS

EU border agency ‘hijacked’ by EU Commission, its former boss says. Fabrice Leggeri, the former boss of EU border agency Frontex who will run for the far-right Rassemblement National in the European elections, criticised European migration policy while touring the French-Italian border on Monday, saying Europe should “regain control of its borders”. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Metsola to discuss Greek rule of law case in Athens visit. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will discuss the issue of Greece’s rule of law at a visit to Athens on Tuesday following a recent resolution which sparked intense debate in the Mediterranean country, an EU official told Euractiv. Read more.

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MADRID

Sanchez-von der Leyen ties key for agenda-pushing in likely new far-right house, says expert. Strong relations between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who on Monday announced she was seeking a second five-year term, will be vital in countering rising far-right anti-EU forces, Ignacio Molina, a senior researcher at the prestigious Elcano Royal Institute told Euractiv’s partner EFE in an interview. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Ukraine threatens to ban Polish food imports in retaliation for border protests. Kyiv may limit imports of Polish agri-food production if Polish farmers do not stop blocking the country’s borders in Ukraine against the influx of Ukrainian grain and other products, government officials told Ukrainian media. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Pro-Russian forces hijack Czech farmers’ protest. Pro-Russian forces hijacked a farmers’ protest that saw some 500 tractors roll into Prague on Monday morning, as speeches criticising the EU and the Czech government prompted many farmers to leave. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria delays promised military aid to Ukraine. Bulgaria is delaying the delivery of 100 armoured personnel carriers to the Ukrainian army because the Defence Ministry has requested that NATO cover the transport costs, MPs from the ruling majority in Sofia told Euractiv Bulgaria. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian Army uses Chinese surveillance systems. Chinese surveillance equipment, suspected of espionage in the US and UK, is being used by the Romanian Army in strategic locations, with the Defence Ministry assuring the surveillance systems are secure. Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatian farmers protest in solidarity with EU colleagues. Several hundred farmers protested in Čakovec and Đakovo to show solidarity with their European counterparts and inform the public about the problems facing Croatian farmers. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: General Affairs Council convenes to prepare March European Council and discuss rule of law in Poland;
Informal meeting of tourism ministers expected to focus on twofold transition of sector – digital and sustainable;
EU-Georgia Association Council holds its 8th meeting on Georgia’s accession path, reform, economic cooperation, trade, peaceful conflict resolution, and more;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends European Industry Summit, organised by the Belgian presidency and hosted by Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo, in Antwerp;
Commission Vice President Dubravka Suica hosts UN Under Secretary-General and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner; Receives EPP President Manfred Weber;
Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis hosts Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization of Moldova Dumitru Alaiba;
Vice President Margaritis Schinas delivers opening remarks at EIB Summit;
Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hosts former Israeli Ambassador to South Africa Ilan Baruch and former Palestinian Minister for Prisoners Affairs Ashraf Ajrami; Holds meeting with Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Daniel Risch, Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Sabine Monauni;
Justice Commissioner hosts Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Rohit Chopra;
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi hosts Chairwoman of Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo; Hosts Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in trilogue on European Health Data Space;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola on official visit to Greece: meets with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness delivers opening speech at high level conference on “Financial literacy, resilience and inclusion”, organised by Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FISMA);