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In today's news from The Capitals :
NUUK
Vice President J.D. Vance's wife Usha Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Walz are set to travel to Greenland next week ahead of local elections. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
BERLIN
Germany's AfD has quietly settled in Brussels, and is planning expansion. Months after a turbulent EU election campaign, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has slowly settled in the calmer waters of Brussels – and is even considering expanding its new far-right parliamentary group. Read more.
SOUTH OF EUROPE
ROME
The Salvini-Vance call has rocked the Italian government. Foreign policy has once again become a point of friction within Italy’s ruling coalition, exposing internal divisions. The latest row stems from a phone call between Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and US Vice President J.D. Vance – an initiative that was reportedly seen as an attempt by Salvini (Lega/Patriots) to bypass the government and position himself as a direct interlocutor with Washington.
Key US-EU trade talks: This comes amid key US-EU trade talks and Italy’s efforts to secure a Meloni-Trump meeting. If Meloni’s discontent remains limited to media reports, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (FI/EPP) firmly clarified institutional roles: “Foreign policy is made by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. These are personal initiatives, but official foreign policy is set by the government.”
Salvini dismissed the controversy, calling suggestions of internal conflict “nonsense” and insisting the appeal was aimed at promoting Italy’s interests in the US. Meanwhile, Lega deputy secretary Claudio Durigon further fueled tensions by saying Tajani was in a “difficult situation” and “may need help.”
(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)
Italy is held hostage by the taxi 'mafia' lobby. Now that Italy has lifted a 20-year ban on new taxi licences, the same old winners are cashing in. Read more.
EAST EUROPE
WARSAW
Retirement age reform sparks debate over special treatment for dancers. Poland's Senate, the upper house of parliament, passed a controversial bill on March 13 that lowers the retirement age for professional ballet dancers. The new law makes them the only professional group in Poland eligible for a pension at 40 for women and 45 for men. The new rules allow for early retirement with a guaranteed minimum pension. It was approved by an 82-vote majority in the 100-seat Senate and will now go to the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, for consideration.
Restrictions : The changes apply exclusively to ballet dancers and are accompanied by certain restrictions. To qualify for early retirement, dancers must hold the title of professional ballet dancer and have at least 20 years of experience in the profession. The proposal to lower the retirement age for ballet dancers comes from the recognition that their profession is extremely physically demanding. In addition, more than a decade after the abolition of early retirement for dancers, the profession has fallen into crisis, according to the authors of the bill, who also emphasized that ballet dancers are a small professional group in Poland – fewer than 440 people in 2023.
Reactions : The Ministry of Family and Social Policy criticized the bill, arguing that the current pension system, which allows women to retire at 55 and men at 60, is sufficient. Deputy Minister of Family Affairs Sebastian Gajewski argues that further lowering the retirement age would be a form of privilege. Instead of lowering the retirement age, the ministry is proposing professional retraining programs for dancers who are ending their careers. The retirement age for most professions in Poland is currently 60 for women and 65 for men, and there are currently no plans to change it.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)
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BUDAPEST
Czech troops should join future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, says president. Czech President Petr Pavel believes that Czech troops should be part of any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached. “If a decision is made to create such a joint military force, the Czech Republic will be part of it,” Pavel said in an interview published Saturday (March 22) by the Ukrainian website Yevropeyska Pravda .
Speaking in Kyiv after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Pavel cautioned that it was too early to discuss specific Czech participation. However, he stressed that the country was already contributing to the “coalition of the willing,” a group of countries exploring the idea.
Asked about the scepticism expressed in Prague by some other Czech politicians, Pavel replied: “Different politicians may have different opinions, but if there is a strong group of European countries ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, I am firmly convinced that the Czech Republic should be among them.”
(Aneta Zahova | Euractiv.cz)
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia tightens measures amid foot-and-mouth disease. Over the weekend, the Slovak government confirmed veterinary surveillance measures aimed at preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, Agriculture Minister Richard Takacs (Smer-SD/NI) said. Slovakia has introduced a series of measures to contain the outbreak, including the closure of all zoos across the country. Access to forests has also been restricted in the regions of Komárno and Dunajska Streda. The disease was confirmed on Friday on cattle farms in three southern Slovak villages – Medvedev, Nárad and Baka – all in the Dunajska Streda region. So far, the virus has not spread beyond these areas.
Culling operations underway : Culling operations are currently underway on one of the affected farms, as well as vaccinations using doses from Germany to contain the outbreak. A team of experts from Brussels will arrive in Slovakia to help deal with the situation. Slovakia has also received material assistance from neighboring countries – the Czech Republic has provided euthanasia equipment, while Hungary will provide transport.
Minister Takács estimates the damage at €8 million and plans to seek financial compensation. He is set to discuss funding options on Monday in Brussels with the EU commissioner and the Hungarian minister. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) said on Facebook on Sunday that the government is already seeking financial resources both domestically and internationally to support affected farmers in rebuilding their herds.
Foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, spreading quickly in herds. The disease likely came to Slovakia via airborne transmission from Hungary, according to the government. Before this outbreak, the country had been free of foot-and-mouth disease for almost 50 years. The Slovak opposition has criticized the government's slow response to the outbreak.
(Natalia Silenska | Euractiv.sk)
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
Visa-waiver delay linked to US migration policy review, Romanian minister says. Romanian Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu explained on Saturday that a possible delay in Romania's inclusion in the US visa-waiver program is part of a broader assessment of migration policy by the Trump administration. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria to create chain of state-run stores offering lower prices. The Bulgarian parliament has backed the creation of a chain of state-run stores in the country's poorest regions that will sell food products with a limited markup. The idea was put forward by the parliamentary group DPS-New Beginning, whose leader Delyan Peevski is under US and UK sanctions for corruption and is accused by political opponents in Bulgaria of rigging elections. Read more.
AGENDAS:
- EU : Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets to discuss Commission communication on Vision for Agriculture and Food, Common Fisheries Policy etc.
- The informal meeting of health ministers is expected to focus on mental health issues for children and young people, disease prevention, safety of pharmaceuticals, etc.
- Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera receives European Chamber President Vladimir Dlouhy;
- Vice-President Henna Virkkunen delivers a keynote speech at the 50th anniversary meeting of the European Governmental Business Relations Council;
- Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christoph Hansen receives the President of COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations) Massimiliano Giansanti;
- Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen takes part in the conference “Affordable Housing – Solving the Housing Crisis in the Union”, organised jointly by the Commission and Parliament; receives the Director General of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) Agustin Reyna; participates in the EU-ASEAN Business Council;
- Commissioner for the Environment, Water Sustainability and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessica Roswall meets with Eurofer CEO Axel Eggert and European steel industry leaders;
- Financial Services Commissioner María Luis Albuquerque delivers a keynote speech at the Shaping the Future of European Finance conference in Copenhagen, Denmark; meets with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Alfred Kammer.
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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Charles Shumsky, Daniel Ek, Sofia Mandilar]
Source: Source
