The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article Putin’s recognition of breakaway regions pushes EU to fast-track sanctions, by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
TIRANA | BELGRADE
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has alleged mercenaries from Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been recruited and transferred to Donbas in Ukraine to fight against Moscow-backed rebels vehemently denied by local governments. However, the Russian embassy in Tirana did not respond to requests for clarification. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
From backing bans to foie gras fans: The story behind the European Parliament’s U-turn. The European Parliament has declared foie gras production respectful of animal welfare criteria in a new report, despite previously demanding a ban on force-feeding, which was called “cruel and unnecessary”. EURACTIV explores what is behind this change of heart. Read more.
What the Chips Act doesn’t say: The environmental challenge of producing semiconductors. The dire environmental cost of semiconductor manufacturing, which is getting more problematic with every new generation of microchips, has been largely overlooked in the European Commission’s semiconductor package. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany condemns Russian recognition. After Russia unilaterally declared that it would recognise the independence of the two Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, Germany heavily condemned the move and pledged support to Ukraine. Read more.
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PARIS
French Greens attack Pécresse over stock options. Green members of the Paris region transport authority, “Ile-de-France Mobilités”, took legal action against the authority’s chair and right-wing presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse on Monday after it was revealed that she had allegedly acquired stock in a company that she regulates. Read more.
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VIENNA
EU ministers gather in Vienna to boost asylum seeker returns. The interior ministers of 23 EU countries gathered in Vienna on Monday to discuss finding a common European position to deal with asylum seekers and support Balkan countries in dealing with migrants. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
EU chides UK over citizens’ rights, warns over ‘next stepts’. The European Union on Monday (21 February) criticised the UK’s handling of the residency rights of EU nationals following Brexit, with European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič warning that the bloc would “consider our next steps”. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Former Commissioner may seek compensation from EU following resignation. Former EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has suggested that he may take action against the Commission in relation to his resignation after a breach of COVID-19 guidelines in 2020. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Swedish health authorities warn of hypothetical new COVID variant. New scenarios modelled by the Swedish Public Health Agency’s (FHM) anticipate a continued rapid decline in the COVID infection rate and warn that a hypothetical new virus variant could cause infections to increase in spring. Read more.
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HELSINKI
Targeted measures to compensate for increased energy prices in Finland. The government has decided on temporary, targeted measures to alleviate the problems caused by soaring energy prices. The measures focus on transport, agricultural entrepreneurs and households. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Expelled Greek MEP asks EPP not to take position in his row with Athens. Giorgos Kyrtsos, a centre-right EU lawmaker who was recently expelled from the ruling New Democracy party, has sent a letter to the European Parliament’s EPP group leader Manfred Weber asking him to stay neutral in his row with the government in Athens. Read more.
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ROME
Italy condemns Russia’s unilateral recognition of Donbas. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unilateral recognition of Donbas is a “serious obstacle to searching for a diplomatic solution”, said the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio. Read more.
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LISBON
Experts, Portuguese droughts are new normal. The drought situation that the country is experiencing will be “the new normal”, due to climate change and mistakes made in agriculture, a sector that consumes 75% of water, argued the president of the League for the Protection of Nature on Monday. Read more.
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MADRID
Political duel in Spain’s PP continues despite calls for ‘truce’. A political quarrel between the leader of Spain’s conservative Popular Party, Pablo Casado, and the regional president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, widely considered one of the party’s rising stars, spilt into a new week on Monday despite efforts to turn the page on the in-fighting. Read more.
EU’s Simson in Madrid: Brussels mulls ‘different scenarios’ for gas supply if war in Ukraine. The EU executive is considering different scenarios for natural gas supply if Russia partially or totally restricts its exports to Europe, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson stressed on Monday at a conference in Madrid. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech anti-vaxxers turning into pro-Russian activists. Groups of Czech activists organising mass demonstrations against COVID-19 measures openly support Russia in its aggression towards Ukraine, and their leader has business ties with Moscow. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish media board to grant controversial public TV broadcaster €400 million. Poland’s public television, widely accused of being openly pro-government and spreading radical conservative propaganda, was granted nearly half a billion euros by the government on Monday. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungary says Europe’s security determined by Russia and US. Hungary would come under tremendous pressure if the situation in neighbouring Ukraine escalated, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday, calling for dialogue between the two countries. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak economy ministry announces first call for recovery plan projects. The economy ministry has announced the first call for RES development projects from the recovery plan which they hope to publish in April. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SARAJEVO | BERLIN
Dodik condemns Germany’s Baerbock. Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the tripartite BiH Presidency, has slammed German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock over her alleged stance on the country’s troubles. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria, to soon abolish COVID pass, begins easing measures. Bulgaria will altogether abolish the green pass on 20 March and start easing many measures this week, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov announced on Monday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania prepared to receive refugees from Ukraine. Romania can receive ”a fairly large number” of refugees from Ukraine if Russia invades the country, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said Monday. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Recently arrested minister plans to take seat in Croatian parliament. Former Construction Minister Darko Horvat, who resigned Saturday following his arrest on suspicion of abuse of office, plans to take his seat in parliament, his lawyer confirmed to Hina. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia, Hungary forge closer ties via minorities. Slovenia and Hungary have signed an agreement to develop the border areas populated by the countries’ respective minorities, with Prime Minister Janez Janša and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán labelling the minorities as a bridge of cooperation. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: EU ambassadors meet at 9:30 to decide on ‘targeted sanctions’ in response to Russian recognition / EU General Affairs Council meets in Brussels / Parliament’s LIBE and AFCO delegations continue visit to Poland.
- France: EU and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers meet in Paris, EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell scheduled to co-chair, Commissioners Frans Timmermans and Jutta Urpilainen participate.
- Germany: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Berlin.
- Poland: Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Parliament delegation in Poland to meet civil society groups.
- Romania: The governing coalition will meet to discuss the continuation of measures to protect consumers from energy price increases.
- Croatia: The conference on road safety, organised by EURACTIV’s partner Hanza Media, is set to take place.
- Serbia: President Aleksandar Vučić to pay a visit to Monaco, where he will meet with Prince Albert II.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian Croat and Bosniak parties resume talks on the reform of election legislation.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Alexandra Brzozowski, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
