EU launches ‘Isolate Russia from the world’ mission

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Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article Ukraine war revives EastMed gas pipe talks but EU insists on feasibility, by Sarantis Michalopoulos.

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

An increasing number of EU leaders have asked Brussels to push forward a fifth package of sanctions against Moscow following the atrocities and “unbearable scenes”, as French President Emmanuel Macron described, of the destroyed Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Several sources from the capitals confirmed to EURACTIV that a trade ban – as Warsaw recently requested – is now on the radar while EU leaders are still divided over gas imports. Read more.

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BERLIN

Berlin nationalises Gazprom Germania to block liquidation. The German government has, effective immediately, transferred the ownership of the German Gazprom subsidiary to the federal network agency as a trustee in a bid to save the country’s gas market. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Ukraine expels Dutch journalist for revealing state secrets. Ukraine has declared Dutch journalist Robert Dulmers persona non grata and banned him from Ukraine until 2032, accusing him of having revealed state secrets after he filmed a missile launch. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI | STOCKHOLM

Nordic Conservatives back NATO membership of Sweden, Finland. The possible NATO membership of Sweden and Finland is backed by the National Coalition Party (NCP) in Finland, the Moderate Party in Sweden, and prominent conservative figures from Norway and Denmark. Read more.

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COPENHAGEN

Denmark’s former spy chief spied on by colleagues. Lars Finden, the former head of Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE), was reportedly spied on by his former colleagues, Danmarks Radio (DR) revealed on Monday in what could be one of the biggest intelligence scandals since World War II. Read more.

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REYKJAVIK

Iceland to welcome more Ukrainian refugees despite logistical issues. Iceland will continue welcoming Ukrainian refugees despite struggling with logistical issues for a wave it was not prepared for. Read more.

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VILNIUS

Lithuania expels Russian ambassador. Russia’s Ambassador to Lithuania will have to leave the country due to a downgrading of diplomatic relations amid the war in Ukraine, the foreign ministry announced on Monday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS
Sources: Greece does not block Finland’s NATO accession. Sources from the Greek foreign ministry denied rumours in Helsinki that suggest Athens blocks Finland’s potential accession to NATO, EURACTIV Greece reported. Read More.

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MADRID

Spanish police seize luxury yacht of Putin’s friend. The Spanish Civil Guard on Monday seized the Russian-owned luxury yacht Tango, moored at the Real Club Nautico in Palma, on the island of Mallorca, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal condemns Russia’s reported atrocities in Bucha. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has, together with the government, condemned Russian forces for the reported atrocities committed in Bucha, Ukraine. Read more.

VISEGRAD

BRATISLAVA

Slovak nuclear plants serviced by Gazprom-linked company. Slovak nuclear power plant operator Slovenské elektrárne a.s. has service contracts with Škoda JS, owned by Russian Gazprombank, leading to a fear of security breaches and the risk of future sanctions. EURACTIV Slovakia reports. Read more.

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WARSAW

Former Russian PM proposes to sanction Polish ruling party. Russia should sanction the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its’ voters in retaliation to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s proposal to sanction members of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, former Russian president and prime minister said. Read more.

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PRAGUE | BUDAPEST

Czech Pirates unhappy with Orban’s win. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) congratulated Hungary’s Viktor Orban on his election win, while other politicians from his government’s coalition partner, including Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský were much more critical. Read more.

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BUDAPEST

Fidesz’s landslide reinforces female underrepresentation in parliament. The proportion of male and female MPs in the Hungarian legislature is set to stay the same after the general elections on Sunday, Telex reported. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria asks Turkey to help bring back sailors from Ukraine. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has urged Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take joint action in rescuing Bulgarian and Turkish sailors stranded in Ukrainian ports. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Zelenskyy warns Putin could go further in address to Romanian MPs. The security of the whole of Europe is at play on the Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Romania’s parliament Monday evening, calling on the West to unite against Russian aggressors to prevent a ”genocide in Europe.” Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatia joined NATO only because of US, says president. Croatia joined NATO only because of the US’ help and protection, President Zoran Milanović said at the opening of a Croatian-US forum underway in Zagreb on Monday and Tuesday. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Jansa appointed top bank job in conflict of interest, watchdog finds. Slovenia’s anti-graft watchdog found Prime Minister Janez Janša to be in a conflict of interest when he voted for Franci Matoz, his long-time lawyer, for a top job at the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC). Read more.

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Slovenia ‘very interested’ in Croatian LNG terminal. Slovenia is very interested in gas from Croatia’s LNG terminal, which has ensured 300 million cubic metres in additional capacity, for which a tender will be advertised, Slovenian Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec said on Monday at a meeting with Croatian Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić.

Vrtovec said Slovenia was considering diversifying gas supply so as not to be dependent on supply from Russia. The infrastructure for the additional 300 million cubic metres of natural gas already exists, he said, adding that Slovenia would be able to procure nearly one-third of its gas needs via the LNG terminal off Krk island in the northern Adriatic. Asked if Slovenia was interested in building another reactor at the Krško nuclear power plant and if Croatia would be included, Vrtovec said Slovenia was very interested and that this would be discussed. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)

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BELGRADE

International observers deplore conditions in Serbian elections. The election process in Serbia was marked by unequal conditions for participants in elections, resulting from government representatives favoured by the majority of media outlets, pressure on employees in public companies, and abuse of administrative resources, observers from international organisations stated in Belgrade on Monday. Read more.

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SARAJEVO | ZAGREB

US envoy: Ukraine crisis will not spill over to Western Balkans. The war in Ukraine cannot spill over to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia is an example of a smart energy policy, US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Monday. Read more.

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SARAJEVO

BiH’s Covic praises Vucic and Orban for their election victories. Dragon Čović, leader of HDZ BiH, the biggest Croat party, congratulated Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for winning the elections in their countries, calling Vučić’s victory “historic” and Orbán’s “magnificent”. Read more.

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SKOPJE | BUDAPEST

North Macedonia opposition leader in Budapest with Orban. Hristijan Mickoski, the leader of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, who congratulated the victory of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, attended Fidesz’s election party in Budapest.

At Orbán’s personal invitation, Mickoski and his party’s vice-president Aleksandar Nikoloski were waiting for the results of the elections in Hungary at the Fidesz party office. Orbán’s victory is very important because he has personal ties with VMRO-DPMNE and (North) Macedonia and will do everything possible for (North) Macedonia to progress towards the EU, towards a better standard of living, and towards more investments, writes Nikoloski.

The Hungarian PM gave asylum to Nikola Gruevski, former North Macedonia Prime Minister who fled the country citing judicial persecution. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)

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PODGORICA

US urges Montenegro to impose sanctions on Russia. The US calls on Montenegro to apply the sanctions that the EU imposed on Russia, the US Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Raising Reinke has said. Read More.

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PRISTINA | TIRANA

Kosovo and Albanian leaders condemn Russian atrocities in Bucha. Albanian leaders in Kosovo and Albania are united in their condemnation of reported atrocities in Bucha and other towns and cities around Kyiv in Ukraine. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: College of Commissioners meets / Economy and finance ministers (Ecofin) meet in Luxembourg / European Parliament questions European Commission President von der Leyen on EU executive’s mid-term results and then EU’s chief diplomat Borrell on Strategic Compass.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg holds press conference before foreign ministers’ meeting.
Germany: Donor conference to help Moldova with refugees from Ukraine, Germany’s Baerbock, France’s Le Drian will brief press after the event in Berlin.
Sweden: Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson hosts Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store in Stockholm.
Spain: Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy to address Spanish parliament by video conference.
Greece: Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias hosts Cypriot Ioannis Kasoulides and Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid in Athens, also hosts US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland.
Poland: Regional Policy Commissioner Elisa Ferreira in Poland to visits the border crossing in Korczowa and reception centre with Polish Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Grzegorz Puda.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visits Mostar to attend the ceremony of opening the 23rd international business fair.
UN Security Council meeting on situation in Ukraine.