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In today’s news from the Capitals:
Bulgaria will most likely sell a huge amount of ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries, which could significantly impact the war, former defence minister Boyko Noev told bTV in an interview. Read more.
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PARIS
Macron tries to reconnect with unions, attacks Mélenchon. President Emmanuel Macron asked Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne’s government to ‘continue to reach out’ to unions despite their continued opposition to pension reform as he reportedly expects massive crowds to gather for a 10th day of nationwide strikes on Tuesday. Read more.
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BERLIN
Top meeting postponed as Berlin government shows cracks. A meeting between Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, government members and the leadership of the coalition parties to resolve differences including climate, transport and budgetary issues that went into the night Sunday was paused Monday and postponed to Tuesday. Read more.
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VIENNA | TIRANA
Austria urges Albania to reform fundamental rights, and justice for EU path. Albania must continue reforms in the areas of fundamental rights, the rule of law and justice to make rapid progress on its EU path, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said at a meeting with his Albanian counterpart Bajram Begaj on Monday. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch government appoints special EU funds envoy for overseas territories. The Interior and Kingdom Relations Ministry appointed Edison Rijna, Lieutenant Governor of the Dutch overseas territory Bonaire, to the position of Special Envoy for the Caribbean Netherlands for EU funds. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK welcomes Israel’s judicial reform delay. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has welcomed the decision to postpone a controversial reform that would give the Israeli parliament more control over the country’s judiciary. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM | HELSINKI | BUDAPEST
Hungary ratifies Finland’s NATO application, keeps Sweden waiting. The Hungarian parliament ratified Finland’s NATO membership on Monday but decided to delay ratification for Sweden, with senior MPs from Orban’s ruling Fidesz party citing irritation over Stockholm’s past statements about Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s regime. Read more.
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NORDICS
Nordics coordinate air defence without intention to unify forces. The air forces of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark have signed the first-ever letter of intent aiming to strengthen common air defence between the countries. Read more.
Finland, Sweden agree to military firearms deal. Finland and Sweden concluded a framework agreement with Finnish gun manufacturer SAKO to replenish their respective firearms stockpiles. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Greek elections: First round projections show deadlock. According to the current polls, the first round of the Greek elections due in May will not result in forming a coalition government, hinting at a complex political landscape, particularly considering sensitive relations at the EU political level. Read more.
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ROME
Alitalia loan illegal, EU Commission wants €400 million repayment. The €400 million bridging loan Italy granted to former flag carrier Alitalia in 2019 constitutes illegal state aid under EU rules, and Italy must recover it, plus interest, the European Commission said on Monday. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish prime minister reshuffles cabinet before elections. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a minor reshuffle of his government on Monday- the fifth since he took office – with an eye on the upcoming regional elections due on 28 May. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal spends €600 million to reduce basic food prices. Scrapping VAT on essential food products while also helping producers in the process will cost Portugal around €600 million, Prime Minister António Costa said after his government signed a deal with retailers and farmers in Lisbon on Monday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
NATO must support Ukrainian accession, says Czech FM. NATO should find ways to support the process of Ukrainian accession to NATO, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský while discussing NATO-Ukrainian relations with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Monday. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia failed to inform Commission about energy, climate plan progress. Slovakia, like other member states, missed its 15 March deadline to send its report listing its progress in meeting its climate and renewable targets to the European Commission, EURACTIV Slovakia reported. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SKOPJE
Skopje to renew extradition demand for fugitive PM in Hungary. North Macedonia will once again send a formal request to Hungary to extradite fugitive former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who has already been sentenced for corruption and money laundering and is “involved in nine more cases”, Justice Minister Krenar LLoga said on Monday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian transport minister urges railway inspections following accident. The deadly railway accident in Galati, Romania, was caused by technical failure, according to transport officials, with Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu urging the national railway company to start technical inspections. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albania shocked by AK47 attack at leading TV station. A security guard was shot and killed at the premises of Albania’s most watched TV station, Top Channel, in the early hours of Monday morning, in what has been dubbed a terrorist attack and the most severe attack on media freedom in decades. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council convenes to discuss gas and hydrogen package, electricity market design, and more;
- European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans delivers keynote speech at the opening of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture 2023; Speaks via videoconference with China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua;
- Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness co-chair round table on Digital Euro with Payment Service Providers, organised by the European Commission;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová receives Greek Secretary General for Media and Communication Dimitrios Galamatis;
- Home Affairs Commissioner YIva Johansson participates in a trilogue on the EU Drugs Agency at the European Parliament;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers keynote speech to the conference “Overhauling EU Farm Animal Welfare Laws” organised by Compassion in World Farming; Gives opening speech at the International Medical Device Regulatory Forum 2023;
- Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi hosts Naftogaz of Ukraine CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov;
- Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean delivers concluding remarks at Eurocontrol; Holds meeting with Eurocontrol Director General Raúl Medina Caballero;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira participate in the high level conference on “Partnerships for Regional Innovation”;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hosts Speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia Urska Klakočar Zupančič;
- Press Conference following the 3rd trilogue on the “Anti-coercion instrument” (ACI) held by Chair of the INTA Committee and rapporteur Bernd Lange (S&D, DE);
- Press Conference on the new asylum and migration rules organised by Chair of the LIBE Committee Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar (S&D, ES), and more MEPs;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Kenyan President William Ruto;
- France: Human Brain Project Summit organised in Marseille;
- WHO: Group of vaccine experts (SAGE) hold press conference;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck,Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
