German economy at risk as companies plan to leave country

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.

The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.

Today’s edition is powered by European Free Alliance (EFA)

Break down electoral thresholds: fair votes for fair representation

In elections all across Europe, democracy is limited by electoral thresholds. The result is parliaments that don’t reflect the real diversity of society. All voters are equal. Let’s make votes equal too.

Learn more >>

In today’s news from the Capitals:

BERLIN

A growing number of businesses are moving jobs and production abroad, with many others considering taking concrete measures, a study by the Federation of German Business (BDI) found, as concerns about the German economy continue to grow. Read more.

///

EU INSTITUTIONS

Greens warn right-wing coalitions will ruin climate policies. The Greens seek to fight the rise of right-wing governments across the EU and a conservative majority in the EU parliament by facilitating a credible alternative, but it will be a tricky mission. Read more.

///

PARIS

French left must unite ahead of EU elections, says Mélenchon. France’s recently created left-wing alliance NUPES won’t last if a single left-wing list is not presented at the European elections next year, according to far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, although opinions differ widely across the alliance. Read more.

French warn Irish bottle labelling sets ‘dangerous precedent’. French wine exporters have criticised Ireland’s plans to require extensive health labelling on alcoholic beverages that received the European Commission’s stamp of approval in January, saying it sets a dangerous precedent and could distort competition on the EU single market. Read more.

France signs off €7.5bn chip factory. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire signed an agreement to set up a new semiconductor factory in France with STMicroelectronics and GlobalFoundries CEOs, supported by €2.9 billion of public money. Read more.

///

VIENNA

Excel kerfuffle has Austria’s Social Democrats change leadership. Andreas Babler was crowned leader of Austria’s Social Democratic Party on Monday as it was revealed that the faulty transfer of votes to an Excel spreadsheet had wrongfully claimed migration hardliner Hans-Peter Doskozial as the party’s leader at the special party conference two days before. Read more.

///

BRUSSELS

Former Belgian female politician, now Turkey’s family and social minister. Former Belgian politician Mahinur Özdemir Göktas, known in Belgium for refusing to recognise the Armenian genocide, was named Turkey’s Family and Social Services Minister, making her the only female in the 17-member cabinet. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

COPENHAGEN

Danish government project needs ‘reconfirming’ if Frederiksen gets NATO top job. The ruling coalition’s political project must be ‘reconfirmed’ should Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen leave her post to become NATO’s next Secretary General, Moderate Party leader and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Monday. Read more.

///

HELSINKI

TikTok greatly influenced Finland’s latest elections: survey. TikTok significantly influenced Finland’s April elections, with many young voters voting in favour of the populist and nationalistic Finns Party, which came in a close second and is now part of the four-way coalition negotiations, a survey published Monday reads. Read more.

///

OSLO

Norway to prioritise security, citizens’ preparedness. Norway should prepare for an uncertain future and must focus on increased security and citizen preparedness, the report of the Total Preparedness Commission sent to Norway’s Justice and Public Security Minister Emilie Enger Mehl on Monday reads. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

PP rejects debates with Sánchez as little time left to form left-wing pact. Spain’s Popular Party (PP/EPP) refused to hold a series of debates proposed by acting Prime Minister and Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as little time remains to form a left-wing alliance to counter a possible alliance on the right before the general election on 23 July. Read more.

///

ROME

Italy won’t give up National Recovery Plan funding, says minister. Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti wants to settle the dispute regarding delays in implementing the national recovery plan, claiming that the European Commission is also interested in Italy investing and moving forward. Read more.

///

LISBON

Portugal among EU countries with the largest drop in greenhouse gas emissions. Portugal has reduced emissions by 35% since 2005, ahead of all other EU countries, according to figures from the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation database, Pordata, in collaboration with the Portuguese Environment Agency. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Polish judicial reforms violate EU law, EU court rules. Poland’s 2019 judiciary reform infringed EU laws, with the country’s Supreme Court lacking independence and remaining under government control, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled on Monday. Read more.

///

PRAGUE

ECR co-founder plans to leave EU Parliament. Czech conservative MEP and co-founder of the EU’s European Conservative and Reformist group (ECR) Jan Zahradil will not seek another mandate in the 2024 EU elections, he announced on Monday in Prague. Read more.

///

BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s former justice minister indicted over Facebook status. Slovakia’s former justice minister, Štefan Harabin, is facing up to three years in prison for writing that he would do exactly what Putin did about the events in Ukraine on social media one day after the invasion started. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Romanian MEP says EU court only way for Romania to enter Schengen. The only way for Romania to enter the Schengen zone is through proceedings at the EU Court of Justice, said Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac (EPP/PMP), noting the issue is not on the agenda of the EU justice and home affairs meeting in Luxembourg this week. Read more.

///

SOFIA

Future Bulgarian government to work on Eurozone, Schengen admission, Ukraine aid. A new government will be elected by parliament on Tuesday, with the support of the two largest political formations in the country – the GERB party of long-serving Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (EPP) and the pro-European liberal coalition “Change Continues – Democratic Bulgaria” (PP-DB), both of which promise to work towards Bulgaria entering the Eurozone, the visa-free Schengen zone and to provide military aid to Ukraine over the next 18 months. Read more.

///

ZAGREB

Plenkovic discusses controversial redrawing of electoral districts with experts. Constitutional law experts met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Monday to discuss the widely criticised proposal put forward by his party HDZ to redraw electoral districts ahead of the next parliamentary election in 2024. Read more.

///

PRISTINA

OSCE reveals nine-point plan to reign in tensions in north Kosovo. The Kosovo office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has announced a nine-point plan to de-escalate tensions in the north of Kosovo and get both sides back to the negotiating table to normalise relations amid declining faith in the EU from certain stakeholders. Read more.

///

TIRANA

Albania launches tender for e-car charging points throughout country. The Albanian government has launched a tender for electronic charging points throughout the country as a part of the National Action Plan for Energy and Climate in a bid to reduce direct and indirect CO2 emissions and to align with the EU acquis. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton delivers keynote speech at “The Future of the Electronic Communications Sector – Towards a European success story?” conference organised by Orange and Euractiv;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the 25th International WDR Europaforum;
Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans delivers opening remarks at the EnerGreenDeal conference; Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in “Short and medium-term solutions to realistically and efficiently decarbonise the EU energy mix” session;
Vice President Frans Timmermans attends working meeting on Mediterranean cooperation on hydrogen and clean tech organised by Business Bridge Europe;
Vice President Margaritis Schinas speaks at the Paris Cyber Summit; Meets OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann;
Vice President Dubravka Šuica delivers remarks at the high level conference on “Loneliness and Social Isolation” organised by DG EMPL; Hosts Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova Alexei Buzu;
Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at “Building a stronger EU integrity framework” conference, “Democracy Alive: The Summit” event;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit presents “Integration of people fleeing Ukraine in the EU” special report;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in trialogue on ““Law enforcement access to the interconnection of bank account registries” proposal, and “Digitalisation of visa procedures” proposal;
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton meets with high level representatives of the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO);
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski hosts Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Don Farrell;
ECHR issues ruling on request by Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny after his poisoning, Russia having refused to open an investigation;
European Medicines Agency (EMA) holds final Covid briefing;
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts France’s President Emmanuel Macron;
Slovakia: Bucharest Nine (B9) Leaders’ Summit convenes to discuss security in region;
Czech Republic: Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz on official visit;
Bulgaria: Parliament votes on new government;
India: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on official visit;
Tunisia: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on official visit;
International Court of Justice: Arguments hearing in Ukraine-Russia case;
UN: Security Council elects new non-permanent members;