Germany steps up state aid to support steel industry

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BERLIN

The government will help steel giant ThyssenKrupp with its green transition and is confident that the EU Commission will play along, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told steelworkers at a union rally in Duisburg on Wednesday. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

LEAK: EU Commission wants digital euro accessible to everyone. The European Commission wants to implement a digital euro that is accessible to all retail users for free, in an effort to strengthen financial inclusion and competition in digital payments, according to a leaked draft proposal seen by EURACTIV. Read more.

What you need to know ahead of key vote on EU’s nature restoration law. There has been much noise about the European Union’s nature restoration law this week, but what is all the fuss about? EURACTIV brings you the lowdown ahead of Thursday’s crucial vote in the European Parliament’s environment committee. Read more.

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VIENNA

Austria’s proposed conversion therapy ban faces roadblock over transgender rights. The proposed ban on conversion therapies faces a significant hurdle as the conservative-Green government had different opinions on whether the ban should extend to treatments for transgender individuals. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Iranian mayor’s visit to Brussels causes stir. Tehran’s mayor Alireza Zakani – an ultra-radical of the Iranian regime – has been invited to attend the Brussels Urban Summit, and even though he is not on the sanctions list, his presence in Brussels was questioned, notably in light of the Belgian aid worker’s recent detention by Iran. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Finland’s wolf population continues to rise. Finland’s wolf population has increased by 10% every year since 2017, with the latest estimates suggesting 310 wolves living in the country, according to a report by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) published on Wednesday. Read more.

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STOCKHOLM

Swedish NATO negotiations underway but far from goal. Sweden’s NATO membership was discussed between representatives from Sweden, Finland and Turkey in Ankara on Wednesday to help move the process forward, but Sweden is far from reaching that goal, according to Swedish NATO negotiator Oscar Stenström. Read more.

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TALLINN

Estonia set to become first ex-Soviet state to back gay marriage. Estonia’s liberal coalition government is only two months old and has moved swiftly on a draft bill legalizing same-sex marriage, among other measures, to distance itself from neighbouring Russia. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Anger against EU on the rise after migrant shipwreck off Greek coast. Greece’s caretaker government declared three days of mourning after a boat reportedly carrying hundreds of migrants sank off the coast, killing at least 79 people. All scheduled pre-election party events were cancelled while public anger for the lack of a coherent EU migration policy is mounting. Read more.

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MADRID

How the EU Council presidency fell victim to Spain’s electoral games. The electoral battle between majority parties PSOE (S&D) and Partido Popular (EPP) is taking a toll on the upcoming Spanish EU Council presidency – which will start on 1 July – as it becomes part of their offensive campaign. Read more.

Spain’s labour minister proposes tax reform to boost ‘social economy’. Large Spanish companies and wealthy people should pay more taxes and contribute to building a social and fairer economy, Labour Minister and new left-wing party Sumar leader Yolanda Díaz announced Wednesday. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal among most affected by wildfires in 2022. Portugal was the second-worst affected country in Europe by forest fires in 2022, with 153 wildfires burning an area of 949 km2, according to a report published by the European Environment Agency on Wednesday. Read more.

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ROME

Italy bids farewell to Berlusconi on contested day of mourning. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continued to divide his country even after death, as a decision by the government, which includes his former party, to honour him with a national day of mourning on Wednesday (14 June) sparked controversy. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Poles less willing to help Ukrainian refugees: poll. About 55% of Poles believe their country should not offer more help to Ukraine, a stark contrast to the 28% who believe more support can be given, according to poll results by researchers from Warsaw University and the University of Economic and Human Sciences in Warsaw. Read more.

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PRAGUE

We have to avoid ‘war fatigue’, warns Czech President. Democratic countries must avoid war fatigue and continue to support Ukraine with the same determination that Ukrainians are fighting, said Czech President Petr Pavel at the European Values Summit in Prague on Wednesday. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s gap in heat pump subsidies could ‘lose a year’ of progress. Households in Slovakia postpone replacing their old fossil fuel boilers with greener heat pumps due to a six-month subsidy lag during a crucial period before the heating season, said Petra Čakovská of the Slovak consumer group SOS. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria accuses Russian ambassador of spreading disinformation. Bulgaria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry accused Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova on Monday of spreading disinformation when she said that sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine would negatively impact the dialogue between Moscow and Sofia. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian agriculture minister to request Ukrainian grain ban extension until end of year. Florin Barbu, the Minister-designate for the portfolio of Agriculture and Rural Development, will ask the EU Commission to extend the restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine until the end of the year, he announced on Wednesday. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Serb cars banned from Kosovo as alleged police kidnap opens Pandora’s box of Kumanovo deal. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that three Kosovo police officials were kidnapped on Wednesday in Leposavic by Serbian police, something Belgrade denies, with Pristina banning Serbian cars from entering the country. Meanwhile, observers note the alleged kidnapping would violate the Kumanovo Agreement as Serbian forces are not allowed to enter Kosovo or the five-kilometre buffer zone at the border. Read more.

Kosovo’s president builds bridges in Europe as Western sanctions loom. Amid talk of Western sanctions against Kosovo, including possibly halting citizens’ visa-free travel, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola shared a photo of her beside President Vjosa Osmani, emphasising Parliament will support visa liberalisation as Osmani addressed lawmakers on Wednesday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Serbia to face another anti-government protest. The country will witness its seventh anti-government ‘Serbia against violence’ protest on Saturday, with further steps and changes expected in this protest, Aleksandar Jovanović-Ćuta, a member of the group Moramo – Zajedno in the Parliament of Serbia, told EURACTIV. Read more.

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TIRANA

Albanian PM: Euro-Atlantic community backs anti-crime efforts in Kosovo but not main priority. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has commented on the rule of law situation in the north of Kosovo, including the presence of criminal gangs, repeatedly highlighted by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Eurogroup convenes to discuss digital euro, post-programme surveillance for Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and more; In inclusive format, IMF, ECB and Commission present views on the performance of EU capital markets;
Digital Assembly 2023 organised by the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission on the theme of a digital, open and secure Europe takes place in Stockholm;
Conference IIV on “supporting the future of Syria and the region” in Brussels and ministerial meeting seek to mobilise humanitarian and financial aid;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador;
Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas goes on a mission to Ukraine;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness participates in trilogue on the Banking Package;
Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni participates in 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM);
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi hosts Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi, of the Kingdom of Jordan; Hosts Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers opening speech at the Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) Annual Conference on theme “Fostering security of supply for a decarbonized world”;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski on official visit to Hyderabad, India attends G20 Agricultural Ministers’ meeting;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola attends working dinner with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa;
Parliament committee votes on Nature Restoration Bill, key text of the EU Green Deal;
ECB holds press conference on eurozone monetary policy;
Germany: Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on official visit;
Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez outlines priorities for Spain’s turn at head of EU rotating presidency;
NATO: Defence ministers meet in Brussels;
UN: Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives press conference on climate;