Nationalists’ stigma evident in Finland’s new EU policy

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

HELSINKI

The new right-wing government of the National Coalition Party, the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats announced, after seven weeks of negotiations, its 250-page programme, where seven pages are specifically dedicated to the future of the country’s EU policy. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU Commission bans Huawei, ZTE, urges countries to do the same. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton urged on Thursday member states to use the prerogatives of the 5G Toolbox to restrict or exclude high-risk vendors and announced Commission measures to free its internal networks from Huawei and ZTE. Read more.

Defence industry bemoans ‘unfair’ selection of companies for NATO talks. A meeting between defence industries and NATO on Thursday has caused a serious backlash, mainly from those who were not invited, potentially jeopardising the military alliance’s drive to support a badly needed ramp-up of production. Read more.

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PARIS | BERLIN

French, German interior ministers in Tunisia to discuss illegal immigration. French and German Interior Ministers Gérald Darmanin and Nancy Faeser arrived in Tunisia on Sunday to strengthen security cooperation and tackle illegal immigration, with announcements on these issues expected soon. Read more.

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BERLIN

Greens avert German government rupture over migration deal. The Greens will support the EU migration deal in the upcoming negotiations if they see it ‘improving’ the European asylum process but shied away from a rebellion against its leadership’s pragmatic course at a party conference on Saturday. Read more.

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VIENNA

Leading centre-left politician rules out ‘grand coalition’ for Austria. SPÖ deputy chief Julia Herr has signalled her reluctance to govern in a grand coalition with the centre-right ÖVP, citing her experience with the problem of corruption in the party following a parliamentary inquiry. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch farmer’s organisation reasserts desire to conclude Agricultural Accord. The farmers’ union Land-en Tuinbouworganisatie Nederland (LTO) expressed commitment to concluding an accord on agricultural sustainability after negotiations with the government stalled over fundamental disagreements. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Partido Popular signs governing pact with far-right. Partido Popular (PP/EPP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has changed his narrative as the centre-right formation has signed pacts with the far-right Vox (ECR) in several regions, implicitly accepting its radical political principles, which include setbacks in women’s rights and social policies. Read more.

PP-Vox Valencia government gives pro-Franco ex-bullfighter top job. Retired bullfighter Vicente Barrera has been picked as the new vice president and culture minister of the Valencia region by the far-right Vox (ECR) and conservative PP (EPP) governing coalition. Read more.

VISEGRAD

PRAGUE

Czech far-right parties to join forces ahead of EU elections. Far-right parties, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and Trikolora are joining forces either as a coalition or ‘other form of cooperation entities’ ahead of the 2024 European elections, to attract all conservative and patriotic voters. Read more.

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WARSAW

Insulting tweet after Poland-Germany football match causes anger. Polish ruling Law and Justice MP Tadeusz Cymański publicly apologised for a tweet by a minister insulting opposition leader Donald Tusk after a football match where Poland beat Germany. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia adds right to cash payments in constitution over digital euro fears. Everyone has the right to pay for the purchase of goods and services in cash, says a new amendment to the Slovak constitution that was passed last week with the support of 111 MPs and is meant to protect physical payments from a future in which the digital euro becomes mandatory. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Leading Bulgarian party edges closer to ‘Renew’ membership. The negotiations of the leading party in the Bulgarian government, ‘We Continue the Change’, to join the liberal group in the EU Parliament are at an advanced stage, a source told EURACTIV Bulgaria. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian party to establish right-wing pole ahead of 2024 national elections. A mandate for establishing a right-wing pole for the 2024 elections was called on by the Save Romania Union party’s (USR) congress on Saturday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Vučić: Kurti wants war, West does not see Serbia as partner. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, wants war at any price, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Serbian television, adding that Western countries do not view Serbia as a partner. Read more.

‘Vucic out’: Serbian protesters keep heat on government. Serbians paraded life-size figures of leading government figures in prison jumpsuits on Saturday during a seventh week of protests since two mass shootings triggered nationwide protests. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Uncertainty over Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Brussels, citizens protest for Kosovo in Vienna, Tirana. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he is discussing the invitation from the EU to meet in Brussels along with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, and he will give a response early this week, while the latter said he has no intention of talking with Kurti. Read more.

Kosovo frustrated over Western threats blames Serbia. Kosovo sees a clear Serbian strategy behind the recent tension in its country’s north to block a recent EU proposal and expresses frustration with pressure from its Western allies, with the EU having yet to call out Serbia’s actions, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani told journalists in Berlin on Friday. Read more.

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TIRANA

Youth unemployment in Albania rises, but thousands of positions remain unfilled. Unemployment in Albania is increasing, particularly amongst the youth, while thousands of positions in the tourism and service sector remain unfulfilled, jeopardising what is set to be a record year for tourism. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in its energy ministers composition convenes to seek a general approach on EU electricity market design reform; Other agenda highlights include recent developments in the field of external energy relations and winter preparedness;
Conference on the potential of research data titled “How research infrastructures provide new opportunities and benefits for society”, organised by the Swedish Presidency, takes place in Lund;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel;
Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas delivers keynote speech at the Tent European Business Summit; Visits the headquarters of Paris 2024 Olympic Games;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in the Hemingway Professional Governance annual forum;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski holds meetings with farmer and co-founder of European Carbon Farmers Mateusz Ciasnocha, representatives from Polish Agricultural Organizations and Associations related to pig production, in Warsaw, Poland;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit meets with the EU’s Long-Term Care coordinators, in Brussels;
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton participates in the general assembly of the Zero Emissions alliance, at the 54th Paris Air Show;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola, on official visit in Zagreb, Croatia, meets with the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković; Attends conference on the 10 Years of Croatia’s EU Membership;
Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) visits Israel and Palestine for the first time since 2015 to meet with Israeli and Palestinian high level government officials and civil society representatives, and carry out field visits to both Palestine and Israel and hold discussions with local authorities, residents as well as international and national organisations;
Subcommittee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) delegation visits Frontex in Warsaw, Lampedusa, and Malta;
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg;
Slovakia: President Zuzana Čaputová announces whether she seeks re-election;