Berlin says EU should prepare for war by end of decade

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

In today’s news from the Capitals:

BERLIN

Europe could face threats from Russia by the end of the decade, and EU countries need to build up their defence industries to be prepared, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during an interview published on Welt am Sonntag on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend renewed his threats against Finland because it joined NATO earlier this year but rejected US estimations that Moscow will target NATO countries. Read more.

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PARIS

French FM calls for ‘immediate and lasting truce’ in Gaza. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna called for an ‘immediate truce’ in Gaza while in Israel on Sunday just before travelling to meet with Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and the Lebanese authorities in Lebanon on Monday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Legalising migrants bill shakes Greek centre-right government. A bill to legalise migrants brought in to fill the gaps in Greece’s labour market has upset the conservative fraction of the ruling centre-right New Democracy party (EPP), causing headaches for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Read more.

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ROME

They won’t get rid of me, Meloni promises at right-wing political festival. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promises to stay until the end of the legislature as long as she has the consent of the Italians, she said at Fratelli d’Italia’s annual event where many leaders, including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Vox leader Santiago Abascal, were in attendance. Read more.

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MADRID

Controversial left-wing minister to head Podemos’ EU elections list. Former Equality Minister Irene Montero, who recently caused controversy for her promotion of a ‘yes means yes’ law, will lead the party’s list for the European elections to have an ‘independent voice’ separated from the Socialist Group and The Greens/EFA, according to sources in the anti-establishment party. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Orbán is ‘Trojan horse’ for Russian interests, says Czech minister. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a ‘Trojan horse’ who is breaking European unity and protecting Russian interests, said Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák on Sunday after Orbán blocked financial aid for Ukraine during last week’s European Council summit. Read more.

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WARSAW

Tusk’s government will be better than PiS’s, say Poles. Almost half of Poles believe newly-appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government will be better than the Law and Justice (PiS) government that has ruled in Poland for the last eight years, according to a poll conducted by SW Research pollster for Rzeczpospolita. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico pleads to remove Slovak citizen from EU sanctions list. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to get a Slovak businessman linked to the pro-Kremlin biker group Night Wolves off the European sanctions list after being added for assisting the Kremlin’s interests. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria to limit import of agricultural products. The excessive import of fruits and vegetables will be reduced to stimulate local production, Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev told state television BNT on Saturday, adding that the government is preparing a law to regulate this trade. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania reaches agreement on Bystroe canal with Ukraine. Both nations have successfully resolved a decades-long dispute concerning the Bystroe Canal, in which Ukraine is permitted to proceed with the development of the canal with the condition that the project adheres to environmental protection regulations, Romania’s Environment Ministry announced. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenia extends border checks until June 2024. Following a ‘significant deterioration of security in the Middle East’, terrorist threats, and violent conflicts across Africa, Slovenia has decided to extend police checks at its border with Croatia and Hungary until 22 June 2024. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Vučić declares victory in Serbia election, opposition cries foul. President Aleksandar Vučić declared victory in a snap parliamentary election on Sunday, after pollsters projected his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was on track to easily win. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Environment Council convenes to discuss packaging and packaging waste, forest monitoring framework, soil monitoring law, and more;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in Kigali; Attends launch ceremony of BioNTech Africa; Meets with Kenyan President William Ruto, in Nairobi; Attends signature of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in trilogue on New Pact on Migration and Asylum, Single Permit Directive;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski participates in LEADER European Congress at Parliament;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in presentation of the Commission Work Programme 2024, in Luxembourg;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]