Berlin ‘surprised’ over choice of Attal as French PM

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.

In today’s news from The Capitals:

BERLIN | PARIS

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, leader of France’s closest ally, was reportedly surprised by the appointment of 34-year-old former education minister Gabriel Attal as the new prime minister, making him the country’s and one of the world’s youngest-ever prime ministers.

However, Berlin considers Attal an advocate of Franco-German relations and expects “continuity” under his mandate ahead of the EU elections, with a particular focus on the youth rapprochement, local politicians told Euractiv.

Nick Alipour from Berlin and Theo Bourgery-Gonse from Paris have the story. Read more.

BUBBLING IN BRUSSELS

Greek PM denies rumours for an EU role: Kyriakos Mitsotakis has denied rumours reported in local media that he is eyeing a European top job after the June EU elections.

In an interview with ERT public broadcaster, Mitsotakis wondered “who fuels” these scenarios saying, “some, not being able to deal with me politically [domestically], are thinking of some way out through [an EU] promotion”.

Mitsotakis’ name has been circulating in Brussels too, together with Croatian PM Andrej Plenković as potential EPP candidates for an EU role.

Orbán’s ‘annual veto threat’: Hungary’s request to split the €50 billion package for Ukraine into tranches and put it under an annual review will keep the EU hostage of Budapest’s “annual veto right”, diplomats told Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski and Aurélie Pugnet. Read more.

Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia change EU defence game? Berlin’s decision to lift its block to Eurofighters’ exports to Saudi Arabia is a sign to EU partners that it wants to become more reliable regarding defence exports and clear a major obstacle to closer European defence collaboration. Nick Alipour digs deeper.

Will ‘Baby Macron’ Attal backfire? Emmanuel Macron’s choice of Gabriel Attal as French PM may give a new push ahead of the EU elections but risks of a far right backfire remain, warned Théo Bourgery-Gonse on Wednesday’s Brief.

EU Socialists tell Serbia to do better. While EU institutions do not seem eager to take concrete action over Serbia’s controversial 17 December general elections, the Party of European Socialists are keeping up the momentum with a strongly worded letter sent to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Alice Taylor reports.

BERLIN

Farmers’ protests: German Greens blamed supermarket chains. As farmers continue to stage huge traffic-blocking protests across Germany, a growing number of voices within the Greens, who are part of the ruling three-party coalition, blame major supermarket chains’ pricing policies for many farms’ dire economic situation. Read more.

German Eurofighter U-turn heralds new push for European defence collaboration. Berlin lifting its five-year block and greenlighting the export of European fighter jets to Saudi Arabia shows Germany’s willingness to tighten European defence collaboration, experts say – though the formation of a reliable arms export policy remains a tough nut to crack. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Swedish government accused of poor war communication, causing anxiety in children. Former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson lashed out at the government’s communication on Sweden’s readiness for war, accusing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of being divisive towards Swedes with immigrant backgrounds. Read more.

///

COPENHAGEN

Danish populist anti-migrant party dissolved in apparent bid to reduce centre-right parties. Denmark’s New Right Party will be dissolved in an apparent bid to reduce the number of the centre-right parties as its MPs could join other right-wing parliamentary groups, party founder Pernille Vermund announced on Wednesday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italian agri minister, Draghi among top guesses for EU role. Discussions and guessing games over which Italian politicians could be set to head to Brussels and what role they could be in are intensifying ahead of the June European elections, with the names of Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, a member of Fratelli d’Italia (ECR) and brother-in-law of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and former prime minister Mario Draghi both cropping up. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

BRATISLAVA

Fico’s government mulls dismantling agency that handles corruption. Bratislava’s efforts to amend the country’s penal code could put an end to the police’s leading anti-corruption unit “as we know it”, said Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, adding that his ministry has already been working on reorganising the police force. Read more.

///

WARSAW

Sentenced Polish lawmakers taken to jail following carefully orchestrated arrest. Former Ministers Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik were arrested on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace, where they were offered shelter by President Andrzej Duda, in a ‘spectacular arrest’ that may have included a fake bus breakdown that kept the president from intervening, according to Polish media. Read more.

///

PRAGUE

Czech TV building vandalised for its Israel-Hamas war coverage. Unidentified vandals attacked the Czech Television (CT) building in Prague on Wednesday, leaving a sign criticising the way the public broadcaster reports on the war between Israel and Hamas, CT Director Jan Souček said on Wednesday. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Sofia’s synagogue vandalised with Hitler obituaries. An investigation into the case of obituaries glorifying Adolf Hitler that was put up on the facade of the Sofia Synagogue on Saturday was launched by the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office on Wednesday. Read more.

///

BUCHAREST

Romanian transporters, farmers block roads over expensive civil liability policies. Transporters and farmers from across the country staged roadblocks on ring roads in Bucharest and other cities on Wednesday in response to, among other things, compulsory civil liability policies, demanding the prices of these policies be capped. Read more.

///

BELGRADE

EU Socialists calls on Serbia to uphold rule of law, democracy after elections. While EU institutions do not seem eager to take concrete action over Serbia’s controversial 17 December general elections, the Party of European Socialists are keeping up the momentum with a strongly worded letter sent to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts members of member states permanent representatives committee to EU (COREPER);
Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni exchanges views on EU Semester with parliament’s ECON committee;
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova delivers keynote speech at the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) meeting; Participates in European Innovation Council Board meeting;
Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean meets with group of EU transportation and mobility startup companies;
Slovakia: Protest against government reform regarding corruption;

***

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