Commission renegotiates vaccine deals to quell overstocking

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

The European Commission began negotiations with COVID-19 vaccine producers to change the conditions of previously agreed-upon contracts, reacting to increasing pressure from member states that do not want to pay for vaccines they no longer need. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

China has not crossed any red lines for us yet, EU’s top diplomat says. China has not crossed any red lines in terms of supplying arms to Russia and wants to “minimise the risk of being associated with Russian military activities”, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell told several European media, including EURACTIV. Read more.

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VIENNA

Austria’s Nehammer denies rumours of government instability. Rumours the centre-right ÖVP could break up the government and force an early election have been strongly denied by Chancellor Karl Nehammer in an interview with public broadcaster ORF on Sunday. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch ministers pledge financial support for developing countries. The Netherlands calls for global water-related challenges to be addressed, Infrastructure Minister Mark Habers and Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said at the UN Water Conference in New York, where they pledged financial support to developing countries. Read more.

UK AND IRELAND

LONDON

London City Hall bans staff from using TikTok on work devices. London City Hall staff are no longer allowed to have TikTok on their devices over security concerns after the UK government banned ministers from using the video-sharing app on their work phones. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Greens are only Finnish party supporting EU joint debt. The Green Party is the only party in Finland considering the possibility of taking on new EU joint debt, a new survey commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and carried out by research company Kantar Public reads. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italian senator: Russia, China threaten Mediterranean security, infrastructure. Russia and China are the main threat to Mediterranean security and strategic infrastructure – such as gas pipelines and undersea cables –, Senator Marco Dreosto (League/ID), Secretary of the Bureau of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, told EURACTIV.it. Read more.

VISEGRAD

PRAGUE

Czechia welcomes EU-Germany e-fuel deal resolving combustion row. The agreement reached between Germany and the European Commission that would leave space for e-fuels in the EU’s plans to phase out combustion engines from 2035 is a significant success, according to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR). Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

WESTERN BALKANS

Six Western Balkan green parties join in cooperation platform. In an unprecedented political initiative, five green parties from Western Balkan countries, plus Croatia, signed a declaration on Sunday about a cooperation platform, pledging to work together for peace and environment, and against corruption. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian election to suffer with vote-buying despite high prices. The upcoming Bulgarian election in April is expected to have more vote-buying attempts even though it now costs €75 to buy one vote – a threefold increase compared to 2021- Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said on Saturday. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenian farmers up in arms over environmental restrictions. About 5,000 Slovenian farmers took to the streets in their tractors across nearly two dozen cities and towns Friday to protest conditions they say are making it near impossible to work with. Read more.

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TIRANA

Kosovo PM receives support for ongoing dialogue with Serbia during Tirana visit. The ongoing dialogue with Serbia was high on the agenda as Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, Parliament Speaker Lindita Nikolla, President Bajram Begaj, and opposition leaders in Tirana over the weekend. Read more.

AGENDA

EU: Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at the conference “Shaping our Digital Future: Tackling Disinformation in the EU, case of Central and Eastern Europe”; Speaks at Transatlantic Democracy Dialogue; Hosts President of the European Social and Economic Committee Christa Schweng; Attends hearing on the European Citizens Initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the trade”;
Vice President Margrethe Vestager exchanges views with the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection;
Vice President Frans Timmermans receives Chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change Ottmar Edenhofer;
Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis meets Latvian President Egils Levits in Riga; Participates in “Successful Energy Transition: Gap between Ambition and Action” conference;
Vice President Dubravka Šuica delivers speech via video-message at “Making the Case for Democracy” event;
Vice President Margaritis Schinas meets with Egyptian Minister for Education and Vocational Training Reda Hegazy in Cairo;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides exchanges views with the European Parliament Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness delivers opening speech at the National Payments Conference 2023, organised by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) in Ireland;
France: Judgement in lawsuit against Twitter brought by three victims of terrorism, targets of online harassment;
United Kingdom: Scottish National Party announces new leader to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister;
Hungary: Parliament votes on Finland NATO application;
UN: Security Council on Somalia;