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In today’s news from the Capitals:
The Austrian court of auditors will not pursue the far-right FPÖ over allegations it received money from a Russian spin doctor in 2016 in exchange for introducing a pro-Russian proposal to parliament, citing procedural reasons. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany orders ammunition on behalf of Ukraine. The German government has signed contracts with the local arms industry to produce tank ammunition on behalf of Ukraine, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on the margins of a ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Read more.
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PARIS
France one of the worst EU countries for company taxation, survey finds. A new Europe-wide survey found France has one of the most burdensome fiscal frameworks for companies, where taxes other than corporate tax represent 3.8% of the country’s GDP in 2021, compared to a 2.5% EU average. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian, Germany plan to double gas transit, build new interconnectors. Belgian and Germany agreed to link their hydrogen networks, double gas transit to Germany and conduct a study to construct a second electricity interconnector, the two states agreed at the first Belgian-German Energy Summit in Zeebrugge. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI | STOCKHOLM
Sweden, Finland agree to drop joint NATO bid: media reports. Finland and Sweden have abandoned their joint approach to NATO membership and agreed that Finland will join first, Iltalehti reported. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Sweden’s main public TV broadcaster disrupted by cyberattacks. Disruptions rattled Sweden’s national TV broadcasting company SVT on Tuesday following a series of cyberattacks that rendered access to its website impossible, after universities, hospitals and regional administration offices faced similar attacks last week. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Berlusconi’s Zelenskyy comments rattle coalition. Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi recently slamming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his devastating actions in Ukraine has rattled the governing right coalition and drawn strong criticism from the opposition, including from Brussels. Read more.
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ATHENS
EU Parliament to discuss ‘erosion’ of Greek rule of law. A heated debate is expected on Wednesday in the European Parliament plenary, as EU lawmakers will hold a discussion entitled “The erosion of the rule of law in Greece. The wiretapping scandal and the freedom of the press”. Speaking to EURACTIV, EU Parliament sources predict that the progressive political groups will lash out at the Greek conservative government. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish government to increase minimum wage. Spain has decided to increase the minimum wage by 8% for 2023, meaning about 2.5 million low-salary workers will receive €1,080 gross per month in 14 payment installations, the government said Tuesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Expert: Czech switch to e-mobility still ‘completely unimaginable’. Purchasing an e-car in the near future is completely unimaginable for most Czechs as the high cost of e-cars and misunderstandings on emissions rules ensure they remain sceptical about e-mobility, Czech expert Helena Truchlá told EURACTIV.cz. Read more.
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WARSAW
Russian aircraft intercepted near Polish border. Two Dutch F-35 fighters intercepted a formation of three Russian military aircraft near Poland and escorted them out, the Dutch Defence Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Roma segregated in schools, Supreme Court finds. Roma children are segregated in Roma-only primary schools in the eastern city of Stará Ľubovňa, according to the first-of-its-kind Supreme Court ruling that holds the Education Ministry and city institutions responsible. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
US watches closely as Bulgaria develops anti-corruption reform. Reform of Bulgaria’s anti-corruption system is something the US is following closely, particularly as it is so important for the EU, US, and UK, the head of the Office for Coordination of Sanctions in the US State Department, James O’Brien told Bulgarian National Radio. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia gets €165 million support package from EU. The financial agreement for the package of energy support from the EU to Serbia, worth €165 million, was signed on Tuesday with President Aleksandar Vučić saying that Serbia depends on the European Union in many ways. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian economy grew more than previously expected in 2022. Slovenia’s economy outpaced most predictions by forecasters as it expanded by 5.7% last year, driven by robust consumption and investment spending, the latest statistics show. Read more.
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SARAJEVO
Disunited Bosnia leaders travel to Brussels. The three members of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s presidency will be in Brussels on Wednesday but are unlikely to show a united front, with most internal differences over the sanctions against Russia, which Bosnian Serbs refuse to impose. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Kurti: Problem in north Kosovo is rule of law, criminal structures. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that the main problem facing the north of Kosovo is not the resignation of Serbs from institutions meaning new elections need to be held, but rather illegality and criminal structures. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian former prosecutor general reportedly granted asylum in Italy. Albania’s former general prosecutor Adriatik Llalla has reportedly received political asylum in Italy, extinguishing hopes of extradition following a request filed by the country’s special court against corruption and organised crime (SPAK). Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: European Parliament plenary session holds key debates on one-year of Russia’s invasion against Ukraine; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates; Other agenda highlights include Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age; ECB President Christine Lagarde attends hearing on 2022 annual report of the monetary institute;
- Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič meets with US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer in Washington;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks with President of Court of Justice of the EU Koen Lenaerts;
- Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira visits the European Court of Auditors; Meets with Dean of the Chamber II Annemie Turtelboom and Members of ECA Ivana Maletic and Helga Berger;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola holds meeting with Meeting with ECB President Christine Lagarde;
- Belgium: Constitutional Court examines Belgian-Iranian prisoner transfer treaty targeted by an appeal by Iranian opposition;
- Netherlands: International conference on military uses of Artificial Intelligence;
- NATO: Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Polish President Andrzej Duda hold joint press conference;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
