‘Do more and better’: Paris hopes to align European efforts in Ukraine support

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.

Today’s edition is powered by the European Round Table for Industry (ERT)

A message from European Round Table for Industry (ERT):

Is the race for the future already run & lost? Find out as ERT launches its Competitiveness and Industry Benchmarking Report near Rond-point Schumann on Monday, 18 March at 14:00 CET.

Mark your diary and register here.

In today’s news from The Capitals:

PARIS

Paris will host 20 heads of state on Monday to mobilise European production capacity and explore ways better to support Ukraine in its military response to Russian aggression as the war enters its third year and troops on the ground are both outgunned and outmanned. Read more.

Head of Rassemblement National list defends CAP, criticises Green Deal. Jordan Bardella, the head of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) list for the upcoming EU elections, reiterated his desire to remain part of the EU’s agricultural policy while criticising the “diminishing” project of the Green Pact for Europe at the Paris International Agricultural Show on Sunday. Read more.

///

BERLIN

Germany officially changes their name for Ukrainian capital two years into the war. The government has changed the spelling of the Ukrainian capital in its official communications from ‘Kiew’ to the Ukrainian ‘Kyjiw’, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Pressure mounts on Sánchez over pandemic corruption scandal involving former minister. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is under pressure from the opposition to remove former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos from his position as MP over suspicions that he knew about a €50 million corruption scandal involving the purchase of masks during the pandemic, demanding he shed light on the case in parliament. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Polish minister will demand limitations on Green Deal. Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski will call for restrictions on the European Green Deal at Monday’s EU Council meeting as farmers continue to protest, the minister commented during a Ministry conference on Sunday. Read more.

///

PRAGUE

Former Czech commissioners call for euro adoption. The Czech Republic must adopt the euro if it wants to be involved in the EU’s future developments, all three former Czech EU commissioners, Pavel Telička, Vladimír Špidla and Štefan Füle, told the Czech News Agency, adding that the EU must undergo reforms. Read more.

///

BRATISLAVA

NGOs rally against Slovak government’s decision to cancel human rights grant. After Justice Minister Boris Susko cancelled the call for applications for a €769,500 grant under the Human Rights 2024 programme without explanation, NGOs have signed a petition urging him to reconsider his decision. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria has real chance of entering eurozone in 2025. Bulgaria has a real chance of joining the eurozone in 2025 because it will be able to meet all the conditions for membership, Finance Minister Asen Vasilev said after an informal meeting of economic and finance ministers in Ghent last week. Read more.

///

BELGRADE

Serbian PM rejects opposition, European Parliament’s call for investigation into December elections. The December elections were legitimate, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said in a live TV appearance in response to the opposition as well as the international community and the European Parliament’s call for an international investigation, adding that such a move would infringe on Serbia’s sovereignty. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Agriculture and Fisheries Council convenes to discuss rapid and structural responses to agricultural sector crises, and more;
Informal meeting of gender equality ministers looks back at key achievements and lessons learnt, contemplates ahead until 2030;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen receives Chairs of European People’s Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Renew Europe Groups Manfred Weber, Iratxe García-Pérez and Valérie Hayer;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič chairs clean transition dialogue on European Green Deal infrastructure;
Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis in United Arab Emirates: Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi; Participates in ministerial conversation on future of WTO post its 30th anniversary; Holds meetings with Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Majid Alkasabi, Minister of Trade and Industry of Republic of South Africa Ebrahim Patel; Participates in MC13 opening session;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen holds call with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed;

***

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