EPP boss: Key policy portfolios should be in EU centre-right’s ‘steady’ hands after elections

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

EU INSTITUTIONS

The political balance of power that will emerge after the EU elections in June will show a direct call for the EU centre-right to keep key EU policy portfolios under its helm, Thanasis Bakolas, secretary general of the European People’s Party, Europe’s largest political family, told Euractiv in an interview ahead of the party’s congress on 6-7 March in Bucharest. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany warns of Russian information war after wiretapping scandal. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Sunday of the growing threat of a Russian information war after a phone conversation between German officials was intercepted and leaked to Russian media. Read more.

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PARIS

French far-right: EU elections ‘referendum’ against migrants, Brussels authoritarianism. Marseille hosted the Rassemblement National European election campaign kick-off meeting on Sunday with leader Jordan Bardella, flanked by figurehead and deputy Marine Le Pen, taking a big swipe at immigration, the European Union and its executive. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Council of Europe’s advisory body endorses Spanish amnesty law. The Venice Commission, a constitutional advisory body of the Council of Europe (COE), would support Spain’s amnesty law, although it suggests improvements to the text and calls for calm dialogue before approval, according to a draft report seen by Euractiv’s partner EFE. Read more.

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ROME

Schmit elected as lead candidate for Commission top job, pledging respect, EU values and combatting the right. European Labour Commissioner Nicolas Schmit was elected with a large majority as the lead candidate for the European Social Democrats ahead of the June European elections at the Party of European Socialists (PES) congress in Italy on Saturday. Read more.

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NICOSIA

Turkish Cypriot leader rules out any talks without equal status. Turkish Cypriots will not sit at any negotiating table unless their sovereignty and equal status is recognised, the leader of the breakaway self-declared state in northern Cyprus told AFP Sunday. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Poland negotiates exemption from Green Deal provisions. The Polish government is negotiating with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the country to be exempted from some provisions of the European Green Deal, a minister has confirmed to the media. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech MEP challenges EU Commission over controversial appointment of SME envoy. Czech MEP Martina Dlabajová has challenged the European Commission over its controversial appointment of an EU SME envoy, questioning whether the selection process was based on merit and equal opportunities. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovak foreign minister Blanar meets with Russia’s Lavrov in Turkey. A senior member of Slovakia’s government met his Russian counterpart on Saturday (2 March) in a rare high-level encounter between a European Union member state and a country the EU has sought to isolate. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

ZAGREB

Opposition party Možemo demands Croatia recognise Palestine. Croatia must recognise the Palestinian state as it would send a message that the nation and the EU support the de-escalation of the conflict, the Croatian left-green opposition party Možemo said on Friday, adding that it would include the demand in its programme for the European and national elections. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Justice and Home Affairs Council convenes to discuss asylum and migration, Schengen area, drug trafficking & organised crime, and more;
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in its Energy composition expected to focus on security of supply and preparations for winter 2024-2025 with a view to achieving the 2030 objectives for climate, and more;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič participates in roundtable at European Conference for a Just Transition; Participates in SolarPower Summit 2024; Participates in opening plenary session of CEPS think tank Ideas Lab 2024 event;
Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at European Civil Society Week; Speaks at European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) Congress;
Vice President Dubravka Suica hosts KAS – Multinational Development Policy Dialogue & International Women’s Democracy Union (IWDU) delegation;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski speaks at opening ceremony and ministerial roundtable at Regional Conference for the Near East, Jordan, organised by UN Food and Agriculture Organisation;
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova hosts President of European Youth Forum Maria Rodriguez;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola on official visit to Helsinki, Finland: meets with Speaker of the Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, leaders of parliamentary groups; Meets with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb;
UN: General Assembly Session on Gaza;

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