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In today’s news from The Capitals:
EU INSTITUTIONS
Far-right Identity and Democracy Group (ID) and conservative European Conservatives and Reformists party (ECR) come third and fourth, respectively, in voting intention, and the right-wing bloc holds on to a blocking majority, while Fratelli d’Italia loses three seats and the Italian Greens-Left Alliance gains five, according to Euractiv’s mid-January projections ahead of the EU elections in June. Read more.
Greens chief warns new debt rules will strengthen EU far right, Putin. Ahead of a vote in the European Parliament on new debt rules for EU countries, the Greens co-president Philippe Lamberts warned against the “end of the European Union as we know it” in a worst-case scenario where renewed austerity gives rise to populists and too little military spending lets Putin win the war in Ukraine. Read more.
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BERLIN
German government urged to tighten asylum policy as AfD grows in popularity. Germany’s main opposition party, the CDU, is urging the country’s three-way coalition government to work with the states to tighten asylum policy, fearing that the issue could be left to the far-right AfD party, which is currently performing well in the polls. Read more.
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PARIS
Ex-Renew Chief Séjourné kicks off FM tour in Kyiv, Weimar Triangle. France’s surprise new Foreign Minister, ex-Renew Europe boss Stéphane Séjourné, made his diplomatic debut in Kyiv over the weekend, followed by Weimar Triangle’s Germany and Poland, vowing to support Ukraine “as long as necessary”. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria’s centre-right ÖVP eyes two-party government, likely with the far-right. Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner of the centre-right ÖVP expressed her preference for a two-party government in an interview with APA on Sunday, with polls suggesting this would mean a coalition with the far-right FPÖ. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
COPENHAGEN
Danish PM proclaims King Frederik X. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik X in front of a packed Christiansborg Palace Square in central Copenhagen.
“The Crown Prince who will now become our regent is a king we know, a king we love and a king we trust”, said Frederiksen, further thanking the abdicating Queen Margrethe for tying Danemark to the past and preparing it for the future during her 52-year long reign. (Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spain to protect minors from online pornography. The government is set to approve a comprehensive law to protect minors from the current ‘pornographic epidemic’ on the internet in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told El País in an interview published on Sunday. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Poland against EU Commission prolonging trade policy with Ukraine. Poland will not give its consent for the EU Commission to prolong the special trade policy regarding Ukraine, said Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak, signalling that despite different points on many issues, Donald Tusk’s government would stick to the line established by its predecessors. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Visegrad leaders meeting would not bring results, says Czech PM. A prime ministerial meeting of the Visegrad Group, consisting of Czechia, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, has not yet been convened as it would not produce any results, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia’s Culture Ministry to stop funding LGBTQ+ projects. The Culture Ministry will cut back on Pride events and education that covers LGBTI+ topics, Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová said over a year after two people were murdered outside of a gay bar in Bratislava. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
Truck drivers, farmers protest in Romania, block border with Ukraine. Romanian truck drivers and farmers on Sunday slowed traffic around several cities, including the capital Bucharest, voicing a string of grievances from high tax rates to slow compensation payouts. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatian government’s bill to clamp down on leaks criticised by opposition, media workers. An upcoming bill proposed by the ruling HDZ party that seeks to amend the penal code to introduce jail time of up to three years for leaks from court investigations was criticised by opposition MPs from the Možemo! Party on Sunday, who argued that the new bill allows for wiretapping. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian doctors start general strike after failed negotiations with government. Slovenian doctors and dentists start a general strike on Monday after talks with the government bore no fruit following a one-day strike last week. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia to have new parliament formed in matter of weeks, says parliament president. Serbia will have a new parliament in a matter of weeks, and if a majority is formed, there will be no need for new elections, said Serbia’s parliament President Vladimir Orlić. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Pristina, EU at odds over Banjska ‘terrorist attack’ report. Four months after the EU-dubbed ‘terrorist attack’ by Serb militants in the north of Kosovo and pledges of possible measures against Serbia pending the outcome of Pristina’s investigation, the EU Commission insists on a ‘final report’ with authorities in Kosovo saying they have already provided them with evidence and proof of Belgrade’s involvement, calling on them for a response. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Eurogroup convenes to discuss IMF mission to euro area, 2024 recommendations and competitiveness, stocktaking on the ESM treaty ratification, and more;
- Informal meeting of environment ministers expected to focus on adaptation and resilience, circular economy and just transition;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Guatemala: visits EU funded Green Transition projects; Meets with local civil society leaders and associations working to preserve rainforests;
- Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič hosts EFTA Surveillance Authority College;
- Vice President Margaritis Schinas on official visit in Astana, Kazakhstan;
- Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hosts Director of Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza & Commissioner General of The Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) Issam Younis; Holds meeting with Director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights/International Federation for Human Rights Raji Sourani;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with Euractiv
Pristina, EU at odds over Banjska ‘terrorist attack’ reportFour months after the EU-dubbed ‘terrorist attack’ by Serb militants in the north of Kosovo and pledges of possible measures against Serbia pending the outcome of Pristina’s investigation, the EU Commission insists on a ‘final report’ with authorities in Kosovo saying they have already provided them with evidence and proof of Belgrade’s involvement, calling on them for a response.
Source: euractiv.com
