Fico says Czechia has ‘interest’ in supporting Ukraine war, after Prague burns bridge

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

BRATISLAVA | PRAGUE

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed Czechia’s decision to suspend intergovernmental consultations due to Bratislava’s apparent pro-Russian stances by claiming they ‘just want peace’ while accusing Prague of having an ‘interest’ in supporting the war in Ukraine. Read more.

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BERLIN

German Federal States demand progress on outsourcing asylum applications to third countries. In a lasting dispute over asylum policy between the German federal states and the government, the states have now made demands to proceed with outsourcing asylum applications to third countries, setting a deadline for the government. Read more.

German government bound to continue coalition while conservatives brace for its collapse. The German government is concerned about a defeat in the European Parliament elections while facing a decline in the polls and internal discord as the conservatives actively prepare for the coalition’s collapse. Read more.

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PARIS

French left party LFI unveils EU election list. Radical-left La France Insoumise (LFI, GUE/NGL) unveiled its EU election list on Wednesday, and although it remains incomplete and has yet to be voted on by party members, it includes all outgoing MEPs as well as some new faces. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Swedish leaders travel to Washington ahead of NATO accession. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström left for Washington on Wednesday, where the country is expected to formally join NATO in the coming days. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italy presses ahead with nuclear as energy transition tool after 30–plus–year hiatus. The Italian Chamber of Deputies will launch a major inquiry into how nuclear energy could help Italy reach its energy transition goals, a significant step as the country remains the only G7 nation not operating nuclear power stations, having shut down the last plant over 30 years ago. Read more.

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MADRID

Sánchez navigates controversial amnesty bill changes to secure separatist support. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accepted changes to the text of the controversial amnesty bill on Wednesday – the latest version of which is almost certain to be approved on Thursday – to satisfy the Catalan separatists who remain key to the government’s stability. Read more.

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NICOSIA

Von der Leyen to visit Cyprus to discuss Gaza maritime aid corridor. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Cyprus this week for talks on a maritime aid corridor from the island to Gaza, officials said Wednesday. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Kyiv proposes temporary trade restrictions with EU in exchange for Russian grain import ban. Ukraine is ready to accept temporary trade restrictions with the EU provided the bloc imposes a ban on Russian grain imports, Ukrainian Trade Minister Taras Kachka told the Financial Times. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech concerns over costs and delays cast shadow on French EDF nuclear bid. In the race to secure a nuclear unit tender for the Dukovany power plant, Czechia express concerns over cost overruns and delays, casting a shadow on French company EDF’s bid. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

TIRANA

EU calls Albania to uphold ‘due process’ after ethnic Greek mayor convicted for vote buying. The European Commission has called on Albania to ensure due process is upheld following the sentencing of Fredi Beleri, an opposition candidate from the Greek minority who won the elections in the southern municipality of Himara, to prison for vote buying which has led to heightened tensions between Tirana and Athens. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian public opinion of Putin turns negative after Navalny death. Most Bulgarians are convinced that the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was directly caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, leading to increased negative perceptions of Putin and Russia, a national poll published on Wednesday by Bulgarian consultancy Alpha Research found. Read more.

Bulgaria’s GERB leader accuses coalition partners of provoking early elections as government resigns. Bulgarian centre-right leader Boyko Borissov (GERB) on Wednesday accused his partners in the ruling PP-DB coalition of “provoking early elections” by hastily submitting the government’s resignation. Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatian PM sees no threat in centre-left opposition. Ten left-wing and centrist parties have formed the “For a Better Croatia” coalition, led by the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP/S&D) – a new formation that centre-right HDZ leader and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has already dismissed as a threat ahead of the parliamentary elections. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Competitiveness Council convenes to discuss annual single market and competitiveness report, late payment regulation, future of EU industrial policy, and more;
Commission Vice President on “the new challenges for France and Italy in a European context” in Rome; Meets with representatives of the Italian Digital Media Observatory;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in trilogue on European Health Data Space;
Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli delivers speech at National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) International Women’s Day Conference 2024, in Malta;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates via videoconference in the final Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)/EC training project;
Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira delivers keynote speech at “Reinforcing European Cohesion” conference, organised by FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies);
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers keynote speech in panel discussion at the Offshore Norge’s annual conference;
Cimmissioner Iliana Ivanova delivers keynote speech at “Widening: Opportunities for Romanian Research” conference in Bucharest, Romania;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates in the Congress of the European People’s Party, in Bucharest, Romania;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Spanish and Belgian ministers visit Mauritania to sign migration agreement;
Deadline for large tech companies to comply with rules under Digital Markets Act;
ECB press conference on eurozone monetary policy;
Spain: Deadline for Socialist Party, Catalan separatists to agree text of amnesty law;