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In today’s news from The Capitals:
BRATISLAVA
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government coalition has de facto seized control of the parliamentary committee overseeing the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), traditionally led by the opposition, leading to fears about its impartiality and ability to investigate matters such as the alleged purchase of Pegasus spyware and concerns about bomb threats to schools. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany’s Lindner curbs hopes for EU bias in CMU retail investment plans. While EU policymakers step up efforts to convince Europeans to invest more of their savings into European assets rather than abroad, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Tuesday that citizens would be well-advised to invest globally. Read more.
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PARIS
New French government questions health provision for migrants. Some ministers in the new government of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier are talking about possibly abolishing the state medical aid for undocumented migrants, which healthcare professionals say would further weaken the French system. Read more.
Paris hints at Migration Pact review and Schengen overhaul. France says it is willing to reopen EU negotiations on the Migration Pact and test the limits of the Schengen agreements, new Home Affairs Minister Bruno Retailleau announced, following in the footsteps of an increasing number of member states. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Iran ran special cyber op in Sweden last year, local authorities confirm. Iran’s security service carried out a special cyber operation against targets in Sweden last year, the country’s prosecutor and security services revealed on Tuesday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italy’s M5S calls for boycott on made in Italy minister’s car proposal. The Five Star Movement (the Left) will urge EU countries to reject Italian Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso’s plan to bring forward the review of the EU’s 2026 deadline for electric vehicles to 2025, which he will present in Brussels on Wednesday, the party told Euractiv Italy on Tuesday. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish government withdraws 2025 draft budget. The Spanish government on Tuesday withdrew the draft budget for 2025 due to be voted on in parliament on Thursday, after the right-wing Partido Popular Party and the party of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont announced they would reject the text. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese government won’t close budget without knowing Socialist proposals. Portugal’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Duarte, reiterated on Tuesday that the government would not close the budget without knowing the proposals from the PS party, insisting that it had the “goodwill” to accept them. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Expert dismisses opposition claims Poland won’t profit from EU Cohesion Fund plan for flood victims. Poland will benefit from the cohesion funds European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said would be made available to help flood-hit regions, an economist told Euractiv Poland, dispelling earlier opposition claims that Warsaw would gain nothing from such aid. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Drama in Czech government after PM dismisses minister. After the Pirates’ crushing defeat in the weekend’s regional and senate elections, party leader Ivan Bartoš announced that his party would not leave the governing coalition and that he would keep his post as deputy prime minister for digitisation, only to be proposed for dismissal by Prime Minister Petr Fiala hours later. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Ministers criticise Hungarian EU Presidency for downplaying Ukraine. EU ministers criticised an underemphasis on Ukraine in Hungary’s agenda for its presidency of the bloc, at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria expects decision on full Schengen accession by year’s end. The authorities in Sofia expect a decision on full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen by the end of the year. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania, other member states, seek greater flexibility in implementing recovery plan. Romania is working with other EU member states, such as France, Spain and Italy, to negotiate more flexible rules for the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to ensure the successful absorption of funds and the smooth implementation of projects, said Romania’s Minister for European Investments and Projects Adrian Câciu. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Silence over Kosovo’s stalled Council of Europe bid as France, Italy dig in their heels. As momentum around Kosovo’s bid to join the Council of Europe stagnates, stakeholders have refused to comment on reports suggesting the process is being hampered by France and Italy, two previously staunch supporters of their accession. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola participates in panel discussion “Europe’s Southern Border: The importance of the Mediterranean Region”, during EPP Study Days, in Naples, Italy;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell participates in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Participates in the G20 foreign affairs ministers meeting; Co-hosts a ministerial meeting on Sudan; Hosts a meeting with the Western Balkans leaders;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers speech at UN General Assembly side event on “Fostering Cross-Country Solidarity to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO European Region and Beyond”;
- Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in the Norway-Canada Ministerial Consultation Meeting on Plastic Pollution Treaty;
- Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra delivers statement, on behalf of EU and member states, at UNGA high level meeting to address Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
