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In today’s news from the Capitals:
PARIS
The French government is set to present a plan to better regulate the commercial work of social media influencers to ensure they, as well as the consumers of their content, are better protected, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told Franceinfo on Monday. Read more.
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VIENNA
EU combustion engine ban electrifies Austrian coalition. Chancellor Karl Nehammer announcing Austria will oppose the EU’s de facto combustion engine ban has sparked criticism from his Green coalition partner. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany shuts down local Silicon Valley Bank branch. Germany’s financial regulator BaFin has closed down the country’s branch of the Silicon Valley Bank, which faces bankruptcy in the US, to protect creditors amid worries of a new financial crisis. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Moroccan ambassador offered MEP Arena, Panzeri ‘luxury stay’. Belgian MEP Marie Arena (S&D) was offered a stay in a luxury hotel in Morocco with former Italian MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri – the alleged mastermind of Qatargate — back in 2015, although she was “unaware” that a Moroccan ambassador financed the trip, Panzeri claims. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch eye hydrogen, battery technology in Japan-South Korea mission. Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher will visit South Korea and Japan as part of a trade mission that started on Monday to foster commercial ties in fields such as hydrogen and battery technology. Read more.
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LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg pressured to impose 30 km/h inner-city speed limits . The government is under pressure again to decrease the inner city speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour to 30 to match neighbouring countries after a fatal collision last week left three dead. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK announces new security fund. Nearly £1 billion will be allocated to the UK Integrated Security Fund, a new security fund that will go towards domestic security and address global sources of volatility, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish investigation blames EU for high electricity bills. The European Union and its energy market system are to blame for very high electricity bills last year, as companies have made windfall profits as production costs remained low, the investigative unit of the Finnish Broadcasting Company found in a study published Monday. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Swedish pension company to lose billions amid US bank crash. Pension company Alecta risks losing billions after two US banks – Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank – collapsed over the weekend, risking the savings of Swedish pensioners. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian right-wing slam EU Green Homes Directive. Italian right-wing parties are united against the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and call on the government to show its opposition in negotiations with the European Parliament following a vote set for Tuesday in Strasbourg. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain’s controversial ‘Gag Law’ reform is doomed to fail. The reform of the controversial Citizen Security Law known as the “Gag Law” will likely be delivered a blow in the parliamentary committee as the Catalan and Basque nationalist parties oppose part of the reform that would allow for anti-riot police to use rubber balls. Read more.
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LISBON
Iberian leaders meet to maintain ‘great harmony’. Portugal and Spain will meet again at a summit this week in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to enhance bilateral relations ahead of the Spanish EU Presidency amid a polarised atmosphere in Madrid due to the upcoming municipal and national elections. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greek opposition seeks clarity over missing €600 million train investment. The main opposition Syriza party (EU Left) has asked the conservative New Democracy government (EPP) to make public all documents and communications with a private railway company which was supposed to invest €750 million, and in exchange, the government would complete all remaining train safety projects. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BUDAPEST
Air Serbia announces more flights to Hungary in convenient move for Russians. More Russian passport holders could choose Budapest as their point of entry into the EU after flag carrier Air Serbia, which continues routes to and from Russia, announced 17 flights a week between Budapest and Belgrade on Monday. Read more.
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WARSAW
Most Poles believe ruling conservatives are here to stay, poll suggests. Upcoming parliamentary elections will not change the power dynamic in the country as the current conservative coalition is set to secure its third victory in a row, according to over half of Poles who responded to a survey published Monday. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech president criticises Visegrad over Hungary. The Visegrad Group is now a consultative group even if it was not set up as such, the new Czech President Petr Pavel, a former NATO military committee chief, who vows to strengthen cooperation with Slovakia and Poland but not Hungary, has said. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Central Europe drives EU-Taiwan relations. Central European countries are key drivers in developing EU-Taiwan relations as they make up 60% of all interactions between EU and Taiwan actors, a new report by the Central European Institute for Asian Studies (CEIAS) reads. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
One in five of Romania’s January car sales electric, hybrid. Electric and hybrid cars made up more than 20% of new cars sold in Romania in the first month of 2023, the latest data from the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers shows. Read more.
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SOFIA
Borissov will not be PM for a fourth term. GERB leader and three-time prime minister Boyko Borissov said he is giving up on his chances of becoming a prime minister for another term during a pre-election meeting in Pleven ahead of elections in April. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia PM unveils new €1.7 billion relief package. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic presented a new relief package worth €1.7 billion at a meeting behind closed doors of Croatia’s Economic and Social Council (GSV) on Monday. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia remains firm on Association of Serb Municipalities after day 1 with Lacjak. Forming the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo is a prerequisite for normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, Vučić said after his first day of meetings with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajčak in Belgrade on Monday. Read more.
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SARAJEVO | LJUBLJANA
Seize the historic chance’, visiting Slovenian PM tells Bosnia. The atmosphere in the EU is much more friendly towards enlargement, and Bosnia-Herzegovina should seize the historic opportunity, visiting Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said on Monday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albania’s Vjosa River officially declared a National Park. Albania’s Vjosa River, subject to a years-long international campaign, has officially been declared a National Park after the decision was formalised by the Council of Ministers and announced by Environment Minister Mirela Kumbaro. Read more.
European Parliament set to debate highly-critical resolution on Albania. The rapporteur of Albania for the European Parliament, Isabel Santos, has drafted a highly-critical resolution against the country, criticising plans for a cash-for-passports scheme, a lack of transparency in competition and public procurement, and little progress in fundamental freedoms. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Economic and Financial Affairs Council convenes to discuss EU budget, Ukraine war focusing on energy-related financial market aspects, and more; Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness, Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn participate;
- The College of Commissioners discusses the Net Zero industry act and the European critical raw materials act;
- Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica meets with European Parliament Vice President Eva Kopacz;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel meets with the ITRE/CULT European Parliament Committees Coordinators;
- Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli speaks at the S&D MEPs Group meeting on combating violence against women and domestic violence;
- Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in the joint debate on the European Semester in the European Parliament’s plenary session, and the oral question on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion;
- European Parliament Plenary votes on Data Act, binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by member states, law enforcement information exchange, and more;
- Parliament President Roberta Metsola holds bilateral meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauséda;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev hold press conference after talks;
- Belgium: Court of Appeal rules on MEP’s request to challenge investigating judge in ‘Qatargate’ case;
- Spain: Spain-Portugal summit;
- Poland: Trial hearing of activist Justyna Wydrzynska, accused of assisting an abortion;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
