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In today’s news from The Capitals:
PARIS
France’s prime minister Gabriel Attal has warned against the risks of a French EU exit if the far-right wins big at the polls, as overwhelming data shows the negative impacts of Brexit on the UK. Read more.
“Notre Εurope” list wants to bring EU closer to those working on ground at next elections. A dozen locally-elected representatives on the “Notre Europe” list for the European elections called in an opinion piece for a strong but decentralised Europe that is closer to the day-to-day concerns of local players. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
EU readies law to boost Green industry at home. The European Parliament and national governments have agreed to boost domestic production of green technologies, such as solar modules and wind turbines, but expanded the list to include nuclear power and shied away from excluding Chinese manufacturers for most public subsidies. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Swedish Nord Stream investigation to end soon. The Swedish criminal investigation into the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipeline sabotage in the autumn of 2022 will likely conclude shortly after the prosecutor in charge, Mats Ljungqvist, announced that a decision would be made on Wednesday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Salvini sees farmer protests as opportunity to lessen support for ‘Ursula majority’. The tighter the bond between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the more Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini distances himself from the ‘Ursula majority’, using the farmers’ protests across Europe as an opportunity to renew opposition to “crazy” European policies. Read more.
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MADRID
PP, Vox battle to be ‘farmers’ party’ ahead of EU elections. Just as the European People’s Party (EPP) has been pitching itself as the ‘farmer’s party’, the Partido Popular (PP) has stepped up its public presence to assert that they, unlike the far-right Vox party, are best placed to defend farmers against the “bureaucratic behemoth” in Brussels. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal reiterates readiness to give F-16 training to Ukrainian air force. Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister João Gomes Cravinho reiterated his country’s willingness to provide training in using F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine’s air force, expressing the hope that these aircraft will be available at their maximum potential throughout 2024 while in Kyiv on Tuesday. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE
We do not want Orban in ECR, says Czech conservative. Czech conservatives reject the idea of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party joining the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, Czech MEP Veronika Vrecionová wrote on social media, adding that they do not need someone who has blackmailed the rest of the EU over Ukraine. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish government introduces changes in PiS-controlled petrol giant. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government began structural and personnel changes in the partially state-owned petrol giant, Orlen, which has been controlled by the former conservative PiS (ECR) cabinet until now. Read more.
Poland still far from allowing same-sex marriage, ruling coalition MP admits. More and more lawmakers from previously conservative parties are changing their views on liberalising LGBTQ rights, although Poland is still far from introducing same-sex marriages, ruling Civic Platform (PO, EPP) MP Agnieszka Pomaska said during a BBC debate in Warsaw. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria’s Russian spy affair spread to other EU countries. The high-ranking police officer arrested by Bulgarian special services on Monday on suspicion of Russian espionage was exporting sensitive information from EU agencies and other European countries to the Kremlin, the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Moldova at forefront of Kremlin’s hybrid war, says Romanian FM. Moldova has found itself at the forefront of a hybrid war orchestrated by the Kremlin, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Luminița Odobescu said on Tuesday following a meeting with the new Moldovan Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popșoi, who was in Bucharest for his inaugural foreign visit. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatian farmers likely to join EU-wide farmer protest. Croatian farmers – getting increasingly frustrated with the ‘demands’ of the Green Deal and trade liberalisation negotiations with Mercosur – could soon join their colleagues across the EU who have been protesting for weeks. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia gets new parliament, mandates confirmed despite protests from opposition. Serbia got its new parliament on Tuesday after the mandates of all 250 MPs were approved at a constitutive session in which opposition members walked out in front of the podium with banners and whistles in protest before leaving the parliamentary chamber. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis participates in second European Investment Bank Group Forum 2024; Takes part in G7 Workshop on World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference via videoconference (MC13);
- Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli participates in Parliament’s plenary session debate on EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 implementation report; Answers oral questions on EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski delivers statement on “Empowering farmers and rural communities – a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture” at Parliament’s plenary session;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova receives President of the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) Antti Vasara;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Yiva Johansson holds videoconference with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi;
- Parliament’s plenary session votes on Instant payments in euro, plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, Norway’s decision to advance seabed mining in the Arctic, rule of Law and media freedom in Greece;
- Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola hosts President of Romania Klaus Iohannis;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with Euractiv
Serbia gets new parliament, mandates confirmed despite protests from oppositionSerbia got its new parliament on Tuesday after the mandates of all 250 MPs were approved at a constitutive session in which opposition members walked out in front of the podium with banners and whistles in protest before leaving the parliamentary chamber.
Source: euractiv.com
