The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article EU leaders unlikely to agree on Ukraine’s candidate status, by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
Today’s edition is powered by PPTA Europe.
The Need for a European Plasma Donation Ecosystem
In the coming decade, more patients will need access to plasma-derived therapies. The revision of the EU BTC legislation is an opportunity to increase the plasma collection across EU, which is needed to manufacture plasma-derived therapies.
Continue Reading >>
In today’s news from the Capitals:
BERLIN
With the German economy heavily dependent on Russian energy exports – especially gas, German businesses worry that Europe’s biggest economy could face a major recession.
This comes as EU leaders on Thursday will discuss possible additional sanctions against Russia, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz having rejected calls to ban Russian oil and gas, despite pressure from Washington and Kyiv. Read more.
///
EU INSTITUTIONS
Biggest EU parties strike compromise to create pan-European MPs. The biggest EU party families have agreed on a compromise to push for a change of EU electoral law allowing for pan-European members of the European Parliament, which could further European integration if successful. Read more.
///
THE HAGUE
Rutte calls on EU to steer away from Russian gas dependency. Advances in the EU’s green response need to be made to steer away from Russia’s control on gas, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told students at Science Po University before he met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. Read more.
///
BERLIN
Germany to ease abortion laws. The German government has agreed to scrap a controversial clause that has made it impossible for doctors to advise women about their available options in a public manner. Read more.
///
PARIS
France withdraws loaned artworks from Kremlin museum. French artworks loaned to the Kremlin Museum in Moscow will be withdrawn from “The Duel” exhibition and repatriated, the government decided on Wednesday. Read more.
///
VIENNA
Austria suspends mandatory COVID-19 vaccine. Austria has suspended the scheme making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory as it is not “proportional” given the current circumstances, the government decided on Wednesday. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK sends another weapons delivery to Ukraine. The UK government has announced plans to increase its supply of military weapons to Ukraine, with the defence minister warning that the Russians are “changing their tactics and so the Ukrainians need to too”. Read more.
///
DUBLIN
Irish farmers underwhelmed by new war-linked food security committee. Irish farmers are disappointed by the new committee the government established Tuesday to monitor food security in the context of the war in Ukraine. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland unkeen on EU joint bond sales idea to fund energy and defence. To free itself from Russian energy, boost the green transition and increase defence spending, the EU is rumoured to be planning a vast recovery package. The initial response from Finland is distinctly cool. Read more.
///
STOCKHOLM
Swedish migration agency needs help to cope with flow of Ukrainian refugees. Sweden’s Migrationsverket has asked for help from “anyone that can provide it” to cope with the flow of Ukrainian refugees expected to arrive in the country. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
LISBON
Ukraine’s ambassador to Portugal: Russia to blame, others share moral responsibility. Countries that have so far refused to approve a no-fly zone over Ukraine share a “moral responsibility” with Russia, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Portugal Inna Ohnivets told Lusa in an interview, adding that Russian troops are also to blame for the deaths committed during the war in her country so far. Read more.
///
ROME
Draghi: Flow of Ukrainian refugees expected to increase. Close to 24,000 refugees have so far arrived in Italy from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Wednesday, adding that numbers are expected to increase.Read more.
///
MADRID
More than 1,000 Ukrainian refugees arrive in Spain. Over 1,000 Ukrainian refugees have so far arrived in Spain fleeing the war started by Russia, Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration Jesús Perea confirmed on Wednesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Polish Senate votes in favour of accelerating Ukraine’s EU integration. Members of the Polish Senate voted in favour of speeding up the process of integrating Ukraine with other EU countries on Wednesday, calling upon them to help Kyiv achieve its West–oriented goal. Read more.
///
PRAGUE
EU underestimated Russian propaganda, Czech experts say. The EU has neglected the fight against Russian propaganda for a long time, said Czech experts, noting that the recent ban on Sputnik and Russia Today, is a good step forward but came too late. Read more.
///
BUDAPEST
Orban-tied bank identified as Le Pen campaign lender. Asset declarations of French presidential candidates published on Wednesday revealed MKB loaned far-right contender Marine Le Pen €10.6 million for 16 months to finance her campaign Telex reported via Hvg.hu. Read more.
///
BRATISLAVA
Slovak government approves deployment of NATO troops. More than 2,000 NATO soldiers will strengthen the defence of Slovakia, the government agreed on Wednesday, though confirmation from parliament is still needed. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgarian government starts stocking up on grain. The Bulgarian government will buy wheat, corn and sunflower seeds for €550 million to ensure the country’s food security next year. The war in Ukraine has affected the supply of grain to Europe as Russia and Ukraine are the continent’s largest suppliers. Read more.
///
LJUBLJANA
Ukrainian refugees granted temporary protection in Slovenia. Slovenia has activated a law giving temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine, providing them with temporary residence, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare without needing to undergo asylum procedures. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST
Romanians panic buy at petrol stations. Romanian drivers queued up at many petrol stations throughout the country following rumours that gasoline and diesel oil prices will skyrocket overnight. Read more.
///
ZAGREB
Croatian politicians hold turbulent discussions over euro adoption law. Deputies from the governing coalition and other centre-left and right parties welcomed the possible euro adoption while right-wing MPs were strongly against it in a fierce parliamentary debate. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
Rapporteur: German minister’s visit to Belgrade sends the right message. The upcoming visit to Belgrade by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sends the right signal, the Bundestag’s rapporteur for the Western Balkans Adis Ahmetovicthat said, adding that stability and European perspective are of utmost importance for the Western Balkans right now. Read more.
///
SARAJEVO
Russian ambassador to BiH offended by EU Delegation chief. Addressing the 22nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Brčko District of BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler touched upon the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after which Russian Ambassador Igor Kalabukhov demonstratively stood up and left the ceremony. Read more.
///
SKOPJE
Participating in foreign army a criminal offence in North Macedonia. Under the legislation, Macedonian nationals joining any foreign army is a criminal offence, the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
“As a friend of Ukraine, our country understands the complex situation in which Ukraine finds itself and which puts the Ukrainian authorities in a position to call for any kind of assistance, all friendly countries, including volunteers who would join the Ukrainian army in defence against the military threat posed by the Russian military,” the ministry also said.
The ministry added that the Republic of North Macedonia condemns Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
///
PRISTINA
Kosovo lifts visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens. Kosovo has lifted visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens after declaring it is ready to accept 5000 Ukrainian refugees. The proposal, presented by Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla, was approved by the government on Tuesday, 8 March. Gërvalla also announced the country is preparing to host the families of the 40 Ukrainian soldiers that are currently in Kosovo as part of the NATO mandated Kosovo Force (KFOR).
Last week, the Parliament of Kosovo approved a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expressing its willingness to host 5,000 Ukrainian refugees. Prime Minister Albin Kurti declared that the attack against Ukraine is “an attack against us all.” (Exit.al)
///
TIRANA
Albanian inflation hits ten-year-high amid Russia-Ukraine war. During February, inflation in Albania reached a record rate of 3.9% while the cost of basic food items increased by almost 7%, that are set to be further exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU/ France: EU leaders meet for an informal summit in Versailles, France to discuss Ukraine, energy, economy, defence / Commissioner Thierry Breton meets NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Philippe Lavigne.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrovmeet in Antalya, Turkey.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.
***
[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski, Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
