Hungary looks for alternatives to frozen EU funding

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BUDAPEST

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can replace EU funds and is even better, Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy said on Tuesday, adding that price freezes will not be lifted for now and inflation will be down to single-digit figures by the end of 2023. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU Parliament leaders demand ‘full scale’ election mission ahead of Polish polls. The European Parliament’s main political groups have united in demanding a full-scale election observation mission ahead of Poland’s crucial general election later this year, amid ongoing protests against the current government and a call for a stronger democracy. Read more.

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GUEST CORNER

Slovak PM’s EU advisor has three ideas for the European Political Community. The Slovakian prime minister’s European Union advisor Ľubica Karvašová believes that new opportunities must be embraced to ensure that Europe will shape its own future. She writes that the European Political Community, which met last week in Moldova, could fill the vacuum of a pan-European dialogue without risking getting its work or initiatives blocked or vetoed. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Lobbyist’s SMS-gate suit against von der Leyen not yet processed. Two months after its submission to a Belgian court, the complaint filed by a Belgian lobbyist against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remains at the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Read more.

Qatargate: new searches conducted in European Parliament. The European Parliament in Brussels was searched again on Tuesday amid the Qatargate investigation, a corruption scandal involving several MEPs. Read more.

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BERLIN

German FM calls Brazil to align more with the West. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Brazil to align with other democracies on geopolitical matters, particularly regarding its stance on the Ukraine war and China, and is offering a closer relationship in exchange. Read more.

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PARIS

France’s ultrarich pay less tax than the rest, a new study finds. The effective tax rate for France’s wealthiest households is regressive, reaching just 2% of total revenues for the top 400 homes, a report published on Tuesday has found, contributing to a growing call to tax the ultrarich to finance the green transition. Read more.

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VIENNA

Ukraine pledges Austria reliable gas supplies amid industry concerns. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry asserted its commitment to reliable gas transport as concerns over sending Russian natural gas through Ukraine and Austria have recently increased. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch to purchase 14 helicopters for special operations. The Netherlands will purchase 14 H225 Caracal helicopters to carry out special operations, replacing the nation’s current fleet of Cougar transport helicopters from 2028 onwards, the Defence Ministry has announced. Read more.

UK & IRELAND

DUBLIN

Irish firefighters announce strikes, threaten all-out strike. Almost 2,000 on-call Irish firefighters embarked on a series of strikes on Tuesday to protest their working conditions, adding that if their demands are not met by 20 June, they will go on an all-out strike and only respond to emergency calls. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Growing number of Finns want Russian consulate in Åland closed. A growing number of Finnish citizens demand the Russian consulate in the Capital of Åland, Mariehamn, is shut down as threats to security have started to grow since Finland became NATO’s newest member. Read more.

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STOCKHOLM

NATO membership ‘top priority’, says Swedish defence minister. The Swedish government’s top priority is to become a full member of NATO before the defence alliance’s next summit in Vilnius in July, Defence Minister Pål Jonson said on Tuesday ahead of an important meeting with NATO leadership this week. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Greek PM warns of third elections if absolute majority not reached. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that the country will hold a third round of elections if an absolute majority to form a single-party government is not reached in the second round on 25 June. Read more.

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VALLETTA

Maltese society divided over arrest of woman who had abortion. The arrest of a Maltese woman for having a medical abortion at home has divided Maltese society, with pro-choice groups calling for urgent changes to the law and staging protests, and the prime minister declaring it makes him feel ‘uncomfortable’. Read more.

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ROME

Italy works to secure Tunisia IMF funding for stable cooperation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is acting as an intermediary between Tunis and the IMF to unblock funding that would help stabilise Tunisia’s fragile democracy to the benefit of coastal control and illegal departures to Italian shores. Read more.

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MADRID

Spain’s Sanchez to further pressure PP to accept presidential debate idea. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will keep up the pressure on the leader of centre-right Partido Popular (PP/EPP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to accept more than one debate with him before the general election. Read more.

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LISBON

IAG group looking to bid in TAP privatisation process. The International Airlines Group (IAG), Iberia’s parent company, is considering bidding in the privatisation of TAP, in parallel with the process of buying Air Europa, if the move makes sense for the company and it is allowed to participate in the process. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Polish Supreme Court rejects minsiter’s presidential pardon. The Polish Supreme Court issued a ruling rejecting President Andrzej Duda’s pardon of the Interior Minister and head of the country’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, Mariusz Kamiński. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czechia is not safe, foreign minister warns. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens/EFA) warned against a worsening security environment and called for further investments in the defence sector. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian parliament elects pro-EU government that can help Ukraine. The pro-EU government of former prime minister Boyko Borissov’s GERB and the pro-European liberal coalition “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” (PP-DB), which will have two prime ministers rotating every nine months, was appointed by parliament on Tuesday. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania not as tough with Russia as other NATO states, says ambassador. The Romanian authorities are not as tough in their relations with Russia as other NATO member states, Valery Kuzmin, Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, said on Tuesday, noting the door for future relationships is still somewhat open. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenia elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Slovenia has been elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2024-2025, reaching the required backing from two-thirds of the UN member states in the first round of voting on Tuesday and beating Belarus in the Eastern European group. Read more.

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BELGRADE

EU, US want Serb-Kosovo spat resolved, demand new elections, dialogue. Kosovo must work towards deescalating the situation in north Kosovo EU’s envoy Miroslav Lajčak and his US counterpart Gabriel Escobar said in Belgrade Tuesday evening, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called for Kosovo to meet its obligations, including by forming the Association of Serb Municipalities. Read more.

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TIRANA

Labour law issues plague Albanian public companies. Adherence to labour laws is an ongoing issue in public companies in Albania, according to a recent report by the Department of Audit of Public Companies and Foreign Investments published this week. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Kosovo cracks down in criminality in the north. Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced the arrest of a suspect believed to be involved in smuggling and the threatening of Deputy Mayor of Leopsavic, Dragana Miletic, has been arrested while President Vjosa Osmani said the time of impunity for organised crime in the north has ended. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College meeting; Agenda highlights include the Multiannual Financial Framework; Holds meeting with COP28 President Designate and United Arab Emirates Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber;
Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica delivers at the AGE Annual Conference on Sustainable Working Lives;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in “Learning from the crisis” panel at the International Energy Agency’s 8th Annual Global Conference;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness gives speech at the annual joint conference of the European Commission and the ECB on European Financial Integration;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in the trilogue on the Asbestos at Work Directive;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen attends Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Board meeting;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola gives keynote speech at the Women Political Leaders Summit 2023 “Representation Matters”;
Germany: Press conference ahead of NATO “Air Defender” exercise;
France: President Emmanuel Macron hosts Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella;
Norway: Nor-Shipping conference on maritime sector, US climate envoy John Kerry attends;
Colombia: German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock on official visit;