Italian government divided again over Russian elections, von der Leyen

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

ROME

Italy’s far-right Lega leader Matteo Salvini’s remarks over the Russian elections, saying “when people vote, they are always right”, has caused turmoil in the right-wing coalition government, with many estimating that Lega is struggling to find its political space in the coalition’s balance of power after the EU elections in June. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU mulls how to proceed on Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As EU leaders face a tough call this week whether to move with the next steps for Ukraine and Moldova or risk a delay until after the EU elections, progress on Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to complicate matters further. Read more.

EU formally approves extraordinary, one time satellite launch from US territory. The European Union on Tuesday agreed on a deal that will see EU Galileo satellites launched from US territory in a last-ditch effort and extraordinary measure to save their space programme. Read more.

EU’s Borrell to propose 90% of frozen Russian assets should go to European Peace Facility. The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday he would table a proposal to see 90% of the revenues from Russian assets frozen in Europe transferred into the European Peace Facility (EPF) and ultimately help Ukraine. Read more.

EU moves to speed up adoption of green conditions simplification for farmers. The measures to loosen some of the environmental requirements of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could come into force in 2024, with the European Parliament speeding up the approval of the Commission’s proposal and member states broadly supporting the initiative. Read more.

EU elections: The Trio that will enter the ring for the Liberals. As the EU liberals kick off their joint election campaign on Wednesday by presenting their three Franco-German lead candidates, Euractiv looks at who they are and what they want for Europe. Read more.

BERLIN

Germany announces next €500m military aid package for Ukraine. Germany will send nearly 200 vehicles and 10,000 artillery shells worth €500 million to help Ukraine fight back against Russian aggression, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday. Read more.

Industry’s share of EU economy set to shrink, says CEO of German chemicals giant. The EU’s industrial output as a share of total GDP will decline as a result of persistently high energy prices, the head of the world’s largest chemicals company has said, adding that such a “structural development” is not necessarily bad and may even be “healthy” for the European economy. Read more.

Beleaguered German Chancellor Scholz points to Brussels for policy choices. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised the general lack of accountability of EU institutions on Tuesday, warning that not just national governments but also the European Commission and Parliament need to be held responsible by the public for policy choices. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

EU Commission gives green light to ban disposable e-cigarettes in Belgium. In a public decision on Tuesday, the European Commission announced its support for a Belgian bill to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes in the country. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

STOCKHOLM | BERLIN

Terrorist plot on Swedish parliament foiled in Germany. German police have arrested two people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the Swedish parliament in response to the Quran burnings that have taken place in the country in recent years. Read more.

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TALLINN

Estonian Prime Minister Kallas uses Berlin trip to warn against ‘dependence’ on state aid. Speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas warned against increasing reliance on state subsidies, as it posed the risk of taxpayers having to underwrite company losses while profits were kept private. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Spanish National Security report warns of increased terrorist threat in EU. The European Union faces a ‘real and direct risk’ of increased ‘terrorist threats’ due to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, warns an anti-terrorism report by Spain’s National Security Council (CSN). Read more.

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LISBON

Portuguese police raid homes, businesses in €39 million EU fund fraud case. Portuguese police carried out 78 raids on Tuesday as part of Operation Maestro, targeting projects co-financed by EU funds that would have allowed suspects to make illegal profits of almost €39 million between 2015 and 2023, the Judicial Police confirmed on Tuesday. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Top Polish general confirms Russian preparations for conflict with NATO. Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO in the next decade, Poland’s top general, Wiesław Kukuła, said during a debate organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the world’s largest military alliance. Read more.

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PRAGUE | WARSAW | BRATISLAVA | BUDAPEST

V4 Group to hold diplomatic talks despite diverging views on Russia-Ukraine. The foreign ministers of Czechia, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary – collectively known as the Visegrad Group (V4) – will hold diplomatic talks in Prague on Thursday despite sharply differing views on Russian aggression in Ukraine. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s Special Prosecutor’s Office disbands amid controversial Criminal Code reform. The Special Prosecutor’s Office officially closed on Wednesday due to the government’s controversial reforms to the country’s criminal code, as investigators used their last day to bring charges against a close associate of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian cabinet rotation falls, snap election looms. After less than a year with a regular government, Bulgaria is once again entering a spiral of political instability after the two largest formations in the parliament — Boyko Borissov’s centre-right GERB (EPP) and the centrist We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) — failed to agreeon forming a government. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Constitutional Court of Romania: No prison for €1 million tax evasion. Romania’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by two opposition parties seeking the constitutional annulment of legislation that decriminalises tax evasion of less than €1 million, provided the evader pays the amount owed along with a fine. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: EU-Ukraine Association Council convenes to discuss reconstruction and reforms in Ukraine, including EU financial assistance, Commission’s country report recommendations, and more;
Tripartite Social Summit expected to focus on tackling skills and labour shortages, industrial strategy complementing the Green Deal with quality jobs at its heart, and more;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College of Commissioners meeting; Holds meeting with Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres; Hosts Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal; Hosts Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa;
Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness host roundtable with stakeholders on Capital Markets Union future;
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi participates in trilogue on Western Balkans Growth Facility;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers opening remarks at European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) meeting on “Key policy and regulatory challenges in nuclear energy”;
Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli delivers keynote speech at Anti-Racism and Diversity Week conference organised by civil society organisations;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in ministerial dialogue on EU-African Union Global Health Partnership organised by the Belgian Presidency;
Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra receives EU Special Representative for the Gulf region Luigi Di Maio;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in European Corporate Governance Conference;
Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hosts Director General of World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen hosts Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union Mohammed Belhocine; Speaks at closing session of AU-EU health event on “Deepening the EU-AU partnership on Global Health for equitable access: towards African Health Sovereignty”;
Parliament’s Frontex Scrutiny Working Group holds session;