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.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
In 1977, the UN recognised 8 March as International Women’s Day, but in 2023, almost half of European women will experience at least one form of domestic violence in their lifetime, and between 2010-2021 at least 6593 women were killed by a male family member or partner.
But this ‘silent war against women’ is being lost as the EURACTIV network found that European governments are failing to collect reliable, comparable data on domestic violence, rape, and femicide, with divergence in legal definitions and criminalisation of forms of gender-based violence.
Poor quality data full of holes and inconsistencies, when coupled with a lack of cross-border frameworks, undermines national and EU-wide efforts to deliver justice, provide protection, and obtain convictions. Read more.
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EUROPEAN SPECIAL REPORT
Inflation exposes Slovakia’s already ‘complex’ generics pricing system. Rising inflation has exposed an already “complex” and “unsustainable” pricing system for generic drugs, driving manufacturers to the edge, often forcing them to pull their products out of the market, stakeholders told EURACTIV Slovakia. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
The ‘Buy European’ clauses in the Net-Zero Industry Act. According to a leaked draft proposal seen by EURACTIV, the European Commission’s Net-Zero Industry Act may include measures to deter foreign clean tech products, similar to the domestic content requirements of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Read more.
EU edges towards joint arms procurement for Ukraine but hurdles remain. The EU could move closer to a landmark decision on joint procurement of ammunition to aid Ukraine and replenish domestic stockpiles as EU defence ministers meet on Wednesday to look at joint ammunition-buying plans. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian Greens want Wagner Group added to EU terrorist list. Belgium should ensure that the Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner Group is included in the European list of terrorist organisations, according to calls from Green parties Ecolo and Groen. Read more.
Belgian firefighters protest working conditions, pension reform plans. Firefighters from all over Belgium took to the streets of Brussels on Tuesday to protest their current working conditions and the government’s plans to reform the pension system. Read more.
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BERLIN
One in five women in Germany at risk of old-age poverty. One in five women over 65 in Germany is at acute risk of poverty, Germany’s Statistics Agency warned on Tuesday ahead of International Women’s Day, meaning that the gap between men’s and women’s pensions, just like the one for wages, is among the largest in the European Union. Read more.
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PARIS
French protest pensions reform in record numbers amid energy output threat. The French took to the streets in record numbers on Tuesday to protest the controversial pensions reform for the sixth time since January, with energy sector players promising a ‘hellish’ week for the government as it is set on cutting energy supplies. Read more.
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VIENNA
Number of women top officials in Austria dropped in 2022. The proportion of women in Austria’s government, the National Council and provincial governments decreased considerably between 2021 and 2022, the Institute for Parliamentarism and Democracy has found. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK’s ‘illegal and inhumane’ small boats bill prompts backlash. The UK has set out plans to prevent small boats carrying potential migrants and asylum seekers and forcibly return them in a new bill denounced as ‘illegal and inhumane’ by advocacy groups. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Favourites to win upcoming Finnish election, neck-and-neck. The top spot in the upcoming April elections is still up for grabs as three parties are currently neck-and-neck in the race to form a coalition that will most likely not be a repeat of the current five-party coalition, the latest polls show. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MALTA | ATHENS
Maltese socialists accuse Metsola of hypocrisy over LIBE ‘Greek sabotage’. EURACTIV’s editor’s take on Tuesday regarding EU Parliament chief Roberta Metsola’s silence over the Greek conservative government’s sabotage of a parliamentary rule of law mission to Athens has prompted the reaction of Maltese socialists, who accuse centre-right Metsola of “double standards” and “hypocrisy”. Read more.
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ROME
Minister: Frontex didn’t warn Italy before Calabria disaster. EU border agency Frontex did not provide Italian authorities with any warnings or distress alerts regarding the migrants whose boat shipwrecked off the coast of Calabria that, left many dead at the end of February, said Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, clarifying his government’s position in an urgent briefing to parliament. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain imposes wide-reaching 40% gender quota from 2026. Large public and private companies must ensure women make up at least 40% of their decision-making bodies from 2026, according to a draft bill approved by the government on Tuesday that also applies to election candidates, members of government and professional associations. Read more.
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LISBON
Lisbon mayor asks government to set example on vacant housing. Before imposing measures on individuals to increase the housing supply, like forcing them to rent out their vacant properties, the government should look inwards and set the example, Lisbon’s Mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD), said at a conference about housing on Tuesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Austrian MEP: Putin’s Russia will disappear one way or another. European defence and security policy has matured following Russia’s war in Ukraine, MEP Lukas Mandl said in Prague, noting that Moscow would surely play a different role in the new geopolitical order, hopefully, a peaceful one. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish parliament rejects controversial abortion bill before elections. Parliament rejected a controversial bill that aims to further restrict one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe on Tuesday, with some conservative members of the ruling PiS saying off the record that they did not want the bill to cause a new wave of street protests ahead of the upcoming elections. Read more.
Poland ready to set up service centre for Ukraine-bound Leopards. Poland is ready to set up a service centre for the Leopard tanks being handed over to Ukraine by NATO countries, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told a press briefing ahead of the EU defence ministers’ meeting in Stockholm. Read more.
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BUDAPEST | BRATISLAVA
Slovak minister says ‘neutral’ Hungary also trains Ukrainian soldiers. Hungary is also training Ukrainian soldiers, said Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad’ on Monday, debunking the neutral approach to Russia’s war Viktor Orban’s government has asserted so far. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Influential businessman linked to EU projects charged for coercion. Influential businessman Veliko Zhelev, whose companies were contracted to help build one of Bulgaria’s largest EU-funded infrastructure projects, has been accused of coercion and beating a man. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Dobogrea pie recognised as Romanian after years of tussling with Bulgaria. Romania acquired the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label for its Dobrogea pie after almost two years of determined and sustained opposition from its neighbours. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Danish PM calls for ‘open’ EU asylum system discussion during Croatia trip. The responsibility to protect the EU’s external borders must be shared by all EU countries, said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as she visited the country that recently joined the Schengen visa-free area on Tuesday, meeting with her Croatian counterpart, Andrej Plenkovic. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian court throws out recourse for bailed-in bank investors. Slovenia’s top court has abrogated a law that required the central bank to compensate those who lost their investments during the banking sector bailout of 2013 when tens of thousands of holders of shares and junior bonds were completely wiped out. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Gas prices in Serbia may increase twice this year. Gas prices will rise at least once this year, probably twice, General Director of Srbijagas Dušan Bajatović announced at the Kopaonik Business Forum, adding that the increase will apply to both citizens and businesses. Read more.
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TIRANA
NATO chief praises Albania for promoting stability, supports Kosovo dialogue. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Albania for its key role in promoting stability in the Western Balkans during a meeting with President Bajram Begaj at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Development ministers hold an informal meeting to discuss the new EU Global Health Strategy, the role of multilateral development banks, and more;
- The College of Commissioners presents the Security and Defence package, which consists of the EU maritime security strategy and a Joint Communication on an EU space strategy for security and defence;
- Vice Commissioner Vĕra Jourová hosts President of the European Social and Economic Committee Christa Schweng;
- Vice Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič holds a video conference with international gas suppliers;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel participates in the 1st EU Women Founders Summit;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson addresses the high-level meeting: Taking Stock of Global Security Trends;
- Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton participates in the “EU Industry talk” event on the subject: Europe at a Crossroads – How do we Promote our Competitiveness;
- Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn hosts representatives of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and regional Governors from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece;
- EP President Roberta Metsola delivers opening speech at the “Prominent and Promising Women in the EU” exhibition;
- ECB Chief Christine Lagarde participates in a discussion at the International Women’s Day event organised by the World Trade Organisation;
- United States: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on an official visit;
- UN: Security Council meeting on Afghanistan takes place; Conference on Women in the Muslim World;
- International Organisation for Migration: Director General Antonio Vitorino holds a press conference;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
