Le Pen says Dutch should decide their EU future as ‘Brits did’

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

PARIS

Dutch people should have a say on their EU future as the British did several years ago via a referendum, France’s far-right politician Marine Le Pen said on Thursday following the victory of Geert Wilders’ Party of Freedom (PVV, Identity and Democracy) in the Dutch elections. Read more.

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MEP CORNER

Defecting MEP goes solo to build up Romania’s troubled greens. MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță, who defected from the liberals (USR/Renew) in March, will run independently in the EU elections “to obtain a win for the Green family in Romania”, while he opposes the mainstream green party, which lacks “credibility”, he told Euractiv in an exclusive interview. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany rushes to assure allies about defence spending. Germany’s €100 billion special fund to boost its defence capabilities will not be affected by an emergency budget freeze, the Defence Ministry clarified on Thursday following the uncertainty caused by a court that ruled parts of Germany’s spending commitments unconstitutional. Read more.

Germany will suspend the ‘debt brake’ in 2023. Germany will suspend its constitutional ‘debt brake’ in 2023 by declaring a state of emergency, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP/Renew) announced on Thursday, following a Constitutional Court ruling that questioned the legality of Germany’s €200 billion ‘energy shield’ to stabilise energy prices. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

TALLINN

Estonia to stop Russian-created migration flux at border, says minister. In the wake of the migrant crisis at the Finnish-Russian border, neighbouring Estonia said it will not let migrants sent by Russia onto its soil but will stop them at the border, Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said on Thursday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Angry Greeks recall Wilders’ nasty economic crisis remarks. Greek media reacted negatively on Thursday to the victory of the Dutch far-right PVV party in the recent elections, saying its leader, Geert Wilders, built his career on bashing Greece in a populist way during the economic crisis over 10 years ago. Read more.

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MADRID

Sánchez urges Netanyahu to work towards creation of ‘viable Palestinian state’. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (22 November) to offer the Palestinian people a perspective of peace and not only a military response to the Hamas terrorist attack, Spanish government sources told EFE. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Czech conservatives block euro adoption despite country’s readiness. The Czech Finance Ministry, which is in the hands of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS, ECR), and the Czech National Bank, believes Czechia should meet the main criteria to adopt the euro next year, but they do not recommend any steps to advance towards the Eurozone, according to a draft report seen by Euractiv Czech ’partner Hospodářské noviny. Read more.

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WARSAW

Poland’s Conservatives agree to meet with PiS but rule out coalition. Poland’s ruling PiS party invited all other parliamentary parties to meet and discuss potential coalitions, with Confederation being the only party that has so far accepted even though it rules out governing with others. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico government working towards shortening jail time for corruption. People with ties to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer party who were prosecuted for corruption allegations could be left with a slap on the wrist instead of jail time as the Slovak Justice Ministry works on criminal code reforms – a key part of Smer’s promises. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Former Romanian ministers suspected of COVID-19 vaccine procurement misconduct. Former prime minister Florin Cîțu and former health ministers Vlad Voiculescu and Ioana Mihăilă allegedly procured many more COVID-19 doses than necessary, according to Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), which on Thursday formally requested their immunity be lifted. Read more.

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SOFIA

New gas tax means Russia owes €130 million to Bulgaria. State-owned natural gas transmission and storage system operator Bulgartransgaz is set to collect nearly €130 million from a tax introduced two months ago on Russian gas imports, the operator’s CEO, Vladimir Malinov, said on Thursday amid fears Bulgaria will get nothing at all. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Slovenian banks, companies to help finance post-flood reconstruction. Slovenian banks and businesses will help finance a substantial part of the estimated €10 billion reconstruction bill after devastating floods in August destroyed homes and infrastructure across much of the country, according to a bill approved by the government on Thursday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Five Serbian radicals charged with contempt before Hague court. Five members of the Serbian Radical Party, including the leader previously incarcerated, Vojislav Šešelj, have been charged with contempt of court before the International Residual Mechanism for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague, the party confirmed. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová attends via video conference EU – India Trade and Technology Council meeting;
Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni attends InvestEU Roadshow, in Oslo, Norway; Meets Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre;
Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hosts Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in PES Migration Network meeting;
Equality Commissioner gives keynote speech for ministerial meeting on Violence Against Women, in Pamplona, Spain;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson attends EU Ambassador meeting on energy investment with representatives of South Africa Presidency, business associations and South African agencies;
Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira delivers keynote speech at Regional Forum on “Post-2030 Regional Competitiveness: the North in the EU”, in Santo Tirso, Portugal;
Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn delivers keynote speech at “Road to Recovery” conference, in Leipzig, Germany;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola hosts Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib;
Czech Republic: Slovak PM Robert Fico visits;