LEAK: EU centre-right targets Brussels ‘red tape’, says AI should not be hindered

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

BRUSSELS. A draft electoral manifesto of the EU centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) seen by Euractiv suggests cutting down on “EU bureaucracy” in key policy areas such as tech, stating “we want to enable, develop, and utilise AI, not contain it or hinder it”. It also echoes mounting complaints from across the bloc about overregulation in environmental, agricultural and social policy. Read more.

Read also: EPP wants to cancel EU top diplomat job, create dedicated Defence Commissioner post

BUBBLING IN BRUSSELS

Renew’s motion of censure against EU Commission falls through. The socialists (S&D) and the centre-right (EPP) groups in the European Parliament confirmed to Euractiv they would not support the liberals’ bid for a possible motion of censure against the European Commission – effectively blocking the majority needed.

The motion of censure would have been added to the resolution, set to be passed on Thursday, expressing the Parliament’s intention to bring the Commission before the EU Court of Justice over its decision to unfreeze Hungary’s EU funds and calls on the European Council to strip the country’s voting rights over the rule of law concerns.

EU Commission to start screening process for Ukraine, Moldova after ‘surprise’ delay. The European Commission said on Wednesday it was “now going to start” the EU accession screening process for Ukraine and Moldova, with member states already wondering why the process for the two Eastern candidates had not started in December, as expected. Read more.

Macron’s Hayer and Azmani face off in tight EU liberals’ presidential race. The liberal group in the European Parliament, Renew Europe, will elect its new president next Thursday (25 January) at 8 am, with the two candidates, the French Valérie Hayer and Dutch Malik Azmani, interim group President, as the top contenders. Read more.

BERLIN

German liberals push to give €50 billion to citizens over industry, chipmaker producers. The parliamentary arm of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) wants to abolish state subsidies to channel the income from Germany’s carbon price to citizens, throwing a wrench into industrial policy ambitions. Read more.

Germany’s promise to legalise cannabis by April threatened by SDP’s in-house fighting. The coalition government’s promise to legalise recreational use of cannabis in Germany by 1 April is under threat due to internal opposition within the ruling SPD, with high-ranking members speaking out publicly against it while others say they are sticking to the plan. Read more.

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PARIS

Macron in favour of new EU joint debt, defence bonds. There needs to be another phase of reinvestment, like during the pandemic, and perhaps Eurobonds based on industrial priorities, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday in a special Davos conference address. Read more.

MPs military cybersecurity report boosts French perspective on sovereignty in EU topics. Two French MPs presented their military cybersecurity recommendations to their colleagues, building on the French position on procurement, cloud, and resource sovereignty, on Wednesday at the National Assembly. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

The Netherlands ready to supply frigate for new EU Red Sea mission. The Netherlands are planning to make a frigate available for the EU’s new mission in the Red Sea to protect ships against attacks from the Houthis in Yemen, according to an announcement on Wednesday. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Swedish climate minister wins no-confidence vote over conservative climate policy. The vote of no confidence against Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari on her climate policy failed as the opposition Social Democrats abstained, splitting the opposition. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Future amnesty law for separatists could violate EU law: report. The future amnesty law that would pardon many separatist activists for actions carried out in Catalonia between 2012 and 2023, which is currently being processed in parliament, could be unconstitutional and even violate EU law, according to a report by a group of legal experts that was published on Wednesday. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Duda is disappointed at the EU Commission’s inaction over certain rule of law violations. Polish President Andrzej Duda was surprised at the EU Commission’s ‘double standards’ when it comes to the rule of law violations in Poland, such as changes to public media but no reaction to the arrest of two ex-ministers, according to a conversation he had with the EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová Davos. Read more.

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PRAGUE

EU Commission uses money to choose PMs for member states, says Babiš. The European Commission wants to decide who will be prime minister in EU member states by using its financial power, said former Czech prime minister and ANO (Renew) party leader Andrej Babiš at a meeting in parliament on Wednesday. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s budget deficit higher than Fico’s government reported, warns EU Commission. While Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government says the nation’s budget deficit will fall from 6.5% last year to 6% this year, the EU Commission forecast has reported that the deficit will increase to 6.3% from last year’s 6.1%. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria asked EU to speed up use of frozen Russian assets. The situation in Ukraine is becoming critical, and the EU must respond quickly, said Bulgarian Finance Minister Asen Vassilev as he urged his colleagues in the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) to speed up the use of frozen Russian assets. Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatia plans military education in high schools. Croatia plans to introduce mandatory one-month military education courses in secondary schools amid what seems to be a growing appetite in the newest EU member for reinstating conscription, which was abolished in 2008 after the country joined NATO. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Justice minister faces vote of no confidence following ‘scandalous’ building purchase. Slovenian Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan faces a vote of no confidence following the disclosure of a botched purchase of a building in Ljubljana that was meant to house several lower-court departments. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds meetings with Prime Minister of Tunisia Ahmed Hachani, Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia-Al Suddani, Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin, President of Serbia Aleksander Vučić, President of Israel President of Israel Isaac Herzog;
Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks in World’s Economic Forum (WEF) on “Europe, Democracy, and Digital Disruption”;
Vice President Dubravka Šuica delivers keynote speech at WEF’s public session on “Navigating longer lifespans”;
Vice President Maroš Šefčovič participates in WEF’s stakeholder dialogue on “European Green Deal, anyone?”; Speaks in WEF’s roundtable on “Building trust in the energy transition”; Attends WEF’s event on “Is there a future for the European Green Deal”? Holds meetings with Federal Councillor of Switzerland – head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, President of the National Council of Switzerland Eric Nussbaumer, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]