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In today’s news from the Capitals:
ATHENS
Almost €622 million in loans from the Recovery Fund received by Greece so far has ended up in the hands of a few large companies while SMEs are struggling to get money from the banks, a press report in Athens has revealed, confirming information previously reported by EURACTIV. Read more.
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EU SPECIAL REPORT
Access to innovative myeloma drugs remains ‘difficult’ in France. Over the past ten years, treatments for multiple myeloma have progressed significantly, allowing French patients to live longer. However, much progress remains to be made, particularly in access to innovative drugs. Read more.
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BERLIN
German government backs asylum checks at EU external borders. Refugees arriving in the EU should go through asylum procedures directly at the bloc’s external borders, according to Berlin’s newly hammered-out position, which also foresees the relocation of migrants between EU countries. Read more.
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PARIS
Labour Day pension demonstration makes historic 1 May for unions. A mobilisation of some 2.3 million people who took to the streets to protest against French pension reforms marked a historic Labour Day for French unions, according to a press release from CGT. Read more.
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VIENNA
Labour Day: Austrian far-right makes chancellorship bid as far-left squabbles. Labour Day saw Austria’s centre-left leadership candidates fight for support while far-right FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl announced he would be a people’s chancellor and institutions would be unable to stop him. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
UK Home Office to house asylum seekers in fleet of ships. The Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in 10 unused cruise ships, ferries and barges in ports around the country, The Guardian reported. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Swedish majority dealt blow as far-right MP resigns in conspiracy theory scandal. The Swedish ruling coalition holds its parliamentary majority by just one seat after the resignation of Sweden Democrats MP Elsa Widding following criticism of her attendance at a conspiracy theorists conference. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italy’s new labour decree promises less taxes but more precarity. The opposition and labour unions oppose the new labour decree adopted Monday by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government that introduces new tax cuts, saying it would only spur more precarity. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish labour minister, trade unions urge employers to protest wage increase deal. Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and Spain’s two main trade unions, UGT and CC.OO have again urged the country’s largest employers’ association, CEOE, on Monday to find agreement on a wage increase else they will call for nationwide strikes. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech FM: Ukraine EU accession talks could start this year. Ukraine’s EU accession could begin soon if all EU member states can be persuaded, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky after President Petr Pavel vowed to push for accession talks to be opened by the end of this year. Read more.
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WARSAW
Poland to reinforce transatlantic relations during next Council of EU presidency. Poland wants to focus on strengthening the EU’s ties with the US during its next presidency in the Council of the EU in 2025, announced President Andrzej Duda on Monday. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
President Čaputová: Slovakia can aid Ukraine in demining efforts. Slovakia has strong proficiency in demining technologies, which are now needed in Ukraine with the spread of landmines in the war-torn country, said Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová at a press briefing after a visit to Kyiv with Czech President Petr Pavel. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
TIRANA
Albanian PM: UK having a nervous breakdown over immigration. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has not minced his words regarding Albania-UK relations, stating the country is having “a nervous breakdown” over its failure to get a grip on immigration. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgarian authorities investigate terrorist act against chief prosecutor. An investigation has been launched into a suspected terrorist attack against Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev after a bomb exploded near his motorcade on Monday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Former Romanian deputy expelled from Moldova. The Moldavian authorities sent Cristian Rizea back to Romania after he allegedly prepared and carried out violent actions that aimed to change the constitutional regime of the Republic of Moldova, according to a document signed by General Inspectorate for Migration Director Mihail Voda. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Immigration drives population increase in Slovenia. A declining birth rate has not stopped Slovenia’s population from growing as the number of foreigners, who now represent 9% of all residents, has increased, official statistics show. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia has no official data on workplace abuse despite regulation. Official data on workplace abuse does not exist in Serbia despite the country being the first in the region to regulate such matters, Ivica Lazović, director of the Serbian Agency for the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes, told EURACTIV. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Kosovo’s Kurti: No Republika Srpska in the country. One day before the next EU-backed meeting with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic in Brussels to continue the path towards the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he would not accept a Republika Srpska in the country. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU holds the annual Single Market Forum (SIMFO) in Stockholm together with the European Commission to discuss current issues;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds meetings with Czech President Petr Pavel, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala;
- Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis hosts high-level dialogue with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi; Holds videoconference with Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela
- Vice President Frans Timmermans participates in the 14th Petersberg Climate Dialogue; Holds bilateral meetings with Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdulaziz, COP28 President Designate Sultan Al Jaber, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry;
- Vice President Maroš Šefčovič hosts Serbian Minister of European Integration Tanja Miscevic;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at the Safety4Journalists conference, in Belgium;
- Vice President Margaritis Schinas, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi meet with Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides holds a videoconference meeting with the members of the EU Scientific Advice Platform on COVID-19;
- Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit attends the Growth Summit organised by the World Economic Forum; Meets with President of the European Research Council Maria Leptin;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
More on the same topic…
Kosovo’s Kurti: No Republika Srpska in the country
Source: euractiv.com
