National Rally supports Marine Le Pen – for now

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In today's news from The Capitals :

PARIS

Senior members of France's far-right National Rally, who gathered in Paris on Sunday for what was billed as a demonstration against her recent conviction, denounced what they called the “execution” of their leader by the court but again failed to lay out a new strategy for their party ahead of the 2027 presidential race. Read more.

WESTERN EUROPE

BERLIN

While the EU pushes digital health records, Germany's electronic patient files lag. As part of the European Health Union, the Commission is pushing for closer cross-border exchange of health data through the European Health Data Area, but the launch of Germany's electronic patient files has faced repeated delays. Read more.

SOUTH OF EUROPE

ROME

Five Star Movement leads major protest in Rome against EU defence efforts Tens of thousands of people marched through Rome on Saturday in a protest organised by the Five Star Movement against the European Union's proposed rearmament plan, as recent polls show Italians among the most reluctant to support increased EU defence spending. Read more.

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ATHENS

Greece's high-value drug home delivery service is set to complete rollout in June. The National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY) is expanding its high-value drug home delivery service, aiming for a gradual rollout by May 2025 and full operation by the end of June. Read more.

EAST EUROPE

WARSAW

Poland fails to appoint digital democracy monitor ahead of elections. Poland has not appointed a national coordinator for digital services, which under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is supposed to ensure elections and civil discourse are protected from interference and disinformation online before the country elects a new president in May. Read more.

Polish-Belarusian border equipped with surveillance systems. The entire section of the Polish-Belarusian border in the Podlaskie Voivodeship is now covered by modern surveillance systems, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration announced on Sunday.

“The border guard has taken over the electronic barrier built along the border rivers Svisloch and Istochka. The modernization of the electronic barrier along the existing physical fence has also been completed,” the ministry wrote on X.

Tense context: The number of foreigners trying to illegally cross the border from Belarus to Poland has increased recently, a ministry spokesman said. He said on Saturday that any attempts to approach or break through the border barrier would be immediately detected.

On 27 March, a regulation came into force temporarily restricting the right to apply for international protection. The restriction on the right to asylum will be in effect for 60 days and can be extended for another period of up to 60 days, but only with the approval of parliament.

At 186 kilometers of the border with Belarus, a 5.5-meter-high steel barrier was installed, built in 2022. It is the main element of border protection against illegal migration. It is complemented by an electronic barrier that covers both the fence and the river section.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO, EPP) announced last Friday that the government would soon launch an information campaign targeting seven countries identified as the main source of migrants attempting to cross Poland's border illegally.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

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PRAGUE

US tariffs on auto parts could hurt the Czech Republic more than retaliatory duties. New US tariffs on auto parts imports, which are due to come into force on May 3, could hit Czech manufacturers harder than the recently announced retaliatory duties, Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS, ECR) said on Czech Television on Sunday.

While the reciprocal tariffs have only a minor impact on the Czech Republic, the planned 25 percent tariff on auto parts could have more serious consequences.

Kupka warned that this could lead to a more rapid economic slowdown.

The US is the Czech Republic’s tenth largest export market. Although Czech companies mainly export through other European countries, the US still accounted for 2.9% of total Czech exports last year.

(Aneta Zahova | Euractiv.cz)

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BRATISLAVA

Fico's party considers referendum on increasing defense spending. Erik Kalinjak, head of Prime Minister Robert Fico's advisory board and an MEP for Smer-SD (NI), said his party is considering a referendum on increasing defense spending if the money is not also used for infrastructure projects such as bridges or hospitals.

“If a situation arises where increased defense spending cannot be used for dual purposes, such as infrastructure, reconstruction of bridges or construction of hospitals, and Slovakia spends more only on weapons and ammunition, we could consider organizing a referendum on this issue to get a clear message from citizens that such increased spending is unacceptable,” Kalinák told state broadcaster STVR on Sunday.

Slovakia currently meets the required two percent of GDP for defense spending. However, there is disagreement on the political scene and among citizens about whether this spending should be increased further.

According to a March poll for the news outlet JOJ 24 , about 46.5% of citizens believe that spending should be increased, while 46% are against it. The rest either did not know or chose not to answer.

(Natalia Silenska | Euractiv.sk)

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Police involvement in €6m cigarette smuggling case has rocked Bulgarian politics. A major scandal over alleged police protection of a multi-million euro cigarette smuggling operation has rocked Bulgaria's political scene, prompting calls for the resignation of the interior minister in the EU's poorest member state. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania's presidential race begins amid calls to avoid a second round with sovereigntists. Romania's presidential election campaign officially began on Friday, ahead of the first round of voting on May 4. The pro-European camp is increasingly concerned that the latest polls suggest two sovereigntist candidates could reach the second round on May 18. Read more.

AGENDAS:

EU : Foreign Affairs Council meets to discuss trade relations with US, China;
The informal meeting of the Ministers of Culture and Media is expected to be devoted to issues of protecting cultural heritage, the labour market for young artists, etc.;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes part in video conferences with industry representatives as part of the EU Strategic Dialogue on the future of the steel and automotive industries;
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas is on an official visit to Podgorica, Montenegro; meets with President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, Defence Minister Dragan Krapović;
Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera meets with the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC); participates in a panel discussion on green transition, competitiveness and decarbonisation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre;
Vice-President Henna Virkkunen holds a structured dialogue with the Parliamentary Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection; receives the President of the French Data Protection Agency, Marie-Laure Denis;
Vice President Raffaele Fitto meets with the President of the Regional Government of the Canary Islands, Clavijo Batlle; takes part in a conference of presidents of remote regions;
The Parliamentary Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection holds a public hearing on the protection of minors on the Internet;
The Parliament's Security and Defence Committee is discussing the Safeguarding of Europe (SAFE) measures;
The Parliamentary Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is discussing the issue of creating a common system for the return of third-country nationals.