Zelensky in Paris, Macron promises Ukraine €2 billion in military aid

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In today's news from The Capitals :

PARIS

Just hours before a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” scheduled for Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday a new €2 billion French military aid package for Kyiv. Read more.

WESTERN EUROPE

BERLIN

German coalition disagrees on AI regulation and digital sovereignty. Leaked coalition documents reveal disagreements between the working groups of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) on AI regulation and digital sovereignty ambitions in negotiations on a new German government platform. Read more.

UK AND IRELAND

LONDON

UK's Reeves announces spending cuts, welfare cuts in latest economic report. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced cuts to government spending as she presented the UK Budget update to Parliament on Wednesday. Read more.

NORTHERN COUNTRIES AND THE BALTIC

NUUK

Vance's Greenland trip has been cut short by a local backlash. U.S. plans to visit Greenland's two largest cities and a sled dog race this week have been scrapped, leaving Vice President J.D. Vance to visit only a U.S. space base on the northernmost Arctic island. Read more.

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STOCKHOLM

Swedish stakeholders have concerns about CMA competition. Swedish stakeholders have generally welcomed the Critical Medicines Act (CMA) as a necessary tool to address shortages and reduce vulnerability. However, some now argue that public funding could distort competition and question how the CMA will fit in with EU competition rules. Read more.

SOUTH OF EUROPE

ROME

Spyware Scandal: Italian Government Reportedly Admits Targeting Activists For nearly two months, the Italian government has dodged questions, denied allegations and changed its stance in the face of mounting pressure from opposition parties and activists. Read more.

EAST EUROPE

PRAGUE

Czech initiative to save Radio Free Europe receives support from 12 countries . Twelve EU countries have already supported the Czech initiative to ensure funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) after the sudden withdrawal of financial support from the United States.

The Czech EU Minister Martin Dvorak (STAN, EPP) announced that Finland and Denmark were the latest to join them.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media canceled its funding agreement with RFE/RL on March 15, despite previous commitments from Congress. In response, the Czech Republic launched a diplomatic effort to mobilize European support for the Prague-based broadcaster.

Joint statement: A joint statement backed by 12 countries stresses their “willingness to work together to find and secure adequate financial resources” for RFE/RL, calling the station “a force for democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.” In addition to the Czech Republic, the statement was supported by Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden. Dvorak said further talks are ongoing and the outlook is “promising.”

(Aneta Zahova | Euractiv.cz)

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WARSAW

Tusk stresses Poland's key role in NATO during Rutte's visit. Poland expects its American and European partners to treat it as a key pillar in the defense of Europe and the Alliance, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the latter's visit to Warsaw.

The leaders of the two countries discussed cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Shield initiative, the Baltic Guard initiative and support for Ukraine.

Alliance solidarity: On his second visit to Poland since becoming NATO chief, Rutte reiterated that any attack on an ally, including Poland, would not go unanswered.

“If anyone makes a mistake in their calculations, thinking that they can attack Poland without consequences, the alliance will respond with full force,” he stressed, adding that this must be clearly communicated to Russian President Vladimir Putin and anyone considering an attack on NATO.

“When geopolitics is changing before our eyes, NATO's firm commitment to defend Poland in any critical situation is crucial for us,” Tusk added.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia's leaders have agreed not to send troops to Ukraine but disagreed on further aid. Slovakia's ruling coalition and opposition met at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday for a roundtable on defense spending, hosted by Peter Pellegrini. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Tourism minister criticizes Bulgaria's belated campaign to join eurozone. Bulgaria's Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh has criticized the country's sluggish efforts to prepare citizens for eurozone membership, which Sofia hopes will happen on January 1, 2026.

He said “months and years have been wasted” on the communications campaign, leaving Bulgaria lagging in public readiness for the euro. He said the delay was fueling populist attacks against joining the eurozone, undermining confidence in its benefits.

Technical readiness: Despite this, Borsosh insists that Bulgaria is technically ready, with tourism poised to benefit from easier transactions and increased market confidence. “The euro will make us more attractive to European visitors,” the minister said, emphasizing the sector’s compliance with eurozone standards. With the 2025 target approaching, he called for swift action to counter disinformation and mobilize support.

Borshosh said the country’s entry into the eurozone was a “strategic opportunity for growth and economic stability.” He argued that adopting the euro would strengthen Bulgaria’s position in the European tourism market, increasing its attractiveness and financial reliability. “The eurozone is a dream, a necessity and a new stage in our country’s development, highlighting its transformative potential,” the Bulgarian tourism minister said.

(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)

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BUCHAREST

Romanian military and commercial drones could enter production by the end of the year. Romanian drones for both military and civilian use are expected to enter mass production by the end of 2025, Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan told parliament yesterday.

“We aim to have a prototype ready this summer and mass production by the end of the year,” Ivan said, adding that the drones could also be used for agricultural purposes. The project is currently in the “final testing phase,” he added.

In November, the government approved a project to create a “Romanian drone”.

Cooperation Agreement : This agreement is a continuation of the cooperation agreement signed last May between Carfil, a subsidiary of the national defense company Romarm, and Periscope Aviation, an American manufacturer specializing in military and commercial drones.

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

AGENDAS:

EU : Environment Council meets to discuss clean industry deal, global environmental policy and more
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes part in a meeting on peace and security for Ukraine hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron;
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas participates in the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan;
Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen attends the D9+ Ministerial Meeting on Digital and Connectivity; visits Europol in The Hague, Netherlands;
Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis receives the Chairman of the International Sustainable Development Standards Board (ISSB) Emmanuel Faber; participates in the Institute of International Finance (IIF) European Summit; meets with the leaders of the European Industry Round Table (ERT);
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christoph Hansen receives Moldovan Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Ludmila Catlabuga;
Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath takes part in a debate on “Depolarising societies – key findings from the 2025 Civil Society Week” during the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee;
Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jorgensen receives Director General of the American Chamber of Commerce in the EU Malte Loen;
Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos meets with the Director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) Christian Zinglersen in Ljubljana, Slovenia;
Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius takes part in the Baltic Military Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania;
Financial Services Commissioner María Luis Albuquerque meets with Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Chairman Erik Thedeen in Frankfurt, Germany; meets with ECB President Christine Lagarde and ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos; participates in a meeting of the General Council of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB);
Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič meets with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Beijing, China.