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In today’s Capitals news:
PARIS
The government’s immigration bill was passed by the French Senate by a large majority on Tuesday after most key provisions were tightened, access to work visas for long-term immigrants was restricted and medical aid to irregular migrants has been completely reduced. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Spain’s battle for the rule of law engulfs Brussels, which Sánchez has dubbed “Orbán of the south.” Political unrest in Spain continues to engulf European institutions as the Commission is caught in a frenzy of cross-letter letters between political forces demanding action, sparking debate and divisions between European Parliament groups ahead of a key debate this week next. Learn more.
Exclusive interview with Maroš Šefčovič on electric vehicles made in Europe and competition with China. Just recently, the European Commission launched an investigation into cheap Chinese electric vehicles that are “flooding” our market. Watch the interview.
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LUXEMBOURG
Commissioner Schmit believes that the Socialists will take first place in the European elections. Luxembourg’s Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, has expressed interest in becoming the Party of European Socialists’ lead candidate in June’s European elections, acknowledging that his name is “circulating”. Learn more.
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BERLIN
Siemens Energy: Germany will bail out a key player in the green transition for 7.5 billion euros. Embattled energy transition giant Siemens Energy successfully applied to the German government for a guarantee worth €7.5 billion, with parent company Siemens participating. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
Leaked confidential memo on Israel sparks outrage in Dutch Parliament. Leaked confidential memo from the Dutch embassy in Israel, in which Israel is accused of using “disproportionate force” against civilians in Gaza to demonstrate its military strength, has sparked outrage among Dutch lawmakers left, a plethora of MPs calling for a parliamentary debate on the issue. Learn more.
Health: critical for voters, “hot potato” for parties in Dutch elections. Health is seen as a crucial issue for Dutch voters ahead of national elections, but political parties are reluctant to address it in their platforms. Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
ATHENS
The great “left divorce” is reshuffling the political cards in Athens. Even as public anger grows over soaring commodity prices, the main left-wing opposition party, Syriza, is unlikely to regain the electoral upper hand as its internal clashes make an alternative unlikely. credible in terms of governance. Learn more.
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MADRID
Reform and legal affairs; The political crisis in Spain is intensifying. A reform that would allow the House to delay by at least two months the approval of the government’s controversial amnesty law for those responsible for the 2017 secessionist attempt in Catalonia has been approved by the Spanish Senate – with a majority of the Partido Popular (PP) – on Tuesday, while Vox filed a lawsuit against interim Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for “cooperation with terrorism.” Learn more.
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ROME
Italy’s Economy Minister defends controversial new budget bill. The Italian Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, vigorously defended the 2024 budget bill against criticism from representatives of the Bank of Italy and Confindustria on the vulnerability of a budgetary maneuver in deficit and on its lack of support for businesses. Learn more.
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LISBON
The Portuguese Minister of Economy excludes the possibility of resignation. Economy Minister António Costa Silva denied having had contact with consultant Lacerda Machado and ruled out the possibility of resigning in reference to the investigation that confused him with former Prime Minister António Costa, adding that he regrets the impact this affair had on the Prime Minister. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
The left-wing party is pushing to relax Poland’s strict abortion laws. The liberalization of abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy and the decriminalization of the practice of abortions are the legislative proposals presented by left-wing deputies with the aim of liberalizing the country’s strict abortion law. Learn more.
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PRAGUE
Czechia will collect much less exceptional taxes than expected. While the Czech Finance Ministry had initially predicted that the windfall profits tax could bring 85 billion Czech crowns (3.5 billion euros) to the state budget, the ministry has now admitted that the actual amount would be much lower than expected, since only a few billion Czech crowns will be collected. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The Secretary of State asks the Church to make Jesus king of Slovakia. Štefan Kuffa, the new state secretary at the Ministry of Culture, made a rare political appearance at a church and, in a 12-minute speech, called on clergy to do their part to make Jesus Christ king of Slovakia. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria is expected to sign a military deal worth $1.5 billion with the United States. Bulgaria is set to sign new military deals with the United States after Parliament approved the purchase of 193 Stryker infantry fighting vehicles for $1.3 billion and plans to buy 3D radars for combat aviation for an additional $200 million. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
The Romanian AUR party launches a sovereignist movement. George Simion, president of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), aimed to establish an “authentic sovereignist movement” and signed a protocol of association with the National Identity Force and other small parties on Tuesday . Learn more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia is likely to expand border controls. Slovenia is preparing for a further 20-day extension of police checks on its border with Croatia and Hungary once the temporary measure ends on Sunday and will likely extend checks beyond 20 days unless the situation changes . Learn more.
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BELGRADE
Belgrade for discussion new status of community of Serbian municipalities in Brussels. Representatives of the Serbian government accepted the invitation of the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, to resume negotiations in Brussels on the text of the statute of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. Learn more.
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TIRANA
Albanian MP suggests paid leave and free sanitary products. Socialist Party MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Erion Brace said Albanian women and girls should have the right to state-paid leave during their periods, as well as VAT-free menstrual products. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The General Affairs Council meets to discuss European electoral law, the rule of law in Poland and Hungary, EU-UK relations and much more;
- 46th ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States)-EU Council of Ministers signs new partnership agreement in Apia Samoa;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs the meeting of the College of Commissioners, attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; He welcomes Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs;
- Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič opens session on “Strategic Partnerships with Third Countries” as part of Commission Critical Raw Materials Week;
- Vice-President Dubravka Šuica participates in the closing debate on demography and democracy at the EU-US Forum on Defense and the Future organized by the Atlantic Council, in Washington, USA; Meeting with Julieta Valls Noyes, Assistant Secretary of the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration;
- Vice President Schinas receives Armenian Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan;
- Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič participates in the Renew roundtable on the Western Balkans in Parliament;
- Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra meets with representatives of the EU China Chamber of Commerce (EUCCC), in Beijing, China;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers speech at EU Cancer Summit 2023 “Accelerating Momentum: A Manifesto for 2030”;
- Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi met with Albania Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration-Vice President for International Relations Democratic Party of Albania Jorida Tabaku, Vice President of the Presidential Council of Libya Mousa Al-Koni, President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Memli Krasniqi, Minister of Industry and Technology of Türkiye Mehmet Fatih Kacır;
- Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness meets Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chief Executive Chia Der Jiun;
- Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova delivers a speech at the conference on “The Western Balkans: Integration before Accession”;
- Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola meets Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan; Welcomes the President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs;
- Swiss: Visit of French President Emmanuel Macron;
- United Kingdom: UK Supreme Court decision on the legality of Rwanda’s policy towards asylum seekers;
- Spain: Debate on the new mandate of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez;
- Indonesia: ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)