EU struggles to contain defiant pushback on Ukrainian grain
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In today’s news from the Capitals:
WARSAW
EU attempts on Monday to mediate the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain to Poland, Hungary, and later Slovakia has fallen on deaf ears and are set to escalate as Bulgaria mulls a similar ban. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Commission urges Greece to recover illegal state aid for 2007 wildfires. Greece must recover illegal state aid which was “gifted” to companies presumably affected by wildfires in 2007, ignoring a decision of both the European Commission and the EU Court of Justice, an EU executive spokesperson told EURACTIV.com. Read more.
Commission offers sweetener to Poland, Hungary after Ukraine agri import ban. The European Commission has announced it is considering a further support package for EU farmers hit by an influx of Ukrainian agricultural products, following Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia’s decision to ban the import of agricultural goods from Ukraine. Read more.
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BERLIN
Merkel receives highest German award amid criticism. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received the country’s highest order of merit, but not everyone thought the honour was justified, including high-ranking members of her own conservative CDU party. Read more.
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PARIS
Macron tries to turn page amid pension reform crisis. The French government will present a roadmap with three priorities of which the progress will be assessed on Bastille Day, President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised speech where he again defended his newly adopted pension law despite ongoing opposition in the streets. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian FM defends measures tackling high inflation. Finance Minister Magnus Brunner defended her government’s measures that aim to tackle the above-EU average inflation rate in the country amid growing criticism on Monday. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
UK condemns sentencing of British-Russian opposition activist. The UK will continue to support Vladimir Kara-Murza, the British-Russian journalist who denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is serving a 25-year prison sentence for treason, and calls for his immediate release, said UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Monday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland’s trade with US boosted by NATO membership. The US has become Finland’s largest trading partner, outpacing Sweden as the traditional number one, as Finland recently joining NATO is believed to give trade relations an added boost, a report released by Amcham Finland reads. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Sweden to conduct largest military exercise in 30 years. Sweden launched Aurora 23 on Monday, its largest military exercise in 30 years that aims to simulate an attack from a foreign power as it is soon expected to join the NATO alliance. Read more.
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VILNIUS
Lithuania to allow lawyers from Ukraine to work locally. The Justice Ministry has drafted legislation to allow lawyers from non-EU or non-EEA countries to provide legal services in Lithuania. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian MP slams EU plan on e-fuel combustion cars, regrets treatment of biofuels. Exempting e-fuels from the EU’s combustion engine ban following Germany’s push to do so is puzzling, according to League MP Luca Toccalini (ID), pointing to the Commission rejecting Italy’s demand to exempt biofuels which then led to Rome’s abstention from the combustion vote. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greek MEP accused of sexual harassment. Belgian authorities have requested the European Parliament to lift the immunity of Greek MEP Alexis Georgoulis (EU Left) after an EU Commission employee filed a complaint of sexual harassment. The MEP rejected the complaint as a “lie” one month before the national elections. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain showing leadership ahead of EU presidency stint, says foreign minister. Spain is already showing leadership on complex issues such as economic recovery and energy, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in Madrid on Monday, ahead of when his country takes over the rotating EU Council presidency for the second half of the year. Read more.
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LISBON
Inflation should drop from April onwards, says Portuguese minister. The inflation rate should register a significant drop from April onwards, with inflation expected to be below 5.1% for months in the second half of the year, Finance Minister Fernando Medina said as he presented the government’s Stability Programme for 2023-2027 in Lisbon on Monday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BUDAPEST
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia bans Ukrainian grain imports after finding unauthorised pesticide. Slovakia temporarily banned the imports of Ukrainian grain and other food products after an increased amount of pesticide not authorised in the EU was found in Ukrainian wheat imports, acting Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlčan announced on Monday. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SKOPJE | TIRANA
North Macedonia bans Albanian imam from entering country. The imam of a mosque in the Albanian capital of Tirana has been banned from entering North Macedonia, sparking strong reactions from the Albanian Muslim community. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia presents ambitious cancer strategy amid high death rates. Croatia plans to spend €8.5 billion on its national cancer strategy until 2025 to reduce a cancer-related death rate public health officials claim is “among the highest in Europe”. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia builds out aerial firefighting capabilities. After being wrong-footed by a massive wildfire last year, Slovenia has decided to build up dedicated aerial firefighting capabilities, for which it has purchased four water bombers, two of which will be delivered before wildfire season starts. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbian company introduces 4-day work week, increases productivity. Employees at Microelectronica, a manufacturer and retailer of hardware and software tools, had their employees gradually work four days a week over the past eight months, increasing productivity by about 30%. Read more.
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BELGRADE | PRISTINA
Serbia FM says won’t attend Council of Europe event if Kosovo’s admission is underway. Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić said on Monday he would not go to a Council of Europe event marking 20 years of Serbia’s membership if the international human rights organisation starts a procedure to accept Kosovo as its newest member. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Informal meeting of environment ministers, organised by the Swedish presidency; Highlights include biodiversity loss, circularity, and the green transition;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a meeting of the College of Commissioners;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in the first political trilogue on the Asylum Procedure Regulation;
- International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hold meetings with the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Natalia Kanem;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel on an official visit to Belgrade;
- European Parliament plenary holds key debate on strategy for EU-China Relations; von der Leyen participates; Plenary votes on the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System, and more;
- Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates in a press conference on the EU’s plan for a green transition “Fit for 55 package”; Meets with French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Laurence Boone;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Swiss President Alain Berset;
- Russia: Appeal hearing on pre-trial detention of US journalist accused of espionage Evan Gershkovich;
- UN: Security Council holds meeting on Libya;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
