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In today’s news from the Capitals:
China threatens European security and stability at many levels, now including even medicines, said Director of the Czech Security Information Service Michal Koudelka, adding that politicians, in particular, should not repeat the same mistake of downplaying security alerts like in the case of Russia in the past. Read more.
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MEP’s CORNER
Italian MEP warns of EU Buildings Directive ‘anti-EU propaganda’. The EU directive on the energy efficiency of buildings has triggered strong reactions in Italy, but the legislative process is still ongoing, and the text may be amended, MEP Nicola Danti told EURACTIV Italy in an interview, adding that anti-EU propaganda over the case must be addressed with the facts. Read more.
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EUROPEAN SPECIAL REPORT
Price ceilings on drugs with no alternatives must be raised, Czech industry says. According to the Czech pharmaceutical industry and state authorities, setting price caps cannot solve drug shortages as the measure could further jeopardise drug availability. Read more.
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BERLIN
German central bank predicts recession. Germany’s GDP is expected to decrease for the second quarter in a row, meaning the country is officially in a recession, according to predictions from the country’s central bank Read more.
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PARIS
Chances of taxing digital giants ‘slim’, says French minister. Negotiations on taxing digital giants like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook are being blocked by the US, Saudi Arabia and India, said French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday. Read more.
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VIENNA
Experts call for debate about Austria’s neutrality. Ninety experts and public figures called for a reorientation of Austrian security policy in an open letter, criticising that the nation remains out of military conflicts one year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Netherlands calls for EU sanctions enforcement headquarters. The EU should set up a body to tackle mass circumvention of the bloc’s sanctions against Russia centrally from Brussels, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Monday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
VILNIUS
Wagner may test West’s response by attacking Baltics – Lithuanian president’s aide. Russia’s mercenary group Wagner may try to test Western defence mechanisms by attacking the Baltic states, Kęstutis Budrys, President Gitlabellinganas Nausėda’s chief national security advisor, said. Read more.
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TALLINN
Estonia gears up for elections amid Russian invasion fears. Estonian voters are gearing up for elections due in two weeks, but there are fears the country could be at risk due to a large Russian-speaking minority and shared borders with Russia. Read more.
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HELSINKI
Finland can sell heavy armament to Turkey, says defence minister. There is no reason why Finland cannot sell ammunition and heavy armament to Turkey, Defence Minister Mikko Savola said in an interview with Uusi Suomi on Sunday. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Turkey opens up to Sweden’s NATO application after US meeting. Turkey adopted a more conciliatory stance on Sweden’s NATO application after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Turkish President Tayyip, and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu discussed the possible purchase of US F16 aircraft on Monday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian parties united against new EU combustion ban. Italian parties on all sides of the political aisle, including key government ministers, have criticised the European Parliament for recently approving a law that effectively bans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the European Union from 2035. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish power companies to denounce ‘discriminatory’ windfall tax. The multi-billion-euro windfall tax for energy firms to offset the toll of inflation on vulnerable consumers approved last year by Madrid will be denounced by the association of large Spanish power companies (Aelec) before the European Commission. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
New Slovak MEP calls on EU states to focus on diplomatic solution in Ukraine. The European Union should focus on diplomatic solutions to the war in Ukraine, not arms deliveries, the new Slovak MEP Katarína Roth Neveďalová (Smer-SD/S&D) who opposed the recent EU Parliament resolution on the preparation of an EU-Ukraine summit said in an interview for EURACTIV Slovakia. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria bans gender reassignment surgery. Transgender people are now banned from legally changing their gender in Bulgaria, according to the country’s Supreme Court, which issued a ruling that is automatically binding on all other courts. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia to build €100 million cross-border gas pipeline to Bosnia. Croatia will participate in a project to connect its natural gas network, and the LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk to that of neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Economy Minister Davor Filipović announced on Monday. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia pushes for Ukraine war crimes cooperation treaty. To facilitate cooperation in prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon presented an initiative for an international treaty at the EU Foreign Affairs Council Monday she says 77 countries have already signed up for it. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia to receive largest-ever EU grant to rebuild railway. Serbia is soon to receive EU money worth €600 million to reconstruct the Belgrade-Niš railway by 2029, making it the largest single grant Serbia has ever received from the bloc. Read more.
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PODGORICA
Montenegro made €1 billion from tourism in 2022, PM says. Montenegro’s tourism revenues reached €997 million last year, just €50 million short of the all-time best recorded in 2019, Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said on Monday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian authorities seize suspected contraband oil destined for Russia. A Liberian-flagged vessel was raided in Albanian waters on Monday after law enforcement authorities suspected it of violating sanctions against Russia, and some 22,500 tonnes of oil were found on board. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: General Affairs Council convenes to prepare the next European Council, and more;
- European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis hosts Chair of the Single Resolution Board Dominique Laboureix;
- Vice President Frans Timmermans delivers introductory remarks at NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly Joint Political Committee Meeting;
- Vice President Margaritis Schinas receives President of the European Olympic Committees and of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski meets Ambassador of the EU to the United States of America Stavros Lambrinidis, in Washington;
- European Space Agency’s Euclid spacecraft unveiled to the media;
- Poland: US President Joe Biden on official visit;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin delivers state of the nation address;
- Kenya: EU-Kenya Business Forum takes place;
- NATO: Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell meet in Brussels;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
