Germany eyes outsourcing asylum applications to Africa – EURACTIV.com

In today’s news from the Capitals:

BERLIN

Germany is looking to outsource the processing of asylum applications to Africa amid pressure from liberal junior coalition member FDP and a general rise in asylum applications, in a move similar to the UK’s controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Read more.

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PARIS

France leads EU’s electric vehicle charge as Stellantis posts huge uptick in sales. Car giant Stellantis, with most of its workforce in France, announced a 7% year-on-year sales increase on Tuesday, driven by a 37% rise in electric car sales, as the EU, with France in the driver’s seat, bets on home-grown electric vehicles (EVs) to counter China’s e-car offensive. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch court sentences Russian citizen for breach of EU sanctions. The Rotterdam District Court sentenced a Russian citizen to 18 months in jail and a €200,000 fine on Tuesday for allegedly breaching EU sanctions in 2022 by supplying dual-use microchips and drones to the country. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italy’s ruling parties will not form joint EU elections list. Italy’s ruling centre-right political parties – Fratelli d’Italia (ECR), Forza Italia (EPP), Lega (ID) – will not present a joint list of candidates for the 2024 European elections, even though this may have helped tip the balance in their favour. Read more.

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MADRID

Spanish ministers criticise monarchy as future queen swears oath. Ministers from far-left Unidas Podemos, the junior member of the coalition, have criticised the Spanish monarchy as Princess Leonor, the future queen, swore allegiance to the Spanish constitution on her 18th birthday on Tuesday. Read more. 

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Duda slows on PM nomination as Poles favour Tusk: poll. Poles believe President Andrzej Duda should nominate Donald Tusk as the next prime minister, according to a poll published in Polish media on Tuesday, as the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS, ECR) appears to be running out of options to form a coalition government. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czechia progresses on new nuclear unit as three companies bid for contracts. The construction of a new nuclear power unit has moved forward with binding bids accepted from US-Canadian Westinghouse, France’s EDF and the Korean company KHNP, announced ČEZ’s Director of New Energy Division Tomáš Pleskač. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico’s border crackdown ends after one night. Police claim that newly elected Prime Minister Robert Fico’s mobilisation of hundreds of police and soldiers at the border only deterred two groups of migrants without apprehending either, with the opposition questioning the wisdom of his attempt to show strength amid dwindling migrant numbers in a likely bid to take credit. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

‘Pro-EU’ Borissov hints at support for pro-Russian candidate in mayor race. Boyko Borissov, the leader of Bulgaria’s largest political party who often presents himself as the country’s most pro-Western politician, confused supporters by first encouraging them to vote for pro-Russian Vanya Grigorova for the mayorship of Sofia before telling them to “vote with their conscience”. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania to level retirement age for men and women with EU money. Romania will set the retirement age for men and women at the same level of 65 years from 2035, according to the pension laws proposed by the Labour Ministry and adopted as part of Romania’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced after a ruling coalition meeting on Tuesday night. Read more.

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BELGRADE 

Von der Leyen says Serbia must normalise relations with Kosovo to join EU. The European Union is counting on Serbia joining its ranks in the future but Belgrade and Pristina need to normalise relations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting President Aleksandar Vučić during her official visit to Serbia. Read more.

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AGENDA:

• EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Bosnia and Herzegovina President Željko Komšić, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto, in Sarajevo;
• Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks global AI Safety and Security summit, in U.K.; Meets with Minister of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea Lee Jong-ho;
• Vice President Margaritis Schinas meets with Mexico Minister for Security and Citizen Protection Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Minister of Culture Alejandra Frausta, Minister of Tourism Miguel Torruco, in Mexico city;
• Sweden: International IDEA publishes annual report on the State of Democracy;
• Kazakhstan: French President Emmanuel Macron visits Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan;
• Lebanon: French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu on official visit;
• Zambia: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on official visit;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]

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