French business: EU generates as much frustration as hope
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In today’s news from the Capitals:
PARIS
The EU suffers from ‘norm-creation delirium’, sapping businesses’ understanding of their legal obligations and impeding their competitiveness, Patrick Martin, President of the largest French business association MEDEF, said on Monday.
BRUSSELS
Belgian development minister asks NGOs to focus on ‘forgotten crises’. Development Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit/S&D) set up a two-year financial framework that includes new priorities, notably focusing on ‘forgotten crises’ – a crisis in which humanitarian needs are high yet international support is insufficient.
BERLIN
German government resolves latest deadlock, but peace remains fragile. Germany’s Greens and the liberal FDP party have settled their feud over the reform of child benefits, which has blocked the country’s crisis-ridden coalition government for more than a week.
THE HAGUE
Dutch minister rejects provinces’ funding requests for nitrogen reduction. Nitrogen Minister Christianne Van der Wal (VVD/Renew) rejected the Dutch provinces’ funding requests for nitrogen reduction on Monday, stating that their plans greatly exceed the government’s available funds.
NORDICS & BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Sweden to increase measures against radicalisation, terrorism. Sweden will strengthen cooperation between authorities to prevent radicalisation and the spread of violent terrorism as the security system deteriorates following several Quran burnings, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said at a press conference on Monday.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Meloni meets Mitsotakis to discuss migration, ‘consolidate’ an ally. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet her Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on Tuesday, with migration and the EU Stability and Growth Pact expected to be high on the agenda. But talks about the reality after the June 2024 EU elections are also likely to occur.
MADRID
Catalan separatists still crucial for stable government if elections repeated: poll. Even if Spain were to repeat the general elections, the country’s political landscape would not change much as Catalan separatist forces would still hold the key to a stable central government, a fresh poll published by El Mundo revealed Monday.
Prosecutors open inquiry against Spanish football chief, mother goes on hunger strike. A preliminary investigation against Royal Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales, who was accused of sexual assault, was opened by Spain´s Public Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, which led Rubiales´s mother to begin a hunger strike in a church in Andalusia (south) to defend her son.
ATHENS
Last-minute young candidate shakes race of Greek leftist Syriza presidency. A 35-year-old self-made businessman has caused turmoil in Greece’s main opposition Syriza party as on Tuesday, he is expected to officially announce his candidacy for the party’s presidency following the resignation of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czechia backs Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan. Czechia fully supports the 10-point peace plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is ready to help with its implementation, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens) said on Monday.
WARSAW
Polish liberals invite former far-right deputy PM on election lists. Despite a promise made a year ago by liberal Civic Coalition leader Donald Tusk, Poland’s largest opposition party, that voters would not be able to find opponents of abortion on its lists, former deputy prime minister of the Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party, Roman Giertych, has been included.
BRATISLAVA
Far-right Republika and frontrunner Smer boycott top Slovak TV. Former prime minister Robert Fico will not appear in the pre-election debates hosted by TV Markíza, and joins MEP Milan Uhrík, leader of the far-right Republika, in accusing Slovakia’s most popular network of biased misinformation, adding to a history of conflict with the media.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SARAJEVO
Bosnia should join BRICS, not EU, says Serb leader. Bosnia-Herzegovina should apply to join BRICS, where it would stand a better chance of becoming a member than in the European Union, the secessionist Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said on Monday in his latest criticism of the West.
SOFIA
Bulgaria’s ruling coalition bicker over special services reforms. Tensions are rising between the parties that support Bulgaria’s pro-European ruling coalition, as parties are divided on the reform of the special services, while the pro-Russian President, Rumen Radev, also opposes reform.
UCHAREST
Romanian LGBT community slams government’s ECHR challenge. The Romanian government’s appeal against a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which ordered Bucharest to provide legal protection and recognition for same-sex families in a case involving 21 same-sex couples, is shameful, the Accept Association said on Monday.
BELGRADE
Up to 25,000 Serbian workers obtain German employment visas annually. Some 25,000 Serbians, particularly medical staff, apply for German work visas every year in search of better working conditions and few reasons to remain in the country.
TIRANA
Albania sceptical of EU chief’s enlargement push. As European Council Chief Charles Michel called for a new deadline for enlargement of the European Union, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he appreciated the gesture, but It could need a lot longer than that.
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