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In today’s news from The Capitals:
PRAGUE
Ursula von der Leyen faces opposition from Czech MEPs. The majority of Czech MEPs will not support the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as the European Commission’s president despite promises in her efforts to secure a majority. Read more.
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BERLIN
German industry expects marginal benefits from new government growth package. German industry association BDI expects only “marginal” growth effects from an economic package adopted by the country’s coalition government on Wednesday, including tax incentives to encourage foreign workers, bureaucracy reduction, trade deals plans and tweaks to existing EU measures. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
TALLINN | VILNIUS
Baltic countries close their borders to Belarus-registered cars. Estonia and Lithuania said on Wednesday they would no longer allow Belarus-registered cars to enter through checkpoints on their borders with Russia or Belarus, citing European Union sanctions against the country. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish PM proposes media transparency law as right-wing decry censorship. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) on Wednesday proposed a “democratic regeneration” plan that he said would improve media transparency and shed more light on media ownership and funding. Read more.
Exiled Spanish MEP-elect questions Metsola’s democratic legitimacy. Toni Comín, MEP-elect in exile of the Catalan separatist JxCat party, is questioning the democratic legitimacy of European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, accusing her of being influenced by Spain’s Partido Popular (PP/EPP), after his seat was left vacant due to non-compliance with Spanish legal formalities, prompting him to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union. Read more.
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ROME
Meloni expects Green Deal ‘change of course’ from von der Leyen. Ahead of the European Parliament’s vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s bid to lead the Commission for another five years, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is keeping her cards close to her chest but will listen carefully to what von der Leyen says about the Green Deal in her parliamentary address. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
BRATISLAVA
Slovakia’s climate and energy strategy delayed, targets higher gas usage. Slovakia falls behind in submitting its finalised national plan for emissions reduction by 2030, which now includes doubling the natural gas share in central heating systems and lacks a clear timetable for reducing fossil fuel use, raising concerns amongst environmentalists. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish MEP sues Poland to ECHR, accuses of torture. New hard-right Polish MEP Mariusz Kamiński announced he would sue Poland to the European Parliament, saying he was tortured in jail after being sentenced for office abuse. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Pro-European coalition seeks quick consensus on anti-corruption reform in Bulgaria. The pro-European coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB / Renew Europe – EPP) is seeking agreements to implement anti-corruption reforms in the country before starting negotiations to elect a regular government, despite the slim chances of reaching a deal. Read more.
AGENDA:
EU: European Political Community meeting in Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom aims to foster political dialogue and cooperation to strengthen security, stability and prosperity of the European continent;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers statement for second term candidacy at Parliament Plenary Session;
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