Spain’s radical left demands Sánchez cut ties with Israel, break 2% NATO pledge

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

MADRID

Spain’s two main radical left parties, Sumar, the junior partner in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, and Podemos, a member of Sánchez’s previous progressive government, have asked the prime minister to cut ties with Israel and take back his pledge to increase the national defence budget to 2% of GDP in line with NATO commitments by 2029. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU’s historic migration pact passes amidst divisions and far-right fears. Despite a nerve-racking buildup leading up to the vote on Wednesday afternoon, and the final agreement to no one’s liking, the EU’s asylum and migration pact ultimately passed with a thin majority on certain parts of the package. Read more.

EU sets out plan for lasting Ukraine security commitments. The EU has put together a framework document, based on the bloc’s existing and ongoing efforts, to give Ukraine lasting security commitments, according to a draft by the bloc’s diplomatic service (EEAS), seen by Euractiv. Read more.

European Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative to support safe and accessible abortion. The European Commission registered a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) for safe and accessible abortion. The decision paves the way for the ‘My Voice, My Choice’ movement to collect the required one million signatures for their cause. Read more.

EU top court annuls sanctions on two Russian tycoons. An EU court on Wednesday annulled sanctions on two Russian businessmen, Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman, after finding that the reasons invoked by Brussels were invalid. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany pitches international private investment fund to boost Ukraine recovery. Germany is lobbying EU partners to set up a new investment fund to support private business investment in Ukraine to help address the enormous cost of post-war reconstruction, according to a government framework passed on Wednesday. Read more.

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PARIS

French government introduces assisted dying bill. The French government introduced the bill on assisted dying on Wednesday, and Labour and Health Minister Catherine Vautrin outlined the details of the future law that will allow terminal patients suffering from long-term illnesses to decide to end their life. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

HELSINKI

Finland’s Stubb wants to better structure EU and NATO defence tasks. Finland’s new President Alexander Stubb said on Wednesday he wants a clear distinction between EU and NATO on defence matters, with industrial policy and funds on one side, and military planning and threat countering on the other. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Oxford Economics blasts Italy’s ‘Super Bonus’ tax scheme. Italy’s “Super Bonus” tax scheme introduced by the second Conte government to mitigate the effects of the pandemic by introducing high tax deductions for homeowners sustainably renovating their homes is “probably the worst tax policy measure implemented in the country in the past decade”, the British observatory Oxford Economics said in a recent report. Read more.

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MADRID

Far-left separatists, conservatives lead official polls in tight Basque election race. The far-left and separatist EH Bildu is polling ahead of other parties but remains very close to the conservative-nationalist PNV ahead of elections in the Basque Country on 21 April, a poll by the state-run Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) published on Wednesday reads. Read more.

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ATHENS

EU migration deal ‘historic’ for Greek government, financial ‘solidarity’ for opposition. The long-awaited EU migration deal, which was sealed by the European Parliament on Wednesday, has caused mixed feelings in Greece, a front-line country. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Tusk vows to ‘protect’ Poland against EU migrant relocation. Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday said his government would “protect” Poland against the European Union migrant relocation scheme as the bloc adopted a major overhaul of its asylum rules. Read more.

Polish far-right begins election campaign with Polexit demand. Polish far-right leaders are launching their European election campaign by setting up parties that want Poland to leave the European Union, one of which was founded by former MEP Stanisław Żółtek. Read More.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgaria left without an ombudsman amid political crisis. Bulgarian citizens are now left without a national ombudsman to protect their rights and freedoms following the resignation of incumbent Diana Kovatchev on Wednesday, as the country’s political crisis continues. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

NATO deputy secretary-general leads latest Romanian presidential poll. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană would win the first round of Romania’s presidential elections, scheduled for September 2024, according to an INSCOP poll released on Wednesday that echoed earlier polls that put Geoană ahead. Read more.

AGENDA:

• EU: Eurogroup convenes to discuss exchange rate and inflation developments, trade performance and risks of trade fragmentation, and more;
• Informal meeting of telecommunications ministers expected to focus on online user responsibility, Europe’s digital infrastructure needs, and more;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, together with Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria Markus Söder, visits Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics nuclear fusion reactor; Hosts Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland Simon Harris;
• Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis participates in ECB Governing Council;
• Vice President Maroš Šefčovič delivers keynote speech at high level event on “Powering Tomorrow, Inspiring Today: Nuclear Energy 2.0” organised by EDF, Fortum, Vattenfall and Euractiv; Delivers opening speech at EU Innovation Fund’s Cleantech conference: “Driving Dustainable Innovation”;
• Vice President Margrethe Vestager participates in high level Technology Competition Policy Dialogue, in Washington D.C., United States; Meets with Chairperson of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khan; Holds meeting with US Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter;
• Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo meet President of Moldova Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi;
• International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen attends Global Gateway Education Forum;
• Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in meeting of Child Sexual Abuse Child Rights Intergroup at Parliament;
• Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton delivers keynote speech in high level conference “On the need for a new postal services directive”, organized by the Belgian Presidency;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Liene Lūsīte, Olivia Gyapong, Sofia Mandilara]

Read more with Euractiv

EU migration deal ‘historic’ for Greek government, financial ‘solidarity’ for opposition

The long-awaited EU migration deal sealed by the European Parliament on Wednesday has caused mixed feelings in Greece, which is a front-line country.