Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, we invite you to read about Europe’s military mobility being the latest casualty of EU budget battle. Also, feel free to have a look at the analysis “The Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the European Policies: Outlook 2020 – 2024” conducted by Dr. Vasile Puşcaş, a former Minister for European Affairs, and EU expert Dr Dan Luca.
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Parliament locked out. Several MEPs were denied access to the European Council last Friday during the EU budget summit as the Council decided to abide by its stricter rules and granted only two badges per political party, according to European Parliament sources.
“The fact that the Parliament only gets two badges per political group to attend EUCO summits is frankly a ridiculous way for the Council to treat its ‘co-legislature’,” a Parliament source told EURACTIV.
A sign of a new power struggle between the two institutions? EURACTIV’s Alexandra Brzozowski has the story.
CORONAVIRUS DEVELOPMENTS
The EU’s Health Security Committee projected on 24 February a “moderate to high” risk of more new coronavirus clusters of the type happening in northern Italy. Similarly, the World Health Organisation has said countries around the planet should prepare for a “potential pandemic”.
In Austria, the first coronavirus infection was confirmed. Two Italians who have been living in Innsbruck but originate from Lombardy which is Italy’s most affected part, have been found to have been infected by the coronavirus. For now, they will remain in quarantine, already feeling better.
To further minimise the risk of spreading, the hotel where one of them works has been locked down until further notice. The border to Italy, however, will not be closed down as such a measure would be “inappropriate”, said Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens), after a meeting with some of his European counterparts. (Philipp Grüll | EURACTIV.de)
In Belgium, several tourists returning from Italy since Monday have expressed their concern about the lack of health inspections upon arrival at the Belgian airports, the country’s media reported. The Belgian health ministry ordered airports to train their employees, but has not suggested a systematic screening of passengers arriving from any region of the world.
The idea of pre-emptively closing borders between states “makes no sense,” Belgian’s health minister Maggie de Block said. “A virus does not stop at borders”, and a control of passenger’s temperature “is useless either”, as one can be a carrier of the virus without showing symptoms, she added. Belgium has tested more than 150 people, all negative except a repatriated man from Wuhan. (Alexandra Brzozowski | EURACTIV.com)
In Rome, Italy’s PM Giuseppe Conte said that it was not fair to limit access for Italian citizens to foreign countries.
“We can’t accept that. Our citizens can leave the country safely, for them and for others,” he said.
While the Bulgarian carrier has suspended flights to Milan until 27 March, Iraq and Jordan are prohibiting travellers from Italy from entering. Countries such as the UK, the Netherlands and France are requesting people coming from outbreak areas in Italy to self-isolate even if they do not carry any symptoms. (Gerardo Fortuna | EURACTIV.com)
Spanish hospitals ready for “worst-case scenario”. The Spanish national health system is ready in case of outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic across the country, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Meanwhile in Athens, the government has met with TV news directors and asked them to be “sober” in their reporting when it comes to coronavirus.
In Poland, while Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki reassured that Poland is “ready for an attack of coronavirus”, his health minister had previously said that “sooner or later, the coronavirus will come to Poland”.
Members of the opposition, however, do not believe the PM and criticised his approach. “Poland is completely unprepared to defend itself against the coronavirus. The prime minister’s conferences on defending against the coronavirus are all lies. Words can’t protect against the disease. It’s not about sowing panic, but prevention is better than a cure,” wrote Senator Wadim Tyszkiewicz. (Łukasz Gadzała | EURACTIV.pl)
Panic about the coronavirus has spread among Czech citizens, despite the fact that no cases have been reported so far. “The Czech Republic is definitely among the EU member states that have taken the strictest measures,” said Health Minister Adam Vojtěch. The State Security Council discussed the situation on Tuesday evening (25 February) and Czech airports have taken special measures against the coronavirus. (Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
In Zagreb, Croatian authorities have officially confirmed the first patient diagnosed with the COVID-19, while another suspected case is currently being treated in the City of Rijeka. Both patients have just returned from Italy.
The first patient to test positive for coronavirus is showing mild signs of the disease and is isolated in Zagreb’s hospital, according to information provided by Health Minister Vili Beroš, who is set to visit Italy today, where he will meet other EU health ministers and discuss the epidemic. (Tea Trubić Macan, EURACTIV.hr)
In Sarajevo, pilgrims are victims of COVID-19. Tourist workers in Međugorje, the famous unofficial town of Catholic pilgrimage, Međugorje, have cancelled the arrival of Italian guests. This means that the traditional International Seminar for pilgrimage organisers from all over the world, which welcomes the most participants from Italy, has been cancelled for the first time. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic asked the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, on Tuesday (25 February) for additional assistance and support in curbing the spread of coronavirus. Vucic and Kluge agreed that the spread of panic and fake news in Serbia and across Europe was more dangerous than the disease itself, according to a release issued after the meeting.
Serbia is well-prepared to address all kinds of health-related risks and emergency situations, including the outbreaks and epidemics at the global level, wrote Kluge in a statement published in yesterday’s issue of Belgrade daily Politika.
In other news from the capitals…
BERLIN
Laschet and Merz announce CDU candidacy. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Armin Laschet and former parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz officially joined Norbert Röttgen, head of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee yesterday (25 February), in the race to succeed Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). EURACTIV Germany’s Sarah Lawton looks into what the new candidates propose.
Meanwhile, the German government’s budget ended 2019 with a €49.8 billion surplus (or 1.4% of GDP), according to numbers released by the Federal Statistical Office yesterday (25 February). Although this was a decrease compared to 2018’s budget surplus of €62.4 billion as expenditures increased faster than revenues, not only were employment numbers strong, but income taxes and social contributions also saw an increase. (Sarah Lawton | EURACTIV.de)
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HELSINKI
Six more years? More than a quarter of Finns (26%) would be willing to see Finnish President Sauli Niinistö take on a third term after the 2024 elections, according to a survey by The Rural Future newspaper. However, about 60% of the electorate think twelve years is enough, while 15% remain undecided. EURACTIV’s Pekka Vänttinen looks at where this three-term-idea came from.
UK AND IRELAND
DUBLIN
Worrying Brexit signals. If the UK does not start implementing the requirements set out in the Irish protocol “in the next few months,” then a free trade deal between the EU and the UK by the end of the year could be out of the question, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said. EURACTIV’s Samuel Stolton has a closer look.
LONDON
Brexit deal will be ‘difficult’, Barnier says as ministers agree mandate. The EU and UK formally agreed their negotiating mandates for talks on a new trade and political partnership on Tuesday (25 February), setting the stage for a bruising battle on regulatory standards. Read the story by Benjamin Fox.
Foreign policy overhaul. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday promised a sweeping ‘overhaul’ of the UK’s foreign policy in a bid to outline “new opportunities to define and strengthen Britain’s place in the world”. The year-long policy review will be a chance for the government to add more substance to its promise of becoming “Global Britain”. (Benjamin Fox, EURACTIV.com)
LISBON
Lithium exploration. Eighteen associations and civic movements of Portugal’s northern and central regions affected by the possible prospecting and exploitation of lithium delivered an open letter to the government with an “urgent request to establish transparency and public participation” in the process.
As the EU member state with the largest lithium reserves, Portugal must ensure its exploration of one of the lightest metals has reduced environmental impact and is offset to respect EU rules, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira said last month. (António Sá Rodrigues and Maria de Deus Rodrigues, Lusa.pt)
VISEGRAD
BUDAPEST
Hungary adopts law suspending court-ordered compensations for jail overcrowding. Hungarian authorities are prohibited from executing court-ordered compensations in jail overcrowding cases until 15 June 2020, according to a law passed by parliament yesterday (25 February). EURACTIV’s Vlagyiszlav Makszimov looks into what the new law has in store.
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In other news, MSZP politicians voiced criticism and speculation about the potential outcome and the future of cooperation within the opposition after two MSZP (Socialists) Budapest District mayors, László Kiss and Sándor Szaniszló, announced their switch to the Democratic Coalition (DK). Leading party president Bertalan Tóth said that the two politicians’ decisions are of a “prostitute-like mentality.” (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
Meanwhile, Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benkő and his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak signed an agreement on the two countries’ strategic partnership within NATO’s special operations cooperation, the Hungarian defence ministry announced, adding that the ministers also discussed regional cooperation of defence forces. Hungary has a vested interest in Poland as it prioritises the Visegrad Group as a framework for cooperation, said Benkő. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
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BRATISLAVA
Election campaign climaxes in parliament. Government parties Smer-SD and SNS, backed by the far-right and few other minor parties adopted the 13th monthly pensions, despite warnings from fiscal watchdogs and attempts to filibuster the parliament’s special session by the opposition. Also, MPs rejected the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence by a large majority, despite the rule that international agreements cannot be processed in a fast-track procedure.
Meanwhile, the PM was forced to dispel foreign press reports that he had the coronavirus. After foreign media outlets reported that PM Pellegrini (Smer-SD) was infected by the coronavirus, which would have led to all EU head of states being quarantined following his attendance at last week’s budget summit, the prime minister hit back. “I resolutely deny hoax tweets that I have got a coronavirus. Total nonsense,” said Pellegrini.
Pellegrini had been hospitalised over the weekend with an acute upper respiratory tract infection. With two days left before the elections, he will still travel to Moscow on Wednesday (26 February), despite his doctor’s recommendation. (Zuzana Gabrižová | EURACTIV.sk)
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
The search for a new PM. After Interim Prime Minister Ludovic Orban renounced his mandate to form a new government on Tuesday (25 February), President Klaus Iohannis will be organising new consultations with parliamentary parties to designate a new PM on Wednesday (25 February). EURACTIV Romania has a closer look.
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SOFIA
€200,950 compensation to a Belgian citizen. After a Belgian citizen was sentenced in 2017 for having taken money over the Serbian-Bulgarian border, which was forfeited to the state as the country’s criminal code stipulates that this applies to the non-declaration of more than €10,000, a Sofia district court ruled that the parliament and the court had violated EU law after the Court of Justice in Luxembourg confirmed just that in January 2019. (Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)
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LJUBLJANA
White smoke, Habemus government. After consultations with President Borut Pahor came to an end, a new coalition was formed, Slovenian media announced.
While Janez Janša of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS-EPP) will take on the job as prime minister for the third time, party colleague Anže Logar will take on the foreign minister post and NSi (EPP)’s Matej Tonin will be in charge of defence. With the two other parties in the coalition being DeSUS (pensioners party, RE) and SMC (RE), the coalition will be represented across 47 of 90 seats in parliament.
Also read: Janez Jansa, admirer of Viktor Orban, to be nominated PM of Slovenia
In other news, the Slovenian Catholic Episcopal Conference called its members to attend service only if they are healthy. Bishops have advised the people entering the church not to use blessed water (priests are advised to empty them) and to take communion only on the hand. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
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BELGRADE
Serbia should honour its obligations after purchase of Pantsir-S missile, Peter Stano, the spokesperson of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, told Voice of America (VoA) yesterday. To progress on its EU path, Serbia should harmonise its foreign policy with that of the EU in accordance with the negotiating framework, he added. EURACTIV Serbia has the story.
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PODGORICA
Chinese company exempted from paying €191.2 million taxes. China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is exempted from paying taxes worth €191.2 million for the highway Bar (on the Adriatic coast) Boljare (on the border with Serbia) according to NGO Action for Social Justice. The project is being financed by a loan from China’s Exim Bank, from which $751.6 million had been already been withdrawn by the end of last year, with $192.4 million still left to be withdrawn. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
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PRIŠTINA
EU is late in Western Balkans. The EU’s role is indispensable in efforts to reach a lasting peace in the Western Balkans, said Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci at the Brooking’s Institute, adding that Kosovo is free and independent, but for Kosovo to become a success story the country needs to be integrated into the EU and NATO. Thaci warned that the trust in EU institutions and the EU’s influence in the region is diminishing given that the EU is late in dealing with Kosovo and the Western Balkans region. (Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)
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TIRANA
President sues justice minister. President Ilir Meta lodged a case against the country’s justice minister and two top officials on Tuesday (25 February) for violating the constitution, which marks the latest step he has taken against the left-wing Socialist government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, AP reports.
EURACTIV Croatia’s Željko Trkanjec has some background.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox]
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