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In today’s news from The Capitals:
BERLIN
Fearing a collapse of the Western alliance under Donald Trump, Germany’s political establishment tentatively agreed to all but dismantle the country’s ‘debt brake’ with an unprecedented spending spree on defence and infrastructure that could total as much as €1 trillion over the coming decade. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
COPENHAGEN
Denmark and Finland seal defence deal as Baltic tensions rise. Denmark and Finland doubled down on Nordic solidarity on Tuesday, signing a defence pact in Helsinki that tightens cooperation in the Baltic Sea, NATO training missions, and F-35 fighter jet operations. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Puigdemont and Sánchez’s socialists formalise controversial deal to transfer migration policy powers to Catalonia. The Socialist party (PSOE/S&D) of Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and the right-wing separatist JxCat party, led by former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont from his self-imposed exile near Brussels, on Tuesday registered a bill in parliament for Madrid to transfer national migration policy powers to Catalonia. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greek government faces no-confidence vote as pressure for accountability over train crash mounts. The progressive opposition parties will table today a motion of no-confidence against centre-right New Democracy party amid accusations of alleged efforts to protect politicians responsible for a deadly train accident that killed 57 people, mainly young. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
PiS candidate goes hard on Russia, opts for cutting diplomatic ties after criticising Zelenskyy. After weeks of harsh criticism directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PiS presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki is now taking a tough stance on Russia, even calling for cutting diplomatic ties with Moscow. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Russian pipeline Druzhba runs dry again for Czechia. For the second time in recent months, oil deliveries to Czechia via Russia’s Druzhba pipeline have come to a halt, but officials insist there is no immediate risk of a fuel shortage. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Macron woos Orban on Ukraine ahead of EU Summit. French President Emmanuel Macron will host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Paris on Wednesday, a last-ditch bid to align Budapest with Europe’s Ukraine stance before a pivotal EU defense summit on 6 March. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
Musk attempts to undermine Romanian pre-election disinformation roundtable. A meeting between social media platforms, European and Romanian authorities, and civil society on preventing disinformation ahead of the country’s re-run elections in May was attacked by X owner Elon Musk as akin to “NGO-led censorship”. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria wants to buy French howitzers CEASAR. Bulgaria wants to buy French self-propelled artillery systems CAESAR, the defence minister Atanas Zapryanov announced, answering a question from MP Ivaylo Mirchev. The MP from the pro-European PP-DB coalition asked the minister how Bulgaria participates in joint public procurement in the field of defense at the European Union level (EDIRPA programme). Read more.
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BELGRADE
Belgrade blaze. A fire erupted in Serbia’s parliament on March 4, 2025, when opposition lawmakers hurled smoke grenades, flares, and tear gas during a contentious session, plunging the chamber into chaos.
The blaze -sparked by flares igniting papers and fueled by escalating tensions- sent black and pink smoke billowing through the hall, injuring at least three MPs, one critically with a stroke.
The dramatic escalation, captured live on TV, followed a scuffle with security as opposition deputies protested the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s agenda, unfurling banners like “Serbia rises when the regime falls.” as the session was meant to address university funding-derailed by months of anti-corruption fury.
(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)
AGENDA:
- EU: Justice and Home Affairs Council in its Home Affairs composition convenes to discuss Entry/Exit System of third country nationals, Schengen, internal security, and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in Pact for European Social Dialogue signing ceremony; Hosts World Bank President Ajay Banga; Delivers keynote speech at Cleantech Friendship Group kick-off meeting;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas hosts World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; Meets with Foreign Affairs Minister of Costa Rica Arnold André;
- Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen visits European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, in Warsaw, Poland;
- Vice President Teresa Ribera receives Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete representatives;
- Economy and Productivity Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis participates in Governing Council of European Central Bank meeting on Monetary policy;
- Sustainable Transport and Tourism Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas presents Automotive Action Plan; Hosts International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez;
- Parliament President Roberta Metsola hosts World Bank President Ajay Banga; Meets with European Council President António Costa.
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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]