EU braces for Hungarian move against Russia sanctions

BERLIN
The parties likely to lead Germany’s next government will move ahead with a number of controversial policies as they start coalition talks, including the systematic rejection of asylum-seekers at the German border. Read more.
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PARIS

French satellite operator Eutelsat still broadcasts EU-sanctioned Russian TV, radio. French satellite company Eutelsat continues to broadcast EU-sanctioned Russian TV and radio channels as it awaits an order from French telecoms regulator Arcom, according to publicly available information confirmed by two Eutelsat officials. Read more.

ROME

Musk vs. Mattarella. ”It would be an honour to speak with President [Sergio] Mattarella," Elon Musk wrote on X on Saturday, after claims surfaced that the Italian head of state may have played a role in blocking a controversial deal between the Italian government and SpaceX’s Starlink.

Musk was replying to a post by a user named ALX, who shared a Daily Mail Online article suggesting that Mattarella — who has previously clashed with Musk — opposed the agreement for political reasons tied to Musk’s links with Donald Trump. The report also claimed that concerns later emerged within Giorgia Meloni’s government over Trump’s increasingly hardline stance toward Europe.

The timing couldn’t be messier. Italy’s ruling coalition just shot down opposition amendments to the space law that would’ve stopped the country from relying on Starlink. On Sunday, Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein took a swipe at Meloni, saying it’s time she decides “whether she serves Musk or Italy.”

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)

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MADRID

Sánchez:“Spain must defend Europe” to help reduce strategic dependence on US. Spain must defend Europe and help strengthen European security to reduce dependence on the United States, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said on Sunday, while advocating isolating Europe's far right.

“Spain must defend Europe so that Europe can defend itself. In view of what we have seen, we had better start depending a little more on ourselves and a little less on others”, stressed the Spanish PM.

With his words, Sánchez was referring, without naming him directly, to US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to withdraw his security support for the European Union (EU) in the framework of NATO if European partners do not reach at least 5% of their national GDP in defense spending.

Speaking at a PSOE conference in Galicia (northeast), the head of the Spanish progressive executive advocated “improving Spain's security capabilities” to defend Europe and depend “less on others” (the US).

However, Sánchez admitted that although Spain does not feel the threat from Russia as directly as other European partners geographically closer, such as Finland, Sweden, or Eastern European countries, Madrid is very concerned about other types of threats, including cybersecurity and ‘hybrid attacks’.

The Spanish PM is scheduled to meet this week with the parliamentary leaders of the main political parties, including the Spanish People's Party (Partido Popular/EPP), the main opposition force in parliament, to discuss the security situation in Europe and the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference following the European Council on Thursday, Sánchez announced that Spain hopes to achieve its pledge to invest 2% of national GDP in defense before the original target date of 2029.

(Fernando Heller | Euractiv.es)

WARSAW

Poland may explore alternatives to Elon Musk's Starlink network for providing satellite internet to Ukraine if the tech billionaire proves to be an “unreliable provider.”

On Sunday, Musk threatened to revoke Ukraine's access to the network, claiming that Ukraine's “entire front line would collapse” if its troops were cut off from Starlink, which is operated by his company SpaceX. “Anyone who really cares, really thinks, and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop. PEACE NOW!!!” he pleaded.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (PO, EPP) responded to Musk's message, noting that the Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Ministry of Digitization. “If SpaceX turns out to be an unreliable provider, we will be forced to look for other suppliers,” he wrote on X.

As the largest contributor to the funding of Starlink terminals, Warsaw plays a key role in maintaining the space-based communications system in Ukraine. “Be quiet, small man,” Musk addressed Sikorski in his next post on X. “You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

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PRAGUE

Czech government tightens migration laws ahead of election. The Czech government is pushing forward with a plan to toughen its asylum and deportation policies, aiming to deter migrants from entering the country.

The proposed law, unveiled by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) and Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN, EPP) on Friday, introduces faster deportations, stricter controls on asylum seekers, expanded security screenings, and reduced benefits.

“The main goal of the proposal is to deter potential migrants from entering Czech territory,” Fiala stated, emphasising the need for decisive action. The government argues that stricter rules are essential to maintaining internal security and preventing abuse of the asylum system.

Under the draft law, foreigners denied asylum would immediately receive a return decision, preventing drawn-out legal battles. Courts would also be required to consider deportation for convicted foreign criminals. Security checks would intensify, with authorities gaining access to migrants’ mobile phone data.

“We have long been working to ensure that the Czech Republic remains a safe country while maintaining free movement of people and goods without border controls,” Fiala said. “This requires bolder measures at both the European and national levels to defeat illegal migration,” he added.

The proposal comes months before Czechia’s parliamentary elections in the fall, where immigration has become a key issue. A Kantar poll published on Sunday (9 March) by Czech Television shows migration as the second-most important topic for voters, after NATO and EU membership.

Despite the harsh rhetoric, illegal migration in Czechia is relatively low and continues to decline. In 2024, authorities recorded 9,461 cases of illegal migration, a 31.9% decrease from the previous year. The vast majority - 96.8% - were people staying in the country illegally rather than crossing external Schengen borders. Czechia remains primarily a transit country for migrants heading to Germany, with transit migration falling by 91.1% in 2024 to just 420 cases.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia not considering mandatory military service. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) has firmly rejected the idea of reinstating mandatory military service in Slovakia – a measure increasingly considered by several EU states, including Germany.

During a Saturday interview with Slovakia’s public broadcaster STVR, Fico dismissed suggestions that Slovakia would follow in the footsteps of a potential Friedrich Merz-led German government, which is exploring the swift reintroduction of conscription.

"Mandatory military service is not on the table in Slovakia," Fico stated, adding that topics which had been once considered entirely off-limits are now being openly discussed.

Slovakia abolished mandatory military service in 2006. Fico emphasised that Slovakia is looking to strengthen its armed forces through alternative means instead, for example a possible revival of a gendarmerie force.

Several EU countries are currently considering bringing back mandatory military service. At present, mandatory service is in place in the Baltic states, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Cyprus, Greece, Austria, and, most recently, Croatia.

Poland has recently also announced plans to introduce military training for every adult male in the country.

Germany, Serbia are actively debating the issue, while discussions are also underway in France.

Jakub Eberle, an analyst at the Institute of International Studies at Charles University, told Euractiv Slovakia that Germany is eyeing a "Swedish model" of conscription.

Under this approach, potential recruits would receive a questionnaire, where they would provide information about their health, skills, and willingness to join the military or undertake an alternative form of service.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)

BUCHAREST

The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected on Sunday evening the candidacy of pro-Russian politician Călin Georgescu, recently indicted in a criminal case. Two other independent candidates were also disqualified. BEC reviewed over 1,200 complaints regarding Georgescu’s bid for the Romanian presidency before making its decision.

In front of the BEC headquarters, several hundred Georgescu supporters threw firecrackers and bottles at the gendarmes. Several gendarmes were injured. The gendarmes used tear gas, and some protesters were detained. Of the 14 BEC members, 10 voted to invalidate his candidacy. The BEC ruling was based on the CCR’s decision of December 6th, which annulled the first round of the presidential elections.

The Central Electoral Bureau claims that it is ”inadmissible” for the same person whose election was annulled to run again. Georgescu’s candidacy does not meet the conditions of legality because the candidate violated the ”obligation to defend democracy”, the BEC ruling states.

Georgescu has the right to appeal the ruling before the Constitutional Court, in 24 hours. The deadline for submitting candidacies for the May 4 presidential election is 15 March.

Georgescu won the first round of the November 2024 presidential election, despite polling at less than 5% in early October.

His campaign was primarily conducted on TikTok, where he claimed not to have spent any money. However, later reports suggested he had received undisclosed funds, prompting a prosecutor-led investigation into the source of the money.

On 26 February, Georgescu was indicted for criminal crimes against the constitutional order and is currently under judicial supervision.

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

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SOFIA

Bulgaria accelerates reforms to save its Recovery Plan money. Bulgaria will accelerate the adoption of reform legislation in March in an attempt to save EU grants from the Recovery Plan, Deputy PM for EU funds Tomislav Donchev announced. The rulers in Sofia must adopt a law on personal bankruptcy, carry out difficult energy reforms and turn the anti-corruption commission into a working institution. The most difficult changes are related to the full liberalization of the energy market and the adoption of the Energy Charter Treaty, which affects the coal industry.

Bulgaria hopes to receive €4.5 billion from Brussels under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, but a huge delay in reforms is putting a large part of the grants at risk.Tomislav Donchev says Bulgaria has held intensive talks with a European Commission to save the money.

“Especially with regard to laws related to the fight against corruption and the rule of law, I expect there to be an agreement in the ruling coalition,” Deputy Prime Minister Donchev said.

The GERB-led government claims that its main goal for Bulgaria is membership in the eurozone and saving European grants.

The absorption of EU money under the Recovery Plan is directly related to entering the eurozone. If Brussels' money is lost, Bulgaria will have to pay for the projects with its own money. This will lead to an increase in the budget deficit, which puts entry into the eurozone at risk.

Former Deputy PM for EU Funds Atanas Pekanov (2021-2022) commented that Bulgaria may really lose money under the Recovery Plan is correct.

“We still have to do all the reform work and in my opinion we will get almost nothing from the second payment under the Recovery Plan. In energy, there are probably things that we have not done,” the former Deputy Prime Minister explained.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced that Sofia will propose that the unabsorbed money from the Recovery Plan be used to purchase military equipment.

(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)

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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Charles Szumski, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]