Good morning from Washington and Berlin.
Addressing a joint session of US Congress last night, President Donald Trump said that the US is “going to get Greenland – one way or the other.” “We strongly support your right to determine your own future… If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” he said.
Trump also said: “Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine, by far. Think of that. They’ve spent more buying Russian oil and gas than they have defending. And we’ve spent perhaps $350 billion, like taking candy from a baby. That’s what happened. And they’ve spent $100 billion.”
Trump announced plans for a new trade policy, calling it “great” for American farmers. “I love the farmer,” he emphasised. He claimed that “dirty and disgusting” foreign goods are flooding the US market, harming American agriculture. The proposed tariffs, set to take effect on 2 April, will target agricultural imports. While acknowledging a “little bit of an adjustment period,” Trump insisted that farmers will ultimately “have a field day.”
It is reminded that the US is the second largest destination for EU agricultural exports, after the United Kingdom. The EU imposes high tariffs on certain US agricultural products, such as beef and pork, whereas the U.S. maintains lower tariffs on comparable EU goods.
Euractiv’s Aurélie Pugnet has more details.
No brakes. Meanwhile, 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, writes Euractiv’s Nick Alipour.
The plans, if approved, would mark a stunning turn for a country renowned for its culture of parsimony, underscoring the degree of nervousness in Germany and elsewhere in Europe over the mercurial American president, who in recent days has suspended military aid to Ukraine and imposed fresh tariffs on US allies. |
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| Click on the picture to read the story | [EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS] |
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| European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen's new plan to “Rearm Europe” included close to no fresh money and left the burden of finding the real cash on member states’ shoulders, writes Aurélie Pugnet. VdL said yesterday that the EU leverage in issuing bonds and loosening its regulations could free up to €800 billion for the defence industry and member states' purchases.
Full charge. Ahead of the Special European Council on Thursday EP President Roberta Metsola spoke at EPC yesterday and stated among others: “We can’t let our future be decided by others. Until we take full charge of our own security, we can never truly feel safe. Europe must get serious about its own defence. We need two things: we need the will, and we need the wallet.”
Meanwhile, several MEPs and diplomats have expressed concerns that health will be absorbed by the European Commission’s new defence push, impacting Europe’s ability to prepare for health emergencies, writes Emma Pirnay.
The Polish Presidency proposes to scrap detection orders from Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) law, according to a draft compromise on the CSAM Regulation, seen by Euractiv's Claudie Moreau. Detection orders, the most controversial part of the Commission proposal that would allow law enforcement, via a court, to mandate scanning of tech companies’ services, including private messages, were scrapped from the text. However, the text introduces a new paragraph, aimed at providing permanent derogations from the ePrivacy rules.
No labels? Sweden is the latest EU country to make the origin labelling of meat in restaurants mandatory, as the European Commission hints at an EU-level push in its strategy for the future of agriculture, writes Euractiv’s Alice Bergoënd.
Lax enforcement. A report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has found that EU countries have failed to enforce rules aimed at preventing sea pollution, while funds dedicated for addressing sea pollution aren't being properly tracked and used, writes Bárbara Machado. |
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| Click on the picture to read the story | [EPA-EFE/RONI REKOMAA] |
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| COPENHAGEN 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. |
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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.
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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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| 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. /// 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. /// 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. |
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| Click on the picture to read the story | [Photo by Alex Nicodim/Anadolu via Getty Images] |
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| ΒUCHAREST 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. /// 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. /// 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) |
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| 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] |
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