Macron warns of "new era" as US backtracks from EU, Ukraine

BERLIN

Everything you need to know about Germany’s game-changing debt announcement. Germany has shown it remains capable of action in situations of severe pressure – even without a properly installed government. Read more.

LONDON

All European travellers wishing to be in the UK for short stays of up to six months must pay for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arriving in the country from 2 April 2025. The price was set at around €12, but talks in Parliament have proposed to increase it to around €19. Implementation of the authorisation comes amid increasing border security concerns from the EU bloc.

"The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security and will help prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK," UK ambassador to Belgium, Anne Sherriff said.

(Bella Zielinski | Euractiv.com)

The important thing about Donald Trump's statement on Greenland last night was that he emphasised that he respected the Greenlanders' right to self-determination, said Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen during a press conference.

In his speech on Tuesday night, Donald Trump said that the US will take control of Greenland ‘one way or another’.

Múte B. Egede, head of the Greenlandic government, commented in a post on Facebook that Greenlanders do not want to be Americans. Nor do they want to be Danes.

"We are kalaallit" (Greenlanders, ed.), he said

"The Americans and their leader must understand that. We are not for sale and cannot just be taken. Because our future is decided by us in Greenland.", he said.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

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HELSINKI

Finland cautious on Defence spending. Finnish Prime minister Prime Minister Orpo declared during a debate in Parliament that there is no direct, immediate military threat to Finland and that the government is looking carefully at the overall picture, which includes defence spending.

He does not believe in increasing defence spending but maintained that his government will do "whatever is necessary to defend Finland".

Defence spending remains a topic of discussion in the country as there is pressure from NATO - that Helsinki joined in 2023 - to increase it.

“We must answer the call and show our allies and partners that Finland is ready and acting”, he said.

Finnish Finance minister Riikka Purra reminded that in Finland defence spending is based on threat assessment and performance.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

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STOCKHOLM

Sweden may be Russia's next target. Sweden could be attacked when Russia's war against Ukraine ends, Swedish Major General Karlis Neretnieks said in an interview with Göteborgs-Posten.

Russia's next target when the US leaves Europe is likely to be the Baltic states, according to a report by the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences.

Neretnieks believes that Russia will then want to create a 'flank defence' so that other countries cannot help the Baltics.

“Gotland is the obvious choice at the beginning of a war”' he told GP.

Russia has a possible window of opportunity in the next few years when Europe is not ready for war,' the major general added.

According to him, Donald Trump’s declarations regarding suspending the aid to Ukraine is a strong signal for such a scenario.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

ROME

Italy’s two deputy Prime Ministers are split over European defence. Matteo Salvini (Lega/ID), a staunch Eurosceptic, has slammed the “Rearm Europe” plan and the idea of an EU army, famously stating, “With von der Leyen in charge, we’d surrender in 20 minutes.”Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia/EPP), however, takes the opposite view. On Wednesday, he voiced strong support for European defense efforts and backed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal, but he emphasized that it does not represent an alternative to NATO.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has remained silent, continuing her recent strategy of staying out of the spotlight amid growing tensions between the EU and the U.S. However, key figures from her party have welcomed the initiative—particularly the proposed suspension clause for defense investments, a long-standing demand of Meloni’s government.

(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)

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LISBON

Portugal’s PM calls for confidence vote amid uncertain support in parliament. Portugal's prime minister announced on Wednesday that his government will move forward with the proposal of a motion of confidence in the executive by parliament, "since it is not clear" that the parties give the government the necessary conditions to continue in office. Read more.

WARSAW

Poland pushes to abolish time zone change during EU presidency. Polish Development Minister Krzysztof Paszyk (PSL, EPP) is taking steps to abolish the practice of time zone changes during Poland's EU presidency, Polish media report.

Efforts to repeal Directive 2000/84/EC began in 2018 under Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, but have yet to produce results.

In December 2024, Paszyk announced that abolishing the seasonal clock change was a priority for the Polish EU presidency, labeling it "a social and economic issue."

The Development Ministry stated that Krzysztof Paszyk discussed the issue with Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas and convinced him not to remove the directive from the Commission's 2025 work program.

"Due to economic ties, it is essential to obtain the unanimity of all EU member states on this matter," the ministry said, as reported by Fakt.

The next clock change will take place on the night of March 29-30.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

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PRAGUE

Czech lawmakers approved public media fee hike amid opposition fury. After days of obstruction, the Czech parliament's lower chamber approved on Wednesday a hike in concession fees for the Czech public broadcasters - Czech Television and Czech Radio.

If the upper chamber (Senate) and president sign off, households will pay CZK150 (€6) for television and CZK55 (€2.2) for radio starting in May.

The fees will now also cover devices like smartphones and laptops.

The ruling coalition insists the increase is essential. “For most households, the only change will be an affordable CZK25 increase in fees,” said Culture Minister Martin Baxa (ODS, ECR), defending the move as a lifeline for public media.

But the opposition sees it as a power grab. Opposition ANO party (PfE) leader Andrej Babiš accused the government of trying to “buy” favorable coverage ahead of this year's parliamentary elections. His party colleague Alena Schillerová vowed revenge. “This mess will have to be cleaned up by the next government," she said.

With Czech parliamentary elections approaching this autumn, the fight over public media intensified. If ANO party regains power as opinion polls suggest, the current system could be abandoned. According to Babiš, Czech Television and Czech Radio should be merged into one subject, a reform similar to one implemented in Slovakia.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)

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BRATISLAVA

Slovak and Czech presidents address political rifts and foreign policy. Presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria met on Wednesday in Slavkov, Czechia, to discuss cross-border cooperation and foreign policy as part of the Slavkov Format (S3) presidential summit. Read more.

SOFIA

Bulgaria to introduce religion in school. Bulgaria’s Minister of Education Krassimir Valchev said on Wednesday he was strongly determined to introduce in school the compulsory study of religion, starting with the 2026/27 school year.

In his words, such discipline in school would “unite our efforts with religions, with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in particular - to make children good people”, as by studying religion, children “become more studious, less aggressive".

Bulgaria’s official religion is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church which is increasingly gaining ground in areas in traditionally secular areas of society.

In the post World War II period laicity has prevailed in Bulgarian schools and Bulgaria was not among the countries where religion is taught in school (Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Denmark, Finland and some German federal states).

EU-wide, the approach to religious education in schools varies widely depending on each country’s historical, cultural, and legal context.

(Georgi Gotev | Euractiv.bg)

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BUCHAREST

Romania expels Russian military attaché and deputy. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on Wednesday that Bucharest has declared the Russian Federation’s military, air, and naval attaché, along with his deputy, persona non grata on Romanian soil.

Viktor Makovski, the military, air, and naval attaché of the Russian Federation in Bucharest, and his deputy, Colonel Evgheni Ignatiev, were expelled for engaging in activities that violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, according to the Romanian MFA.

The decision was formally communicated to the Russian side on Wednesday when the Russian Embassy’s chargé d’affaires a.i. was summoned to the MFA headquarters at the direction of minister Emil Hurezeanu.

Colonel Evgheni Ignatiev’s name has surfaced in a wiretapped conversation linked to an investigation involving Călin Georgescu.

According to recordings published by the local press, last year, former pro-Russian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu discussed his plans over the phone with Marian Motocu, who is under investigation for promoting legionary propaganda, as well as spreading anti-Semitic and xenophobic messages on social media.

Following his conversation with Georgescu, Marian Motocu called the Russian Embassy and requested to speak with colonel Evgheni Ignatiev, the deputy military attaché in Bucharest.

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

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