Mitsotakis participates in Three Seas Summit in Lithuania
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is tavelling to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, in which heads of state and government of 13 European countries are participating. The aim is to strengthen cooperation in the Central and Eastern European region with an emphasis on the North-South axis, through economic and infrastructure interconnection in the fields of energy, transport and digital communication.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/811074/Mitsotakis-participates-in-Three-Seas-Summit-in-Lithuania
US gives green light to procurement of F-35 fighter jets by Greece
The United States gave the green light to the procurement of F-35 fighter aircraft by Greece, the Greek National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
Is Turkey itching for tension? Officials fear so
The Foreign Ministry opted for a mild response Wednesday to Turkish allegations that Greece is undermining the climate of relatively good relations, but officials increasingly believe that the Turkish government, partly due to domestic political pressure, may opt, at a time of its own choosing, to return to the period of high tension that prevailed from 2020 to 2023.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1236174/is-turkey-itching-for-tension-officials-fear-so
DEF IX – FinMin Hatzidakis: New package of economic measures in 2025 to lower taxes, raise pensions
A new package of economic measures for 2025 that will include lower taxes and contributions and higher pensions was announced at Delphi Economic Forum by National Economy & Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis on Wednesday.
ATHEX: Mood swing helps bourse close higher
The Athens bourse had a mixed session on Wednesday, with the benchmark and the blue chips index ending the day with gains, while banks and the majority of stocks ended up in the red. The mood changed, and with it the color of the main index, after the release of the US inflation data in March. This third rising session for the bourse also showed a notable rise in turnover.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1236158/athex-mood-swing-helps-bourse-close-higher
KATHIMERINI: Juvenile violence explodes: 10,776 culprits in 3 years
TA NEA: The dialogues of the pickpockets’ gang
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: “Hot” levy on real estate asset owners
AVGI: European District Attorney on the Tempi rail crash: “Corruption kills”
RIZOSPASTIS: “Grey zones” in the Aegean with the support of NATO
KONTRA NEWS: The government eliminates suppliers’ offerings to super markets
DIMOKRATIA: Kyriakos, where are you going?
NAFTEMPORIKI: New measures against price hikes under discussion
VOICES OF RUSSIA: My colleagues Eddy Wax, Elisa Braun and Clothilde Goujard watched all of Russian propaganda channel Voice of Europe’s YouTube videos. They found 16 MEPs had engaged with the outlet there — and what they said ain’t pretty.
Kremlin talking points: “If it is a war of civilization, well, I hope the civilization in Ukraine will lose,” said Marcel de Graaff, a Dutch far-right lawmaker, from a TV studio inside the European Parliament last October. “Ukraine has to become a demilitarized buffer zone,” argued Maximilian Krah, a far-right politician from Germany. Read their jaw-dropping story in full.
DRIVING THE DAY — PIEPERGATE
CRUNCH-TIME FOR VDL: The European Parliament’s plenary will today vote on whether to ask Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to rescind Markus Pieper’s controversial appointment as the EU’s SME envoy.
Party politics: Green lawmaker Daniel Freund, who authored the amendment to the Commission’s budget discharge that contains the measure, told Wednesday night’s plenary that among the criteria for choosing the SME envoy appears to have been the candidates’ party affiliation. Pieper scored lower than others but “coincidentally” is a German CDU politician, like von der Leyen herself, Freund said.
Let’s try again: “I think we should renew this procedure and actually find the best person for the job because I don’t know how we can explain this to voters,” Freund said.
EPP’s amendment: Late last night, MEPs sent Playbook a last-minute “oral amendment,” to be proposed by the EPP’s Ivan Štefanec. It defends Pieper’s appointment and argues that “assessment procedures for posts such as the SME Envoy should not be used for party or personal campaigning goals” — though the reproach that political favors were involved could also be made against von der Leyen for her original decision to appoint Pieper.
Is this the scandal of the year? No. Is it another Selmayrgate? Also no. But this is an election year and as long as the investigation into von der Leyen’s text messages to the Pfizer CEO doesn’t yield something juicier, this storm in a teacup will have to do for the Commission chief’s competitors.
MEANWHILE, IN THE BERLAYMONT, VDL’S ALLIES DEFEND ‘QUEEN BEE’: But von der Leyen isn’t just facing down MEPs over her decision to appoint Pieper to the plum SME envoy gig — she’s also dodging friendly fire from within her College of Commissioners. Though on that front, Wednesday’s College meeting turned out to be all sizzle and no steak.
How it went down: Two hours into Wednesday’s closed-door meeting of commissioners, von der Leyen called the eagerly awaited agenda point: a discussion, requested by her colleagues/rivals, about Pieper’s appointment. Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn went first, defending the appointment.
Only 2 of the 4 commissioners who’d written to von der Leyen to call for a debate were present at the College meeting. (Nicolas Schmit, the lead Socialist candidate for the EU election, and Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, were both out of town.)
3 spoke up: Josep Borrell and Thierry Breton, the other two commissioners who’d signed the Pieper letter, took the floor after Hahn to protest against a lack of collegiality and transparency, according to officials. Elisa Ferreira, the cohesion and reforms commissioner, also raised the issue, one official said.
But many others were ready to defend their boss. Commissioners from the center-right European People’s Party came out to bat for Pieper and von der Leyen. “I had the impression as if the queen bee was under attack and that the whole string of protective bees had to be brought out to defend her,” one official told Playbook. “All stingers out, all with the same copied-and-pasted narrative. It was a sign of great agitation.”
Beyond the EPP: Maroš Šefčovič, a Socialist, also backed von der Leyen, telling reporters at a Wednesday press conference that he knew “how important it is to follow the precise rules and … respect the process and [it] has always been done, even in this case.”
Buzzing back: Back in the Collage meeting, “Breton and Borrell took the floor again to say that the EPP commissioners had not understood the purpose of the meeting,” said the official above. The goal was “not to defend the appointment of this EPP hero Pieper, but to see how we can respond to the European Parliament without perjury and see how we can improve the non-governance of this College.”
Let’s just admit it: Breton then put up a text to the secretary-general for distribution to his colleagues, with a proposal for a reply to the European Parliament. Breton argued the Commission should admit that Pieper “was not the best candidate” for the job, but “was chosen due to “extra-professional considerations.”
The debate was just for the sake of debate, one official sniffed. “As is Ursula von der Leyen’s habit when she is on the defensive, she put others on the front line,” they said, adding that the president ended the debate with “a few general phrases” recommending that the commissioners “stay united.” Good luck, as they say, with that.
TODAY’S OTHER POPCORN EVENT
MEP COULD LOSE IMMUNITY OVER ALLEGED SHOPLIFTING: German far-right MEP Gunnar Beck could see his parliamentary immunity lifted over an alleged shoplifting incident in 2022, my colleague Kathryn Carlson writes in to report.
The allegations: According to a report by the Parliament’s legal affairs committee, the AfD MEP “allegedly took some sample of tester products on display for customers to try out, with, allegedly, a view to taking them away without paying for them” in a department store in Neuss, Germany. The Parliament’s plenary will vote today on whether to waive Beck’s immunity.
Right of reply: Beck said the allegations “are unfounded” and politically motivated, and added that he was “confident that I shall be vindicated in due course.”
EUCO PREP
SHOPPING LIST FOR EUROPEAN COUNCIL: EU ambassadors on Wednesday brought their wish lists for next week’s European Council summit. And they were long lists, four EU diplomats, officials and people briefed on the discussions told Playbook and top colleague Barbara Moens.
Engaging with Turkey: EU leaders are set to discuss foreign policy over dinner next week. The draft conclusions (on which we reported Tuesday) mention Turkey — a long-standing German request — and call for “work to be taken forward” to engage with Ankara on “political, economic and trade relations.” But Cyprus voiced concern with the draft text on Wednesday, while Greece urged a balance between expressing readiness to engage, taking into account Cyprus’ concerns and signaling to Ankara what the EU expects of it.
Turkey is not enough for dinner: Other ambassadors also wanted to discuss other foreign policy files over the dinner, such as Lebanon and Syrian refugees. Some asked whether Ukraine shouldn’t also be included in the conclusions — and if it is, for the war in Gaza to also be mentioned. But one EU official however warned that adding too many items — and thus haggling over wording and rehashing of known positions — risked derailing an actual strategic discussion between EU leaders.
What’s next: EU ambassadors are set to discuss a new draft of the conclusions on Monday ahead of the European Council, two EU diplomats said.
MIGRATION PACT
WEDNESDAY’S NAILBITER: After years of deadlock, intense lobbying across party lines, a sleepless night and frantic, down-to-the-wire vote-counting, MEPs on Wednesday approved all 10 legislative texts of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, designed to speed up the asylum process and share frontline countries’ load. Vote counts here.
Center rules: Parliament’s three biggest groups — the EPP, Renew and S&D — managed to overcome opposition from the far right and far left, as well as within their own ranks, to push the pact through. “History made,” Parliament President Roberta Metsola tweeted.
MEPs, interrupted: Human rights protesters interrupted proceedings on Wednesday, throwing paper planes at MEPs and shouting: “This pact kills! Vote no!” (Watch here.) Dozens of protestors also demonstrated against the pact outside the Parliament.
Warsaw and Budapest back on the same page: “We will protect Poland against the relocation mechanism,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters in Warsaw after the pact passed. “I have certain possibilities to build alliances and the mechanism of relocation or paying for not taking in [migrants] … will certainly not apply to Poland,” added the former Council president.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán tweeted: “Unity is dead, secure borders are no more. Hungary will never give in to the mass migration frenzy!” Interesting that Orbán seemed to be indicating that prior to the pact, the EU’s borders were secure.
NGOs concerned: Rights groups including the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (an alliance of 122 NGOs), Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch variously called the pact “cruel” and a “disaster,” saying it would lead to more suffering and less protection of asylum seekers.
Others (slightly) more optimistic: But 22 civil society organizations, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Danish Refugee Council and Oxfam, said in a statement that while the pact globally was likely to reduce migrants’ access to protection in Europe, it also “has the potential to bring about a more coordinated, predictable and protection-centred approach to EU resettlement.”
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STAYING COMPETITIVE
EUROPE NEEDS TO STEP UP, SAYS URPILAINEN: The next Commission should step up its game on development, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said ahead of today’s Global Gateway education event. While the EU’s main political focus is on Ukraine and defense spending, the Finnish commissioner said she wants to “avoid a future where Europe is in military terms much more secure but geopolitically more isolated.”
Security is not just defense: Urpilainen warned “to not only look at security through a defense lens,” as other challenges such as climate change, terrorism or global inequalities also provide security threats.
The Global Gateway initiative aims to mobilize up to €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 in the EU’s partner countries. For Urpilainen, it’s Europe’s answer to geopolitical competition. “We see a battle of narratives, especially in our partners countries … and a battle of offers. Global Gateway is the EU’s positive offer.”
LETTA WANTS TO BOOST THE SINGLE MARKET: Former Italian PM Enrico Letta on Wednesday told reporters including my colleague Giovanna Faggionato that his high-level report on the future of the single market due this month will call for reducing the obstacles that prevent businesses from scaling in Europe.
Energy, finance, and telecoms are where he thinks action is needed. State aid, the (long awaited) Capital Markets Union and cutting red tape will be the other three hot topics for his report.
Fifth freedom: The existing four EU freedoms of movement of goods, services, people and capital are very “20th century,” Letta said. So he’s pitching a fifth freedom, “of knowledge and innovation” — ie funnelling resources into the drivers of future growth.
IN OTHER NEWS
ECB EXPECTED TO HOLD RATES: The European Central Bank is expected to leave its key interest rate at a record-high 4 percent today, Carlo Martuscelli reports.
UKRAINE SUMMIT TO BE HELD JUNE 15-16: The Swiss government announced Wednesday it would host a high-level Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland from June 15-16. Some 80 to 100 countries are expected to attend — Russia won’t be among them.
FRENCH SAILORS GEAR UP FOR HIGH-INTENSITY WARFARE: The French navy is adapting its training to prepare for war, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, the commander of France’s carrier battle group, told Laura Kayali in an interview.
FRAUD FIGHT: Authorities are investigating allegations of fraud linked to the way €2.5 billion in EU funds has been awarded to just 10 companies in Greece, Nektaria Stamouli reports.
WARNING TO IRAN: U.S. President Joe Biden has warned Iran against launching an attack on Israel as U.S. intelligence suggests an “imminent” missile strike, Bloomberg reports. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Biden said Washington’s commitment to Israel is “ironclad,” and he would do “all we can” to protect it from an Iranian attack.
Also in the Middle East: Separately on Wednesday, three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza, per Reuters. Haniyeh also said four of his grandchildren were killed in the airstrike.
TOO FAR FOR TRUMP: Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Arizona’s reintroduction of an 1864-era bill that enforces a near-total ban on abortion is too far and the ban should be “straightened out.” My U.S. colleagues report that Republicans are scrambling to contain the abortion “earthquake.”