PM Mitsotakis: Greece and Europe support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and independence
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Odessa’s port on Wednesday. Mitsotakis was briefed about the operation of the cereals export corridor through the Black Sea and Danube, and he then visited the administration building of the port, where he met privately with Zelensky. Their meeting was followed by extended meetings with delegations of the two countries.
Plenary majority rejects claim private universities provision is unconstitutional; debate continues
Petitions calling the new private university bill being debated in parliament unconstitutional were rejected by majority vote, based mainly on the votes of ruling New Democracy on Wednesday.
Albanian rule of law questioned over Beleri conviction
Following the Tuesday conviction of ethnic Greek mayor Fredi Beleri in Albania over alleged vote-buying, sources from within the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday expressed their concern over the rule of law in Albania and the objectivity of its justice system.
Dutch experts present flood protection proposals for Thessaly province
Dutch experts have presented their proposals to the Greek government regarding flood protection management in the central province of Thessaly following last year’s calamitous floods.
ATHEX: Dead heat for stocks in bourse
Stocks were evenly split between winners and losers at Wednesday’s session in the Greek bourse, though the benchmark recovered half of the ground it had lost on Tuesday, all in the context of the completion of Piraeus Bank’s share placement. This has absorbed a significant portion of the market’s liquidity, not only this week but also in the previous couple of weeks.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1233436/athex-dead-heat-for-stocks-in-bourse/
KATHIMERINI: The thriller of the visit to Odessa
TA NEA: Report by journalist Kostas Onisenko on the PM’s visit to Odessa and a Russian bombing which took place during the meeting with President Zelensky
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Parliament’s scientific committee exposes the government regarding the bill on private universities
AVGI: Hands down from the Constitution!
RIZOSPASTIS: Uprising demands the downvote of the bill on private universities
KONTRA NEWS: MItsotakis is placing Greece inside the war’s frame
DIMOKRATIA: Imprisonment for debts owed to the State
NAFTEMPORIKI: ‘Lie detectors’ for 700,000 closed apartments
PUTIN’S LATEST TWISTED HISTORY LESSON: Russia’s pseudo-historian-in-chief Vladimir Putin has delivered his latest BS history lesson, and this one (perhaps worryingly, given his track record) involves Belgium. According to Volodya, Belgium first “appeared on the world map as an independent state, largely thanks to Russia and Russia’s position.” Spoiler alert: The truth is almost exactly the opposite.
GOOD MORNING. Suzanne Lynch here, bringing you this morning’s Playbook on what’s shaping up to be a packed news day — well, outside Brussels at least. While the Belgian capital is struggling to wake up to spring, and bracing for (yet another) rail strike on Friday, most of the action is happening further afield.
In Frankfurt, the ECB Governing Council is convening for its interest rate decision. In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden is putting the finishing touches to his annual State of the Union address to Congress. And in Bucharest, a throng of EU commissioners, MEPs and prime ministers have flocked to a gathering of the European People’s Party.
Rounding out the week: Josh Posaner is in the Brussels Playbook hot seat Friday — be sure to reach out with any news or tips.
DRIVING THE DAY: ALL HAIL VDL
EPP TO BACK VDL: Europe’s biggest political grouping, the EPP, will formally endorse Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this afternoon at its congress in Bucharest, setting the stage for her likely return to the helm of the European Commission for a second five-year term.
Happy coronation day: Not since King Charles’ accession to the British throne has a succession path been so minutely planned. Since declaring her interest in serving as the EPP’s Spitzenkandidat in the European election, it’s been a one-horse race. Von der Leyen is due to give a victory speech after her coronation by EPP colleagues.
Under scrutiny: Nonetheless, the coming months will present a new challenge to the ultra-poised Commission president — for the first time she will have to campaign and present herself to the European public as the best person for the job (she was parachuted into the post back in 2019). It will be a new experience for von der Leyen, who is rarely seen out and about in Brussels beyond the 13th floor of the Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters, where she works and sleeps. Will she take a leaf from the books of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ECB chief Christine Lagarde and visit the Maison Antoine friterie in Place Jourdan to prove her street-cred?
Assessing Ursula: Whatever your view of her, von der Leyen has been one of the most influential and effective Commission presidents in EU history, tilting the delicate inter-institutional balance of power that underpins the EU firmly toward the Commission. From the Covid crisis to war on the Continent, von der Leyen has driven the EU’s direction and policy response at every step — in the process alienating many members of the European Council, who accuse her of executive overreach.
Playing nice: But now, in her quest to continue as Commission president, von der Leyen will need the support of member countries and the European Parliament. For a leader known for a top-down, closed approach to decision-making, it’s not natural terrain.
WORKING THE ROOM: My colleagues Eddy Wax and Sarah Wheaton are on the ground in Bucharest where they report that von der Leyen held 10-minute catch-ups with EPP leaders, in the gigantic Romexpo conference center, as she went through the motions ahead of her coronation. (As my colleagues point out, von der Leyen has done precisely zero campaigning to become the EPP’s lead candidate.)
Schmoozer-in-chief: At a dinner closed to journalists, von der Leyen was seen chatting to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and taking a selfie with former German MEP Elmar Brok (who told Playbook later that von der Leyen’s assistant had requested it).
Some resistance: It’s not a complete love-fest at Bucharest however. Former Slovenian PM and EPP member Janez Janša opposes von der Leyen’s nomination, while the French Republicans, who have slammed her as a technocratic lefty too close to President Emmanuel Macron, confirmed they’ll wield their 23 votes against her. But it won’t make a jot of difference to the final outcome.
Journalists protest: If you think the partisan sniping is bad, you should see the EPP congress press WhatsApp group, Sarah and Eddy report. Hangry reporters — some of whom had to give up their cigarette lighters, water bottles and hand sanitizer at the Romanian military-run security checkpoint — are taking their anger over slow WiFi out on the EPP comms team. “Come to the press room to hear people complaining all over the place,” one journo quipped.
NOW READ: Von der Leyen may be set for another go at the Commission top job. But what of the other big gigs, due to be doled out after June’s election? One man who had his eye on the role of president of the European Council was Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa. But as Aitor Hernández-Morales writes today, Costa is now facing his greatest political challenge — trying to move beyond a corruption scandal in time.
COMMISSIONERS ON TOUR
MIGRATION IN FOCUS: Not all members of the Commission are in Bucharest. Today, Home Affairs chief Ylva Johansson is in the West African country of Mauritania — a follow-up to von der Leyen’s visit there last month, along with Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Belgian State Secretary for Migration Nicole de Moor.
Background: Mauritania has become a flashpoint in the migration crisis, with thousands leaving the country’s shores in a bid to reach the Canary Islands, a gateway into the EU. More than 7,000 people reached the islands in boats in January alone, according to Spanish authorities. Just this Tuesday, four migrants were found dead and 64 rescued as they tried to make their way to the archipelago.
Details: Von der Leyen announced a €210 million financial package last month for the country — the latest effort by the EU to “partner” with (some would say “pay off”) third countries — as the EU seeks to tackle migration at its origin, following last year’s controversial Tunisia deal.
Geographic instability: As a relatively stable country in the troubled Sahel region, Mauritania matters. It receives thousands of refugees from neighboring war-torn countries, who then take to the seas in overloaded vessels.
Tackling the smugglers: Commissioner Johansson told Playbook that the EU will today sign a joint declaration with Mauritania — its latest effort to tackle the problem of migrant smuggling. “This is about saving lives. Mauritania has already done excellent work in disrupting the smugglers’ business model,” she said. “The presence today of the Spanish government and the Belgian presidency shows the strong and united commitment on the EU side.”
TACKLING DISINFORMATION: Also off campus today is Vice President Věra Jourová. She’s in Rome for the latest stop on her “democracy tour” (without the accompanying tour bus or Taylor Swift-style merchandise) as she seeks to warn countries about Russian propaganda ahead of this year’s EU election.
Uphill battle: While the Czech commissioner was pushing an open door during her visit to Finland last week, where resilience to disinformation is strong, it’s a different story in Italy where there is evidence that false narratives are breaking through. According to data from Meta and TikTok, Italy had more content removed from social media platforms than other European countries — 45,000 pieces of content on Facebook compared to 140,000 across the entire EU during a six-month period in 2023.
Kremlin warning: “The idea is to discuss and support member states ahead of elections, so we can better defend our democracies from disinformation, foreign interference, and other manipulation tools,” Jourová said ahead of the visit. “There is no doubt that the Kremlin is acting everywhere — including in Italy.”
**How should the sustainability and competitiveness agenda be balanced? Find out on March 18 as POLITICO Live organizes the panel discussion “Europe’s road to sustainable competitiveness”, moderated by our very own Sarah Wheaton. Register to watch the event online!**
BIDEN’S PRIME TIME MOMENT
(THE REAL) STATE OF THE UNION: Joe Biden will deliver his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress tonight. With a Biden-Trump rematch now on the cards following Nikki Haley’s exit from the presidential race after Super Tuesday, the stakes could not be higher.
Just so we’re clear: This is the original State of the Union address, rather than the EU’s copycat version that takes place each September in Strasbourg, the brainchild of former European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso.
Glitz and glamor: While most European citizens are blissfully unaware of the annual speech by the European Commission president that is delivered to a half-empty European Parliament chamber, in the U.S. it’s a glitzy affair. Central Washington shuts down as a wave of security paralyzes the city, while bars across the nation carry live coverage and analysis of the prime-time event.
What Europe wants: Any mention in the speech that indicates that Biden can win the election in November. Though Trump has his fans in Europe — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for one — most leaders on the Continent dread the return of a U.S. president who has threatened to withdraw support for NATO, sees the transatlantic alliance as a burden rather than a necessity, and rages against the norms of democratic governance.
Signals on Ukraine: Western officials are also hoping that Biden pushes lawmakers to finally get the long-stalled U.S. aid package to Ukraine over the line. As Dan Bloom, Nahal Toosi and Barbara Moens write, while it’s a truism that foreign policy rarely wins elections, Europe is seeking signs that America wants to take a leadership role in the world.
Awkward: Much of the buzz around the State of the Union address each year is the question of who gets a presidential invite. This year, Biden got a polite but firm “no” from two high-profile women — Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny. As POLITICO’s Veronika Melkozerova reports, there had been some concern in Kyiv about equating Ukraine’s plight with that of Navalny, despite the tragedy of his death.
NOW HEAR THIS: POLITICO’s Power Play podcast comes to you this week from Washington, where our global Editor-in-Chief John Harris and Senior Legal Affairs Reporter Josh Gerstein join host Anne McElvoy to reflect on the results of Super Tuesday and Biden’s State of the Union. Listen here.
MORE ON UKRAINE
ODESA BLAST: An explosion rocked the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Wednesday during a top-secret visit there by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, though the meeting between the two took place as planned. Nektaria Stamouli and Veronika Melkozerova have more.
WHY GERMANY’S UKRAINE POLICY IS INCOHERENT: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sown confusion and consternation across Europe for adopting contradictory positions on Ukraine, but there’s a method to his madness. Scholz is s driven by a deep-seated fear of Russia and a desire to be seen as a “peace chancellor,” writes Matthew Karnitschnig.
UKRAINE’S LONG ROAD TO JOIN THE EU: Brussels-based think tank Bruegel is out with a new paper this morning, assessing Ukraine’s progress in its quest to join the EU. The verdict? It will happen, but meeting EU membership criteria will be tough for the war-struck country.
Tough road: “Even before the war, Ukraine’s governance performance looked worse than that of other post-communist Central and Eastern European countries when they started their EU accession processes,” the authors write.
The details: Bruegel puts the annual cost of Ukraine’s integration into the EU, based on current rules, at 0.13 percent of the EU’s GDP. It also advocates “progressive integration” of the country into the EU, which would see Ukraine and the bloc cooperate in areas such as energy and decarbonization.
IN OTHER NEWS
INTEREST RATE DAY: Christine Lagarde and the Governing Council of the eurozone’s central bank will meet today to set interest rates for the euro area. But borrowers should keep the Champagne on ice for now — all signs are that the ECB won’t start cutting just yet. Recent data shows inflation remains stubbornly high, bolstering the argument that the bank should stay the course right now. In an interview with POLITICO last month, Austrian National Bank Governor Robert Holzmann said there won’t be serious discussion of a cut until June, and that even then, nothing is certain.
GAZA DIVISIONS: A discussion among EU ambassadors on Wednesday on draft language, obtained by POLITICO’s Giorgio Leali, showed — yet again — divisions between EU countries on the Middle East. Council President Charles Michel is pushing for the 27 EU leaders to agree common language on the war at their next meeting on March 21-22.
Not so fast: Several countries, including Austria and the Czech Republic, stressed the text should include Israel’s right to self-defense, four EU diplomats told Barbara Moens and Jacopo Barigazzi. The current text only condemns the Hamas attacks on October 7 and stresses that all hostages “must be released without any precondition.” EU diplomats are also expecting Hungary, which was the only EU country to refuse to sign up to a statement on Israel/Gaza last month, to be the main blocker on this issue.
BRNABIĆ TO STEP DOWN: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced the country’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabić will step down from her role and instead become the parliamentary speaker. Bloomberg has a write-up.
ATTEMPT TO RESCUE BUSINESS SUPPLY CHAIN RULES: Industryministers are today discussing a watered-down version of the business supply chain oversight rules, in a final bid to rally support from skeptical countries. A new compromise from the Belgian presidency proposes the rules only apply to companies with 1,000 employees or more and with annual sales of over €300 million. Antonia Zimmermann has more for Pro subscribers here.
DMA DOWNLOAD: How will the EU’s Digital Market Act change your tech? Edith Hancock explains how your phones, laptops and social media apps are about to look different.
FARMER ANGER: European farmers say they’re being screwed by Big Food. Is a price floor for produce the answer? Giorgio Leali and Alessandro Ford head to a sheep farm to find out.