1,200 migrants detained in three days as arrivals from Libya surge
Authorities say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya. The coast guard said multiple boats were intercepted off Crete’s southern coast since Saturday, prompting regional officials to request additional government assistance.
European prosecutor seeks indictment of 13 in OPEKEPE subsidy fraud case
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the indictment of 13 individuals in connection with a subsidy fraud case involving the Greek agricultural payments agency OPEKEPE in the Fthiotida region.
Two crew killed in another attack on Greek-owned ship in Red Sea
A second attack on a Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier in the Red Sea in 24 hours has left two dead and two injured among the crew. Sources said the ship was sailing 50 nautical miles west of the Yemeni capital, which is controlled by the Houthi rebel movement. The vessel, Eternity C, was attacked with sea drones and skiffs off the port of Hodeidah, its Piraeus-based manager Cosmoship management told Reuters.
Former transport minister denies wrongdoing in deadly Tempe train crash
Former transport minister Kostas A. Karamanlis on Monday denied any wrongdoing in connection with the Tempe train disaster, rejecting allegations of dereliction of duty “or any other criminal offense.”
ATHEX: Mixed session keeps index in the black
The Greek stock market is gradually winding down to summer mode, with mixed sessions, smaller trading activity and less excitement – barring any major developments that can have an effect – with turnover slumping and stocks appearing to lack a specific direction on the first Monday of July.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1274618/athex-mixed-session-keeps-index-in-the-black
KATHIMERINI: Libya is following the Erdogan model regarding migrant flows
TA NEA: Asset transfers blocked: Nightmarish deviations for houses and offices
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: The prepaid card for 15 state benefits is illegal
RIZOSPASTIS: The bill for a 13-hour workday is a casus belli
KONTRA NEWS: The slave boats of Haftar are landing on Crete
DIMOKRATIA: Asphyxiation in Crete due to the arrival of boats filled with migrants
NAFTEMPORIKI: Regulated debts owed to social security fund EFKA have been lost
DRIVING THE DAY: TRADE VERDICT
TRUMP OFFERS EU 10 PERCENT TARIFFS: At what was described as a somber meeting Monday evening, EU ambassadors took stock of the latest trade offer from the White House: 10 percent baseline tariffs.
Compared to earlier threats of 50 percent, it’s good news. Likewise, the EU seems to have avoided getting one of the dreaded “letters” from Trump informing them of even harsher tariffs. Japan and South Korea weren’t so lucky — they were informed that they’ll have a 25 percent rate kick in on Aug. 1.
**A message from The Value of Biosolutions: What could a booming biosolutions sector mean for Europe? By 2035, the biosolutions sector could create more than 600,000 jobs and unlock hundreds of billions in growth, driving European competitiveness and economic resilience. But it requires a fit-for-purpose policy framework to make it happen. A new report unpacks it all.**
But still, the choice for Brussels is a tough one, report my colleagues Camille Gijs and Koen Verhelst: accept asymmetry in its dealings with Washington or face further unpredictability.
Expected exemptions: Aircraft and spirits could be left off the list. Other politically sensitive sectors like cars, steel and aluminum or pharmaceuticals? Not so much.
Then again, who really even knows?! The Commission apparently hasn’t received any guarantees from the U.S. administration that there wouldn’t be further U-turns on tariffs. Read the full article.
WHO DO YOU CALL IF YOU WANT TO CALL BRUSSELS? Bjoern Seibert, of course — assuming you know he exists. As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s right-hand man, Seibert is the ultimate behind-the-scenes Brussels power-broker. He’s now tasked with figuring out how to keep the Commission on Trump’s good side, all while inspiring increasing fear here in Brussels. Nick Vinocur, Max Griera and Nette Nöstlinger have this must-read profile.
PARLIAMENT’S GOT BEEF
TIPPING POINT FOR PARLIAMENT NORMALCY: The polarization that’s been plaguing national capitals — causing gridlock in Washington, Paris, Berlin — has finally hit genteel, consensus-driven, never-disagree-in-public Brussels.
What we can confidently say about Monday’s no-confidence debate: The debate over whether to censure Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demonstrated lawmakers are angry — at her, and at each other, in ways that seem to transcend policy disagreements.
In a rare, full-throated defense of her record, von der Leyen cast the lawmakers who instigated the no-confidence vote as puppets of Vladimir Putin. While she allowed that some MEPs might have legit complaints, she made no offer to change her approach, instead making a pitch for unity against external threats like Trump tariffs and Russian tanks.
Circular firing squad: But while the debate was supposed to be about von der Leyen, political group leaders often went after each other. The European People’s Party’s Manfred Weber, the head of von der Leyen’s political family in the Parliament, came in for particularly heavy fire from the centrist and left-leaning MEPs.
As they see it, they made a deal with von der Leyen to give her a second term— and she’s standing by while Weber undermines it by working with the far right to roll back climate policies and block ethics reforms. “Please put your own political house in order,” Renew chief Valérie Hayer implored von der Leyen. “Get a grip,” Hayer continued, “so that we can work together with you to achieve what we jointly wish to achieve.”
SOCIALISTS’ MOMENT OF TRUTH: The no-confidence vote — much to the chagrin of some hard-right leaders — is giving fresh leverage to the center left. How well they’ll use it is the big question.
Iratxe’s last stand: Iratxe García, leader of the Socialists and Democrats, as she wrapped up her own excoriation of Weber and turned her focus to the Commission president, asked: “Do you want to go in with those who want to destroy Europe, or those of us who fight every day to build it?”
Ultimatum: “Respect the legislative agreement,” Garcia continued. “Respect your word. And if you betray it once again, be clear that Social Democracy will lead the resistance.”
SPD on the fence: While S&D members won’t vote in favor of the censure, German Socialists are seriously considering abstaining. “We will decide on Wednesday but it is an option,” delegation chief René Repasi told Max Griera.
VDL’S STEALTH REBUTTAL: While most of her speech was about the “illiberal” forces spreading “a lie” about how the coronavirus vaccine contracts came about, von der Leyen also delivered a subtle retort to allies frustrated by her rightward turn: elections have consequences.
What she said: As voters embrace populists, “the answer can never be to complain about how people voted,” von der Leyen said. “It must always be to show that we understand and that we will address their legitimate concerns. And this is what this Commission and this Parliament has been laser-focused on doing.”
What she meant: Don’t blame me or Manfred. We’re only cutting green rules, scrutinizing NGOs and cracking down on migrants because voters seem to be into that.
WHY IT GOT SO NASTY: Monday’s debate was Sayre’s law in action, ex-Renew MEP Karen Melchior mused to Playbook. Given it’s extremely unlikely this Commission will actually fall, the intensity of feeling in the debate seems to be inversely proportional to what’s at stake.
Missed opportunity: Von der Leyen offered no mea culpas or commitments to better involve the Parliament going forward, Melchior observed. “Promises for an improved inter-institutional modus operandi could have been included as part of making the motion for censure fall,” added Melchior, now an adviser at the CEPS think tank. “It does not seem that this will be the case,” she said — adding that convincing the EPP to re-impose a firewall against the far right also seemed unlikely.
NOW READ THIS … 13 things we learned from von der Leyen’s EU no-confidence debate.
PLAYBOOK PLAYLIST
THE DEBATE IN POP MUSIC: You can relive the epic quarrel that could bring down the Parliament’s historic, pro-European grand coalition via our live blog — or make a breakup song playlist.
EPP leader Manfred Weber
— Song: “Relationships,” by Haim: I think I’m in love, but I can’t stand [f-ing] relationships
— Real quote: The EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens “have a platform, but not a coalition.”
S&D leader Iratxe García
— Song: “Ironic,” by Alanis Morissette: And isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?
— Real quote: “Mr Weber, it’s rather ironic that you have been spending a year trying to defend pro-European groups, that ECR is a pro-European group and now a member of the ECR has stood up here to defend a motion of censor in the European Commission.”
— Song: “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins: Take a good look at me now/ ‘Cause I’ll still be standin’ here
— Real quote: “Ms. von der Leyen, don’t look the other way.”
— Song: “Before He Cheats,” by Carrie Underwood: Cause I dug my key into the side/Of his pretty little souped up four-wheel drive/Carved my name into his leather seats … Oh, maybe next time, he’ll think before he cheats
— Real quote: “Respect your word. And if you betray it once again, be clear that Social Democracy will lead the resistance.”
Renew leader Valérie Hayer
— Song: “Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls”: Let’s keep this party polite/Never get out of my sight/Stick me with me baby, I’m the fella you came in with/Luck, be a lady tonight
— Real quote: “We’ve defended the majority that put you in place on a pro-European basis and now there’s a problem … I’m terribly sorry, but don’t take anything for granted.”
Greens co-leader Bas Eickhout
— Song: “Wild World” by Yusuf/Cat Stevens: But if you wanna leave, take good care/Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there/But just remember there’s a lot of bad and beware
— Real quote: By forming “new majorities” with “extremists … You are feeding that beast. And at a certain moment, the beast will eat you.”
ECR co-leader Nicola Procaccini
— Song: “Pinky and the Brain” theme: PINKY: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”/THE BRAIN: “The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world.”
— Real quote: “Unfortunately, some people like to lose, both at home and here. I don’t know. We will not stop winning. Building majorities on the content and not on prejudice. This is our moment and we will not waste it.”
RULE OF LAW
COMPETITIVENESS COMES TO THE RULE OF LAW REPORT: Brussels’ annual report card on capitals’ legal accountability — due out today — is factoring in a very on-trend element this year: support for the single market.
What that means in practice: Country-by-country chapters will delve into things like how well courts and judges have necessary specializations to “handle commercial cases, measures to prevent corruption in public procurement, transparent funding for the media and the stable regulatory environment necessary for business to operate in predictable conditions,” said Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath in a statement to Playbook.
Hungary, Italy and Slovakia came in for particular criticism in last year’s report, which had an unofficial emphasis on press protections just before the Media Freedom Act kicked in.
Laying down the law: This is McGrath’s first time overseeing the report, which details how some “systemic concerns remain and in a few cases the situation has further deteriorated,” he said in his statement. While the report is meant to kick off a “dialogue,” he continued, that must “lead to results.”
“I am ready to use all tools, including infringement proceedings, to ensure the rule of law is upheld across our Union,” McGrath warned. He’ll unveil the report with EVP Henna Virkkunen after the College meeting this afternoon.
ON THE FRONT LINES
U.S. ARMS FOR UKRAINE: Halted shipments of some American military aid to Kyiv could resume after a series of high-level meetings in Italy and Ukraine over the coming week, people familiar with the planning told my Stateside colleagues.
Speaking to reporters last night, Trump confirmed more aid would be sent but didn’t offer specifics. “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now.”
Key meetings: Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg will meet with Kyiv’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Rome at the Ukraine Recovery Conference July 10-11, followed by a meeting in Kyiv. These meetings could be the key to resuming some of the aid, which POLITICO first reported were paused earlier this month.
Good call: Trump discussed the aid pause on a call Friday with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian president said was “probably the best conversation we have had.” The Wall Street Journal reports Trump told Zelenskyy he wasn’t responsible for the weapons holdup.
Bad call: The Trump-Zelenskyy call came a day after Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin — a conversation Trump indicated didn’t go well.
TRUMP-NETANYAHU MEETING: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in the White House on Monday (and told him he’d nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize). There was little sign of a Gaza breakthrough, with Netanyahu saying he wanted peace with Palestinians — but that a potential Palestinian state would be used as a platform to destroy Israel.
“Getting close”: Netanyahu said the U.S. and Israel were “getting close to finding several countries” that would give Palestinians a “better future.” The Israeli PM said: “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave.” Reuters has a write-up.
Meanwhile, back in Israel: Haaretz and the Times of Israel reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to draw up plans to relocate more than 600,000 displaced Palestinians to the southern Gaza Strip, on the ruins of Rafah.
IN OTHER NEWS
DONOHOE SECURES 3RD TERM AS EUROGROUP PRESIDENT: Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe won a third term at the helm of the Eurogroup after Spain’s Carlos Cuerpo and Lithuania’s Rimantas Šadžius dropped out of the race at the 11th hour.
MACRON IN LONDON: French President Emmanuel Macron is in the U.K. for a state visit today, aiming to demonstrate that Franco-British relations are back on track. Esther Webber and Clea Caulcutt tee up the trip … and Clea has this fun piece on (an imaginary) Macron’s top tips for Keir Starmer on crushing a right-wing insurgency.
GERMAN FAR RIGHT INSPIRED BY THE TRUMP PLAYBOOK: The Alternative for Germany party has a simple plan for gaining power: use the far left as a foil and deepen the country’s partisan divisions. It’s a strategy that appears to be inspired by Trump’s success in the U.S., report James Angelos, Pauline von Pezold and Nette Nöstlinger.