Orbán criticizes EU jobs management at highest levels, Meloni remains silent

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In today’s Capitals news:

ROME

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán objects to the way majority countries are handling discussions on the distribution of the EU’s top posts, adding that it excludes others, according to comments made at a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who, for her part, remained silent. . Learn more.

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PARIS

Far-right leader Bardella unveils his immigration program before the snap elections. The president of the National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, confirmed on Monday his intention to abolish the right of French soil, the right of birth to citizenship, and to restrict the Schengen area to EU citizens only after the early elections. Learn more.

As the French legislative elections approach, unions and employers are making their voices heard. As the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7 approach, French unions are divided on the strategy to adopt in the face of the rise of the far-right National Rally (RN), while large employers seem wary of promises made by the left and the right. Learn more.

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BERLIN | WARSAW | PARIS

Germany and Poland warn of French far-right threat to support for Ukraine. German and Polish defense ministers, meeting on Monday for talks with their French counterparts, warned of the risks of a French government coalition with the far right and stressed that support for Ukraine was not “not open to debate”. Learn more.

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BERLIN

Germans Scholz and Habeck are pinning their hopes on EU-China negotiations to avoid a trade war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday expressed hope that European and Chinese negotiators will reach an agreement on electric vehicle (EV) tariffs before July 4 – the day when European taxes on Chinese automakers are expected to take effect . Learn more.

Germany wants the next Commission to pursue a “Europe-only” free trade program. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the next European Commission should conclude more free trade agreements (FTAs) with third countries, even without requiring unanimous consensus among EU member states. Learn more.

UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

Ireland to appoint Finance Minister McGrath to the European Commission. The leaders of Ireland’s three ruling parties agreed on Monday (June 24) to appoint Finance Minister Michael McGrath as the country’s representative to the European Commission, a source close to the matter told Reuters. Learn more.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

MADRID

The Spaniard Díaz wants the new Commission to have the social economy portfolio. The next European Commission should have a commissioner in charge of the social economy portfolio, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister and Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz said on Monday. Learn more.

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LISBON

António Costa for the EU Council “still on the table”: Portuguese minister. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said on Monday that António Costa’s candidacy for European Council presidency was still on the table, but warned that work must continue until this week’s meeting. Learn more.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Jourová says citizens have given the EU’s green policies a “yellow card”. The Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, believes that voters in the last European elections gave a yellow card to EU policies, particularly on climate. Learn more.

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WARSAW

Poland’s Duda wants more balanced trade with China as Brussels discusses customs tariffs. Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed hope during a visit to Beijing on Monday that his country could increase exports to China, just as the EU prepares to begin negotiations with Beijing over tariffs. customs duties that it threatens to impose on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Learn more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian drug lord convicted in three EU countries surrenders. International crime boss Evelin “Brendo” Banev, convicted of cocaine trafficking and money laundering in Bulgaria, Romania and Italy, voluntarily surrendered to Bulgarian authorities on Monday morning, with border police investigating the manner in which he entered the country. Learn more.

AGENDA:

EU: The General Affairs Council meets to discuss the Directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries, the Article 7 procedure regarding Hungary, and more; On the sidelines of the GAC meeting, accession conferences with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro are planned;

Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni delivers closing speech at the 3rd G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) meeting;

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen participates in the annual meeting of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Advisory Board;

Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, meets with President of the European Investment Bank, Nadia Calviño;

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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Liene LusiteSofia Mandilara)

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