The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by Euractiv’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

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The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by Euractiv.

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In today’s news from The Capitals:

PRAGUE

Czech politicians say Ukraine should get same support as Israel after Iran strike. Ukraine’s situation warrants a coordinated international response similar to that received by Israel in the wake of Iranian drone and missile strikes, some Czech officials who expressed support for Israel said. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Borrell: EU working to avoid conflict that would “make people forget suffering in Gaza”. The response to Iran’s attack on Israel should not lead to a large-scale regional conflict that would make people forget about suffering in Gaza, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said in an interview with Spanish TV Antena 3 on Sunday. Read more.

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BERLIN

Scholz warns Iran against further escalating conflict with Israel. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged his support to Israel after the country got hit by several missiles from Iran and warned Teheran against any further attacks. Read more.

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PARIS

Macron condemns Iran’s attack on Israel, works towards ‘de-escalation.’ French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Iranian air attack on Israel, saying on Sunday that France was working to de-escalate the situation a few hours before meeting with the G7 group. Read more.

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EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Meloni trying to hide growing public debt figures ahead of EU elections, economist says. The absence of programmatic data in the latest economic and financial document could indicate the Italian government’s unwillingness to acknowledge rising public debt before the European elections in June, former IMF director and former Senate member Carlo Cottarelli told Euractiv Italy. Read more.

European Commission defends Italian fiscal policy despite country’s economic struggles. The European Commission defended its four-out-of-five star rating for Italy’s COVID relief plan, known as the “super bonus” tax scheme, to Euractiv Italy, despite recent data detailing the fiscal policy’s staggering cost to the Italian state. Read more.

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MADRID

Ribera floated as Sánchez’s top candidate in EU election race. Spanish Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera could be the lead candidate for the EU election list of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D), according to information from insiders, though a final decision will be taken at the end of April. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal’s New PM visits Madrid, Middle East high on agenda. The visit to Madrid by Portugal’s new Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Monday reflects the importance he attaches to relations between Portugal and Spain but will feature Middle Eastern issues high on the agenda. Read more.

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EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Former Polish PM regrets restricting abortion laws. Former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the former ruling conservative PiS party has said he supports restoring the status quo ‘abortion compromise’ in Poland he had scrapped when in power, as lawmakers push to expand abortion access. Read more.

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NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

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ZAGREB

Croatia parliamentary election pits PM against president. Croatia heads to the polls on Wednesday for parliamentary elections that have centred around a bitter fight between the country’s longtime rivals — Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović. Read more.

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AGENDA:

• EU: Informal meeting of energy ministers expected to focus on a coordinated grid planning, financing and de-risking sustainable infrastructure investments, and more;
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell participates in International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its neighbours, in Paris; Meets with Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti Mahmoud Ali Youssouf;
• Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová in Athens: meets with representatives of the Government Media Task Force, stakeholders and representatives of Civil Society Organizations;
• Vice President Margaritis Schinas participates in signing ceremony of the Olympic Truce Declaration, in ancient Olympia, Greece;
• Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson holds meeting with Ukrainian Minister of Energy German Galushchenko;
• Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn hosts President of the European Economic and Social Committee Oliver Röpke; Meets with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Waleed Al Khereji;
• Greece: “Our Ocean” international conference takes place in Athens;
• Brazil: Web Summit 2024 takes place in Rio de Janeiro;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Liene Lūsīte, Olivia Gyapong, Sofia Mandilara]

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