Good morning from Brussels,

The issue of Iran’s attack on Israel is set to be the main talking point of the week as fears of escalation continue to grow in the West. 

But in the wake of the attack, which Israel thwarted due to its air defence system and assistance from allies such as France and the UK, Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák (STAN, EPP) called out the disparity between the help given to Israel and that given to Ukraine.

Dvořák said it was a "pity" that the same vigour was not applied by allies to defending Ukrainian airspace. Aneta Zachová has the story.

Meanwhile, the bloc’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell declared on Sunday that in addition to the 17-18 April summit devoted to the bloc's long-term global competitiveness, EU foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday (16 April) to discuss the unfolding crisis. 

He cautioned that the EU 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, Fernando Heller reports.

Doubling down on climate action and social justice, restoring trust in European democracy, and "Green diplomacy": This is the vision set out by Spanish Vice-President and Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera, the frontrunner to become Spain's next commissioner in Brussels, in an exclusive interview for Euractiv.

Regarding the EU's green efforts, member states adopted the controversial EU buildings directive on Friday (12 April), Niko Kurmayer reports.

This law paves the way for national renovation plans amid cheers from the wider energy efficiency industry but much to NGOs' dismay.

Today's edition is powered by Cosmetics Europe

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.

///

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.

ROME

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. 

///

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.

///

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.

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.

SOFIA

Famous pro-Russian journalist asked to join EU election race. Bulgarian National Radio journalist Petar Volgin, known for his pro-Russian positions, has been asked by the party structure of the pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane to stand in the European elections. Read more.

///

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.

• 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;

***

[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Liene Lūsīte, Alice Taylor]