France, Germany face EU isolation in platform work directive

Good morning from Brussels,

EU countries adopted the platform work directive at a meeting of the bloc’s labour ministers on Monday after Estonia and Greece, which had abstained in the past, voted in favour “in the spirit of compromise”.

However, according to Euractiv’s Théo Bourgery-Gonse, the vote isolated Germany and France, the EU’s two largest countries.

Read the full story here.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, Germany’s centre-right CDU and its Bavarian sister party CSU, insisted on reversing the controversial phase-out of internal combustion engine cars by 2035, contrary to the will of their EU political family (EPP).

The European Commission is expected to recommend on Tuesday that Bosnia and Herzegovina start accession talks as a part of its path to European Union membership, according to people familiar with the matter, writes Alexandra Brzozowski.
Meanwhile, the EU’s new fiscal rules will require a reduction in net government spending next year. However, critical investment needs will remain paramount, Eurozone finance ministers said on Monday.

On the rule of law front, the European Parliament's legal affairs committee voted on Monday to move forward with a lawsuit against the European Commission for unfreezing €10.2 billion for Hungary over the rule of law concerns, and it is now up to the Parliament's President, Roberta Metsola, to initiate the proceedings.

However, the lawsuit´s prospects in court are "very weak" and rather a political stunt, Parliament vice-president and German socialist leader Katarina Barley said in January.
Last but not least, listen to today's podcast "NATO new era: Who’s fit for its top job?"

BERLIN

German liberals send defence expert into tripartite EU election leadership team. The European liberals’ three-person lead candidate team will include the German defence policy expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann on behalf of ALDE, her party has announced. Read more.

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PARIS

Macron defends strict conditions of ‘French-style’ model for assisted dying. A ‘French-style’ bill on assisted dying will be presented to France’s Council of Ministers in April, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in an interview on Sunday, underlining that it will function differently from similar laws in other EU countries. Read more.

STOCKHOLM

Sweden makes it ‘home’ as flag hoisted at NATO headquarters. Two years after Sweden applied to join NATO, its flag was raised at the military alliance’s headquarters on Monday, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson saying, “We have come home”. Read more.

ROME

The ideological gap between Italian Prime Minister and Fratelli d’Italia leader Giorgia Meloni (ECR) and her coalition partner Lega leader Matteo Salvini (ID) continues to widen, notably over their global allegiances and the upcoming US and EU elections. Read more.
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LISBON

Portugal’s outgoing finance minister hopeful new government will maintain stability. Financial rating agencies have no reason to worry about Portugal’s future financial stability, outgoing Finance Minister Fernando Medina said on Monday, as he expressed hope that the centre-right Democratic Alliance, which won a narrow victory in Sunday’s elections, would maintain its “commitment” to keeping the country’s finances stable. Read more.

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MADRID

EU’s Johansson dismisses need to reform Frontex. There is no need to reform the EU’s border and coastguard agency known as Frontex, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Monday in Madrid, despite years of scandals, criticisms, and allegations of inaction, complicity in illegal pushbacks, and other issues related to rescuing or protecting migrants. Read more.

WARSAW

Polish FM acknowledges NATO presence in Ukraine, Kremlin responds. After the Polish foreign minister stated that NATO forces are present in Ukraine, the Kremlin responded by stating it would be ‘pointless’ to deny the fact. Read more.

PRISTINA

The Post Office Bank of Serbia has opened four makeshift bank branches, Jarinje, Bernjak, Konculj, and Merdare border crossing points, where it says Kosovo Serbs can withdraw payments from the Serbian government, such as salaries and pensions, in dinar. Read more.

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SOFIA

‘Yes, Bulgaria’ party to apply for membership in EPP. The Yes, Bulgaria party, a key part of the ruling majority in the country, has decided to apply for membership of the European People’s Party (EPP). Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania’s ex-PM tops REPER’s EU candidate list. Former prime minister and leader of the Renew Europe group Dacian Cioloș will head REPER’s EU election list, followed by party co-presidents Ramona Strugariu and Dragoș Pîslaru. Read more.

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ZAGREB

EPPO’s Chief Laura Kövesi becomes hot topic in Croatian election campaign. EU Prosecutor Laura Kövesi has become one of the hot topics in the Croatian election campaign due to the latest dispute between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Andrej Plenković’s government. Read more.

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson]