Good morning from Strasbourg, Brussels

All eyes are on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D), the EU socialists’ ‘star‘, who will decide next Monday whether to resign after a court opened a preliminary investigation against his wife over allegations of corruption.

While the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is still fuming with Sánchez after their PP party won the last elections but failed to form a government, a potential resignation could also impact their EU candidate Ursula von der Leyen.  

Read the full story by Max Griera who spoke to the European Socialists (PES) lead candidate, Nicolas Schmit, as well as EPP Secretary General Thanasis Bakolas. 

Meanwhile, the new European Parliament formation after the EU elections in June could contain a few surprises. 

Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht, Germany’s youngest left party, has enough support to create and lead a new group in the European Parliament after the June elections, lead candidate Fabio De Masi confirmed on Wednesday, opening the door to “progressive forces” in a break with traditional left-wing dynamics. Reporting from Strasbourg, Nick Alipour has all the details.

The European Parliament voted by a large majority on Wednesday to approve new rules to reduce packaging waste, partly by promoting the reuse and recycling of certain packaging types. Euractiv’s Nathan Canas has the story.

Meanwhile, take a look at some other votes on EU policy files that took place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg:

On health matters, the European Parliament adopted the European Health Data Space Regulation, which willfacilitate access to cross-border medical data, while also greenlighted the EU directive on combatting violence against women. 

When it comes to agriculture, EU lawmakers approved the so-called “simplification package” to relax the environmental requirements for payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as well as the seed marketing rules for conservation efforts.

On economy, the European House overwhelmingly approved a watered-down version of the EU’s long-awaited platform work directive, ending two years of intense negotiations.

Anti-harassment training: The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) groups at the European Parliament voted against a proposal to introduce mandatory anti-harassment training for parliamentarians. 

Last but not least, at a Paris event, a Commission official revealed key details of the content and shape of the upcoming EU Space Law, while in Brussels, the EU Commission launched an investigation into Chinese discrimination against European companies in the public procurement market for medical devices.

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PARIS

French socialists’ lead candidate Raphaël Glucksmann set out his vision for the future of the EU at a political rally in Strasbourg on Wednesday, hoping to establish himself as the only credible left-wing force ahead of June’s EU elections. Read more.

Le Pen’s No.3 in EU race accused of complicity in crimes against humanity, torture. Two NGOs are accusing Fabrice Leggeri, the former director of the EU border agency Frontex turned candidate for the French far-right Rassemblement National party, of being complicit in crimes against humanity and the torture of migrants, in a complaint filed with the courts on Tuesday. Read more.

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BERLIN

Far-right EU lead candidate Krah probed by German prosecution. Shortly after the leadership of the German far-right AfD party reconfirmed Maximilian Krah as their lead EU candidate despite the arrest of his aide on espionage charges, new media reports have revealed that the authorities are looking into Krah himself. Read more.

Germany, UK look past tensions to strengthen post-Brexit defence collaboration. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the joint development of a new artillery system on Wednesday, underlining the urgency of close collaboration on European security despite Brexit. Read more.

ROME 

Italy’s new law giving pro-lifers access to abortion clinics stirs debate. Anti-abortion groups were granted access to facilities where women can terminate pregnancies following a vote from Italian senators on Tuesday, reigniting a debate on abortion despite Italy legalising the procedure 46 years ago. Read more.

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MADRID

Sánchez’s government faces another difficult reshuffle. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will likely be forced into another difficult government reshuffle, as Ecological Transition Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera was appointed to lead his socialist party’s list for the European elections. Read more. 

WARSAW

Polish President Andrzej Duda has urged other NATO countries to increase their respective defence spending to 3% of GDP, arguing that the security situation has changed and previous decade-old agreements lack ambition. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico government OKs law to overhaul Slovak public broadcaster. The government of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico approved a controversial law aiming to tighten state control over public service broadcaster RTVS on Wednesday – a move that critics say is still a threat to media freedom in Slovakia, despite minor changes to the final proposal. Read more.

SOFIA

Three parties neck-and-neck in race for second spot in Bulgarian elections. The battle for second place in Bulgaria’s upcoming early parliamentary elections in June will be tough, with the pro-European coalition of We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), the party of the Turkish minority DPS, and the pro-Russian nationalist Vazrazhdane party appearing to be close, while GERB, the party of long-ruling ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov remains far ahead in top spot. Read more.

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SKOPJE

North Macedonia nationalist rides high in first round of presidential election. North Macedonia’s nationalist candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova claimed victory in the first round of presidential elections on Wednesday (24 April) — the first in a series of votes that could decide whether the Balkan country will join the European Union. Read more.

• EU: Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers opening keynote speech at 4th “WindWorks. Connecting Industries” energy conference;
• Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski holds meetings with Chinese Minister of Agriculture & Rural Affairs Tang Renjian, Commissioner of the Chinese National Intellectual Property Agency Shen Changyu, in Beijing;
• Equality Commissioner
• Helena Dalli delivers keynote speech on the occasion of “Diversity Month and European Capitals of Inclusion”;
• Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, in Gaziantep, Türkiye, visits earthquake affected areas benefiting from EUSF support;
• Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson addresses debate on Talent Mobility Package, hosted by European Economic and Social Committee (EESC);
• Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova meets Minister of Industry and Technology of Türkiye Mehmet Fatih Kacır, in Istanbul; Participates in 2nd EU-Türkiye high level Science, Research, Technology and Innovation Dialogue;
• Parliament’s plenary session votes on Interinstitutional Body for Ethical Standards, advance passenger information, new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union, and more;

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