EU

Romania is poised to forfeit €770 million in EU funds after failing to agree on a public-sector salary law by the 31 August deadline, jeopardising its post-pandemic recovery plan. The European Commission will assess the impact during the final payment request review due by the end of September.

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Dominique de Villepin, a former French prime minister, is poised to enter the 2027 presidential race, confirming his candidacy “once the election campaign has begun.” He dismisses participating in a primary as “the latest gimmick for the desperate,” while Olivier Faure plans to announce his entry into the Socialist Party’s primary.

Iceland has voted against resuming European Union membership talks, with 52.8% rejecting the proposal. This decision reflects a mix of relief and disappointment among the populace, as Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir committed to respecting the result, highlighting the importance of the high voter turnout.

Spain has seen nearly 1.2 million undocumented migrants apply for legal status under a recent initiative launched by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The scheme, open since April, contrasts sharply with measures taken across Europe amid increasing far-right pressures. Of the applications, 67% are from Latin America.

During the inaugural ceremony of Ireland’s EU Council presidency, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Ukraine has fulfilled all requirements to advance its EU accession negotiations. Despite this, Hungary’s Prime Minister raised concerns, casting doubt on rapid progress, while relations with Poland have strained over historical issues linked to Ukraine’s military unit naming.

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza reported productive talks in Cyprus aimed at alleviating humanitarian suffering and planning reconstruction efforts following the conflict. The committee expressed commitment to a US-backed plan and stressed the need for transparency in managing international aid, though no specific timeline was provided.

The European People’s Party (EPP) has called on Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to recalibrate the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) by extending free pollution allowances for heavy industry beyond 2030. The EPP insists that protecting Europe’s manufacturing base must align with emissions reductions.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is conducting raids in four countries to investigate alleged misappropriation of EU funds by the former far-right Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament. The probe centres on the misuse of €4.3 million between 2019 and 2024.

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