Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his European tour with a meeting with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima in The Hague. His six-day itinerary includes discussions on trade and innovation with Dutch leaders and will feature upcoming meetings with Swedish and Italian officials, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.

EU DEVELOPMENTS

This morning, Europe focuses on heightened diplomatic tensions and economic reforms amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges.
Key discussions unfold regarding regional security and trade policies.

The Spanish government is addressing allegations regarding the use of EU pandemic funds, firmly denying misuse of European Recovery and Resilience Facility money for pensions. Amidst ongoing political pressure, officials assert that Madrid has followed proper procedures, insisting that not a single euro has been misappropriated.

Norway’s foreign ministry has revoked export licences for naval missile systems intended for Malaysia, blocking the delivery of the Naval Strike Missile. This decision, part of increased oversight on sensitive technology, has raised concerns from Malaysian officials about its impact on confidence in European defence suppliers.

Hundreds of road surfaces in western Hungary, including the Oladi plateau in Szombathely, may be contaminated with asbestos due to stones sourced from Austrian mines. Environment Minister László Gajdos will present the issue to the government on Monday as officials assess contamination risks across three counties.

European governments are keen to collaborate with ICEYE, a Finnish space company specialising in mini satellites. These high-resolution radar satellites provide critical Earth observation and military reconnaissance capabilities, reinforcing national sovereignty for allied nations.