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In today’s news from The Capitals:
ROME
The recent suspension of US tariffs on European industrial products has created a narrow but significant diplomatic window – one that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is swiftly moving to occupy as she prepares for her meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington on 17 April. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
BERLIN
Germany's coalition deal is heavy on details, but mum on ministers. Germany's next government has a coalition pact, now the two parties just have to firm up the key names for top ministerial posts. Read more.
Berlin pledges power price cuts to boost industry and competitiveness. Germany's coalition partners have pledged to bring down the country’s stalling electricity prices - a move long demanded by industries and politicians worried about the country’s global competitiveness - with a mix of lowering electricity tax, grid fees and levies and subsidising electricity for its power-hungry industries. Read more.
Germany's obsession with 'white gold' is getting a lot more expensive. Labour costs, competition from its green twin and rising imports are driving up the price of Germany's favourite vegetable, threatening to turn the spring staple into one for the rich. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
COPENHAGEN
Denmark sounds alarm on security risks in new national threat report. Denmark is facing its most serious risk landscape since World War Two, according to the country's newly unveiled 2025 National Risk Assessment.
"The threat picture is the gravest we’ve seen in generations," said Civil Security Minister Torsten Schack Pedersen at a press conference in Copenhagen.
While a direct military attack is unlikely, threats like cyberattacks, sabotage, and extreme weather are expected to intensify. Municipalities and regions will receive guidance this week urging them to secure supplies of food, water, and medicine for care homes and vulnerable citizens.
The report marks a shift in focus toward hybrid threats, energy infrastructure, and climate-related emergencies. With 3.6 million shelter spaces nationwide, local authorities are being cautioned against decommissioning existing bunkers. However, the minister stopped short of promising legislative protection for them.
A full analysis of Denmark's civil preparedness infrastructure is expected by May.
(Charles Szumski)
EUROPE'S SOUTH
LISBON
Portugal: Government plan against tariffs includes funding, insurance, internationalisation aid. Portugal's government has launched four measures to quickly support exporting companies in the face of the tariffs launched by the US, which include credit lines, credit insurance and the expansion of support for internationalisation, it announced on Thursday.
At the end of the cabinet meeting, the economy minister, Pedro Reis, announced the launch of the Reinforce Programme, which will have €10 billion, including the launch of credit lines totalling €8.6 billion, through the Banco Português do Fomento (BPF).
In this context, more than €5 billion will be available in the reprogramming and reinforcement of the BPF Invest EU lines for working capital and investment support, and the BPF Invest Export PT line has now been created, with a further €3.5 billion.
According to a document made available by the government, this line will be able to provide guarantees for financing exporting companies, “with the capacity to transform the financing into a subsidy, by evaluating the performance of results.”
The credit insurance ceiling will also increase by €1.2 billion, now covering not only emerging countries but also “traditional markets.”
According to the government, there will be a "reinforcement of the export credit insurance allocations of the Portuguese Export Credit Agency (ECA), for the search for new markets and the reinforcement of traditional markets", as well as the "start of the integration of the Portuguese Export Credit Agency into the Banco de Fomento" and the "partial subsidisation of export credit insurance premiums for new markets".
The government also intends to expand projects to support internationalisation, strengthening "collective programmes" that allow companies to attend more trade fairs.
(Lucília Tiago, edited by Cristina Cardoso | Lusa.pt)
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ATHENS
Greek PM Mitsotakis wants zero-tariff EU-US trade deal in 90 days. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hopes Europe will try to negotiate a “win-win” free trade deal with US President Donald Trump over the next three months. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
15 years on, Poles still divided about presidential plane crash. As Poland marked the 15th anniversary of the Smolensk air disaster that claimed the life of President Lech Kaczyński, the tragedy remains a source of profound national division - between those who suspect assassination and those who reject such a drastic theory. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Sanctioned Bulgarian politician emerges as key Orbán partner. Delyan Peevski, the leader of Bulgaria’s MRF-New Beginning, sanctioned by the US and the UK for corruption, has emerged as a key partner of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Bulgaria. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian PM urges former adviser to withdraw from presidential race after controversial remarks. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has called on his former honorary adviser, Victor Ponta, to withdraw from the upcoming May presidential election following controversial comments. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Eurogroup convenes to discuss global economic developments and prospects, upcoming World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund meetings;
- Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers expected to focus on increasing investment opportunities and financing Europe's defence & security;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas meets with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov;
- Commissioner Hansen receives European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) Executive Director Thierry de l’Escaille;
- Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola receives US Congress delegation.
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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Charles Szumski, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]
