The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

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BERLIN / PARIS

The French Assemblée nationale and the German Bundestag announced on Wednesday (20 March) that the two institutions approved the founding of a French-German Parliamentary Assembly. This will further deepen cooperation between the parliaments of both countries, the Bundestag said in a press release.

The new bilateral parliamentary chamber, which consists of 50 deputies each, will convene for the first time on 25 March 2019 in the Paris National Assembly.

The joint chamber is to meet at least twice a year in France and Germany under the joint chairmanship of President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart Richard Ferrand. All political groups on the German and French sides will be represented.

The joint initiative will allow them to better share information in a bid to ultimately increase their EU influence in the decision-making procedures they feel are still predominantly in the hands of both governments in Paris and in Berlin.

They will jointly analyse EU legislative proposals so that they will better coordinate policies at an early stage of the decision-making process.

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon criticised the move, saying it would “upset our other European partners by giving them the idea that everything is run by two countries”. (Claire Stam, EURACTIV.de)

Around 20 companies will pay the French GAFA Tax: According to a study published by Les Echos, 26 tech companies will pay the new GAFA digital tax, launched on 1 January 2019.

The analysis shows that most of the companies affected by the 3% tax on revenues are American, like Google, Facebook and Amazon. But a few of them are also EU companies, such as the giant German media group Axel Springer and French advertising specialist Criteo. The French tax targets online companies operating in France with global revenue of €750 million and more, and €25 million revenue on the French market only.

French army takes action: Following the latest violent riots in Paris during the 18th round of “Yellow vest” protests, Emmanuel Macron announced that soldiers will be deployed across the country to help maintain security during protests scheduled for this weekend. (EURACTIV.fr)

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ATHENS

EastMed pipeline: Greece, Cyprus, and Israel met on 20 March in Jerusalem and agreed to push forward EastMed, a pipeline designed to transport offshore gas reserves from Cyprus via Greece to other EU countries. The three countries enjoy American backing, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also attended the meeting. “Energy will be the bridge of cooperation and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said.

The estimated cost of the project is €6 billion and it is slated to be immune from terrorist attacks due to how deep the pipe will be laid.

But there is also a political message to Ankara: “The leaders agreed to increase regional cooperation, support energy independence and security, and defend against external influences in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East,” a common declaration read. (Sarantis Michalopoulos, EURACTIV.com)

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LONDON

UK PM Theresa May said on Wednesday evening that MPs are to blame for the haphazard nature of the Brexit negotiations.

She said that it was “high time” they made progress, rather than stifling the UK’s passage out from the EU. The delay, May said, was a matter of “deep personal regret”. Earlier in the day, she had written to Council President Donald Tusk, requesting an extension to the Brexit until 30 June.

In response, Tusk said that he envisaged EU leaders agreeing to a short extension, on the condition that May’s deal would get through the UK parliament next week. (Samuel Stolton, EURACTIV.com)

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WARSAW

Is Poland a burden?: Roza Thun, a centre-right Polish Civic Platform MEP (EPP), said under the ruling of the Law and Justice (PiS/ECR) party, Poland had become a “burden” for Europe, as it wants to take as much as possible but is unwilling to participate in costs. She added that the European Coalition, a newly established alliance among Polish pro-EU parties, had inspired other EU countries, which want to tackle domestic populism. Pro-government media harshly criticised her statements.

Cleaner air?: According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland may get €8 billion for the fight against dirty air in the new MFF for 2021-2027. However, there is one condition: the government-sponsored “Clean air” programme has to undergo substantial changes. The Commission says it is ineffective, opaque and marred with bureaucracy. (EURACTIV.pl)

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MADRID

Spanish far-right to join forces with Polish PiS: The leader of the Spanish far-right Vox, Santiago Abascal, travelled to Poland on Wednesday (20 March) to meet PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski. “Forging alliances to build the only possible Europe, by respecting its nations and the Christian roots,” Abascal said. Vox said both parties oppose a federal Europe that “Macron is trying to implement”.

Vox has not decided yet which group they will join after the EU elections. However, in recent months they have been closely collaborating with the Polish ECR delegation. (Beatriz Rios, EURACTIV.com)

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ROME

Hijacking against migration: On Wednesday, 51 children were taken hostage by their school bus driver, who also tried but failed to set fire to the vehicle. No one was injured but 12 children and two adults were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The hijacker was a 47-year-old Italian with Senegalese origins. According to Italian press reports, the kidnapping and the attempted mass murder were an act of protest against the migration policy of Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.

Five-star bribery: A corruption scandal has shook the ruling Five Star Movement, as the president of Rome’s city council, Marcello De Vito, was arrested as part of an investigation into alleged bribery. Di Maio announced De Vito’s expulsion from the party immediately after the arrest. The scandal hinges on the plan to build a new sports stadium and De Vito was allegedly bribed by a constructor to help advance the project. (Gerardo Fortuna, EURACTIV.com)

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PRAGUE

40 parties running in EU elections: Forty Czech parties have registered to run in the EU elections. Nine of them are parliamentary parties while two are new movements formed by current MEPs. On the list, there are also several anti-EU groupings such as the coalition of The Reasonable and the National Democracy with slogans such as “Stop Migration” and “We Do Not Want the Euro”. (Aneta Zachová, EURACTIV.cz)

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BUCHAREST

No capping of direct payments: Romania cannot accept the capping of direct payments in the future Common Agricultural Policy under any circumstances, because it would impact large farms that stick to environmental standards.

Daniel Botanoiu, secretary of state in the Agriculture Ministry, said Romania supported the external convergence of direct aid to farmers and future simplification of the policy.

Romanian authorities agree with the Commission in keeping both pillars of the CAP and support for young farmers and want more funds for research and innovation. (EURACTIV.ro)

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SOFIA

Coalition for the EU elections: Bulgaria’s ruling party GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, both affiliated with the EU centre-right (EPP), will join a coalition in the upcoming EU elections. Earlier, EPP chief Joseph Daul sent a letter to all Bulgarian EPP members (GERB, Union of Democratic Forces, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, Bulgaria for Citizens Movement), urging them to join forces in the elections. Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria rejected the call saying that the ruling party is acting against EPP values. (Dnevnik.bg)

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LJUBLJANA

Kosovo’s recognition unchanged: Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar said Slovenia would not withdraw its recognition of Kosovo, as some media speculated lately.

The government also thinks a Brexit extension until the EU elections is sensible but is worried about developments in Serbia. (Željko Trkanjec, EURACTIV.hr)

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ZAGREB

Only four parties pass the 5% threshold: According to a poll, 27.8% of voters back the ruling HDZ party (EPP). The socialist opposition gets 11%, the populist Human Shield 10.6%, and nationalist Most 6.4%.

€20 million for energy-saving buildings: In Osijek, Croatia’s third largest city, the renovation of 19 schools has been completed, while for other 23 public building it has begun. The whole project is worth €20 million, of which 60% is from EU grants. (Željko Trkanjec, EURACTIV.hr)

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SARAJEVO

Karadžić’s verdict deepens divisions: The Hague Tribunal decided to increase a genocide sentence to life imprisonment for Radovan Karadžić, a Serb leader from the 1992-1995 war. The news triggered reactions in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Milorad Dodik, a Serb representative to the presidency of BiH, said the decision was “cynical and arrogant” and added that “reconciliation is almost impossible”. Šefik Džaferović, the presidency’s Bosniak representative, simply said “a war criminal got the punishment he deserved”. (Željko Trkanjec, EURACTIV.hr)

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BELGRADE

Kosovo residents the happiest in the region: The citizens of Kosovo are the happiest in the region and the 46th happiest group in the world according to a UN survey. When it comes to Western Balkan countries, Serbia places 70th, Montenegro 73rd, BiH 78th, North Macedonia 84th and Albania 107th. (Julija Simić, Beta-EURACTIV.rs)

[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos and Sam Morgan]