BBC Europe – Merkel warns ‘delusional’ UK on scope of talks with EU. The future relationship can only be discussed once the exit issues – such as UK payments to the EU budget – are resolved, she told German MPs. On the sequence of the Brexit talks, she said “some people in the UK still have some illusions on that score”. “That would be just a waste of time.” The UK will be a third country.
FRANCE
Faced with Le Pen, the Republican Front fails to take off
Some, both from right- and left-wing parties, refuse to tell backers to vote for Macron in the second round of the presidential election.
GERMANY
Party-affiliated foundations target of hacker attacks
Clues pointing towards Russia / “Successfully repelled” / Attacks on Macron and Clinton.
ITALY
“Electoral law immediately”
Italian President Sergio Mattarella appealed to parliament to bring in a new electoral law “immediately”. He argued there can be no new election unless the voting system is changed first. Meanwhile there was a TV debate between the three candidates for the post of PD Secretary, on the subject of a possible broad-based (cross-party) government.
POLAND
PiS government breaks
The future career of Digitisation Minister Anna Streżyńska is being decided; because she said that the government should first earn the money it spends on social transfers. Furthermore, the party led by Jarosław Kaczyński has been frozen by the new poll on political parties’ popularity.
SPAIN
PP admits that it knew about Gonzales’s suspicious activity
Floriano and Juan Carlos Vera recognize that they were informed about the Swiss account of Madrid’s former president but they did not denounce him.
BELGIUM
Time off to involve dads
The European Commission wishes to review the rules regarding parental leave and maternity leave. The European rules would meet the Belgian standards.
BULGARIA
CEDB Leader Borisov wants tough measures against corruption
Future Prime Minister praises inspections carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office.
CYPRUS
Freezing of accession funds
Angry with Erdogan’s behaviour, the European Parliament shows the red card.
HUNGARY
Orbán: I came to defend my country
The government was attacked again in the European Parliament; Infringement proceedings launched.
PORTUGAL
Interview with Margarida Marques
Ms Marques says: the Government expects a European solution for the debt in two years. About France, she explains: “It is not a matter of supporting Macron, but it is a concern with Marine Le Pen”.
