Entering emergency #FAC meeting, Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky says Putin's army is committing "war atrocities and war crimes on the sovereign territory of #Ukraine."
"The Czech Republic is in favor of the strongest possible #sanctions possible."
Entering #FAC, Belgian Foreign Minister @Sophie_Wilmes says "we are ready to take another sanctions package which will be a massive deterrent"
Entering #FAC, Finland's foreign minister Pekka Haavisto says "this is a very important moment."
"Finland has increased its direct support for #Ukraine, an additional €15 million to support them."
Entering #FAC, Romania's foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu says the EU needs to prepare for "the wave of refugees which is coming" as a result of the #UkraineWar.
"We should also support (non-EU) #Moldova because they already have a large number of refugees on their territory."
The foreign ministers here at the #FAC are as we speak rubber-stamping the 2nd #sanctions package agreed last night by EU prime ministers and presidents.
But they are now also talking about further sanctions - likely targeting Putin himself.
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In ten minutes Viktor Orban begins his debate with the 🇪🇺Parliament.
MEPS are expected to demand that he unequivocally states he will accept the result of the 🇺🇸election. Concerns have been raised after he reminded in a press conference yesterday that he's planning to use the Council presidency to host an informal meeting of EU prime ministers and presidents in Budapest 3 days after the 🇺🇸election - at a time when it is very likely Trump will be challenging the result if Harris wins.
"We will open several bottles of champagne if Trump is back," Orban told journalists.
In 2020, Orban and his ally Janez Jansa from Slovenia initially refused to recognise Biden's win.
Orban has entered the chamber.
Parliament speaker Roberta Metsola says introducing him: "The Hungarian presidency arrives at an important moment of institutional change [start of new term after 🇪🇺election] - a new mandate here brings new challenges and opportunities."
"Europe may not be perfect, and while we must be honest where we can do better, we must also not shy away from celebrating our successes," says 🇪🇺Parliament speaker Metsola.
"Prime minister, many of us recall the very lively debate [with you] 6 years ago here in the chamber. I expect no less today. Because in this house of democracy, as in Europe where the rule of law and freedom of expression are sacrosanct, we may not always agree but we will always give space for the respectful sharing of views."
Breaking: The European Commission is opening an 'excessive deficit procedure' against France for the first time.
This should have happened long ago, but France's power in Brussels for years made the Commission look away.
How will this impact the 🇫🇷legislative election?
Procedure also started for 🇮🇹🇵🇱🇧🇪🇭🇺🇲🇹🇸🇰
Romania currently the only country already under the excessive deficit procedure. Commission announces it will stay there.
The rules are meant to prevent a repeat of the 💶debt crisis, making countries tighten fiscal policy or face fines.
🇫🇷 had the 2nd-highest deficit (5.5%) in🇪🇺 in 2023, after 🇮🇹
For years EU officials openly acknowledged that France was getting special treatment, with 🇪🇺President Juncker famously explaining why France wasn't being put under the procedure by saying: "Parce que c'est la France"
The problem with the first option is you need to take the metro between train stations in Paris to switch, whereas in Lyon it's the same station
But...
🇪🇸Renfe & 🇫🇷SNCF don't have a ticketing agreement, so there's no way to get the preferred option as a combined ticket.
It doesn't show up on either website (Renfe won't even let you choose Brussels as a destination). Even 3rd party sites like SNCB Intl & Trainline can't show it
Tonight is the first semi-final for #Eurovision2023 in 🇬🇧Liverpool.
It's happening on the 25th anniversary of the 1998 contest hosted in 🇬🇧Birmingham, a transformative year that marks the boundary between the 'old' and 'new' Eurovision.
In 1998 Dana International became the first trans (and 1st openly LGBT) person to win the ESC.
Following the '98 contest it was decided to make two major rule changes: countries no longer had to sing in their national language and they weren't required to use an orchestra.
Those changes transformed what had become a stale archaic-looking contest in '90s into the explosion of spectacle in 2000s - helped also by the entry of enthusiastic Eastern European countries unable to participate during Communism.
The bookies have 🇸🇪Sweden as the favourite to win, followed by 🇫🇮Finland and 🇫🇷France.
But Sweden's odds have gotten worse since rehearsals started.
The singer, #Loreen, already won for 🇸🇪 in 2012 with Euphoria, a global hit hitting number one on the charts in 21 countries.
Among fans, I keep hearing "I predict Sweden will win but I don't want it to win". People like the song but think a 🇸🇪win is too predictable. 🇸🇪has dominated the contest for 2 decades.
If 🇸🇪win again they'll match Ireland's record for most wins - 7.