Euractive -The Brief by Alexandra Brzozowki - 13 March 2024 - Russia's presidential polls and more...

 

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13/03/24 View in Browser Putin 2030 By Alexandra Brzozowski With the result of Russia’s presidential polls this weekend a foregone conclusion, European leaders must be prepared for the long haul. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win his fifth election in a stage-managed vote that would see him handed a new six-year term. For the first time, polls are taking place over three days (15-17 March), leaving room for ‘adjusting’ the result as needed, critics say. Early voting has already begun in the temporarily occupied parts of four Ukrainian regions: Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukrainians remaining in those areas have already come under pressure to take Russian passports, but to make voting “easier” Ukrainian passports now are being accepted as proof of ID. Even though occupation authorities have set up polling stations, voters are not required to come in person as the authorities have dispatched people with ballot boxes to voters’ homes. “Dear voters, we worry about your safety! You do not have to go anywhere to vote – we will come to your home with ballots and boxes!” the Russia-installed electoral commission in the Zaporizhzhia region said. Continue reading... Photo of the day Swedish Climate activist Greta Thunberg is carried away by police during a protest outside the Parliament building, Stockholm, Sweden, 13 March 2024. Thunberg and dozen of young activists began a sit-in on 11 March blocking entrance to the Swedish Parliament to protest against lack of action on global climate crisis. EPA-EFE/FREDRIK SANDBERG Listen to Euractiv’s new daily podcast: Today in the EU Explore the essence of European affairs and enrich your understanding on EU dynamics. Join us for a deep dive into EU politics & policy.  Listen and subscribe → Would you like to sponsor The Brief? Contact us The Roundup The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), a landmark legislation to protect journalists and media freedom, though concerns remain over the use of spyware to monitor media. Copenhagen intends to pass a bill to extend and equalise conscription to have more women conscripted in the military, as part of a plan to strengthen the Danish defence, the country’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced on Wednesday (13 March). As the Commission prepares to unveil a package to cut red tape for farmers on Friday (15 March), EU leaders meeting at the European Council next week will urge the EU executive and agriculture ministers to act “without delay” on multiple fronts, such as trade and food chain, according to draft conclusions seen by Euractiv. The EU’s AI Act, three years in the making, finally passed. The road to implementation will be complex. The European Parliament and member states reached a deal Tuesday night (12 March) to enforce punishments for cross-border traffic offences, including flouting controversial regulations in urban areas prohibiting vehicle traffic. The EU emits more methane from coal than other fossil fuels combined, owing to continued mining operations in Europe with insufficient measures in place – and a legacy of abandoned mines. Borrowing on the market or taking from national budgets are the best ways to give Ukraine what it needs to win the war, according to Estonia, looking for more than €100 billion to achieve that goal. The German government is kicking off a race for €23 billion in industrial decarbonisation subsidies for company bids, officially launching the unprecedented flagship policy. As the German government ramps up pressure at EU level to cut red tape for businesses, it faces obstacles to achieving the same goal at home. Amid this week’s flurry of talks on AI regulation in Strasbourg, a new study found YouTube to have boosted the far right in Finland’s national elections. EU institutions are set to simplify administrative rules for work and residence visas making it easier for third-country nationals who wish to work and live in the EU. The European Parliament voted to extend a rule that leaves the door open to keep sidelining Irish Gaelic and Maltese from the institution’s translation and interpretation services until the end of the next mandate. And finally, check out our Health Brief: Time for EU member states to end violence against health workers and Green Brief: Citizens may just hate EU climate policy. Look out for… European Parliament plenary Monday – Thursday EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borell in Washington DC Views are the author’s [Edited by Alice Taylor/Nathalie Weatherald] Copyright © 2024 Euractiv Media BV, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to receive email newsletters from Euractiv. Our mailing address is: Euractiv Media BV Karel de Grotelaan 1 bus 1 Brussel 1041 Belgium