Summary of the day
The Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, submitted her resignation today. She has been nominated to serve as the EU’s next high representative for foreign affairs.
The UK’s new EU relations minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, headed to Brussels to stress the Labour government’s commitment to “resetting the relationship” with the bloc.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he aimed to have all the elements of a peace plan ready in November so that Kyiv could convene a second international summit. “I think that representatives of Russia should be at the second summit,” he said.
Salome Zourabichvili, the Georgian president, asked the country’s top court to annul the controversial ‘foreign influence’ law that has sparked mass protests.
Marcin Romanowski, a former Polish deputy justice minister, was detained after he lost parliamentary immunity as part of a probe into the misuse of public funds.
One of Germany’s main rail corridors is to be closed for months as part of a major overhaul of the ailing train network of Europe’s largest economy that is expected to last until the end of the decade.
Salome Zourabichvili, the Georgian president, has asked the country’s top court to annul the controversial ‘foreign influence’ law that has sparked mass protests, AFP reported.
The president had previously vetoed the legislation, but Georgia’s parliament voted in May to override the veto.
Former Polish deputy minister detained
A former Polish deputy justice minister was detained by the Internal Security Agency today after he lost parliamentary immunity as part of a probe into the misuse of public money, Reuters reported.
Prosecutors say they have evidence that former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski committed 11 crimes.
Romanowski denies the accusations.
‼️Właśnie ABW dokonuje zatrzymania posła na Sejm RP @MarRomanowski na polecenie Prokuratury Krajowej‼️
— Bartosz Lewandowski (@BartoszLewand20) July 15, 2024
Germany to close key rail corridor for months to tackle ailing train network
One of Germany’s main rail corridors is to be closed for months as part of a major overhaul of the ailing train network of Europe’s largest economy that is expected to last until the end of the decade.
Years of under investment and lack of political direction are being blamed for the state of the German railways, which have in recent years been beset by a massive increase in breakdowns, delays, cancellations and other major technical mishaps and led to unflattering comparisons with infrastructure in the developing world.
Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company of Germany, a state-owned enterprise under the control of the German government, has also become the butt of international jokes at the Euro 2024 football championships.
Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen was sentenced in absentia to eight years jail by a Moscow court today, AFP reported.
The court sentenced Gessen for “knowingly spreading false information about the use of the Russian army.”
An unidentified individual threw a grenade at a military draft office in the western Ukrainian town of Busk overnight, Reuters reported citing Ukrainian police.
The grenade caused an explosion but no one was hurt.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he aimed to have all the elements of a peace plan ready in November so that Kyiv could convene a second international summit on his vision for peace, Reuters reported.
“I set a goal that in November we would have a fully ready plan,” he said. “I think that representatives of Russia should be at the second summit.”
He also said that 23 security agreements Kyiv concluded with its partners already account for $38 billion.
Updated
New UK government 'committed to resetting relationship with EU'
The UK’s new EU relations minister is heading to Brussels to stress the Labour government’s commitment to “resetting the relationship” with the bloc.
Nick Thomas-Symonds is meeting European Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič for their first face-to-face talks on Monday to “set the ground for further discussions” on deepening ties, according to the Cabinet Office.
Ahead of his Brussels trip, Thomas-Symonds said: “Our government is committed to resetting the relationship with the European Union, to strengthen ties, reinforce our security and tackle barriers to trade.
“The EU and member states are among the UK’s closest friends and allies. With war in Europe, and shared global challenges, in areas such as climate change and illegal migration, a strong UK - EU alliance is vital.
“I am looking forward to meeting the executive vice president in Brussels today, it was a pleasure to speak to him immediately after my appointment last week.
“I expect to be engaging with him and EU colleagues much more in the coming months, as we work together to help make our continent safer and more prosperous.”
Šefčovič said: “The EU and the UK are close neighbours, partners, and allies, sharing values as well as challenges that are global in nature. I am looking forward to receiving Minister Thomas-Symonds to discuss ways to strengthen our co-operation, while making the most of our existing agreements that form the cornerstone of our partnership.”
Ahead of a vote on Thursday in the European parliament on Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for a second term as European Commission president, some groups have made clear they have demands in return for their support.
“The vote to be held on Thursday will not be a blank check,” said the liberal Renew Europe’s Valérie Hayer.
“We made our priorities very clear,” she said, adding that “we also demand that there be no link, directly or indirectly, with the extreme right. Europe needs a coalition of pro-Europeans.”
Le vote qui se tiendra jeudi ne sera pas un chèque en blanc.
— Valérie Hayer (@ValerieHayer) July 15, 2024
Nous avons fait entendre nos priorités de façon très claire à @vonderleyen. Nous exigeons aussi qu’il n’y ait aucun lien, de près ou de loin, avec l’extrême-droite.
L’Europe a besoin d’une coalition des pro-européens. pic.twitter.com/emB5rfdBxK
Ukraine said today that a military serviceman allegedly attempting to flee the country illegally had been shot dead, AFP reported.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said four servicemen were apprehended while approaching the Moldovan border.
“While trying to cross the border, border guards noticed them and detained them,” it said. “One of the fugitives attacked the border guard while trying to escape. In response, he used his service weapon and shot the attacker,” it added.
The Kremlin said today that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had not contacted Donald Trump after the assassination attempt and had no plans to do so, Reuters reported.
France’s post-election debates are continuing.
Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist party, said this morning that the president should appoint the New Popular Front to govern.
Dans un régime républicain, la règle est claire : le Président doit nommer le bloc arrivé en tête aux législatives pour gouverner, donc le #NFP. Le réflexe premier du Président devrait donc être de se tourner vers la gauche, et de ne pas l’empêcher de gouverner par la suite. pic.twitter.com/ZbrtHE8OGR
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) July 15, 2024
Estonia's Kallas resigns in preparation for EU foreign policy role
The Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, submitted her resignation today, ERR reported.
Kallas has been nominated to serve as the EU’s next high representative for foreign affairs, succeeding Josep Borrell.
She will formally remain prime minister until a new government is sworn in.
Alar Karis, the Estonian president, said he accepted her resignation.
“I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck! I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government,” he said.
I have accepted PM @KajaKallas’ resignation due to her nomination as a candidate for EU's chief diplomat. I thanked her for her work and wish her the best of luck!
— Alar Karis (@AlarKaris) July 15, 2024
I will begin talks with representatives of all political parties in the Riigikogu to form a new government. pic.twitter.com/g2TWG10FYL
Updated
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