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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer (now) and Vicky Graham (earlier)

Mark Rutte says Nato ‘cornerstone of our collective security’ as he is formally selected as its head – as it happened

Mark Rutte NATO Jens Stoltenberg Europe Alliance
Mark Rutte pictured in Brussels earlier this month
Mark Rutte pictured in Brussels earlier this month Photograph: Johanna Geron/Reuters

Summary of the day

  • Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister, has formally been selected as the next secretary-general of Nato. The defensive alliance said that “Rutte will assume his functions as Secretary General from 1 October 2024.”

  • Jens Stoltenberg, has praised his successor. “Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he said.

  • Rutte said “it is a tremendous honour to be appointed Secretary-General of NATO” and “the alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security.”

  • Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, has congratulated Rutte and thanked Stoltenberg. “We anticipate that our joint work to ensure the protection of people and freedom throughout our entire Euro-Atlantic community will continue at good pace,” he said.

  • Leaders from across Europe also congratulated Rutte.

  • Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister who is expected to become the next EU high representative for foreign affairs, said “we see threats to our common security the same way. With your experience, I’m sure NATO continues to be strong and effective against them.”

  • The EU’s 27 ambassadors agreed in principle on new sanctions targeting Belarus.

  • Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, has issued a statement on Russia’s decision to block a number of European media. He did so on his own after Hungary blocked a joint EU27 statement.

  • The US embassy in Russia issued a statement today as a court began proceedings in the case of journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for over a year. “We have been clear from the start that Evan has done nothing wrong and never should have been arrested in the first place.”

  • Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, has criticised a deal among three EU political families on the bloc’s top jobs, arguing that it has ignored voters’ wishes in the European elections.

  • Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has lauded the EU’s proposed leadership for the coming years as the basis for “a good European future”, reports Associated Press.

  • France’s government ordered the dissolution of extreme right and “radical Islamist” groups, four days before the first round of elections that may see a surge in support for political extremes.

  • Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands was asked to “report” to the Dutch foreign affairs ministry to explain allegations of a secret surveillance and espionage campaign by Israeli spy services against the international criminal court, it has emerged.

Russia’s foreign ministry said it has revoked the accreditation of the chief correspondent of Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, the Associated Press reported.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has congratulated Mark Rutte.

France’s government has ordered the dissolution of extreme right and “radical Islamist” groups, four days before the first round of elections that may see a surge in support for political extremes.

Snap national elections called by President Emmanuel Macron have plunged the country into a hasty and disorderly electoral race, Associated Press reports. Immigration, France’s retirement age and taxes emerged as top points of contention as the prime minister and two potential challengers for his job held a televised debate on Tuesday night.

The interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, announced on Wednesday that the government ordered the dissolution of multiple extreme-right and “radical Islamist'’ groups. A series of decrees announcing the shutdown cited the risk of violence.

The groups affected include the GUD, a group known for violence and antisemitism whose members have provided support for far-right political leader Marine Le Pen in the past.

Le Pen’s National Rally party is leading all polls ahead of the two-round elections 30 June and 7 July.

In the TV debate, young and fast-rising National Rally president Jordan Bardella renewed his proposal to abolish free health care for foreigners and toughen regulations around the acquisition of French nationality.

But his proposal to prevent dual citizens from accessing certain “strategic” state jobs in particular attracted the ire of the prime minister, Gabriel Attal, who said it revealed the true objectives of a party that has long been tied to xenophobia and racism.

“The message you are sending is that when we are dual citizens, we are half-citizens, we are not real French people,” Attal said.

Eric Bompard, of the France Unbowed party, part of a new coalition of far-to-centre left parties, also came after Bardella’s economic programme and his proposal to lift taxes for people under 30.

Citing economists, Bompard said the National Rally’s program would contribute to making the rich richer, at the expense of the poorest 30% share of the population, while Attal accused the 28-year-old Bardella of personally benefiting from the measure.

Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands was asked to “report” to the Dutch foreign affairs ministry to explain allegations of a secret surveillance and espionage campaign by Israeli spy services against the international criminal court, it has emerged.

Dutch officials asked to meet the ambassador, Modi Ephraim, to discuss concerns raised by a Guardian investigation that revealed Israeli intelligence agencies attempted over a nine-year period to undermine, influence and allegedly intimidate the ICC chief prosecutor’s office.

The meeting was disclosed by officials in response to questions raised in parliament by several Dutch MPs about the revelations, part of a joint investigation with the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the minister of foreign affairs said the Israeli ambassador “was requested to report at the [ministry] in connection with allegations made in the articles in the Guardian and +972”. They said a conversation was held “in which the concerns of the Netherlands have been expressed”.

The spokesperson declined to discuss details, citing the confidentiality of diplomatic conversations. Israel’s embassy in the Netherlands did not respond to a request for comment.

Hidalgo says Macron 'spoiling Olympic party' with snap election

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has said that President Emmanuel Macron had risked “spoiling” the Olympics party in the French capital next month by calling snap parliamentary elections.

France will go to the polls on Sunday for the first of two rounds of voting ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics on 26 July.

In a report from Agence France-Presse, polls show the far-right National Rally in the lead, which could see them emerge as the biggest parliamentary group and possibly at the head of the government for the first time.

“In an act of mistreatment of French people, the president is spoiling the party,” Hidalgo told the Ouest France newspaper of Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament on 9 June.

The Olympics are “a coming-together of humanity through sport. Why undermine this beautiful moment with this election that was called in a hurry, without consulting anyone?” the Socialist mayor added.

She has previously criticised Macron’s decision, saying it was “extremely unsettling” to call a vote so close to the Games.

Updated

Olaf Scholz has lauded the EU’s proposed leadership for the coming years as the basis for “a good European future”, reports Associated Press.

On Wednesday, the German chancellor urged his fellow national leaders to agree on the posts at a summit this week.

Three mainstream political groups have agreed that German conservative Ursula von der Leyen should get a second term as the president of the EU’s executive Commission, while former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa, a socialist, should take the helm of the European Council, the forum where the 27 member countries are represented. He would succeed Charles Michel in chairing EU summits.

The proposal would make the Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a pro-business liberal, the EU’s top diplomat — succeeding Josep Borrell. It now needs the support of EU leaders, and Von der Leyen will have to face a secret ballot in the European Parliament to win reelection.

“From my point of view, these make a good lineup and are clear decisions for a good European future,” Scholz told lawmakers in Berlin ahead of an EU summit on Thursday and Friday.

Scholz said he very much hopes that the summit will agree on the top posts. “We cannot afford an impasse in these difficult times; our citizens don’t expect an argument about jobs, but quick work in the European institutions,” he added.

His stance is in contrast to the Italian leader, Giorgia Meloni, who said the deal appeared to ignore voters’ wishes in the European elections last month which produced strong showings for rightwing parties.

The US embassy in Russia issued a statement today as a court began proceedings in the case of journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for over a year.

Today, a Russian court began closed-door proceedings in the case of Wall Street Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich, who has been wrongfully detained by Russian authorities for more than a year. Embassy officials were present at the courthouse and given brief access before the proceedings began.

During this time, Russian authorities have failed to provide any evidence supporting the charges against him, failed to justify his continued detention, and failed to explain why Evan’s work as a journalist constitutes a crime.

We have been clear from the start that Evan has done nothing wrong and never should have been arrested in the first place. His case is not about evidence, procedural norms, or the rule of law. It is about the Kremlin using American citizens to achieve its political objectives.

Russia should stop using individuals like Evan Gershkovich or Paul Whelan as bargaining chips. They should both be released immediately.

The EU’s 27 ambassadors have agreed in principle on new sanctions targeting Belarus.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, has also congratulated Mark Rutte and thanked Jens Stoltenberg.

“We anticipate that our joint work to ensure the protection of people and freedom throughout our entire Euro-Atlantic community will continue at good pace,” he said.

“ I know Mark Rutte as a principled and strong leader, who has demonstrated his decisiveness and vision on many occasions over the past years. I also take this opportunity to thank Mr. Stoltenberg for his remarkable contribution to strengthening NATO in the previous ten years of his tenure, as well as his unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” he added.

Borrell issues statement condemning Russian decision on European media after Hungary blocks text

Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, has issued a statement on Russia’s decision to block a number of European media. He did so on his own after Hungary blocked a joint EU27 statement.

“The EU condemns the totally unfounded decision by the Russian authorities to block access to over eighty European media in Russia,” Borrell said.

“This decision further restricts access to free and independent information and expands the already severe media censorship in Russia,” he said, adding:

The banned European media work according to journalistic principles and standards. They give factual information, also to Russian audiences, including on Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

In contrast, the Russian disinformation and propaganda outlets, against which the EU has introduced restrictive measures, do not represent a free and independent media. Their broadcasting activities in the EU have been suspended because these outlets are under the control of the Russian authorities and they are instrumental in supporting the war of aggression against Ukraine.

Respect for the freedom of expression and media is a core value for the EU. It will continue supporting availability of factual information also to audiences in Russia.

More congratulations are coming in from European leaders.

Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister and incoming Nato secretary-general, is a well-liked figure among heads of state and government.

The Kremlin said today that Mark Rutte’s appointment as Nato’s next secretary-general would be unlikely to change the alliance’s overall stance, Reuters reported.

Meloni criticises EU top jobs deal

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, has criticised a deal among three EU political families on the bloc’s top jobs, arguing that it has ignored voters’ wishes in the European elections.

“It does not seem to me that a willingness to take into account what the citizens have said at the ballot box has emerged so far,” Meloni told lawmakers, Reuters reported.

The Italian leader said parties that saw an increase in their political support in the elections had to be taken into account in the negotiations.

“(EU institutions) were conceived as neutral entities, thus able to guarantee all member states, regardless of the political colour of the governments of those member states,” she said.

Under the deal reached between the centre-right European People’s party, the European Socialists and the liberal Renew Europe, Ursula von der Leyen is set to stay on as European Commission president.

Furthermore, under the agreement, the socialist former Portuguese prime minister António Costa would become European Council president and the Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, would take over as the EU’s foreign policy chief.

EU leaders are set to meet for a two day summit starting tomorrow, where the deal is expected to be formalised.

Reuters reported that diplomats said von der Leyen may seek Meloni’s support by offering Italy a powerful portfolio in the European Commission.

Updated

Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister who is expected to become the next EU high representative for foreign affairs, has congratulated Mark Rutte.

“We see threats to our common security the same way. With your experience, I’m sure NATO continues to be strong and effective against them,” she said.

Sunak congratulates Rutte

Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, has congratulated Mark Rutte on his appointment as the next Nato secretary-general.

'Tremendous honour': Rutte says Nato 'cornerstone of our collective security'

In a social media post, the outgoing Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said “it is a tremendous honour to be appointed Secretary-General of NATO.”

“The Alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security,” he said.

“Leading this organisation is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I’m grateful to all the Allies for placing their trust in me,” he added.

'I am leaving NATO in good hands', Stoltenberg says

The current Nato secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, has praised his successor, Mark Rutte.

“Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he said.

Outgoing Dutch prime minister selected to lead Nato

Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister, has formally been selected as the next secretary-general of Nato.

The defensive alliance said in a statement:

On Wednesday (26 June 2024), the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Mr Rutte will assume his functions as Secretary General from 1 October 2024, when Mr Stoltenberg’s term expires after ten years at the helm of the Alliance.

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

Send thoughts and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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