Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
German conservatives announced a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats promising to form a new “strong and effective” government, led by Friedrich Merz (15:16, 15:26, 15:33).
The 146-page manifesto agreed by the parties will offer the framework for the new government, expected to be in place in early May (16:00).
Merz promised the government will target issues that allowed for the rise of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (16:53), which earlier today came top in the national voting intention poll for the first time in history (10:31 and 10:39).
The manifesto proposes tough reforms on migration and internal security to address voters’ concerns, (16:15), and reaffirms the government’s commitment to play an important role in Europe and transatlantic alliance in paragraphs on foreign policy and defence (15:54). But his proposals were criticised by the opposition parties (17:01).
Asked about his message for US president Donald Trump, Merz said that “Germany is back on track,” and promised it would play an important role in the European Union (16:18).
Elsewhere,
The EU has agreed to impose retaliatory tariffs on €21bn (£18bn) of US goods, targeting farm produce and products from Republican states, in Europe’s first act of retaliation against Donald Trump’s tariffs (15:11 and 17:23).
Separately, the EU has also revealed details of a €20bn (£17bn) plan to create new sites equipped with vast supercomputers in Europe to develop the next generation of artificial intelligence models, while opening the door to amending its landmark law that regulates the technology (17:26).
King Charles III has warned peace is “never to be taken for granted” during a historic address to Italy’s parliament (17:17), with senior officials talking about clean energy on the margins of his visit (17:18).
Tens of thousands of Greeks have staged protest rallies to demand increased wages amid rising living costs, hours after the country was paralysed by a 24-hour general strike (17:07).
Estonia’s president has signed into law a constitutional amendment banning non-EU citizens from taking part in local elections, a move targeting the large Russian minority in the Baltic state (13:01).
Romania said it “has not received any official information” on alleged plans to pull US troops out of central and eastern Europe after media reports suggesting such scenario (9:49).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Trade war 'casts dark shadow over prospects' of Irish economy, finance minister warns
And more on tariffs, Ireland’s finance minister has said that the commencing trade war between the US, the EU and the rest of the world “casts a dark shadow over prospects” of the Irish economy.
Paschal Donohoe said Trump’s latest threat to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals would contribute to investor uncertainty generated by his other tariffs – on steel, on cars, on China and reciprocal tariffs on the EU.
“These moves are deeply regrettable. Tariffs are economically destructive for all involved – they trigger lose-lose outcomes,” he told the Dáil.
“Tariffs, and even the threat of tariffs, also create uncertainty which prompts businesses to hold back investment and households to increase precautionary saving,” he said.
“The current uncertainty means that tariffs were probably already having a detrimental impact on economic activity around the world, even before the latest announcements from the White House,” he said.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the world is changing,” he told the Irish parliament noting the US has now imposed tariffs on China totalling 104%, making the tax paid on imports higher than the value of the product itself.
