BERLIN

Coalition agreement imminent. Germany's conservatives under chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Tuesday reached a deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to form a government, NTV reported. Two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, however, that there was not yet an agreement.

Car-loving Germans lured to public transport by cheap ticket. A 5% overall uptick in the number of passengers using scheduled bus and rail lines last year is "likely" down to the nationwide fixed price Deutschlandticket, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office Destatis says. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Belgium launches regulatory push for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products. Belgium has set 2028 targets for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) readiness, with the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) launching a dedicated spearhead domain to support ATMP development. Read more.

ROME

The Italian migration centre in Gjader, Albania, is expected to receive its first group of migrants, following a new decree that redefined its function as a detention-only facility, sources close to the matter told Euractiv. Read more.

Meloni to visit US next week to press Trump on trade. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to the United States next week to negotiate tariff relief directly with President Donald Trump, in a move coordinated with the European Union. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that Meloni is scheduled to meet with Trump on 17 April for an “official working visit.”

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LISBON

Portugal: Business association calls for market diversification against US. The president of CIP (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal), the Portuguese Business Confederation, told Lusa on Tuesday that the government's meeting covered support for export credit insurance and market diversification in response to US tariffs.

This was an “interesting meeting, because the caretaker government showed concern to be attentive to the needs of companies,” Armindo Monteiro told Lusa, adding that as well as the economy minister, the finance minister also took part “because the tax side is very important”

“There was a concern to have a strong task force to be able to chalk out a strong and comprehensive plan, and in that sense it was good, because we have to respond to this in a very concerted way, because the challenge is great,” he said.

In terms of concrete measures, he pointed out that “there was a joint reaction from Europe from the outset,” requiring “diplomacy and negotiation, which is typical of any war, be it conventional or commercial.”

We “need to strengthen export credit insurance plans,” bearing in mind that the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy was already necessary, he said.

“We need to increase the value of exports and diversify the destination markets,” he added, pointing out that support for market diversification, credit lines, and insurance for export activity should be considered.

Concerning VAT, Armindo Monteiro said that CIP is not in favour of the Zero VAT basket, because “it shouldn't be the state that chooses the diet of the Portuguese, VAT applies to a very restricted group of products and it's not socially acceptable because it encourages both those who have purchasing power and those who don't.”

(Mariana Espírito Santo | Lusa.pt)

BRATISLAVA

Days after its introduction, Slovakia’s new financial transaction tax has triggered a storm across the political spectrum and on social media where many shared screenshots from banking apps showing how much they are paying after each transaction. Read more.

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WARSAW

US pulls military staff from key Poland-based Ukrainian aid hub. The US Army has announced the withdrawal of American personnel and military equipment from the base at Jasionka, near Rzeszów, which has been a key logistical hub for the distribution of military support to Ukraine.

“The Americans informed us in advance and assured us that the troops withdrawn from the Rzeszów area would continue to be stationed in Poland. This does not mean a reduction of US forces in Poland or in Europe," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Broader strategy. The troops will be moved to other locations in the country “as part of a broader strategy to optimise US military operations, improving the level of support to Allies and partners while also enhancing efficiencies,” the Command said in a statement.

The decision to reposition troops and equipment “reflects months of assessment and planning, coordinated closely with Polish hosts and NATO Allies,” it said, adding that the facilitation of military assistance to Ukraine through Jasionka will now continue under Polish and NATO leadership.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, US forces established a temporary presence at Jasionka. Although not located on a permanent Polish military base, the site has been used by US, NATO and partner forces for the past three years.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

SOFIA

Bulgaria: Big cash deals and Eurozone expectations fuel property boom. Bulgaria has recorded the sharpest increase in housing prices across the European Union, with a staggering 18.3% year-on-year rise in the final quarter of 2024, according to Eurostat data published on Tuesday. Read more.

• EU: Tenth meeting of EU-Ukraine Association Council expected to focus on reconstruction and reforin Ukraine, EU financial assistance, and more; Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius signs agreement on the participation of Ukraine in Copernicus component;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Prime Minister of Iceland Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir; Receives CEO of AmCham EU Malte Lohan;
• Commission Vice Presidents Teresa Ribera, Stéphane Séjourné host third high level meeting of Joint European Forum for IPCEIs;
• Vice President Roxana Mînzatu, Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen participate in Project Group on Affordable Housing;
• Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath participates in Parliament’s Special Committee on European Democracy Shield; Meets with Personal Information Protection Commissioner of Japan Ohshima Shuhei; Takes part in third trilogue of Victims’ Rights Directive;
• International Partnerships Commissioner Jozef Síkela meets with Minister of Transport of Colombia María Fernanda Rojas Mantilla;
• Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Commissioner Jessika Roswall meets with Secretary General of Ecommerce Europe Luca Cassetti;
• Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner Costas Kadis receives Low Impact Fishers of Europe representatives;
• Parliament President Roberta Metsola receives American Chamber of Commerce to the EU representatives; Meets with European Committee of the Regions President Kata Tüttő; Hosts Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Charles Szumski, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]