EU
Brussels: Austrian MEP Othmar Karas (EPP) has sent a letter to the group's leadership, signed by 30 of his party's 187 members, asking that Hungarian MEP Tamas Deutsch be excluded for comments he made about the EPP group's chairman over his stance on tying EU funds to the so-called rule of law.
Western Europe
France: Former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing died at COVID-19 at the age of 94.
France has announced the loss of more than 35,000 jobs since September despite government stimulus packages, Le Monde newspaper reported Wednesday.
Germany: Current restrictions to prevent the spread of the pandemic have been extended until January 10.
Portugal: "Portugal refuses to reopen negotiations on the EU budget and reconstruction fund agreed by EU leaders in July," Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Wednesday.
Visegrad Group
Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly condemned the behavior of former Fidesz MEP Jozsef Szajer, who was caught participating in a homosexual orgy in the center of Brussels.
Slovakia: Petra Vargova, a diplomat who currently works at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was previously Slovakia's deputy ambassador to the EU, will become the new chair of the EU's Permanent Representation from January 2021.
Balkans
Slovenia: Foreign Minister Anze Logar has announced a visit to the United States during which he plans to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The Slovenian government still has not congratulated Joe Biden on his victory in the presidential election.
Serbia: The EU will not open a new chapter in the accession negotiations with Serbia this year. International observers believe that Belgrade has not carried out the necessary reforms in the area of the rule of law in terms of the independence of the judiciary and freedom of speech.
Northern Europe
Finland: The Populist Party of Finland has increased its support among voters by 1.4% since the beginning of November. It is now the most popular party in Finland with support of 20.9% of respondents.
