Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will formally propose that the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel. Sánchez cited alleged violations of international law and human rights by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu as the basis for the move. The proposal is scheduled for discussion at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg this Tuesday.

Over 30 members of the European Parliament, including João Oliveira of the Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) and Catarina Martins of the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE), have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. They are requesting an extension of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or RRP) deadline to 2028, citing rising costs and procurement difficulties.

Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento has joined counterparts from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria in a formal request to the European Commission for a new tax on extraordinary profits of energy companies. The ministers argue this measure would ensure unity and address the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The proposal mirrors similar European regulations implemented during the 2022 energy crisis.

Update: Portugal joins five-nation push for energy windfall tax

Finance ministers from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria sent a formal letter to European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra on April 3. The group argues that energy companies benefiting from market volatility caused by the conflict in Iran should contribute to easing the financial burden on the public.

A provisional European Union regime that allowed digital platforms to voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse content expired this Friday. The lapse follows a failure by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to reach an agreement on a permanent legislative framework, effectively ending the temporary bypass of electronic communication privacy rules.

European Council President António Costa has expressed confidence that European Union leaders will approve new measures to combat rising energy costs during their upcoming summit. Describing the current crisis as a “dramatic and challenging moment,” the former Portuguese Prime Minister emphasized the need for unified support for member states. The measures aim to mitigate the economic impact of energy volatility caused by international conflicts. Consumers should watch for potential energy price relief following the summit.