Top stories: 11-17 January 2014
- Stubb to run for European Parliament seat: Finland’s EU affairs minister Alexander Stubb on Friday announced his decision to run for a seat in May’s European Parliament elections for the conservative National Coalition Party. Stubb was a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2008 and later also served as Finnish foreign minister. EUObserver
- Barnier ready to run for Commission President: Michel Barnier, the internal market commissioner, told Le Figaro he is ready to ‘engage’ should the European People’s Party appoint him as its candidate for the Commission presidency. His priorities include industrial strategy, infrastructure policies, the single market, security and immigration. Le Figaro
- David McAllister tops German centre-right list: David McAllister, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony will be appointed as the CDU’s top candidate for the European Parliament elections. Although rumoured for months, the official appointment will take place at the CDU’s executive meeting on 7-8 February. EurActiv
- Influential MEP splits Bulgarian Socialists: Ivailo Kalfin, a former Bulgarian foreign minister, has quit the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Kalfin, who is highly regarded for steering the country to EU accession in 2007, is set to run for the European Parliament elections on a separate ticket, potentially splitting the centre-left vote. EurActiv
- Pirates adopt common European programme: The European Pirates have published a common manifesto ahead of the European Parliament elections in 2014. The manifesto focuses on democracy, culture and internet rights. PPEU Wiki
