Latest news bulletin | May 17th – Midday
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READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/17/latest-news-bulletin-may-17th-midday
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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/17/latest-news-bulletin-may-17th-midday
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:00There was little in the way of concrete outcomes during leaders' speeches.
00:03There were many strong statements made against Russia for Ukraine
00:06and regarding migration, energy defence and the general geopolitical situation.
00:11Macron called for the removal of trade barriers and no protectionism.
00:16Costa called for a two-state solution between Gaza and Israel.
00:19And Maloney called out the no-show of Putin at the Ukraine negotiating table earlier this week.
00:24But the real gritty conversations were had behind the scenes.
00:28Much has been said about EPC summits in terms of them having limited power.
00:32Some journalists have questioned what is the point.
00:35But as I have heard off camera and from those in meetings today and even before the event,
00:40there is much more freedom to discuss and have meetings,
00:43to hash out plans, differences and ideas at a summit like this rather than in an EU summit or similar.
00:50One high-level insider told me that it's events like this
00:53where some of the more crucial decisions that shape our continents are made.
00:56Would this be the case this time? Let's see.
01:02Hungarian civilians hung a large banner on the Buda Castle tunnel protesting against the so-called Transparency Draft Bill on Friday.
01:11The opposition party momentum also took action in front of the Sovereignty Protection Office building,
01:35pouring red paint on the fence and calling for a demonstration.
01:38Police have opened an investigation against them for vandalism.
01:43The Hungarian parliament is expected to debate the bill on transparency as early as next week.
02:05For now, since this is a draft law, we will not comment on its details.
02:10But let me underline here, the Commission places great importance on the role of civil society.
02:15We remain committed to protecting the freedom of association
02:17and to fostering an enabling environment for civil society across the EU,
02:22including as regards access to funding.
02:24The spokesperson noted that last October, the European Commission took Hungary to the EU Court of Justice,
02:32arguing its national sovereignty law breaches EU law.
02:38This might be the beginning of a crackdown on illegal short-term tourist rentals,
02:42with Brussels City's planning aldermen deciding to seal an entire building.
02:46The property, containing six flats and an office, had been converted for tourist use without legal permits.
02:52There are many people who are in the street with masks, who come to sit here next to me.
02:58And then there are many people who don't know how to sit here,
03:01people who work and who don't find any parking.
03:05City officials had urged the manager to stop these activities for over a year, but dialogue failed.
03:11The radical decision aims to preserve housing for Brussels' residents,
03:15especially in the high-pressure city centre.
03:17But some find this measurement excessive.
03:31Unregulated tourists can also cause noise pollution and nuisance for permanent residents.
03:36Brussels say sealing the building sends a strong signal to other owners about respecting town planning rules.
03:54Slovenian police are investigating the theft of a bronze statue of US First Lady Melania Trump.
04:11The life-size sculpture was unveiled in 2020 in her hometown of Sevnica,
04:17during President Donald Trump's first term in office.
04:20A police spokesperson said they were notified of the theft on Tuesday and are working to identify those responsible.