The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article EU’s first batch of Russia sanctions to target 351 lawmakers, officials, banks, by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
BELGRADE | PRISTINA
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he would condemn Russia’s recognition of the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemns NATO’s bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999 on television. Read more.
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EU PRESIDENCY
Vaccines, security and climate discussed at Indo-Pacific ministerial forum. The Indo-Pacific Ministerial Cooperation Forum was held in Paris on Tuesday during the French EU Council presidency. According to France’s foreign ministry, this was an opportunity for EU countries to “demonstrate the strength of the ties that exist between the EU and the countries of the Indo-Pacific and our desire to deepen them”, according to France’s foreign ministry. Read more.
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BERLIN
Forest destruction in Germany more drastic than thought. Almost 5% of Germany’s total forest areas have been destroyed since 2018, according to new data based on satellite images, making deforestation a much larger problem than previously thought. Read more.
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PARIS
French health minister outlines criteria for lifting the vaccine pass. French Health Minister Olivier Véran set out the criteria he judges necessary for the abolition of the vaccine pass, during a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria opens gates for unvaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated people will be able to travel to Austria from 1 March provided they present a negative COVID-19 test, as the skiing season is slowly coming to an end. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Britannia unsettled a year after Brexit. Brexit may have been a reality for more than a year, with most opposition politicians reluctant to talk about it anymore, but that does not mean that it has broad public acceptance in the UK.
That was the conclusion based on data presented on Tuesday at a conference organised by the Britain in a Changing Europe academic think tank. Across many different political debates, what has endured is the polarisation created by the Brexit debate. Read more.
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DUBLIN
PM warns of ‘chilling effect’ of Russian moves for smaller European states. Russia’s announcement that it will send troops across the border into Ukraine creates a “chilling effect for many small states across the European continent”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Tuesday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI | STOCKHOLM
Finland, Sweden challenge Ukraine arms embargo. The debate on whether the escalating situation in Ukraine justifies an exception and allowing arms deliveries is gaining ground in Finland and Sweden – countries with traditionally restrictive arms export policies. Read more.
Finnish football captain: Champions league should not be in St. Petersburg. Tim Sparv, who captain’s Finland’s national football team, tweeted on Tuesday that the Champions League final set to be played in St Petersburg in May should be moved to another location.
“The Champions League final should not be played in Russia. Time for the football community to do their bit,” tweeted Sparv. (Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
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STOCKHOLM
Swedish politicians unite to condemn Russia’s actions. Top Swedish politicians, including Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Read more.
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TALLINN
Estonia calls on Europe to wean itself off Russian gas. Europe should develop green energy and import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce its dependence on Russia, Estonian Prime Minster Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday (22 February) as the West braced for the possibility of a big Russian assault on Ukraine. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian ambassador killed for $50,000 in Congo. The investigation into the murder of Ambassador Luca Attanasio and police officer Vittorio Iacovacci in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 22 February 2021 was closed on Monday as it was found that his kidnappers had demanded $50,000. Read more.
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MADRID
Catholic Church wants to shed full light on child sex abuse cases. Spanish Roman Catholic officials on Tuesday appointed a law firm to conduct a broad inquiry into child sex abuse cases allegedly committed by members of the clergy and workers in other church-linked institutions such as religious schools. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal condemns ‘illegitimate, illegal’ Russian recognition of separatist territories. Portugal stands in solidarity with Ukraine, Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said on Tuesday, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of pro-Russian separatist regions independent “illegitimate and illegal”. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech army chief: world will not be safe. Events in Ukraine indicate that the world is not going to be a safe place in the coming years, Czech Army chief Aleš Opata said on Tuesday, adding that the Czech Republic cannot behave as if it is not concerned by the crisis in Ukraine. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish government approves national defence draft law amid Ukraine crisis. The government approved on Tuesday the “homeland defence draft bill,” which allows Polish forces to be quickly enhanced amid the Russian aggression in neighbouring Ukraine, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has said. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungary deploys troops on Ukraine border. The Hungarian defence ministry will send troops to its eastern region, announced Defence Minister Tibor Benkő after receiving instructions from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak government strongly condemns Russian ‘occupation’. Politicians in the Slovak government did not hold back when commenting on Russia’s recognition of separatist republics in eastern Ukraine. Even members of the opposition, usually more understanding towards Russian foreign policy, spoke of aggression and international law violations. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgarian Socialists refuse to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The Bulgarian Socialist Party distanced itself from its ruling coalition partners and refused to unequivocally condemn the Russian invasion of Donbas and the recognition of the independence of separatist-controlled territories. Read more.
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BUCHAREST Romania to reduce fuel excises in bid to calm down prices. The government coalition agreed Tuesday on further measures to tackle the major increase in energy prices. One of the measures taken into account is halving the excise tax for fuels. Read more. ///
ZAGREB | SARAJEVO
Croatia wants next EU summit to discuss BiH. Croatia has requested discussions on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) take place at the next EU summit due in March during a meeting of EU general affairs ministers. Read more.
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SARAJEVO
BiH tripartite presidency deeply divided on Ukraine-Russia crisis. The tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which needs unanimity to decide on international situations, is currently unable to make decisions relating to the Ukraine-Russia crisis as it remains deeply divided on the issue. Read more.
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SKOPJE
Afghan nationals temporarily transferred to North Macedonia go to Canada. Twenty-two Afghan civilians, employees and associates of the international organisation Open Government Partnership and their family members, who were temporarily transferred to North Macedonia, have left for Canada. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Kosovo-Serbia dialogue attempts continue in Brussels. Kosovo and Serbia’s negotiating teams attempted to resume dialogue in Brussels on Tuesday, following the EU and US push for progress earlier this month. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian media suffered in 2021, International Press Institute. Media freedom continued to suffer in Albania in 2021 as the government increased its grip on the flow of information while police’s “heavy-handed action” also raised concerns, according to the International Press Institute’s 2021 report. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: EU ambassadors to sign off Russia sanctions package in the afternoon / European Commission to unveil Data Act, sustainable economy package / European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store / European Parliament delegation holds press conference in Warsaw after rule of law visit / Extraordinary European People’s Party (EPP) summit on the situation in Ukraine.
- Germany: German foreign Minister Baerbock meets her French counterpart Le Drian in berlin.
- Netherlands: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg meets Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague.
- Serbia: President Aleksandar Vučić to visit Spain during a one-day working visit where he will have separate talks with King Felipe and PM Pedro Sanchez, and attend the signing of an agreement on the purchase of two Airbus C-295 Casa transporter planes.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Alexandra Brzozowski, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
