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 “A preview of EU’s seventh sanctions package on Russia, to be agreed by next week“, by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
Good morning from HELSINKI
Efforts to find a solution for troubled German energy giant Uniper’s financial problems are turning into an arm wrestling match between Helsinki and Berlin. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
A preview of EU’s seventh sanctions package on Russia, to be agreed by next week. The EU is preparing to unveil and approve a new round of sanctions on Russia within a week, which are expected to ban importing Russian gold imports and close existing loopholes, EURACTIV has learnt. Read more.
EU solidarity tested as Hungary bans gas exports in emergency move. Hungary on Wednesday (13 July) declared a “state of energy emergency”, announcing it would halt gas exports to neighbouring countries in a move aimed at securing the country’s energy supply amid dwindling gas deliveries from Russia. Read more.
Uber Files gives new impetus to discussions on platform workers directive. The revelations of Uber’s opaque lobbying tactics are bound to affect the negotiations on the platform workers’ directive, with those asking for stronger social protection ready to capitalise on them. Read more.
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PARIS
Health bill first stress test of Macron’s minority government. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said she would “fight” to ensure the parties in parliament back the government’s new health bill after the left-right alliance rejected border control provisions. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany aims to boost resilience one year after catastrophic floods. The government has agreed on a resilience strategy meant to improve preparedness and response to disasters and emergencies, one year after unprecedented floods took the country by surprise. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Russia to stop using Dutch robot arm on International Space Station. The Dutch-made robot arm worth €360 million will no longer be used by Russia at the International Space Station (ISS), Moscow’s space agency director ordered on Wednesday. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Protocol bill moves forward despite Tory rebellion. The bill designed to override the terms of the Northern Ireland protocol was passed unamended by UK lawmakers in the House of Commons as it began its latest stage of scrutiny on Wednesday. Read more.
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Trade minister emerges as surprise contender in Tory leadership race. Trade minister Penny Mordaunt has emerged as the candidate with the most momentum in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and Conservative party leader. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Dublin to launch historic expansion of defence spending. The Irish government has unveiled a new plan to see spending on the country’s defence forces increase from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, the largest expansion in the country’s history. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
VILNIUS
Lithuania welcomes Brussels’ update on Kaliningrad sanctions. Lithuania has welcomed the European Commission’s update on transit sanctions between Russia’s mainland and its exclave but continues calling for the stricter sanctions. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Draghi’s coalition government nearing collapse. Five-Star Movement’s refusal to vote on the crucial Aid Decree for which a vote is set for Thursday could spell the demise of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s coalition government. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal to receive €23 billion in EU cohesion funds to attract investments. Portugal will receive €23 billion in EU funds to raise its attractiveness to investors, according to a partnership agreement to be announced by the European Commission on Thursday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Abortion activist stands trial in Poland. The second hearing for Justyna Wydrzyńska, a Polish activist for abortion and human rights who has been charged with ‘aiding and abetting abortion’ will be held on Thursday. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungarian tax reform protests swell. Thousands protested in Budapest late into the night on Wednesday after the Hungarian parliament speedily passed a tax reform bill the previous day, affecting hundreds of thousands of freelancers and business owners. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Ukraine pledges green commitments during EU meeting in Prague. Ukraine is committed to the European Green Deal and wants to restore the country in line with EU climate policy despite the war’s devastating environmental effects, Kyiv’s Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets told his EU counterparts at Wednesday’s informal ministerial meeting in Prague. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Leading expert slams Slovak government’s winter gas assurances. Slovakia is unlikely to have enough reserves to allow for enough gas this winter if Russia does not renew supplies via Nord Stream, said leading energy analyst Karel Hirman in response to Economy Minister Richard Sulik’s promises. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BELGRADE
Young Serbs oppose Russia sanctions, look East. Young Serbs prefer the East to the West and do not condemn Russia for its role in the war in Ukraine, a recent survey conducted by the National Youth Council of Serbia has found. Read more.
Serbia fails to join new EU sanctions against Iran. Serbia is the Western Balkan’s only EU membership candidate that has not joined the bloc’s new restrictive measures against Iran. Read more.
Denials over interior minister’s call for Unified Serbia. A unified Serbia is not official government policy said Deputy Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović in response to comments by Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin who previously called for Serbs to live in one state. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria ratifies Sweden, Finland NATO membership. Parliament on Wednesday ratified the accession protocols necessary for Sweden and Finland to officially join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania speeds up NATO ratification process for Sweden, Finland. The government adopted a draft law on the ratification of Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership during its Wednesday meeting. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian prime minister calls for Kosovo’s integration into NATO. Prime Minister Edi Rama used the press conference meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday to call for the inclusion of neighbouring Kosovo in the alliance’s Partnership for Peace programme. Read more.
Agenda
- EU: Informal meeting of environment ministers, EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council, informal meeting of European affairs ministers.
- European Commission releases latest EU economic forecasts.
- Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides meets Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.
- Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi participates in EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council.
- EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell meets with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ranko Krivokapić.
- European Parliament committee meetings.
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts the sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur al-Sa’id, in Berlin.
- France: Bastille Day
- Belgium: National tribute to victims of July 2021 floods in Wallonia.
- Netherlands: EU and International Criminal Court to give press conference about war crimes probe in Ukraine.
- Verdict and sentencing in case of two men accused of killing Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries.
- Sweden: Verdict in war crimes trial of Iranian ex-official Hamid Noury.
- Spain: Expected first reading vote of deputies on law concerning the violation of human rights by the Franco dictatorship.
- Poland: Moldovan President Maia Sandu visits.
- World: World Chimpanzee Day.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Maksimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Eleonora Vasques]
Source: euractiv.com
