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.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
Thank you for reading today’s edition, the last one before the Capitals go on summer holidays. We will be back on 22 August.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
Good morning from Istanbul,
Turkish media has reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed interest in acquiring French top-generation Rafales fighter jets in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on 16 July.
The call was not on Macron’s public agenda. Contacted by EURACTIV, the French Ministry of Defence stated it had “no comments to make on this issue”. Dassault Aviation, which produces Rafales, did not reply to EURACTIV’s request for comments. Read more.
///
PARIS
Macron mourns Draghi’s departure. French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute on Thursday to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose resignation opens a period of uncertainty, according to French EU Minister Laurence Boone. Read more.
///
BERLIN
Gas guidelines from Brussels leaves German industry cautiously relieved. The European Commission has released its guidelines on how to allocate fossil gas in times of shortage, giving significant leeway to EU countries – leaving German industry carefully optimistic. Read more. ///
LONDON
UK spy chief doubts Iran supreme leader will back nuclear deal. Britain’s spy chief voiced doubt Thursday that a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran can be revived, saying Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained opposed despite marathon diplomacy with the United States. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland continues to coordinate development of European ground combat capabilities. The European Commission has approved €95 million for the second phase of the European Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems (FAMOUS) project, which aims to develop the technologies and performance of future armoured vehicles and improve their ground combat capabilities. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Sánchez reshuffles Socialist Party ahead of elections. After a politically significant defeat in Andalusia, Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez announced on Thursday a revamp of his party with an eye on next year’s general election. Read more.
///
ROME
Italians set to go to the polls on 25 September. Early elections in Italy are scheduled on 25 September, after President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament on Thursday following Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s report on Wednesday’s vote in the Senate and resignation. Read more.
///
LISBON
More recycled water, increase in renewable energy, says Portuguese government. Environment Minister Duarte Cordeiro has promised a radical increase in the production of renewable energy in Portugal, more licensing for recycled water, and a strategic environmental assessment of projects to strengthen the flow in the mid-section of the Tagus river. Read more.
///
ATHENS
Greek public debt rises to exceed €357 billion. Greek public debt has increased significantly compared to last year and amid the global price crunch and high inflation, putting the total debt level at 193% of the GDP, leading to concerns that the country could be heading towards a financial crash. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Polish lawmakers eye lease of German nuclear power plants. A proposal by left-wing parliamentarians to save Germany’s nuclear power plants from extinction has been warmly welcomed by most opposition parties. Read more.
///
PRAGUE
European Commission closes ex-PM Babiš unlawful subsidy case. The European Commission found conflicts of interest in the distribution of EU funds, and as a result, Czechia will have these amounts deducted from future subsidies. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
New prospects for forming government in Bulgaria. The chances of a new government being formed are growing after President Rumen Radev handed a mandate to form a government to the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which has managed to bring the populist ‘There Is Such a People’ party, which left the ruling coalition in mid-June, back to the negotiating table. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST
Romanian government prepares budget revision. The government plans to revise this year’s budget in the first half of August, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday. Read more.
///
ZAGREB
Croatia to present energy reduction guidelines next week. Recommendations and guidelines for reducing energy consumption will be presented by the government next week, Economy Minister Davor Filipović said on Thursday. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
Ukrainian ambassador hopes new Serbian cabinet will join Russian sanctions. Ukraine is counting on more support from Serbia, and the country will introduce sanctions against Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Tolkach said on Thursday, adding that he hoped this would happen when the new cabinet was formed. Read more.
///
SKOPJE
Macedonian government implements measures to deal with economic crisis. New measures to deal with the economic crisis, including a ban on the export of wheat, flour, wood, and pellets while also removing the tax for importing oil for household use until the end of the year, were approved by the government of North Macedonia on Wednesday. Read more.
///
TIRANA
Albania has two countries in crosshairs following cyberattack. The cyberattack that has paralysed government websites since last Friday was coordinated by another country, but there was no ransom, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama. Read more.
///
UK sanctions unnamed Albanians for organised crime and corruption. The UK has designated several Albanian citizens for their involvement in organised crime and corruption, according to a statement by Sir Stuart Peach, the Special Envoy to the Western Balkans. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Commissioner Vĕra Jourová meets the President of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil in Prague.
- Commissioner Mairead McGuinness in Riga, Latvia.
- Netherlands: UN’s top court rules on whether it has the jurisdiction to consider a case accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya.
- Czech Republic: Demolition of pig farm on the site of a WWII Roma concentration camp begins to make room for a memorial.
- Russia: Central Bank meeting with decisions on rates.
- United States: Public hearing on the US Capitol assault.
***
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Alexandra Brzozowski, Sofia Stuart Leeson]
Source: euractiv.com
