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.
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In today’s news from the Capitals:
SOFIA. While Bulgaria and Hungary are the only NATO and EU countries that officially refuse to send military aid to Ukraine, Bulgaria was revealed to be one of the biggest indirect suppliers to the war-torn country, selling a record amount of weapons since the start of the war. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgium to legislate against femicide. The government has decided that femicide will receive a special designation in penal law following the murder of a young Spanish woman in Brussels at the hands of her former partner. Read more.
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BERLIN
German interior minister visits Qatar despite diplomatic tensions. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser decided to stick to her travel plans despite a diplomatic spat over critical comments she made regarding the upcoming FIFA football world cup in Qatar. Read more.
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PARIS
French PM confirms tripartite talks over future pipeline deal with Portugal, Spain. Conversations continue over a future interconnection deal – known as the BarMar deal – French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Saturday, with a tripartite meeting due to take place in December. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria secures winter gas supply. Austria’s gas storage reserves are at 90% capacity, implying Austria’s annual consumption is secured as the government touts its efforts to diversify gas suppliers, acquire extra gas, and fill gas storage facilities. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch received over 10,000 asylum applications in Q3. Over 10,000 applications were submitted by asylum seekers in the Netherlands during the third quarter of 2022, over 3,000 more applications than the previous quarter. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
DUBLIN
Protesters call for reform of Ireland’s abortion laws. A reform of Irish abortion laws to make accessing services easier was called for by protesters in Dublin this weekend. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Weapons sent to Ukraine may have ended up in Finnish underground. Weapons sent to Ukraine may have found their way back to Finland and have ended up in the hands of the criminal underground, including motorcycle gangs, according to the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Sweden to finally send advanced weapons to Ukraine. Sweden will deliver more advanced weaponry to Ukraine as an illustration of its new defence policy, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson announced on Sunday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
VALLETTA
MEP calls out Malta for selling passport to man linked to Pegasus spyware. Malta has come under fire for selling its citizenship to executives behind spyware companies, particularly those used in the EU such as Pegasus, according to MEP Sophie in t’ Veld in the latest blow to the country’s scheme. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greek PM on alert as EU parliament ‘predator’ mission goes to Athens. Pressure is mounting on the Greek government ahead of the European Parliament’s PEGA mission to Athens on 2 November, in which explanations will be requested regarding the Greek executive’s role in using illegal Predator spyware against journalists and politicians. Read more.
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MADRID
Over 1.5 million Spaniards use 40% of their income to pay debts. High inflation and rising interest rates are increasingly endangering the situation of Spanish households, and those who spend more than 40% of their income on debt repayments could now exceed 1.5 million. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
EU may block Polish nuclear investment, warns opposition. After a contract with American Westinghouse company to build the country’s first nuclear plant was announced by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the Left opposition warned that the investment could face problems due to non-compliance with EU rules. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Indicted former Czech PM announces presidential candidacy. Former Czech Prime Minister and ANO party leader Andrej Babiš, who faces EU subsidy fraud charges, will run for president, he announced on Sunday. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Far-right stumbles in Slovak municipal elections. Political commentators agree that far-right and extremist forces are the losers of the municipal elections, as only a single representative from several far-right parties were elected to the city council. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
PRISTINA
UK increases pressure on Kosovo despite compromise on license plates. A government announcement to implement the license plate rule in stages until April was not enough to quell pressure on Pristina, as the UK – which faces independence movements from all angles – is still pushing them to submit to Belgrade’s demands in other areas. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Most Croats support Ukraine, but not training of troops. Around 70% of Croats think Ukraine is right and Russia wrong in their current war, according to a survey by Ipsos pollster published by Nova TV and Dnevnik.hr. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian chestnut farmers struggle as consumers cut back on nuts. Albanians who relied on the sale of wild chestnuts for income are suffering this winter as the cost per kilo drops by up to 60% due to a decrease in demand, according to farmers at the Chestnut Festival held in the city of Elbasan. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Deadline for European member-states to update energy contingency plans expires;
- Trade ministers hold an informal meeting on the geostrategic importance of trade, digital trade, and trade relations with the USA in Prague, Czech Republic;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addresses the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malta European Meet-Up;
- European Parliament’s Special Committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (INGE 2) delegation holds talks with a series of experts, including at the UN, between 31 October and 3 November in NY, USA;
- ILO: Report on the impact of economic turbulence and war in Ukraine gets published;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin hosts a meeting with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev;
- Uzbekistan: German FM Annalena Baerbock on an official visit;
- United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) conference begins;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
