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.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
BERLIN
Germany should use Russian gas once the Ukraine war is over and keep nuclear plants running indefinitely, Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer said during Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck’s visit to the region on Tuesday. Read more.
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PARIS
France announces increased military aid to Ukraine. An increase in military and civilian aid to Ukraine was announced by the Elysée on Tuesday, which added that two future conferences on the topics would take place in Paris in mid-December. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian minister threatens asylum seekers involved in riots. Asylum denial procedures will be initiated against those involved in violent riots in Linz on Monday, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Netherlands urges Ukrainian refugees to collect proof of residence ASAP. The government is urging Ukrainian refugees who have not yet collected their proof of residency to do so as soon as possible. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Post-Brexit settlement scheme leaves EU nationals at risk of deportation, court told. The UK’s ‘settlement scheme’ for EU nationals living and working in Britain risks leaving 2.6 million people at unlawful risk of deportation; lawyers told the High Court in London. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Sweden, Finland does not rule out housing NATO nuclear weapons. Both Finland and Sweden do not rule out housing nuclear weapons on their soil when they join NATO, although the question is somewhat premature, according to the Swedish Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. Read more.
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HELSINKI
Finnish car tyre company moves operations from Russia to Romania. Finnish company Nokian Tyres announced plans to build a new passenger car tire factory in Romania on Tuesday, four days after the company sold its operations in Russia for €400 million. Read more.
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COPENHAGEN
Danes hand Social Democrats mandate to form government. Danes on Tuesday handed the Social Democratic Party a mandate to form a new government in a general election seen as a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s handling of the pandemic and her leadership to overcome yet another crisis. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spain’s electricity bill is more than double compared to EU-27 average. Electricity prices in Spain rose by 32.2% during the first half of 2022, an increase of more than double the average of other EU countries (13%), compared to the same period the year before, according to a publication by Eurostat. Read more.
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VALLETTA
Maltese MPs economical with truth in annual assets declaration. The Maltese government has come under fire for ministers, including Prime Minister Robert Abela, failing to correctly declare their assets as they are required to every year. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese PM to attend COP27 to discuss inclusive transition, climate finances. Prime Minister António Costa will advocate for a more inclusive transition and a more balanced distribution of climate finance during his attendance at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 7 and 8 November. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
EU Chips Act to get green light in December, says Czech presidency. The Czech EU Presidency could strike a deal among member states on the European Chips Act by the end of the year as negotiations near the final stages. Read more.
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WARSAW
Poland’s road accidents drop as traffic fines rise. Police have recorded a decrease in car accidents over the last three years, which may have been influenced by increased fines for traffic offences. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Commission warns Bulgaria not to circumvent EU oil sanctions. The Russian company Lukoil, owner of Bulgaria’s only refinery, should not try to circumvent the EU embargo and sell oil products produced from Russian oil abroad, a spokesperson of the European Commission told Bulgarian journalists in Brussels. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia’s sole oil refinery goes offline for five-month overhaul. Croatia’s only oil refinery will suspend its operations for a planned modernisation that will last from November until early April, the national oil concern INA said on Tuesday. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbian president scrambles fighter jets over ‘hostile drones’. President Aleksandar Vučić ordered the country’s MiG-29 jet fighters to take off and destroy suspect drones seen over southern Serbia on Tuesday, as tensions continue to rise with neighbouring Kosovo. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Serbian army on alert as license plate reprimands in Kosovo start. The army is on alert and all eyes are on the Mitrovica bridge in the Serb-majority town of the same name in the north of Kosovo following Pristina’s decision to gradually implement new laws on license plates. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albania steps up 5G aspirations with new draft law. The Albanian government is revising the electronic communications legal framework by putting forward a consultation for a new draft law, including a focus on 5G technology, which will bring local law in line with that of the EU. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Vice-President of the European Commission Vĕra Jourová addresses a high-level multi-stakeholder event on the future of the internet at the Prague Digital Council Conference; Holds meeting with Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Vladimír Balaš in Prague, Czech Republic;
- European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) delegation on an official visit to Warsaw holds meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Health, and of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, and members of the Polish parliament and senate on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights; MEP’s meet with representatives of organisations supporting refugee women and girls from Ukraine;
- Inquiry Committee on Pegasus and other spyware software of the European Parliament (PEGA) on an official visit to Greece and Cyprus, to meet with government officials, journalists targeted with spyware, data protection authorities and other stakeholders;
- European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund (EIB Group) Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix and delegation participate at the Web Summit 2022, the world’s largest annual technology and innovation conference, in Lisbon, Portugal;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets German federal State leaders;
- United Kingdom: Newly appointed British PM Rishi Sunak answers Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in parliament;
- WHO: Virtual press conference to be held on global health issues and climate change ahead of COP27;
- UN: General Assembly holds meeting on the US embargo against Cuba;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
