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In today’s news from the Capitals:
Germany will only agree to the accession of new member states if this process is accompanied by a reform of the EU in order not to jeopardise the bloc’s ability to act, said Jörg Kukies, state secretary at the Federal Chancellery and top adviser to Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a EURACTIV event. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch municipalities want long-term plan for Ukrainian refugees. Municipalities have asked the government to provide greater clarity regarding its long-term plan to continue accommodating Ukrainian refugees should future migration waves occur. Read more.
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PARIS
Youth must be roused against far-right, apathy says French youth minister. As fundamental rights are under threat across the bloc and more extreme political ideologies make their way to the mainstream, it is more important than ever to galvanise youth in France and the whole bloc, French Secretary of State for Youth Sarah El Haïry told EURACTIV France in an interview. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
12 detained following Belgium-Morocco World Cup riots in Brussels. Belgian police detained a dozen people and made one arrest on Sunday after Morocco’s victory over Belgium in the World Cup match in Qatar triggered riots in Brussels that saw electric scooters and a car set on fire. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Brexit compounded UK’s shortage of doctors, says study. Brexit has compounded a shortage of doctors in Britain, with an estimated shortfall of 4,000 in major speciality areas from EU countries, a study published Sunday said. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish fur industry going out of fashion. A recent survey shows that a growing number of Finns are ready to ban the practice of fur farming though quite a few said they would continue backing the practice if animal welfare were improved. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Greek parliament investigates ‘Watergate’ spying scandal. The Greek parliament’s inquiry committee will hold a crucial meeting on Monday to investigate the wiretapping scandal which has rocked the country, with the Greek prime minister’s former chief of staff and nephew, Grigoris Dimitriadis, set to testify. Read more.
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ROME
Feminists protest against Meloni over abortion rights. Feminists protested in Rome against new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, calling her a fascist and saying her government threatens the right to abortion in the country. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish PM elected president of key global socialist group. Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Pedro Sánchez on Friday was elected president of Socialist International, the worldwide organisation of political parties seeking to establish democratic socialism. Read more.
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VALLETTA
Abortion will remain illegal in Malta, penalties will apply says PM. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that abortion will remain illegal in Malta and anyone found abusing new legislation designed to allow pregnant mothers to be treated even if such treatment could result in a termination, will face legal consequences. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
Slovakia’s solar industry profits surge amid biogas shutdown fears. As electricity prices continue to increase sharply, the profit margins of Slovakia’s photovoltaic power plants are also rising, while the less successful biogas power plants will likely have to shut down if the situation does not change. Read more.
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WARSAW | BERLIN
Germany ups budget for Polish classes to boost rocky relations. The Bundestag adopted its 2023 budget that will, for the first time, include funds to finance teaching Polish at the mother tongue level for immigrants in a ‘first step’ to mend relations that have been on ice since the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungarian petrol stations hit by shortages, Budapest affected. Several big petrol stations around Hungary, including the capital of Budapest, are experiencing fuel shortages as a price cap on fuel for private consumption shows signs of affecting supply. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech organisations warn of homelessness surge amid energy crisis. Homelessness organisations have warned that more Czech citizens are seeking refuge in homeless shelters as they face financial difficulties linked to the energy crisis. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
LJUBLJANA
Slovenian government victorious in opposition-led referendum vote. Slovenia’s ruling coalition has deflected a major challenge from the opposition as voters confirmed three laws in Sunday’s referendum which many saw as a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Robert Golob’s government. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgarian parliament OKs US fighter jet deal despite pro-Russian opposition. Parliament approved the purchase of eight more US F-16 fighter jets of the latest Block 70/72 version after a heated political debate on Friday, resulting in the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party and the extreme pro-Russian Revival voting against the deal and accusing the majority of selling out the country’s interests. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbian FM says ‘nothing wrong’ with nationalist flag in football dressing room. As Serbia is to face disciplinary measures from FIFA for making political statements against Kosovo in a dressing room at the World Cup, the country’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic called the football body hypocrites and doubled down on the statement. Read more.
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PRISTINA | TIRANA
Albania, Kosovo hold joint parliamentary session, celebrate Albanian independence. Albania and Kosovo held a joint parliamentary session in Tirana on Sunday to mark 110 years of Albanian independence, with prime ministers from both governments taking to the floor to address the current geopolitical tensions and matters facing Albanians at home and abroad. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian centre right causes stir with homophobic, ‘Soros’ statement. Albania’s centre-right Democratic Party caused outrage over the weekend after the Head of the Secretariat for Human Rights, Bislim Ahmetaj, called the LGBTIQ community poison and said it is pushing propaganda from George Soros. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Foreign Affairs Council in its development configuration discusses the Africa-Europe partnership; Other agenda highlights include the EU-AU Summit follow-up, global food insecurity, and crisis response with a focus on Ukraine and Afghanistan;
- Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council discusses the European Year of Youth 2022, solidarity with Ukraine and more; Commissioner Mariya Gabriel participates;
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen co-chairs with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki the 11th Commission-to-Commission meeting between the European Union and the African Union;
- Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager holds meetings with EU Court of Justice President Koen Lenaerts and judges;
- EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell delivers a keynote address at the Brussels Indo-Pacific Forum;
- SME assembly organised by the Commission in cooperation with the Czech Presidency takes place in Prague;
- Pan-European meeting of start-ups and companies involved in space activities, Space2Business: European Space Startup Community Conference take place;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola attends Digital Opportunity for Europe: Rights, Values, Information event in Milan; Attends the inauguration of the European Parliament’s Forum for Academic Freedom, in Brussels;
- The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights debates setting up an international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, presents an in-depth analysis of the matter;
- Belgium: The seventh session of the Kyiv Investment Forum, with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, takes place in Brussels;
- Netherlands: Organisation for Chemical Weapons opens 28th Conference of States Parties;
- Romania: President Klaus Iohannis and NATO general secretary Stoltenberg hold a press conference;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin hosts Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev;
- ECB: Chief Christine Lagarde testifies before the European Parliament;
- UN: Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
