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.
Today’s edition is powered by WeMove Europe
Europeans are struggling to stay warm
Imagine not being able to heat your home, put on a wash or even make a cup of tea – because your electricity company cut you off. This could be the reality for millions of people struggling with bills this Christmas. The Commission must act!
Continue Reading >>
In today’s news from the Capitals:
Most Slovak citizens have negative views about taking in refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine, a sharp contrast compared to citizens in other Visegrad Four countries, according to a new report recently published by the Globsec think tank. Read more.
///
EU INSTITUTIONS
Nine EU countries need pension reform. Nine EU countries have not explicitly committed to pension reforms in their recovery and resilience plans despite Commission recommendations on the matter from the 2019 European Semester, according to Commission documents and declarations made to EURACTIV. Read more.
Kaili removed as EU Parliament VP following corruption scandal. In an almost unanimous vote, EU lawmakers removed Eva Kaili as vice president of the European Parliament on Tuesday, following the so-called Qatargate, one of the biggest corruption scandals in the EU’s history. Read more.
EU seals agreement on world’s first carbon tariff. EU negotiators reached an agreement early on Tuesday morning that will pave the way for Europe to set up the world’s first levy on carbon-intensive goods entering its market. Read more.
Banks escape EU due diligence obligation on deforestation, again. Banks will be exempt from the EU’s recently-adopted due diligence rules. Unlike companies, they will not be affected by the import ban on deforestation-related products, despite reports pointing to them investing in companies allegedly contributing to the practice. Read more.
///
BERLIN
German police cracks down on climate activists. Police forces across Germany have searched the homes of climate activists linked to the “Last Generation” movement, which in turn accused prosecutors of attempting to intimidate protesters. Read more.
///
PARIS
French companies join EU governments in €1 billion Ukraine pledge. Heads of state and more than 700 French companies gathered in Paris on Tuesday to make a €1 billion pledge for the reconstruction of Ukraine and helping Ukrainians “resist through the winter, announced President Emmanuel Macron. Read more.
///
BRUSSELS
Wallonia seeks to renew parliament amid scandals. Walloon parliament’s Bureau and its President Jean-Claude Marcourt resigned on Tuesday following a series of scandals involving a trip to Dubai, with Marcourt announcing that the resignation will be effective once a new Bureau is appointed. Read more.
///
THE HAGUE
Dutch record fewer asylum applications amid ongoing backlog. The number of asylum applications recorded in November has dropped to those similar to July, according to a report published by the Justice and Security Ministry on Tuesday despite the backlog having grown since September. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
DUBLIN
Dublin approves plan to tackle energy poverty. The government approved on Tuesday its plan to tackle energy poverty and to help the poorest households adequately heat their homes amid cold snaps and rising energy bills. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland plans to increase grain stocks amid food security concerns. Finland has announced plans to increase its grain stocks in response to global grain shortages caused by the war in Ukraine that are expected to still disrupt food security next year. Read more.
///
STOCKHOLM
Planned wind farms in north Sweden risk big problems for industry. Large offshore wind farms planned to be built in the bay of Bothnia could pose a problem for shipping routes particularly during the harsh winter when icebreakers are needed to clear the way, according to the Swedish Maritime Administration. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Lawyer claims Eva Kaili followed EU Parliament chief’s orders in Qatar. Qatar had no need to bribe socialist MEP Eva Kaili as the latter was implementing a wider EU plan and was getting orders from EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Kaili’s lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos alleged on Tuesday. Read more.
///
MADRID
Amnesty International says Spain, Morocco used ‘unlawful force’ in Melilla incident. Moroccan and Spanish security forces used “unlawful force” and failed to provide sufficient medical assistance after migrants stormed the border fence between Morocco and Spain’s north-African enclave of Melilla in June, according to an Amnesty International report published Tuesday. Read more.
///
LISBON
Portugal helps Ukraine keep heat and lights on. Portugal will send generators, heaters and LED lamps to Ukraine as part of the Paris Mechanism for enhanced coordination of international aid, Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho announced on Tuesday in the French capital. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech president still hopes for an embassy in Jerusalem. Czech President Miloš Zeman would like to visit Israel and move the Czech Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem despite the EU and the country’s foreign ministry opposing the idea. Read more.
///
WARSAW
Polish parliament committee rejects ruling camp’s Russian influence bill. The ruling Law and Justice Party’s proposal to set up a special committee to investigate Russian influence in public life, which the opposition said would be used as a tool to prosecute political opponents, failed to make it past a committee vote on Tuesday. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
PRISTINA
Kosovo to sign EU membership application on Thursday. Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca will jointly sign the application for EU membership on Thursday, marking the first formal step on the country’s membership path. Read more.
///
SOFIA
Bulgaria’s Radev urges Lockheed Martin to cooperate, transfer tech after F-16 deal. President Rumen Radev has asked US company Lockheed Martin to start industrial cooperation and technology transfer programmes so that Bulgaria can fully use the F-16 fighter jets it purchased as part of its army modernisation pledge. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST
Romania’s inflation rate soars to record highs as food prices continue to grow. Romania’s consumer prices continued to grow in November, while the inflation rate reached a new record high of 16.8% – the highest in the past 20 years. Read more.
///
LJUBLJANA
Slovenia receives German lorries as part of Ukraine swap deal. Slovenia has received forty tactical lories produced by Rheinmetall MAN from Germany for which it sent 28 M55S tanks to Ukraine as part of a swap deal agreed to earlier this year. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
US envoy says Washington ‘categorically’ against Serb troops in Kosovo. Washington is categorically against the idea, floated by Belgrade, to allow Serbian troops to return to the troubled north of Kosovo, Gabriel Escobar, special US envoy for the Western Balkans, said on Tuesday. Read more.
///
SKOPJE | TIRANA | PRISTINA
Skopje, Tirana, Pristina agree on joint protected area. Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia have signed an agreement on a common protected area, creating Europe’s largest cross-border park, spanning over 240,000 hectares. Read more.
///
TIRANA
UK announces crackdown on migrants, Albanians, PM reacts. According to a new deal put forward by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, British border officials will be stationed at the Albanian border and a new taskforce of 400 specialists will be set up to process Albanian asylum claims, news that elicited a sharp reaction from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Commemorative Summit to mark the 45th anniversary of the first ever EU and ASEAN member states’ leaders’ meeting; Agenda highlights include trade, the Indo-pacific and more; Joint statement expected;
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the European Parliament plenary debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022;
- Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis participates in the ECB Governing Council, in Frankfurt;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on an official visit to Washington, participates in the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) ministerial meeting and meets government representatives;
- International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen participates in the 24th EU-NGO Forum 2022;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates in the Parliament’s Conference of Presidents; Gives joint press conference with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Laureates;
- European Parliament plenary votes on the mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund: assistance to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Greece, EU association agreement with Georgia, prospects for the two-State solution for Israel-Palestine and more;
- MEPs hold press conferences on upcoming “Jumbo trilogue” – possible agreement on ETS and Social Climate Fund, allegations of corruption in the European Parliament;
- Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson addresses parliament on Swedish EU presidency;
- Turkey: Hearing in trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu accused of ‘insulting’ election officials;
- United States: Fed Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference at end of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting;
- WHO: Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hosts a press conference;
***
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
