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:
WARSAW
Socialists and Democrats (S&D) have always been able to cooperate with all pro-European forces in the European Parliament, but the centre-right European People’s Party’s movements towards collaboration with the far right oversteps our “pro-EU red line” and risks upsetting this delicate balance, Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the S&D group in the European Parliament, told EURACTIV Poland in an interview. Read more.
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OPINION
Pro-Europeans must advocate a radical vision for EU reform. With almost fifteen years passed since the entry into force of the EU’s current treaties, every day there is new evidence that an update and adaptation is needed, writes Guy Verhofstadt. Read more.
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BERLIN
Bavarian conservatives under fire over DeSantis visit. As the Bavarian Christian Democrats (CSU) launched their regional election campaign this weekend, leading party members faced backlash for recently paying a visit to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, known for far-right, anti-minority views. Read more.
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PARIS
French right-wing MPs want referendum to ‘control’ immigration. There needs to be a referendum on immigration to regain control of migration policy, according to two right-wing Les Républicains party lawmakers who speak of a context of migratory chaos. Read more.
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VIENNA
New Austrian right-wing coalition government favoured only by supporters. While a majority of Austrian voters would reject a new iteration of a right-wing FPÖ-ÖVP government, the voters of both parties appear to be in favour, with 81% of FPÖ voters and 61% of ÖVP voters in support of the move, according to a new survey conducted by ATV. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Report: Dutch scientists bribed by Saudi Arabia for international ratings. Two Dutch scientists accepted an offer to falsely change their main institute to Riyadh-based King Saud University (KSU), naming the university first in three publications a year, a report published on Saturday reads. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
UK Labour Party wins big among Brexit supporters in local elections. Support for the Labour Party was up by seven points compared with 2021 in the biggest Brexit-supporting wards, while the Conservative Party was down 5.5 points, according to an analysis of Thursday’s local election results. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Sweden lowers fossil fuel reduction targets, risks 2030 climate goals. Sweden’s ruling coalition decided on Sunday to lower the minimum fossil fuel emission reduction targets, a move criticised by the opposition as Sweden risks its 2030 climate goals, while the influential right-wing populist Sweden Democrats claim “victory”. Read more.
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HELSINKI
Researchers in Finland may have found cause of Parkison’s. A research group from Helsinki University named the strains of a bacteria called Desulfovibrio as a likely cause of Parkinson’s disease, according to an article originally published in the scientific journal Frontier in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Berlusconi gives most ‘anti-China’ speech ever. Former Italian prime minister and current Forza Italia President Silvio Berlusconi outlined his ideas for the party’s future, discussed next year’s EU elections, and levied harsh words against China in a video address he made before the Forza Italia convention in Milan. Read more.
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MADRID
Madrid’s regional president would prefer to govern alone if re-elected. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Madrid’s regional conservative president, would prefer to govern alone if re-elected on 28 May, even though forming a coalition with the far-right VOX would benefit Spain’s future interests, Ayuso told EURACTIV’s partner EFE in an exclusive interview. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech health minister: Patients are hostages of the pharma industry. The European Union must impose compulsory stockpiling of medicines on pharmaceutical companies as patients have become hostages of the pharmaceutical industry, Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09, EPP) said on Sunday. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak prime minister resigns, president to appoint a new government. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova will appoint a caretaker government on led by the economist and National Bank of Slovakia vice-chair Ľudovít Ódor on 15 May, after Acting Prime Minister Eduard Heger handed in his resignation over the weekend. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST | WARSAW
Russian fighter plane intercepts Polish aircraft over Black Sea, Romania confirms. A Russian Su-35 fighter jet intercepted a Polish L-410 Turbolet flying over the Black Sea during a routine Frontex patrol mission on Friday and performed ‘aggressive and dangerous’ manoeuvres in its vicinity, Romania’s Defence Ministry announced Saturday. Read more.
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SOFIA | SKOPJE
North Macedonia’s border police refuse entry to Bulgarian GERB MEP. Andrey Kovatchev, a Bulgarian MEP from former prime minister Boyko Borissov’s GERB party (EPP), and three people accompanying him were refused entry to North Macedonia over the weekend. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia’s only coal-fired plant likely to be sidelined for emergencies only. Šoštanj, the only remaining coal-fired power station in Slovenia, will likely only be operational in case of electricity shortages and high market prices until it is removed from the grid per the country’s coal plan to phase out coal by 2033, according to a senior energy executive. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia’s new renewables law envisages greater predictability for investors. Investors interested in renewable energies in Serbia will be provided greater predictability regarding costs and incentives, according to amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources law currently being reviewed in parliament. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albania puts biofuels law up for public consultation. The Albanian government has opened the consultation process on a law to promote the production and use of Renewable Energy Sources for the Transport sector through the use of biofuels for internal combustion engines as a part of the process of aligning with the EU acquis as a part of its path to EU membership. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis holds videoconference with Australian Special Minister of State and Minister for Trade and Tourism Hon Don Farrell;
- Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton visits ammunition factories in Spain;
- Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in the World Law Congress;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson chairs virtual high level Resettlement forum;
- Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli gives keynote speech at European summit on education transformation “Transform Ed”;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski participates in meeting of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the Polish Sejm in Warsaw;
- European Parliament Plenary Session convenes;
- Germany: Constitutional Court review of new aspects of rigged diesel engine case;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin hosts Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with EURACTIV
UK Labour Party wins big among Brexit supporters in local elections
Source: euractiv.com
