Bulgaria to sue Gazprom over suspended gas supplies

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 European Free Alliance (EFA)

Break down electoral thresholds: fair votes for fair representation

In elections all across Europe, democracy is limited by electoral thresholds. The result is parliaments that don’t reflect the real diversity of society. All voters are equal. Let’s make votes equal too.

Learn more >>

In today’s news from the Capitals:

SOFIA

The Bulgarian Energy Ministry is preparing an arbitration claim against Russian state gas company Gazprom for suspending gas supplies in April 2022 after Bulgaria refused to pay in Russian rubles, announced the caretaker government’s Energy Minister Rossen Hristov on Tuesday. Read more.

///

EU INSTITUTIONS

European Commission body ‘biased’, Ombudsman and EU lawmakers step in. As recent research conclusions and MEP complaints showcase the European Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board’s (RSB) alleged bias and lack of transparency within the EU legislative process, the European Ombudsman is set to investigate. Read more.

Germany, Spain slam Commission over Ukraine import restrictions. The European Commission’s decision to extend restrictions on the import of certain Ukrainian agricultural products has been met with criticism by the governments in Berlin and Madrid, who stressed the importance of continuing to support the war-torn country. Read more.

///

PARIS

French MPs approve six-year €413bn military budget bill. The French National Assembly approved a €413 billion military budget bill for 2024-2030 at first reading on Wednesday, with extra lines of credit for nuclear and ammunition to Ukraine. Read more.

///

BERLIN

Scholz to enforce spending cuts in ministries amid coalition clashes. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will reportedly enforce spending cuts across the federal ministries unless ministers justify their opposition after the Green and liberal coalition partners clashed over the topic. Read more.

///

VIENNA

Austria sends police officers, soldiers to EU Moldova mission. Austria will send police officers and soldiers to bolster Moldova’s crisis management structures by addressing challenges such as disinformation and cyber attacks as part of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova. Read more.

///

THE HAGUE

Rutte admits not doing enough in Groningen earthquake saga but won’t step down. Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) admitted that his efforts to mitigate impact of gas extraction in the province of Groningen were insufficient during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, where he ignored demands to step down. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Finnish labour unions concerned over possible right-wing government. Finland’s labour unions now fear that the likely future four-party right-wing government may upset their traditionally strong role in collective bargaining and weaken worker benefits, following a recent media leak relaying rumours from government formation talks. Read more.

///

COPENHAGEN

Denmark’s Frederiksen continues to dispel NATO top job rumours. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is trying to dispel widespread rumours about her potentially replacing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg later this year following her visit to Washington on Monday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Spain’s ruling PSOE unveils top candidate as time for alliances runs short. The socialist PSOE party unveiled the names of two of the progressive formation’s top candidates to accompany party leader and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchz ahead of the general election due on 23 July, while left parties Sumar and Unidas Podemos now have little time left to join forces. Read more.

///

ROME

Migration, energy, trade on agenda of Italy-Libya meet. Migration, energy and trade were all discussed between the Libyan government delegation, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her counterparts in Rome on Wednesday. Read more.

///

LISBON

Portuguese environment minister praises forest, anti-fire investments. Environment and Climate Action Minister Duarte Cordeiro highlighted the now more than €450 million ongoing investments in the forest area, including fire prevention, at a regular hearing in the parliamentary committee on agriculture and fisheries Wednesday. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Polish government won’t close Turów mine despite court ruling. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki vowed to resist attempts to close the Turow lignite mine, a subject of conflict between Poland and Czechia, despite a court order ruling the suspension of work. Read more.

///

PRAGUE

Russian propaganda targets Czechia, emulates Slovak success. Czech secret services have warned government policymakers that Russian propaganda will use the resources and practices that have been successful in Slovakia and begin to focus more on Czechia in the coming months. Read more.

///

BRATISLAVA

NATO chief defends Ukrainian-support campaign after Fico calls it ‘election meddling’. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg defended a NATO information campaign that is meant to raise support for Ukraine in Slovakia after former prime minister and poll leader Robert Fico criticised it, saying it would be a direct interference in the election campaign. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Romania’s social-democrat leader proposes new concept of economic patriotism. The new concept of economic patriotism that aims to produce and consume as many Romanian goods as possible were presented by Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of the Social Democrat Party (PSD), before Romanian farmers on Wednesday. Read more.

///

SKOPJE

Long-awaited constitutional changes pending approval by Macedonian government. A set of constitutional amendments that would pave the way for North Macedonia to continue its stalled EU accession process are under review by the government and could be passed to parliament by Friday, but there, they are likely to hit a brick wall. Read more.

///

TIRANA

Albania arrests one former official, releases another on house arrest. Four years after being declared persona non grata by the United States State Department, former mayor of Durres Vangjush Dako was arrested in Albania for abuse of office, along with up to 10 other former officials, while a previously imprisoned ex-interior minister was released on house arrest. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Justice and Home Affairs Council convenes to discuss asylum and migration, fight against organised crime, media freedom and more;
European Commission presents proposal for independent ethics body for the EU institutions;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič chairs the Fit For Future Platform Plenary meeting;
Vice President Vĕra Jourová meets President of the European Economic and Social Committee Oliver Röpke; Speaks at the European Citizens’ Initiative Day 2023: “Upskilling citizens for a successful ECI with impact!”;
Vice President Dubravka Šuica attends the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) general assembly;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in “EU Due Diligence Legislation – Achieving Impact” event organised by the RBC working group of the European Parliament;
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi hosts UN Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Cindy Mc Cain; Receives delegation of the Parliament of Armenia;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers keynote speech at “30 renewable energy islands 2030 initiative” event of the Clean Energy for EU islands Forum 2023;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in the “Making Skills Count” event organised by the European Commission;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness gives opening remarks at event on sanctions circumvention, organised by Commission´s Directorate General for Financial Affairs (DG FISMA);
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen hosts Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN) Afshan Khan;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, in Kazakhstan, participates in the Astana International Forum;
Italy: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on official visit;