Far-right VOX tries to promote Spain’s ‘civilising’ role in Latin America

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

MADRID

Spain wants to lead the future EU relations with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), but while majority parties, centre-left PSOE (S&D) and centre-right PP (EPP), avoid talking about Spain’s colonial past and leftist SUMAR (Left/Greens) is vaguely calling for “common reflection”, far-right VOX (ECR) pushes its patriotic agenda to protect Spain’s “legacy” in Latin America. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Leaked draft report suggests glyphosate in line for EU re-approval. A leaked EU draft report on the renewal of EU approval for the controversial herbicide glyphosate suggests it could be approved as early as September, a timeline lambasted by green campaign groups as ‘undemocratic’. Read more.

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VIENNA

Resistance increases over Austria’s ‘no’ to Mercosur deal. Pressure to ratify the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is mounting on Austrian chancellor Karl Nehmanner, as the industry and the parts of his own party urged him to lift his veto. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany wants to persuade France over merits of EU-Mercosur deal. The German government wants to convince a hesitant France that the merits of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement – currently being discussed at the EU-CELAC summit – are worthwhile, Franziska Brantner, the parliamentary state secretary in charge of trade at the Economy Ministry, told EURACTIV in an interview. Read more.

EU election: German Left nominates migration activist as lead candidate. Activist Carola Rackete, who rose to prominence as captain of an NGO search and rescue boat, was nominated on Monday as one of the two lead candidates for the German Left Party for next year’s EU election. Read more.

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PARIS

French Academy of Medicine supports assisted suicide under certain conditions. The authority responsible for advising the government on public health matters came out in favour of assisted suicide in exceptional cases, listing conditions and excluding euthanasia from its recommendations. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch Greens, Labour Party, agree on joint election programme. The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA/S&D) and GroenLinks (GL/Greens) will present a joint electoral list and programme for the national elections in November, the two parties announced on Monday after a referendum among party members showed overwhelming support for the idea. Read more.

UK & IRELAND

LONDON

UK government confirms EU Settlement Scheme extension. People with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically have their status extended in September by two years before it expires if they have not obtained settled status, according to the New Immigration Rules presented in parliament on Monday. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Swedish PM ‘not worried’ about Turkey delaying NATO ratification. Sweden is not worried about Turkey not having yet approved or given any information about when it would ratify Sweden’s NATO application, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told the press Monday, despite Ankara last week promising to give the go ahead. Read more.

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OSLO

Norway set to temporarily ban behavioural ads on Facebook, Instagram. The Meta-owned social media platforms will face a temporary three-month ban on behavioural advertising based on extensive user profiling in Norway starting on 4 August, following a ruling of the EU Court of Justice that found the practice lacked a legal basis. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Salvini wants ‘fiscal peace’ by scrapping citizens’ small debts. League leader Matteo Salvini believes Italians are hostages of the Tax Agency and that citizens’ small debts should be scrapped by asking only for partial payment. Read more.

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MADRID

Spanish youth not represented by politicians: study. Six in 10 young Spaniards do not feel represented in their country’s political system, but 86% of those eligible to vote will go to the polls on Sunday in the general elections, a study published by the Youth Council reveals. Read more.

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ATHENS

Wildfires burn homes near Athens, residents flee. Two wildfires, fanned by strong winds, raged uncontrolled through coastal towns near Athens on Monday (17 July) forcing residents to flee their homes and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of children from a summer camp. Read more.

VISEGRAD

PRAGUE

Czech EU minister: making Europe a Federation will make it an equal global player. Europe will become an equal player in the worldwide format only when it becomes a federation, Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák told EURACTIV.cz in an exclusive interview. Read more.

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WARSAW

Polish judges’ association worried about judges who convicted neo-Nazis. Iustitia, an organisation for the rights of judges and the protection of the rule of law in Poland, has announced that it is demanding the protection of the judge who handed down the verdict in the case of the Neo-Nazi hooligans convicted of attacking a member of the LGBT community. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovak farmers call for regulations to protect farms from bear attacks. Farmers, foresters, and several politicians are calling for regulation on brown bears as their attacks on farms and humans have reportedly increased. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian weapons exports up 200% since Ukraine war. Bulgarian arms exports increased by 200% in 2022 when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Bulgarian Economy Minister Bogdan Bogdanov told state television on Monday. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian president satisfied with political resignations amid elderly care scandal. The elderly care home scandal in Romania has prompted two political resignations, which Romanian President Klaus Iohannis deems enough for now, but not everyone is convinced. Read more.

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BELGRADE

One in four Serbs do not want LGBTI+ colleagues. Almost a quarter of Serbs do not want members of the LGBTI+ population as colleagues, while close to one in three does not want to be friends with them, Protection of Equality Commissioner Brankica Janković told EURACTIV, reacting to the recent brutal murder of 18-year-old transgender woman Noa Milivojev. Read more.

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TIRANA | PRISTINA

Kosovo’s absence from EU-Western Balkan meeting raises eyebrows. Both Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi were absent from an informal gathering of regional leaders in Tirana on Monday, with the latter denying claims they were not invited or even refused entry. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: “Together for Global Justice” PES EU-CELAC summit brings together progressive leaders from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean in Brussels, Belgium; Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen participates;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the EU-CELAC Summit; Hosts President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, attends the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Uruguay on energy cooperation; Hosts President of Chile Gabriel Boric, attends the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Chile on a Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains cooperation;
Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová attends CEPS event on “Populist Parties and Democratic Resilience: How can the EU and its member states prevent populist parties from turning against democracy?”;
Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans participates in the meeting with European CEOs of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP); Hosts Secretary-General of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) Frank Heemskerk;
Vice President Margaritis Schinas hosts Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alicia Barcena;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen hosts Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia Rogelio Mayta, Foreign Minister of Panama Janaina Tewaney, Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica Arnoldo André Tinoco together with Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications of Costa Rica Paula Bogantes;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson hosts Chilean Minister for Energy Diego Pardow;
IInternal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton holds videoconference with CEO of TikTok Shou Chew;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness holds online meeting with Chairperson of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) Petra Hielkema; Participates in trilogue on regulation establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism;
European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs votes on 2022 Commission Report on Türkiye, relations with Belarus;
Switzerland: Chilean President Gabriel Boric on official visit;
Iraq: French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu on official visit;
South Africa: Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin on official visit;