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.
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In today’s news from the Capitals:
THE HAGUE
EU climate Chief Frans Timmermans’ potential candidacy for the joint list of the Labour Party (PvdA/S&D) and GroenLinks (GL/Greens) caused a stir among right-wingers, including from the Netherlands, on Thursday. Read more.
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN
Elections that matter: what’s in store for Europe for the rest of 2023. With Sunday’s snap general election in Spain marking the last European election before the summer recess, EURACTIV and EuropeElects will take a deep dive into how elections could shape countries across Europe for the rest of the year. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Estonia blocks EU Parliament seat allocation deal. The European Parliament edges closer to having a new seat allocation as all EU countries but Estonia agreed on a compromise giving France, Belgium, and Poland extra seats while also certifying the death of transnational lists and urging Parliament to elaborate a fairer, more climate-friendly and more transparent method to allocate seats by 2027. Read more.
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BERLIN
EU Commission OKs €2 billion state aid for ailing German steel sector. Germany received the green light to support the production of so-called green steel with €2 billion, the European Commission announced on Thursday, providing much-needed relief to the country’s ailing steel sector. Read more.
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PARIS
Macron replaces a dozen ministers in French government reshuffle. The French government underwent its second reshuffle since June 2022 on Thursday, with seven ministers being pushed out, including those in charge of health and education. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria’s teachers’ union warns of impending staff shortages. Austrian schools may not be able to service all lessons in the coming year, teacher representatives warn amid continued staffing issues and serious disgruntlement among trade unions. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgium, Engie agree to restart extended nuclear reactors from 2025. French energy company Engie and the Belgian government are set to sign contractual documents Friday, setting out the terms and conditions for restarting reactors Doel 4 and Tihange 3 in the winter of 2025. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTIC
STOCKHOLM
Iraqi-Swedish relations reach lowest point after another Quran burning. Diplomatic ties between Iraq and Sweden are at an all-time low as Baghdad threatens to sever ties with Stockholm over another Quran-burning incident, while Sweden accuses Iraq of failing to abide by the Geneva Conventions and protect its diplomatic envoys. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spain’s VOX candidate compares same-sex marriage to union of people and animals. One cannot call wedding a union of two people of the same sex, it would be more appropriate to define it as a union between a person and an animal, Mariano Latorre, candidate of the far-right VOX – party in the province of Cuenca (centre-south) said on Thursday, two days ahead of Spain’s general elections. Read more.
Greens try to boost political weight with Spain’s Sumar party. Spanish new Sumar party has opened the door for all left-wing forces to work together ahead of Spanish and EU elections, paving the way for the European Greens to boost their political weight. Read more.
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ATHENS
Privacy watchdog finds 92 ‘targets’ in Greek wiretapping scandal. Greece’s independent Data Protection Authority announced on Thursday that more than 350 SMS related to the Predator spyware programme had been sent, and 92 people have been spotted as targets, triggering a strong reaction from the opposition as the so-called “Greek Watergate” remains in the dark. Read more.
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ROME
Almost five million Italians may not vote in next year’s EU elections. The citizens who live far from their municipality of residence are asking to be allowed to vote in the municipality where they live, but the law that could allow them to do so might not be approved in time for next year’s EU elections. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal: Altice France takes ‘preventive measures’ in wake of criminal probe. Altice France has taken “preventive measures” like launching an internal investigation and assessing how the company is being impacted after police searches occurred on its local unit as part of an ongoing criminal investigation in Portugal, it announced. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Poland’s deployment of border troops concerns Russia. Warsaw’s increasingly hostile attitude requires more attention to ensure the security of Russia and Belarus, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after Poland decided to deploy its military troops on the Eastern border on Tuesday. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech MPs approve US defence cooperation deal despite far-right criticism. A defence cooperation agreement between the Czech Republic and the US – seen as another security guarantee for Czechia – was approved by the Czech Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, despite the absence of votes from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party, which criticised the deal. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia receives Commission’s warnings over late introduction of EU directives. The European Commission has contacted Slovakia regarding the late introduction of EU directives, including ornamental and fruit plant health, organic varieties of agricultural plants, and adjusting the conditions of defence industry transfers within the EU. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Tensions flare as website adds Bulgarian politicians to list of Ukraine’s enemies. Tensions rose in Bulgaria’s capital after Ukrainian website Myrotvorets added Bulgarian policymakers to their blacklist of enemies, while President Rumen Radev, as well as three parliamentary forces – pro-European GERB and pro-Russian Vazrazhdane and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, demanded the government investigate further. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian PM calls for resignations amid care centre scandal. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu asked the new labour minister to suspend the heads of the County Agencies for Payments and Social Inspection in the counties where care homes were found operating with serious irregularities after investigation bodies opened 47 criminal files, government spokesperson Mihai Constantin said on Thursday. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Several injured as freak storm hits Serbia. Serbia was hit by a strong storm that carried roofs and uprooted trees Wednesday, resulting in the evacuation of 40 people and the hospitalisation of others. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: President Ursula von der Leyen receives the World Peace and Liberty Award on behalf of the European Commission;
- Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit holds meetings with Brazilian Minister of Labour and Social Security Luiz Marinho, South African Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi;
- France: Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna hosts German counterpart Annalena Baerbock;
- Czech Republic: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on official visit;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with EURACTIV
Greens try to boost political weight with Spain’s Sumar party
Source: euractiv.com
