Bulgarian socialists accused of cobbling fake coalition

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

SOFIA

Two political parties expressed surprise and anger on Wednesday (6 December) when they learned they had been included in a coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) without their knowledge. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU Commission boosts Jewish, Muslim protection amidst Israel-Hamas war. The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday a set of measures and recommendations across policy areas to tackle hate crimes across Europe, especially against Jewish and Muslim communities – but some say it may fall short. Read more.

EU auditors slam 12 EU states for failing to report on direct investments. Twelve EU member states did not report relevant foreign direct investment inflows in 2020 and 2022, the European Court of Auditors revealed on Wednesday, warning of possible risks. Read more.

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BERLIN

German far-left disbands after senior member quits to form rival group. The German far-left party Die Linke lost its group status in the Bundestag on Wednesday due to the departure of senior and influential member Sahra Wagenknecht, who set out to create a rival party, leaving the Bundestag without a far-left group for the first time in nearly two decades. Read more.

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PARIS

Macron to host Orbán to find compromise on new Ukraine aid. French President Emmanuel Macron will receive Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for a “working dinner” in Paris on Thursday evening to discuss further EU aid for Ukraine despite continued strong opposition from Budapest. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Belgian NGOs want EU migration pact talks to start from scratch. Several Belgian and European civil society groups began their two-week-long campaign on Wednesday with the aim of cancelling the currently negotiated EU Migration and Asylum Pact and starting afresh. Read more.

NORDICS & BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

US military to gain access to Swedish bases amid continued NATO bid delay. Sweden and the United States have signed an agreement giving the US military access to 17 Swedish bases, which has been viewed as a response to Budapest and Ankara delaying Stockholm’s NATO bid. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italian parliament rejects minimum wage bill. A proposal presented months ago by the left-wing parties on a minimum wage of at least €9 gross per hour was rejected by the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, a decision that has opened Meloni’s government to public criticism. Read more.

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MADRID

Podemos says split from Sumar will ‘not endanger’ Sánchez government. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez can continue to count on the five seats of the radical left party Podemos, which insisted on Wednesday that it would not jeopardise the coalition’s stability, a day after it announced that it was leaving the progressive coalition partner Sumar following months of bitter clashes. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW | PRAGUE

Czechs least interested in EU elections, Poles to vote massively. Voter interest amongst Czech citizens in the upcoming EU elections is the lowest across member states, as only half of the surveyed respondents would currently participate in the polls, according to the newest Eurobarometer survey results. On the other hand, in neighbouring Poland, citizens intend to massively vote boosted by the October national elections. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia to allocate more funding to avoid rising prices of household energy. The Slovak government will give €1.25 billion to energy aid next year in an effort to prevent a 20% increase in household electricity charges, Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková said on Wednesday. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Romania declares measles epidemic. The Health Ministry has officially declared a national measles epidemic following an alarming rise in measles cases and the substantial number of hospitalisations among infected children, the ministry announced on Wednesday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak becomes Serbian citizen days before general election. American technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, has been gifted Serbian citizenship by President Aleksander Vucic, just days before national elections. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: First in-person EU-China summit since 2019 takes place in Beijing; President of European Council Charles Michel, President of Commission Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative Josep Borrellv expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in two separate sessions; Agenda highlights include Russia’s war against Ukraine, situation in Middle East, climate change, food security, pandemic preparedness, and more;
Eurogroup convenes to discuss euro area member states draft budgetary plans, recommendations for 2024, and more;
Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) expected to reach a general approach on the Net-Zero Industry Act; Agenda highlights also include SME policy, proposal of Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour, and more;
Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová hosts Deputy Secretary General of NATO Mircea Geoană; Speaks at Willy Brandt Lecture 2023 in Berlin, Germany;
Vice President Margaritis Schinas hosts Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European affairs of North Macedonia Bojan Maricik;
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi hosts Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani;
Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni meets Managing Director of European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Pierre Gramegna, together with Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers speech at 14th meeting of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit attends meeting organised by ETUC with trade unions from Ukraine, in Brussels; Participates online in European Digital Skills Certificate final event;
Energy Commissoner Kadri Simson participates at Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) trilogue; Holds meeting with Chilean Senators of the Energy Committee;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in trilogue on New Screening Regulation, Asylum Proceedure Regulation (APR), Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR), Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden;