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Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the Editor’s take – Deflating the balloon by Benjamin Fox.
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In today’s news from the Capitals:
ZAGREB
By endorsing only Ukraine in its efforts to become an EU candidate, the EU has neglected and humiliated another region, former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor told N1 on Sunday, referring to the Western Balkans, whose six EU hopefuls have progressed very slowly on their EU integration path for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Slovenia will push for EU candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina, EURACTIV’s partner STA reported. Read more.
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PARIS
Macron loses majority following Assembly polls. French voters have denied President Emmanuel Macron a parliamentary majority following Sunday’s second round of legislative elections, while the left and far-right have made significant advances. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greek left picks up momentum and slams Macron’s neoliberal policies. Emmanuel Macron’s defeat in the second round of the French legislative elections is essentially a defeat of his neoliberal policies, former prime minister and main opposition leftist leader Alexis Tsipras has said. Read more.
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BERLIN
Berlin to launch ‘painful’ gas-saving scheme to secure next winter’s supply. The government will burn more coal over the summer, pay the industry not to use gas, and provide billions of euros in loans to merchants for gas purchasing after facing low gas flows from Russia. Read more.
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VIENNA
Gazprom supplies 50% less gas to Austria. Austria will receive less gas for the fourth day in a row, the Russian energy company announced on Sunday, but demand is currently low, and supply is secure. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Thousands march for climate in Rotterdam. Ten thousand protesters joined the climate march against global warming in Rotterdam on Sunday afternoon, Dutch media NL Times reported. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish armed forces oppose building wind farms over defence concerns. More wind farms should not be built in Eastern Finland as wind turbines distract radar operations along the 1,300-kilometre-long land border with Russia, according to the Finnish Defence Forces. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish right wins Andalusia elections, deals severe blow to Sánchez. The centre-right Partido Popular (EPP) won 43.1% (+22.4 with 2018) and an absolute majority in the 109-seat Andalusian parliament.
This is a tough blow for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ahead of national elections in 2023, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported. Read more.
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ROME
Italy considers ‘state of alert’ over Russian gas cut. Italy is considering moving to a state of alert to ration gas consumption and increase gas storage following Gazprom’s gas supply cut, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Poland to appeal for seventh package of Russian sanctions. A seventh package of EU sanctions against Russia, including a ban on technology export, will be called for by Poland, Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech government cracks under Prague corruption scandal. Czech Education Minister Petr Gazdík announced his resignation on Sunday following revelations that he attended several meetings with organised crime boss Michal Redl. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia considers rebuilding Druzhba pipeline to supply fuel to Ukraine. The Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil flows into the country, may be converted into a product pipeline to deliver fuel into war-torn Ukraine, Slovak Economy Minister Richard Sulík announced. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
PRISTINA
Kosovo-Serbia ‘major deal’ expected soon. Kosovo and Serbia will sign a major deal as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue in the upcoming weeks, the EU Special Envoy to the Balkans, Miroslav Lajčák, hopes. Read more.
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SOFIA
Protests organised in Sofia amid political crisis. The political crisis in Bulgaria has led to a string of protests and demonstrations ahead of the no-confidence vote later this week. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania’s gas imports, production down this year. Less natural gas was imported in the first four months of 2022 than in the same period of last year, and local production has also dropped. Read more.
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BELGRADE
New route for exports to Russia via Turkey and Baltics, says Serbian minister. A route had been found for exporting Serbian products to Russia, and goods will be shipped via Turkey, and some Baltic countries, Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Branislav Nedimović said on Sunday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian ruling party to vote on Srebrenica Genocide resolution after previous snub. Following outrage over the rejection by the Socialist Party of a resolution condemning the Srebrenica Genocide in parliament in May, the majority have now tabled their own for approval. Read more.
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Agenda
- EU: Foreign Affairs Council, EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council
- Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders receive Moldova Minister of Justice Sergiu Litvinenco.
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visits Finland.
- European Parliament Committee meetings.
- France: Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session.
- Sweden: Protest calling on Sweden to make no concessions to Turkey over NATO application.
- Czech Republic: Czech Environment Ministry will present priorities for the upcoming Czech EU Presidency.
- Georgia: Pro-EU march ahead of Brussels’ decision on Georgia’s candidate status.
- Indonesia: G20 health ministerial meeting
- World: World Refugee Day
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Eleonora Vasques, Sofia Stuart Leeson]
Source: euractiv.com
