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.
Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at Europe split over Russia tourist ban, but could tighten visa rules by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
The end of the much-discussed ‘grand coalitions’ between European centre-right parties and social democrats have led the European People’s Party (EPP) to search for alternatives on the right side of the political spectrum to form governments.
The elections in Sweden and Italy could see traditionally pro-EU centre-right parties forming governments and alliances with far-right and Eurosceptic parties to counterbalance the progressive governments formed in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Germany. But what could that mean for the EU project? Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
EU army and support fund for energy crisis among new treaty reform proposal. A group of MEPs drew up a blueprint for EU reform, proposals of which include a new EU programme to support households and businesses facing rising energy and food prices and a 5,000-strong European army. Read more.
EU’s competences to handle spyware abuse in question. The issue of the EU’s competences to scrutinise spyware use came to the forefront during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday (30 August), where a Europol representative said the agency’s mandate was limited to supporting member states choosing to launch an investigation. Read more.
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YOUR TAKE
EU countries that imposed sanctions against Moscow this year are now eyeing “emergency” solutions to electricity price hikes while scrambling to find alternative fuel suppliers.
The military outcome of the war can, and probably will, be decided on the battlefield. But what about the geopolitical battle? Has Europe lost the war against Russia? Tell us here.
This poll is part of The Capital’s efforts to build a community of readers. We will include your view in Friday’s edition of the Editor’s Take.
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PARIS
France doubles down on nuclear, joins calls for electricity market overhaul. The bloc’s electricity market needs a “top-to-bottom” overhaul, said French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, adding that there is no energy transition without nuclear power on Tuesday. Read more.
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BERLIN
Nursery with Ukrainian children targeted in attempted arson attack. The State Protection Office has launched an investigation into an attempted arson attack that targeted a nursery mainly attended by Ukrainian children in Eastern Germany, investigators said on Tuesday. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch employees flee Baghdad embassy amid riots. Dutch Embassy staff had to be evacuated from the Iraqi capital on Tuesday as riots in the city have caused political turmoil, Dutch media NOS reported. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Johnson eyes lucrative but uncertain future. Boris Johnson may be a week away from leaving 10 Downing Street, but the soon-to-be ex-prime minister has not given up on his political career. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Defence forces monitor Russian warships off Irish coast. Irish defence forces have been monitoring the activity of Russian warships that on Tuesday made a U-turn off the country’s coast. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish companies switch to night, weekend production ahead of bleak winter. An increasing number of Finnish companies are planning to start production at night and during weekends as they anticipate a rise in electricity bills and power cuts during peak working hours this winter. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish minister warns of new energy price hikes despite inflation drop. Spain could face another energy price hike from September despite inflation dropping significantly in August due to decreased fuel prices, Finance Minister Nadia Calviño warned on Tuesday. Read more.
Spain ready to support Germany’s energy needs. Spain is prepared to support the energy needs of Germany in the face of “blackmail” by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told Chancellor Olaf Scholz near Berlin on Tuesday. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal’s Costa approves health minister’s resignation. Prime Minister António Costa on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Health Minister Marta Temido who said she “is no longer in condition” to exercise the function. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
Slovak foreign ministry slams Russian embassy for internal meddling. The foreign ministry sent a protest note to the Russian Embassy, calling out the participation of Russian and Belarussian ambassadors in celebrations of the Slovak National Uprising organised by the former prime minister and now opposition leader Robert Fico. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czechia to push for Kosovo visa liberalisation during presidency. Czechia wants to push the Western Balkans agenda forward, such as visa liberalisation for Kosovo, during its stint at the helm of the EU Council presidency. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Gazprom silent over Sofia’s invitation for gas talks. Russian state gas company Gazprom still has not answered the Bulgarian authorities’ invitation to resume negotiations to restart gas supplies to the country. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Ruling party candidate withdraws from Slovenian presidential race. Marta Kos, the presidential candidate of the ruling Freedom Movement, has withdrawn her bid ahead of the October elections, citing a “change of circumstances due to personal reasons” in a surprise move just as the election campaign starts in earnest. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Lavrov dismisses ministers’ claim about abusing Serbia’s friendship. Moscow is not attempting to abuse Serbia’s friendly relations with Russia, said the Russian foreign ministry, denying Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlović’s statement about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Read more.
Russia behind anti-Pride protests in Belgrade, says political analyst. Russian military intelligence agency GRU is behind the protests that opposed carrying out this year’s EuroPride event in Belgrade because the protest was led by the Russian Night Wolves bikers’ association, said political analyst Dusan Janjić on Tuesday. Read more.
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SKOPJE | TIRANA
Albanians, Macedonians most deported from Germany in 2022. Some 6,198 foreign citizens were deported from Germany between January and June in 2022, with Albanians and Macedonians topping the list of returnees, according to data from German federal authorities. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Lajçak claims October deadline for Kosovo license plate issue. The special envoy of the European Union for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, says that there is a deadline of two months for both countries to find a solution to the issue of vehicle license plates. Read more.
Kosovo‘s energy crisis takes another hit as power plant suffers technical problems. Kosovo’s energy crisis continues to deepen as the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is now only operating with one thermal power plant unit due to a technical failure. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian coffee culture latest casualty of inflation. In some parts of the Albanian capital of Tirana, up to half of all cafes are closing due to rising costs – including energy and products used – and decreased spending as Albanians tighten their purse strings, according to the Association of Bars and Restaurants. Read more.
15,000 Albanian asylum seekers in UK and EU in first half of 2022. Data from the British government shows that some 4729 Albanians sought asylum in the UK between January-June 2022, with some 2165 arriving illegally via boats while a further 9,500 did so in EU member states. Read more.
Agenda
- EU: Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers, EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell chairs.
- European Parliament committee meetings.
- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev meet for EU-mediated talks.
- Germany: Government cabinet concludes two-day retreat.
- France: President Emmanuel Macron meets European Council chief Charles Michel on Wednesday morning.
- 25th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
- United Kingdom: Conservative party leadership final hustings, candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak attend.
- Royal Mail postal workers strike over pay.
- Czech Republic: Forum 2000 international conference on Ukraine.
- Russia: Nord Stream pipeline closed for maintenance work.
- Ukraine: ICRC Director-General Robert Mardini holds a press conference.
- Afghanistan: Anniversary of withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
- Indonesia: G20 Environment and Climate ministerial meeting.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Maksimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Eleonora Vasques]
Source: euractiv.com
