EU far-right extends hand to EPP to ‘free Brussels’

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

ROME

Italy’s far-right League leader Matteo Salvini called on the European People’s Party (EPP) at a meeting of EU far-right parties in Florence to collaborate and “liberate Brussels” from those who “occupy” it illegally. Read more.

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PARIS

Macron at COP28: ‘Nuclear energy is back’. France and around twenty other countries signed a pledge to ‘triple nuclear energy capacity from 2020 by 2050’ at Dubai’s COP28 international gathering on Saturday. Read more.

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BERLIN

German government coalition diverges on how to fill budget gap. With the German government scrambling to fill the budget gap left by a recent top court ruling, proposed solutions have diverged the three-party coalition, exposing old budgetary ideologies. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Sánchez urged to shed light on mediator-led meetings with separatists. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez should shed light on the “humiliating” meeting held between his party colleagues and the Catalan separatist formation JxCat in the presence of a controversial mediator from El Salvador, the centre-right People’s Party said on Sunday. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Duda to appoint Tusk despite warnings. President Andrzej Duda will nominate Donald Tusk as Poland’s new prime minister should he win the parliament’s bid, despite the advice he should not, the president’s aide, Łukasz Rzepecki, confirmed to Radio ZET. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech far-right parties to push for Green Deal reversal after EU elections. Two Czech far-right parties confirmed a joint candidate list for the 2024 EU elections, with the reversal of the European Green Deal being among the top priorities, the parties announced on Saturday. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian populists keen to join EU conservative bloc. Populist formation There Is Such a People (ITN), established just two years ago, has announced its intention to join the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania announces bid to boost photovoltaics by 2030. Romania aims to have over eight gigawatts (GW) in photovoltaic renewable energy production units installed by 2030, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai over the weekend following his country’s accession to the International Solar Alliance. Read more.

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BELGRADE

People with disabilities are ‘invisible’ in Serbia. People with disabilities in Serbia face systemic discrimination and live on the edge of poverty, Branko Jokić, president of the Association of People with Disabilities Phoenix told Euractiv Serbia. Read more.

AGENDA:

Justice and Home Affairs Council convenes to exchange views on European Public Prosecutors Office’s functioning, Schengen area, Asylum and migration, and more;
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council convenes to discuss land transport and road safety, maritime safety, and more;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič participates in Abu Dhabi Sustainability week Summit at COP28; Co-chairs Global Methane Pledge Ministerial meeting; Delivers keynote speech at high level opening of Just Transition Pavilion at COP28;
Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks via video conference with President of Global Affairs of Google and Alphabet Kent Walker; Hosts UN Deputy High-Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif; Speaks at European News Media Forum, 25th EU-NGO Human Rights Forum 2023;
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson meets with EESC President Oliver Röpke; Gives address at EESC 8th European Migration Forum;
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova hosts Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of United Kingdom Michelle Donelan;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Italian Minister for European Affairs, Cohesion Policy, the South, and the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience Raffaele Fitto hold joint press conference in Lecce, Puglia;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]