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The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
EU INSTITUTIONS
In close coordination with governments in eastern and southeastern Europe, the European Commission is currently preparing massive awareness campaigns over the need to get vaccinated, EURACTIV.com has learnt.
In addition, more drugs to tackle COVID-19 are expected to be approved this week amid new tensions following a decision that even vaccinated journalists will need a negative PCR test to take part in the EU Council later this week. EURACTIV has all the details. Read more.
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EU PRESIDENCY
Logar says resolution on Slovenia “political document”. The resolution on the rule of law in Slovenia that the European Parliament will vote on later this week is a political document which does not require special attention, Foreign Minister Anže Logar said in Brussels on Monday. He said the MEPs’ November debate on this topic had proven no great interest in the document. Read more.
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BERLIN
More flexible fiscal rules ‘not urgent’ Le Maire tells Lindner. During the third recent German visit to Paris, discussion topics included the progression of the France-Germany tandem and the divergence of views on nuclear, gas, and coal. Fiscal rules, however, were not deemed urgent. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria wants to become ‘bridge builder’ in Ukraine conflict. Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated that Austria wants to take a moderating role in the Ukraine conflict to prevent escalation and bring both parties back to the negotiating table. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Putin pushes Johnson on NATO talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin told UK premier Boris Johnson that he wants immediate talks to secure clear legal agreements that NATO will not expand its activities into eastern Europe in a rare phone call between the two leaders on Monday. Read more.
UK ‘turbocharges’ booster vaccination as Omicron becomes dominant. Britain on Monday confirmed what is thought to be the first confirmed death after infection with the Omicron variant, as the country launched an ambitious Covid booster shot programme to stop the virus spiralling out of control. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Fuel price protest disrupts Dublin for second time in a month. A protest against high fuel prices held by truckers in Dublin has disrupted the city for the second time in a month, as demonstraters blocked key thoroughfares. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland considers introduction of emergency break during Christmas. With Finland experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, health officials will decide whether introducing a so-called “emergency brake” will be necessary in the coming days. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian government considers extending state of emergency until end of March. The government could decide to extend the state of emergency until the end of March 2022. Prime Minister Mario Draghi is pushing for a quick decision, and most political leaders in the majority coalition seem to agree. Read more.
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MADRID
La Palma residents in lockdown as toxic gas sweeps west of island. Authorities on the Spanish island of La Palma confined residents living in towns adjacent to the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Monday due to poor air quality. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal receives 273 Afghan musicians, artists. Portugal has opened its doors to 273 Afghan citizens, most of whom are artists and musicians, following a joint operation with the National Music Institute of Afghanistan. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BUDAPEST
Fidesz moves fast to make life harder for international supermarket chains. A new bill could see big supermarket chains forced to donate near-to-expiration food to the state in a bid to reduce food waste, Telex reported. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish parliament to decide on controversial education law amendment. A controversial amendment to the education law, dubbed “lex Czarnek” after unpopular Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek, has been submitted to parliament. The first reading is planned for Tuesday, and a vote could take place this week. Read more.
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PRAGUE
New Czech PM flexes muscles in first clash with president. Czech President Miloš Zeman is set to appoint the new Czech government on Friday. For Prime Minister-designate Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR), this is a significant victory. The Czech President was previously reluctant to nominate Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens) as foreign minister because of their differing opinions on Israel and Visegrad cooperation. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia won’t finish its part of the European highway corridor on time. It is already clear that Slovakia will not complete its part of the European Trans European Network (TEN-T) highway corridor to the Ukrainian border by 2030 when the project is supposed to be completed. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
Romania’s president reiterates support for nuclear energy, natural gas. In discussion with European Council President Charles Michel, President Klaus Iohannis reiterated his country’s support for nuclear energy and natural gas, as options for an affordable energy transition, as the European Commission prepares new legislative proposals. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria has a pro-European leader and government after months of political crisis. Parliament on Monday finally elected a government headed by pro-European reformist Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. The country will be ruled by a complex multi-party majority involving two coalitions – the pro-European “Change Continues” and “Democratic Bulgaria”, supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and “There is such a people” led by Slavi Trifonov. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Reasons for Croats not getting vaccinated revealed. A belief that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low, has been revealed as the main reason Croats do not get vaccinated, according to a study in the Croatian Medical Journal, EURACTIV’s partner Jutarnji List reports. Read more.
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BELGRADE
EU to open Cluster Four in talks with Serbia at conference. Cluster Four of Serbia’s EU accession talks is set to e formally opened at an Intergovernmental Conference on Tuesday in Brussels. Read more.
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SARAJEVO | BERLIN
Germany’s new foreign minister calls for sanctions against Dodik. Germany’s new foreign minister and Green party co-leader Annalena Baerbock has called for sanctions to be applied to Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik after she participated in her first EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. Read more.
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SKOPJE
Draft conclusions foresee start of accession talks for North Macedonia. “The Council looks forward to holding the first intergovernmental conferences with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible this year after the negotiating framework is approved by the Council,” states the EU Council’s draft conclusions as disclosed by the MIA news agency. Read more.
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PODGORICA
Montenegro’s opposition pulls no-confidence motion against government. The opposition withdrew a motion for a no-confidence vote in the government, although it claimed that it would have had enough votes to topple the Zdravko Krivokapić cabinet. Read more.
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TIRANA
Bern Convention Committee call for protection of Vjosa River. The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention has called on the Albanian government to declare the Vjosa River and its surroundings a national park and reassess Vlora International Airport’s situation. Read more.
Albanian prosecutor wanted for corruption arrested in Italy. Albania’s former chief prosecutor, who fled the country after being handed a prison term for corruption, has been arrested in Italy, police in Tirana said on Monday (13 December). Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: European affairs ministers meet on enlargement, rule of law, COFEU / European Commission presents update to EU’s Schengen Border Code, green mobility package / Result of European Parliament committee vote on Digital Services Act expected.
- Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte gives press conference on Covid measures.
- UK: MPs vote on the government’s new coronavirus restrictions.
- Denmark: Court wraps up trial of fuel supplier Dan-Bunkering, accused of breaking EU embargo on Syria.
- Sweden: Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov visits Stockholm.
- Italy: The Minister’s Council to decide on the extension of the state of emergency until the end of March.
- Cyprus: New UN head of mission, Colin Stewart, hosts Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
- Serbia: Intergovernmental Conference on Accession of Serbia to the EU takes place in Brussels.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Alexandra Brzozowski, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
