Eyeing Schengen, Bulgaria looks to close ‘Russian port’

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.

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

SOFIA

Bulgaria’s ruling coalition parties have proposed ending a concession controlling the Black Sea oil port of Burgas, through which Lukoil brings Russian oil via tankers to be processed, hoping this will help Bulgaria secure Schengen membership as early as autumn. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Europe must abolish statute of limitations for child sexual violence crimes: report. Many European nations have failed to deliver justice to survivors of child sexual assault by not abolishing their statute of limitations for prosecuting childhood sexual violence and not delivering justice, according to a report published by The Brave Movement and Child Global on Thursday. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany woos India to tackle trade dependence with China. Germany wants to intensify the relationship with India to counter Chinese influence and lessen supply dependencies, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stressed ahead of his visit to Delhi. Read more.

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PARIS

Bill with cross-party backing aims to guarantee French media independence. French MPs from several parties tabled on Wednesday a bill aimed at guaranteeing the independence of newsrooms as Le Journal du Dimanche’s editorial staff has been on a 28-day strike to protest the appointment of far-right journalist Geoffroy Lejeune as editor-in-chief. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Belgian police search locations linked to Belgian MEP in Qatargate probe. Police searched six locations linked to Socialist MEP Marie Arena and her family on Wednesday as part of the investigation into the alleged cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch Volt leader slams Rutte cabinet for not taking leading role at EU level. The Netherlands failed to take a leading role within the EU bloc, said Laurens Dassen, party leader of the Dutch branch of pan-European party Volt (EU Greens) about the fallen cabinet of now former prime minister Mark Rutte. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Review of Swedish criminal code may lead to triple the cell space. Sweden’s ongoing revision of its criminal code, which aims to address rising crime rates and focus more on victims, could lead to more prison space, tripling the number of cells, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer announced on Wednesday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italy far from reaching NATO spending targets. Italy will not be able to reach the defence spending target of 2% of the country’s GDP as required by the NATO alliance unless it is unbundled from budget constraints, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR) told parliament on Wednesday. Read more.

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MADRID

Progressive bloc, VOX clash ahead of Sunday’s key elections. The far-right VOX laughs at women and denies the existence of gender violence, the progressive bloc that unites Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Sumar platform said in Wednesday’s last election debate ahead of Sunday’s crunch vote. Read more.

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NICOSIA

Cyprus is ready to trade Turkey’s EU accession process in favour of settlement talks. Nicosia is lobbying to appoint a special envoy for Cyprus in the hope of restarting talks with Turkey and moving toward a settlement on the divided island, using the EU accession process as an incentive, EURACTIV has learnt. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Commission sues Poland for challenging primacy of EU law. The European Commission has filed a complaint against Poland over the legitimacy of its constitutional tribunal, which undermines the primacy of EU law, the Commission said on Wednesday. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czechia pleased with possible continuation of Just Transition Fund. The European Commission wants to keep the Just Transition Fund for European coal regions in the next programming period beyond 2027 if the programme succeeds in the current one – something Czechia’s coal regions are clearly pleased about. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s interior minister dismissed over spat with police leadership. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová withdrew the mandate of now-former Interior Minister Ivan Šimko following his two-week-long dispute with police leadership. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

TIRANA

Albanian agri ministry calls for non-politicisation of EU funds ‘interruption’. The European Commission has ‘interrupted’ payments to the Albanian authorities under the IPARD II agricultural scheme pending the conclusion of an investigation by the anti-fraud office, OLAF, while the Agriculture Ministry said it is part of an administrative process and asked the programme not be politicised. Read more.

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BUCHAREST | BUDAPEST

Romania’s Ciolacu and Hungary’s Orban: the start of a beautiful friendship. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met in Romania on Wednesday, although it was not on the Romanian PM’s agenda, and there was no official announcement. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Russia’s exit from the global grain deal will also affect Serbia. Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal will affect the whole world, including Serbia, according to EURACTIV agro-economic analyst Žarko Galetin. Read more.

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TIRANA

Albanians consider corruption a big issue, believe in EU accession before 2030. Albanians believe their country is corrupt more than any other nationality in the Western Balkans, according to the result of the Regional Cooperation Council Balkan Barometer Survey 2023, but they also pin hopes on EU accession before 2030 as a way to improve the situation. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Foreign Affairs Council convenes to discuss economic security, Türkiye, has informal exchange of views with US State Secretary Antony Blinken, and more;
Informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers to focus on Migration and Asylum Pact, fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, and more;
Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová receives United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit attends the G20 Labour and Employment ministers’ meeting in Indore, India;

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