Fico sticks to anti-Ukraine stance, prefers exclusion from EU group

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BRATISLAVA

Robert Fico, the winner of Slovakia’s election and leader of the Smer party, will not change his rhetoric on Ukraine and would rather “pay the price” of being excluded from the EU group his party is affiliated with, he said in a video posted on social media after the leader of the European Socialists threatened to expel him. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

EU ‘has given too much to the market’, French Greens top candidate says. “An ill wind is blowing against ecology. It is in these conditions that we are approaching the European elections”, warns Marie Toussaint, MEP and head of the list of the French Greens (Europe Écologie – Les Verts, EELV) for the June 2024 elections, in an interview with Euractiv France. Read more.

Michel wants December summit to approve Ukraine-Moldova accession talks. EU leaders should give the green light to opening formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova at the December European summit, European Council President Charles Michel said in a recent interview with Lusa and other European media in Brussels. Read more.

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PARIS

France calls for Armenia to benefit from the European Peace Facility. The European Union and its member states can “do more” to help Armenia and send “a clear signal”, said French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who also announced on Tuesday that France would be delivering “military equipment”. Read more.

France presents a pro-sovereignty plan to save crisis-plagued livestock sector. French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau presented a series of measures on Tuesday to ensure the crisis-ridden livestock sector regains its long-lost food sovereignty in almost all sectors. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany looks to partnership agreements to repatriate irregular migrants. Amid growing dissatisfaction with the country’s handling of the refugee situation, Germany has decided to turn to forging bilateral agreements with countries to curb the number of new asylum applications, of which six are currently in the making. Read more.

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VIENNA | PRAGUE | BRATISLAVA

Domino effect in Central Europe as countries introduce border controls after Poland’s decision. Czechia is introducing random checks at its border with Slovakia; however, it is not the number of migrants behind the decision, but rather the decision of the Polish government, which has triggered a domino effect in the Central European region. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Construction of first energy island off Belgian coast to start in 2024. Planning permission has been granted for the world’s first energy island project in the North Sea, with work due to start in early 2024, grid operator Elia announced on Tuesday. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

‘Cash-for-housing’ asylum bill gains majority in Dutch parliament. The long-debated asylum bill, which would compensate local authorities for taking in additional refugees, secured a majority in parliament on Tuesday before a final vote next week but is unlikely to be ratified by the Senate. Read more.

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LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg: Will the ‘Gambia’ coalition continue? Things are looking good for Luxembourg’s current governing coalition as the liberals, the centre-left and the Greens are expected to earn the 31 seats needed to continue ruling the country. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

STOCKHOLM

Sweden promises more drones facial recognition in gang violence fight. Sweden plans to deploy more equipment to better tackle gang crime, with the government promising the police an additional 2,500 cameras for next year and allowing the use of facial recognition, easier use of drones and external cameras, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer told a press conference on Tuesday. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

LISBON

Portugal’s CPLP mobility deal doesn’t clash with Schengen rules, says Secretary of State. There is no incompatibility between the mobility agreement between the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) – which allows individuals to apply for a residence permit in Portugal – and the Schengen regime, despite European Commission action, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Tiago Antunes told Lusa. Read more.

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ROME

Italian students demand more funding amid cost of living crisis. Hundreds of students demanded more funding for education and opposed high rents in a protest organised outside an event attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Turin on Tuesday. Read more.

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MADRID

Sánchez nominated to form government, vows ‘harmony’ with Catalonia. Spain’s King Felipe VI nominated acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez – who has pledged to continue working for ‘harmony’ in Catalonia, a thorny political issue he must resolve if he is to return to power – as a candidate for prime minister on Tuesday. Read more.

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VALLETTA

EU Commission: Malta’s new flag carrier will not be same as Air Malta. Malta’s new budget airline will be different to the former AirMalta despite attempts by the government to frame the closure of AirMalta and the creation of a new budget airline as a seamless transition, even possibly retaining the same name and branding, the European Commission told The Shift. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

NATO given Knight of Freedom award at Warsaw Security Forum. NATO was awarded the Knight of Freedom for its outstanding role in maintaining peace in the transatlantic area at the Warsaw Security Forum on Tuesday, an annual event that brings together politicians and military and defence experts from around the world. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Romania’s photovoltaic boom could backfire because of old power grid. Romania’s old power grid may not be able to cope with the unprecedented surge in the use of photovoltaic systems which so far has resulted in a volume of 1.063 MW of energy generation. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian government promises no forced closure of coal-fired power plants. The Bulgarian government promised coal workers – who have been blocking roads in protest – that it would not take any administrative decisions to close coal-fired power stations until 2038, leaving the matter entirely to the free market. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

New Slovenian health minister nominated as government reshuffle imminent. Prime Minister Robert Golob has nominated a candidate for the post of health minister three months after parting ways with Danijel Bešič Loredan over a difference of opinion on health reform, the government’s flagship project. Read more.

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BELGRADE |PRISTINA

Tensions persist in Kosovo, Radoičić arrested. The Kosovo Police continued to carry out raids in Banjska, north Kosovo following the terrorist attack of 24 September, and on Tuesday, Serbia arrested Milan Radoičić, former vice-head of Serbian List admitted his involvement in leading the attack that killed one Kosovo police officer.Read more.

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PRISTINA

MEPs call to lift EU sanctions on Kosovo, tough action on Serbia after terrorist attack. Members of European Parliament debated the situation in Kosovo following the terrorist attack of 24 September, reportedly backed by Belgrade, with lawmakers calling for urgent action against Serbia and a lifting of sanctions against Kosovo. Read more.

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TIRANA

Western Balkans enjoy lower EU roaming rates following new agreement. An agreement between 38 Western Balkan telecom operators and the EU – which slashes the cost of roaming – has come into force, lowering the cost of internet data for the regions’ residents when in the EU and vice versa. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean delivers opening speech at Urban Mobility Days in Seville, Spain; Launches the Cycling Declaration;
Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius speaks at “Weaponizing Hunger: Russia’s Attempts to Destabilize the World” panel in Warsaw Security Forum;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen visits Nairobi, Kenya;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in Parliament plenary debate on proposed extension for glyphosate;
Parliament plenary session debates need for speedy adoption of the asylum and migration package;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola hosts President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel;
ECB President Christine Lagarde speaks at opening of monetary policy conference in Berlin, Germany;
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov;
France: President Emmanuel Macron hosts Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo; Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna attends hearing at the Assembly on Niger and Gabon;
Austria: Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov on official visit to discuss Schengen accession, migration;
Russia: President Vladimir Putin hosts Abkhazian President Aslan Bjania;