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In today’s news from the Capitals:
PARIS | Concerns over power cut risks during winter are keeping the French government on high alert, with President Emmanuel Macron and other ministers hitting back at critics for their “clumsy” and “fearmongering” remarks, insisting the country “will hold out”. Read more.
THE HAGUE
Dutch propose price cap for filling gas storage. The Netherlands has proposed a new idea to prevent gas price spikes in the EU in a document circulated to EU capitals and seen by EURACTIV. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria doubles down on threat to veto Schengen expansion. Austria will use its veto to oppose admitting Romania and Bulgaria into the EU’s border-free Schengen Area, Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler reaffirmed on Tuesday. Read more.
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BERLIN
German constitutional court: EU debt lawful as a crisis response. The Next Generation EU programme financed by EU debt does not overstep the EU’s competences as long as it is clearly linked to the economic crisis that was triggered by the COVID pandemic, the German constitutional court ruled. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Ukraine war prompts new cuts to UK aid spending. The war in Ukraine will result in “fierce and draconian” cuts of about 30% to UK overseas aid spending, Development Minister Andrew Mitchell told lawmakers on Tuesday, conceding that the UK has lost its position as a world leader in development policy. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Greek MEP takes wiretapping scandal to EU court. Nikos Androulakis, an EU lawmaker and head of the Greek socialist party (Pasok) whose phone was bugged by Greek secret services, has decided to take his case to the EU Court to find out why he was put under surveillance. Read more.
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ROME
Italy to reform wiretapping practices amid safety concerns. The Italian government is looking to reform the use of wiretapping as the practice costs millions and is often used as a means to pressure political opponents, including via the press. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain celebrates Constitution amid growing political tensions. Spain commemorated the 44th anniversary of its Constitution on Tuesday amid growing political tensions ahead of the general election due to be held in December 2023. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal dismisses police officers for rule of law violation. Breaches of fundamental rule of law values resulted in 107 dismissals, forced retirements and expulsions within the Portuguese police force since 2019, Internal Administration Minister José Luís Carneiro announced on Tuesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Poland slams Macron’s call to discuss ‘security guarantees’ with Putin. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for his idea that the West should consider how to address Moscow’s need for security guarantees to end the war in Ukraine. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech National Bank says country not ready for euro adoption. The Czech Republic is not ready to meet the criteria for joining the Eurozone and the government should refrain from setting a date for adopting the euro, for now, a document presented by the finance ministry and the Czech National Bank says. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
New Slovak nuclear reactor forced to delay electricity production. The newly built Mochovce nuclear power plant, the country’s third, will have to delay electricity production due to a technical fault that could cause financial hardship for the plant’s owner. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BELGRADE
Two private Serbian TVs go off air to protest poor media freedom. Two private broadcasters in Serbia – N1 Srbija and Nova, known to be highly critical of the authorities – stopped broadcasting for 24 hours on Tuesday, in protest at the poor state of media freedom in the Western Balkan EU candidate country. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria getting ready to mint own euro coins. President Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria is starting preparations for minting euro coins, a move viewed as symbolic as the not-yet Eurozone country is showing willingness to one day adopt the euro. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania not responsible for Austria’s migration problem, says minister. The migration issues that Austria is facing are not imputable to Romania, Internal Affairs Minister Lucian Bode said in response to Austria saying it opposes Romania joining the passport-free Schengen area due to the many migrants that pass through the country. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia unveils €1.2 billion aid scheme for businesses. The government has unveiled a €1.2 billion-heavy plan to help companies most affected by the energy crisis, including with measures such as subsidies for electricity, gas and steam, a state subsidy scheme for furlough and part-time work, and liquidity loans. Read more.
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TIRANA
Western Balkans welcome EU’s geo-strategic enlargement shift amid Ukraine war. Western Balkan leaders on Tuesday welcomed the EU’s new mindset to strengthen ties with the region, a drive reinvigorated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and a series of agreements that include reduced roaming charges and integration in the bloc’s higher education systems. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Milan; Delivers keynote speech on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Bocconi University;
- College of Commissioners presents initiatives on VAT in the Digital Age, administrative cooperation in taxation (DAC8), strengthening capital markets package (EMIR), the Equality package, which includes the recognition of parenthood between member states;
- Comission Vice-president Margaritis Schinas participates in the EPP Ministers of Interior meeting; Receives Moldova’s Internal Affairs Minister Ana Revenco;
- Vice-president Vĕra Jourová receives Czech Deputy Health Minister Jakub Dvořáček;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel participates in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson hosts the EU Internet Forum ministerial meeting;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski delivers keynote speech at the Congress of Young Farmers in the European Parliament;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola delivers keynote speech for business leaders on “Europe, economy, geopolitics”, in Helsinki;
- MEPs hold a press conference on the care homes platform;
- Ukraine: UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk holds press conference;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin joins meeting of the Kremlin’s human rights council; Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks at annual international relations forum;
- UN: Security Council holds meeting on Sudan; Biodiversity Conference, dubbed COP15 takes place in Canada;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
