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.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
June’s legislative elections saw French voters deny President Emmanuel Macron a parliamentary majority, while the left and far-right have made significant gains.
But while some want the new leftist alliance that brought electoral success to last, divisions on European and international matters may present an unsurmountable obstacle for a common list in the 2024 European elections, the next date in the French electoral calendar. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Czech EU presidency seeks way out of deadlock on European digital identity. The Czech presidency of the EU Council circulated last week a new compromise text on the European Digital Identity (eIDs) proposal, a file that has so far seen limited progress due to its technical complexity. Read more.
Commission adopts new rules to fastrack approval of biological pesticides. The European Commission adopted new rules designed to increase the availability of and access to biological plant protection products on Wednesday as part of efforts to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Read more.
EU to suspend visa deal with Russia, gives border countries more leverage. EU foreign ministers reached a political agreement on Wednesday to fully suspend a visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, making it harder and more costly for Russian citizens to enter the EU while strengthening the support for border countries to pursue a common regional approach. Read more.
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VIENNA
Government steps in to shore up Austria’s reeling largest energy supplier. The government and the city of Vienna agreed on Wednesday to an ’emergency’ €2 billion state loan for Austria’s largest energy supplier to hedge against extreme outliers on the electricity exchange. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany suspects two of its top ministry officials are Russian spies. The German Secret Service has launched investigations following suspicions that two leading economic ministry officials working on sensitive energy policy issues are Russian agents. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian PM says EU solution is only way out of energy crisis. Lowering energy prices calls for an EU-wide solution, said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Wednesday, promising the Belgian heads of government who gathered to discuss ways to address the energy crisis that he would continue to push the European Commission “as long as it is necessary”. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch cabinet backs 2023 budget after burning midnight oil. The government coalition partners and the cabinet reached an agreement for the 2023 budget in a meeting that lasted over 14 hours, Dutch media NOS reported. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK’s COVID-19 inquiry starts work. The public inquiry into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has started its work in a process that will lead to key government ministers, officials and scientific advisors giving evidence in public. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland prepares to launch ‘humanitarian visas’. The Finnish government is looking into launching a new type of visa for individuals needing special protection and whose entry into Finland would not otherwise be possible. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Italian MEP: Weber must explain why he sells EPP’s identity to far-right. European People’s Party (EPP) chief Manfred Weber must explain why he “sells out” the identity and values of the EU centre-right to the extreme-right by supporting an “Orbán -driven” coalition in the Italian elections, Five Star Movement’s MEP Laura Ferrara said. Read more.
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ATHENS
Former PM shows Mitsotakis the red card over Greek ‘Watergate’ scandal. Former conservative prime minister Costas Karamanlis urged the Greek government to shed light on the scandal regarding socialist opposition leader Nikos Androulakis whose phone was bugged by the Greek secret services. Read more.
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LISBON
EU Parliament chief warns of mass migration due to Africa food crisis. The food crisis in Africa could lead to “mass movements” of migrants coming to the EU, European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola told EURACTIV’s media partner Lusa in an interview ahead of her two-day trip to Portugal, adding that political instability across the bloc is also growing due to “populist rhetoric”. Read more.
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MADRID
Electricity prices in Spain hit historic high. The average price of electricity on the Spanish wholesale market hit a historic high of €307.80 per megawatt-hour (MWh) this August, increasing 19.3% compared to July, fresh data from the Iberian Electricity Market Operator (OMIE) revealed. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech PM calls Ukraine war a turning point, compares it to 9/11. Russia’s war on Ukraine, like the terrorist attacks of September 2001, has been a turning point for the world, Prime Minister Petr Fiala told the Forum 2000 conference’s opening ceremony in Prague on Wednesday. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungary to buy more gas from Russian in new deal. Under a new deal between Moscow and Budapest, Russia’s Gazprom will deliver up to 5.8 million cubic metres (mcm) more natural gas per day via Serbia on top of the volumes agreed in the long-term contract, Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó said. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak government in disarray, faces uncertain future. The junior governing coalition party, Freedom and Solidarity, is threatening to leave the coalition because Finance Minister Igor Matovič is refusing to resign. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish Supreme Court’s new criminal chamber lifts first judge’s immunity. The Supreme Court’s Chamber of Professional Responsibility, set up to replace the controversial Disciplinary Chamber, has issued its first decision lifting the immunity of a judge who caused a traffic accident. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria has potential to become European energy hub, says US’s Pompeo. Bulgaria has the chance to realise its potential as an energy centre in Southeast Europe, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday in Sofia. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian parliament approves cost-of-living aid for vulnerable groups, businesses. Slovenia’s most vulnerable population groups and businesses that have been hit hard by high gas and electricity prices will receive emergency cost-of-living aid, according to two bills unanimously endorsed by parliament on Wednesday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Pressure mounts to legalise sports betting in Albania. The Commanding Director of the State Police, Tonin Vocaj, who took over on Wednesday after his predecessor Gledis Nano was fired, has supported legalising sports betting in a speech just hours after he was appointed. Read more.
Agenda
- EU: EU ministers responsible for cohesion policy meet
- EU Court of Auditors reports on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic by European institutions
- European Parliament Committee meetings
- The Netherlands: EMA extraordinary meeting on COVID-19 vaccines adapted for Omicron
- Finland: New rules limiting Russian tourist visas come into force
- Russia: Russian holds ‘Vostok-2022’ military exercises in the country’s east
- Ukraine: Students return to schools for face-to-face classes
- Indonesia: G20 Education ministers meeting
- Serbia: Leaders of Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia meet in Belgrade wine event under Open Balkan auspices
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Maksimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Eleonora Vasques]
Source: euractiv.com
