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In today’s news from the Capitals:
Common European funding backed by Brussels to counter the US’s multi-billion dollar strong Inflation Reduction Act is set to face an uphill battle with the bloc’s industrial heavyweight Germany as finance minister Christian Lindner takes a stance against a response that would entail any form of joint borrowing at the EU level. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
EU Council completes first review of Media Freedom Act. The EU Council completed on Monday the first revision of the European Media Freedom Act at the technical level, with significant work still to be done on fundamental aspects of the proposal. Read more.
Packaging makers ‘still concerned’ about reuse targets in new EU law. The European Commission’s new packaging law has drawn criticism from manufacturers, who warn against a shift of focus from recycling to reusing materials. While the new proposal is watered down, concerns remain. Read more.
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PARIS
Enlargement “could work” without EU reform, says senior French diplomat. The existing institutional make-up of the EU could cope with a new wave of enlargement without the need for EU reform, a senior French diplomat who wished to remain anonymous told EURACTIV. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian government wants to double down on reckless speeding. The government’s plans to reform the criminal code have been clarified, with Green Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler announcing that drivers who drive beyond the speed limit could face on-the-spot vehicle confiscation. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian companies, banks involved in Israeli settlements, activists say. Four Belgian banks, an airline and a chemicals company are involved with Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, with chemicals company Solvay supplying the drone supplier of Israel’s military, a report published by the Don’t Buy Into Occupation, a coalition of 24 activist organisations, on Monday revealed. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Airport giant buys out farmers to meet controversial nitrogen rules. The Schiphol Group has bought out a number of livestock farmers to own sufficient space and hence nitrogen emission rights to continue operating Schiphol and Lelystad Airport. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland far off EU’s women on boards criteria. Finland is still far behind the recently agreed EU target to boost gender balance in companies, despite having made considerable progress in increasing the number of women on corporate boards over the past decade. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish socialists predicted to win 2023 elections, fresh poll shows. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s socialist PSOE party could win the next Spanish general election set to take place in December 2023, a fresh poll published Monday predicts. Read more.
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ROME
Brussels ready to finance much-awaited strategic infrastructure in Italy. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and Industry Commissioner Adina-Ioana Valean penned an agreement on Monday to secure funding for a bridge connecting Sicily with the rest of Italy and the European continent. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese doctors earn less than a decade ago. Doctors in Portugal were paid less in real terms for their life-saving work in 2020 compared to 2010, a report published on Monday states. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech minister: Ukraine arms smuggling risk part of Kremlin propaganda. European countries must continue supporting Ukraine with weapons even though there is a risk these may be smuggled back to the EU, the Czech interior ministry said, adding that the Kremlin continues to peddle its arms smuggling narrative to weaken Kyiv. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
EU finance ministers to discuss EU funds for Hungary. EU finance ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss whether to release the EU funds for Hungary, following the European Commission’s recommendation last week to freeze €7.5 billion of cohesion funds under the rule of law conditionality mechanism. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish PM’s Qatar World Cup bonus proposal outrages commentators. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has promised the Polish national football team a bonus of around €6 million for making to the knockout round at the football World Cup in Qatar, angering politicians and commentators alike. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Business as usual for Slovakia after EU oil embargo comes into effect. Nothing changes for Slovakia despite the EU’s Russian oil embargo kicking in on Monday, as Slovakia is exempt said Economy Minister Karel Hirman. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
LJUBLJANA
Slovenia to inject state capital into state-owned power giant HSE. State-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), the largest domestic producer and seller of electricity on Slovenia’s wholesale market, has received a capital hike of almost half a billion from the state to shore up its liquidity amid major problems at its core hydro and coal generation facilities. Read more.
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TIRANA
Edi Rama Interview: I cannot tell young people not to leave. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he cannot tell his country’s young people not to leave for a life abroad, but what is important is tackling exploitation and people trafficking, and ensuring that some of those that leave, come back. Read more.
EU prepares support measures for Western Balkans to curb illegal migration. On the eve of a key EU-Western Balkans summit, the European Commission on Monday presented an ‘action plan’ to tackle the rise in migrants entering the EU via the region. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Leaders discuss the consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, resilience against foreign interference, challenges posed by migration, and more at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana; Leaders are expected to issue a statement; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends;
- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) discusses rule of law conditionality mechanism, focusing on Hungary, economic recovery in Europe, financial support to Ukraine, and more; Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis attends;
- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council is expected to adopt a general approach on Artificial Intelligence Act, and electronic identification for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS);
- Vice-President Vĕra Jourová speaks at the conference on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides holds a videoconference call with Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko;
- European Parliament hosts European Year of Youth’s closing event; MEPs, Commissioners, civil society and youth take part in thematic sessions on education and mental health;
- Fundamental Rights Agency participates in an event on child-friendly justice and children as victims of crime at the European Parliament;
- Slovakia: Visegrad Four ministers hold a meeting;
- Russia: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov receives his counterpart from Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov;
- South Africa: German African Business Summit 2022 takes place;
- International Energy Agency: 2022 Renewable Energy Report gets released;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
