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In today’s news from the Capitals:
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was eager to showcase harmony during a visit to Warsaw hours after Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed a diplomatic note in which the country officially demanded reparations for damage caused in WWII. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Seafaring member states continue to delay new EU sanctions decision. Pushback by member states with large shipping industries remains the only obstacle to agreeing on the EU’s next Russia sanctions round as EU ambassadors are expected to meet later on Tuesday (4 October) in another attempt to finalise the package. Read more.
EU ministers challenge Commission’s ‘green products’ regulation. EU-27 ministers met last week to discuss the European Commission’s proposal for an EU regulation aimed at lowering the environmental impact of products by making them easier to repair, reuse and recycle. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany under fire for ‘canibalistic’ €200 billion investment. Germany’s plan to protect households and companies from soaring energy crises with a €200 billion investment have been heavily criticised for being a go-it-alone approach by the European Commission and member states. Read more.
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PARIS
French people hosting Ukrainians to receive financial assistance. French people who welcomed displaced Ukrainians into their homes will receive financial aid, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on Monday. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria in favour of additional Iran sanctions. The Austrian government has called for extending sanctions against Iran alongside five other EU countries following the women’s protests and subsequent government suppression. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
New Dutch agriculture minister announced. Former deputy Piet Adema is the Netherlands’ new agriculture, nature, and food quality minister, taking over from Henk Staghouwer, who resigned last month over Netherlands’ nitrogen dilemma. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
DUBLIN
Irish Data Protection Commission submits draft decision on Meta enquiry. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has submitted its draft decision on an enquiry into potential GDPR violations by tech giant Meta, the watchdog announced on Monday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
COPENHAGEN
Danish foreign ministry releases ‘bleak’ 2035 strategic analysis. Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Ministry presented on Monday a new strategic document depicting a bleak future in terms of geopolitics and potential threats. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Poll: centre-right to win elections in 2023, fresh poll predicts. Spain’s centre-right Popular Party (PP/EPP) is on course to win the May and December 2023 elections, although it would likely need the support of other right-wing political formations to govern, a poll by El País predicts. Read more.
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ROME
Brothers of Italy MEP: No way for ECR and ID to merge. There is no way for the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) to form a big right group with the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) following the Italian elections, Brothers of Italy MEP Nicola Procaccini told EURACTIV Italy in an interview. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal offers €52 annual minimum wage rise for civil service. Wage increases of between 2% and 8% with a guaranteed minimum of about €52 per year until 2026 were proposed to public administration unions by the socialist government on Monday. The minimum annual increase for the civil service will be equivalent to a change in salary level (about €52), varying between 8% for the lowest salary on the scale, which is €705, and 2% for incomes above €2,570.82.
(Denise Fernandes | Lusa.pt)
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ATHENS
Tension amid Turkey, Libya hydrocarbon memorandum. Libya and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding for exploring hydrocarbons in Libyan territorial waters and territory on Monday, amid objections from Greece and France. Read more.
EP PEGA Committee to investigate Greek spyware scandal on the ground. The committee set up by European Parliament to look into the spy and surveillance software scandal, known as PEGA is set to travel to Greece and Cyprus to interview key witnesses on the ground. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czechia extends border controls, calls for EU help. The Czech government will extend current border controls with Slovakia due to “unprecedented” irregular immigration and wants the European Commission to devise a solution as the problem concerns multiple EU countries. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Ruling Fidesz votes down motion for Finland, Sweden NATO bid. The majority of the governing party voted down the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) motion that would have set Tuesday 4 October as the date for the parliamentary vote on the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden, according to a Facebook post by the proposer of the motion, opposition MP Bertalan Tóth. Read more.
Hungary passes anti-graft law to avoid loss of EU funds. Hungary’s parliament passed the first of a series of anti-corruption bills on Monday as Budapest seeks to avoid a loss of European Union funds when its economy is headed into recession, and the forint has plunged to record lows. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak PM cohesion fund request likely not possible. After Prime Minister Eduard Heger asked the Commission to release Cohesion Policy funds to help alleviate the energy crisis, sources say this is not possible and would go against bloc rules. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgarian president against Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev declared himself against Ukraine’s membership in NATO until the conflict with Russia ended. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Surviving winter 2023 will be key, says Vucic. The conflict in Ukraine will escalate further and energy problems haunting Europe this autumn will be just the preliminary “triage” before next year’s winter, which will be a key test, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Read more.
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TIRANA
Mixed messages on Albania’s controversial fiscal amnesty law. The controversial fiscal amnesty proposed by the Albanian government continues to simmer as Prime Minister Edi Rama doubled down on it, while Finance Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said it is still under public consultation and is being revised. Read more.
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Agenda
- EU: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of France;
- Commissioner Mariya Gabriel in San Francisco, USA: on an official visit;
- Commissioner Johansson in Strasbourg, France: participates in the European Parliament Plenary Session;
- Frans Timmermans in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the pre-COP27: joins two thematic discussions on climate finance and loss and damage;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte hold a press conference after climate talks;
- Economy ministry presents OECD report on German innovation policy;
- France: President Emmanuel Macron hosts UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi;
- Austria: ECB Chairman of the Banking Supervisor Andrea Enria gives a speech;
- Luxembourg: EU finance ministers meet (Ecofin);
- Slovenia: Parliament votes on a proposal to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption;
- US: SpaceX Crew-5 launches to ISS;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson]
Source: euractiv.com
