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.
Before you start reading today’s edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article EU leaders gather to respond to Russia’s new war in Ukraine, by Alexandra Brzozowski.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin should be first on the list of sanctions imposed on Russia, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová said in an interview published in Czech media just before the Russian president announced a military operation in Ukraine.
According to her, the fact Putin is missing from the list is a sign of weakness rather than a door open to diplomacy. Read more.
///
VIENNA
Largest Austrian banking group prepares for crisis amid Russia sanctions. Sanctions against the Kremlin threaten Austria’s banking sector, which is closely tied to Russia leading banks to brace themselves. Read more.
///
BERLIN
Germany to raise hourly minimum wage to €12. The general minimum wage in Germany will be raised to €12 per hour, the cabinet decided on Wednesday, fulfilling a key electoral promise of Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Read more.
///
PARIS
France pushes abortion limit from 12 to 14 weeks. French lawmakers on Wednesday adopted a bill extending the time limit for abortions from 12 to 14 weeks, with 135 votes in favour and 47 against. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Russia Today faces being taken off air. The Kremlin-backed TV channel Russia Today faces the prospect of being taken off the airwaves in the UK after the culture minister asked the media watchdog Ofcom to review the news channel’s broadcasts in the UK. Read more.
///
DUBLIN
Facebook whistleblower calls for review of Irish data protection watchdog. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has called for an independent inquiry into the beleaguered Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), long seen as a bottleneck in the EU-wide enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
NORDICS
Arctic Council to decide on Russian initiative for new Arctic radio station. This spring, the Arctic Council is compelled to form an opinion about an initiative proposed by its current Chair, Russia. The idea is to launch a radio station, Pan-Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Radio covering the entire Arctic region and broadcasting in indigenous languages, Russian and English. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Sanchez says he won’t call for early elections as PP leader hints at resignation. General elections will not be held early, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday as the country’s main opposition force, the centre-right Partido Popular (PP) party, reels from an internal crisis. Read more.
///
LISBON
Portugal to spend €5 million to combat drought. The Portuguese government will allocate €5 million from the Environmental Fund for awareness campaigns and contingency solutions to fight the severe drought that has spread across the country, Environment and Climate Action Minister João Matos Fernandes announced on Wednesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW | LJUBLJANA | VILNIUS | KYIV
Poland, Slovenia, Lithuania say Ukraine deserves EU candidate status. Poland and Lithuania said they would support Ukraine on its way to achieving EU candidate status, according to a joint declaration signed by the presidents of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine. Read more.
///
BUDAPEST
Hungary’s teacher unions turn to Constitutional Court over strike restrictions. Two Hungarian teacher unions asked the country’s top court to declare unconstitutional a government decree imposing mandatory minimum services during strikes. Read more.
///
BRATISLAVA
Slovak opposition puts up billboards with MPs supporting US defence deal. The opposition Smer party of former prime minister Robert Fico has put up billboards with faces of politicians who supported the defence deal with the US and the words “They have betrayed Slovakia. They invited the US Army to Slovakia”. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria does not expect suspension of Russian gas supplies. The Bulgarian government will stop the export of electricity should Russian gas stop flowing into the country, according to Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on Wednesday. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST | ATHENS
Romania and Greece to continue cooperation on energy. Romania and Greece will continue to cooperate in the energy sector, also in a trilateral format – with Bulgaria to find joint solutions to current challenges in energy security. The plan was discussed on Wednesday by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who was on an official visit to Bucharest. Read more.
///
LJUBLJANA
Slovenia opts for cash aid to mitigate energy price hikes. Hundreds of thousands of individuals and tens of thousands of companies will benefit from direct cash aid designed to offset the impact of soaring energy prices under a package of laws adopted by the Slovenian parliament that is valued at around €200 million and has been likened to the handout of candy right before the election. Read more.
///
ZAGREB
Croatian coalition clashes over new construction minister. Stjepan Čuraj, the leader of the Croatian People’s Party (HNS), who was eyed as the replacement for former Construction Minister Darko Horvat, who resigned following his arrest, has not been backed by the ruling coalition. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
ODIHR will send 250 international observers to Serbia elections. The international observer mission of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will have more than 250 observers at polling stations throughout Serbia for the 3 April elections. Read more.
///
SARAJEVO
New US ambassador presents his six goals for BiH. Michael Murphy, the new US ambassador to BiH, presented his credentials to Željko Komšić, a member of the tripartite Presidency. Read more.
///
SKOPJE
North Macedonia ready to accept refugees from Ukraine. The government of North Macedonia has announced its readiness to receive refugees from Ukraine if the situation there deteriorates further. Read more.
///
PRISTINA
Religious communities in Kosovo urge lawmakers not to legalise same-sex marriage. The Islamic Community, the Diocese of Prizren-Pristina (Catholic Church), the Evangelical Protestant Church of Kosovo and the Jewish Community of Kosovo called on the government and the Assembly not to touch the parts of the Civil Code related to marriage and openly opposed same-sex marriages. Read more.
///
TIRANA
Albania’s COVID-19 measures could be lifted in March. Albania may lift most pandemic-related restrictions in March, according to Skënder Brataj, head of the National Emergency Service. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: EU emergency summit on Russia crisis takes place in Brussels from 8pm / European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen receives NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Berlaymont ahead of the EU27 Russia summit.
- North Atlantic Council meets for emergency meeting at 8:30 CET for Article 4 consultations.
- Germany: G7 leaders hold video-conference on Ukraine under German presidency.
- Austria: Armenia, Turkey envoys meet for second time in Vienna in bid to mend ties.
- UK: England ends legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive Covid test.
- Hungary: OSCE observers hold press conference on mission for April elections.
- Spain: King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and PM Pedro Sanchez visit volcano-hit La Palma.
- Romania: Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca will preside an inter-ministerial meeting on energy issues, scheduled phone call with Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal.
- Croatia: The Croatian Bureau of Statistics releases consumer prices index for January.
- Serbia: President Aleksandar Vučić to meet with the ambassadors of the Quint and the chief of the EU Delegation in Serbia.
- Montenegro: The Democratic Front (DF) will block 17 roads in Montenegro for an hour and a half as a sign of disapproval of minority government.
***
[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski, Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
