Lebanese ex-defence minister: Iran won’t be involved, but regional escalation possible

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BEIRUT | BRUSSELS

The European Union has lost its credibility in the Arab world as it simply aligned its foreign policy with Washington’s, former Lebanese Defence Minister Yacoub Sarraf told Euractiv in an exclusive interview.

Moreover, he estimated that Iran would not be involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict unless it was directly attacked but did not rule out instability in the wider region. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Biden warns Iran against getting involved over Gaza strikes. US President Joe Biden warned Iran against getting involved in Israel’s conflict with Hamas amid fears of a wider regional conflict, while ongoing Israeli air strikes around the Gaza Strip drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. Read more.

Czech foreign minister first European official to visit Israel amid war on Hamas. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, on Tuesday (10 October), became the first European politician to pay an official visit to the country after the attack launched by Hamas last weekend. Read more.

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BERLIN

Economic crisis worse than expected, says German government. The government has downgraded its economic growth projections for the current year, signalling a deeper-than-expected economic crisis and slower recovery, according to their revised autumn forecast published on Wednesday. Read more.

Germany makes it easier for asylum applicants to find work. A new bundle of measures on migration will also accelerate access to the labour market for refugees, the government confirmed on Wednesday after giving in to increasing pressure from regions and experts to integrate migrants into the labour force. Read more.

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PARIS

Debt rules: French MPs oppose ‘ideological’ German position. Germany’s demand that ‘common numerical benchmarks’ be added to the EU economic governance reform is both “ideological and uncorrelated from reality”, a report by French MPs published on Wednesday argues, calling for more transparency with national parliaments. Read more.

French MP puts forth an amendment to put minimum price per unit of alcohol. Cyrille Isaac-Sibille (MoDem, affiliated with Macron’s party) would like to table an amendment to the 2024 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) to put a minimum price per unit of alcohol to protect both public health and the wine industry. Read more.

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VIENNA

EU-Tunisia deal: Vienna-based organisation to contribute to implementation. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) will manage projects in Tunisia under the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ICMPD told Euractiv in Vienna. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch migrant party boycotts Israel commemoration in parliament. Dutch migrant party DENK boycotted a commemorative event in parliament for the victims of the recent Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel after Palestinian victims were not included. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Greece on alert for ‘hidden’ terrorists as Middle East crisis escalates. Greece’s Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) will hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as Athens fears new migration waves and potentially “hidden” terrorists, Greek media reports. Read more.

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MADRID

Spain’s Sumar leader calls out ‘Israeli apartheid’ against Palestinian people. The ‘Israeli apartheid’ against the Palestinian people must be roundly condemned, said Sumar leader and acting Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz on Wednesday after being accused of not condemning the attacks against Israel, which she did soon after. Read more.

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VALLETTA

Malta opens ‘research’ bird trapping season, despite ongoing EU infringement probe. Malta’s ORNIS committee has accepted recommendations by hunting lobby FKNK to open a trapping season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover, while a recommendation for a ‘research’ period for the trapping of Finches was also accepted, despite ongoing European Commission infringement proceedings. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Czech populists would win elections if held now: poll. The Czech opposition ANO party of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (Renew) would win the Czech general election with 33.5% of the vote if elections were held now, according to a new opinion poll. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico pushes to create a government in order to meet with EU leaders at October’s Council summit. The Smer leader wants to hasten government creation to be able to attend the European Council Summit in October, which will bring him face-to-face with leaders who called for his suspension from the Party of European Socialists, according to a letter sent to the PES presidency. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian court’s ruling allows public insults to be made against LGBTQ+ people. The Bulgarian Supreme Court acquitted Bulgarian punk star Milena Slavova after being accused of discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community with offensive comments against the Pride Parade in Sofia. Read more.

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BUCHAREST | BUDAPEST

EU should fund Neptun Deep, says Hungarian President Novak. The EU should financially support the Neptun Deep project, Hungarian President Katalin Novak, who expressed interest in purchasing gas from the project, said during President Klaus Iohannis’ visit to Budapest on Wednesday. Read more.

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BELGRADE | PRISTINA

Vucic: Serb politician who led Kosovo attack to be indicted, EU, opposition pressure mounts. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that the Serbian authorities will indict Milan Radoicic, the former vice-head of the Serb List political party who admitted to leading the terrorist attack in the north of Kosovo on 24 September, while an EU delegation is set to visit Belgrade and opposition pressure mounts. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Recession in some EU countries could affect Serbia. The announcement by ten EU states that they are officially in recession could certainly impact Serbia, as the country is closely tied to the EU, even though there is slightly less trade this year compared to the previous one, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Wednesday. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on official visit in Moldova, meets President Maia Sandu, and Prime Minister Dorin Recean in Chișinău;
Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas delivers keynote speech at 2nd East Med & SouthEast Europe Conference;
Vice President Maroš Šefčovič delivers keynote speech at Renewable Hydrogen Summit;
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi meets Serbian Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirović;
Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira participates in Cohesion Alliance high level event of the EU Week of Regions and Cities on “Lessons learnt from the RRF: safeguarding a place-based approach”; Addresses closing event “Thriving Regions, Stronger Europe”;
Stella Kyriakides delivers keynote Speech at Economist event on “Future of Health Europe: Building a sustainable, inclusive and digital health system”; Meets U.K. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski delivers opening speech at EU conference on EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) financial instruments, organised by the Commission;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in 11th EU-China Energy Dialogue meeting, in Beijing, China; Holds meeting with Director of the National Energy Administration Zhang Jianhua; Delivers keynote speech at ECECP II event on “Investment and Technologies Planning for Net-Zero Carbon Infrastructure”;
Justice Commissioner visits the Council of Europe; Holds meetings with Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Cox; Exchanges views with Parliamentary Assembly;
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton hosts President of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) Martin Brudermüller;
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova meets President of the European Research Council Maria Leptin;
Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness participates in regulatory roundtable discussion held by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen, in Marrakech, Morocco; Holds meetings with Minister of Economy and Finance of the Kingdom of Morocco Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Finance of Nigeria Wale Edun, Minister of Finance of Andorra Lladós Bernaus, Deputy Minister of Finance of South Africa David Masondo, Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey;
Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety votes on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7);
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani;
France: President Emmanuel Macron meets Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh;
Belgium: Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefs NATO counterparts via video link;
Italy: Verdict expected in defamation trial brought by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against journalist Roberto Saviano;
Kyrgyzstan: Russian President Vladimir Putin visits for a meeting of heads of state from former Soviet republics;