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In today’s news from the Capitals:
BELGRADE
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has probably offered to supply Ukraine with weapons in exchange for Kyiv not recognising Serbia’s former province of Kosovo, an influential German EU parliamentarian said following the two leaders meeting in Athens on Tuesday. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Europe Patent Office: Gene-edited plants will be patented under GMO rules. The recent European Commission proposal to boost the marketing uptake of gene-edited crops will not affect how patents for these innovative technologies are granted, according to the organisation protecting inventions across Europe. Read more.
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BERLIN
Scholz hopes to resolve coalition spat paralysing government. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) invited key ministers into the chancellery on Wednesday in the hopes of resolving an ongoing dispute over family benefits that is paralysing the government, but coalition partner FDP remains sceptical on whether it will succeed. Read more.
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PARIS
Record temperatures hit France’s south, care workers bemoan working conditions. France is currently experiencing summer’s most intense heatwave with record temperatures recorded in the south of the country, including in hospitals where some care workers are struggling. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Timmermans out: Dutch MEPs push for home-grown EU climate chief. Dutch MEPs advocated for the position of EU climate chief to be in Dutch hands again after Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič preliminarily took over the position from Frans Timmermans on Tuesday. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
COPENHAGEN
Ministerial swap in Danish government amid controversial arms deal. Denmark’s Defence Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen and Economy Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, both of the Liberal Party, swapped government posts on Tuesday, said a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office as the opposition demands answers over a controversial arms deal with an Israeli company. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Greek extremist arrested after abducting refugees amid wildfires [Video]. Greek police arrested a man after a shocking video published on social media showed him locking up refugees in a van and calling other residents to do the same, as he claimed they were responsible for the wildfires. Read more.
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ROME
Italian EU minister calls for reflection period before more enlargement. Before proceeding with EU enlargement, there is a need to reflect on member states’ priorities and the bloc’s financial capacity, Italian EU Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto said at an event on Tuesday. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain opposes new official Morocco map, including Ceuta, Melilla. Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D) of acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it firmly rejects the recent publication of an official map of Morocco’s territory that includes the Spanish autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, while the regional president of Melilla has demanded that Madrid lodges a formal protest with Rabat. Read more.
Spanish King proposes centre-right candidate for PM despite ‘zero’ chances. King Felipe VI of Spain on Tuesday proposed the leader of centre-right Partido Popular (PP/EPP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, as a candidate for the investiture as new prime minister even though his conservative formation did not gather sufficient votes to reach the majority required in Parliament. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese president voices support for Poland on eastern flank. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that Poland’s concerns about movements that question the eastern flank of the European Union and NATO must be addressed. Read more.
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VALLETTA
Why is Malta delaying justice in murdered journalist case, Dutch politician asks. As the sixth anniversary of the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia draws near, Pieter Omtzigt, Dutch representative and rapporteur at the Council of Europe and critical rapporteur, has called on ministers to push Malta to close the investigation and bring those involved to trial. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech coal production rose in 2022 despite phase-out plans. The Czech Republic’s goal of phasing out coal by 2033 seems out of reach as coal production in the country rose last year amid an energy crisis sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Read more.
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WARSAW
Poland suspends benefits for thousands of Ukrainian refugees who left. Poland has suspended payment of childcare benefits for thousands of Ukrainian war refugees due to them leaving the country, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) said. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Volt could get a third MEP after Slovak snap election. Lucia Kleštincová, a substitute MEP for Progresívne Slovensko and co-leader of the Slovak Volt party, could enter the European Parliament after September’s parliamentary elections, making her the third MEP from the pan-European political party. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Ukraine calls Bulgaria to help in Black Sea security efforts. Russia’s aggressive behaviour in the Black Sea raises the question of coherent efforts by NATO members bordering the strategic sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov Tuesday, two days after Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev acknowledged the possibility of a naval conflict in the region. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania risks missing 2025 recycling target despite national campaign. Romania is still far from meeting its 55% recycling target by 2025, with only 12-14% currently subject to selective collection, Environment Minister Mircea Fechet said at the launch of an anti-waste campaign on Tuesday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Rama swipes at Athens, hopes domestic politics not behind meeting snub. Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the informal government meeting of regional leaders in Athens on Monday, to which he was not invited, stating he hoped it was not used to send Albania a message and that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis should not fall foul of domestic politics. Read more.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with EURACTIV
Rama swipes at Athens, hopes domestic politics not behind meeting snub
Source: euractiv.com
