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In today’s news from the Capitals:
Infighting in the German government between the Greens and the liberal FDP over the phase-out of nuclear energy intensified over the weekend, with the government failing to reach a compromise.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Green Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Liberal Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Sunday to reach a compromise over the extension of nuclear power plants. Read more.
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PARIS
French left march against Macron’s policies. Tens of thousands of people marched in Paris on Sunday, protesting the cost of living, demanding more environmental and social justice, and criticising the government’s policies. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian government’s refugee tent plans spark outrage. The interior ministry has been subject to outrage following statements that tents may be necessary in the face of increased refugee numbers. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Netherlands needs more workers to achieve climate goals. There are around 48,000 vacancies for jobs that are necessary for the Netherlands’ energy transition, the government agency Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) said this week. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Swedish Moderates strike government deal, far-right influence increases. The Swedish Moderates party struck a three-party government deal with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals, leader Ulf Kristersson announced on Friday. Read more.
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HELSINKI
Finns turn their back on Russia as long as Putin stays in power. The vast majority of Finns disregard their eastern neighbour as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power, a survey commissioned and published by the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat found on Saturday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
VALLETTA
Centre-right asks socialist MEPs to reconsider Malta Labour Party’s membership. EPP members have requested their socialist colleagues in the European Parliament to review the membership of the Malta Labour Party five years after the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain sends 2023 budget plan to Brussels, expects €10 billion. The government sent its 2023 Budget Plan, including an optimistic forecast of an extra €10 billion thanks to the executive’s expected extra tax collection, to the European Commission on Saturday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Tapes that caused 2014 Polish government crisis were allegedly sold to Russia. Recordings of Polish politicians recorded at a popular Warsaw restaurant that reportedly contributed to bringing down the government in 2015 may have been sold to Russia before they were published in Poland. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Solar industry ‘shocked’ by Hungarian government’s suspension of feed-in. The government’s announcement it plans to suspend new connections to the grid of future solar energy installations is contrary to the interests of the sector, the population and the country, the Hungarian Solar Solar Association (MNNSZ) said in a statement over the weekend. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech parliament approves Czech Magnitsky Act. Czech lawmakers approved the Magnitsky Act on Friday, allowing the Czech government to impose sanctions on foreign entities violating human rights, supporting terrorism, or committing cyber crimes. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Queer people looking at more rights after Bratislava murders. A bill in the National Council proposes to create an institute of civil cohabitation, which would give LGBTIQ people more rights, and after the murders in a queer bar, the bill has a chance to pass. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria targeted by Russian hacker attack. Bulgarian government institutions have been subjected to a cyber attack that started on Saturday and is believed to originate in Russia, the latest of a series of attacks in the region by third-state actors. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia almost entirely reliant on imported electricity. Slovenia currently relies on imports for roughly three-quarters of all the electricity it consumes after the two largest power stations in the country were taken offline two weeks apart. Read more.
Slovenia’s presidential elections could return first female head of state. Polls predict that an independent candidate supported by the Pirates and Greens is likely to win the run-off against right-wing and ruling party-backed hopefuls to become Slovenia’s first female president. Read more.
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SARAJEVO
EU troops to stage military drill in Bosnia. About 250 Bosnia-bound soldiers arrived in Croatia from Italy on Sunday ahead of a month-long military exercise of the EU military force (EUFOR) in neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, with another contingent of soldiers was expected to join them soon. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Inflation in Kosovo reaches historic levels amid trade developments. Inflation in Kosovo has increased by 13% in the last 12 months as trade with neighbouring foe Serbia increases. Read more.
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TIRANA
Energy crisis, migration impacts Albanian textile industry. Albania’s textile and footwear industry is increasingly facing a series of challenges including energy costs and inflation combined with competition from Asia which could jeopardise some 150,000 jobs. Read more.
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AGENDA
- EU: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet in Strasbourg, France;
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds meetings with the Chair of the European People’s Party Mr Manfred Weber, Chair of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Ms Iratxe García-Pérez and Chair of Renew Europe Mr Stéphane Séjourné, in the European Parliament;
- European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Meets with Hungarian Minister for Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky;
- Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement participates in a videoconference with Western Balkans Energy Ministers;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to hold a meeting with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin;
- Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg; European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi to join them;
- European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France to discuss the Rule of Law in Malta, five years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure and guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States; Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson participates in the European Parliament Plenary Session;
- Sweden: Parliamentary vote on the election of Conservative leader Ulf Kristersson as prime minister to take place;
- Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) World Food Forum 2022 to start in Rome;
- USA: German Central Bank Chief Joachim Nagel delivers a speech on ECB monetary policy;
- Iran: Foreign Ministry spokesman to hold a press conference;
- UN: Volker Turk takes up his position as United Nations Human Rights Chief;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
