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.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
France is set to reduce administrative burdens for creating new-generation nuclear reactors at home amid the continent’s scramble to replace Russian energy.
However, questions remain whether Europe’s nuclear giant can catch up and seize the uptick in interest for atom-splitting energy after a rocky year and fierce competition from overseas. Read more.
BERLIN
Scholz defends visit to ‘key partner’ China amid backlash. Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his Thursday trip to China, which would make him the first Western head of government to visit since Xi Jinping’s reelection, in a guest commentary published on Wednesday. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian government wants to ban fossil heating from 2023. The government wants to ban new oil, coal and gas heaters from 2023, extending to replacements of existing heaters, but it needs a two-thirds majority in parliament. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch to slowly reinstate international adoption after hiatus. The Netherlands, which paused international adoptions in 2021 due to structural abuses, promises to soon reinstate the possibility of adopting from the Philippines, Hungary, Lesotho, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Africa. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish farmers hit hard by energy and fertiliser prices. Farmers are finding it hard to cope with the rising prices of fertilisers and skyrocketing energy bills, with only about one-third saying they had already purchased the fertilisers needed for the next growing season, a recent survey has found. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
Sweden against giving EU-approved COVID jab to under-30s. The EU-approved COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid should not be administered to people aged 30, and below due to increased health risks posed by it, the Swedish Public Health Agency announced this week. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
RSF: Greek government silence over journalists’ surveillance is ‘deafening’. Reporters Without Borders has asked the Greek government to pass specific laws protecting journalists against surveillance and illegal spyware activities following the “Greek Watergate” scandal, which has caused turmoil in the country, according to a document seen by EURACTIV. Read more.
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MADRID
Spain backs border security forces after scathing BBC report. The interior ministry rejected accusations a BBC report levelled against the country’s security forces, saying they failed to prevent dozens of migrant deaths during a rush across Spain’s North African border this summer. Read more.
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ROME
Italy’s far-right PM Meloni meets EU chiefs. Italy’s new far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets European Union chiefs in Brussels Thursday (3 November) for the first time since her election, with the energy crisis expected to dominate the agenda. Read more.
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LISBON
Lisbon Web Summit attendance figures reach record highs. This year’s Lisbon Web Summit dubbed the world’s largest tech event by the Financial Times, was attended by a record number of startups and investors and reached full capacity with 71,033 participants from 160 countries at kick-off on Tuesday. Read more.
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VALLETTA
Malta PMs office allegedly flagged names to pass in driving license racket. A new scandal has erupted in the Maltese government after a driving examiner testified under oath that he was instructed to treat specific candidates flagged by the prime minister’s office, as favourable. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
Czech army to withdraw from EU mission in Mali. The Czech army, which since 2020 has been in command of the currently suspended EU training mission in Mali, will end its participation by the end of the year, Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová informed. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak ministry unfazed over soldiers turning backs on military. The Defence Ministry is unfazed about soldiers, including new recruits, increasingly wanting to be discharged from the army since Russia started its war in Ukraine. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
TIRANA
Rama blasts UK’s ‘criminal’ rhetoric facing Albanian migrants. Prime Minister Edi Rama has called for an end to the “xenophobic” and “criminal” rhetoric used against Albanians amid mass irregular migration to the UK and has called for cooperation and respect from British counterparts after thousands crossed The Channel and sought asylum in 2022. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria to start sending military aid to Ukraine. Bulgaria will start sending military and technical assistance to the country after the parliament’s defence and foreign policy committees approved two proposals submitted by pro-European parties GERB and Democratic Bulgaria. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania could soon house Europe’s largest photovoltaic park. Independent clean energy producer Rezolv Energy has acquired the rights to build and operate a 1,044 Megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in western Romania, which, if constructed, is expected to become Europe’s largest solar PV plant. Read more.
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ZAGREB
UAE investor buys 43% in leading Croat food group. Investor Saif Alketbi from the United Arab Emirates has bought a 43.4% stake in the leading Croatian food and retail group Fortenova. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia extends temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2024. Slovenia has extended temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine until 4 March 2024, meaning Ukrainians with this status will be issued new ID cards valid until that date. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia brings down suspect drone seen near military installations. The Serbian army brought down a suspect drone on Wednesday said to have been flying over military installations on a reconnaissance mission in the country’s southern part. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Kosovo accuses Serbia of trying to create panic at the border. Kosovo claims that Serbia’s scrambling of warplanes to bring down alleged drones near military sites around the border area is a tactic to cause panic. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the Berlin Process (Western Balkans Summit) hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin; Attendees to put focus on energy security and green transition; Von der Leyen receives newly elected Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Brussels;
- Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová meets representatives of the LGBTI community in Bratislava;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson participates in the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs in Tirana;
- “EU Secure and Innovative Digital Future” ministerial conference in Prague to focus on cyber security, security of supply chains, and building ecosystem for the development of artificial intelligence and data economy;
- European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and member of the Executive Board Frank Elderson attend the “Sustainability and Money: Shaping the Economy of the Future” conference, expected to gather distinguished European financial sector leaders, in Riga;
- European Investment Bank Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova participates at the Berlin Process 2022 Western Balkans Summit;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates at the Die Zeit for Democracy event; Meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni early in the afternoon;
- France: Agriculture ministers from 50 OECD countries to meet in Paris to discuss food security, rising prices and climate crisis;
- Germany: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a German-US forum; G7 foreign ministers meet;
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: European military mission “Operation Althea” in Bosnia-Herzegovina expires;
- Turkey: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visits;
- United Nations: Security Council discusses peacekeeping operations in Africa;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
