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In today’s news from the Capitals:
WARSAW
The Polish government will not cooperate with the forced migrant relocation scheme proposed by the Swedish Council of the EU Presidency, announced the country’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Read more.
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PARIS
French senate confirms alarming increase of drug shortages. Drug shortages have increased at an alarming rate over the past five years in France, from about 800 in 2018 to about 3,000 today, the chairwoman of the Senate Inquiry Committee on Drug Shortages, Sonia de La Provôté, said on Wednesday. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany’s monthly public transport ticket gains 10 million subscribers. Over 10 million people have subscribed to the €49 monthly ticket for all regional public transport in Germany, including local buses, trams, and trains. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian socialist leader hopeful under fire for anti-EU comments. Andreas Babler faces backlash after a 2020 video of him spouting anti-EU comments was released, pressuring his bid for the Socialist Party leadership just ahead of Saturday’s all-decisive SPÖ party conference. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Netherlands terrorism threat increases. The probability of a terrorist attack being carried out on Dutch soil has risen over the past half year, the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism stated in its threat assessment on Tuesday, underlining threats from far-right and Islamist groups. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
DUBLIN
Ireland to work with Germany on green hydrogen. A joint declaration to cooperate on green hydrogen production was signed by Irish Climate and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Education and Research Minister Mario Brandenburg on Wednesday. Read more.
Irish campaigners support EU Nature Restoration Law, Taoiseach not convinced. Environmental groups called on political leaders to support the highly criticised EU Nature Restoration Law and reverse the trend of deteriorating ecosystems during a rally outside the Irish parliament on Wednesday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Billion-euro hydrogen plant raises stakes at Finnish government negotiations. US company Plug Power announced a billion-euro investment to develop hydrogen production plants in Finland as energy strategy and climate targets were being questioned by the Finns Party in government negotiations. Read more.
Russia calls out Finland’s ‘confrontational course’, reduces consular presence. Russia will be ramping down its consular presence in Finland and Russia, with the closure of consulates taking effect from 1 July, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, citing Finland’s decision to join NATO. Read more.
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COPENHAGEN
Danish state to own 20% of planned offshore wind farms. The Danish state will take a 20% stake in planned wind farms that could supply a total of 14 million households, according to a new tender agreement that has left some sceptical. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Hydras, Medusas, Gorgons: Spanish left try to stop ‘mythological monsters’ of PP, Vox. With the early general elections in Spain less than two months away, the socialist party (PSOE/S&D) wants to exploit fear of an alliance between the centre-right Popular Party (PP/EPP) and the far-right Vox (ECR), which they liken to a “mythological two-headed monster”: the Hydra of the Greeks and Romans of classical antiquity. Read more.
Ciudadanos party disappearance: death of Spanish centrism. Spain’s regional and municipal elections on Sunday have confirmed the disappearance of the centre-liberal party Ciudadanos (Renew Europe) from the political landscape, with record-low results followed by the party’s decision not to participate in the snap national elections scheduled for 23 July. Read more.
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ROME
Italian troops to remain in Kosovo to guarantee stability. The attack by Serb demonstrators on Italian army units was described as ‘unacceptable’ by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who announced that both Italian and NATO troops would remain in Kosovo to facilitate a peace agreement. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal to help run largest EU civil protection field hospital. The largest pan-European field hospital, which includes seven EU countries and Turkey, was presented on Wednesday in Cascais, Lisbon, and aims to improve the European civil protection mechanism for medical emergencies following natural or man-made disasters. Read more.
VISEGRAD
PRAGUE
EU to join Istanbul Convention despite resistance from some member states. The EU is expected to formally ratify the Istanbul Convention on Thursday despite its rejection by a number of member states, including Czechia. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Bratislava faced massive cyber-attack during GLOBSEC conference. Electronic systems and parking services of Slovakia’s capital were down during an international security conference, GLOBSEC, on Wednesday, with an anti-NATO group claiming responsibility for the attack. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
TIRANA
Albanian PM: Serbian army powerless, positioned for political points. Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the Serbian army, currently near the border of Kosovo, has zero power and is there only for internal Serbian political reasons, comparing it to the idea of the Mexican army showing up at the US border. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania postpones Beating Cancer plan. The launch and implementation of the National Plan to fight cancer has been postponed, announced Health Minister Alexandru Rafila in a press conference on Wednesday. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgarian prosecutor requests removal of Borissov’s immunity. The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office requested the removal of the immunity of GERB party leader and former prime minister Boyko Borisov in order to be investigated in a case of money laundering, known in Bulgaria as ‘Barcelonagate’. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia announces plan to double firefighting plane fleet. The EU Commission plans to organise and finance the purchase of firefighting aircraft, and Croatia has applied to be one of the member states to receive these planes, the head of Croatia’s civil protection directorate, Damir Trut, said in Brussels on Tuesday. Read more.
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BELGRADE | PRISTINA
Police, journalists attacked in Kosovo as Kurti is open to new elections. Kosovo police confirmed on Wednesday that three of their vehicles were attacked in Zvecan, resulting in broken windows and one injured police officer, as well as attacks on journalists and their vehicles, as Prime Minister Albin Kurti leaves the possibility of new elections open. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council convene to discuss driving licenses directive implementation progress, “fit for 55” package relevant to climate goals, and more;
- Meeting of the European Political Community brings together 47 state leaders in Moldova to discuss security, stability and prosperity of the European continent; European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also attend;
- High level meeting on “EU support for Reconstruction and Reform of Ukraine’s Child Protection System” organised by the Swedish Presidency; Agenda highlights include EU response to child protection needs, risks and violations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and more;
- Conference on deep tech entrepreneurship for an innovative, resilient, and competitive internal market organised by the Swedish Presidency in collaboration with European Innovation Council (EIC); Agenda highlights include collaboration improvement between small research-intensive companies, large companies and academia, and more;
- Parliament plenary session votes on resolution on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation, breaches of the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds, and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman;
- Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager, Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni participate in International Festival of Economics – Torino 2023, in Italy;
- Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica holds meetings with Director General of DG Democracy of the Council of Europe Marja Routanen, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel;
- Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in the Mentor Group Brussels Forum – Breakfast Roundtable on EU and US priorities 2023-2024; Attends Summer Summit of Digital Europe;
- Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič hosts the bureau of European Ambassadors;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in European Parliament debate on antimicrobial resistance;
- Financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness gives keynote speech at the International Banking Summit organised by the European Banking Federation (EBF);
- Germany: Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock hosts Council of the Baltic Sea States foreign ministers meeting;
- Finland: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on official visit delivers speech on Russia;
- South Africa: BRICS foreign ministers, including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, meet ahead of August summit;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with EURACTIV
Austrian socialist leader hopeful under fire for anti-EU comments
Source: euractiv.com
