Poland-Ukraine ‘grain war’ escalates dangerously

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

WARSAW

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has decided to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons in its war against Russia in reaction to escalating tensions between the two countries over grain imports. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Vestager pitches EIB candidacy to Le Maire during Paris visit. Margrethe Vestager, a top candidate to lead the European Investment Bank (EIB), came to Paris on Wednesday to speak at a flagship start-up conference – and pitch her candidacy for the EIB job with Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire. Read more.

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BERLIN

German investments in China increased despite pledges to reduce dependency. German businesses have invested proportionately more in China this year than ever, despite government pledges to reduce dependence on trade with Beijing. Read more.

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PARIS

France must triple renewable energy capacities by 2035, says network operator. To meet its EU targets, France will need to triple its use of renewable energy and reduce its energy consumption by a third by 2035, France’s electricity grid operator RTE said in its outlook for the energy mix in 2030 and 2035. Read more.

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BRUSSELS

Diamonds are not forever, as Belgium ready to ban Russian stones. Global diamond hub Belgium is prepared to extend sanctions on Russian diamonds, as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told jewellery industry in New York on Tuesday evening that these ‘war symbols’ should be banned from the G7 market from January 2024. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Finnish opposition in uproar as government delays important law for disabled people. The Finnish Parliament’s Health and Safety Committee was up in arms as opposition members boycotted a meeting after it was announced that the Finnish government intended to delay the implementation of the long-awaited Disability Services Act. Read more.

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COPENHAGEN

Denmark to encourage NATO ammunition production. The Danish government is looking to increase ammunition production and already has its eyes set on purchasing back land with an old weapons factory in a bid to help Ukraine and boost NATO’s military production. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Salvini slams Austria for blocking border crossing, threatens EU court case. The Italian government will take Austria before the EU court over its blocking of the Brenner crossing at the Italo-Austria border, said League leader and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, calling Austria’s move an ‘act of violence and political arrogance’. Read more.

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MADRID

Catalan separatist leader takes for granted that Spanish government will pass amnesty law. The Spanish government passing an amnesty law for those implicated in the 2017 secessionist attempt, to clear the way to reinstate the acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, was taken for granted by Catalan separatist leader Oriol Junqueras, president of the pro-independence formation Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

BRATISLAVA

Slovak farmers record historic profit amid Ukraine grain conflict. The Slovak agricultural sector achieved its highest-ever profit of €346.5 million in 2022, but farmers still worry about a ‘definitive end’ of their business unless the government keeps Ukrainian grain off its territory. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech government pushes for lithium mining despite regional scepticism. The Czech government is making every effort to facilitate lithium mining in the country as it is a strategic raw material for the recovery of the Czech economy, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said on Wednesday while visiting potential mining areas. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BUCHAREST

Romanian MEP: member states must have integrity agencies in addition to anti-corruption directive. Each member state will establish an anti-corruption directorate, but it is also important to have integrity agencies to handle the prevention and conflicts of interest, the EP rapporteur on the new anti-corruption directive Ramona Strugariu told Euractiv Romania. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian government promised protesting miners a secure civil service. A protest in Sofia, organised by the two unions of Bulgarian miners and energy workers from the Maritsa basin, led to an agreement with the government to guarantee the preservation of jobs for those employed in the sector. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Kosovo’s parliamentary speaker reiterates accusations against Lajcak. The speaker of Kosovo’s parliament, Glauk Konjufca, has become the latest in a line of politicians to accuse the EU’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak, of bias in the ongoing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Informal meeting of transport ministers discusses the role of transport and mobility to achieving social and territorial cohesion, within the framework of decarbonisation and digitalization;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers keynote speech at the Global Citizen NOW climate session, in New York, United States;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič represents the EU at the COP28 Incoming Presidency Ministerial Consultation on Global Stocktake; Participates in roundtable with CEOs on “Accelerating the net zero transition”; Participates in third high level dialogue on “Building a 1.5C-aligned energy transition”;
Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at the Public Broadcasters International Conference, in Prague, Czech Republic;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit attends high level conference organised by the Spanish Presidency on “The future of work and social dialogue”;
Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni hosts Governor of the National Bank of Moldova Octavian Armasu;
Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič meets UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths; Delivers speech at EU hosted ministerial level event on broadening the donor base; Delivers speech at EU cosponsored ministerial level event on “Closing the gap: accelerating climate action in fragile and vulnerable contexts”, in New York, United States;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski participates in the International Dairy Cooperative Forum in Bialystok, Poland;
France: Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu hosts German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius; ECB President Christine Lagarde speaks during the Mediterranean meetings in Marseille;
UN: Special Rapporteur on rights situation in Russia presents first report to the UN Human Rights Council;