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In today’s news from the Capitals:
The surveillance scandal against politicians, journalists and businessmen is a stain on the Greek democracy that is growing bigger every week, Pavol Szalai, head of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) European Union and Balkans office, told EURACTIV, urging Greek authorities to finally act and Europe to step in.
Meanwhile, influential conservative former prime minister Antonis Samaras (EPP) made a speech on Wednesday criticising the ruling New Democracy party’s radio silence over the scandal. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
EU countries to reject Spitzenkandidaten and pan-EU election lists. EU governments are set to use next week’s pre-Christmas summit in Brussels to formally kill off plans for transnational lists and Spitzenkandidaten, or lead candidates, at the next European elections in 2024. Read more.
Commission is ignoring ‘revolving door’ conflicts of interest, experts say. The European Commission is underestimating the scale of ‘revolving door’ conflict of interest cases, three university experts stated in a study presented on Wednesday at the European Parliament. Read more.
Lawmakers agree to restrict EU carbon tax to flights within Europe. A deal struck by EU legislators early Wednesday morning affirms that the price on aviation carbon emissions will continue to apply only to flights within Europe, in a blow to environmental campaigners who had lobbied for complete coverage. Read more.
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BERLIN
Merkel: we neglected ‘deterring’ Russia. Her government took too long to react to Moscow’s aggressive behaviour at the time, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during an interview, adding that a diplomatic solution needs to be found to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Read more.
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PARIS
French to get new cash transfers to quell high fuel prices. French citizens who drive to work will be eligible for a new 2023 direct transfer scheme amounting to €100, announced Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne, adding that it will only be granted to those earning under a specific salary. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria green lights new strategy to reduce resource use. The government’s new circular economy strategy focussing on higher recycling rates in 2030 should help reduce Austria’s resource use significantly by 2050. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgians’ annual net salary to increase by €600 in 2023. Workers’ net monthly salary in both the private and public sectors will increase by at least €50 starting in January. Read more.
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BERN
Swiss parliament elects two new members of government. The parliament elected social democrat Élisabeth Baume-Schneider and nationalist-conservative Albert Rösti to the government in a vote on Wednesday after the resignation of two members of the seven-headed Swiss Federal Council. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
Britain approves first new coal mine in decades despite climate targets. Britain approved its first new deep coal mine in decades on Wednesday to produce the high-polluting fuel for use in steelmaking, a decision which drew criticism from opponents who say it will hinder climate targets. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish government one yellow card away from being sent off. If government rules are broken one more time, there will no longer be a government, Prime Minister Sanna Marin warned after a turbulent day in the parliament and a meeting between five party leaders on Wednesday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish government mulls measures to contain food prices. The government is considering measures to contain food prices to be adopted in the framework of a new anti-crisis package before the end of the year, revealed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Read more.
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Train collision near Barcelona injures 150 people. At least 150 people were injured after two suburban trains collided in the Spanish town of Montcada i Reixac, near Barcelona on Wednesday, emergency officials said. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal approves euthanasia bill at committee stage. The final text on decriminalising medically assisted death was approved on Wednesday in the committee stage and will go ahead to the final plenary vote on Friday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
Hungarians storm Slovak gas stations amid fuel crisis. Southern Slovak gas stations were flooded with Hungarians from border regions this week as Hungary deals with fuel shortages caused by the government’s price cap. Read more.
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WARSAW
More Poles are dying now than before the COVID pandemic. More Poles have died in 2022 than in 2019, which means that Poles are now dying more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech city criticised for campaign attracting Russian tourists. The authorities of Karlovy Vary, a Czech spa city close to German borders, face criticism for a campaign attracting Russian-speaking tourists. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
PRISTINA
Tense situation in north Kosovo following explosions, attacks. Following explosions and attacks amid preparations for elections to replace ethnic Serb representatives in institutions in the north of Kosovo, the head of EULEX, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark expressed concern over the situation. Read more.
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SOFIA
Ex-Bulgarian tsar brings Russian ambassador home. Former Bulgarian tsar and prime minister from 2001 to 2005, Simeon II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, hosted the Russian Metropolitan Antony and the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova in his home on Tuesday evening. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia only steps away from final Schengen green light. Envoys of the EU27 countries in Brussels raised no objections to Croatia’s accession to the bloc’s passport-free Schengen area next year, indicating that the final decision should be endorsed on Thursday, Jutarnji List reported quoting diplomatic sources. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian interior minister steps down following row with prime minister. Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar tendered her resignation on Wednesday following a row with Prime Minister Robert Golob in which she implied political interference in the police force. Read more.
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TIRANA
Rama: Russian influence very real danger for Western Balkans. In a speech at the Brussels Summit on Wednesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Russian influence in the region is real, noting that Serbia is yet to align with bloc-wide sanctions against Russia. Read more.
AGENDA
- EU: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council holds meeting on improving working conditions in platform work, a European care strategy and specific workers’ health issues; Other issues include equality and social inclusion;
- Justice and Home Affairs Council focuses on the full application of the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, asylum and migration; Other highlights include child sexual abuse, Resilience of critical infrastructure and more;
- Conference on the 30th anniversary of the Single Market orgnised by the Czech Presidency
- EU Road Safety Results Conference organised by the European Commission to engage with member states authorities and stakeholders on the progress of implementing the Safe System approach;
- One year of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Conference takes place;
- President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen receives the members of the EU Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová receives Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development of Kosovo Besnik Bislimi;
- Vice President Maroš Šefčovič delivers speech at the ‘Energy Symposium 49+2 – Fit for 55: Realistic climate policy beyond the crisis winter’
- Vice President Margaritis Schinas delivers closing remarks at the European Health Summit;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides deliver keynote speeches at the EU Agricultural Outlook conference, organised by the European Commission;
- Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean meets UN road safety special envoy Jean Todt;
- President Roberta Metsola attends Parliament’s Conference of Presidents;
- MEPs hold press conference on the The Black Book of Pushbacks (second edition);
- ECHR: Decision on case brought against France by 11 Congolese and Georgian asylum seekers;
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin gives military awards; Foreign ministry weekly briefing;
- Philippines: UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children holds press conference;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Source: euractiv.com
