Slovakia sees ‘business’ opportunities in Ukraine’s reconstruction

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s new government programme confirmed the intention to block some critical EU reforms under discussion, such as on migration or foreign policy, while simultaneously emphasising “business opportunities” for Slovak companies in reconstructing Ukraine. Read more.

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BERLIN

German far-left’s top EU candidate vows to fight ‘climate apartheid’. Migration activist Carola Rackete has vowed to fight “climate apartheid” after the far-left Die Linke party formally selected her and GUE/NGL leader Martin Schirdewan on Saturday to be the party’s top candidates alongside MEP Özlem Demirel in next year’s EU elections. Read more.

German farmers: Ukraine membership would spell end of EU farming system. EU membership of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine would result in the ‘death’ of family farming, the German farmers’ union has warned amid growing concerns over the future direction of the EU’s farming subsidies programme. Read more.

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PARIS

France ready to admit Gaza’s children to its hospitals. France will use all the resources it can mobilise to help evacuate and treat up to 50 children from Gaza in urgent need of care in its hospitals, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Sunday. Read more.

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VIENNA

Austrian far-right politician reported for overt racism in regional parliament. Burgenland’s far-right leader Johann Tschürtz may be charged with sedition after he read out a list of names of a primary school class in a Vienna suburb to suggest migrants were overrunning the country. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Podemos clashes with Sumar to avoid being sidelined in new Sánchez government. Left-wing party Unidas Podemos (The Left) continued to fight fiercely within the progressive Sumar platform on Sunday evening to secure at least the key Ministry of Equality in Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s new coalition government, due to be announced on Monday. Read more.

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ROME

Italian opposition to work alongside Meloni to fight femicide. The tragic death of young Giulia Cecchettin, killed by her ex-boyfriend, has united Italy’s political parties in combating the growing number of femicides, with Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein calling on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to work together to pass a law on the issue. Read more.

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ATHENS

Polls: Greek socialists overtake the Left ranking second. The Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) is currently in second position, overtaking for the first time in 11 years the main opposition leftist Syriza party, which is facing deep turmoil, new polls have shown. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Upcoming interview suggests Polish president does not want Tusk for PM. ‘Donald Tusk will not be my prime minister’ reads the title of an upcoming interview with Polish President Andrzej Duda for the right-wing Sieci weekly, which will be published on Monday. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech President warns Democracy is in danger. President Petr Pavel warned of the need to protect democracy and its erosion in countries like the UK and the US during the 34th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution – the event leading to the end of the communist regime in the Czech Republic and its transition to a democratic country – on Friday. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

WESTERN BALKANS

NATO chief starts tour of Western Balkans. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Sarajevo on Sunday, kicking off a mini tour of four Western Balkan countries, three of which are not members of the military alliance and are seen as posing potential security risks. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian government doubts it will collect gas taxes from Putin. The government has decided to withdraw the estimated revenue of €1.2 billion from the new tax on the transfer of Russian gas from the state budget 2024 because the ruling majority doubts that the money can be obtained, Finance Minister Asen Vasilev said on Sunday. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

ALDE vice-president becomes top candidate on USR list for upcoming EU elections. Former Save Romania Union (USR) party leader and current vice-president of ALDE Dan Barna will open the list of candidates for the 2024 European elections, USR party Vice-President Claudiu Năsui told Prima TV on Saturday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Serbian government will host a meeting with farmers amid strikes. The government has called farmers – protesting over their unmet demands from the Agriculture Ministry since May – to a meeting on Monday to discuss solutions. Read more.

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SARAJEVO

Bosnia to meet EU conditions by end of year to open accession talks, says Council of Ministers chairwoman. Bosnia and Herzegovina intends to fulfil the conditions set by the EU Commission to open accession negotiations before the end of the year, the chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, told Euractiv exclusive interview. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Agriculture and Fisheries Council convenes to discuss long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas (LTVRA) New genomic techniques (NGTs) and more;
European Economic Area Council (EEA) holds 57th meeting to hold orientation debate on economic security. A political dialogue with EEA and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states is also expected on Israel/Palestine and on Russia/Ukraine;
Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers to discuss Israel Gaza strip Middle East situation; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud expected to join;
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in G20 Compact with Africa conference hosted by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič holds meetings with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide; Delivers keynote speech at European Hydrogen Week;
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell meets with King of Jordan Abdallah II, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Safadi;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in United for Justice conference, in Toronto, Canada;
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers opening speech at event organised by ECDC on the occasion of European Antibiotic Awareness Day; Delivers keynote speech at Global Health Policy Forum;
France: Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Luminița Odobescu visits;
United Kingdom: Global Food Security summit;
Poland: Finland President Sauli Niinisto visits;
Kosovo: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on official visit;