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The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
As Europe struggles to ease off its fossil fuel addiction, made more urgent by the need to cut Russian energy dependence, questions on the practical application of hydrogen’s green potential take centre stage.
In the Slovak village of Blatná nad Ostrovom a pilot project of mixing hydrogen into natural gas infrastructure yielded positive results, a first step in demonstrating how hydrogen can be safely and effectively distributed in existing pipelines with only minor adjustments, according to gas distributor SPP-D. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Europe searches for alternatives in fertiliser supply battle. The battle for fertiliser, a vital commodity for food production, has emerged as one of the by-products of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leaving states in Europe and elsewhere scrambling for alternative suppliers. Though alternatives exist there is no obvious quick fix. Read more.
Calls to lower use of tobacco increase, as Commission registers new citizens’ initiative. After taking steps toward decreasing tobacco use in the EU as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on the theme on Wednesday (24 August). Read more.
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VIENNA
Austrian government under fire over lack of climate action. Climate activists have criticised the conservative-green coalition, which has been in power since January 2020, for failing to enact an effective climate protection law as promised. Read more.
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BERLIN
Berlin labels Russian ministry’s video on Hitler-Stalin Pact ‘disgraceful’. The German government has slammed Russia’s foreign ministry for a video posted on social media ‘marking’ the 83rd anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Read more.
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PARIS
Macron’s comments over giving up ‘abundance’ cause stir. French President Emmanuel Macron caused a stir on Wednesday as he spoke about needing to stop living in abundance at a time when inflation levels are reaching record levels, and many are worried about paying sky-high energy bills. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch farm buyout scheme for farmers may breach EU rules. The government’s new buyout scheme to compensate farmers, which aims to terminate livestock farms near nature reserves, may not comply with European regulations, according to NRC sources. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
‘Stay the course’, urges Johnson on last Kyiv visit. Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Ukraine’s allies to “stay the course” as he made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Ukraine’s independence day on Wednesday. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Ireland minister floats higher fees during peak hours amid winter blackout fears. Ireland will have to be “very careful” with energy consumption if blackouts are to be avoided this winter, said Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, suggesting higher charges could be levied during the peak hours. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Opposition party wants NATO command centre in Finland. The liberal-conservative National Coalition Party (NCP), leading the polls ahead of the 2023 elections, wants a permanent NATO presence on Finnish soil, such as a regional NATO headquarter or Arctic centre. Read more.
‘I am a human being’, says Finnish Prime Minister Marin. Prime Minister Sanna Marin became tearful while addressing a crowd in Lahiti where the social democrats were having a summer meeting, following a week of video leaks. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
EU socialist chief: Greece needs political change after ‘Watergate’ scandal. Political change is much needed in Greece after it was found that the phone of socialist opposition leader Nikos Androulakis was bugged by the national secret services, Iratxe García, the leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, told EURACTIV. Read more.
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ROME
Draghi calls on Italians to vote as they are the hope of politics. Prime Minister Mario Draghi urged the electorate to vote in the upcoming elections at the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini on Wednesday, reminding them that the future of the country is in their hands. Read more.
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MADRID
Little room left for further Iran nuclear negotiations, says Borrell. It would be very difficult to resume Iran nuclear talks after the summer if an agreement is not reached in the coming days, the EU’s diplomat Josep Borrell warned on Wednesday. Read more.
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LISBON
Ukraine should ‘persevere’ in legitimate EU aspirations, says Portuguese president. The President of Portugal sent a letter of congratulations on Wednesday to his Ukrainian counterpart on commemorating the Independence Day of Ukraine, in which he stressed the need for Kyiv to persevere in its redoubled legitimate European aspirations. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Polish teachers threaten to strike as talks with government stall. The Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP), the country’s largest trade union for education workers, has said it plans to launch a warning “state of strike emergency” for September, which could escalate into a nationwide general strike. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech FM summons Russian Ambassador over terrorism comments. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský summoned the Russian Ambassador Alexander Zmeyevskiy after Russia accused Defence Minister Jana Černochová of supporting terrorism. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Thousands of Bulgarians protest against Russian gas dependence. Thousands of Bulgarians protested on Wednesday against the caretaker government’s intention to start negotiations with Gazprom and in support of Ukraine, which was celebrating its Independence Day. Read more.
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ZAGREB
EU Commission adopts €9 billion cohesion policy deal with Croatia. The European Commission adopted the cohesion policy framework for Croatia on Wednesday, approving the 2021-27 €9 billion funding for the newest EU member’s social and territorial cohesion, green, and digital transition. Read more.
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BELGRADE
US Ambassador hopes Ukraine war will bring Serbia closer to Europe, US. US ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill said on Ukraine’s independence day that he hoped the war in the country would bring Serbia closer to Europe and the US. Read more.
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TIRANA
Spy suspects have first day in court in Albania. The first hearing of the one Ukrainian and two Russian citizens charged with espionage following attempts to enter a former weapons factory and an attack on military guards occurred in Elbasan, central Albania, on Wednesday. Read more.
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Agenda
- EU: EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell directs the course ‘Quo Vadis Europa’ at Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander, Spain.
- Germany: Chancellor Scholz visits a military training area in Northern Germany.
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds a ‘citizens’ dialogue’.
- President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits for the 30th anniversary of Rostock-Lichtenhagen’s xenophobic riots.
- France: French President Emmanuel Macron visits.
- Spain: Spanish government set to approve a controversial decree on energy saving measures on Thursday.
- Vatican: Pope Francis holds an audience with Hungarian President Katalin Novak.
- Serbia: The EU’s special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, and the US deputy assistant secretary of state, Gabriel Escobar, visiting Serbia.
- Myanmar: 5th anniversary of coordinated attacks on police posts by Rohingya rebels and the start of a military crackdown that led to a mass exodus.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Eleonora Vasques, Sofia Stuart Leeson]
Source: euractiv.com
