The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
Today’s edition is powered by logos
EnerGreenDeal: limited free tickets for Euractiv readers
To celebrate our media partnership with Euractiv, we offer limited free tickets to Brussels’ premier energy event on 6 June. Email us and join top EU politicians and business leaders to shape Europe’s energy future!
Find out more >>
In today’s news from the Capitals:
MADRID | ROME
Right-wing leaders across the EU welcomed the consolidation of the far-right party Vox (ECR) in Spain’s recent elections, while the conservative governing coalition in Italy stressed the need to close ranks among the European right-wing spectrum. Read more.
///
VIENNA | BERLIN
Austrian far right urges government to back Hungary in EU Presidency row. The Austrian far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has called on its government to defend Hungary after EU lawmakers in the European Parliament questioned Hungary’s ability to run the EU Council presidency despite lawmakers from all other Austrian parties, including in government, voting in favour of the resolution.
On the other hand, in neighbouring Germany, the Greens are pushing the government to insist and even postpone Hungary’s EU Presidency highlighting Budapest’s inability due to the poor state-of-play of the rule of law. Read more.
///
PARIS
French parliament report points to far-right’s special ties with Russia. Marine Le Pen’s far-right party formed a special relationship with the Russian regime as both parties gradually got closer on policy, geopolitics and values, according to a parliamentary report set to be published on Monday. Read more.
///
BERLIN
German government mulls key military build-up target. The German Defence Ministry is mulling a revision of current military staffing targets set by the previous government as it believes it may not reach them despite the current three-way government’s pledge to ramp up investment. Read more.
///
BRUSSELS
Ukraine needs stability before joining NATO, says Belgian PM. The war in Ukraine must stop before the country can join the NATO military alliance, said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the Second European Political Community summit in Moldova on Thursday. Read more.
///
THE HAGUE
Dutch PM losing party trust amid calls for stricter asylum policy. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s party (VVD/Renew) members are growing impatient about the lack of a harsher migration policy, with some even being willing to accept a fall of the current cabinet. Read more.
///
LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourgish PM Bettel slams De Croo’s call for EU climate law break. Luxembourgish Prime Minister Xavier Bettel criticised his Belgian counterpart’s call to put a halt to enacting new EU climate laws to ease the burden on companies at the Second European Political Community Summit in Moldova. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Abortion now on the table of Finnish government talks. The Christian Democrats are pushing for the right of healthcare workers to refuse to carry out abortions amid the now five-week-long government talks, Hufvudstadsbladet reported on Thursday. Read more.
///
REYKJAVIK
Iceland not keen on EU idea to raise driving test age to harmonise rules. Icelandic Transport Minister Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson is not impressed by the European Commission’s proposal to harmonise driving licence requirements in EU and EEA states, as this would set the age limit at 18, the minister said Thursday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Conditions of EU’ Pfizer talks ‘outrageous’, Polish health minister. Poland will not join the new COVID-19 vaccine deal negotiated by the EU on behalf of the member states, according to Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski, who called Pfizer’s demand for payments for the undelivered doses outrageous. Read more.
///
PRAGUE
Czech PM praises ‘openness’ of debates at EPC summit in Moldova. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said the absence of formal conclusions allowed European politicians to debate openly at Thursday’s European Political Community summit in Moldova. Read more.
///
BRATISLAVA
Slovak power plant sues state over historic loss. Electricity producer Slovenské elektrárne recorded the second-highest loss for a Slovak company in a decade and is suing the state for making it sell at a loss to customers. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria close to electing pro-European government. Bulgaria is set to end the two-and-a-half-year-long political crisis, as negotiations between GERB and the coalition “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” (PP-DB) could result in forming a government which will be voted on by parliament next week. Read more.
///
WESTERN BALKANS
France, Germany urge new elections as Kosovo, Serbia meet to defuse tensions. Kosovo and Serbia held talks on Thursday (1 June) under European pressure to resolve a political crisis that has spiralled into violence over the past week, with France and Germany pressing them to take swift steps to reduce tensions. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
Vucic: Moldova summit key for EU progression, energy investment talks. Serbia’s President Aleksander Vučić said that meeting European leaders in Chisinau is essential not only because of the situation in the north of Kosovo but also for EU progression, investments and energy. Read more.
///
PRISTINA
Kosovo PM agrees to new elections in north after US phonecall. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he would call new elections in the north of Kosovo following a phonecall with United States Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Thursday and after increased EU member state pressure. Read more.
///
TIRANA
Albanian PM mediates with Vucic in Moldova. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama held talks with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the European Community Summit in Moldova, in which he demanded an end to the current situation and progression with dialogue. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in its telecommunications composition discusses digital transformation, connectivity, and more;
- Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica delivers keynote speech in high level meeting on child protection organised by the Swedish Presidency of the EU;
- Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič participates in exchange of views with the EU Executive Directors of the World Bank;
- Kyrgyzstan: EU-Central Asia Summit;
- China: Ukraine envoy Li Hui gives briefing on Europe visit;
***
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
Read more with EURACTIV
Vucic: Moldova summit key for EU progression, energy investment talks
Source: euractiv.com
