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.
Before you start reading The Capitals, also have a look at the story Leaders of non-democracies gather at Beijing Olympics opening
Today’s edition is powered by International Politics and Society
A message from International Politics and Society (IPS). The online journal IPS brings you progressive commentary on the debates that move Europe and the Global South. Our authors are politicians and experts, activists and academics offering different perspectives on the big issues facing us today. Visit Us >>
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
PRAGUE | POLAND
After Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki unexpectedly arrived in Prague to sign a deal on the Turów coal mine on Thursday, the Czech government praised the long-awaited agreement but law experts and green NGOs warn against a bad deal. Read more.
///
BERLIN
German lawmakers travel to Vilnius to ‘show support’ against China. A cross-party delegation of German MPs travelled to Lithuania on Thursday in a show of “solidarity” towards the “excessive” trade barriers China imposes on the country. The announcement came just ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics which are set to start Friday. Read more.
///
PARIS
France lightens conditions for obtaining vaccine pass. People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have been infected with the virus will no longer have to take the third dose to obtain the vaccine pass, Health Minister Olivier Véran announced on broadcaster BFMTV Wednesday night. This was confirmed Thursday by the ministry. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
DUBLIN
Irish FM calls on UK to ‘comply with international law’ over Brexit border checks. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has called for the UK government to respect international law after a DUP minister halted post-Brexit checks on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
TALLINN
New poll puts Estonia’s populists in pole position. Support for the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) – currently in opposition – is growing, making them the most popular party among the electorate, a new survey conducted in January shows. Read more.
///
STOCKHOLM
Sweden to soon ‘open up’, drop most COVID-19 restrictions. Sweden will lift most COVID-19 restrictions on 9 February, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson confirmed during a press conference, saying it was “time to open up” the country. Read more.
Sweden will join NATO within five years, says opposition leader. I am “absolutely convinced” Sweden will join NATO within five years, the chair of the moderate party, Ulf Kristersson, has said. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish government approves controversial labour market reform by only 1 vote. The government on Thursday approved a controversial labour market reform by a margin of only one vote after a tense debate in parliament. Read more.
///
ATHENS
A technocrat government scenario causes turmoil in Greece. Greece’s political elites were in turmoil on Thursday after EURACTIV Greece reported that some circles in the European Commission are hoping for a technocrat government in the country, unleashing a political tsunami at a time when discussions of a possible snap election are heating up. Read more.
///
ROME
Mattarella pushes EU to play a more significant role in global challenges. President Sergio Mattarella, who was just re-elected for a second mandate, has urged the EU to have a greater role in “supporting stabilisation and peace processes in the troubled Mediterranean and the Middle East”. Read more.
///
LISBON
Portuguese tourism sector pleased with looser Covid arrival requirements. The easing of entry restrictions into Portugal, namely the end of the mandatory negative test for COVID-19 for those with a digital certificate is highly positive, the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal (CTP) said on Thursday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BUDAPEST
Hungary slams EU justice chief for election remarks. Budapest welcomes international observers for the April parliamentary elections but deplores EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders comments about it, a Hungarian government’s spokesperson said on Thursday. Read more.
///
WARSAW
EU Commission cautious about Polish plans to scrap disciplinary chamber. The European Commission refused to immediately comment on the announcement by President Andrzej Duda that he would forward a draft law to dismantle the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Chamber, a longtime bone of contention between Poland and the EU. Read more.
///
BRATISLAVA
President threatens to sue critics calling her an American agent. The opposition in Slovakia intensified its attacks against President Zuzana Čaputová after her Tuesday speech when accused Russia of warmongering and supported the stationing of NATO’s troops in Slovakia. She was labelled an American agent, spokeswoman of the US Embassy and a US servant, Čaputová is now considering suing members of the opposition. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
ZAGREB
Split designated as HQ for the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline. The construction of the Ionian-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (IAP) will be led by a project company based in Split and shareholders from four countries through which the pipeline passes or is used, EURACTIV’s partner Jutarnji list has reported. Read more.
///
SOFIA
Suggestion to suspend historical commission falls flat in Sofia. Bulgaria has rejected an informal idea from North Macedonia to temporarily suspend the work of the Joint Commission on Historical and Educational Affairs to facilitate progress in relations. Common history is one of the hot issues between Sofia and Skopje, which have been trying for five years to reconcile their historical past, as enshrined in the 2017 Good Neighbourhood Agreement. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST
Romania vaccinates more than 5,000 children in a week. Romania started the vaccination against COVID-19 of children aged 5-11 a week ago, and more than 5,350 children got their first dose during this period. Read more.
///
LJUBLJANA
Slovenian parliament seals agreement on purchase of armoured carriers. The Slovenian parliament has ratified an agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on purchasing 45 Boxer armoured personnel carriers for the army, a deal opposed by the opposition whose fate will likely be decided by the Constitutional Court. Read more.
///
BELGRADE
Lajčak, Escobar: Belgrade and Pristina mut implement agreements. Belgrade and Pristina have to implement everything that has so far been agreed, the EU and US special envoys for the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajčak and Gabriel Escobar said in Belgrade on Thursday, adding that both sides knew what they had not fulfilled. Read more.
///
SARAJEVO
BiH to hold general elections in October. The general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will be held on 2 October because that is the deadline defined by the election law in force, Central Election Commission (SIP) president Željko Bakalar said on Thursday. Read more.
///
SKOPJE
North Macedonia’s National Bank warns of inflation risk. There were upward price movements in the last quarter, which are mainly due to the factors on the supply side, the National Bank reported. Read more.
///
PODGORICA
Parliament did not even discuss ousting Deputy Prime Minister Abazović. Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić said on Thursday that he would not step down despite being aware of the fact that the parliament could pass a no-confidence vote on him on Friday. Read more.
///
TIRANA
Opposition MP decries Russian ‘threat to every Albanian’. A letter sent by the Russian foreign ministry to all its European counterparts, including Albania, has caused a stir in parliament with opposition MP and ex-prime minister and president Sali Berisha calling it a “threat to every Albanian” and said it should mark the end of Serbia’s influence on the country. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi in Baku, Azerbaijan to talk gas supplies / EU justice and home affairs ministers meet in Lille, France
- France: Aviation summit takes place in Toulouse, with EU transport ministers, civil aviation heads and Commission and Parliament representatives in attendance.
- Denmark: Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in Copenhagen.
- Latvia: Meeting of Baltic Prime Ministers in Riga.
- Slovakia: Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans to meet President Caputova and Prime Minister Heger in Bratislava.
- Greece: Commission VP Margaritis Schinas to receive Greek migration ministry award for his handling of the migration crisis in Athens.
- Romania/Bulgaria: Prime Ministers Nicolae Ciuca and Kiril Petkov have a phone call scheduled for Friday afternoon.
- Croatia: National Bank governor Boris Vujčić presents awards to the creators of the best designs for Croatian euro coins.
- North Macedonia: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel receive North Macedonian Prime Minister Kovachevski in Brussels.
- Serbia: President Aleksandar Vučić will attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. During his working visit to Beijing from 3 February to 5, Vučić will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- Montenegro: Parliament votes on confidence in the government.
- Winter Olympics open in Beijing, China.
***
[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski, Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
