VOX leader hints ‘anti-EU’ Muslims fuel French riots

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

PARIS | MADRID

The leader of the far-right party VOX, Santiago Abascal, indirectly accused radical Muslims living in the European Union of fuelling and masterminding recent rioting and looting in France.

The French authorities are still on alert in Paris, although the sixth night of riots was comparatively much calmer. The government has urged social media to take action against hate speech as youngsters use online platforms to coordinate their attacks.

EURACTIV reports on the ground from the suburb of Nanterre, where the 17-year-old Nahel was killed by a French policeman. Read more.

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VIENNA

Neutral Austria to join European Sky Shield initiative. The Austrian government wants the country to join the European Sky Shield initiative, an air protection group launched by Germany, sparking accusations from the far-right that the move violates the country’s military neutrality. Read more.

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BERLIN

Scholz says he’s a good leader, even if not ‘John Wayne’. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz clapped back at those accusing him of weak leadership, saying he provides orientation to the coalition despite not having a showy, head-on leadership style like US Western icon John Wayne. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Belarusian embassy in the Netherlands vandalised. The Belarusian embassy in The Hague was defaced in the night from Saturday to Sunday, as several windows were broken and graffiti critical of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sprayed on the front of the building. Read more.

UK & IRELAND

LONDON

UK home secretary withdraws controversial rules targeting trafficking victims. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has withdrawn new rules that would make it harder for trafficking victims to have their cases accepted months after introducing them. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME

Italy’s Meloni cannot count on allies Poland and Hungary regarding migration. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has had difficulty convincing her Polish and Hungarian counterparts to approve the agreement on migrants, as the two leaders, who typically have close ties with her, appear to want to focus more on national interests. Read more.

VISEGRAD

WARSAW

Polish ruling party asks opposition to leave EPP or demand Weber resign. Poland’s Civic Platform, currently in opposition, should either withdraw from the European People’s Party (EPP) or seek to replace EPP chief Manfred Weber, ruling Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński said on Sunday. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech authorities investigate Russian cultural centre. Czech authorities are investigating activities of a Russian cultural centre operated by the sanctioned Moscow state agency, Rossotrudnichestvo, which is still operating in the Czech Republic, according to Czech Television. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia, Ukraine looks to cooperate on new artillery system. Konštrukta-Defence, the Slovak-owned arms company, and Ukraine’s KZVV company will co-develop new Howitzers, though this could be brought to an immediate halt if anti-Ukraine parties win September’s elections. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SARAJEVO

Secessionist Bosnian Serb leader ups ante, talks of referendum. Bosnian Serb secessionist leader Milorad Dodik raised the political stakes on Sunday, saying he did not recognise the international High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina because he lacked legitimacy while announcing a referendum on the status of the Serb entity in Bosnia. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgarian parliament to vote on declaration for Ukraine NATO membership. Bulgaria’s lawmakers, except the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the radical pro-Russian Vazrazhdane, who make up 60 of the 240 MPs – have proposed a declaration supporting Ukraine’s expected future NATO membership once the war ends. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Sibiu to become NATO’s command centre for the southern flank. Sibiu is set to be the NATO command centre for the southern flank of the alliance, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said on Sunday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

‘Serbia against violence’ protests expand into 15 cities. Anti-government Serbia against Violence protests were held in 15 Serbian cities on Saturday, with the largest gathering being in Belgrade, where protesters pelted the building of TV station Pink with toilet paper. Read more.

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TIRANA

Rama: Open Balkan fulfilled its mission, time to focus on Berlin Process. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan initiative had fulfilled its mission, and it is time to look at the path to EU membership as the capital of Tirana is set to hold the Berlin Summit in October. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: The College of Commissioners visits Spain to mark the launch of the Spanish Presidency; Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends;
Commission Vice President meets with Chinese Minister for Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu, Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua; Delivers speech on climate change and biodiversity loss at Tsinghua University, China;
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders participates in the launch of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski in Tokyo, Japan; Meets Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tetsuro Nomura, Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives JA-Zenchu Chairman Toru Nakaya, Agricultural committee of the House of Representatives Chairman Hiroyoshi Sasagawa; Attends working breakfast and networking lunch with business delegates, and more;
Third meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly takes place in Brussels; MEPs and UK parliamentarians discuss the state of EU-UK relations, joint efforts to support Ukraine, and more; European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly expected to participate;
Argentina: MERCOSUR heads of state summi;
Trinidad & Tobago: Caricom (Caribbean countries) annual summit;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]