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.
BERLIN
As Europe heads towards a difficult winter, solidarity between countries will again be tested.
Germany, the biggest consumer of Russian gas, is also one of the biggest re-exporters of the Kremlin’s fossil fuel. In May, Germany exported a whopping six billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to neighbouring countries.
Neighbours are reliant on these exports continuing, but is Berlin on board? Read more.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
VIENNA
Austria to challenge taxonomy in EU court. Austria reacted fiercely after the European Parliament voted in favour of labelling nuclear and gas projects as green investments and said it would sue the EU over the controversial decision. Read more.
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BERLIN
Amid waning support for Ukraine, Germany dithers on delivering tanks. As international support for Ukraine loses momentum, Germany keeps refusing to deliver high-tech tanks to Ukraine and bets on “swap exchanges” with Eastern European countries to assist the war-torn country. Read more.
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PARIS
French PM urges ‘compromise’ in post-election parliamentary address. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne gave the traditional post-election policy address at the National Assembly on Wednesday after reshuffling the government, during which she encouraged MPs to work together. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Shell to build Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant. Shell plans to build Europe’s largest green hydrogen plant in Rotterdam, which will become operational in 2025, the energy giant announced on Wednesday. Read more.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
Johnson clings on despite wave of resignations. UK PM Boris Johnson clung to office on Wednesday after a day in which over 40 of his ministers resigned, and a group of senior cabinet ministers urged him to do the same. However, a defiant Johnson ended the day, insisting that he would fight on. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Irish PM laments ‘pain of famine’ during first trip to Kyiv. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin slammed Russia’s use of ‘food as a weapon’ and reiterated Ireland’s support for Ukraine while visiting Kyiv for the first time since Moscow’s invasion on Wednesday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finland to offer fourth COVID booster to younger age groups. Those in younger age groups will start receiving the fourth vaccination against COVID-19 starting mid-August if recommendations announced on Wednesday by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare are followed. Read more.
Monkeypox cases grow in Finland. Finland has confirmed ten monkeypox cases since Monday (4 July), all diagnosed in men. Globally, the number of cases since mid-May is around 5,200. The highest numbers have been reported in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and the United States. Cases have been reported in 51 countries. (Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
EUROPE’S SOUTH
NICOSIA
Rising prices drive increase in Cypriots to occupied territories. Rising prices and the fall of the Turkish lira have resulted in an increasing number of Greek Cypriots crossing into the occupied territories to buy cheap products, negatively affecting “free” Cyprus tax revenues, EURACTIV Greece has learned. Read more.
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ROME
Italy expands LNG infrastructure facilities before winter. Italian energy company Snam acquired a new floating regasification vessel from BW LNG company to contribute to Italy’s energy security and diversification. Read more.
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LISBON
Portugal to retroactively pay out pensions increase. The extraordinary pension increases provided for in the state budget for 2022 will be paid retroactively on Friday, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa announced on Wednesday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
Slovak government close to tipping point amid coalition ultimatum. Junior governing coalition member Sloboda a Solidarita (SaS) party, gave an ultimatum on Wednesday, saying they will leave the government unless Finance Minister Igor Matovič gets kicked out.
With Slovakia’s anti-graft turn at stake, for now, Matovič has the full support of Prime Minister Eduard Heger. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czech PM promises to organise social summit following criticism. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala presented the main priorities of the Czech EU Presidency to the European Parliament after criticism for not reflecting the EU’s social agenda prompted the government to promise MEPs that it would organise a social summit in Prague. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
MEPs, rule of law experts call on the Commission to cut all EU funds to Hungary. MEPs and lawyers urged the European Commission on Wednesday (6 July) to stop transferring EU funds to Hungary due to the country’s systemic violations of the rule of law. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
ZAGREB
Croatia loses international arbitration against Hungary’s MOL over gas business. Croatia has lost an international arbitration case launched by Hungarian oil and gas group MOL over Zagreb’s failure to fulfil obligations under an agreement about the gas business of the jointly owned Croatian oil company INA. Read more.
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SOFIA
Salaries of Russian embassy in Bulgaria blocked. Bank transfers for $890,000 for the staff of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria were blocked, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Asen Vasilev announced on Wednesday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania’s central bank raises interest rates, again. The key rate has increased to 4.75%, the highest level since August 2013, amid soaring inflation, the Romanian central bank announced. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Serbian parliament’s only Albanian MP calls for Russia sanctions. Shaip Kamberi, the sole ethnic Albanian member of Serbia’s newly elected parliament, called on Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Read more.
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PRISTINA | BELGRADE | SARAJEVO
Kosovo, BiH praised, Belgrade slapped on wrist by EU Parliament. European Parliament adopted on Wednesday three reports on EU hopefuls Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, and Serbia, praising them for progress but making calls for normalisation of relations, unity against Russia, and an end to hateful rhetorics. Read more.
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PRISTINA
Crammon: No Kosovo in EU without Serbia agreement. Without an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, neither country will ever enter the EU, the EU’s Kosovo Rapporteur Viola von Crammon said. Read more.
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TIRANA
Commission fumes over Albanian fiscal amnesty draft law. The EU has reacted strongly to the new version of the fiscal amnesty law proposed by the ruling Socialist Party which would allow non-declared money to be deposited in Albanian banks with no penalty. Read more.
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Agenda
- EU: European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen leads the European Commission delegation to United Nations Retreat.
- EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell participates in the G20 foreign minister’s meeting
- European Parliament plenary session.
- Czech Republic: Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visits.
- Italy: The first hearing in the trial of 59 people over the fatal collapse of the Genoa bridge in 2018.
- Albania: Opposition led by Sali Berisha calls a large protest in Tirana against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
- Romania: Romanian prime minister Nicolae Ciuca goes on an official visit to Greece where he will meet his counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
- Russia: Hearing in trial of Moscow city deputy Alexei Gorinov accused of spreading ‘false information’ about the Russian army.
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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
