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.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
ROME
Vice-Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s Lega and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia have opposed the nomination of German NGO Sea Watch activist Carola Rackete, as a candidate for German Left Party for next year’s EU election due to her arrest in 2019 for ramming an Italian patrol boat during a rescue mission at sea. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Commission denies von der Leyen’s criticism of right-wing Spanish PM hopeful. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not make the harsh remarks about right-wing Partido Popular candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo that El Pais newspaper attributed to her in an op-ed published on Monday, the EU executive said on Tuesday. Read more.
EU lawmakers push to enhance protections for journalists in media law. The parliamentary committee on civil liberties adopted a broad majority opinion report on the Media Freedom Act on Tuesday (18 July), putting forth stronger safeguards against the surveillance of journalists. Read more.
EU’s Vestager defends appointment of American economist to top EU job. EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager backed on Tuesday American Fiona Scott Morton as the most qualified candidate to be the chief economist of the Directorate-General for Competition after her appointment stirred controversy and drew criticism, especially from France. Read more.
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PARIS
Uncontrollable illicit tobacco trade becomes a plague for France. The steadily growing illicit tobacco trade in France is causing concern as on top of the rising numbers, local and European authorities do not seem to have explicit answers for how to fight it. Read more.
Electricity prices set to rise by 10% for most French consumers. Electricity prices for over 20 million French households are set to rise by 10% from August – an announcement that the opposition in parliament has heavily criticised. Read more.
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BERLIN
German opposition wants to axe individual right to asylum. The international law standard of reviewing each asylum claim individually should be replaced by a common European capped intake, Thorsten Frei, chief whip of the centre-right CDU party, wrote in an op-ed published on Tuesday. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria bets on immigration to tackle labour shortages. Austria will try to attract more than 15,000 skilled workers from non-EU countries each year by 2027, Labour Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) announced in a statement on Tuesday after talks with Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) and representatives of the social partners. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgium condemned for not providing asylum seekers accommodation. Belgium has failed to comply with a Brussels court ruling calling on the national authorities to provide housing for an asylum seeker, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said on Tuesday. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
Survey: Brits trust EU more than UK in foreign matters. There is growing support for closer cooperation with the EU from the UK public, as more and more Britons, according to the British Foreign Policy Group’s 2023 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy released on Wednesday. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Huge bank profits worry Swedish government. Banks in Sweden continue to report large profits while households struggle with high-interest rates and high inflation, drawing criticism from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spain’s green transition at risk as right-wing edges closer to power. A potential conservative government between right-wing Partido Popular (PP, EPP) and far-right VOX (ECR) would slow down the country’s speedy green transition, as the parties propose to water down targets and repeal key legislation. Read more.
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Spain’s right-wing candidate misses last TV clash ahead of the election. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of centre-right opposition Partido Popular, missed the final political debate aired on public television broadcaster RTVE Wednesday night as the campaign entered crunch time ahead of election day Sunday. Read more.
VISEGRAD
WARSAW
Poland to sue Germany over waste imports. Warsaw will take Berlin to the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg for allegedly failing to remove 35 tonnes of waste illegally transported to Poland by German companies and stored at seven sites in the country, Climate and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa announced on Tuesday. Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czechia to build first small modular reactor by 2032. Czechia will build its first small modular reactor in 2032 to increase energy security and climate protection in a project backed by Czech President Petr Pavel, who stressed the role of nuclear energy in the country’s future energy mix. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak arms firms see profits quadruple since Ukraine war. Slovakia’s key armament companies quadrupled their profits last year compared to the previous one, with companies confirming their extraordinary results were due to the war in Ukraine. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Man accused of threatening to kill Bulgarian defence minister arrested. A 39-year-old man accused of threatening to kill Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev over his position on the war in Ukraine was arrested in Sofia on Tuesday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian government to pay off debt to clear construction of EU-funded projects. Debts on the projects financed by EU funds will be settled by 1 September, the Ministry for Investments and European Projects has announced. Read more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenian parliament passes long-term care plan to improve welfare system. Parliament adopted legislation to create a long-term care system for the elderly and infirm on Tuesday, addressing one of the biggest failings in the country’s welfare system after more than two decades of failed attempts by successive governments. Read more.
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BELGRADE
Inquiry committee for mass shootings in Serbia formed at opposition’s request. Lawmakers set up a committee tasked to investigate the facts and circumstances that led to the two mass shootings in May at the opposition’s request in parliament on Tuesday. Read more.
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TIRANA
Albanian wheat farmers struggle with selling price, bad weather. With the price of wheat currently less than production costs and concerns over quality due to spring and summer storms, Albanian farmers are stuck with an increased amount of wheat and few options when it comes to selling it. Read more.
Searches on wanted ex-deputy PM’s property continue in Albania. Albania’s National Bureau of Investigation conducted searches of property belonging to former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetj who is wanted on charges of corruption and money laundering, as suspicions emerge over a reported transfer of €1.8million to a Swiss bank account. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council convenes to discuss in particular the pre-accession process in light of the Commission’s 2022 Report, and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs the College of Commissioners seminar;
- Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni participates in the UN Financing for Development Forum, in New York, USA;
- International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen participates in the UN high level Political Forum, in New York, USA;
- France: Chilean President Gabriel Boric on official visit;
- UN: General Assembly debate after Russia vetoes cross-border Syria aid mechanism;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
