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:
PARIS
The French government decided at the last minute not to broadcast a campaign on alcohol consumption during the Rugby World Cup following pressure from the French wine lobby, according to NGOs, an investigation by Radio France revealed on Monday. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
SOTEU: Little new policy but plenty of politics ahead of von der Leyen’s key speech. The text of Ursula von der Leyen’s last State of the Union speech before next June’s European elections is one of the best-kept secrets in Brussels. However, little of the policy content will come as a big surprise: Migration control and the implementation of the Green Deal will likely be at its heart. Read more.
EIB presidency race: Vestager open to EU financing of nuclear and defence. With the race for the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in its final stretch, Danish candidate and former EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said she would be ready to consider EIB financing for defence and nuclear. Read more.
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VIENNA
Austria wants to end EU-accession talks with Turkey. Austria wants to formally end accession talks with Turkey as a full membership to the bloc would be ‘not conceivable for us’, Chancellor Karl Nehammer told die Welt following a recent push by Turkey to revitalise stalled negotiations. Read more.
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BERLIN
EU Commission: Germany’s economy shrinking but not ‘sick man of Europe’. The Commission once again lowered the growth prediction for Germany in its summer forecast, a decrease of 0.4%, the worst economic performance among the EU’s six largest economies, but Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni insists the country has all the necessary tools to recover. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Parties launch political campaigns ahead of Belgian elections. With 280 days before the Belgian elections, the PTB, MR, DéFI and N-VA have launched their campaigns at three federal, regional and European levels. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Report: New Dutch cabinet must implement severe budget cuts. The forthcoming Dutch cabinet will need to severely cut spending or increase taxes, as the country’s budget deficit may fail to comply with EU budgetary rules by 2028, a report from an advisory council consisting of high-ranking Dutch officials stated on Monday. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON | DUBLIN
Ireland, UK to work on new energy links. Two memorandums of understanding signed at the British-Irish Energy Day between Ireland and the UK on Monday aim to increase cooperation in developing offshore renewable energy, explore further electricity interconnection opportunities and enhance the security of gas supplies, according to the Irish government. Read more.
NORDICS AND BALTICS
STOCKHOLM
Sweden to increase defence budget to meet NATO target. The defence budget will be increased by more than 27 billion SEK (€2.2 billion) next year, bringing Sweden’s defence spending to 2% of GDP and meeting the NATO target, the government announced on Monday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
After wildfires, floods deal Greek farmers the final blow. Unprecedented wildfires during the summer, followed by massive floods, have dealt Greek agriculture a severe blow, with analysts estimating that food prices will soon skyrocket. Read more.
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MADRID
Separatists celebrate Catalonia’s national day, call on government for referendum. Catalonia’s separatist forces celebrated the region´s National Day on Monday with a call to exert maximum pressure on the Spanish government to adhere to their demands, including a referendum on self-determination. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE
Czechia’s growing dependence on Russian oil raises concerns. Czechia has dramatically increased its reliance on Russian oil, with imports via the Druzhba pipeline reaching 65% this year, up from 56% in the previous year, Barbora Putzová, the spokesperson for the state-owned firm Mero, told the Czech News Agency. Read more.
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WARSAW
Former PiS FM says Polish rule of law worse than Hungary. The rule of law in Poland is much worse than in Hungary, said former foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz of the current policy of the government he used to serve. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
Romania considers seeking compensation for being denied Schengen access. Bucharest is considering seeking compensation for losses suffered by carriers since Romania was first denied entry to the visa-free Schengen zone in 2011, Romanian Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Monday, adding that losses amounted to 2% of the country’s GDP. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria’s coal industry starting to accumulate large losses. After a year of huge profits due to the EU electricity market crisis, Bulgaria’s coal industry has started to lose taxpayers’ money, data from the state-owned company Mini Maritsa-Iztok according to EURACTIV Bulgaria’s partner Capital.bg. Read more.
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TIRANA | ATHENS
Court date of mayor at centre of Athens-Tirana spat announced. The preliminary court date for the case against the elected but unsworn mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri, has been set for Thursday, one day before the time limit for him to take office expires. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College of Commissioners meeting; Hosts Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis;
- Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas meets with EPP Secretary General Thanassis Bakolas;
- Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson gives address at 3rd trilogue on Asylum Procedure Regulation, and at 7th trilogue on European Asylum Dactyloscopy Database (EURODAC); Meets with S&D Group President Iratxe García Pérez;
- Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković;
- High level international meeting on Industrial Property, organised by the Spanish Presidency in Madrid, focusses on the most appropriate mechanisms to strengthen European industrial property protection systems;
- European Parliament plenary session debates a disaster resilient EU protection mechanism from extreme heatwaves, floods, and forest fires; Votes on the approval of the appointment of Iliana Ivanova as member of the European Commission, Renewable Energy Directive, and more;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola holds meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium Hadja Lahbib, Secretary of State for European affairs of France Laurence Boone;
- Germany: Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer attends cabinet meeting led by Bavaria’s State Premier Markus Soeder;
- Italy: Venice city council meets, considers tourist ticketing system;
- Czech Republic: South Korean PM Han Duck-soo on official visit;
- Russia: Eastern Economic Forum plenary session, President Vladimir Putin attends;
- WTO: 2023 World Trade Report to be published;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
