The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, with on-the-ground reporting from EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
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In today’s Capitals news:
ATHENS
Analysts and political parties are still trying to understand how a 35-year-old American resident and businessman, previously unknown in Greece, managed to capture the leadership of the main opposition party Syriza, in what is described as a “metapolitical” phenomenon. Learn more.
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BERLIN
Germany is considering border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic. Checks on Germany’s eastern border could be on the horizon, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD/S&D) said on Saturday, as the government prepares for a tough crackdown on irregular immigration , which will constitute a new blow for the Schengen area. Learn more.
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PARIS
French diplomats and soldiers must leave Niger, says Macron. French diplomats and soldiers in Niger will return home by the end of the year, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday – something he had refused to do a few weeks ago – adding that military cooperation between the two nations was finished. Learn more.
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VIENNA
The Austrian center-right is launching a “positive” campaign to stop the far right. The FPÖ’s continued dominance in opinion polls has given rise to a new conservative attempt to attract voters to the center, with a campaign aimed at convincing voters of their country’s performance. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch communities provide additional shelter for refugees. Dutch communities provide additional shelter for 1,200 refugees at short notice following a letter from State Secretary Erik Van der Burg (VVD/Renew) calling for action as existing capacities are almost exhausted . Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
ROME
Italy is bringing nurses from India instead of improving working conditions to address the shortage. The growing need for health workers has led the government to “import” personnel from countries like India and Cuba instead of proposing policies to address current problems in the system. Learn more.
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MADRID
Thousands of right-wing activists march against Sánchez and against the “indignity” of the amnesty law. Tens of thousands of right-wing supporters marched against the “indignity” of an amnesty law for those involved in the 2017 secessionist attempt in Catalonia, just days before the “destined” investiture debate failure” of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the party. Partido Popular (PP/PPE). Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE
A left-wing coalition is emerging in Czechia and plans to reject the Green Deal. A joint list of candidates from minor left-wing political groups is taking shape in Czechia ahead of the 2024 European parliamentary elections and they have plans that include rejecting the European Green Deal. Learn more.
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WARSAW
A controversial film about refugees is causing a stir among Poland’s right-wing parties. Polish director Agnieszka Holland’s film “Green Border” – inspired by the refugee crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border – premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival and has so far been boycotted by the Polish right, who consider the film to be anti-Polish. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The latest polls show a possible deadlock in the Slovak elections. Neither front-runner Smer, who is campaigning to end military aid to Ukraine, nor second-placed progressive Slovakia have a clear path to forming a government after next Saturday’s snap elections. unless small parties break their pre-election promises. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Hackers damage Bulgarian fact-checking site that fights Russian disinformation. Bulgaria’s most prominent fact-checking platform, Factcheck.bg, known for combating Russian disinformation, was the subject of a cyberattack over the weekend, but there is currently no information on those responsible of this attack, the site’s management told Euractiv.bg. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
A corruption scandal shakes the Romanian Social Democratic Party. Vaslui County Council President Dumitru Buzatu and his wife were expelled from the PSD party on Saturday after Buzatu was intercepted while receiving a bag containing approximately €250,000 from a businessman on Friday evening. Learn more.
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PRISTINE
Vucic accuses Kurti of being responsible for a police ambush, a murder and a standoff at a monastery in the north. Serbian President Aleksander Vucic blamed Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for a series of serious events on Sunday, which left four people dead, including a police officer, many behind bars, and a large seizure of arms and ammunition in the north of Kosovo, with a Serb majority. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry) meets to discuss design protection, emissions or durability standards for motor vehicle batteries, etc.
- Culture ministers hold informal meeting in Cáceres, Spain; Agenda highlights include progress toward sustainable management of cultural heritage, universal access to culture, and more;
- Commission Vice-President Vĕra Jourová received Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili;
- Environment, oceans and fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius participates in the 9th EU-China Environmental Policy Dialogue; Meets the Minister of Water Resources, Li Guoying; Participates in the 2nd water policy dialogue between the EU and China, in Beijing;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides takes part in the second trilogue on fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency;
- Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers a speech at a high-level dialogue on ‘Innovation for the Energy Transition’, in Bonn, Germany; Participate online in the 6th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting as part of Tokyo Green Transformation (GX) Week;
- Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) organizes monetary dialogue with ECB head Christine Lagarde;
- France: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on an official visit;
- India: The Asia-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference, co-organized with the United States, takes place in New Delhi;
- Uruguay: International Conference on AI and Democracy;
- UN: The Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of Rights in Ukraine takes stock of the UN Human Rights Council;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)