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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:
SOFIA
Bulgaria and NATO discuss response to Russian blockade in the Black Sea. Bulgaria is in talks with its NATO allies to see whether it should manage the continuing partial blockade of Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone independently or with the help of NATO allies, it said on Wednesday. to Euractiv the Minister of Defense, Todor Tagarev. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
MEPs approve a new distribution of seats despite differences with governments. European lawmakers agreed on Wednesday to increase the size of the European Parliament by 15 seats, approving a proposal from EU countries while criticizing their interference in the parliament’s budgetary powers. Learn more.
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VIENNA
Austria refutes von der Leyen’s call for Schengen enlargement. Austria has rejected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call to lift her veto against Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, arguing that the extension of the zone without a visa currently makes no sense. Learn more.
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BERLIN | PARIS
French and German economy ministers welcome EU investigation into Chinese electric vehicles. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and his German counterpart Robert Habeck welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement to investigate unfair Chinese competition in the electric vehicle sector (VE). Learn more.
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BERLIN
Germany stops relocation of migrants arriving in Italy. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD/S&D) has suspended the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism (VSM) for arriving asylum seekers due to Rome’s refusal to implement the Dublin Agreement, the German government confirmed on Wednesday. German Ministry of the Interior. Learn more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian court overturns decision denying accommodation to single male asylum seekers. BThe Belgian Council of State on Wednesday suspended the decision of Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor to temporarily suspend the reception of single men by the Federal Agency for the Reception of Applicants. asylum (Fedasil). Learn more.
UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK MPs reject proposal to end state complicity in forced organ harvesting in China. An amendment to Britain’s Public Procurement Bill, which would have given British medical organizations the power to exclude suppliers over their involvement in forced organ harvesting, was rejected by the House of Commons on Wednesday. Learn more.
NORDIC AND BALTIC
STOCKHOLM
Former Swedish Prime Minister accuses far-right leader of fueling Koran crisis. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson allowed far-right Sweden Democrats to fuel the Koran burning crisis, former Swedish Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson said after a conference of joint press during which she denounced her management of the crisis. . Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
MADRID
Spain’s center-right forces unite to block amnesty law. Spain’s main center-right opposition party, Partido Popular (PPE), and Catalan Civil Society have joined forces to oppose the future amnesty law for those involved in the 2017 secessionist attempt, that the Catalan separatists demand in exchange for their support for the socialist candidate Pedro. Sanchez to form a coalition. Learn more.
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ROME
Lampedusa hotspot collapses as police and migrants clash. Thousands of migrants rescued by Italian authorities and currently awaiting relocation clashed with police on Wednesday after demanding to be moved to suitable accommodation. Learn more.
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LISBON
Activists: Portuguese public transport fares must be adapted to remote working. Public transport in Portugal must adapt to the remote working trend and offer easier, cheaper and more flexible fare alternatives, according to the Portuguese environmental association Zero, which has proposed a set of measures. Learn more.
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VALLETTA
Maltese journalists demand action and reforms from the government. More than 130 Maltese journalists, broadcasters, researchers, media platforms and activists have called on Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela to deliver on his long-standing promises to strengthen the media sector and improve freedom of expression. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Ukrainian refugees based in Poland go to Germany to get better salaries. Germany has welcomed more Ukrainian refugees than Poland since the end of 2022, with most of them heading west for better social standards and job opportunities, according to a new report from the Migration Platform of the LEF and the Center for Eastern European Studies (SEW) at the University of Warsaw. Learn more.
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PRAGUE
Czech MPs criticize von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech. Czech MPs have voiced concerns over the European Commission’s response to threats to democracy, climate policy and migration after Commission head Ursula von der Leyen highlighted them in her state address of the Union on Wednesday. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The Slovak Prime Minister speaks of a banana republic after the fight between politicians before the snap elections. Slovak Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor asked whether Slovaks want to live in a banana republic after the September 30 snap elections, after former Prime Minister and OLaNO leader Igor Matovič got into a physical altercation during A pre-election press conference by Smer in which the government dealt with migratory flows was criticized. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
TIRANA | PRISTINE
Albanian Prime Minister prepares ground ahead of crucial Kosovo-Serbia meeting in Brussels. Serbia is trying to delay the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and take advantage of Pristina’s mistakes as much as possible, thereby contributing to Belgrade’s self-victimization in the international arena, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said before the meeting Kosovo-Serbia in Brussels. Learn more.
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TIRANA
EU Ambassador in Tirana: Population census is important for Albania’s membership in the bloc. The much-delayed population census is set to begin next week in Albania, with the EU ambassador to the country, Luigi Soreca, saying it is important in the context of its membership of the European Union. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
A social-democratic-liberal alliance could form before local elections in Romania. In an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right AUR party, coalition partners PSD and PLN are currently in talks to present joint lists in next year’s local elections – an alliance that AUR leader, George Simion, has already called it a gift. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets jointly with Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Meets Danish industry leaders in Denmark, gives a speech and names the first ever methanol-powered container ship; Holds the laudatio of the Iranian movement “Women, Life, Freedom” in the M100 Media Award 2023;
- The Vice-President of the Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, received the Monegasque Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï; chairs the EU Energy Platform Steering Committee meeting;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks on the International Day of Democracy 2023;
- Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson delivers a keynote speech and participates in a high-level conference titled “Energy Security Beyond 2024: Achieving Winter Preparedness in Turbulent Times” in Warsaw, Poland;
- Equality Commission Helena Dalli joins Europride; Meets Katrina Fotovat, Senior US Official to the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, in Valletta, Malta;
- Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius meets the Committee on European Union Affairs, the Schengen Area and the Eurozone, the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forests, Environment and Water Committee, Sofia, Bulgaria;
- Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness speaks at EUROFI conference; Meets the CEO of the Association of Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), Adam Farkas;
- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell receives Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for talks;
- The European Parliament votes on a framework guaranteeing a secure and sustainable supply of essential raw materials, the opening of negotiations on an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of essential minerals, the regulation of prostitution in the EU, and much more;
- ECB press conference on euro zone monetary policy;
- Hungary: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni participates in the demographic summit;
- United States: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock meets with Secretary of State Antony Blinken;
- Tajikistan: Fifth Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)
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