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In today’s Capitals news:
THE HAGUE
Outgoing Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren (D66/Renew) on Thursday urged the next European Commission to create a separate commissioner position for defense, emphasizing the need to boost arms purchases and military spending within the the EU. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Moldovan Popescu is “optimistic” about the EU’s green light in December. Moldova will continue to work with the EU to continue “cleansing its system of the toxic influence of criminal oligarchs” as part of a concerted action to advance its bid for EU membership, said Moldova. country’s foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, to Euractiv. Learn more.
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BERLIN
The majority of Germans, including the far right, support the EU (survey). EU membership is strongly supported by an overwhelming 87% of Germans, with most far-right voters also favoring remaining in the bloc, according to a new poll released Thursday. Learn more.
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PARIS
Macron calls for a ceasefire and promises increased aid to Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the first time for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas at the Gaza aid conference in Paris on Thursday, adding that France would increase its financial support for Gaza. Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
MADRID
The Spanish opposition is preparing a mass “resistance” against the “coup d’état” of Sánchez-Puidgemont. Spain’s main opposition parties announced on Thursday that they were preparing massive actions of “civil resistance” against the “key to govern” agreement between the Spanish Socialist Party and Catalan separatists, which include a controversial amnesty law for those involved in Catalonia’s 2017 separatist attempt. Learn more.
The Spanish presidency is considering excluding finance from due diligence rules. The Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU is leaning towards excluding the financial sector from European corporate liability rules, which are currently the subject of interinstitutional negotiations, according to an internal document consulted by Euractiv. Learn more.
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LISBON
Portuguese parliamentary elections scheduled for March. Portugal will hold early elections on March 10, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced Thursday evening, saying the parties had agreed to dissolve Parliament following the recent resignation of António Costa. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Polish MPs angry over ‘political’ decision after losing immunity. The decision of the European Parliament to lift the immunity of four Polish conservative MPs in order to allow their prosecution in Poland for inciting hatred against migrants online is “political” and “aims at revenge”, according to the MPs incriminated. Learn more.
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PRAGUE | BRATISLAVA
Czechia and Slovakia want a V4 summit with Germany and Austria to discuss border controls. Germany and Austria should be invited to the next Visegrad Group summit at the end of November to discuss internal border controls and irregular immigration, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN) agreed in Prague and his newly appointed Slovak counterpart Matúš Šutaj Eštok (HLAS). THURSDAY. Learn more.
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BUDAPEST
The Hungarian president said Swedish officials must make their case for NATO membership. Sweden must prove it deserves to join NATO, Hungarian President Katalin Novák said on Wednesday, urging national parliamentarians to approve the country’s candidacy. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia wants excess profits from electricity producers to be redistributed. Profits of electricity producers must be redistributed among consumers, while investments in low-carbon technologies must be increased, new Economy Minister Denisa Saková said in a joint statement on market reform European Union of Electricity with the French Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
TIRANA | ROME
Rome-Tirana migration agreement: the Italian left wants the Albanian government to leave the EU socialists. The left-wing Italian Democratic Party has called for the Albanian Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, to be excluded from the Party of European Socialists over the controversial deal it reached with conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to deal asylum seekers recovered in Italian waters. in northern Albania. Learn more.
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SOFIA
Lukoil Bulgaria says it can legally export fuel to the EU. Some types of fuel made from Russian oil can be exported to the EU under existing rules, Lukoil Bulgaria said on Thursday, denying accusations of violating international oil sanctions against Russia. Learn more.
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LJUBLJANA
Slovenia doubles down smoke aromasnon-smoking lounges. The Slovenian government has strengthened its anti-smoking legislation by banning smokehouses and most flavors in all heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes to prevent addiction in children and reduce associated health costs. Learn more.
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TIRANA
The cash injection will solve integration problems in the Western Balkans, the Albanian ambassador to the EU said. Socio-economic challenges in Western Balkan countries have hampered their European Union integration process, but that will change with a new 6 billion euro cash injection for the region, the ambassador said on Thursday of the EU in Tirana, Luigi Soreca. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The Economic and Financial Affairs Council meets to discuss the Union budget for 2024;
- Commission Vice-President Vĕra Jourová speaks via videoconference at the High Level Forum on the Future of Democracy 2023, in Belgium;
- Vice-President Dubravka Šuica delivers a speech on “Investing in Human Capital – How Women Can Support Europe’s Economic Potential” at the EPP Women’s Congress, Haarlem, Netherlands;
- Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit takes part in a high-level panel on “Adapting to climate change for a just transition: from the margins of politics to center stage”, organized by the S&D Group, in Malaga, Spain; Participates in the event “Progressives make an additional effort for social Europe”, organized by the FEPS and the CoR PES;
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski speaks via videoconference at the 12th edition of the Aspen Forum – German Marshall Fund Bucharest;
- China: Press briefing by the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)
