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:
MADRID
European Union Member states are seeking to study the financial and legal consequences of formalizing Catalan, Basque and Galician as official EU languages, making it unlikely the bloc will reach a decision quickly, as initially hoped Spain. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
Kosovo rejects EU compromise proposal during Belgrade-Pristina negotiations. A new round of negotiations between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on normalizing relations failed on Thursday after Pristina rejected an EU compromise proposal that it said favored the Belgrade line. Learn more.
E-fuels for new combustion cars must be 100% climate neutral: European Commission project. E-fuels must be climate neutral for new combustion engine vehicles that will be sold after 2035, according to a new draft regulation – which resolves an internal dispute within the European Commission – seen by Euractiv. Learn more.
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BERLIN
The German Greens will focus on security matters in order to obtain the center. In a major tonal shift, the German Greens will focus their campaign on themes such as security and boosting business alongside classic green issues, while seeking to present themselves as the pragmatic party of government and win back voters. Learn more.
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PARIS
The French government sides with the European Commission on the revision of the protection status of the wolf. The French five-year plan for the wolf from 2024, which must be officially presented by the government next week and consulted by Euractiv on Thursday, sides with the European Commission in calling for a review of the animal’s protection status and seeks to provide more support to breeders. . Learn more.
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VIENNA
Transit clash with Italy: Vienna is not worried. Austria’s ban on trucks from Italy has sparked outrage in Rome, sparking threats that the Italian government will travel to Luxembourg to sue the Austrian government in the EU’s highest court. Learn more.
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BRUSSELS
What the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU should focus on: report. Belgium should use its next Council presidency to focus on policy coherence in key areas such as development, trade and migration, according to the 2023 Belgian development cooperation report, published by CNCD-11.11. 11 – an NGO – and presented to the press on Thursday. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
The Dutch will donate DNA kits to Ukraine to identify kidnapped children. The Netherlands will donate DNA test kits to Ukraine to help it identify children kidnapped by Russia, outgoing Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA/PPE) announced on Thursday. Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
ROME | BUDAPEST
Italy is counting on Hungary to resolve the birth crisis. Italy will look to Hungary – a “perfect example” of how to use investment to solve the birth rate problem – to raise its currently low birth rate, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday during the democratic summit in Budapest, where she met her. political ally and Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban. Learn more.
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MADRID
Spanish Supreme Court rejects appeals against pardon by Catalan separatists. The Spanish Supreme Court on Friday rejected appeals filed by the far-right VOX party and the center-liberal Ciudadanos (Citizens) party against government pardons granted to two prominent Catalan separatists directly involved in the October secessionist attempt 2017 in Catalonia. Learn more.
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LISBON
Portuguese government supports European Central Bank’s decision to stop rate hikes The Portuguese government on Thursday judged positively the forecasts of the European Central Bank (ECB) according to which inflation would be close to 3% by 2024 and maintained its critical stance with regard to successive increases in interest rates. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
German MP: Polish society should not be influenced by the anti-German attitude of PiS. Polish election campaigns are full of resentment, but it is to be hoped that anti-German rhetoric will not affect Polish society, said German SPD MP Sebastian Hartmann about the campaign led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party. in power in Poland. Learn more.
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PRAGUE
Czech military leader: arms support for kyiv is not over. The West must prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine and face an increasingly hostile Russia even after it ends, Czech Chief of Staff Karel Řehka said. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The future Slovak coalition wants to build a new nuclear reactor. Almost all political parties that have a chance of sitting in the Slovak government after the September 30 snap elections want to build a new nuclear reactor, according to a new analysis. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
BUCHAREST
The Romanian MEP proposes a European mechanism for Ukrainian grain imports. Romanian Social Democratic MEP Victor Negrescu proposes creating a European transit mechanism for Ukrainian grain imports, while Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has asked his Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu to prepare the next decision of the European Commission on cereals from Ukraine. Learn more.
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SOFIA
Russophiles from all over the world gather in Bulgaria. Russophiles from around the world will gather for the first International Russophile Forum near the Bulgarian town of Kalofer, despite Russia having declared Bulgaria an enemy state as it continues to wage war in Ukraine. Learn more.
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TIRANA
Albania’s gambling bill divides the ruling party and opposition equally. Attempts by the Albanian government to reintroduce online gambling have been met with resistance from members of its own ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The Eurogroup meets to discuss the Commission’s interim forecasts and the ECB’s monetary policy; Agenda highlights include assessing progress in ratifying the European Stability Mechanism treaty, and more;
- An informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers takes place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain; The agenda focuses on strategic autonomy and strengthening international economic cooperation, particularly with the Latin America and Caribbean region;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visits the Merck KGaA research center for electronic applications with Minister – President of the State of Hesse Boris Rhein in Darmstadt, Germany;
- Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides holds a video conference with representatives of the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU (PGEU) to discuss the revision of the legislation; Holds video conference with Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko;
- Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Budget and Administration, delivers a speech at the Skopje Economic and Financial Forum 2023, North Macedonia;
- Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, participates in the high-level working group on the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine;
- Cuba: G77-China summit on science, technology and development, which UN chief Antonio Guterres is expected to attend;
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(Edited by Charles Szumski, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)