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In today’s Capitals news:
VIENNA
The FPÖ (ID Group), Austria’s far-right party, which has maintained its lead over other parties for a year, is currently on the verge of becoming the most powerful party in the country in the national elections scheduled for the fall of ‘next year. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
European socialists divided over Israeli-Palestinian position. The Party of European Socialists (PES) failed to reach a common position on current events in Israel and Palestine at its congress in Malaga, Spain, a PES source has told Euractiv. Learn more.
EU defense ministers to demand better access to funding for industry. EU defense ministers are expected to issue a joint statement on Tuesday calling on banks to give the defense industry access to loans to remove barriers to increased investment in production capacity. Learn more.
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VIENNA
The Austrian center-left is banking on experienced MPs for the European elections. The Austrian Social Democrats have opted for experience and will likely reappoint their MEPs currently in the European Parliament to run again in the European elections in June 2024, as the party continues its path of national rejuvenation. Learn more.
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BERLIN
German conservatives end state coalitions with Greens. Germany’s conservative center-right CDU party decided on Friday to begin rapid negotiations to form a coalition with Hesse’s social-democratic SPD, marking a clear break with the party’s almost automatic practice of partnering with the Greens at the regional. Learn more.
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PARIS
Paris sees pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic weekend marches, Macron absent. On Saturday and Sunday, thousands of people took part in two demonstrations in Paris, the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the second against anti-Semitism, with the absence of French President Emmanuel Macron at the second sparking protests. questions. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
The Netherlands, favorites in the polls, will join the EPP for the next European elections. The new Dutch protest party, the New Social Contract (NSC), created in August, intends to participate in next year’s European elections, its president, Bert van Boggelen, said on Friday. Dutch media reported that the party wanted to join the EU. European People’s Party (EPP). Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
ATHENS
Internal opposition withdraws from Greek left in stormy meeting. After months of disagreements and clashes, a key faction of the opposition decided to leave the left-wing Syriza party, a move seen by some as a further blow to left unity, while others described it as a relief for the new management. Learn more.
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ROME
Italian left-wing parties commit to dialogue to overthrow Meloni’s government. Italy’s left-wing parties took to the streets of Rome to protest Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government and call for cohesion to represent a viable alternative to the center-right. Learn more.
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MADRID
Sánchez obtains the renewal of his mandate while the right intensifies its “patriotic resistance”. Spain’s interim Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez finally managed to put together all the pieces of the complex political puzzle he needs to return to power, as right-wing and far-right forces pledged Sunday to intensify their resistance patriotic to the controversial Sanchez amnesty law. accepted in exchange for Catalan support until new elections are called. Learn more.
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LISBON
Portuguese prosecutors acknowledge transcription error in Costa investigation. The prosecutor’s office investigating former Prime Minister António Costa recognized an error in the transcription of the wiretap that led to his downfall, confusing his name with that of Economy Minister António Costa Silva, according to one of the lawyers for one of the defendants in this case. Learn more.
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VALLETTA
Maltese activists and a former president call for severing diplomatic ties with Israel. More than 150 Maltese activists, including various organizations and a former president, have called on Prime Minister Robert Abela and Foreign Minister Ian Borg to recall Malta’s ambassador to Israel for “genocide” and “murder of thousands of children Palestinians.” Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE
The Czech government’s pro-Israeli stance may have cost the prime minister’s visit to Nigeria. Nigeria’s last-minute cancellation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s (ODS, ECR) visit to the country as part of his Africa tour may have something to do with his government’s pro-Israeli stance, said a Czech expert on African issues. Learn more.
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WARSAW
PiS has its last chance to obtain a parliamentary majority. Poland’s conservative PiS party faces its last chance to form an alliance in a bid to secure a parliamentary majority after its de facto defeat in last month’s parliamentary elections was saved by President Andrzej Duda, who appointed Prime outgoing PiS minister Mateusz Morawiecki to form a party. new government. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The Media Freedom Platform begins functioning in Slovakia. The Slovak Platform for Media Freedom – which includes representatives from the government, NGOs and media – aims to support the implementation of international commitments, including the Rule of Law Commission reports, amid the Prime Minister Robert Fico’s latest attack on journalists in another video. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
The Bulgarian catering sector against tax tipping. The Bulgarian government’s proposal to impose a 10% tax on tips for waiters, taxi drivers and hairdressers has met stiff opposition from the restaurant industry and financiers and has been mocked by the Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania adopts a national strategy for Africa. Romania’s new strategy for Africa aims to revive the country’s ties with Africa, building on a promising basis of collaboration, announced President Klaus Iohannis.‘ next tour in Africa, which starts Tuesday. Learn more.
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BELGRADE
Serbia should take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Commission’s report, says minister. Serbia must take advantage of the European Commission’s report on the country, which finds limited progress but no setbacks, European Integration Minister Tanja Miščević told Euractiv. Learn more.
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PRISTINE
Former Kosovo intelligence chief publishes ‘leaked’ status of Association of Serbian Municipalities. Burim Ramadani, the former head of Kosovo’s intelligence service, has published what he says is a leaked copy of the draft statute of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Northern Kosovo between the European Union and the United States , a key demand of the ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, supported by the EU. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The Foreign Affairs Council meets to discuss the war in Ukraine, the latest developments regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan, the situation in Israel and the Middle East, and more;
- The informal meeting of housing ministers is expected to focus on access to affordable housing, urban development and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs a meeting between the College of Commissioners and the European Court of Auditors; He welcomes the President of the European Court of Auditors, Tony Murphy;
- Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit participates in the “European Conference on the Social Economy: People, Planet, Action”, organized by the Spanish Presidency, in San Sebastian, Spain; Meets ILO Deputy Director-General Mia Seppo;
- Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni attends the Economic Forum in Vienna, Austria; Meets the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski;
- Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, attends the meeting between Commission members and COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber; Meeting with the Director General of the European Institute of Public Administration, Marco Ongaro; Participates in an extraordinary meeting of a group of high-level specialists on the future of cohesion policy;
- Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli delivers online opening speech for Italian European Diversity Charters Platform;
- Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova meets former European Commissioner Michel Barnier and the President of the Summer Olympics Organizing Committee 2024, Tony Estanguet; Delivers a keynote speech at the Digital SME Summit;
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives EU leaders, including Council President Charles Michel, for dinner;
- Portugal: World Web Summit;
- Türkiye: Confidence talks between Turkey and Greece;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)