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In today’s Capitals news:
BERLIN
Germany’s three-party governing coalition suffered significant losses in regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD (S&D) achieving the worst result in both states since World War II. Learn more.
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PARIS
The French left is in turmoil after the reaction of Mélenchon’s party to Hamas attacks. The French radical left party La France insoumise was condemned for its comments linked to Hamas’s attacks on Israel last Friday, which were unanimously condemned by the entire French political class. Learn more.
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PARIS | BERLIN | VIENNA | LONDON
France, Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom are strengthening police protection of Jewish spaces. France, Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom have decided to increase protection of Jewish schools, institutions and places of worship in response to Hamas’ attack on Israel. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the main reason for the increased protection was to prevent any potential fallout and Austrian politicians targeting protesters supporting Hamas. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
Arrests of footballers lead to row between Netherlands and Poland. Last week’s arrest of two Legia Warsaw players following a match against AZ Alkmaar sparked a diplomatic row between Poland and the Netherlands, with Polish politicians calling for an investigation and legal proceedings. Learn more.
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LUXEMBOURG
The EPP is expected to win a seat in the Council after the Luxembourg elections. The center-right CSV (PPE) is expected to dethrone liberal Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and lead Luxembourg’s next government after the country’s shift to the right following Sunday’s national elections. Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
LISBON
The Portuguese Prime Minister wants European socialists to act against the winners of the Slovak elections. Portuguese Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Socialist Party (PS), António Costa, has called on the Party of European Socialists (PES) to act against the Slovak party led by Robert Fico, adding that the parties cannot remain within the PES s They make deals with the far right. RIGHT. Learn more.
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MADRID
Thousands of people protest against Sánchez’s “coup d’état” which pardons Catalan separatists. Thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of Barcelona on Sunday to reject what they see as a “coup d’état” prepared by the Spanish government to pardon those involved in the 2017 secession attempt, while the platform of Left Sumar announced his intention to present a proposal to include the extraordinary pardon measure in the Spanish Constitution on Tuesday. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Polish oil giant uses military equipment to resolve election-related fuel crisis. State-owned oil giant Orlen SA is using military tankers to deliver fuel to gas stations after falling prices led to major shortages across the country, the company announced over the weekend. Learn more.
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PRAGUE
Czechia supports Israel’s right to self-defense and calls for cutting EU funding for Palestine. Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas attacks, according to various Czech politicians, with some calling for an end to European funding for Palestine. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
The Christian Democrats could shake up the formation of the Slovak government. The presidency of the Christian Democratic Party (KDH) declared itself still opposed to a coalition with the leader of Smer, Robert Fico, in a press release published Friday, but cooperation could be considered in exchange for restrictions on access to the abortion, according to several reports. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Azerbaijan and Turkey are suspected of covering Russian interests in the EU. A serious toughening of the EU’s diplomatic response against Azerbaijan following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be expected, in order to prevent aggression against the sovereign Armenian territory, said Bulgarian MEP Radan Kanev (EPP , Democratic Bulgaria) during a press conference. exclusive interview for EURACTIV Bulgaria. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian president worries about drugs threatening national security. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis convened the Supreme Council of National Defense on Wednesday to address the serious threat posed by drugs to national security. Learn more.
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BELGRADE
Blaming Serbia is “always easier,” says Vučić about the terrorist attack in Kosovo. It is “always easier” to blame Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić said of the recent confrontation between Kosovo police and heavily armed Serbian men at a Serbian Orthodox monastery near the northern village of Banjska. country, at the end of September, in an interview given to News from the sky in which he reiterated Serbia’s non-recognition of Kosovo. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Council (EPSCO) meets to discuss social protection and access to housing, the impact of new technologies on work, and much more;
- Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas takes part in a trilateral meeting on migration with the Prime Ministers of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania in Varna, Bulgaria;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová attends the G7 Hiroshima Process meeting on generative artificial intelligence in Kyoto, Japan; Holds meetings with UN Under-Secretary-General and Technical Envoy, Amandeep Gill, International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin;
- Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni receives the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Oliver Röpke;
- Germany: The Franco-German Council of Ministers meets, in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)