Meloni looks to bridge gap between EPP and Patriots

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by Euractiv’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. 

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The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by Euractiv. 

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

ROME

Italian Prime Minister and European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) leader Giorgia Meloni appears to be bridging the gap between the European People’s Party (EPP) group and the far-right Patriots for Europe group, as representatives from both have been invited to a three-day convention in Dubrovnik. Read more.

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BERLIN 

Germany sees drop in asylum applications after migration crackdown. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has hailed the drop in asylum applications as proof that the country’s tough measures are working, with figures for 2024 showing a 23% drop from the previous year. Read more.

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PARIS

French agency places Novo Nordisk’s anti-obesity drug under close surveillance. Danish laboratory Novo Nordisk has announced the launch of its anti-obesity drug Wegovy in France. Still, the country's drug safety agency has already said it will monitor its use to ensure it is not misused for aesthetic purposes. Read more.

German and French MPs want to relaunch the ‘European Energy Union’. French and German MPs want the next Franco-German parliamentary session, scheduled for early December, to provide an opportunity to present a joint ‘proposal for deliberation’ on improving Europe's electricity and hydrogen networks. Read more.

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NORDICS & BALTICS

OSLO

Norway raises terror threat level amid rising concerns over Israeli, Jewish targets. Norway will raise its threat level from moderate to high, namely because of the intensification of threats against Jewish and Israeli targets in the country, the Norwegian Police Security Service said on Tuesday. Read more.

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EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID | BUDAPEST

Hungary denies involvement in €9.2 million loan to Spain’s far-right Vox party. The Hungarian government denied on Tuesday any knowledge or involvement in the loan granted by Magyar Bankholding (MBH) to Spain's far-right Vox party. Read more. 

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LISBON

Portuguese PM reaffirms goal of making Portuguese an official UN language. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Tuesday reiterated his government’s goal of strengthening the country's consular network and, along with Brazil, making Portuguese an official language of the United Nations. Read more.

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EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Polish ruling party opts for early review of combustion engine ban. Polish MEPs from the Civic Coalition (KO, EPP) alliance pushed for an earlier review of the 2035 ban on new combustion car selling, a proposal put forward by Italy. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czechia aims to be among the EU’s top 10 economies by 2040. As Czechia recovers from years of high inflation, newly appointed Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček has presented an ambitious economic strategy to become one of the EU's top 10 economies in terms of GDP per capita by 2040. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico lashes out at Slovak media, cand alls for stricter controls. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) lashed out at major media outlets at a press conference on Tuesday, accusing them of undermining his government and hinting at new possible measures against them, including creating a national media authority. Read more.

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NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Commission signals patience wearing thin with Bulgaria on recovery plan. The European Commission is showing signs of losing patience with Bulgaria, which has dragged its feet for more than two years in adopting reforms to continue payments under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Read more.

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AGENDA:

• EU: Informal meeting of employment, social policy and health ministers expected to reflect on labour shortages, effective involvement of labour market reserves, and social inclusion;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in Parliament’s plenary debate on Hungarian Presidency activities, in Strasbourg, France; Receives Minister-President of Federal State of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann;
• Commission Vice President Dubravka Suica delivers keynote speech at Ukraine-South East Europe Summit, in Dubrovnik, Croatia;
• Cohesion Commissioner Elisa Ferreira meets with CMU - Confederation of Outermost Municipalities;
• Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders meets with Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency Commissioner Yukata Arai; Meets with United States Consumer Product Safety Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric; Participates in OECD Committee on Consumer Policy ministerial meeting;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara]