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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.
The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by Euractiv.
In today’s news from the Capitals:
TBILISI | BRATISLAVA | BUDAPEST | SOFIAWith Georgia passing yet another controversial law, this time against LGBTQ rights, a growing number of post-socialist EU states, such as Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary, appear eager to adopt similar laws, raising concerns within the EU about violations of its laws and the influence of pro-Russian ideologies. Read more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
MEPs to quiz Dombrovskis about 'huge demand' for EU public investment. Latvia’s commissioner-designate Valdis Dombrovskis will have to answer questions from MEPs on how the EU's future investment needs can be met, according to draft questions from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON), seen by Euractiv. Read more.
EVs, state aid, mergers: MEPs ask Ribera to clarify views on controversial issues. Teresa Ribera will tackle her views on deeply controversial economy-related topics, including Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), state aid, and EU competition policy, ahead of her parliamentary hearing as Spain’s commissioner-designate, according to draft committee questions seen by Euractiv. Read more.
New European Commission needs to walk the talk on cohesion policy, regions’ committee boss says. The head of the EU’s Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, asked the incoming EU executive to follow through with President Ursula von der Leyen’s promises that local authorities should be at the core of the bloc’s cohesion policy. Read more.
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BERLIN
Analysts: Germany’s ‘selfish’ EV vote aims to channel Chinese retaliation onto France or Spain. Berlin’s vote against the European Commission’s proposed tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs) last week was a self-interested move aimed at discouraging Beijing from introducing retaliatory duties on German combustion engine vehicles, analysts say. Read more.
Germany’s 'frugal’ FDP takes presidency of liberal EU party family. MEP Svenja Hahn from Germany’s FDP was elected president of Europe’s largest liberal party family, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party, on Sunday, as leading figures warned about their declining importance. Read more.
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PARIS
France’s Glucksmann gears up for possible elections next year. French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, who leads the French Socialists in the European Parliament, said his Place Publique party would start preparing for possible new legislative elections, which could be held as early as July next year, at a rally near Bordeaux over the weekend. Read more.
Israel says France’s call for halting sales of arms used in Gaza is a ‘disgrace’. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit out at France's President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday for saying that shipments of arms to Israel used in the conflict in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROMESalvini hailed by fellow Patriots for Europe allies at rally in Italy. Leaders of the far-right Patriots for Europe gathered in the northern Italian town of Pontida for the annual rally of Lega, of which the leader, Matteo Salvini, received praise for combatting irregular migration. Read more.
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MADRID
Spanish centre-right at odds with government over migrant crisis in the Canaries. Spain’s Partido Popular broke off negotiations with the government over the migration crisis in the Canary Islands, accusing the left-wing executive of not accepting help from the European Union. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAWPolish MEP: Hard times ahead for commissioner hopefuls Serafin, Fitto, Hoekstra. Poland’s Piotr Serafin will face many challenges if he succeeds in becoming the new EU budget commissioner, while Italian and Dutch commissioners-designate Raffaele Fitto and Wopke Hoekstra are likely to be grilled the most during parliamentary hearings, said opposition PiS MEP Bogdan Rzońca (ECR). Read more.
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PRAGUE
Czechia plans to push for major changes to EU’s car emissions goals. Czechia plans to push for changes to EU car emission targets, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Transport Minister Martin Kupka (both ODS, ECR) announced on Friday, confirming that the focus will be on speeding up the review of the internal combustion engine ban and re-evaluating emission limits for new cars and vans for next year. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Thousands protest in Hungary demanding end to state media propaganda. Thousands of Hungarians gathered outside the headquarters of the country's state television on Saturday, protesting against what they described as the government's "propaganda machine" and calling for an independent public service media. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIAKey political player in Bulgaria arrested for influence peddling ahead of elections. Key lawmaker Ceyhan Ibramov, who is close to Ahmed Dogan, the founder of Turkish minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), has been arrested on charges of influence peddling and accepting money to illegally buy votes. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian Constitutional Court rejects presidential candidacy of far-right MEP. Romania's Constitutional Court rejected far-right MEP Diana Șoșoacă presidential candidacy over the weekend, according to sources suggesting judges found her recent statements incompatible with constitutional values. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Eurogroup expected to discuss digital euro, capital markets union, preparation of international meetings, including exchange rate developments, and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in a memorial ceremony for the one-year anniversary of October 7th;
- International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen speaks at Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024 session “Representing Future Generations Through Long-Term Governance”, in Germany; Meets with President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo;
- Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova participates in European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 by Europa Nostra, in Bucharest, Romania;
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara]
