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The European news you should be reading. Welcome to The capitals by Euractiv.
Today’s news from the Capitals:
PARIS
French President Emmanuel Macron is leaving political crisis-hit France on Thursday and Friday for a two-day trip to Serbia, hoping to sell fighter jets to President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime, despite Belgrade’s close ties with Russia. Read more here.
BERLIN
Germany is seeking unity on the migration issue as the political struggle intensifies ahead of the elections. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has signalled his willingness to talk to the opposition about illegal immigration, a sensitive issue that has reignited the country’s political landscape ahead of a crucial election weekend. Read more.
NORDIC AND BALTIC ACTIVITIES
COPENHAGEN
Denmark elects climate hawk Dan Jørgensen for the new Commission. In a move that contradicts EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s wish for a gender-balanced Commission, Copenhagen on Wednesday proposed current Minister for Development and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen for the next EU Commission. Read more.
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HELSINKI
German company builds the world’s largest heat pump in Helsinki. The large air-water heat pump supplied by Germany will help the Finnish capital achieve its climate neutrality target for 2030. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Council of Europe calls on Italy to step up its fight against corruption. The Council of Europe has called on Italy to intensify its fight against corruption and conflicts of interest, according to a report published on Wednesday by the anti-corruption organization GRECO. Read more.
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MADRID
Sánchez defends regular migration as the key to growth, triggering backlash from the opposition. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described regular migration as a necessity for economic growth in Spain and the EU during an official visit to Mauritania on Wednesday, drawing sharp criticism from Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the main opposition Partido Popular. Read more here.
Madrid officially appoints the Minister for Ecological Transition, Ribera, as EU Commissioner. The Spanish government on Wednesday nominated Minister for Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera as the Spanish candidate for the next European Commission, EU sources told Euractiv’s partner EFE. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese government proposes Albuquerque as Commissioner candidate. The Portuguese government has proposed former Finance Minister Maria Luís Albuquerque as a candidate for the post of EU Commissioner, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced on Wednesday. Read more.
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ATHENS
The leader of the largest Greek opposition party Syriza is walking a fine line. TThe leadership style of Stefanos Kasselakis, the leader of Greece’s main opposition party Syriza, is again under scrutiny as a fresh clash among left-wing politicians brings the party to the brink of another major split. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Metsola in Warsaw is pushing for EU reforms to cope with enlargement. The current structure of the European Union would not be adequate if it included more than 30 members, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Wednesday. Read more here.
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PRAGUE
The Czech Republic is once again calling for a postponement of the EU law against deforestation. The Czech Ministry of Agriculture has asked the European Commission to postpone the application of the new EU law on deforestation, arguing that the impact on companies is unclear. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia is urged not to destroy a successful recycling system. Slovakia’s Environment Ministry should abandon its legislative plans that could jeopardise the country’s highly successful deposit return system (DRS), which serves as a model for other EU countries, nine drinks packaging companies, including EUROPEN, Brewers of Europe and Zero Waste Europe, demanded in a joint letter. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
According to sources, Bulgaria could win the portfolio for regional policy in the new Commission. Bulgaria is aiming for the portfolio for regional policy in the next European Commission and has a good chance of doing so, report several sources in Sofia, including the state television channel BNT. Read more.
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BUCHAREST | CHISINAU
Romania wants to acquire the port of Giurgiulesti from Moldova. The Romanian government will start negotiations with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the acquisition of shares in the Giurgiulești International Free Port in Moldova. Read more.
AGENDA:
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EU: Informal meeting of foreign ministers takes place in Brussels;
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Commission Vice-President Vĕra Jourová speaking at the ‘Building an AI Economy’ conference in Prague, Czech Republic;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Martina Monti, Sofia Mandilara)