The Capitals brings you the newest information from throughout Europe, by on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media community. You’ll be able to subscribe to the publication right here.
The European information you should learn. Welcome to The Capitals by EURACTIV.
In at present’s information from the Capitals:
Turkey was by no means within the maritime border settlement between Albania and Greece however made a “actually sturdy intervention” when it was signed, based on Albania’s then-prime minister and president Sali Berisha who gave an unique interview to EURACTIV. Learn extra.
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EU INSTITUTIONS
EU Fee ‘absolutely dedicated’ to battle anti-Muslim hatred however lacks coordinator. Whereas Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment retains rising throughout the EU, lawmakers have known as on the European Fee to shortly appoint the EU coordinator to battle anti-Muslim hatred and step up efforts to sort out discrimination throughout the Union. Learn extra.
Brussels planning digital push to inexperienced the EU’s development sector. The European Fee has outlined potential “transition pathways” to deal with the environmental impression of the development sector, with plans to arrange a “European Building Knowledge House” to tug collectively industry-generated data. Learn extra.
EU slashed gasoline consumption by 20% in August-November: Eurostat. European nations collectively decreased their gasoline consumption by 20.1% in comparison with the common of the identical months between 2017 and 2021, based on figures launched on Tuesday by Eurostat, the EU’s statistics physique. Learn extra.
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PARIS
France extra prepared for winter than predicted, says grid operator. France is best ready for the winter than what was anticipated at the beginning of autumn, based on French electrical energy grid operator RTE, which on Tuesday welcomed a drop in power consumption and a rise in manufacturing potential. Learn extra.
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BERLIN
Germany returns first Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. International Minister Annalena Baerbock personally returned the primary batch of 20 Benin bronzes from 5 German collections that had been looted by British colonial forces from the previous Kingdom of Benin, at present’s Nigeria, in what she known as a “long-overdue” step. Learn extra.
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VIENNA
Austria nonetheless cautious of newly agreed EU gasoline value cap. The latest settlement to cap gasoline costs within the EU at €180 per megawatt-hour (MWh) poses a danger to the safety of provide in Austria, Vitality Minister Leonore Gewessler mentioned in Brussels after EU power ministers reached a deal on the cap after months of negotiations. Learn extra.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch FM says secret Chinese language police stations have shut down. Unlawful and secret police stations operated by China that had been first revealed in September have now shut down, mentioned Dutch International Minister Wopke Hoekstra on Tuesday, saying this had been confirmed by the Chinese language Embassy to the Netherlands. Learn extra.
UK AND IRELAND
LONDON
UK ministers hail 30,000 further tonnes of fish beneath post-Brexit deal. UK ministers have proclaimed that the newest fishing quota settlement with the EU will enable British fishers to catch 30,000 extra tonnes of fish in 2023 than would have been potential earlier than Brexit. Learn extra.
Affected person security in danger, UK ministers warned as healthcare employees strike. British well being sector bosses warned the federal government on Tuesday of the danger to affected person security from a wave of business motion as ambulance staff ready to stroll out and nurses threatened additional strikes in a dispute over pay. Learn extra.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Athens beneath US-Russia strain over sending S-300 missile system to Ukraine. The Greek authorities is dealing with a diplomatic impasse as Washington is pushing Athens to ship Russia-made anti-aircraft missile programs S-300 to Ukraine however retains mum concerning changing them with US-made Patriots. Learn extra.
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MADRID
Spain’s Sanchez vows to finish impasse attributable to nation’s highest court docket. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Tuesday vowed to undertake the required measures to carry the historic impasse the Constitutional Court docket triggered concerning reforming how judges are appointed and abolishing the crime of sedition. Learn extra.
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LISBON
Portugal ‘stands by Romania’ in Schengen fallout. Portugal strongly backs Romania’s entry into the visa-free Schengen Space, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa informed a joint press convention together with his Romanian counterpart, President Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday. Learn extra.
VISEGRAD
BRATISLAVA
A part of Slovakia’s ousted authorities tries to kind new majority. Some members of the not too long ago ousted cupboard of Prime Minister Eduard Heger need to kind a brand new majority with Heger on the helm however with out controversial Finance Minister Igor Matovič or Inside Minister Roman Mikulec, although most commentators imagine this can probably fail. Learn extra.
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WARSAW
Polish parliament to grant amnesty to Poles illegally preventing for Ukraine since 2014. Polish lawmakers have signed a draft decision that will grant amnesty to Polish residents who illegally joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to battle Russian forces in Japanese Europe since 2014. Learn extra.
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PRAGUE
Czech FM says Russia is isolating itself, even from China, India. Russia is more and more isolating itself on the worldwide scene, to a point even from China and India, because it continues to bomb civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, Deputy International Minister Jaroslav Kurfürst informed EURACTIV.cz in an interview. Learn extra.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
PRISTINA
Belgrade fires mistruths at EU Presidency after Kosovo membership bid. As Serbia’s International Minister Ivica Dacic claimed the Czech Presidency has washed its palms of Kosovo’s latest EU membership utility, and said that Hungary would additionally block its path, it appears the truth, based on these concerned, is somewhat totally different. Learn extra.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria pushes for brand spanking new EU-Turkey migrant summit. Bulgaria has provided to turn into the organiser and meditator of a migrant crisis-centred summit between the European Union and Turkey, Parliament Speaker Vezhdi Rashidov mentioned after discussing the problem with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Learn extra.
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TIRANA
Albania’s Berisha denies corruption, dismisses Western sanctions in opposition to him. Regardless of his fall from grace, former Albanian prime minister and president Sali Berisha isn’t hanging up his political boots. In an unique interview with EURACTIV, he staunchly denied any hyperlinks with organised crime, and dismissed Western sanctions in opposition to him as unfounded. Learn extra.
AGENDA:
- EU: School of Commissioners convenes to current the Fee’s Suggestion on Union catastrophe resilience objectives;
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addresses the XV Convention of Ambassadors of Italy on the earth;
- The European Financial and Social Committee (EESC) discusses the way forward for the financial governance framework and financial coverage within the eurozone for 2023;
- EU Parliament Safety and Defence subcommittee on an official go to to South Korea and Japan;
- A delegation of the Worldwide Commerce Committee (INTA) visits Taiwan to debate commerce, investments;
- Inner Market and Shopper Safety delegation committee on an official go to to Eire to evaluate commerce evolution between the EU and post-Brexit UK, in addition to the implementation of the Protocol on Eire and Northern Eire;
- Germany: fiftieth anniversary since East and West Germany recognised one another as sovereign states beneath the Fundamental Treaty;
- United States: Finish of Trump-era immigration coverage;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Makszimov, Daniel Eck, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]
