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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In today’s news from the Capitals:
PRAGUE | BRATISLAVA
Diplomatic relations between Prague and Bratislava face turbulence after Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said the resumption of intergovernmental consultations with Slovakia “is not currently a topic”, with the Slovaks calling the statement disrespectful ahead of a state visit. Read more.
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PARIS
French elections: Far-right’s proposals go against the Green Deal. Many of the proposals put forward in the French national election by the Rassemblement National (RN, ID) and its allies, counter the European greenhouse gas reduction targets set out in the bloc’s Green Deal. Read more.
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BERLIN
German Chancellor Scholz urges hesitant EU leaders to greenlight Von der Leyen fast. EU leaders cannot afford to delay and must nominate incumbent European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term this summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged on Wednesday. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Brussels court rejects lobbyist’s arguments against von der Leyen’s reelection. A Brussels court rejected on Wednesday a Belgian lobbyist’s arguments opposing Ursula von der Leyen’s reappointment as head of the European Commission against the backdrop of accusations related to the controversial COVID vaccines contract negotiation with Pfizer. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Timmermans’ cabinet chief Samsom to chair natural gas giant Gasunie. Diederik Samsom, former right-hand man of Green Deal chief Frans Timmermans, will assume the chairmanship of the supervisory board of Gasunie, the government-owned Dutch gas giant, on 1 July. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
Russian pranksters release hoax video call with UK’s David Cameron about Ukraine. Russian pranksters who often target people the Russian state is interested in released footage on Wednesday of a video call with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron after tricking him into thinking he was speaking to a former Ukrainian president. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
VILNIUS
EU must think how to counter Russia’s hybrid attacks on its soil, Lithuania warns. The EU should draw up possible responses against Russia’s growing hybrid and physical attacks inside its territory, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrelius Landsbergis told Euractiv, advocating a more pro-active approach to the bloc’s internal security. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Spanish centre-right accuses Ribera of ‘electoral fraud’. The parliament spokesman of Spain’s centre-right Partido Popular (PP/EPP), Miguel Tellado, on Wednesday accused the ruling Socialist Party’s (PSOE/S&D) lead candidate and Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, of having committed an alleged “fraud” by not taking her seat as an MEP. Read more.
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ROME
Meloni’s support for EU top jobs deal increasingly uncertain. On the eve of a European Council summit where EU leaders are supposed to seal the deal on EU top jobs, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sharply criticised the provisional agreement reached by the majority and indicated that she might oppose it. Read more.
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LISBON
Portuguese Liberal Initiative MEP chosen as one of Renew Europe’s vice presidents. João Cotrim de Figueiredo, a newly elected member of the European Parliament for Portugal’s Liberal Initiative (IL), has been selected as one of the eight vice-presidents of Renew Europe, the assembly’s liberal caucus, which now has 75 members, including two from Portugal, it was announced on Wednesday. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria’s Borissov claims life in danger due to Ukraine support. The leader of Bulgaria’s largest party, GERB (EPP), and former premier, Boyko Borissov, said there was a grave threat to his life, suggesting it was due to his support for Ukraine. Read more.
Bulgaria’s ‘We Continue the Change’ join liberal Renew. Two MEPs from Bulgaria’s “We Continue the Change (PP)” party have been accepted as full members of the Renew Europe parliamentary group, the party announced on Wednesday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian government urged to take back ‘Big Brother of bills’. Professional associations have urged the Romanian government to retract the emergency ordinance requiring companies to implement the e-invoice system for transactions with final consumers from January 2025. Read more.
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BELGRADE | PRISTINA
Serbia and Kosovo talks collapse despite EU efforts. A European Union bid to breathe new life into stalled negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo fell through Wednesday, with Serbia’s president and the Kosovo prime minister failing to meet as planned. Read more.
AGENDA:
EU: European Council convenes to discuss Ukraine, Middle East, defence preparedness and capability, hybrid threats, and more;
Commission Vice President Dubravka Suica delivers opening speech on “Navigating the future: Challenges and opportunities of longevity in Europe”;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit delivers speech on “Pension and long-term care systems in Europe”; Gives keynote speech at CESI summer days “New technologies, AI and gender equality at work”; Participates in event to mark 5th anniversary of European Labour Authority;
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in North-Sea Energy Cooperation stakeholder meeting, high level opening session of 10th Energy Infrastructure Forum, in Copenhagen, Denmark;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen receives EU Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala;
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski participates in Global Agribusiness Festival, in São Paulo, Brazil; Holds meetings with Brazilian Minister for Agriculture Carlos Favaro, Minister for Agriculture of Uruguay Fernando Mattos;
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara]
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