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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:
MADRID
The far-right Vox party, the third-largest force in the Spanish parliament, on Thursday urged the centre-right Partido Popular to veto all potential Socialist candidates for European commissioner from the Iberian country. Read more.
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PARIS | BERLIN
Berlin-Paris clash over Mercosur worsens amid calls to split trade deal. Pressure is increasing from Germany to conclude the free trade agreement between the EU and the Latin American Mercosur bloc by December, with key politicians calling to split the deal to circumvent French opposition, blaming Paris’ “misguided patriotism.” Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
UK must keep trade open and EU close, Bank of England says. Britain should stand up for free trade and rebuild ties with the European Union as the global economy fragments, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said in a speech on Thursday that cast an eye towards Donald Trump’s White House return. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
NGO rejects claims of ‘sabotage’ in Albania-Italy migration deal. The humanitarian organisation SOS Mediterranée has sabotaged the Albanian-Italian migration outsourcing programme following allegations reported by Libero and echoed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia on its official social media channels. Read more.
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LISBON
Commission gives countries two months to transpose EU motor insurance directive. The European Commission on Thursday gave Portugal and five other countries two months to fully transpose the EU directive on motor insurance into national law, threatening to take the matter to court. Read more.
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ATHENS
Greece in talks with Israel to develop 2 billion euro ‘Iron Dome’. Greece is in talks with Israel to develop a 2 billion euro ($2.11 billion) anti-aircraft and missile defence dome, part of a wider push to modernise its armed forces as it recovers from a protracted debt crisis, Greek officials said on Thursday. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE
Czech FM: If Europe wants US protection against Russia, it must support US on China. The United States remains Europe’s greatest ally regardless of who is in the White House, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, adding that to face Russia, the EU should back newly elected US President Donald Trump’s China policy. Read more.
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WARSAW
Polish ruling coalition splits ahead of presidential elections. As Poland’s main parties prepare to announce their candidates for next year’s presidential elections, the chances of a joint ruling coalition candidate have diminished. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovak Interior Minister faces mounting pressure after police brutality incident. Slovak Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (leader of Hlas-SD/NI) has come under fire after the death of a detainee exposed cases of police brutality, despite claiming it was an isolated incident, while the opposition is demanding accountability, including his resignation. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgaria’s infrastructure not ready to use new F-16 jets. Bulgaria, which is waiting to receive its first eight F-16 fighter jets from the US next year, does not have the infrastructure or pilots ready to even use them, said Caretaker Military Minister Atanas Zapryanov on Thursday. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Minimum wage in Romania set to increase. Romania is ready to raise the minimum wage to 4,050 lei (about €800) from 1 January, following President Klaus Iohannis’ promulgation of the European minimum wage law on Wednesday, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday. Read more.
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ZAGREB
Croatia to purchase Turkish military drones. Croatia will buy lethal drones from Turkey in an 86-million-euro ($91 million) deal, the government said Thursday, just days after a parliamentary committee backed the purchase of US-made rocket systems. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Economic and Financial Affairs Council convenes to discuss Union budget for 2025;
- Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at the Transatlantic Policy Forum 2024, in Prague, Czechia.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara]
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The post Far-right Vox urges centre-right PP to torpedo all Spanish socialist candidates in Brussels appeared first on Energy News Beat.
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