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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…
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Responding to a question from a centre-left MP (PD/S&D), Meloni rejected the idea of labelling the US president-elect as an “enemy.” [Antonio Masiello/Getty Images]
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:
Ahead of the European Council on 19-20 December, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a pragmatic EU approach toward Donald Trump’s administration and a stronger EU role in NATO that would match America’s. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
French PM Bayrou wants to do politics differently – if opposition lets him. New French Prime Minister François Bayrou must navigate a heavily fragmented political scene and look to build consensus to avoid yet another government collapse – but the risks are real he suffers the same fate as his predecessor. Read more.
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BERLIN
German parties agree: cut agri-food red tape. Political parties in Germany – the EU’s second-largest agricultural producer – have set out their vision for national and EU agri-food policies in their manifestos for the early election on 23 February, with a common promise: simplification. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
Irish data privacy watchdog fines Meta €251 million for GDPR failure. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) slapped Meta with a €251 million fine on Tuesday for failure to comply with the EU’s data privacy regulation (GDPR), according to a press release. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
Spanish left halts no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Sánchez. The Spanish left-wing parliamentary bloc on Tuesday temporarily blocked a proposal for a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez put forward by JxCat. Read more.
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LISBON
Madeira regional government collapses after censure motion. Miguel Albuquerque, the head of Madeira’s regional government (PDS/EPP), fell due to a motion of censure, ending almost a decade in office and four electoral victories. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
Poland out of EU deep freeze with impending €9.4 billion EU recovery fund tranche. Poland is set to collect the second and third tranches of its recovery funds, amounting to 40 billion zlotys (€9.4 billion), before the end of December, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, announced. Read more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia leads effort for continued Ukraine gas transit as EU stays out of talks. Slovakia’s main gas buyer SPP and groups from Hungary, Austria and Italy warned the European Commission on Tuesday of the risks of an end to natural gas transit via Ukraine, as EU officials kept out of talks aimed at keeping Russian gas flowing. Read more.
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PRISTINA | BELGRADE
Kosovo, Serbia reach agreement implementing search for war missing. The chief negotiators of Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement on Tuesday in Brussels to implement a declaration aimed at resolving the fate of more than 1,600 still missing people following the 1990s conflict. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
Commission opens TikTok investigation over Romanian presidential elections disinformation. Ten days after the cancellation of Romania’s presidential elections, the European Commission has launched an investigation into TikTok amid allegations of Russian interference, according to a press release on Tuesday. Read more.
Romanian convicted of spying for Russia gets five-year prison term. The Bucharest Court of Appeal sentenced a Romanian man, Alexandru Pișcan, for sharing military intelligence with the Russian embassy in Bucharest. Read more.
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SOFIA
Bulgaria opposes proposed EU seed regulation after pro-Russian party push. The country has rejected the European Commission’s proposed regulation on the vegetable seed market, following pressure from the pro-Russian Revival party (ESN). Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Western Balkans summit expected to focus on enhancing integration, cooperation in migration, deepening EU’s political and policy engagement, and more;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas holds meetings with Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski;
- Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos holds meetings with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu;
- Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica holds phone call with Foreign Affairs Minister of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib;
- International Partnerships Commissioner Jozef Síkela in Mauritania meets with Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay, Minister for Economy and Finance Sid’Ahmed Bouh;
- President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili address Parliament’s plenary session.
***
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Martina Monti, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara]
Meloni: Trump not an ‘enemy’, wants ‘pragmatic’ EU approach
Romanian convicted of spying for Russia gets five-year prison term
Russia intensifies assaults in Kursk and eastern front, Ukraine says
Madeira regional government collapses after censure motion
EU leaders to pledge closer ties with Western Balkans counterparts
Poland out of EU deep freeze with impending €9.4 billion EU recovery fund tranche
Kosovo, Serbia reach agreement implementing search for war missing
Spanish left halts no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Sánchez
Meloni: Trump not an ‘enemy’, wants ‘pragmatic’ EU approach
France imposes curfew for cyclone-hit Mayotte as toll rises
Romanian convicted of spying for Russia gets five-year prison term
18/12/2024
2 min. read
Madeira regional government collapses after censure motion
18/12/2024
2 min. read
Poland out of EU deep freeze with impending €9.4 billion EU recovery fund tranche
18/12/2024
2 min. read
Slovakia accuses EU Parliament of ‘interference’ in Georgia’s elections
17/12/2024
4 min. read
Polish ruling parties nominate different presidential candidates
16/12/2024
3 min. read
Italian court ok’s referendum on controversial autonomy law
13/12/2024
4 min. read
