Euractiv +
For individuals
Euractiv Pro
For corporations
Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics?
Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations?
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Poland’s ruling parties nominating different presidential candidates, Meloni stepping down as ECR president, and so much more.
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Last month, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski won against Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in a landslide during the primary held by Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO, EPP), the only one held among parties in the coalition. [Faferek | 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:
Two of the four parties in Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition have agreed on a joint candidate for next year’s presidential election, while the others have put forward their own. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
BERLIN
UK & IRELAND
UK officially joins Indo-Pacific trade bloc. Britain on Sunday became the first European nation to join a major Indo-Pacific trading bloc, in what has been hailed as the country’s biggest trade deal since Brexit. Read more.
///
DUBLIN
Israel to shut embassy in Ireland over ‘extreme anti-Israel policies’. Israel said on Sunday it would close its Dublin embassy due to the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policies” including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
Meloni resigns as ECR president, endorses Poland’s Morawiecki for leadership. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will step down as president of the EU’s conservative ECR group and back former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki as her successor. Read more.
///
MADRID
Puigdemont raises the stakes, issues new warning to Sánchez. Catalan separatist party JxCat will never be anyone’s political hostage, its leader Carles Puigdemont, warned in a direct warning to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D). Read more.
///
LISBON
Portuguese president dismisses concerns about deficit. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has dismissed concerns about a possible deficit in 2025 as foreseen in the Bank of Portugal’s recently published economic bulletin for December. Read more.
///
ATHENS
Greece passes new budget, reassures defence spending. With 159 votes out of the 300-member parliament, Greece’s ruling New Democracy party (EPP) passed the 2025 budget, while a large majority voted down defence spending. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
ALDE party lends a hand in forming Bulgaria’s government. The Alliance of Liberals in Europe (ALDE) suggested a “cordon sanitaire” against Delyan Peevski, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms–New Beginning (DPS-NN) leader facing US sanctions. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST | CHIȘINAU
Romania ready to support Moldova amid energy crisis. Romania will help Moldova overcome its energy crisis, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja announced after Chisinau declared a state of emergency after Russia cut off gas transit through Ukraine at the end of the year. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Foreign Affairs Council convenes to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, Georgia, Middle East, and more;
- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in its Energy composition expected to focus on geothermal energy, grids action plan, and more;
- Seventeenth Accession Conference with Montenegro held in Brussels to provisionally close negotiations on intellectual property law, information society, industrial policy;
***
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara]
Israel plans to double population on occupied Golan, citing threats from Syria
Polish ruling parties nominate different presidential candidates
Romania ready to support Moldova amid energy crisis
ALDE party lends a hand in forming Bulgaria’s government
Puigdemont raises the stakes, issues new warning to Sánchez
Portuguese president dismisses concerns about deficit
Meloni resigns as ECR president, endorses Poland’s Morawiecki for leadership
Several hundreds, maybe thousands, may have died in Mayotte cyclone
Polish ruling parties nominate different presidential candidates
Greece passes new budget, reassures defence spending
Romania ready to support Moldova amid energy crisis
16/12/2024
2 min. read
ALDE party lends a hand in forming Bulgaria’s government
16/12/2024
3 min. read
Puigdemont raises the stakes, issues new warning to Sánchez
16/12/2024
4 min. read
Italian court ok’s referendum on controversial autonomy law
13/12/2024
4 min. read
Donald Tusk Orbán-proofs Polish private media
12/12/2024
3 min. read
Puigdemont joins forces with Spanish right as he enters political ‘cold war’ with Sánchez
11/12/2024
4 min. read
