euractiv.de
euractiv.fr
euractiv.es
euractiv.it
euractiv.pl
euractiv.bg
euractiv.cz
euractiv.gr
euractiv.ro
euractiv.sk
Euractiv is part of the Trust Project
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.
Today's edition is powered by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
China's secret grip on Europe: FNF Europe's latest study reveals how far-right and far-left parties could hand power to Beijing.
In today’s news from The Capitals:
BERLINConservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU-EPP) floated the idea of turning back refugees at the border whose first EU country of entry was not Germany for a three-month trial period - an idea that may sound familiar to the governing parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government. Read more.
Wagenknecht party and Fico’s Smer tease alliance, but 'too soon' for new EP group. Germany’s Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer have confirmed a new attempt to strengthen ‘left-conservative’ ties in the European Parliament, but said a new group is still some way off. Read more.
///
PARIS
New French PM dashes hopes of a EU-Mercosur deal by Brazil G20 summit. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier reiterated France's opposition to the EU-Mercosur free trade deal and confirmed his desire to seek a 'blocking minority', according to information obtained by Euractiv, dashing hopes of finalising the deal at the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil. Read more.
France's Bruno Le Maire leaves government to enter academia. French Economic and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire announced on Thursday that he would not stay in post after the new government is announced next week, taking on a professorship in economic policy and geopolitics at the University of Lausanne. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDONEU-UK energy relations: Deeper cooperation possible, depending on the politics. As the new government in London aims to improve relations with Brussels, energy offers clear grounds for closer EU-UK cooperation, according to expert Joël Reland from the think tank 'UK in a Changing Europe', who spoke to Euractiv in an interview. Read more.
///
DUBLIN
Irish data protection watchdog probes Google's processing of personal data for AI training. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) launched a cross-border inquiry into Google's handling of EU citizen's data for its AI model PaLM2, questioning the tech giant's compliance with privacy laws, the watchdog announced in a press release on Thursday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROMEEU socialists softened their stance on the Italian executive VP pick. Opposition to Rafaele Fitto's bid to become vice-president of the executive in the next European Commission appears to be softening, with the socialist S&D group in the European Parliament, who had previously joined the Greens and Liberals in opposing the move, no longer speaking of 'red lines'. Read more.
///
MADRID
Sánchez pledges support to Venezuelan opposition leader amid diplomatic row. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday pledged his full support to Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who has been in exile in Spain since Sunday, as he tries to find a way out of the South American country's political crisis. Read more.
///
NICOSIA
Turkey condemns Cyprus-US defence co-operation roadmap. Turkey said it condemned this week's signing of a roadmap to boost two-way defence co-operation between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUEChina uses LinkedIn to recruit academics for espionage, Czech intelligence warns. China poses a fundamental threat to Euro-Atlantic civilisation and is using various channels, including LinkedIn, to establish contacts and gain influence and know-how, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) has warned. Read more.
///
WARSAW
Blinken leaves door open on Ukraine using Western missiles in Russia during Warsaw visit. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Poland on Thursday, did not confirm that the United States will permit Ukraine to fire Western-supplied missiles into Russian territory, but left the possibility open. Read more.
///
BUDAPEST
EU court says Hungary broke competition rules by fixing food prices. The European Union’s top court ruled on Thursday that a Hungarian decree setting regulated prices for basic foodstuffs undermines fair competition, in a dispute first brought before a national court by international retailer SPAR. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIABulgarian president lobbies for large-scale Chinese business expansion in country. President Rumen Radev on Thursday insisted on the establishment of a direct flight between Sofia and Beijing and the opening of a Chinese bank branch to boost business ties between the two countries. Read more.
///
BUCHAREST
Romania to seek EU compensation for East-West energy price gap. Romania will ask the Council for compensation for the much higher energy prices in its region compared to Western Europe, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said on Thursday, confirming his Greek counterpart's words that his country had joined forces with Greece and Bulgaria. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Eurogroup convenes to discuss latest macroeconomic and fiscal developments and G7 updates;
- Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers expected to focus on sustainable financing of green transition, demographic changes effect on public debt sustainability, and more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers keynote speech at DLD Nature Conference;
- Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit holds meetings with UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern, Canadian Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Paul Thompson, ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo, at the G7 in Cagliari, Italy;
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Martina Monti, Owen Morgan, Sofia Mandilara]
