Italy’s Meloni vows to revise ‘disastrous’ EU Green Deal

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:

ROME

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to push for the review of the European Green Deal, criticising its "ideological approach" and warning that it risks leading to deindustrialisation. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Wilders rejoices over unlikely Dutch EU migration opt-out request, dubs it 'mini-Nexit'. Far-right PVV leader Geert Wilders described the Dutch official request to the European Commission to opt out of EU migration policy as a ‘mini-Nexit’, even though the Commission has already questioned its feasibility. Read more.

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EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Spain set to receive extra €14 million help with migration crisis in Canary Islands. The European Commission will soon make an additional €14 million package of financial assistance available to Spain to improve the Canary Islands reception capacity for irregular migrants, especially minors, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas announced during an official visit to the region on Wednesday. Read more.

Spain's centre-right leader compares Sánchez to former dictator Franco. Partido Popular (PP/EPP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, on Wednesday, compared Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to the late dictator Francisco Franco over a controversial media transparency plan presented on Tuesday. Read more.

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LISBON

Swathes of Portugal’s mainland burns as Spain sends army to help. The area burned in mainland Portugal since Sunday now exceeds 106,000 hectares, with the government declaring a state of emergency and neighbouring Spain even sending its army to help fight the fires. Read more.

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EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Czechia denies involvement in plot to assassinate Maduro. Czechia’s Foreign Ministry has denied allegations that the country is in any way involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, days after Spain rejected the same claims. Read more.

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WARSAW

Polish ministry spokesperson resigns over loan proposal for flood victims. The spokesperson for Poland's climate ministry resigned on Wednesday after the minister made a controversial promise of low-interest loans for flood damage. Read more.

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BUDAPEST

Gazprom-friendly Hungary blames EU for failing to end Russian gas dependence. Hungary's energy security chief on Wednesday slammed the European Union for not providing enough support to help smaller, landlocked countries move away from Russian natural gas. Read more.

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NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA 

Environmental groups call the Brussels-backed Danube project dangerous. Dozens of international environmental organisations have declared the European Commission-backed Danube Hydroelectric Project dangerous, which involves the construction of a dam and power plant on the Danube between the Bulgarian town of Nikopol and the Romanian town of Turnu Magurele. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Iohannis asks MPs to OK training of Ukrainian marines on Romanian soil. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis requested parliamentary approval on Wednesday to establish a maritime training facility on Romanian soil to help train Ukrainian marines. Read more.

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AGENDA:

• EU: Informal meeting of transport ministers expected to debate on EU transport sector’s competitiveness improvement, with a focus on connectivity between the EU and neighbouring countries;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with and participates in joint press conference with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer, Prime Minister of Czechia Petr Fiala, and Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico; Particiaptes in press event with Executive Director of International Energy Agency Fatih Birol;
• Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič hosts Foreign Minister of Spain José Manuel Albares, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy, and Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo;
• Parliament’s plenary session votes on women in Afghanistan deteriorating situation due to recent adoption of law on “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Mandilara]