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In today’s news from The Capitals:
ROME | LONDON
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed a shared commitment to exploring innovative solutions and stepping up efforts to combat human trafficking as the two met in Rome to discuss new approaches to managing migration, focusing on the Italy-Albania model. Read more.
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BERLIN
Germany’s Scholz offers support to neighbours affected by flooding. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has offered support to European partners through the EU's emergency mechanism in response to severe flooding in central and eastern Europe but said no requests for assistance had yet been registered. Read more.
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PARIS
Stéphane Séjourné’s nomination brings key Macron ally to European Commission. Stéphane Séjourné, one of President Emmanuel Macron’s closest confidants, was nominated as France's EU Commissioner on Monday, signalling that the French president remains in control of EU affairs amid political instability at home. Read more.
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THE HAGUE
Dutch government wants to reverse EU ban on electric pulse fishing. Banned in the EU since 2021, electric pulse fishing must be re-authorised, the Dutch government called for in its plan for agriculture, potentially reopening a drift especially with France and Belgium. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
HELSINKI | STOCKHOLMSweden and Finland to up cooperation to fight crime in Sweden. Sweden and Finland have pledged to step up cooperation to fight organised crime in Sweden and its spill-over effects, including allowing police to cross borders, the two countries' governments said at a meeting in Sweden on Monday. Read more.
Sweden to lead next NATO headquarters in northern Finland. Finland has asked Sweden to take charge of a NATO headquarters in northern Finland to bolster defence against neighbouring Russia, Swedish and Finnish defence ministers announced on Monday. Read more.
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VILNIUS
Lithuanian defence minister urges 4% of GDP for military expenditures. Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas has called for an increase in defence spending to 4% of GDP, aiming to procure long-range air defence systems and other military equipment. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
MADRID
Hard-right Vox party fails to disclose identity of lender of €9 million election loan. The hard-right Vox party is allegedly violating Spanish law by hiding a €9.2 million bank loan used to finance its 2023 election campaigns, El País reported on Monday, while the party says it wants to protect lenders from 'stigma'. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
PRAGUE | WARSAW | BRATISLAVACzechia, Poland seek EU help against floods as Slovak government aid deemed insufficient. As the Polish government plans to apply to activate the EU's civil protection mechanism and the Czech government is exploring whether it can access EU funds for repairs after devastating floods, the government in neighbouring Slovakia has been criticised for not providing enough aid. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA | SKOPJEMissing flag at meeting sparks new row between Sofia and Skopje. A missing Macedonian flag during the meeting between Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his counterpart Gordana Silyanovska-Davkova has triggered a new scandal and raised tensions between Sofia and Skopje on Monday. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College of Commissioners meeting; Hosts Co-Chairs of the Greens/EFA Group Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout;
- Parliament’s Plenary debates financial and military support to Ukraine, Gaza strip war and Middle East situation, global measures towards social media platforms, and more;
[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara]