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:
PRAGUE
Czechia has expressed its dissatisfaction with the European Commission’s newly launched strategic dialogue on the automotive industry, citing the exclusion of key players from the region. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
BERLIN | WARSAW
EU ministers mull new German plan to reinforce asylum rules. EU interior ministers discussed migration and security in Poland on Thursday, including a new German proposal to strengthen rules on which member states handle asylum requests. Read more.
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BERLIN | PARIS
Eurozone unexpectedly stagnates as German, French economies contract. The euro area surprisingly stagnated in the fourth quarter of last year, data released on Thursday showed. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
OSLO
Norway’s governing coalition breaks over EU energy rules row. The agrarian Centre Party has moved to leave the Norwegian government after a political showdown over the adoption of EU energy laws from the last decade, local media reported on Thursday. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
‘No control’: Sweden grapples with bomb violence wave. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson admitted that his government has lost control over a burgeoning wave of violence sweeping the country, amid escalating public concern. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
ECHR condemns Italy for dumping toxic waste in ‘land of fires’. The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights has condemned Italy for failing to protect the inhabitants of the so-called ‘Land of Fires’ near Naples, where criminal organisations have been dumping and burning toxic waste for decades. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Poland proposes EU entry fee to boost bloc’s funding. Poland is pushing for new sources of EU funding, including a digital tax or an entry fee for entering the bloc, to finance major investments, Development Funds and Regional Policy Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said on Thursday. Read more.
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KYIV
Ukrainian NGOs in panic mode after Trump freezes ‘woke’ humanitarian aid. Panic has gripped Ukraine’s humanitarian sector as an abrupt 90-day freeze on US development funding has had dire consequences for many organisations, including key “life-saving” ones. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgarian liberals seek Trump’s support to surcharge Russian gas transit. Bulgaria’s liberal We Continue the Change party is seeking Washington’s support to push through a proposal to impose additional fees on Russian gas transit to Central Europe, which was rejected in the Bulgarian parliament. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romania’s former pro-Russian candidate under fire over Ukrainian land claims call. Romanian ex-presidential hopeful Călin Georgescu has called for Romania to reclaim parts of Ukraine after a Russian victory, prompting swift condemnation from both Kyiv and Bucharest. Read more.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Martina Monti, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]
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