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:
BRATISLAVA
Shortly after mass protests across the country called for his resignation and the government de facto lost its majority, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico presented a proposal to amend the country’s constitution. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
BERLIN
Dying German government musters majority for solar panel restrictions. A majority of German parties agreed on Monday to adopt fixes to the country’s energy policy framework, including cuts to solar subsidies during negative price periods. Read more.
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PARIS
France’s far-right asks EPP to end the Green Deal together. The President of France’s Rassemblement National, Jordan Bardella, will send a letter to the President of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, asking to join forces to end the Green Deal. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
LONDON
Britain faces its demons. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to respond to nightmarish crimes against children that horrified his country and exposed state failures. Read more.
Trump calms nerves in Downing Street after he praises Starmer. In the first phone call between US and UK leaders since Donald Trump’s inauguration on Sunday, the Republican president offered some relief to Downing Street, praising Prime Minister Keir Starmer for “doing a very good job”. Read more.
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DUBLIN
Irish president’s Holocaust memorial speech reignites antisemitism row. Ireland’s antisemitism controversy flared up again on Sunday after President Michael D. Higgins raised Gaza during a speech to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, sparking protests. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
OSLO
Norway balks at EU’s energy integration drive. Norwegian politicians are resisting attempts to implement critical EU energy laws, which would integrate the country more tightly into European power markets. Read more.
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STOCKHOLM
A complicated friendship: Kristersson’s security adviser resigns. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s security adviser, Henrik Landerholm, resigned on Monday amid an investigation into his suspected negligence with classified information.
Landerholm, a close childhood friend of Kristersson, was appointed in 2022 to navigate the country’s increasingly complex security landscape.
But recent revelations in the Swedish press have cast doubt on his ability to handle sensitive information, putting the Swedish leader in a difficult position.
(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Meloni strengthens strategic ties in the Gulf. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has laid the groundwork for renewed ties with the Gulf states after a three-day mission to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain yielded deals worth around $10 billion. Read more.
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MADRID | LISBON
Spain, Portugal double down on 2% defence target. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to spending 2% of GDP on defence by 2029, with the latter signalling that this could happen sooner than expected. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Polish minister says ‘no normal Pole’ should buy Tesla. Polish Sports Minister Sławomir Nitras has called for a consumer boycott of Tesla cars after billionaire Elon Musk played down Germany’s Nazi past hours before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Read more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungary lifts blockade on EU Russia sanctions renewal. Hungary removed its veto on the EU’s six-month extension of Russia sanctions on Monday, but it may not be its last standoff. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Bulgarian shipping company denies cable sabotage in Baltic Sea. The Bulgarian company BMF, which owns the ship Vezhen arrested by Swedish authorities for damaging an underwater cable, has denied suspicions of sabotage, blaming bad sea weather. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian far right uses stolen antiques incident as fuel for conspiracies. Far-right groups in Romania are using the theft of valuable Romanian cultural artefacts from a Dutch museum to promote conspiracy theories as the incident has escalated into a political blame game in Romania. Read more.
AGENDA:
- EU: General Affairs Council convenes to discuss Polish presidency priorities, rule of law in member states, and more;
- Commission President President von der Leyen exchanges views with ECB President Christine Lagarde and Governing Council, in Frankfurt, Germany; Meets with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas hosts International Organisation for Migration Director General Amy Pope; Meets Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna; Meets Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay;
- Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen holds structured dialogue with Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy; Delivers speech at 17th European Space Conference;
- Vice President Raffaele Fitto receives Presidents of European Regions delegation;
- Vice President Roxana Mînzatu participates in Parliament’s ECON-EMPL dialogue, and delivers remarks on “AI at work and Algorithmic Management”; Meets with Business Europe representatives;
- Vice President Teresa Ribera meets with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk;
- Parliament President Roberta Metsola participates in annual WELT Economic Summit.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Anna Brunetti, Sofia Mandilara]
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