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In today’s Capitals news:
TIRANA | ROME
Thousands of refugees and asylum seekers rescued from the Mediterranean by Italian ships will be sent to Albania for treatment following an agreement between Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Monday.
But the decision sparked controversy in both countries, including complaints about a lack of political consensus and a parliamentary vote, with the EU warning it must respect domestic and international law.
Human rights concerns and risks of inadequate oversight have also been raised, as similar deals with other countries have been rejected or challenged in court. Learn more.
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EU INSTITUTIONS | WARSAW
Polish MPs inciting hatred against migrants could lose their immunity. The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) will publish its recommendation on Tuesday morning on whether four Polish MPs accused of inciting hatred against migrants should be stripped of their immunity, with the accused insisting that the accusations constitute an attack on freedom of expression. Learn more.
EU agrees rules on political advertising which will come into force after parliamentary elections. To limit foreign interference and increase transparency, the EU Council and Parliament agreed on Monday on a regulation that harmonizes political advertising requirements across countries and bans foreign actors from sponsoring political ads before an election – but the rules will only apply after the European elections. Learn more.
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PARIS
The Bird of Renew: Putin could be the “geopolitical winner” of the Israeli-Palestinian war. With all eyes now on the Middle East, Russia’s growing disinterest in the war in Ukraine plays into Putin’s hands, French Renew MP Nathalie Loiseau wrote in an editorial on Monday. Learn more.
“Don’t touch my rural life”: the representative of French hunters announces his candidacy for the European elections. The representative of French hunters Willy Schraen has formalized his candidacy for the European elections, at the head of a list which will defend the rural way of life which, according to him, is threatened by European “technocrats”. Learn more.
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BERLIN
Germany reaffirms its support for the two-state solution for Palestine. The German government insisted Monday that it continues to support the two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but said protecting Israel was more urgent. Learn more.
Germany speeds up infrastructure projects with automatic approvals. Germany’s federal and state governments have agreed on a package of measures to speed up the rollout of new infrastructure projects, such as railways and power grids, in part by automatically approving applications in case lack of rapid response from the responsible authorities. Learn more.
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THE HAGUE
The Dutch leader in the polls appears open to a right-wing minority coalition. Breaking his silence on his coalition preferences for the first time, New Social Contract (NSC) leader and election leader Pieter Omtzigt said on Monday that a minority coalition of right-wing parties was an attractive option for him , but he remained tight-lipped about whether he would take on the role of prime minister himself. Learn more.
SOUTHERN EUROPE
ATHENS
Greece imposes heavy fines on multinationals amid public anger over rising prices. Greece’s conservative government has fined two multinational companies €2 million for unfair and excessive profit margins, as public anger over rising prices of essential goods grows, with significant political impact on the ruling New Democracy Party (EPP). Learn more.
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MADRID
Sánchez confronts Catalan separatists as judges fight back. As Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE party and the Catalan separatist party JxCat, led by former regional president Carles Puigdemont, are close to reaching an agreement, Spanish judges have challenged the “very important” amnesty law » but controversial, while some colleagues continue their work. ongoing investigations into Catalan leaders. Learn more.
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LISBON
Portugal sets new record as energy production exceeds demand. Renewable energy production in Portugal has reached a new record, exceeding consumption needs for 149 consecutive hours, energy manager REN said on Monday. Learn more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
The Polish president reappoints Morawiecki to his post, accused of “buying time”. President Andrzej Duda on Monday appointed current Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to form a government, prioritizing Law and Justice (PiS, ECR), amid accusations of buying time to exploit public funds, destroy documents, make strategic decisions and – without any luck – try to find a majority. Learn more.
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PRAGUE
Slovakia asks Czechia to revive Visegrad to coordinate migration and the EU budget. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico asked his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala to relaunch the Visegrad Four group (made up of Czechia, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary) to coordinate on migration and the EU multiannual financial framework. Learn more.
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BUDAPEST
Hungarian museum director fired for failing to enforce LGBTQ law. The director of the Hungarian National Museum was fired on Monday (November 6) for “failing” to enforce a government order banning minors from accessing an exhibition under a controversial law targeting LGBTQ content. Learn more.
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BRATISLAVA
Slovakia will allow commercial arms sales to Ukraine. The commercial sale of munitions does not go against previous government declarations to stop military aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico said after also giving the green light to European Council conclusions which included military aid to Ukraine. Learn more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Pro-European parties defeated the pro-Russian coalition in the Sofia municipal elections. The election for Sofia mayor, considered the third most important position in the country, was won by IT entrepreneur Vasil Terziev, from the pro-European coalition between We Continue Change – Democratic Bulgaria and Save Sofia, against former trade unionist Vania Grigorova, who was nominated by a coalition of pro-Russian left and far-right parties. Learn more.
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BUCHAREST
Coalition leaders in Bucharest criticize their own cash payment rules. Romania’s decision to limit cash payments for individuals and businesses, which takes effect on Saturday, has sparked controversy within the government coalition, with leaders criticizing its tax measures. Learn more.
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BELGRADE
Serbian election campaigns all focus on Kosovo and inflation. Inflation, living standards and Kosovo are the main issues highlighted in the campaigns of the ruling party and the opposition in the run-up to the December 17 elections. Learn more.
AGENDA:
- EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomes the “Global Board Ready Women” working group; Holds a meeting with the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein;
- Vice President Vĕra Jourová received Japanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kiyoto Tsuji; Speaks at EU-Japan Business Roundtable; Meets the CEOs of European telecommunications network operators; Hosts TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Twitter Head of Global Government Affairs Nick Pickles;
- Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič received Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba; Receives representatives from Green 10, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) and the European Coordination Via Campesina, to discuss the transition to sustainable food systems; He welcomes Pascal Lamy, vice-president of the Paris Peace Forum and coordinator of the Jacques Delors Institutes;
- Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica participates in a structured dialogue with the Parliament’s Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs;
- Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni takes part in hearing on 2022 discharge with Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee;
- Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, takes part in the launch event on ‘The Future of Cohesion Policy’ in Parliament; Delivers opening speech at Parliament’s meeting on regional development with EU national parliaments;
- Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi takes part in the High Level Dialogue on Global Europe (NDICI);
- Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski speaks at the 17th annual meeting of Southeast European Agriculture Ministers;
- Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen participates in the High Level Geopolitical Dialogue (HLGD) with Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Development Committees;
- Commissioner Nicolas Schmit takes part in a joint hearing of Parliament’s budgets and budgetary control committees on “the implementation of the rule of law conditionality regulation”; Delivers a speech to the OECD Economic Policy Committee (EPC) on “The future EU social and employment policy”;
- Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton delivers a speech at the high-level space dialogue between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); Participates in the ESA Council meeting at ministerial level as part of the Space Summit 2023, in Seville, Spain;
- Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness takes part in instant payments trilogue;
- France: MSF press conference on the humanitarian situation in Gaza;
- Tokyo: Meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers;
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(Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara)
