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
Czech lawmakers in the European Parliament have made it clear that they oppose the candidacy of Spanish candidate Teresa Ribera for the role of European commissioner responsible for the climate agenda. Read more.
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BERLIN
Regional elections in Germany cause European stir. The recent electoral success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the German states of Thuringia and Saxony has sparked a range of reactions from politicians across the European Union. Read more.
Regional election results pose dilemma for Germany’s Ukraine supporters. As the Russia-friendly and left-populist BSW party has become the king-maker in Eastern Germany, the country’s vocal Ukraine backers appear poised to make concessions and tone down their rhetoric to form stable governments. Read more.
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BRUSSELS
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib designated as European Commissioner. Following the nomination of Romanian Roxana Mînzatu, Belgium has also put forward a female candidate, 45-year-old Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib as European Commissioner. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
HELSINKI
Finnish government to ban Russian property purchases. A law proposing that Russian citizens and entities be banned from buying property in Finland to minimise the security risk in times of crisis has been put forward by the Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen on Monday. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ATHENS
Greek MEP ready to claim main opposition Syriza party’s leadership. Greece’s main opposition leftist Syriza party should end its internal divisions and take initiatives to speak to other progressive forces, EU lawmaker Nikolas Farantouris told Euractiv, adding that he stands ready to claim the party’s leadership. Read more.
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ROME
First picks for Commissioner portfolios revealed, Italy’s far right to get economy. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has made her first picks for her top team, with the key economy vice-president job going to Italy’s far-right nominee, German newspaper Die Welt reported Tuesday. Read more.
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MADRID
Canary Islands government accuses Spanish State of ‘abandoning’ the region amid a serious migratory crisis. The President of the Canary Islands government, Fernando Clavijo, said on Monday that the regional executive is mulling taking legal action against the Spanish state over Madrid’s alleged abandonment of its responsibility to try to solve the serious migration crisis affecting that community. Read more.
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Poland must shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, minister says. Warsaw must shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine before they enter its airspace, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Monday, despite NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg already ruling out such a move. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
Pro-Russian socialists in Bulgaria expel longtime leader. The National Council of the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has decided to expel its former leader, Kornelia Ninova, from the party following a series of electoral defeats. Read more.
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BUCHAREST
Romanian MEP Roxana Mînzatu nominated for “relevant” EU commissioner portfolio. MEP Roxana Mînzatu (PSD/S&D) was on Monday officially nominated by the Romanian government for the position of European Commissioner with an apparently “relevant” portfolio, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced at a press conference. Read more.
Romanian government approves Patriot system donation to Ukraine. The Romanian government adopted a bill that would see Romania donate a Patriot surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine on Monday, sending the proposal to parliament for urgent debate and approval. Read more.
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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Martina Monti, Sofia Mandilara]
