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Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, with on-the-ground coverage from the Euractiv media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
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Today’s news from the capital:
Warsaw
Polish Law and Justice Party MEPs have rejected an invitation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to join his newly formed “European Patriots” grouping, deciding instead to accept an offer from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meroni to stay in his far-right European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR). read more.
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Berlin
The chancellor candidate said Berlin must find a way to work with France’s far-right government. German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the front-runner to become German chancellor next year, said his government would work with a French cabinet led by the far-right National Rally, possibly after this week’s French election, and that the Rally’s tough stance against the Alternative for Germany party would give his government confidence. read more.
Pressure on Germany over the outcome of EU-China trade is growing as the European Commission moves to impose tariffs. Pressure on Germany to reconsider trade tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles will intensify in the coming weeks as member states begin negotiating their official position on the issue after the European Commission confirmed on Thursday that provisional tariffs would be implemented from Friday. read more.
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Paris
Legislative elections: French diplomats’ biggest fear. With the National Rally (RN) party closer than ever to seizing power in France, many French diplomats are concerned about the consequences of serving under a far-right government. read more.
UK and Ireland
UK election: Labour officially wins majority, helped by rise of far-right forces. The British Labour Party broke the threshold of 326 seats at 6 a.m. (Central European Time) on July 5, officially becoming the winner of the July 4 general election, ending 14 years of rule by the right-wing Conservative Party. read more.
Southern Europe
Rome
The EU’s left wing accepted Italy’s Five Star Movement on a trial basis. Italy’s Five Star Movement (M5S) has officially joined the European Left Group, but full membership is still subject to a six-month trial period of “mutual engagement”. read more.
Three former Italian prime ministers said Biden should give up his re-election bid. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday that U.S. President Joe Biden must give up his re-election bid or Donald Trump will surely return to the White House, a view echoed by two other former Italian prime ministers. read more.
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Madrid
Spain’s People’s Party has proposed deploying the army to curb irregular immigration. Miguel Tellado, parliamentary spokesman for Spain’s main opposition right-wing People’s Party (PP/EPP), said the Spanish government should use all means to curb the massive influx of illegal immigrants, including deploying the army and navy to better control the border. read more.
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Lisbon
The Portuguese government imposes a minimum tax of 15% on large multinational corporations. The Portuguese government will introduce a minimum 15% tax mechanism on multinational and national groups under a package of measures approved at a cabinet meeting on Thursday. read more.
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Athens
Opinion polls confirm that the Greek political system is in crisis. It’s no coincidence that abstention rates hit a record high in the recent EU elections, according to a new poll published late Thursday, as Greek citizens grow increasingly disillusioned or indifferent to the Mediterranean country’s political system. read more.
Meanwhile, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, is due to visit Greece on Friday, where he is expected to visit the EU Naval Forces headquarters in Larissa – the base for European military operations to respond to Houthi clashes with international shipping in the Red Sea.
Greek diplomatic sources said Borrell will hold meetings with Foreign Minister George Gerapetridis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. On Saturday (July 6), Borrell and Dendias will board the Greek frigate “Psara”, which is participating in the European ASPIDES operation and is currently sailing in Djibouti.
Eastern Europe
Budapest
Hungarian President Viktor Orban traveled to Moscow a few days after visiting Kiev. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán traveled to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days after Putin visited Kiev, a trip that drew sharp condemnation from European Union officials and diplomats. read more.
Balkan News
Sofia
Bulgaria paid 142 million euros to companies that joined after Gazprom cut supplies. The Bulgarian government decided on Thursday to pay 278 million levs (142 million euros) to gas traders who helped fill the state-owned Chiren gas storage facilities after a sudden disruption in Russian gas supplies at the end of April 2022. read more.
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Bucharest
Romania’s presidential election postponed until the end of the year. Romania’s ruling coalition on Thursday concluded discussions on the electoral calendar for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, according to press releases from the Social Democratic and Liberal parties. read more.
Agenda:
- European Union: Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson meets with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in Buenos Aires;
- High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell visits the headquarters of EU NAVFOR Operation Aspides (a military operation targeting Houthi rebels engaging international shipping in the Red Sea) in Larissa, Greece;
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(Editing by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor and Sofia Mandilara)
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