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.
Today’s edition is powered by Tetra Pak
Opportunity starts with access to food.
Aseptic cartons make this possible by protecting perishable food for up to 12 months without the need for refrigeration or preservatives. By extending shelf life, cartons help reduce food waste and enable food to reach more people in more places.
In today’s news from The Capitals:
BERLIN
Germany’s next coalition government is aligned in a radical push to strengthen the EU’s security capabilities but still disagrees on how to overcome the obstacle of its own indecision, according to a draft of the coalition agreement. Read more.
WESTERN EUROPE
PARIS
New war bonds scheme invests French in rearming military. The French may soon be able to address their war worries with the money in their savings accounts as a newly announced scheme will allow them to become direct investors in rearming the military. Read more.
UK & IRELAND
DUBLIN
Trump threatens the Fighting Irish with targeted pharma tariffs. Game on? Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry faces severe headwinds following US President Donald Trump’s targeted announcement of tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. But Ireland has a fighting chance with a long-game strategy. Read more.
NORDICS & BALTICS
NUUK
Greenland gets new government just in time for Vance visit. Four out of five parties in Greenland’s Parliament are expected to sign a coalition agreement on Friday, just as US Vice President JD Vance lands at a US military base in the country, local media KNR reports. Read more.
///
COPENHAGEN | STOCKHOLM | OSLO
Scandinavia calls for strong EU measures against e-commerce ‘wild west’. Environment ministers from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden announced today an initiative to push for EU action against e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, and Wish. Read more.
EUROPE’S SOUTH
ROME
Russia reverses takeover of Italian Ariston. Russia has revoked Gazprom’s temporary management of Italian heating firm Ariston Thermo Group’s Russian unit, Ariston Termo Rus, following a decree by President Vladimir Putin.
The subsidiary had been placed under state-owned Gazprom Household Systems in April 2024, a move that sparked strong protests from Italy and the EU. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani immediately called for measures to protect European businesses targeted by Moscow’s retaliatory actions, urging Brussels to intervene.
Kremlin claims to be unaware. At the time of the temporary nationalisation, Russia’s ambassador to Italy claimed the Kremlin had been unaware it was seizing an Italian company, as Ariston is legally registered in the Netherlands and defended the move, blaming the Italian government for prioritising “sterile and dangerous anti-Russian geopolitical adventures” over national economic interests.
With Putin’s latest decree, Ariston Group regains full ownership and operational control of its Moscow-based subsidiary, which has operated in Russia for nearly 50 years.
(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)
///
LISBON
Portugal: Cabinet approves €205M for military aid to Ukraine. Portugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, announced that the country had approved a cabinet resolution on Thursday authorising expenditures of up to “€205 million for military support to Ukraine.”
“In Portugal, at the same time as we were holding this meeting, we were deciding in the cabinet, to authorise expenditure of €205 million, for military support in equipment, in various areas that will equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces so that they can not only continue to fight, but ensure, in a peace process, all the deterrence so that the security of Ukraine and Europe is safeguarded,” the prime minister told the press as he left the Elysée Palace in Paris.
The meeting of a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine “once again emphasises the spirit of unity in Europe”, with partners from the European Union (EU) and the Atlantic Alliance, but also with Turkey, Iceland and Canada, said the Portuguese head of government.
According to Luís Montenegro, this effort is aimed at “a peace process that can bring about a just and lasting peace with the involvement of Ukraine, with the involvement of Europe”, but also ensuring the commitments of the allies.
(Maria Constantino | Lusa.pt)
EASTERN EUROPE
WARSAW
Poland suspends asylum applications at Belarus border amid migration crackdown. Poland has suspended the right to apply for international protection at the Polish-Belarusian border after passing a new law aimed at preventing the “instrumentalisation of migration.” Read more.
Polish farmers to government: ‘fallow the land yourselves’. Polish farmers are reluctant to set aside their land, even if they receive payments under the EU eco-scheme, Southern Poland agricultural chambers say. Read more.
///
PRAGUE
Czechia extends animal import ban to Austria amid virus threat. In response to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, Czechia has stepped up border controls to shield its livestock.
As of midnight, the already existing import ban on cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and animal products from Slovakia and Hungary extends to Lower Austria and Burgenland regions.
“We are leaving nothing to chance. The situation is serious, and we are taking every step to protect Czech herds,” said Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný on Thursday, noting that emergency plans have been activated and the army called in for support.
Czech authorities have also tightened vehicle inspections, focusing on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes transporting animals or animal products. Selected vehicles are subject to disinfection.
(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)
///
BRATISLAVA
Slovakia to be among hardest hit by US tariffs, economy minister warns. After US President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on “all cars not made in the United States,” Bratislava has warned of serious consequences for Slovakia which is a global leader in vehicle production per capita. Read more.
NEWS FROM THE BALKANS
SOFIA
European Prosecutor suspends its Bulgarian member. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced an unprecedented suspension of Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva in order to implement the full spectrum of internal measures to safeguard the integrity of its investigations. Read more.
Bulgaria proposes to host a center for shipping control in the Black Sea. Bulgaria proposes to form a multinational maritime coordination center to ensure the safety of shipping in the western part of the Black Sea and to become the host of the center. Read more.
AGENDA:
EU: General Affairs Council expected to discuss cohesion and cohesion policy post-2027;
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas receives Henry A. Kissinger Prize 2024;
Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib gives keynote speech at “Raising awareness of the potential of persons with disabilities in various areas of social life and professional activity” conference;
Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos presents Commission’s Working program to the Committee for European Union Affairs and Committee on Foreign Policy; Meets with interior ministers of the Western Balkans, in Ljubljana, Slovenia;
International Partnerships Commissioner Jozef Síkela delivers keynote speech during Renewable Hydrogen Funding Platform signing ceremony, in Santiago, Chile; Meets with President of InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Ilan Goldfajn; Holds meetings with Minister of Finance of Chile Mario Marcel, Minister of Energy of Chile Diego Pardow;
Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Commissioner Jessika Roswall hosts roundtable event on “Investing in Water Resilience”;
Parliament President Roberta Metsola on official visit in Zagreb, Croatia: Meets with Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković; Meets with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković.
***
[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Charles Szumski, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]