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In today’s news from The Capitals:

WARSAW

Torrential rains have severely impacted central European countries in the past few days, with Czechia confirming it will use EU funds and Poland announcing it will seek EU financial assistance and possibly activate the EU’s emergency mechanism. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Vestager welcomes Draghi report, asks businesses to trust EU single market. As double term as the European Commission’s competition chief draws to a close, Margrethe Vestager has welcomed the long-awaited Draghi report and said the single market must work better to allow companies to gain success fairly. Read more.

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BERLIN

Conservative Merz to announce bid to challenge German Chancellor Scholz in 2025 election. The leader of the centre-right CDU, Friedrich Merz, will soon announce his bid to run for chancellor, German media reported on Sunday, making him the likely main challenger to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Read more.

Germany promises ‘no long traffic jams’ as flexible border checks start. Starting from Monday, German police will conduct spot checks at all of Germany’s borders, while the country’s government has been rushing to reassure its irritated neighbours. Read more.

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PARIS 

Outgoing ministers warn of far-right ideas infiltrating new Barnier government. Outgoing agriculture minister Marc Fesneau and the outgoing delegate-minister for European affairs Jean-Noël Barrot have both expressed their concern over right-wing ideas infiltrating the new government that is currently being put together by newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Madrid denies claims of ‘plot’ to assassinate Maduro. The Spanish government has categorically rejected Venezuela’s claims that two of its citizens arrested by the country’s secret services on Saturday were part of Spanish intelligence and planned to carry out attacks, including an attempt to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Read more.

EPP wants sanctions and international arrest warrant for Maduro. The European Parliament’s largest group, the European People’s Party (EPP) have filed a resolution calling on EU countries to recognise opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela and to do all they can to ensure he takes office in January 2025. Read more.

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ROME 

Italy’s Salvini risks six years in prison in migrant rescue prevention case. Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini risks six years in prison as he has been charged with kidnapping and neglect of duty by preventing the NGO vessel Open Arms from docking in Lampedusa in 2019. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Poland backs ending EU benefits for Ukrainian men of fighting age. Poland would support ending welfare payments to Ukrainian men of fighting age in Europe to push them to return home and fight Russia’s invasion, the Polish foreign minister has said. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA 

Death of military pilots before air show sparks sharp criticism of Bulgarian army. The deaths of two Bulgarian military pilots on Friday sparked sharp criticism of the air force for attempting to hold an air show given the current poor state of Bulgarian fighter aviation. Read more.

AGENDA:

• EU: Informal meeting of Higher Education and Research ministers expected to focus on improving research effectiveness and innovation ecosystems;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Parliament President Roberta Metsola meet;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen receives European People’s Party Group Chairperson Manfred Weber; Holds meetings with Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Chairperson Iratxe García-Pérez, Renew Europe Chairperson Valérie Hayer; Holds joint meeting with International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and Minister of Independency and Foreign Affairs of Greenland Vivian Motzfeld, in Nuuk;
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell holds bilateral meetings, in the United Arab Emirates;
• Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová speaks at EU Days, in Lund, Sweden; Meets with Vice-Chancellor of Lund University Erik Renström and other representatives of academia;
• Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders holds videoconference with UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle;
• Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski hosts Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova Vladimir Bolea;
• Parliament’s plenary debates strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture outcome;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe, Sofia Mandilara] 

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