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In today’s news from the Capitals:

VIENNA

Austria’s far-right FPÖ (ID Group), which has maintained its lead over other parties for a year now, is currently on track to become the country’s strongest party in the national elections set for autumn next year. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

European Socialists divided over Israel-Palestine position. The European Socialist Party (PES) did not reach a common position on the current events in Israel and Palestine during its congress in Málaga, Spain, a source from the PES told Euractiv. Read more.

EU defence ministers to demand better finance access for industry. EU defence ministers are expected to issue a joint statement on Tuesday calling on banks to grant the defence industry access to loans to remove hurdles for greater investment into production capacities. Read more.

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VIENNA

Austria’s centre-left bets on experienced members for EU election. Austria’s Social Democrats have opted for experience and will likely reappoint their MEPs currently serving in the European Parliament to stand again in the June 2024 EU elections as the party continues its path of domestic rejuvenation. Read more.

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BERLIN

German Conservatives end run of state coalitions with the Greens. Germany’s conservative centre-right CDU party decided on Friday to enter into rapid negotiations to form a coalition with the social democratic SPD in Hesse, marking a clear departure from the party’s almost automatic practice of teaming up with the Greens at the regional level. Read more.

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PARIS

Paris sees pro-Palestine, against anti-semitic marches over weekend,  Macron absent. Saturday and Sunday saw thousands of people take part in two protests in Paris, the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the second against anti-semitism, with French President Emmanuel Macron’s absence from the second raising questions. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

Dutch polling frontrunner to join EPP for upcoming EU elections. Dutch anti-establishment newcomer party New Social Contract (NSC) – which was established back in August – intends to participate in next year’s European elections, party chairman Bert van Boggelen said on Friday, with Dutch media reporting that the party wants to join the EU’S European People’s Party (EPP). Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

ATHENS

Internal opposition pulls out of Greek left in heated meeting. Following months of disagreements and clashes, a key opposition fraction decided to leave leftist Syriza party in a move seen by some as a further blow to left’s unity, while others described it as a relief for the new leadership. Read more.

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ROME

Italy’s left parties vow dialogue to take down Meloni’s government. Italian left-wing parties took to the streets of Rome to protest Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government and call for cohesion to represent a viable alternative to the centre-right. Read more.

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MADRID

Sánchez secures term renewal as right-wing steps up ‘patriotic resistance’. Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez finally managed to put together all the pieces of the complex political puzzle he needs to return to power, as right-wing and far-right forces vowed on Sunday to step up their patriotic resistance to the controversial amnesty law Sanchez agreed to in exchange for Catalan backing until new elections are called. Read more.

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LISBON

Portuguese prosecutors recognise transcription mistake key in Costa probe. The public prosecutor’s office in charge of the investigation into former prime minister António Costa has admitted to a mistake in the transcript of a wiretap that led to his downfall, reportedly confusing his name with that of Economy Minister António Costa Silva, according to one of the lawyers for one of the defendants in the case. Read more.

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VALLETTA

Maltese activists, former president call to sever diplomatic ties with Israel. Over 150 Maltese activists, including various organisations and a former president, have called on Prime Minister Robert Abela and Foreign Minister Ian Borg to recall Malta’s ambassador to Israel over “genocide” and “the murder of thousands of Palestinian children”. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRAGUE

Czech government’s pro-Israel stance may have cost PM visit to Nigeria. Nigeria’s last-minute cancellation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s (ODS, ECR) visit to the country as part of his Africa tour may have something to do with his government’s pro-Israel stance, a Czech expert on Africa matters has said. Read more. 

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WARSAW

PiS faces last chance to gain parliamentary majority. The Polish conservative PiS party faces its last chance to form an alliance in a bid to gain a parliamentary majority after its de facto defeat in last month’s general elections was saved by President Andrzej Duda, who appointed PiS’ incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to form a new government. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Media freedom platform begins work in Slovakia. Slovakia’s Media Freedom Platform – which includes government, NGO and media representatives – aims to support the implementation of international commitments, including the Commission’s Rule of Law reports, amid Prime Minister Robert Fico’s latest attack on journalists in another video. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian restaurant sector against taxing tips. The Bulgarian government’s proposal for a 10% tax on tips for waiters, taxi drivers and hairdressers has been strongly opposed by the restaurant industry and financiers and mocked by former prime minister Boyko Borisov. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romania adopts National Strategy for Africa. Romania’s new strategy for Africa is designed to revive the country’s ties with Africa, leveraging a promising basis for collaboration, ahead of President Klaus Iohannis‘ upcoming tour in Africa, which starts on Tuesday. Read more.

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BELGRADE

Serbia should take advantage of chance given in Commission report: minister. Serbia must take advantage of the European Commission’s report of the country, which found limited progress but no setbacks, Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević told Euractiv. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Kosovo’s ex-intelligence chief publishes ‘leaked’ Association for Serb Municipalities statute. Burim Ramadani, the former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, has published what he says is a leaked copy of the EU-US draft of the statute for the Association of Serb Municipalities for the North of Kosovo, a key demand in an ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, backed by the EU. Read more.

AGENDA:

• EU: ​​Foreign Affairs Council convenes to discuss war in Ukraine, latest developments concerning Armenia and Azerbaijan, situation in Israel and Middle East, and more;
• Informal meeting of housing ministers expected to focus on access to affordable housing, urban development, and more;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs meeting between College of Commissioners and European Court of Auditors; Hosts President of European Court of Auditors Tony Murphy;
• Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in “European conference on social economy: People, Planet, Action”, organised by the Spanish Presidency, San Sebastián, Spain; Meets Assistant Director-General at the ILO Mia Seppo;
• Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni participates in Vienna Economic Forum, in Austria; Meets with Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovachevski;
• Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira attends meeting between Commission members and COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber; Meets with Director General European Institute of Public Administration Marco Ongaro; Participates in extraordinary meeting of high level specialists group on future of cohesion policy;
• Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli makes online keynote speech for Italian European Diversity Charters Platform;
• Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova meets former European Commissioner Michel Barnier and Head of 2024 Summer Olympics organising committee Tony Estanguet; Delivers keynote speech at Digital SME Summit;
• Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosts EU leaders including Council President Charles Michel for dinner;
• Portugal: Global Web Summit;
• Turkey: Confidence building talks between Turkey and Greece;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]