Greek left says Le Pen’s right hand Bardella ‘unwanted’ in Athens

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. 

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The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by Euractiv. 

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In today’s news from the Capitals: 

ATHENS

Greek leftist politicians have reacted strongly to France’s Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right Patriots for Europe group's participation in an event in Athens to discuss democracy in the EU. Read more.

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PARIS

Barnier sets out key policy priorities for France, hoping Brussels will hear them. Michel Barnier set out a series of policy priorities spanning spending cuts, immigration, health and more in a wide-ranging speech on Tuesday, with nudges and nods to Brussels that France was back under control. Read more.

New French PM names mental health as top government priority for 2025. Mental health will be one of the main priorities of the new French government in 2025, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier told French MPs during his speech on general policy on Tuesday. Read more.

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BERLIN | PARIS

Macron and Scholz meet in Berlin to discuss EU politics. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss “topics surrounding European and international affairs” when they meet in Berlin on Wednesday, a German government spokesperson told journalists last week.  

The meeting will occur before Friday’s EU member states’ vote over whether to impose tariffs on Chinese electric cars, an issue on which Germany and France have diverged. The escalating conflict in the Middle East and the imminent formation of the new European Commission are also on the agenda.

Following his meeting with Scholz, Macron will give a speech at the Berlin Global Dialogue, an economic forum.

(Nick Alipour | Euractiv.de) 

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UK & IRELAND

The Brief – Starmer’s EU-UK ‘reset’ faces reality check after botched divorce. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes place in Brussels on Wednesday, an unfamiliar optimism is in the air. Read more.

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EUROPE’S SOUTH

ROME 

Italian lawmakers to question car giant Stellantis. The long-simmering crisis at the world's fourth-largest carmaker has now reached a critical point, with lawmakers from the opposition and ruling parties set to question CEO Carlos Tavares on 11 October. Read more.

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MADRID

Spanish prosecutors urge probe of giant crypto allegedly linked to SALF funding. Spanish prosecutors asked the country's highest judicial body on Tuesday to investigate an alleged cryptocurrency scam indirectly linked to far-right MEP Alvise Pérez after he admitted receiving €100,000 from the company's director without it being declared. Read more.

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LISBON 

Portuguese PM will meet opposition leader amid budget row again. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Socialist Party leader Pedro Nuno Santos will meet again at the end of the day on Thursday as part of the negotiations on the 2025 budget, a source in Luís Montenegro's office told Lusa. Read more.

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EASTERN EUROPE

WARSAW

Polish far-right party gets poll boost after floods. The latest poll shows that Poland’s far-right Confederation Party has gained the most support among the parliamentary parties following the floods that struck the country's southern regions. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czechia’s Lipavský to remain in office despite government shake-up. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský will stay in the government despite a reshuffle that saw his party, the Czech Pirate Party, pull out of the ruling coalition. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovak MEPs divided over Brussels’ possible move to freeze EU funds. Slovak MEPs are sharply divided over the European Commission's possible move to freeze its EU funds amid concerns over the rule of law, with ruling party members condemning the move as politically motivated while the opposition remains divided. Read more.

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NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Bulgarian government lacks clear picture of Russian investment in country. Bulgaria, which has not yet sanctioned any Russian assets, does not have an accurate picture of the scale and nature of Russian investment in the country's economy, Justice Minister Maria Pavlova said in response to a parliamentary question. Read more.

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AGENDA:

• EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College of Commissioners meeting; Hosts Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer; Hosts President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili;
• Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas participates in the G7 Interior ministers meeting in Naples, Italy;
• Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders hosts Minister for Justice of Montenegro Bojan Božović;

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