The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, thanks to on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Before you start reading today’s edition of Capitals, be sure to take a look at European dividend growth of 28.7% in Q2 2022 by János Allenbach-Ammann.

European news you deserve to read. welcome to Capitals by EURACTIV.

In today’s news from the capitals:

ROME

Italy’s progressive parties should join forces to prevent the far right from coming to power because it would weaken Europe’s unity in the face of Russian aggression, said Iratxe García, leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament ( S&D), to EURACTIV Italy ahead of a crucial vote on September 25. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany’s Baerbock calls nuclear expansion ‘madness’ amid government split. Postponing the closure of nuclear power plants will not solve the current energy crisis and will have a high cost, German Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has warned that the tripartite government remains divided on the issue. Read more.

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PARIS

The new French EU Minister in Bled to defend Europe and the rule of law. FFrance’s new secretary of state for Europe, Laurence Boone, will present France’s vision of Europe and the rule of law at the Bled Strategy Forum in Slovenia on Monday, her entourage told EURACTIV France. Read more.

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VIENNA

Austria calls for decoupling gas and electricity prices. The Austrian government is calling for the decoupling of gas from electricity pricing, arguing that the functioning of the EU electricity market means that prices continue to rise due to record gas costs. Read more.

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THE HAGUE

The Netherlands records the highest levels of solar radiation since the 1970s. This summer, the Netherlands recorded the highest amount of solar radiation recorded since 1976, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KMNI) reported. Read more.

UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

DUBLIN

Irish public opinion is divided over NATO membership. There is a 52-48 split among the Irish public over whether the country should join NATO or an EU army if one were created, although most said they supported military spending, a investigation released this weekend revealed. Read more.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

ATHENS

An MEP asks Europol to investigate the “Predator” scandal in Europe. Sophie in ‘t Veld, MEP for Renew Europe, has called on Europol to intervene after a Greek newspaper revealed how illegal ‘Predator’ spyware was being sold on the black market to individuals, not just governments. Read more.

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MADRID

Spanish parents are facing the highest back-to-school bill in five years. The start of the new school year will force parents in Spain to dip deep into their wallets in September, as households are expected to spend almost 5% more than last year on average per student – the largest annual increase recorded over the past five years. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal calls for an “emergency food plan”. The Portuguese government has presented to the European Commission its proposal for an emergency plan to prevent risks related to the food supply on the European market in the event of a crisis. Read more.

VISEGRAD

BRATISLAVA

Slovakia is strengthening its energy security with a new gas pipeline and a nuclear reactor. Slovakia will soon receive more liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear energy following the launch of a new gas pipeline with Poland and the green ignition of a nuclear power plant last week. Read more.

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WARSAW

Judges challenge Polish recovery plan. Four international judges’ organizations are challenging Poland’s national recovery plan in the EU Court of Justice, claiming that Poland has failed to fulfill the necessary conditions for its acceptance and that the judiciary remains vulnerable to the negative influence of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Ukrainian children enroll in Czech schools. Fifty-seven thousand Ukrainians children and students have registered to attend Czech schools in the new school year, according to Czech Education Minister Vladimír Balaš. Read more.

BALKAN NEWS

BELGRADE | PRISTINE

Vucic remains defiant on recognition of Kosovo, license plates. Following an agreement to remove all entry and exit documents from citizens of Kosovo and Serbia when entering each respective country, Serbian President Aleksander Vucic has made it clear that this should not be construed as a recognition and made another veiled threat against Pristina. Read more.

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SOFIA

Bulgaria arrests more than 100 irregular migrants in one day. Bulgarian police on Sunday arrested a truck driver who had 88 irregular migrants from Afghanistan on board, while colleagues arrested 53 other migrants from Afghanistan who were waiting in a nearby forest. Read more.

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ZAGREB

Croatia is investigating a major gas resale scam involving senior officials. Croatia has arrested five people, including a top lawyer and a senior executive of state oil and gas company INA, on suspicion of organizing a scheme to resell INA’s natural gas to third parties at a premium and to share profits. Read more.

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BELGRADE

The Serbian government will be formed in September, says Brnabic. The new Serbian government will be formed in September, announced Prime Minister-designate Ana Brnabic said Prva TV on Sunday. Read more.

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SKOPJE

Macedonian FM: Plans to convince citizens of Bulgaria’s inclusion in the constitution. It is planned to convince Macedonians to include Bulgarians in the country’s constitution, which would pave the way for EU membership in accordance with an agreement reached between Skopje and Sofia, the country’s foreign minister has said. North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani. Read more.

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TIRANA

Albania is positive about the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, concerns about license plates remain. After Kosovo and Serbia reached a historic agreement regarding identity documents for citizens of each respective country, moving to the other on Saturday, Albanian politicians broadly backed the news. Read more.

Agenda:

• EU: Informal meeting of EU defense ministers, chaired by EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell.
• European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen meets Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Robert Golob.
• Germany: Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will discuss ways to achieve a climate-friendly Europe.
• France: President Emmanuel Macron receives Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne receives her Luxembourg counterpart, Xavier Bettel.
• Swiss: The event marks 125 years since the first Zionist Congress.
• Spain: Ryanair cabin crew strike.
• Vatican: Pope Francis convenes a meeting of cardinals to discuss a new constitution.
• Czech Republic: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Prague.
• Slovenia: Von der Leyen speaks at the strategic forum in Bled.
• World: International day against nuclear testing.

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Vlad Maksimov, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox, Zoran Radosavljevic, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Eleonora Vasques]