Poland enters minefield following EU order – EURACTIV.com

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In today’s news from the Capitals:

WARSAW

In a groundbreaking decision, the Polish Constitutional Court declared the ultimate supremacy of the country’s constitution over EU treaties, which some say could mark the start of the “countdown to Polexit”.

The rule of EU law is no longer unconditional in Poland and strictly limited to the competences delegated to the EU. As the government celebrates the decision, aAccording to the opposition, this means “entering a minefield”. Read more.

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EU PRESIDENCY

The Slovenian Prime Minister accuses Brussels of exceeding its powers in the area of the rule of law. Janez Janša, the Slovenian Prime Minister who currently holds the rotating EU presidency for six months, has accused the European Commission of political abuse of the rule of law. Read more.

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EU INSTITUTIONS

Twelve Member States ask the Commission to fund “physical barriers” as border protection measures. Twelve EU interior ministers have called for updating the bloc’s Schengen border code to allow “physical barriers” as border protection measures, according to a letter sent to the European Commission and seen by EURACTIV. Read more.

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BERLIN

Conservative leader Laschet signals his willingness to take a step back. “I would be happy if we succeed in these difficult times, a fresh start with new personalities,” Armin Laschet, leader of the conservative CDU / CSU union, said Thursday. Although he has not said he will step down, it is believed he is now on probation. Read more.

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PARIS

The right-wing candidate Barnier wants to create an “authority shock”. Former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has unveiled his plan to strengthen security by creating a new Ministry of Public Security. Read more.

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VIENNA

The Kurz scandal is testing the Green-Conservative coalition. After Austrian Chancellor Kurz was caught in a controversy over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal, the future of the Green Conservatives hangs in the balance as Green politicians question whether Kurz is fit for a job. Read more.

UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

DUBLIN

A poll puts the opposition well ahead of the Irish government. The Irish coalition government has fallen far behind the opposition Sinn Féin party in recent Irish Times / Ipsos MRBI Poll. Read more.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

ROME

The UN envoy calls on Italy for its treatment of migrant workers and its workplace safety practices. The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights has criticized the Italian authorities for actions that “Tarnish Italy’s reputation in the field of business and human rights and should be immediately addressed to protect the rights of people in highly vulnerable situations”. Read more.

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MADRID

The government approves the draft budget for 2022 with a record investment. The Spanish coalition government, formed by the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the left Unidas Podemos (United We Can), on Thursday approved the draft budget for 2022, with a strong emphasis on social policies and a “fair recovery” after the pandemic. Read more.

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LISBON

Anti-containment judge Rui Fonseca e Castro sacked. Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) of Portugal today unanimously decided to revoke Judge Rui Fonseca e Castro for various offenses. Among the justifications for the dismissal, the CSM points out that Fonseca e Castro posted videos on social networks that “encouraged the violation of the law and health rules” relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was communicated to journalists by Inês Ferreira Leite, member of the CSM, despite a group of demonstrators supporting the judge. (António Pereira Neves, Lusa.pt)

VISÉGRAD

PRAGUE

Škoda Auto suspends production in Czechia due to chip shortage. Czech automaker Škoda Auto will limit or completely halt car production at the three Czech factories from October 18 until the end of the year. The company made this decision because of a global chip shortage. Read more.

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BUDAPEST

Google in Hungary: The government may be behind attempts to steal your password. Google has warned Tamás Bodoky, the editor of the online media Átlátszó Thursday morning of a state-sponsored hacker attack on his Gmail account, the site reported. The same message was sent to András Lőke, investigative journalist, and Ádám Bihari, reporter for HVG. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakian Minister of Economy proposes to close employment offices. Economy Minister Richard Sulík (SaS / ECR) on Wednesday proposed closing the employment offices. The aim is to reduce public spending. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

A Russian and two Lithuanians arrested for spying in a Bulgarian military factory. Bulgarian police arrested Russian citizen and two Lithuanians suspected of having exported “sensitive information” from the Arsenal military factory in Kazanlak. Read more.

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ZAGREB

A crisis of division evident among the Croatian Social Democrats. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is in turmoil after the party leadership ousted former leader Davor Bernardić and six other parliamentarians. Four deputies were expelled several months ago. Read more.

Plenkovic is awaiting a report on the violent refoulements of migrants from the Croatian-BiH border. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said he had spoken with Interior Minister Davor Božinović about the violent refoulement of migrants from the Croatian border with BiH and expects a report to assess what happened. Read more.

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LJUBLJANA

Repeated appeal from EU delegated prosecutors in Slovenia. The government has asked the justice ministry to issue a new call to fill the country’s two main EU prosecutor positions. After a court overturned its decision to quash the original proceeding, the latest ruling suggests that the appointment process could take weeks or even months. Read more.

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BELGRADE

NGO: The majority of Serbian citizens are denied the right to decent work. Majority of Serbian citizens are denied the right to decent work in terms of employment options, adequate wages, protection of the unemployed and secure employment, the Center for Democracy Foundation said on Thursday from Belgrade. Read more.

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SARAJEVO

Dodik is said to have connected to a new regional television channel. Severina, a Croatian pop singer, told EURACTIV partner: Jutarnji list, that she would not join Una TV after learning that Milorad Dodik’s family supported the new channel. Read more.

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SKOPJE

Energy Commission: Electricity price increases should not worry Macedonians. There is no reason to panic among Macedonian citizens over the price of electricity in the coming months, the North Macedonian Energy Regulatory Commission has said, meta.mk reported. Read more.

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PRISTINA

Kosovo war veterans plead their innocence in The Hague. Two Kosovo veterans, now leaders of a veterans association, pleaded innocent on Thursday to charges of witness intimidation and obstruction of justice in a court in The Hague. Read more.

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TIRANA

Albanian students were delayed due to poor vaccination. The Albanian government has postponed the start of the academic year for students by one week, until October 18, due to a lack of vaccination against COVID-19. Read more.

AGENDA

EU / Luxembourg: EU interior ministers discuss migrant routes and the situation in Afghanistan.
France: Africa-France summit takes place in Montpellier / Hearing in Morocco defamation lawsuit against Forbidden Stories, Amnesty on Pegasus leaks.
Norway: The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Oslo.
Spain: King Felipe VI receives NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg.
Czech Republic: The Czechs will go to the polls on Friday for the parliamentary elections.
Croatia: A two-day annual meeting of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) begins.
Serbia: Prime Minister Ana Brnabić will meet Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Richard Sulik.