European Union

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.

The United States would withdraw almost 5,000 troops from Afghanistan and close five bases within 135 days under a draft peace accord agreed with the Taliban, the chief US negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Monday (2 September).

Italian authorities on Monday (2 September) seized the rescue vessel Eleonore, disembarking the around 100 migrants aboard after it entered Italian territorial waters despite a ban.

The US and Poland have signed a joint declaration to collaborate on 5G security in what US Vice President Mike Pence said would "set a vital example for the rest of Europe."

Emily O'Reilly, the Irish former journalist who was the EU Ombudsman for the past five years, said on Monday she wants a second term in office. Her goal was to make the EU watchdog "more visible to citizens and to make a positive impact on the EU administration," she said, adding: "I wish to continue that work". The European Parliament elects the EU Ombudsman after hearings with candidates in December.

More than 50 French MPs have voiced their concerns about the situation in Catalonia. The acting Spanish minister for foreign affairs - and incoming EU foreign affairs chief - Josep Borrell has lamented "the ignorance about the reality of Spain".

Von der Leyen andr Borissov gagged media in Sofia last week, but that won't make the hard questions go away either for the EU or Bulgaria.

Including the competence for animal welfare explicitly in the job title of the relevant commissioner would respond the demands of the vast majority of EU citizens.

Boris Johnson is moving closer to calling a snap election this week, if UK lawmakers adopt legislation aimed at preventing a No Deal Brexit.

Iceland, a nation with a long heritage of sustainable fishing, places great value on working with our European neighbours and friends to ensure the careful management of the shared North East Atlantic fisheries stocks.

It may be a long shot at this stage, but EURACTIV foresees that Ursula von der Leyen will be able to achieve her goal of achieving gender balance in the new EU executive. We will argue that this is a big success.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday (2 September) after little more than a year in the job and said the country must not be riven by political divisions that could play into Russia’s hands.

Jorge Domecq, EDA Chief Executive, travelled to Zagreb for meetings with Damir Krstičević, Coatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mirko Šundov, Chief of the General Staff, Croatian Armed Forces and other high-level representatives in the Croatian Ministry of Defence. 

The main topics discussed during the bilateral meetings at the Croatian Ministry of Defence included the current state of play and way ahead in the implementation of the various EU defence initiatives (PESCO, CARD, European Defence Fund), the implementation of the revised EU Capability Development Priorities adopted in June 2018 and Croatia’s current and potential participation in EDA projects and programmes.  

Mr Domecq and Deputy Prime Minister Krstičević also discussed the defence and security priorities for the upcoming Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

“The focus in the defence range during the Croatian presidency will be placed on implementation of defence initiatives such as PESCO, CARD and military mobility, with the emphasis on their coherence and complementarity, as well as on the industrial dimension of defence (European Defence Fund) and on the enhanced NATO-the EU co-operation and further EU efforts in southeast Europe“, said Minister Krstičević, who also announced a defence industry conference with the partners from the EU, during the Croatian presidency. 

“EDA is deeply committed to supporting all its Member States, irrespective of their size. The current and upcoming Presidency are opportunities to further advance the embedding of the EU defence initiatives in the national defence plans and programmes with the aim of achieving a more collaborate, efficient and interoperable European defence”, Jorge Domecq said. In particular, Mr Domecq confirmed the Agency’s interest to support the organisation of a high-level defence industry conference in the first half of 2020. 

Mr Domecq also had the opportunity to meet among others with with Robert Hranj, Vice Admiral, Director of the General Staff, Croatian Armed Forces, Zdravko Jakop, State Secretary, and Luka Barilović, President of Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

British prime minister Boris Johnson has summoned his cabinet ministers for an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon, before a drinks reception for all Conservative MPs at Downing Street - fuelling rumours of Johnson calling a snap election. The office of the PM also declared that it would regard a vote on a delay of Brexit, being prepared by the opposition, as "an expression of confidence" issue.

Sweden has revealed plans to introduce a new bank tax to fund the country's future increase in defence spending from 2022, as it revamps efforts to counter Russia’s military build-up in the Baltic Sea region.

The right-wing populist AfD made major gains in elections in the East German states of Saxony and Brandenburg on Sunday, becoming the second-strongest party in the two state parliaments. The ruling CDU and SPD suffered losses but have ruled out any cooperation with the AfD. Commentators explain why the party is doing so well in Eastern Germany.