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The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network.

Swedish start-up Northvolt Wednesday (12 June) announced it had secured funding, in large part from Volkswagen, for Europe’s biggest car battery factory, set to rival electric carmaker Tesla’s US “Gigafactory”. The battery producer said it had completed a $1 billion...

Talks on a climate plan for 2050 should wrap up by the end of this year in view of final adoption in early 2020, according to the draft conclusions of an EU summit taking place next week in Brussels.

The main centrist political group in the EU parliament changed its name on Wednesday  (12 June) after receiving an influx of new French members who shy away from the term "liberal".

EU member states broadly supported priorities highlighted for the next five years, although they called for a more “positive” vision. Despite the demands made by the capitals, the latest version only included few changes, according to the latest draft and the minutes seen by EURACTIV.

If evidence is needed of how far ripples from the Sino-US trade war are reaching, have a look at Europe where the yuan’s slump is driving up the euro’s value against trade partners’ currencies, handicapping the export-reliant bloc’s economy. Contrary...

An EU research group is creating a certification method for raw materials, to be completed by 2021. The project is part of a push to sustainably mine the metals needed for Europe’s clean energy transition. But critics say certification is not the answer.

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday (12 June) he will send 1,000 more troops to Poland to counter Russia, while criticizing Germany for making itself a "hostage" to Moscow by over-relying on Russian energy supplies.

EU finance ministers will try to close a deal on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union, including a tentative new budget for the eurozone, during the Eurogroup meeting on Thursday (13 June) in an inclusive format. 

The residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market could pick up the pace with advances in regulations, technology and a push for carbon fuel efficiency, writes Neil Strother.

Russian Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov recent speech on EU-Russian relations was skilfully made but his claims lack credibility, responds Michael Emerson.

Every tenth child in the world, which amounts to over 150 million in total, are forced to work to support their family financially, according to the human rights organisation Terre des Hommes. This finding was published in the organisation's 2019 Child Labour Report, which it published for International Child Labour Day (12 June). EURACTIV Germany reports.

Fiat-Chrysler’s offer to merge with Renault fell apart last week, with the Italian-American firm citing French government influence as an insurmountable challenge. How does this tally with Paris and Berlin’s quest to create so-called European champions to compete globally?

Boris Johnson has promised to immediately re-negotiate the UK’s divorce from the EU as he formally launched his bid to become prime minister on Wednesday (12 June).

Although the average level of global peace improved very slightly in comparison to previous years, there is little time or cause to rejoice, the 2019 Global Peace Index (GPI) suggested on Wednesday (12 June).

Two governments - one ‘de facto’, one ‘de jure’ - are holding meetings in Moldova’s capital. Each claims legitimacy and accuses the other of usurpation of power. Civil servants are starting to take sides in what is an unprecedented power struggle for the country.

Ukraine and Russia traded barbs this week in front of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague over Russia's alleged violations of waters around Ukraine's Crimea region in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

The Global Framework Agreement between UniCredit and UNI Global Union, including a joint declaration on responsible sales of financial products, shows that Workers‘ Voice is an important vehicle to represent not only workers but also consumers interests.

In an interview with EURACTIV France, the president of Strasbourg's city council and task force lead defending the European Parliament's Alsace HQ, spoke about the so-called single seat issue. Frédéric Bierry highlighted the economic benefits for Germany, as well as the preference of MEPs and European officials to live in the city.

It has been described as “the most ambitious” and progressive trade deal ever signed by the EU, but what does CETA do?