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In today's edition of the Capitals find out about French President Emmanuel Macron's first day in Poland, Bulgaria protecting its coal industry, Ireland's Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil both leading in the polls in front of Leo Vardakar's party in the run-up to elections, and so much more.

Albin Kurti, leader of Self Determination (Vetevendosje) and Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo (DSK) signed on Sunday (2 February) an agreement to create a new government four months after Kosovo held early elections on 6 October...

Someone who had not yet taken the office ”doesn’t have right to interfere”, said PM Andrej Plenković on Sunday (2 February) calling the comments of newly elected president Zoran Milanović “trivial”. Milanovic, who is due to take office on 19...

The EU should "stop subsidizing undermining democracy within the EU," Kenneth Roth,  Executive Director of Human Rights Watch told EURACTIV in an interview, arguing that the negotiations over the next 7-year budget will not just be about money but about fundamental rights.

On Friday (31 January) the parliament ordered the government to take action to protect the production capacity of its coal plants, regardless of the European Commission’s position on the matter, meaning that despite huge losses Bulgaria will keep its coal...

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted Monday (3 February) that a massive transfer of US and allied troops to Eastern Europe as part of a military exercise was not aimed at Russia.

Spanish vice-president for Economy, Nadia Calviño, said in an interview with La Vanguardia that the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact “does not correspond to the economic reality” of the country and that some of its methodological aspects are “questionable.” Calviño...

Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil are leading the polls with 24% each in the run-up to this week’s general election, a new opinion poll over the weekend reveals. Leader of the republican Sinn Féin party, Mary Lou McDonald, welcomed the...

After the king ended the mandate of informers Joachim Coens (CD&V) and Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR), he sent Koen Geens (CD&V) into the field to find a way out of the federal government stalemate. “The King has determined that the talks...

French President Emmanuel Macron will grant the city of London the Legion d’Honneur in May to celebrate the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle’s appeal to the French Resistance from the UK capital on 18 June 1940. This was...

The EU's negotiating skills and unity will be put to a series of tests this year as the bloc seeks to thrash out a deal with the UK and minimise the impact of Brexit, conclude a trade agreement with the US, and finalise its long-term budget for 2021-2027.

The Christian Social Union (CSU) began its campaign against speed limits on the Autobahn. The issue has resurfaced in German politics in light of growing environmental concerns and recent studies that indicate that introducing a speed limit could save lives...

The centrist Renew Europe group in the European Parliament aims to “break taboos” in the agricultural sector, according to one of its Czech deputies, Martin Hlaváček.

Around 120 environmental activists broke into Datteln 4, a coal-fired power plant north of Dortmund, on Sunday morning (2 February), and proceeded to unfurl banners on two loading facilities. In the afternoon, police began evacuating the protestors, which occurred peacefully. ...

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said in a radio interview on Saturday (1 February) that Austria would veto the current proposal for the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF), saying that it was “unacceptable” for Austria to pay more than 1%...

A man shot dead after stabbing two people on a busy street in south London on Sunday (2 February 2020) in what police described as a terrorist incident is Sudesh Amman, a former convict who was recently released from prison....

The Finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto (Greens) said he believes that the importance of Africa and Latin America to the European Union is going to increase after Brexit because France and Spain are expected to have stronger roles in the...

Fifteen EU member states insisted on Saturday (1 February) that the EU budget for 2021-2027 should maintain the level of the previous one "in real terms". EURACTIV’s partner Lusa reports.

Germany's draft hydrogen strategy envisages the use of CO2-free gas for the industry and transport sector, as well as millions for research. Under the draft plan, a large part of the country's hydrogen will be purchased from abroad. EURACTIV Germany reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron visits Poland on Monday and Tuesday (3-4 February) in an effort to reset frosty ties at a time when the departure of Britain from the European Union is reshaping political alliances in the 27-member bloc.