Back off, Mario! Capitals do not like the taste of Draghi’s telecom medicine – POLITICO

Back off, Mario! Capitals do not like the taste of Draghi’s telecom medicine – POLITICO

Some capitals are also worried their own national champions might be the target of a takeover by a bigger European rival. “Operators of all sizes should have business opportunities in the single market and be able to benefit from and contribute to effective competition,” the document reads. Back off, Mario Draghi didn’t exactly win over … Read more

Accusations fly after blast hits key Kosovo water system – POLITICO

Accusations fly after blast hits key Kosovo water system – POLITICO

“This is the single most serious attack on the country’s critical infrastructure since the end of the conflict in the country,” Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla told reporters Saturday evening. According to the police, around 20 kilograms of explosives in a black bag were placed on a section of the aqueduct in Zubin Potok and … Read more

Stockholm urges Chinese ship suspected of sabotage to return to Swedish waters – POLITICO

Stockholm urges Chinese ship suspected of sabotage to return to Swedish waters – POLITICO

Denmark’s navy said it was shadowing the ship, which is currently anchored in international waters between Denmark and Sweden. “From the Swedish side, we have had contact with the ship and China and stated that we want the ship to move towards Swedish waters,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Tuesday, while stressing that he was … Read more

Russia launches first intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Kyiv says – POLITICO

Russia launches first intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Kyiv says – POLITICO

The escalation comes after U.S. President Joe Biden last weekend authorized the use of American-supplied long-range missiles by Kyiv to strike targets inside Russia, finally responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s demands that Western allies loosen restrictions on donated weapons. The Kremlin warned there would be consequences for the move. Ukraine also reportedly fired British … Read more

Finland urges NATO, EU to shield critical networks after undersea cables damaged – POLITICO

Finland urges NATO, EU to shield critical networks after undersea cables damaged – POLITICO

This marks the second time in a year that Baltic Sea infrastructure — which includes communications cables and energy pipelines such as Nord Stream — has been damaged, raising concerns over security and sabotage. Another telecom cable in the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island was damaged Sunday morning, telecom company Telia Lietuva, … Read more

Valencia’s leader apologizes for ‘mistakes’ in handling deadly floods — but won’t resign – POLITICO

Valencia’s leader apologizes for ‘mistakes’ in handling deadly floods — but won’t resign – POLITICO

As the head of the regional government, “I want to apologize,” to the people who had “the feeling that the aid did not arrive or was not enough,” he added on Friday. As Mazón was speaking, around 300 protestors gathered outside Valencia’s parliament chanting slogans demanding his resignation, Spanish newspaper El País reported. Around 130,000 … Read more

Spain’s ‘monster’ floods expose Europe’s unpreparedness for climate change – POLITICO

Spain’s ‘monster’ floods expose Europe’s unpreparedness for climate change – POLITICO

But the intensity of the rainfall that hit areas around Spain’s third-largest city, Valencia — in some places, roughly a year’s worth of rain in a single day — exposed the country’s unreadiness and led the Socialist-led national government to slam the center-right regional authorities for failing to pass on early warnings to people in … Read more

As Biden deliberates, Ukraine’s nuclear plants are increasingly at risk

As Biden deliberates, Ukraine’s nuclear plants are increasingly at risk

Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. KYIV — As the U.S. ponders loosening some of the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles to allow for the targeting of airfields and missile launch sites deeper inside Russia, Ukraine remains on tenterhooks. As it stands, Washington doesn’t appear ready to take the gloves … Read more

Germany goes soft on China, dragging out Huawei ban until 2029 – POLITICO

Germany goes soft on China, dragging out Huawei ban until 2029 – POLITICO

Huawei components would have to be removed from radio access networks such as antenna masts by the end of 2029 instead of the end of 2026. This is a satisfactory outcome for German operators, who were planning to replace them by then anyway, limiting extra costs. Greens lawmaker Tobias Bacherle deplored the “unnecessary room for … Read more

NATO to take tougher action on Russian spies, says Stoltenberg – POLITICO

Accusations fly after blast hits key Kosovo water system – POLITICO

NATO Secretary-General Jens  Stoltenberg on Thursday said members of the defense alliance will take tougher action against Russian spies in response to Moscow’s campaign of hostile activities, including  acts of sabotage and cyberattacks. “We have seen several examples of sabotage, of arson attempts, of cyberattacks, of disinformation,” Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of … Read more