Ukraine had ‘no warning’ of latest Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv

KYIV — Russia caught the Ukrainian capital off guard with its latest attack, hitting the country with over 100 drones and five ballistic missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

Trump either ‘a useful idiot’ or purposefully weakening Europe, says MEP Glucksmann

Fresh off his primary win, Raphaël Glucksmann showcased his pro-EU and pro-Kyiv stances at POLITICO’s Competitiveness Summit in Paris.

Lagarde’s book plug raises questions about ECB ethics standards

FRANKFURT — European Central Bank staff want to know whether President Christine Lagarde breached her own ethics standards by plugging her forthcoming book at an ECB press conference last month.

MI5 to step up on AI threats amid bioweapon risk

LONDON — Britain’s spies will have a leading role in Britain’s preparation for AI threats, the head of MI5 announced on Tuesday, after warning the technology could enable terrorists to access bioweapons.

Backtracking on green energy contracts would be a mistake, warns Engie boss

Governments should not go back and forth on energy policy and decarbonization targets if they want to attract investors, said Catherine MacGregor, the CEO of French energy giant Engie.

France’s Philippe says Le Pen’s EU proposals would ‘crack open’ bloc

The center-right candidate said at a POLITICO event that his far-right rival was selling the French 'fantasy' plans on the economy.

“Il faut qu’on se réveille” : pour Edouard Philippe, le retard européen dans l’IA n’est pas une fatalité

PARIS — “Le monde de l’IA fait du capital américain avec de l’épargne et des données européennes, et ça m’agace, parce que c’est une question de souveraineté”, a lancé Edouard Philippe ce mardi, à l’occasion du sommet sur la compétitivité de POLITICO.

Ursula von der Leyen calls for tough migration measures in letter to leaders

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote to European leaders urging a series of measures to respond to illegal migration ahead of this week’s summit in Brussels.

Energie : face “au risque” lié au nucléaire, Edouard Philippe juge les renouvelables utiles

PARIS — Edouard Philippe a réaffirmé ce mardi au Sommet sur la compétitivité de POLITICO sa défense du nucléaire pour la production d’électricité. Une technologie qu’il faut “défendre” et “favoriser”, a-t-il insisté, tout en ajoutant que le “risque associé à [son] exploitation” est “réel”.

Le projet de Marine Le Pen risque de faire “péter l’Europe”, juge Edouard Philippe

PARIS — Pour Edouard Philippe, les propositions de Marine Le Pen sont de nature “à faire péter l’Europe”, a-t-il tancé mardi lors du sommet sur la compétitivité de POLITICO. Au cours de cet entretien, le candidat Horizons, actuellement loin derrière la candidate du Rassemblement national dans les sondages, a étrillé le programme de sa concurrente, dont les grands axes budgétaires (140 milliards d’économies en cinq ans) ont été présentés la semaine dernière. Sa première atta

Farage defends plan for ‘lethal force’ against Channel migrants

LONDON — Nigel Farage on Tuesday defended his party’s proposals to allow the Royal Marines to use “lethal force” against irregular migrants crossing the English Channel.

Franco–German deal on cars and ‘Made in Europe’ is ‘hours or days’ away, says EU industry boss

PARIS — A deal between France and Germany to strengthen protections in the Industrial Accelerator Act in exchange for a loosening of combustion engine rules should be finalized “in the next few hours or in the next few days,” the bloc’s industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said Tuesday.

Baisser sa contribution à l’UE : “C’est légitime dans le cadre d’une négociation”, dit Stéphane Séjourné

PARIS — Pour Stéphane Séjourné, vice-président exécutif de la Commission européenne, les membres de l’Union européenne peuvent renégocier leur contribution au budget des 27, mais pas de manière unilatérale.

Can the chancellor really win back business?

Reform is under pressure again – but could the coming weeks prove make-or-break for Nigel Farage’s party? With fresh undercover filming threatening to cause trouble and a crucial report into the £5m gift looming, how serious could the fallout be? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy also unpack the latest polling: is Kemi Badenoch enjoying a

The Ceuta fears shaping Spain’s election

As the United States looks towards Russia for diesel, European leaders are doubling down on their support for Ukraine. On the show, hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart unpack all the ways the EU plans to put its money where its mouth is and help Kyiv. Expect it to be the talk of the town

Das Bas-Beben: Neuer Groll zwischen Union und SPD

Der überraschende Rücktritt erschüttert die Koalition: SPD-Arbeitsministerin Bärbel Bas gibt ihren Rückzug von allen Ämtern bekannt. Ausgerechnet kurz vor dem wichtigen Arbeitgebertag heute. POLITICO-Chefkorrespondent Rasmus Buchsteiner ordnet zusammen mit Maximilian Stascheit ein, wie diese Personalie das zerrüttete Regierungsbündnis belastet und warum mit der eiligen Ernennung von Alexander Schweitzer die Proporzregeln der SPD über Bord geworfen

Zelenskyy’s Trump dilemma: Fight back or fold?

Defying the U.S. president risks costing Ukraine vital military support. But giving in could prove even more dangerous.

Northern Ireland secretary denies he ‘bent the knee’ to Sinn Féin

Chris Bryant tells MPs his decision to block a legal Protestant parade has kept the peace in Northern Ireland, where the dispute is splitting the cross-community government in two.

Europe pushes tougher line on Russia in growing split with Trump

EU leaders are calling for new measures against Moscow as Washington eases off, exposing a widening divide over how to end the war in Ukraine.

Germany, Italy request ’emergency brake’ power to stop new EU laws

EU capitals must be able to intervene to stop new legislation from Brussels if they say it’s too burdensome for governments and businesses, the leaders of Germany, Italy and Belgium wrote on Monday.

Von der Leyen pitches AI as solution to reduce reporting for European businesses

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday pitched using artificial intelligence to streamline administrative procedures for European businesses as part of a broader push to simplify commerce and boost the EU’s competitiveness.

NATO’s top general lays out plan to fight Russia — with or without America

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich aims to send a clear signal to the Kremlin that the alliance will resist any attack.

Glucksmann peut-il enrayer la dynamique Mélenchon?

Le paysage politique se clarifie à gauche. Une opposition claire émerge entre Raphaël Glucksmann, vainqueur dimanche de la primaire PS-Place Publique dès le premier tour, qui refuse toute alliance avec La France insoumise, et Jean-Luc Mélenchon qui veut couler définitivement la sociale démocratie. Que change la victoire de Glucksmann pour le candidat Insoumis ? Le

Burnham: Iran’s IRGC ‘highly likely’ to be behind RAF Fairford terror plot

LONDON — A suspected terror plot around the RAF Fairford airbase is “highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran,” Andy Burnham said on Monday.

UK and EU agree to hold Brexit ‘reset’ summit on Nov. 20

The two sides want to use the meeting to sign off new agreements on agri-food trade, emissions trading, and a youth mobility scheme.

Farage would take a ‘keen look’ at UK’s support for ‘corrupt’ Ukraine

The leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK declined to repeat Donald Trump's verbal assault on Kyiv — but argued Ukraine is “one of the most corrupt countries on earth.”

EU approves biggest Russia sanctions package since invasion began

The EU approved its biggest package of sanctions against Russia since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting the Kremlin’s ability to make missiles.

French supermarkets face food crisis after cyberattack hits refrigerators

The French government is closely watching a cybersecurity crisis at supermarkets after they were forced to throw out food due to an attack that knocked out refrigerators.

French, Spanish far-right leaders unite ahead of key elections

PARIS — France’s Jordan Bardella and Spain’s Santiago Abascal are joining forces ahead of potential milestone elections in their countries, with the duo using a visit by the French far-right leader to Spain to discuss campaign strategy and common themes for their platforms.

Philippe stood ready to defeat Le Pen. Now his allies are doubting his chances

The center-right presidential hopeful is facing a pileup of problems: centrist infighting, voter fatigue and surging populists.

Use Russian assets to blunt voter backlash over funding Ukraine, Kyiv says

BRUSSELS — The EU should use frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv’s defense, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, adding that doing so would counter claims from the far right and far left that Europe is footing the bill for the war.

Ukraine’s FM: Russia’s war budget makes the case for using frozen assets now

The aggressor has put a number on its intentions. Europe should turn Moscow’s reserves into Kyiv’s defense — collectively, lawfully and now.

Trump’s NATO envoy calls for moving military forces east as US reviews troops in Europe

WARSAW — NATO must modernize its military infrastructure to move forces and equipment from Western to Eastern Europe “where we would expect any future conflict,” U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Monday.

UK’s Burnham says rejecting closer EU ties a ‘dereliction of duty’

LONDON — Andy Burnham will argue Monday it would be a “dereliction of duty” for Britain not to seek closer ties with the EU.

‘This deal doesn’t help’: Europe slams Trump’s plan to buy Russian diesel

"Pressure, pressure, pressure on Russia" is the only way to end the war, Lithuania's foreign minister said.

Berechenbare Risiken – unberechenbare Politik? Warum Deutschland jetzt aus Worten Gesetze machen muss

Mit berechenbaren Risiken kann die forschende Pharmaindustrie umgehen - mit politischer Unberechenbarkeit nicht. Warum eine Standortklausel nun ein erster Schritt in Richtung Verlässlichkeit am Standort Deutschland sein kann.

Revealed: The chancellor’s plan to survive the budget

With the budget barely a fortnight away, Chancellor John Healey is warning of mounting economic headwinds. Can he ease the pressure on the public finances without loosening the purse strings? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy test the tightrope Healey is attempting to walk ahead of a major speech to the International Monetary Fund. Elsewhere, is

The EU budget battle just got nastier

Germany has rejected Ireland’s proposal for the EU’s next seven-year budget, despite €159 billion in cuts. And it’s not alone: Governments are divided over where the cuts should fall, while the European Parliament is threatening to block the deal. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the backlash and what it means for this week’s EU

Wie Trumps Ölkrise zur Ukraine-Frage wird

Donald Trump verkündet eine „Energie-Waffenruhe“ zwischen der Ukraine und Russland an. Fraglich allerdings ist, was die beiden Länder davon wirklich wissen. Um den heimischen Druck durch steigende Ölpreise abzufedern, lockert Trump zuvor die Sanktionen gegen Russland. Weil er dafür von Wolodymyr Selenskyj kritisiert wird, fordert er, die Ukraine brauche einen neuen Präsidenten. Währenddessen ringen die

How can Europe leverage laws to secure cloud sovereignty?

Europe doesn’t have to choose between acting fast and building a solid foundation for sovereignty.

EU lacks influence(rs): No content creators at leaders’ summit

BRUSSELS — The EU’s idea of getting social media influencers to cover leaders’ summits has not gone according to plan, as no content creators have been invited to this week’s European Council.

Independent wins Kraków mayoral race in setback for PM Tusk

Independent Łukasz Gibała won Kraków’s mayoral runoff on Sunday, defeating a candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and handing Poland’s governing Civic Coalition a setback in the country’s second-largest city.

Ireland’s budget cuts weaken EU, Commission warns

Dublin's changes to the long-term budget overwhelmingly hit Commission priorities such as competitiveness and flexibility.

MEP Glucksmann wins French center-left primary, becoming candidate for presidency

PARIS — Raphaël Glucksmann won France’s center-left primary on Sunday, securing the backing of the Socialist Party and its allies for next year’s presidential election, organizers said.

Parliament split on EU climate rules opens way for conservative deal with far right

Left-leaning lawmakers' call for stronger carbon market could push pro-business conservatives to the far right.

Europeans back Zelenskyy after Trump calls for new Ukrainian leader

The United Kingdom, Germany and Poland have reaffirmed their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after U.S. President Donald Trump said the country needed a new leader.

Fix airport queues by Christmas, migration commissioner tells Brussels Airport

“Member states had enough time to prepare themselves" for the EU's Entry/Exit System, says Magnus Brunner. "It has to work."

Polish police warn of possible assassination plot against Donald Tusk

Polish authorities said Sunday they were investigating a possible attempt to attack the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Deutschland reicht Irlands Vorschlag zur Kürzung des EU-Haushaltsentwurfs nicht aus

BRÜSSEL — Deutschland und seine europäischen Verbündeten haben den Vorschlag Irlands, den Entwurf für den nächsten Siebenjahreshaushalt der Europäischen Union um rund acht Prozent zu kürzen, als nicht ausreichend zurückgewiesen.

‘Putin will drag you into the war,’ former Ukrainian foreign minister tells Europeans

Dmytro Kuleba also said Ukraine will endure its worst winter yet as Russia targets the country's infrastructure in bid to break its resistance.

Security Sunday: Europas Krieg der Zukunft — mit Nico Lange

Fast jede Nacht überzieht Russland die Ukraine mit Drohnen- und Raketenangriffen, um die Zivilbevölkerung zu zermürben. Doch abseits des Terrors aus der Luft kommt Moskau militärisch kaum voran. Die wahre Strategie des Kremls zielt längst auf ein anderes Schlachtfeld: die politische Erschöpfung Europas und der USA. Im Gespräch mit POLITICO-Reporterin Rixa Fürsen teilt Nico Lange,

Russians face EU travel curbs to prevent hybrid attacks

Brussels officials are finalizing plans to tighten visa rules for hundreds of thousands of Russians who visit EU countries as tourists each year, in a move designed to strengthen the bloc’s defenses against hybrid attacks.

Germany warns EU that €159B budget cuts are not enough

BRUSSELS — Germany and its allies rebuffed Ireland’s plan to downsize the bloc’s next seven-year budget, arguing that the proposed cuts are not enough.

Russian strikes in Eastern Ukraine kills 12, authorities say

A series of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday killed at least 12 people including three children, regional authorities announced. “People contin

Turkey bans social media for kids under 15

The government of Turkey on Saturday formally banned access to social media platform for children under the age of 15.

EU budget slashed by €159B in new Irish proposal

BRUSSELS — The bloc’s next seven-year budget suffered a €159 billion cut from the Commission’s original proposal, according to a new plan unveiled Saturday.

Kann VW gerettet werden? Ein Gespräch mit Olaf Lies

50.000 bedrohte Stellen bei Volkswagen stehen als Symbol für eine tiefe Wirtschaftskrise in Niedersachsen und der gesamten Republik. Wie lässt sich der industrielle Kern des Landes retten, bevor die internationale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit endgültig wegbricht? Der niedersächsische SPD-Ministerpräsident Olaf Lies liefert in der Talk-Reihe „Let’s find common ground“ von POLITICO die Bestandsaufnahme einer Industrie am Scheideweg. Im

UK bans Protestant march from Catholic area in Northern Ireland

DUBLIN — The U.K. government has reversed a decision to permit a parade by Protestant hard-liners through a Catholic district in Northern Ireland, a U-turn that overjoyed Irish republicans and infuriated the region’s British unionists.

Trump lifts sanctions on Russian diesel, suggests US may buy amid surging fuel prices

The Trump administration moved Friday to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel as President Donald Trump said Moscow had agreed to release large quantities of the fuel and suggested the U.S. could be a buyer.

Ryanair lashes out at Air France and Lufthansa over ownership probe

The low-cost airline is facing allegations that it violates EU requirements for operating in the bloc.

Arrested German spy chief lashed out at his old agency over allegations he spied for Russia

BERLIN — Former German intelligence chief August Hanning angrily challenged his successor after learning that the agency he once headed, the BND, had passed allegations that he was a Russian spy to investigators.

Dutch PM slams ‘absurd’ US decision to livestream execution

The U.S. military is planning to broadcast a public execution on Dec. 3, but violent content must be moderated by social media platforms under EU law.

France, Germany try to save face on joint tank project

PARIS — Defense ministers from France and Germany insisted their joint tank project is going well Friday, one day after the French chief of defense staff said it had faltered because of Berlin.

China und die EU haben nach Angaben Pekings eine Einigung zu Hybrid-Autos erzielt

Handelskommissar Maroš Šefčovič bemüht sich um eine Zusage aus Peking, den boomenden Export chinesischer Plug-in-Hybrid-Elektrofahrzeuge nach Europa einzudämmen.

EU and China clinch deal to curb hybrid car exports

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič says the agreement could prevent millions of Chinese vehicles from entering the European market over the next four years.

Andy Burnham vows to ease non-compete clauses

LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed Friday he will legislate to ease restrictive non-compete clause rules for workers — but stopped short of committing to a ban.

Finance ministers strike market supercop deal despite Brussels’ objections

LUXEMBOURG — EU finance ministers struck a compromise to beef up the bloc’s markets watchdog Friday, but the deal exposed divisions over national control and exemptions that critics say favor the biggest member countries.

Hitler Mussolini wins local election

Voters in the Peruvian town of Queropalca have chosen their new mayor: Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores.

EU’s new list of critical mineral projects focuses on clean energy metals

BRUSSELS — The European Commission announced a new list of 46 projects Friday in a bid to diversify away from China’s grip on raw materials and establish its own mineral sovereignty.

EU faces gas supply shortage as winter looms

The EU's depleted gas storage leaves it vulnerable to a cold winter, new reports warn.

Elif Eralp und Friedrich Merz’ neues Berlin-Problem

Ein drohender Linksruck in der Hauptstadt sorgt für handfesten Ärger auf Bundesebene. Während SPD und Grüne in Berlin ernsthaft mit der Linkspartei sondieren, blickt Friedrich Merz mit Sorge auf eine mögliche Regierende Bürgermeisterin Elif Eralp. Welche radikalen Forderungen im Raum stehen und warum der Antisemitismus-Streit in der Linken die Regierungsbildung zur Zerreißprobe macht, analysiert Maximilian

Is the EU ready for the next pandemic?

Five years after the height of the Covid pandemic, how much better prepared is the EU for the next health crisis? Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO health reporter Helen Collis and global health expert Michel Kazatchkine to discuss the mysterious death of a worker at a Russian anti-plague institute, and what it tells

Green Leader Polanski vows to fight on after Westminster gamble fails

LONDON — Zack Polanski’s bid for a Westminster seat ended in defeat Friday as Labour held Holborn and St Pancras in a by-election. Labour took the central London House of Commons seat with 12,292 votes. Green Leader Polanski came in second with 8,928. The vote was triggered after Keir Starmer stood down as an MP last month after being ousted as U.K. prime minister. This developing story is being updated.

When politicians write bad erotic fiction

Some leaders have won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Some never will.

‘Not great, not terrible’: Why nobody trusts Russia to tell the truth about plague

Moscow’s historical lack of transparency feeds concerns about the incident in Irkutsk.

EU cyber and science researchers are testing Chinese AI models

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s cybersecurity agency and in-house research center have each begun experimenting with open artificial intelligence models from China, three EU officials have told POLITICO.

EU’s fight to break China’s raw material dominance isn’t going well

The majority of Europe’s mining, processing and recycling projects are behind schedule.

Meet the German spymaster turned treason suspect

The former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service built a lucrative second career trading on his security expertise. Now prosecutors accuse him of profiting from secrets belonging to the state.

EU countries brace for €100B-€200B smaller budget

Ireland's proposal will fire the starting gun on the tough talks ahead of next week's leaders' summit.

Croatian MEP stands down from national party after friends and family attended EU Parliament event

A Croatian MEP stood down from her national party on Thursday after POLITICO revealed her inner circle attended a taxpayer-funded European Parliament event in Strasbourg.

NATO attempts to cool tensions with Russia ahead of key nuclear exercise

BRUSSELS — NATO is seeking to reassure Russia that an upcoming nuclear drill in Italy is nothing to fear, with tensions high between the alliance and Moscow.

French top general acknowledges Franco-German tank program failed

France’s top general Fabien Mandon admitted on Thursday that the Franco-German next-generation battle tank project had failed. It’s one of the first times a French official

UK plans to announce ban on workers’ non-compete clauses in push for growth

LONDON — The U.K. government is planning to commit to a full or partial ban on non-compete clauses in workers’ employment contracts, six people with knowledge of the discussions told POLITICO.

Une primaire qui va laisser des traces ?

Qui sortira vainqueur de la campagne express et des trois débats de la primaire organisée par le PS, Place publique et GRS ? Près de 140 000 personnes sont appelées à voter vendredi et samedi. Ce corps électoral est difficilement sondable. Présenté comme le favori, le président de Place publique Raphaël Glucksmann peut-il sortir triomphant

Burnham signals ‘openness’ to Germany joining GCAP fighter jet program

Britain is open to Germany joining the sixth-generation jet fighter Global Combat Air Programme led by the U.K., Italy and Japan, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Thursday.

Germany wants UK to raise tariffs on Chinese EVs

LONDON — Germany wants the U.K. to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for protection from Made in Europe rules, according to a person familiar with Berlin’s position.

China trade talks test EU’s appetite for tougher action

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is seeking concessions from Beijing to narrow a record trade deficit, but expectations of a breakthrough are low.

‘Targets of terror’: Russia kills 33 in single strike in Donbas

KYIV — At least 30 people were killed and 18 injured in a Russian attack on two buses in Kramatorsk in Ukraine’s Donbas region Thursday morning.

Slovakia’s Fico calls nude Trump statue a sign of EU decline

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday called for the removal of a satirical statue of U.S. President Donald Trump from the European Parliament, describing it as a “sign of the decline of the entire European Union.”

South Korea recalls Ukraine ambassador in prisoner of war row

Seoul recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on Thursday, two weeks after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, triggering a diplomatic spat.

Q&A: Werden offene Modelle Europas KI-Trumpfkarte sein?

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Q&A: Will open models be Europe’s advantage?

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UK and Israel broker compromise over East Jerusalem consulate

LONDON — The U.K. and Israel have stepped back from the diplomatic brink by securing a compromise to prevent the full closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.

Will Berlin help Britain rejoin the EU?

With conference season in the rear-view mirror, Andy Burnham jets off to Germany for his first European trip as PM – but how much do Anglo-German relations matter right now? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look ahead to his meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz as the countries attempt to align ambitions and maybe find

Can Europe finally get tough on China?

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is kicking off his visit to China today — and the stakes are high. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton discuss the most important topic on the agenda: Europe’s trade deficit with China. France and Germany are finally on the same page and want Brussels to get tougher on

Hat Merz seine CDU noch im Griff?

Die Brandmauer bröckelt weiter und bringt Friedrich Merz in Bedrängnis. Nach der Wahl von Tobias Rausch von der AfD zum Landtagspräsidenten in Sachsen-Anhalt womöglich mit CDU-Stimmen wächst die parteiinterne Nervosität. Rasmus Buchsteiner analysiert, warum der CDU-Chef die Kontrolle über die Debatte verliert und wie SPD-Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius die Situation mit seinem historischen Vergleich anheizt. Außenpolitisch

Far-right surge threatens Europe’s drive to rearm

Insurgent far-right parties are seizing on cost-of-living grievances and waning support for defense spending.

EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure

The Trump administration was bothered by panels that referred to the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

French PM tries to defuse anger over schools, fuel and agriculture in sweeping speech

PARIS — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu tried to put out several fires at once Wednesday, pledging to address protesting high school students’ concerns while also announcing the release of strategic fuel reserves to lower prices.

Votes blocking far-right from key jobs are final, says EP

LUXEMBOURG — The European Parliament can’t review the secret ballot votes that blocked the far-right from key positions, its lawyers told a court in Luxembourg today.

EU-Länder wollen erst nach Prüfung durch die IEA neue Ölvorräte freigeben

BRÜSSEL — Die EU wird erst dann weitere Öl- und Dieselreserven freigeben, wenn die Internationale Energieagentur (IEA) klargestellt hat, dass ein solcher Schritt die Energiesicherheit der Union nicht beeinträchtigen würde. Das erklärten drei mit der Angelegenheit vertraute Diplomaten gegenüber POLITICO.

EU countries will release fresh oil stocks only after top agency assessment

BRUSSELS — The EU will only conduct further releases of oil and diesel reserves after the International Energy Agency has made it clear such a move would not be damaging to the bloc’s energy security, three diplomats familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

“Super Intelligence Force” : ce que la Maison-Blanche attend de cette task force sur l’IA

Ce groupe de travail devra définir la manière dont l’Etat doit se prémunir contre les menaces liées à l’intelligence artificielle.

5 takeaways from Kemi Badenoch’s fighty Tory conference speech

The Conservative leader aimed brickbats at Labour, Nigel Farage — and any attempt to “unite the right.” Now she just has to persuade some of the public to vote for her.

Mistral, le retour dans la course du champion de l’Elysée

Bardella, Glucksmann, Knafo… Mistral a déclenché une salve d’applaudissements d’une partie de la classe politique en annonçant avoir lancé son nouveau modèle d’intelligence artificielle, baptisé Large 4. En voulant se replacer dans la course aux IA génératives de pointe, l’entreprise rassure ses défenseurs, à commencer par l’Etat français, qui doutaient de sa stratégie. Comment la

Die Brandmauer vor dem Aus

Die Regierungsbildungen in Berlin und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern könnten entscheidenden Einfluss auf eine Vorstufe eines AfD-Verbotsverfahrens nehmen. Im Hintergrund formiert sich ein Bundesrats-Antrag für eine länderübergreifende Arbeitsgruppe die Beweise für ein mögliches Verfahren sammeln soll. Ein politisches Beben erschüttert derweil den Landtag in Sachsen-Anhalt. Bei der Wahl zum Landtagspräsidenten erhielt der AfD-Kandidat Tobias Rausch wohl Stimmen aus

US, Greece to jointly combat security threats, Rubio says

ATHENS — The U.S. and Greece are launching a new counterterrorism information-sharing program, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday during an official visit to the Greek capital.

Reform probe clears Farage aides caught in donations sting

BIRMINGHAM, England — Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has published an internal investigation purporting to clear two senior aides who were caught in an undercover donations sting.

UK hopeful of deal with EU on Made in Europe

BRUSSELS — Britain is hopeful of doing a deal with the European Union to avoid British businesses being hit by new Made in Europe trade rules, the minister in charge of talks has said.

Berlin und Paris: Diesel-Versprechen an Trump erfordert keine neue Freigabe

BRÜSSEL — Deutschland und Frankreich teilten am Mittwoch mit, dass sie Dieselvorräte freigeben werden, die bereits im März im Rahmen der G7-Zusage zugesagt worden waren. Damit bleibt unklar, ob darüber hinaus noch weitere Bestände freigegeben werden, wie zwei mit der Angelegenheit vertraute Diplomaten gegenüber POLITICO sagten.

WHO seeks clarity on second pneumonia case in Russia amid plague fears

The World Health Organization is looking into reports of a second pneumonia case linked to an anti-plague institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, after the Kremlin said there are no plague cases in the region following the death of a lab worker.

France and Germany say diesel promise to Trump won’t require new stock release

BRUSSELS — France and Germany said Wednesday that they will release diesel stocks that were already committed in March as part of the G7 pledge to tap stockpiles of oil products, leaving it uncertain as to whether any new barrels will be released in addition, two diplomats familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

EU-Parlament verschärft vor Šefčovič-Reise Haltung zur China-Politik

STRASSBURG – Im Europäischen Parlament versammeln sich Politiker aller Lager zunehmend hinter einem härteren Kurs in der China-Politik der EU – auch über Handelsfragen hinaus.

Crossover Consensus Statement

Russia hits Ukraine with wave of attacks on Putin’s birthday

KYIV – Russian strikes killed at least 12 people and injured over 40 across Ukraine on Wednesday — the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrates his 74th birthday.

Will Tory donors splash the cash?

It’s Kemi Badenoch’s big day at the Conservative Party conference – but it’s not just the adoring party faithful she has to impress. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how the leader’s speech will land with both voters and party donors – in what she’s calling a “battle for the soul of the country”.

Behind closed doors, Europe braces for a deadly attack

Russia’s hybrid attacks across Europe — cyberattacks, sabotage, drone incursions — have been ramping up in recent months. But European governments are quietly preparing for something much worse. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss how EU ambassadors have been meeting in recent weeks to discuss what to do if a potential Russian

Merz in der Therapiestunde Koalitionsausschuss

Ein Geheimdienstskandal erschüttert Berlin: Hat der ehemalige BND-Chef August Hanning hochsensible Regierungsdaten an Aserbaidschan weitergegeben? Während der aktuelle BND-Chef Martin Jäger Anfang der Woche vor Sicherheitsrisiken warnt, droht sein Dienst selbst zur Gefahr zu werden. Hans von der Burchard ordnet ein, wie die Affäre das internationale Vertrauen in Deutschland beschädigt. Im Kanzleramt rollen derweil die

EU toughens China stance ahead of Šefčovič’s Beijing visit

STRASBOURG — Policymakers across the political spectrum are coalescing around a stronger approach to the European Union’s relationship with China — one that goes beyond trade measures.

‘Nobody wants a new Greece’: Calls grow for crisis election in Romania

Far-right leader George Simion tells POLITICO Romanian president Nicușor Dan will face a campaign to oust him if he keeps refusing a snap poll to end months of deadlock in Bucharest.

Can ‘Berlin’s Mamdani’ convince Jewish Berliners to trust the Left?

Concerns about antisemitism have emerged as a sticking point in coalition talks that could make Elif Eralp Berlin’s next mayor.

Latvia moves to expel Russian journalist who used to work for BBC

Latvia on Tuesday moved to kick out a Russian journalist and noted online commentator who has been living in the country for more than a decade.

Read the charter for the White House’s ‘Super Intelligence Force’

The new group has broad authority to determine how the government should protect against artificial intelligence threats.

Greens promise ‘campaign mode’ and continuity under new leaders

STRASBOURG — The Greens in the European Parliament chose Terry Reintke and Nicu Ștefănuță as their new leadership team on Tuesday, promising an energetic, campaign-focused push to revive a political group whose influence has diminished since its high-water mark in 2019.

The EU shelved AI liability rules. Sam Altman has revived the debate

OpenAI’s CEO triggers ‘told you so’ moment for fans of liability laws in Europe.

Les renforts d’Europol en IA suscitent des inquiétudes sur la protection de la vie privée

L’agence européenne de coopération des services de police devra faire face à la fois aux cybercriminels et aux défenseurs de la vie privée.

Marine Le Pen, le tournant de la rigueur ?

140 milliards d’euros d’économies net sur 5 ans, une règle d’or budgétaire, le retour de la somme des dépenses publiques sous les 50% du PIB… Marine Le Pen a voulu faire la démonstration de son sérieux et de sa crédibilité en matière de gestion des finances publiques en présentant sa “trajectoire financière” lors d’une conférence

Parliament and Council split on how non-EU countries get access to defense cash

There are deep divisions over whether, and on what terms, companies from non-EU countries could access the European Competitiveness Fund.

Britain’s Tories really, really don’t want to team up with Farage. They might still have to

The Reform UK leader is the butt of mockery and vitriol at the Conservatives' annual gathering in Birmingham. That could make a coalition near-impossible.

Ireland’s 2027 budget offers tax break to help people invest savings

DUBLIN — Ireland will create a new national savings system to spur tax-free investments in stocks and bonds, the government announced Tuesday as the centerpiece of its next tax-cutting budget.

‘Accidents happen’: French PM defends police after teenagers injured in protests

PARIS — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has defended police handling of student protests following incidents that left one schoolboy with a severed hand and another blind in one eye.

Greens probe conduct complaint against Deputy Leader Mothin Ali

LONDON — The Green Party is reviewing a complaint against its deputy leader following an alleged altercation at a local meeting, two people with knowledge of the procedure have told POLITICO.

Jailed Albanian mayor uses AI avatar to make deepfake speech

TIRANA, Albania — Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has caused a stir with a video pledge of free school lunches for all the capital’s children. There’s one problem: Veliaj is currently in prison, and the blue-suited figure making the heartfelt announcement is AI-generated.

Police arrest another British man in RAF Fairford investigation

LONDON — A seventh man has been arrested as part of an investigation into the suspected terror plot around the RAF Fairford airbase, Britain’s Counter Terrorism Policing said on Tuesday.

EU Parliament spat as MEP challenges Metsola’s claims over Israeli flag

STRASBOURG — French EU lawmaker Rima Hassan pushed back Tuesday against European Parliament President Roberta Metsola’s claim that Israeli and EU flags had been knocked over.

France’s Le Pen unveils economic platform stuffed with cuts — but few new ideas

PARIS — Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen offered her usual recipe for pulling the French economy from the brink of a sovereign debt crisis when she presented her economic platform on Tuesday: curbing immigration, cutting France’s contributions to the European Union and slashing red tape.

Ukraine says no to EU membership without access to selling grain

Ukraine “cannot agree” to an EU membership model that would permanently limit sales of certain food products to the bloc, the country’s Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi told POLITICO.

Former German spy chief arrested for treason and espionage

BERLIN — A former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency was arrested early Tuesday in connection with an investigation into suspected espionage and attempted treason, according to the German Federal Prosecutors Office.

Von der Leyen warns against EU budget cuts

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned against cuts to the EU’s next seven-year budget in a rebuke to Germany’s calls to dramatically slash spending.

How Spain’s snap election could blow up Brussels

Spain’s snap election is poised to upend not just domestic politics … but EU politics, too. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart break down the potential impact of the Madrid tumult — from the EU long-term budget to the potential puncturing of Ursula von der Leyen’s fragile majority in Parliament. Next, Hungarian Prime

Der erste Machtbeweis der AfD in Magdeburg

In Magdeburg konstituiert sich der Landtag von Sachsen-Anhalt unter historischen Vorzeichen: Die AfD beansprucht als stärkste Kraft das Amt des Landtagspräsidenten. Mit dem Kandidaten Tobias Rausch und den entscheidenden Stimmen des BSW könnte dieser Plan aufgehen. POLITICO-Expertin Pauline von Pezold analysiert, warum diese Wahl die CDU zu Zuschauern degradiert. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview erklärt BSW-Vizechef Christian Leye,

Spanish election threatens to blow up Brussels’ political balance

Socialists warn a Sánchez defeat will alienate them in the Council and strain the coalition behind Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Tories want to duck Burnham’s social care fight

Three shadow Cabinet ministers told POLITICO the Conservatives might opt not to offer a rival proposal on the hot-button issue.

France’s debt troubles stir memories of the euro crisis

How long before Paris and others start looking to the ECB to rescue them?

Diplomat is Romania’s fourth prime ministerial candidate in five months

A senior diplomat will try to form a new government as Romania’s prime minister, in an attempt to end a five-month stalemate that threatens the country’s economic and political stability.

America’s bomber withdrawal points to wider UK-US friction

The Pentagon's decision to relocate B-1 bombers from the British air base comes after months of frustration in the Trump administration over Britain's defense spending.

Sam Altman à Decoded : “Le monde devrait accepter que certaines choses négatives se produisent” face aux bénéfices de l’IA

Le PDG d’OpenAI a cherché à distinguer sa position de celle de son concurrent Anthropic en matière de réglementation de l’intelligence artificielle.

From the rent crisis to Trump: 5 things that will shape Spain’s snap election

Shifting attitudes toward the far right, fallout from the Ceuta crisis and the U.S. president's geopolitical maneuvers could have a major impact on the Nov. 29 vote.

New weapons, new risks: Europe’s AI policing plan stokes privacy concerns

The EU police agency will have to contend with both cybercriminals and privacy activists.

50 members of European Parliament targeted by deepfake porn, report says

Fifty European Union lawmakers, including 46 women, have been the targets of deepfake pornography, according to new research released Monday. The number of women targeted by deepfake pornography —

Blocages : l’exécutif change de stratégie

Après la reprise tendue de la mobilisation des lycéens ce lundi, le gouvernement redoute les manifestations prévues le 6 octobre où pourrait s’opérer une convergence des colères. Sébastien Lecornu a ouvert dimanche une série de chantiers pour répondre à certaines revendications des lycéens. Ce changement de ton et de stratégie sera-t-il suffisant pour amorcer un

Sánchez bets it all on housing ahead of Spain’s snap election

The prime minister is hoping voters will forget that the country's property prices and rental costs have skyrocketed during his eight years in power.

Merz and Macron want the EU to hit back harder — and faster — against trade threats

BERLIN — The European Commission needs the power to act much faster against trade threats, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged in a joint letter on Monday.

Emmanuel Macron is most impressive world leader on AI, says Sam Altman

OpenAI’s Sam Altman named French President Emmanuel Macron as the world leader who stands out for their approach to AI in an exclusive interview with Decoded by POLITICO.

Germany risks being drawn into ‘violent conflict’ with Russia, spy chief warns

BERLIN — Germany’s foreign intelligence chief warned Monday of the rising risk of a direct clash with Russia as the Kremlin escalates its “shadow war” on Berlin and hits Ukraine with increasing brutality.

Suspected plague in Russia puts EU on alert

Europe is monitoring “very closely” a suspected case of pneumonic plague in eastern Russia, following the death of a lab worker, a European Commission spokesperson said Monday.

Is Kemi Badenoch abandoning the Red Wall?

Is Andy Burnham an easier opponent for the Conservatives than Sir Keir Starmer? At the Tory conference in Birmingham, Kemi Badenoch’s team sniff a chance to attack the prime minister – with a particular chance to seize on and attack his economic argument. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy pore over Badenoch’s “The Right Way” pamphlet

Spain’s Sánchez calls snap elections for Nov. 29

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for Nov. 29, a vote that could signal the demise of the EU’s last major Socialist government and remove one of Europe’s chief critics of U.S. President Donald Trump from the political front line.

The race for the EU’s plum diplomatic jobs begins

The race for some of the EU’s most coveted diplomatic jobs is under way. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack why this year’s routine EEAS rotation is attracting unusually strong interest from senior Commission officials — and what it says about the mood in Brussels. Then, we head to France, where a wave of student

Securing energy and trade flows in geo-economic conflicts

The Straight of Hormuz’s closure this year highlighted the fragility of trade routes and the Middle East’s importance for supplying the world. What can be done to be better in securing exports?

Deutschland im Verteidigungsmodus

Friedrich Merz reist überraschend am Wochenende nach Kiew, ausgerechnet während massiver russischer Drohnenangriffe. Am heutigen Montag danach werden die Chefs der deutschen Nachrichtendienste wohl deutlich: Wie nah ist der hybride Schattenkrieg bereits in Deutschland angekommen? POLITICO-Reporter Hans von der Burchard ordnet ein, welche Botschaften der Kanzler aus der Ukraine mitbringt und was die öffentliche Anhörung

Warum europäische KI allein keine Souveränität garantiert

POLITISCHE WERBUNG Der Sponsor ist Quantexa Dieser Artikel setzt sich für die KI-Souveränität Europas ein Weitere Informationen hier.

Badenoch ally attacks Burnham’s ‘hope hard enough’ economic message as ‘absolutely mad’

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately says Conservatives will present “very different view of the country” — and defends policy on pensions triple lock.

How Andy Burnham ate the Greens’ policy lunch

The Green Party is proud of forcing Labour left on policy, but experts say that shift is sinking the Greens in the polls.

Former Belgian PM Verhofstadt investigated in EU Parliament intern probe

BRUSSELS — Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt is under investigation by Belgian federal prosecutors over the supervision of European Parliament interns during his time as leader of the liberal group.

Le calendrier chargé d’Emmanuel Macron complique sa venue à la COP31

Bien qu’il aime se poser en défenseur de l’Accord de Paris sur le climat, le chef de l’Etat ne semble plus placer les négociations climatiques en haut de ses priorités calendaires.

Moscow says it will step up strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv vows to hit Russian oil refineries

Russia’s announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country would “have to respond in any way we can” to Russian attacks.

Latvian PM’s election win boosts chances for pro-Ukraine coalition

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ United List has won the country’s parliamentary election by a wide margin, putting the pro-Ukraine leader in a strong position to remain in power.

Security-Update: Krieg bei Social Media – mit Marcel Bohnert

Mehr als die Hälfte der jungen Wähler entscheidet sich bei jüngsten Landtagswahlen für Parteien, die der Ukraine-Unterstützung kritisch gegenüberstehen. Der Grund dafür liegt nicht nur in klassischen Debatten, sondern auf Plattformen wie TikTok, Instagram und X. Dort tobt längst ein massiver Informationskrieg, in dem ausländische Akteure und Algorithmen um die Deutungshoheit kämpfen. Marcel Bohnert, Oberstleutnant

Germany’s Merz visits Kyiv amid fears of ‘hardest’ winter in war

The visit has been overshadowed by heavy Russian attacks on Kyiv as well as tensions over Ukraine’s EU membership prospects

EU neighbors shun Kyiv’s plea to free trapped grain

Poland and Romania said there’s nothing more they can do to help Ukraine export its grain through Europe, as the blockade in the Black Sea continues.

Tory conference 2026: What POLITICO reporters are watching for

From AI to bank taxes, there are plenty of spaces for Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives to carve out a niche, POLITICO reporters write in from Birmingham.

2 Iranians charged with alleged bomb plot against Britain’s Jewish community

Police said the two men received instructions and materials to make a homemade bomb for possible use on Jewish targets.

Spaniards protest housing crisis as Sánchez weighs snap vote

With a potential early election looming, the demonstrations highlight growing frustration with the country's political establishment.

Sandu slams Russia as attack debris hits Moldova in latest airspace violation

Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Saturday hit out at Moscow after saying debris from five Russian air attack weapons violated the country’s airspace and exploded on the country’s territory.

Russia hits major Kyiv bridge, logistics hub in latest attack

Russia struck a key bridge in Kyiv connecting the left and right bank of the Dnipro river overnight Saturday, as Moscow steps up its aerial campaign against Ukraine. Traffic was suspended on the ca

Widdecombe murder suspect charged with planning terror act on Nigel Farage

British authorities have charged a man accused of murdering former lawmaker Anne Widdecombe with planning a terror attack against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Wie Russland die NATO provoziert. Mit Carlo Masala

Eine Drohne mit Sprengstoff an einer ukrainischen Frachtmaschine in Leipzig, Explosionen in Munitionsfabriken und Sabotage auf See. Russland intensiviert seine hybride Kriegsführung mitten in Europa und testet gezielt die roten Linien der NATO. Doch was passiert, wenn ein solcher Anschlag auf deutschem Boden tatsächlich gelingt und den Bündnisfall auslöst? Darüber spricht Gordon Repinski in dieser

Latvian PM faces bittersweet victory in election backdropped by Russia

An EU sanctions showdown could strengthen the position of Andris Kulbergs, but a coalition puzzle awaits.

‘Maxi merde’: French presidential campaign rattled by a week of chaos

Nobody has emerged unscathed, but the spotlight is firmly on the far left and the far right.

Polanski’s Greens look for their next opening

BRIGHTON, England  — Green leader Zack Polanski has claimed credit for Andy Burnham’s recent arrival in No. 10. Now he’s trying to convince people that his party can still do more to move national politics.

17 countries join forces to oppose EU budget cuts

BRUSSELS — Seventeen EU governments have publicly warned against cuts to agriculture and regional payouts in the next seven-year budget, in a rebuke of Germany’s stance in the negotiations.

G7 agrees to release oil reserves after U.S. push

BRUSSELS — The G7 group of rich countries has agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil over the next four months, following intense pressure from the Trump administration for Europe to tap its stockpiles of diesel.

Šefčovič: Verhandlung mit China noch ohne Ergebnisse

MILWAUKEE – China und die EU seien in Bezug auf ein mögliches Handelsabkommen „noch lange nicht am Ziel“, sagte EU-Handelskommissar Maroš Šefčovič am Donnerstag (Ortszeit) im Gespräch mit POLITICO. Die Gespräche seien „konstruktiv, aber schwierig“.

G7 to hold emergency talks over possible diesel release

BRUSSELS — The G7 club of rich countries are preparing to convene later today to explore whether to release further diesel reserves to bring down fuel prices.

Frankreich erwägt Freigabe von Öl- und Dieselreserven nach US-Druck

BRÜSSEL – Französische Regierungsvertreter haben am Freitag bei Krisengesprächen eine umfangreiche Freigabe strategischer Öl- und Dieselreserven vorgeschlagen, wie zwei mit den Einzelheiten des Treffens vertraute Personen POLITICO berichteten. Zuvor hatte Washington europäische Regierungen gedrängt, ihre Vorräte auszuschütten, andernfalls drohe ein Verbot von US-Dieselexporten.

Tories warn Burnham’s EU ‘pandering’ will shred post-Brexit trade deals

LONDON — The architects of Britain’s first post-Brexit trade deals have warned that the country’s independent trade policy is under threat after Andy Burnham pledged a major review of the country’s relationship with the EU.

Diesel : sous la pression des Etats-Unis, l’exécutif envisage de libérer une part importante de ses réserves

BRUXELLES — Lors de discussions d’urgence vendredi, le gouvernement français a évoqué la possibilité de libérer une partie des stocks stratégiques de pétrole et de gazole, après que l’administration Trump a fait pression sur les pays européens pour qu’ils mettent leurs réserves sur le marché, a appris POLITICO de deux personnes au fait des échanges.

Spain’s Sánchez weighs calling snap election as housing defeat looms

High-ranking members of the Spanish government suggested Friday that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez could call a snap election if key housing decrees fail to pass in the morning’s emergency parliamentary session.

France floats major oil and diesel reserve release in response to US pressure

BRUSSELS — French officials proposed a large release of strategic oil and diesel reserves during emergency talks Friday after Washington urged European capitals to tap stockpiles or face a potentially crippling ban on fuel exports, according to two people briefed on the meeting.

Speed up EU health security prep, says NATO chief medic

Want to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up here to receive the reporting and intel from the Gastein Health Forum. SNEAK PEEK — Health security dominated the penultimate day at the European Health Forum Gastein, with calls for Europe to be better prepared to protect health infrastructure.  — Parliament’s environment committee backs

How a failed attack in Leipzig revealed a wider Russian campaign

Documents obtained by the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network trace drone bombs, incendiary parcels and arson attacks to Russian intelligence.

Trumps Diesel-Drohung gegen Europa

Donald Trump setzt die EU massiv unter Druck: Sein Energieminister Chris Wright fordert die Freigabe europäischer Dieselreserven, um amerikanische Rekordpreise zu drücken. Andernfalls droht ein US-Exportstopp, der auch in Europa einen Preisschock auslösen würde. Ob Brüssel der Erpressung nachgibt, beleuchtet diese Folge. Innenpolitisch bahnt sich der nächste Krach an, nachdem das Kanzleramt die geplante Zuckersteuer

Russia’s not-quite-war on Europe

Europe’s gray-zone war with Russia is getting harder to ignore. Sarah Wheaton speaks to security expert and author Elisabeth Braw about how Europe should respond as sabotage, arson, cyberattacks and attacks on critical infrastructure become more frequent and more dangerous, who pays when businesses are targeted, and what happens when one of them turns deadly.

Conservative ex-mayor Andy Street out of the running for top railways job

Labour ministers have now spent more than eight months seeking a chair for Britain’s nationalized railway network — as people who have worked with Street believe he could return to frontline politi

Burnham wants to change British elections. Voters think they’re fine as is

Polling for POLITICO by Public First finds that most adults, regardless of party affiliation, believe the current voting system is fair.

Europe war-games life after Merz

The German chancellor's foes at home are rejoicing at his political downturn. But those in Brussels aren't.

Israel’s Herzog calls British sanctions a ‘grave mistake,’ accuses UK of election interference

Israeli President Isaac Herzog accused Britain of intervening in his country’s elections through sanctions he called “unfair and politically motivated,” urging his European allies to talk with Israel before blaming the country.

‘Tough’ talks with China have yet to deliver, EU trade chief says

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — China and the EU “are definitely not there yet” on a prospective trade deal, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told POLITICO Thursday, calling months of talks “constructive, but tough.”

Albania’s PM to US Democrats: Don’t use us to get revenge on Trump

TIRANA, Albania — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took a playful shot at U.S. Democrats over ongoing “Flamingo Revolution” protests against a planned luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

As Germany’s far right rises, weakened Merz looks to project strength and resolve against Putin

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz moved to reassure allies in Europe and Kyiv that his domestic political weakness would not erode his government’s support for Ukraine as the war nears its fifth winter.

EU ministers explore new emergency migration measures

Athens proposes temporarily suspending asylum applications in emergency situations — and the idea has support from Berlin and Vienna.

British-Iranian man arrested in RAF Fairford investigation

LONDON — U.K. counter-terrorism police have arrested a British-Iranian man on suspicion of terrorism offenses as part of their investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford.

Un budget “réversible” ? Ce que le prochain gouvernement pourra vraiment défaire

Pour rendre son projet de loi de finances acceptable, le gouvernement insiste sur le fait qu’une partie de son contenu sera modifiable “dès sa première semaine” par le prochain exécutif.

EU, Ukraine agree to accelerate €45B loan payout in 2027

BRUSSELS — The European Commission and Ukraine have reached a deal to accelerate the disbursement of €45 billion earmarked for Kyiv in 2027 under the EU’s €90 billion loan program, they said Thursday in a joint statement.

‘We have not delivered’: Germany’s Wadephul criticizes slow EU enlargement progress

BUDVA, Montenegro — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged EU countries on Thursday to deliver on enlargement promises to the Western Balkans, warning that the bloc’s credibility and its influence in the region are at stake.

Diesel américain : la France et quatre autres pays européens s’accordent sur une réponse “ferme”

BRUXELLES — Cinq pays européens, dont la France, ont convenu lors d’une réunion d’urgence jeudi de répondre “d’une seule voix” aux pressions croissantes exercées par le gouvernement américain pour qu’ils libèrent leurs réserves stratégiques de gazole, a appris POLITICO auprès de plusieurs personnes au fait des discussions.

Lecornu à quitte ou double

Après avoir dévoilé jeudi son budget pour 2027, Sébastien Lecornu va engager une longue bataille politique pour tenter de le faire adopter avant la fin de l’année. Ordonnances ou 49.3 : quels sont les scénarios sur la table ? Comment le projet de loi de finances a-t-il été construit pour amadouer les oppositions ? Quelles

Europäische Länder vereinbaren „entschlossene“ Reaktion auf Diesel-Druck aus den USA

BRÜSSEL — Fünf europäische Länder haben sich am Donnerstag bei einem Krisentreffen darauf geeinigt, „mit einer Stimme“ auf den wachsenden Druck der US-Regierung zu reagieren, europäische Dieselreserven freizugeben. Das erfuhr POLITICO aus Kreisen, die mit der Angelegenheit vertraut sind.

Comment les patrons de Meta et Nvidia ont œuvré en coulisses pour l’accord de la Maison-Blanche sur l’IA

Mark Zuckerberg et Jensen Huang ont cherché à mobiliser des soutiens en faveur des accords “moralement contraignants”, signés par Donald Trump et des dirigeants de la tech.

It’s war, not hybrid attacks, says Estonian foreign minister

European leaders must stop calling Russian attacks “hybrid,” according to Estonia’s foreign minister. They are “terror attacks” and “sabotage attacks,” Margus Tsahkna told POLITICO in an interview, and part of a systematic Russian effort against Europe that amounts to “some kind of war.”

European countries agree on ‘assertive’ response to US pressure on diesel

BRUSSELS — Five European countries agreed at an emergency meeting Thursday to respond with “one voice” to growing pressure from the U.S. government to release reserves of diesel, according to people familiar with the matter.

Macron’s final budget hinges on Le Pen’s backing … for now

PARIS — The French government on Thursday proposed a 2027 budget with €43 billion in savings that seem designed to appease Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, the National Rally, and reassure markets frightened over France’s increasingly dire fiscal outlook.

Wie Trumps Energieminister die EU zur Freigabe von Dieselreserven drängt

Mehrere EU-Staaten – darunter Deutschland – wurden von Chris Wright mit dem Angebot kontaktiert, entweder ihre Dieselreserven anzuzapfen, oder ein Exportverbot von US-Diesel zu riskieren.

Kubilius: Russian attack on arms factory would trigger NATO military response

BRUSSELS — A Russian bombing attack on a European weapons factory should trigger NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, the EU’s top defense official said Thursday.

French government calls crisis meeting as some school blockades turn violent

PARIS — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called an emergency meeting on Thursday to address the fast-growing number of student protests across the country.

France increases defense budget despite strained public finances

PARIS — France will increase its defense budget next year despite increasingly strained public finances, according to a document obtained by POLITICO.

Latvia detains couple suspected of spying for Russia

Latvia has detained two of its citizens since June on suspicion of spying for Russia’s military intelligence agency and using a private aircraft to surveil an army base hosting NATO forces, authorities said Thursday.

Spain’s warning on drug pricing deals

Want to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up here to receive the reporting and intel from the Gastein Health Forum. SNEAK PEEK — Europe must band together to tackle drug pricing pressures rather than being picked off one by one, Spain’s Health Secretary Javier Padilla Bernáldez tells Morning Health Care. — Parliament’s

Grüne und SPD: Die Linke-Gewissensfrage in Berlin

Ein vermeintliches Sondierungsgespräch wird zum Vorgespräch: Wenn sich SPD und Grüne in Berlin heute mit der Linken treffen, geht es nicht ums künftige gemeinsame Regieren, sondern um rote Linien. Antisemitismus-Vorwürfe und mögliche Clan-Nähe belasten das Verhältnis schwer. Ob unter diesen Vorzeichen überhaupt ein Bündnis möglich ist oder die Parteien in Richtung einer Kenia-Koalition abbiegen, entscheidet

The €865 billion brainstorming session

Ukraine’s prime minister is warning of a $20 billion defense funding gap as Russia intensifies its attacks and Kyiv struggles to protect its skies and keep the country running. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton look at just how much pressure Ukraine is under — from its military finances to farmers struggling to get their grain

Trump says diesel export ban is still on the table

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he hasn’t yet made up his mind on whether to impose a ban on diesel fuel exports, despite fierce pushback on the idea in recent days from the oil and gas industry and some of his own advisers.

Securing coastal waters for small-scale fishers: Lessons from Ghana

Ghana's small-scale fishers spent a decade fighting for their coastal waters, winning an expanded Preferential Access Area. As Europe prepares its Ocean Act, small-scale fishers are demanding EU leaders listen.

Trolling Trump: Why Macron and Carney became ‘leaders of the resistance’

The French and Canadian leaders have been giving as good as they get. But is it a good idea to go mano a mano with the U.S. president?

FlyDubai suspends flights to and from Israel after pilot stabbing

FlyDubai Airlines has suspended all its flights to and from Israel after one pilot stabbed another on a flight to Tel Aviv, causing the plane to plummet thousands of feet.

Inside Zuckerberg, Huang’s push for White House AI pact

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was the chief architect of the “morally binding” AI accords that emerged from Tuesday’s White House lunch with President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and more than a dozen tech executives, according to five people familiar with the private meeting.

Hegseth vows to shrink the Pentagon — and then announces plans to grow it

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday pulled together hundreds of troops to lay out cuts to the Pentagon’s bureaucracy — and ended up announcing major plans to add to it.

Meloni implores von der Leyen to let countries overspend to battle energy crunch

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants the European Commission to relax its fiscal rules to allow countries to better help firms and families deal with rising prices, driven by a crunch in energy supply.

Key allies left out of Trump’s new in-crowd NATO group

Some of Europe’s biggest defense spenders — and U.S. allies — were not invited to a Pentagon-led meeting to discuss the alliance.

Ukraine’s war chest is running low at the worst possible moment

With winter looming, Kyiv faces a cash crunch just as Russia ramps up its effort to crush its economy.

Zack Polanski’s big gamble — and the plan if it fails

The Greens are bracing for questions about their leader's future — and wider strategy — if they lose the Holborn and St Pancras by-election next Thursday.

UK says Iran involved in RAF Fairford incident

LONDON — Britain believes Iran was involved in the incident at a British airbase used by the United States which saw five men arrested on suspicion of terrorism, U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.

L’UE accusée de dissimuler l’impact environnemental des datacenters

Une ONG a déposé une plainte, affirmant que la Commission européenne dissimulerait des données sur la consommation d'énergie et d'eau des centres de données, portant ainsi atteinte au droit de savoir des citoyens.

Y’a-t-il le feu au lac chez Edouard Philippe ?

Sans dynamique dans les sondages, Edouard Philippe parviendra-t-il à donner du souffle à sa campagne ? Le candidat Horizons a enfin présenté sa réforme des retraites qui prévoit de repousser l’âge légal de départ à 65 ans. Cela lui permettra-t-elle d’enlever le sparadrap du “candidat des 67 ans”, tout en convaincant les électeurs de droite

Macron and Sánchez say UK would be ‘welcome’ back in EU

LONDON — French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have welcomed Andy Burnham’s plan to unpick Brexit.

Europe’s energy security has a Black Sea opportunity

A second Libyan crude delivery and plans to expand the Kulevi Oil Refinery show how Black Sea Petroleum could broaden Europe’s fuel supply options.

Farage spoils for a Brexit brawl with Burnham

LIVERPOOL, England — Nigel Farage will use a speech in a Brexit-backing Labour heartland to start the fightback after Andy Burnham reignited Britain’s EU debate.

Eurozone inflation heats up faster than expected

A faster-than-expected inflation jump across the eurozone’s biggest economies raises the odds that the European Central Bank will hike interest rates again this year to bring price growth down to target.

Das Anti-Euro-Dilemma

Die AfD steckt in einem Konflikt über ihre einstige Kernforderung. Während Parteichefin Alice Weidel und der europapolitische Sprecher Peter Boehringer den EU-Austritt als Ultima Ratio ins Spiel bringen, wirbt der Chef der Parteijugend Pascal Hohm für den Erhalt des Euro. Warum dieser Vorstoß für Turbulenzen sorgt, analysieren Pauline von Pezold und Frederik Schindler. In Sachsen-Anhalt

EU and Canada to announce sweeping new partnership pact

BRUSSELS — The EU and Canada will use a landmark summit next month to announce an expansive new partnership, ranging from breaking down digital trade barriers to joint support for Ukraine and investing in fighting wildfires.

Romanian political crisis deepens as parliament rejects PM nominee

Romania’s parliament rejected Siegfried Mureșan’s attempt to form a government Wednesday, deepening a crisis that began when the coalition collapsed in May.

6 ’eminent persons’ to weigh ban on European far-right party

BRUSSELS — Six people appointed by the EU institutions will start discussing on Thursday whether the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations should be banned as a European party and lose funding, according to an internal note seen by POLITICO.

European police forces drop Russian software firm following POLITICO probe

BRUSSELS— Multiple European law-enforcement agencies will stop using Oxygen Forensics, a digital surveillance company accused of concealing its Russian ownership, after POLITICO revealed its spying services had been sold to police forces across the continent.

EU to offer single-market access to candidate countries

Economic benefits would be conditional and can be taken away if non-members backslide on democracy or share sensitive tech with unfriendly governments, the plan says.

UK’s Burnham says he’ll consider push to rejoin EU

LIVERPOOL, England — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham made clear that an attempt to rejoin the European Union could be among the options his government considers as it eyes a fundamental shift in the country’s relationship with the bloc.

Time to get tough on food, booze and tobacco

Want to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up here to receive the reporting and intel from the Gastein Health Forum. SNEAK PEEK — Don’t shy away from regulating food, alcohol and tobacco to tackle Europe’s biggest threat to society — chronic diseases — says the head of Austria’s food and drugs agency.