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?

Visit the post for more.

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

Visit the post for more.

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.

Wie Merz in der Wirtschaft den Macron macht

Die deutsche Wirtschaft sendet widersprüchliche Signale: Während der Ifo-Index leicht steigt, kündigen Autokonzerne Werksschließungen an. Was ist aus der milliardenschweren Initiative „Made for Germany“ von Friedrich Merz geworden? POLITICO-Industrieexperte Tom Schmidtgen analysiert, ob die versprochenen Investitionen echtes Geld sind und was der anstehende „Invest in Germany Summit“ mit dem Kanzler bringt. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview erklärt der

Antisemitism allegations shake Le Pen’s party

Ursula von der Leyen is heading on her annual tour of the Western Balkans to visit some of the countries in line to join the EU. But Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia, two accession hopefuls, are not on the itinerary. On the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss why EU membership talks are speeding

Labour conference special: Manchester’s new mayor

On a special edition of Westminster Insider from Labour Party conference, Pat and Sascha sat down with the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, at the POLITICO Pub in Liverpool. In a conversation recorded in front of a live audience on Tuesday, shortly before Andy Burnham’s conference speech, Craig opened up about what it’s

Labour picks a side on Gaza — and cheers the party faithful

Sanctions on Israeli settlements buoyed pro-Gaza Labour supporters at the party's Liverpool conference. But critics fear politics are trumping diplomacy.

Governments brace for €100B cut to EU budget proposal

BRUSSELS — EU governments are preparing for the upcoming proposal on the bloc’s next long-term budget to include spending cuts of over €100 billion, four EU diplomats with knowledge of the discussions told POLITICO.

Bruxelles veut clarifier les responsabilités des autorités face aux catastrophes climatiques

La nouvelle proposition de la Commission européenne cherchera à préciser qui, des autorités nationales ou locales, est chargé de gérer les feux de forêt et les inondations.

Tax cuts, handouts and blind hope: Europe finds few tools to fight a coming energy crunch

European energy ministers gathered in Dublin had limited new ideas to protect against a winter of soaring power bills.

Greek opposition jabs ruling party over reported threats from Trump’s envoy

ATHENS — Greek opposition parties are pressing the government to clarify whether Donald Trump’s ambassador threatened a minister to cajole him into line with U.S. energy policies.

Merz says Lavrov comments show Moscow not interested in serious negotiations

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday Moscow had proven it was not ready for “serious talks” after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized a surprise meeting with his German counterpart.

UK energy infrastructure under constant threat, minister warns

LIVERPOOL, England — The U.K. faces threats against its energy infrastructure “all the time,” a government minister told the Labour Party annual conference.

Andy Burnham keeps his options open on Brexit

The U.K. prime minister said he would lay out different paths for the future EU relationship at a summit later this year.

Interdiction des exportations de diesel : Trump devrait y renoncer, positivent des responsables européens

DUBLIN — Des hauts responsables de l’UE se sont montrés prudemment optimistes, mardi, quant à la possibilité que le président américain Donald Trump revienne sur sa menace d’interdire les exportations de diesel pendant quatre-vingt-dix jours, afin de lutter contre la hausse des prix.

EU countries push for weaker environmental safeguards in fishing sector funding rules

The move sets up a fight with the Commission over the treatment of fisheries in the EU budget.

Dans les coulisses de la fin du macronisme

La droite et le centre apparaissent plus faibles que jamais au sortir des deux mandats d’Emmanuel Macron. Quelle responsabilité porte le président dans l’état de déliquescence de son propre camp ? Pauline Thiévenaud, journaliste à RTL, et Jérémy Marot, journaliste à l’AFP, ont mené 160 entretiens et racontent dans « Le crépuscule des princes »,

Burnham pledges to scrap pension triple lock from 2030

LIVERPOOL, England ― U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham today pledged to scrap the controversial pension triple lock by 2030, replacing it with a new mechanism that he says will fund his national care service.

Budget : comment Matignon compte durcir l’accès des étrangers aux APL et allocations familiales

Si la mesure est adoptée, les étrangers devront justifier d’un an de résidence avant de toucher certaines prestations familiales.

Le Pen faces fallout after Bardella accused of antisemitic remarks

The National Rally president vigorously denies the allegations, which are rattling Le Pen’s presidential campaign.

UK must avoid US-style climate debate, minister says

LIVERPOOL, England — The U.K. should not follow the U.S. into a “binary” debate on climate policy, a government minister warned Tuesday.

Scottish Labour leader says UK rejoining EU ‘not a realistic prospect’

LIVERPOOL — Scottish Labour’s new leader, Michael Marra, said he does not believe there is a “realistic prospect” of the U.K. rejoining the European Union because of “huge political instability” across the continent.

Alan Milburn rejects tax cut for youth jobs

LIVERPOOL, England — Chancellor John Healey doesn’t have the cash to scrap employer national insurance contributions for young people, the U.K. government’s youth employment adviser Alan Milburn said Tuesday.

French presidential hopeful Philippe proposes pushing retirement age to 65

PARIS — French presidential candidate Edouard Philippe pitched gradually raising the country’s legal age of retirement from 64 to 65 for most workers in his much-anticipated pensions reform plan unveiled on Tuesday.

UK’s global role in AI safety ‘not diminished’ by Trump, says AI minister

LIVERPOOL, England — The U.K.’s ability to take a global lead on AI safety is “not diminished in the slightest” by the Trump administration’s positioning on the technology, AI Minister Kanishka Narayan told the POLITICO Pub at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

EU zuversichtlich, dass Trump seinen Plan für einen Dieselexport-Stopp aufgeben wird

DUBLIN – Regierungsvertreter der EU und ihrer Mitgliedstaaten äußerten sich am Dienstag vorsichtig optimistisch, dass US-Präsident Donald Trump seine Drohung, Dieselexporte für 90 Tage auszusetzen, zurücknehmen werde.

French debt hits 119% of GDP

PARIS — France accrued nearly €3.6 trillion in debt amounting to 119% of gross domestic product as of the end of June, national statistics agency Insee said Tuesday.

EU officials confident Trump will drop plan to ban diesel exports

DUBLIN — Senior EU officials expressed cautious optimism Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump would renege on his threat to exports of diesel for 90-days to combat rising prices.

EU’s net payers insist on ‘several hundred billion euros’ in budget cuts

BRUSSELS — A coalition of wealthy EU nations is demanding that the next long-term budget be dramatically scaled back as diplomats and officials try to reach a deal by year-end.

EU weighs axing exam board

BRUSSELS — The European Commission is considering major changes to its civil service exam board amid a budget squeeze and growing criticism — including possibly scrapping it, two EU officials told POLITICO Brussels Playbook.

Gastein health conference gets underway

SNEAK PEEK — Clemens Martin Auer, president of the European Health Forum Gastein, calls for more action ahead of a four-day health conference.  — The health committee wants action on rare diseases and cancer, as watered-down wording over alcohol spurred controversy.  — U.S. tariffs of up to 100% on pharmaceuticals and their ingredients are set

Trump, diesel and Europe’s new energy squeeze

Another surge in energy prices risks making life even more expensive for Europeans — especially once winter rolls around. So when EU energy ministers meet in Dublin today, affordability will be at the top of their agenda. On the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss just how bad the price spike is and how

Pflegereform: Eigentor für Linnemann?

Einst ein Shootingstar der CDU, nun auf dem politischen Abstellgleis: Jens Spahn hat sich massiv verkalkuliert. Nachdem er über den Widerspruch zu seiner öffentlichen Position zur Leihmutterschaft und diametralen privaten Entscheidungen als Unions-Fraktionschef gestolpert ist, zieht er sich nun auf Druck nach nur kurzer Zeit von seinem neuen Posten im Haushaltsausschuss zurück. Rixa Fürsen analysiert

‘Do better for Australia’: OpenAI apologizes for unauthorized access

CANBERRA — OpenAI has apologized to Australia for unauthorized access to Medicare statistical data by its agents and its handling of the incident, promising to do better and rebuild trust with the Australian public.

Brits want to get closer to the EU — and even Farage’s voters agree

LIVERPOOL, England — Seven out of ten voters want the government to build a closer relationship with the European Union, according to a new POLITICO Poll that shows the extent of support for overhauling the Brexit settlement.

Mélenchon’s plan to beat the far right: Grab the first-time voters

The leftist veteran believes that young voters as well as those from working-class suburbs and with immigrants roots can propel him to the runoff, where he'd likely face off against Marine Le Pen.

Send rejected asylum-seekers out of EU ASAP, urges Greek minister

A pilot project to send migrants who have been denied the right to stay in the EU to designated 'return' countries will be in place by early next year, Greece’s migration minister told POLITICO.

Block US sanctions on ICC, EU lawmakers tell Commission

EU lawmakers are calling for the Commission to forbid European firms and banks from applying U.S. sanctions, as Washington weighs sanctioning the International Criminal Court over its actions concerning Israel.

Burnham’s EU push reopens Labour’s Brexit divide

Cabinet members were all over the place ahead of the prime minister's big Labour address.

Farage is still Labour’s main opponent, says party chair

LIVERPOOL, England — Reform UK is still the “main threat” to Labour despite Nigel Farage’s party tumbling in the polls, according to Labour Chair Bridget Phillipson.

Budget : le gouvernement envisage un gel “réversible” des retraites

PARIS — D’après un projet d’article du projet de loi de financement de la Sécurité sociale consulté par POLITICO, le gouvernement souhaite décider par décret du gel ou de la sous-indexation des pensions, au-delà de 1260 euros.

Labour conference: 6 things we learned down the POLITICO Pub

We swilled pints and grilled Labour politicians — from Ed Miliband to Bridget Phillipson — so you didn’t have to.

Northern Ireland leader accused of joining ‘mob’ to block Protestant parade

Unionists demand criminal consequences for First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin — who joined the road blockade against the Orange Order — as Northern Ireland’s government threatens to unravel.

Treasury minister says City experience ‘not a conflict’

LIVERPOOL, England — U.K. Treasury minister Emma Reynolds said Monday that her City experience is “not a conflict” amid speculation that the government will raise taxes on banks at the next budget.

Qu’est-ce qui peut encore arrêter le RN ?

Intentions de votes à la présidentielle, résultats aux sénatoriales, enlisement du bloc central : tout semble rouler pour Marine Le Pen. Mais tous les voyants sont-ils réellement au vert à sept mois du premier tour ? Comment faut-il analyser la contre-offensive de Jordan Bardella et de sa compagne dans la presse ce week-end ? Anthony

Ukraine regains territory and captures POWs in frontline push

Operation Vivaldi has seen Ukraine make progress against Russian forces, which had been threatening a key fortress city.

Britain needs tougher steel trade defenses, Cabinet minister says

LIVERPOOL, England — Wales Secretary Stephen Kinnock is pushing for tougher steel trade defenses for British producers, amid concerns firms are being undercut by cheap imports.

French far right’s Bardella denies reports he made antisemitic comments

PARIS — The president of France’s far-right National Rally, Jordan Bardella, “categorically denied” accusations by French investigative outlet Mediapart that he had shared antisemitic remarks in private conversations as a teenage activist.

Wes Streeting: Britain and Europe must get out of ‘defensive crouch’

LIVERPOOL, England — Britain and Europe need to get out of their “defensive crouch,” Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Monday, as he argued that U.S. pressure on European allies will ultimately result in a stronger Europe.

UK slavery reparations not on the table, says Ed Miliband

LIVERPOOL, England — British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rejected Monday the idea of the U.K. paying reparations to Commonwealth nations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Lucy Powell ‘confident’ Labour will win Holborn and St Pancras by-election

LIVERPOOL, England — Labour’s deputy leader has said she is “confident” her party will win the upcoming crunch by-election in the north London seat of Holborn and St Pancras — seeing off a fierce challenge from the Green Party.

SPONSORED EPISODE: What is polyester worth?

As ultra-fast fashion has gotten cheaper, textiles have become disposable to many Europeans. The average EU consumer purchased 95 articles of textiles last year — an increase of 12 percent since 2019. Europe now discards about 9 million tons of polyester textiles annually. That’s the weight of roughly 900 Eiffel Towers.  Those unwanted clothes could

Pope Leo urges concessions to end war in Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV encouraged compromise and urged warring parties to make concessions to secure peace in Ukraine during a closely watched speech about Europe in France.

New bill to soften Starmer-era scrapping of jury trials, justice secretary confirms

LIVERPOOL, England — Justice Secretary Alex Norris confirmed that a new Courts Bill will seek to address criticism of the Keir Starmer-era plan to scrap up to half of all jury trials in England and Wales.

Andy Burnham to go ‘further and faster’ than Keir Starmer on Brexit reset

LIVERPOOL, England — Andy Burnham’s government will go “further and faster” in rebuilding links with the European Union, his EU relations minister has said.

Healey admits money ‘simply not there’ but vows to back British businesses

U.K. Chancellor John Healey admitted that the money Tony Blair’s 1990s Labour government had is “simply not there” now, but vowed to grow a “bigger cake” of wealth by backing British businesses.

EU seeks NATO-style response to Russian hybrid attacks

BRUSSELS — EU defense ministers want the bloc to develop a common response to the growing wave of Russian hybrid attacks.

Far right scores historic victory in French Senate election

PARIS — Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won enough seats to form a group in the French Senate elections Sunday, giving the far-right party better representation in leadership roles and committees in the upper house of parliament.

Can Chancellor John Healey avoid big tax rises?

The Labour Party conference enters day two under the shadow of a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford and whether the Iranians were involved. As Donald Trump offers his account, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the conflicting versions of events, the emerging security concerns around the Gloucestershire airbase and the political reaction. Meanwhile in

Hendrik Wüst: Zwischen Hürden und Hoffnung für die CDU

Nordrhein-Westfalens Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst (CDU) gilt als Reservekanzler, doch im eigenen Bundesland schrumpft vor den Landtagswahlen in Nordrhein-Westfalen im April 2027 der Vorsprung vor der AfD. Mit einer Reise in die Türkei betritt er Wüst in diesen Tagen außenpolitisches Parkett. Rasmus Buchsteiner ordnet ein, was hinter der Mission steckt und wie Wüst seine bundespolitischen Ambitionen

Why the EU must stand firm on its Common Fisheries Policy

Sustainability is not the antithesis to economic performance, but its foundation.

Biotechnology at scale: Europe’s next competitiveness challenge

Visit the post for more.

Putin is testing NATO on Norway’s remote Arctic islands

Russia’s rising hybrid activity on Svalbard is sparking fears that Moscow could spark an incident that tests NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause.

Europe’s divided conservatives launch 2029 plan to beat far right

As Manfred Weber launches a task force to shape the EPP’s 2029 platform, internal records and interviews reveal the party’s defining choice: hold the center or move further right.

EU is drawing up membership action plans for most promising candidates

For the first time, Brussels is considering setting target dates for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania to complete key stages of accession talks.

Independent wins Kraków election first round ahead of Tusk-backed candidate

Independent Łukasz Gibała won Sunday’s snap mayoral election in Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, setting up an Oct. 11 runoff against a candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition.

UK Cabinet minister says push to undo Brexit is hitting business

LIVERPOOL, England — U.K. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned Sunday that “constitutional questions” around Britain’s EU relationship are causing “uncertainty” for business.

Burnham must be ‘selective’ in conference speech, says key ally

LIVERPOOL, England — Andy Burnham must be “selective” in the story he tells when he delivers his first conference speech as prime minister and Labour leader later this week, one of his closest allies said Sunday.

Russian tech surveillance company infiltrated Europe’s law enforcement agencies

The same technology used by Western police was allegedly being developed in Russia and sold to Russian security services.

EU Commission calls on countries to cut energy demands as costs surge

In a letter seen by POLITICO, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen asked ministers to introduce new measures “in the context of constrained global supply.”

Swiss say no to hardening neutrality principle, safeguarding sanctions on Russia

Swiss voters appear to have rejected a proposal to introduce a more rigid enforcement of the country’s neutrality principle — repudiating an idea which would have made imposing sanctions against Moscow more difficult.

Northern Ireland standoff puts peace and power-sharing at risk

A sudden revival of the 1990s confrontations between Orange Order marchers and Catholic demonstrators puts the police back in the middle — and leaders of Northern Ireland’s supposed unity government on opposite sides.

Major incident declared at UK air base used by US forces

Police in the U.K. have declared a major incident at Fairford air base in Gloucestershire, south-west England, after several men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the explosives act.

Labour conference 2026: What POLITICO reporters will be watching for

Here are key dynamics driving the annual gathering of the U.K.'s governing party —Andy Burnham's first in charge.

Germany’s Wadephul meets Russia’s Lavrov amid tensions over ‘escalation’

NEW YORK — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held a surprise meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the U.N. on Saturday, just one day after he welcomed the U.S. invite for Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit.

‘You can’t win’: Ireland’s football team to play Israel despite player protest

DUBLIN — Ireland’s football players voted behind closed doors Saturday to proceed with their match against Israel — but their coach conceded that his squad was close to “breaking” over the matter.

Eleven charged with murder aggravated by speech against ‘white race’ in France

Eleven defendants will face trial in France after being accused of killing a 16-year-old in 2023 while engaging in speech “against the white race and the French nation,” according to a judicial order seen by POLITICO.

Trump rejects Iran’s latest Strait of Hormuz deal offer

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Friday said his country is offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and resume talks on its nuclear program in exchange for concessions from Washington.

Trump’s G20 invite to Putin is an ‘opportunity,’ German foreign minister says

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul Friday said that the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a G20 meeting could be the start of “serious negotiations” to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ein Spaziergang mit Karl Lauterbach

Präsentiert von Lockheed Martin.

Dutch opposition party votes to join European Socialist family

The largest opposition party in the Netherlands has chosen to join the European Socialists rather than the Greens in an internal vote, the results of which were announced Friday.

Pope Leo calls for dialogue as France’s populist forces eye power

PARIS — Pope Leo XIV urged France to embrace dialogue and diversity Friday, in a veiled swipe at populists as he arrived in Paris for a four-day visit.

Zelenskyy warns $27B funding gap could leave Ukraine short of weapons

KYIV — Ukraine needs to secure $27 billion to plug a hole in its defense budget in the next two months or risk being unable to buy weapons early next year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp chat Friday.

Burnham plans first Berlin visit for talks with Merz

BERLIN — U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to travel to Berlin in early October for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to two people familiar with preparations for the visit.

Von der Leyen ally slams EU Commission’s AI response

The European Commission has failed to keep pace with AI developments, Axel Voss, a key German conservative lawmaker on tech policy, said in an interview.

Pope’s artificial intelligence guru admits he doesn’t use AI

BERLIN — Pope Leo XIV’s cardinal who heads the Vatican’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence has admitted he doesn’t use AI — despite being four months into a job intended to engage the Church with the AI revolution.

Deutschland und Spanien zetteln Papierkrieg zu „Made in Europe“-Auslegung an

Berlin strebt einen breit aufgestellten Verbund von Handelspartnern an, während Madrid ein gestaffeltes System vorschlägt, bei dem in der EU hergestellte Waren Vorrang genießen.

Hält der Tankrabatt, was Merz verspricht?

Präsentiert von Lockheed Martin.

2027 : LE BAROMÈTRE DU REJET

POLITICO et Cluster 17 s’associent pour publier un baromètre mensuel permettant de mesurer le niveau de rejet des principaux candidats à la présidentielle dans l’opinion. Et donc, en creux, leur véritable capacité de rassemblement au second tour.

Switzerland’s neutrality vote puts Russia sanctions on the line

Voters will decide in a referendum on Sunday on whether to make Switzerland's historic neutrality even more legally binding.

The Pope is fretting about frontier AI — what’s the EU’s answer?

European lawmakers this week called for the EU’s artificial intelligence regulations to hold American tech companies liable for the risks their most advanced models pose to humanity. But how much sway does Europe have in an arms race dominated by the U.S. and China? Host Anne McElvoy has been in Berlin attending WELT’s AI Summit,

Boredom, ranting and clowns: Welcome to the UN’s big bash

The U.N. General Assembly walks a fine line between excitement and tedium.

Netanyahu uses UN address to highlight Trump ties — and harangue everyone else

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a critical election next month, emphasized his close ties with President Donald Trump during his speech to the United Nations on Thursday while trashing a long list of real and perceived enemies.

OpenAI’s agents went rogue — its human response caused the real damage

If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up free here. Confide in me: Send your tips to this generic inbox, canberraplaybook@poltico.com. ESSENTIALS — It’s time to sort out human responsibility for AI agents — China’s record nuclear expansion — Whyalla steelworks: The distressed plant has repaid more than $5 million in government grants

EU Parliament president urges Germany to do deal in US drug pricing dispute

A deal between Washington and Berlin is needed to avoid an "impossible" race on drugs, Roberta Metsola told POLITICO.

Le Pen, Mélenchon, Attal : les temps forts du sommet Playbook Paris Live de POLITICO

Trois des principaux candidats à la présidentielle ont répondu aux questions de nos journalistes. Voici ce qu’il ne fallait pas rater.

White House asks OpenAI and Anthropic to hold new models from UK testers until US review

U.K. leaders are calling for a shared set of global principles, even as the White House seeks first access to new models for testing.

Dans la fabrique de Playbook Paris

Lancée en février 2021, la newsletter Playbook Paris de POLITICO, consacrée à la vie politique, compte aujourd’hui quelque 60 000 abonnés. Recherche d’infos, relations aux sources, travail d’écriture : vous découvrirez, dans cet épisode spécial, les coulisses de la fabrique de notre infolettre quotidienne gratuite. Pauline de Saint Remy interroge les trois auteurs de la

TotalEnergies refused rescue aid during deadly Mozambique attack, inquest hears

Sworn testimony comes as energy giant faces two criminal complaints in France over its Mozambican operations.

France would defend eastern flank borders even outside NATO, says Mélenchon

PARIS — Far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to pull France from NATO — but that doesn’t mean Paris would stop protecting Europe’s external borders.

Le Pen welcomes Trump’s G20 invite for Putin

PARIS — French far-right leader and presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen is on board with U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to invite Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami in December.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon assure qu’un blocage des prix des carburants n’entraînera pas de pénurie

Bloquer les prix de l’énergie ne pose pas de risque de pénurie de carburants en France, a affirmé Jean-Luc Mélenchon lors d’un entretien à POLITICO. “Vous pensez vraiment qu’une compa

Le patron d’Intermarché maintient son appel à suspendre les CEE mais reconnaît des difficultés

PARIS — Face à l’envolée des prix des carburants et la perspective que le “seuil symbolique” des 2,50 euros le litre soit dépassé, il faut envisager une suspension des certificats d’économies d’énergie (CEE), a de nouveau appelé Thierry Cotillard, le président du groupement Les Mousquetaires (Intermarché), jeudi lors du sommet POLITICO Playbook Paris Live.

Le réchauffement climatique n’est “contesté par personne”, assure Marine Le Pen

PARIS — Après plusieurs mois où la France fut frappée de plein fouet par les conséquences du dérèglement climatique, Marine Le Pen est revenue sur ses propos relativisant la crédibilité des scénarios du Giec, la référence scientifique mondiale sur le climat, dans un entretien à POLITICO.

Le Pen says she won’t leave NATO until Russia’s war in Ukraine ends

PARIS — Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen still wants to take France out of NATO’s integrated command — but won’t do so while Russia’s war in Ukraine still rages on.

Le Pen says US diesel export ban would have ‘incalculable’ impact on French citizens

A U.S. plan to ban diesel exports would have “incalculable” consequences for French people, warned Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate in the French presidential elections, at the POLITICO Playbook Paris Live event Thursday.

Germany and Spain clash over who gets into ‘Made in Europe’

Berlin wants a broad club for trade partners, while Madrid proposes a tiered system giving EU-made goods top billing.

La France ne peut “plus aider financièrement l’Ukraine”, estime Marine Le Pen

PARIS — La France n’a plus les moyens de continuer à apporter une aide financière à l’Ukraine, a déclaré Marine Le Pen, candidate à l’élection présidentielle du Rassemblement national, lors du Playbook Paris Live de POLITICO, ce jeudi.

Marine Le Pen : “Une crise obligataire peut se déclencher du jour au lendemain”

Pour la candidate du Rassemblement national, “une crise obligataire peut se déclencher du jour au lendemain”, au vu de l’état des finances publiques françaises. Invitée du sommet Playbook P

Marine Le Pen : l’interdiction des exportations américaines de diesel aurait des conséquences “incalculables”

PARIS — Une interdiction des exportations américaines de diesel aurait des conséquences “absolument incalculables” pour les consommateurs français, a déclaré Marine Le Pen lors d’un entretien à POLITICO.

Gabriel Attal : “150 milliards d’économies, c’est une base”

Lors d’un grand entretien au sommet Playbook Paris de POLITICO, Gabriel Attal a décliné jeudi les grandes orientations de son plan budgétaire à court et moyen terme. Le candidat Renaissance

Parthenon Marbles talks stall as Athens rejects loan proposal

ATHENS — The latest round of talks on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens have stalled, as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has rejected the British Museum’s proposed arrangement.

Paris Playbook summit: Live updates

PARIS — French presidential candidates Gabriel Attal, Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon will all take the stage Thursday for interviews at POLITICO’s first-ever Playbook Paris event.

Poland says Starlink fire was sabotage

The fire at a Starlink ground station near Warsaw on Wednesday night was an act of sabotage and part of hybrid warfare against Poland, Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said Thursday morning.

Rare good news for Merz as Germany’s growth outlook jumps

FRANKFURT ― Germany’s leading economic institutes have significantly raised their growth forecasts for Europe’s largest economy, providing an unexpected bit of good news for embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The world wants to secure AI. It may have to try without the US

Proposals for global AI protections and guardrails abound this week at the U.N. General Assembly, but they can’t do much without the U.S. on board.

Der Rivale im Weißen Haus: Gipfel zwischen Trump und Xi

Wenn die mächtigsten Männer der Welt aufeinandertreffen, steht die globale Ordnung im Mittelpunkt. In Washington sprechen Donald Trump und Xi Jinping über Zölle, Taiwan und die Vorherrschaft bei Künstlicher Intelligenz. POLITICO-Reporter Hans von der Burchard analysiert, ob bei den verhärteten Fronten diplomatische Lösungen möglich sind und wo Stillstand droht. Auf der UN-Bühne in New York

SONDAGE EXCLUSIF 2027. Face à Le Pen, Mélenchon et Philippe au duel, Glucksmann garde la tête hors de l’eau

PARIS — Qui pour faire face à Marine Le Pen ? Donnée entre 30 et 31 % des intentions de vote dans le sondage Cluster 17 réalisé en exclusivité pour POLITICO entre le 15 et le 16 septembre, la candidate du RN confirme sa position de large favorite pour accéder au second tour de l’élection présidentielle de 2027. Le match pour la deuxième place est en revanche plus serré que jamais : pas de véritable favori entre Edouard Philippe (Horizons) et Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI).

Mélenchon’s allies try to temper his debt write-off rhetoric

Economic advisers to the far-left candidate are attempting to shift the debate as their champion calls to write off parts of France's sovereign debt.

Bessent says US, China trade truce extended by 2 months

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday evening that the U.S. and China have agreed to extend their trade truce, shortly after Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for two days of meetings.

US, Chinese visions for AI regulation differ sharply at UN meeting

Top officials from the U.S. and China on Wednesday promoted starkly conflicting visions for international AI safety, with the Americans arguing against expanded regulation while Beijing signaled an openness to restrictions on the technology.

Poland scrambles jets after Russian helicopter breaches its airspace

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter briefly violated Polish airspace near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Wednesday, prompting Warsaw to scramble its fighter jets.

‘Dammit, something has to happen’: White House preparing plan for 90-day diesel exports ban

Some GOP lawmakers and oil industry reps are still fighting to stave off an announcement.

A huit mois de la présidentielle, les comptes de campagne déjà sous surveillance

POLITICO a rencontré Christian Charpy, le président de l’autorité administrative qui aura la responsabilité de valider ou non les dépenses des candidats à l’Elysée.

EU’s Ribera joins push for first woman to lead UN

European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera on Wednesday signaled support for a woman becoming the next U.N. secretary-general for the first time in the organization’s history.

Burnham set to join King Charles at high-stakes Commonwealth summit

LONDON — Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is planning to attend a high-stakes Commonwealth summit hosted by King Charles III, three people with knowledge of the conversations told POLITICO.

German police official Jürgen Ebner selected to lead Europol

German police official Jürgen Ebner has been selected to become the next executive director of Europol, putting the longtime agency insider on track to lead Europe’s increasingly powerful law enforcement body.

Qui réussira à financer sa campagne présidentielle ?

Prêts, appels aux dons, levées de fonds : les équipes des candidats à la présidentielle s’activent pour trouver les moyens de financer leurs campagnes. Qui s’en sort bien ? Qui est à la peine ? Marine Le Pen peut-elle cette année décrocher un prêt auprès d’une banque française alors que l’initiative de Matignon pour offrir

Vater, Mutter, Kinder – Alice Weidel und das Familienbild der AfD

Alice Weidel lebt in einer gleichgeschlechtlichen Partnerschaft mit Kindern – ein scharfer Kontrast zum traditionellen Familienbild der AfD. Wie reagiert die Parteichefin, wenn Spitzenkandidaten wie Ulrich Siegmund ihr Lebensmodell öffentlich abwerten und Parteikollegen gegen sexuelle Minderheiten hetzen? Pauline von Pezold und Frederik Schindler analysieren einen internen Kulturkampf, in dem Weidel zunehmend ins Visier der eigenen

EU Commission seeks to release Hungary’s frozen funds

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed unblocking €4.2 billion in cohesion funding for Hungary, frozen in 2022 over rule-of-law violations under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government.

Middle powers can’t be bystanders as the UN falters

Finland and Australia are seeking Security Council seats with a message: The rules-based order needs countries willing to fight for it.

Germany wants PAC-3 missile production in Europe, Pistorius says

BERLIN — Germany is keen for one of the main missiles used by the U.S.-made Patriot air-defense system to be produced in Europe, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday, as demand for the weapons surges across NATO and in Ukraine.

UK reviewing Chagos Islands deal after Trump brands it ’terrible’

The long-delayed deal over the future of the Chagos Islands is being reviewed by the British government after Donald Trump criticized it as “terrible.” Defense Secretary Wes St

Azerbaijan frees French prisoner after EU lifts sanctions on Russian billionaire

French citizen Martin Ryan is being released from Azerbaijani prison, one day after Paris successfully lobbied Brussels to lift sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

Pornhub investigated by UK’s online watchdog

LONDON — The U.K.’s online safety regulator Ofcom on Wednesday launched an investigation into PornHub’s parent company Aylo over its reliance on Apple’s device-based age checks to keep kids off its platform.

Has Burnham changed tack on Russia?

Is Britain about to re-engage with the world in a more meaningful way than any time in the past decade? After a frantic 24 hours in New York, Andy Burnham declared to the UN: “Britain is back.” But what does that mean in practice? And after a rebuke over rhetoric on Russia from Donald Trump,

Trump cites national security, midterms coverage to defend press ban

The president’s lawyers are asking the courts to overrule a longstanding precedent that protects journalists' access to the White House.

Das Neukölln-Problem der Linken

Präsentiert von Lockheed Martin.

Romania’s political deadlock risks handing power to far right, PM nominee warns

Romania’s center-left opposition must urgently decide whether to support a new pro-European government or be blamed for the far right gaining control, warned the country’s potential next prime minister.

Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks

Britain's newbie prime minister got through an hour with the U.S. president mostly unscathed. But the immediate differences were on show more than with Keir Starmer.

‘Sweden is back’: Magdalena Andersson has big plans for Europe

In an interview with POLITICO, Sweden’s election winner reveals her unfinished business with Russia, Trump — and the far right.

Friedrich Merz has a Friedrich Merz problem

Away from the cameras, the German chancellor can be dry, funny and self-aware. But he rarely shows voters that side of him.

Carney pledges $100M in aid for Palestinians at UNGA

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged $100 million in assistance for Palestine on Tuesday, including $80 million in humanitarian aid and $20 million for peace and security efforts while acknowledging the plight also suffered by many Israelis due to Hamas.

Cybercriminal group claims to steal thousands of FBI employee records

The FBI said it was probing a suspected hack, after the cybercriminal group ShinyHunters claimed to have breached its systems.

Chinese president arrives in US with new energy leverage as war rattles global markets

The Iran war has boosted China’s clean energy exports and strengthened its leverage in global energy markets, giving China little incentive to yield to President Donald Trump’s demands.

British PM asks Trump to bring up Jimmy Lai with Xi

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham implored President Donald Trump to bring up the case of imprisoned Hong Kong dissident Jimmy Lai at a Thursday summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Trump talks peace, threatens annihilation of Iran in UNGA speech

President Donald Trump struck a contradictory tone on Iran during his address before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, calling himself a peacemaker while also warning of his willingness to “annihilate” the country. He added that the upcoming midterm elections would not influence his decision-making around the war in Iran.

Security-Update: Nukleare Abschreckung ohne die USA? – mit Claudia Major

Präsentiert von Lockheed Martin.

Plongée dans la guerre hybride menée par la Russie

La menace russe s’intensifie en Europe, alertent Emmanuel Macron et plusieurs de ses homologues sur le continent. Comment ont été planifiées les opérations d’ingérence ayant récemment touché la France ? Des camps d’entraînements secrets dans les Balkans aux navires de la flotte fantôme, quelle organisation à grande échelle a été mise en place le Kremlin

France extends fuel subsidies to shield consumers from skyrocketing energy prices

PARIS — The French government said Tuesday it would spend €450 million to extend fuel subsidies until the end of the year to help companies and workers affected by the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East.

Nothing ‘to be ashamed of’: EU center right clashes with Socialists over far-right votes

The center-right European People’s Party won’t rule out voting with the far right to deliver its policy agenda, even as Social Democrats and Liberals increase calls for an ironclad centrist coalition deal, according to Finnish EPP delegation chief Mika Aaltola.

Trump signs ‘fantastic’ Greenland security deal with Denmark

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a deal on the future of Greenland, bringing an end to months of tensions over his demands to take over the North Atlantic territory.

US fighter jet crashes at air base in western Germany

An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 52nd Fighter Wing crashed at Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday afternoon.

France opposes foreign aid cuts in EU budget

French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad pointed to the “detrimental consequences” of USAID cuts in an interview at the Brussels Playbook live event.

IA : des députés européens veulent tenir les entreprises responsables si leurs modèles font des dégâts

Des eurodéputés plaident pour que la Commission européenne propose une nouvelle législation afin de combler les lacunes du règlement sur l’intelligence artificielle.

UK will aim for ‘single set’ of global AI standards at G20

NEW YORK — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said an international agreement on AI led by the U.K. will seek to establish “a single set of global principles and standards.”

Trump, dragged down by Iran war, hits lowest approval ever on foreign affairs in new poll

Americans gave President Donald Trump his lowest-ever approval rating on foreign affairs in a CNN poll, according to a new survey published Tuesday, as the seven-month-long war in Iran continues to tick along.

EU removes two Russian billionaires from sanctions list

BRUSSELS — Two of Russia’s wealthiest men could soon be free to operate inside the EU after the bloc moved to lift restrictions on them and their empires as part of a high-stakes diplomatic play.

Trump wants to be with the ‘winners.’ Europe should remember that

Europeans should focus on convincing U.S. President Donald Trump that they and Ukraine are on the winning side of the war if they want Washington’s support to continue.

Lukashenko says Belarus doesn’t have enough potash for Trump

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has admitted his country doesn’t have enough potash to satisfy U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for the critical fertilizer.

Ukraine open to grain truce with Russia, deputy PM says

Kyiv is open to a grain truce with Russia, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook Live event.

EU-Cyberbehörde: Chinesische Hacker haben 2025 die Schifffahrt in mindestens sieben EU-Staaten angegriffen

Eine chinesische Hackergruppe habe im Laufe des Jahres 2025 immer wieder Cyberangriffe auf europäische maritime Organisationen verübt, warnte die Cyberagentur der EU am Dienstag. „Mustang Panda“, e

In blow to Meloni, Italy misses early exit from EU fiscal watch

BRUSSELS — Italy’s government has failed to rein in its public spending enough to shake off EU fiscal oversight in a blow to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of next year’s general election.

Chinese hackers targeted shipping in at least seven EU countries, cyber agency reports

A notorious Chinese hacking group carried out cyberattacks against European maritime organizations at a “sustained tempo” throughout 2025, the EU’s cyber agency said on Tuesday.

Germany says Costa losing touch ‘with reality’ on EU budget

BRUSSELS — Germany criticized European Council President António Costa on Tuesday over the fraught negotiations on the EU’s next seven-year budget.

Pour atténuer les prix des carburants, Emmanuel Macron demande des assouplissements à l’UE

PARIS — Le président français Emmanuel Macron a demandé à la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, d’assouplir les règles de l’Union européenne relatives à la composition des carburants et aux obligations de déclaration des émissions de méthane, dans le but de maîtriser la flambée des prix de l’énergie, dans un courrier consulté par POLITICO, révélé par Les Echos et BFM.

UK seeks to broker global AI agreement at G20

NEW YORK — The U.K. will seek to use its upcoming G20 presidency to forge a global agreement on AI, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said ahead of a visit to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Burnham leaves door open to ‘rejoin EU’ pledge

NEW YORK — Will Labour go into the next general election campaigning to reverse Brexit? Andy Burnham says that’s “a question for another day.”

Einigung über EU-Handelsabkommen mit den Philippinen

BRÜSSEL – Die Europäische Union hat eine politische Einigung über ein Handelsabkommen mit den Philippinen erzielt. Das erklärte Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen in der Nacht zum Dienstag nach einem Telefonat mit Präsident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

EU reaches ‘substantial agreement’ on Philippines trade deal

The European Union has reached political agreement on a trade deal with the Philippines, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a call with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Reform-Agenda: Merz‘ neue Suche nach Gerechtigkeit

Nach dem Wahlschock steht die politische Reformagenda in Berlin auf dem Prüfstand. CDU-Chef Friedrich Merz rückt scheinbar plötzlich die soziale Gerechtigkeit in den Fokus. Rasmus Buchsteiner ordnet ein, was Phantom-Debatten sind und wie Union und SPD planen, die politische Mitte wieder für sich zurückzugewinnen. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview fordert der niedersächsische CDU-Landesvorsitzende Sebastian Lechner einen Kurswechsel. Er

Meloni’s EU lieutenant urges Brussels to work with Le Pen

Nicola Procaccini say he is "optimistic" that French far-right leader will not be destructive for the EU.

The UK coalition the Lib Dems don’t want to talk about

Britain’s centrist force is coy about reentering government after a previous stint ended catastrophically.

Merz’s dilemma: Redraft German economic reforms, or go down defending them

Chancellor insists his reforms are needed to revive the economy and competitiveness, but the proposals are turning off voters.

Britain-focused Andy Burnham starts racking up the air miles

New U.K. leader lands for the U.N. General Assembly — with one eye on voters who punished his globe-trotting predecessor back home.

Merkel sidesteps German conservatives’ election losses as pressure mounts on Merz

German political heavyweight Angela Merkel avoided discussing her party’s latest election defeats on Monday, instead backing the Christian Democratic Union to return to its identity as a broad-based “people’s party.”

EU lawmakers float product liability rules to help avert AI disaster

Top US tech firms would be held responsible for harm caused by their most advanced models.

Finland’s Stubb warns Europe not to ‘overreact’ to Russian threats and sabotage

Moscow isn’t seeking a full-scale war with NATO but instead trying to scare Europe into winding down its support for Ukraine, Finnish President tells POLITICO.

How Western tech helps funnel recruits into Russia’s war

A network targeting workers in Africa, Asia and Belarus relies on Western tech and platforms to recruit people for Russia's war effort, according to a new investigation.

La Russie, éternel sparadrap du RN ?

Ce samedi, le Rassemblement national a publié un long communiqué pour dénoncer les tentatives d’ingérence et de guerre hybride de Moscou. Une déclaration qui contraste avec la réaction de Jordan Bardella à la sortie de l’Elysée, où Emmanuel Macron avait convié, la veille, les chefs de parti pour évoquer les tensions internationales. Le patron du

Russia has ‘lost control’ of its oil industry due to Ukraine war, says Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia’s energy sector had been badly affected by the war in Ukraine and called for an end to the “ridiculous” and “never ending” conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.

EU countries move toward Russia sanctions deal

BRUSSELS — EU countries are moving toward a new deal that could see two prominent Russian billionaires removed from its sanctions list, in exchange for maintaining restrictions on hundreds of others.

Spanish PM’s wife to face trial over influence peddling, embezzlement allegations

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, is set to stand trial on charges of influence peddling and embezzlement.

Merz pledges reset as he admits German conservatives don’t have the ‘answers’

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday pledged to overhaul his party’s platform and decision-making processes after suffering another humiliating election defeat, calling the result a “major turning point.”

EU deadlocked over France’s bid to take Russian tycoon off sanctions list

BRUSSELS — EU countries are divided over whether to lift sanctions on a controversial billionaire listed among hundreds of businesspeople, politicians and traders accused of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Former Romanian presidential candidate Georgescu detained on suspicion of fraud

Former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was detained Monday on suspicion of fraud by Romanian police and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).

EU pressures Big Tech to go green with new data center sustainability label

The scheme, which forces data centers to disclose energy and water use, would be the most comprehensive of its kind in the world.

News outlets Trump banned from White House announce lawsuit

POLITICO, CNN and MS NOW to seek restraining order to restore reporters’ access.

Putin’s party dominates in Russia’s sham elections

President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party secured a majority in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house, following the country’s first parliamentary elections since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Google hit with €403M privacy fine over handling of user location data

The Irish data privacy authority fined Google €403 million on Monday over how it has been gathering location data from users.

Trump’s Taiwan retreat tests his chief China hawk’s influence

Ivan Kanapathy, a longtime China hawk, is a top Asia adviser at the National Security Council at a time when the Trump administration has been particularly conciliatory with Beijing.

4,9 Prozent: Der Absturz von Merz’ CDU

Ein historisches Debakel erschüttert die CDU: Erstmals in der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik verpasst die Partei den Einzug in einen Landtag. Parteichef und Kanzler Friedrich Merz versucht mit einem schnellen Machtwort, seine Ämter zu sichern. Rasmus Buchsteiner und Rixa Fürsen analysieren, wie tragfähig dieser Befreiungsschlag wirklich ist und ob der Union die Zerreißprobe droht. Auch die

From waste to wealth: Europe’s textile opportunity

With textiles now firmly part of Europe’s circular economy agenda, the EU must seize the opportunity to turn textile waste from a liability into a strategic resource.

Why the far right lost: 11 lessons for Europe from Sweden’s election

POLITICO spoke to party leaders Magdalena Andersson and Ulf Kristersson — and leading analysts — to understand the far-right Sweden Democrats' fall in support, and what it means.

Russia’s secret plan to supercharge kamikaze drone production

Documents obtained by POLITICO show a Russian state company blueprint for increasing drone carbon fiber production as the Kremlin escalates air war over Europe.

Merz calls regional election ‘disaster’ as German far right heads for 2nd win

BERLIN — Germany’s far right won its second regional election in a row in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday, according to exit polls, but will probably be prevented from governing by a strong second-place showing from the center-left Social Democrats.

Meloni promises to ban veils in Italian schools and limit foreign students

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government is preparing two legislative proposals that would ban face coverings in Italian schools and restrict the number of foreign students allowed in classrooms.

Massive Ukrainian drone attack hits Moscow on last day of Russian elections

A large-scale overnight drone attack on Moscow by Ukraine killed at least two people and damaged a major oil refinery, Moscow’s regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said Sunday — the last day of voting in Russia’s parliamentary elections.

France’s National Rally criticizes Russia in rare rebuke

Leaders of France’s far-right National Rally condemned Russia on Saturday in an unusual statement amid a rise in hybrid attacks and other provocations from Moscow.

Germany’s top general to lead NATO’s highest military authority

Germany’s chief of defense Carsten Breuer will take over as chair of NATO’s highest military authority, after a majority of the alliance’s top generals backed his candidacy in a secret vote on Saturday.

NATO ‘ready’ for potential Russian false flag attack, alliance’s top general says

NATO is ready to respond to a potential Russian escalation on Europe’s eastern flank, the alliance’s top general Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said Saturday, amid growing warnings of a possible staged attack by Moscow.

Smoke and flight delays at Riyadh airport after air raid alert

A large plume of black smoke was seen near Riyadh’s main airport on Saturday after an overnight air raid alert, amid an escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Inside the secret race to become NATO’s next top general

Germany's Carsten Breuer and Canada's Jennie Carignan are battling it out to become to next chair of NATO's military committee.

Der Schicksalssonntag für den Kanzler. Mit Rasmus Buchsteiner

Ein historisches Novum rückt in greifbare Nähe: Fliegt die CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern womöglich aus dem Landtag oder schrammt haarscharf daran vorbei? Während Manuela Schwesig auf einen Wahlsieg mit für die SPD triumphalen Werten zusteuern könnte, kämpfen die Christdemokraten an der Fünf-Prozent-Hürde und ums politische Überleben im Land. Gordon Repinski und Rasmus Buchsteiner analysieren, warum die

Congress investigates after F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong

The incident raises the possibility that top secret weapons technology may have been exposed to a foreign adversary — including China.

Trump says he’s banning media outlets, including POLITICO, from White House

CNN and MS NOW are the other two outlets Trump announced can no longer send journalists into the White House.

US and Denmark reach new agreement on defense and investment in Greenland

President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. has reached an agreement for “permanent control over security” for Greenland that would enable a broad expansion of the American military presence on the territory of Denmark that he has long coveted.

How Germany’s far right learned to put on a smile to win elections

The Alternative for Germany is wrapping its dark vision of national decline in a package of hope and optimism.

17 Cent weniger pro Liter: Bund und Länder beschließen Tankrabatt

BERLIN – Die schwarz-rote Koalition hat sich mit den Ländern grundsätzlich auf ein Maßnahmenpaket zur Entlastung von Bürgern und Unternehmen angesichts der hohen Spritpreise verständigt.

‘There are no decent parties left’: Sham elections underscore Putin’s grip on Russia

After a clampdown on anti-war candidates, the choices for Russian voters are even more limited than usual in this weekend's parliamentary elections.

European leaders warn of ‘intensified threat’ from Putin

However, NATO sees no risk of "imminent attack" despite the fresh warnings from countries such as Poland, Lithuania, France and the Netherlands.

Australia following Canada as EU associate member is ‘pure speculation,’ says Commission

BRUSSELS ― The European Commission played down the prospect of extending its newly floated “associate membership” concept beyond Canada, at least while Brussels works out the details with Ottawa.

California’s Newsom signs executive order to explore new AI rules, consider ‘kill switch’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Friday to speed up two AI laws he recently signed and explore proposals like requiring that AI companies develop a “kill switch” for their most advanced models.

Germany gets its first F-35 as Europe’s fighter plans fall apart

Deliveries are starting for Germany's new F-35 fighter jets, but the debate continues in Berlin about future capabilities.

Macron to call emergency G7 meeting as energy prices spike and Russian hybrid attacks mount

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday he would call a Group of Seven meeting to address skyrocketing global energy prices and look at releasing strategic oil stocks.

Ukraine’s NATO envoy calls for more air defense donations

KYIV — Ukraine needs more air defenses, but allies are starting to doubt if they can help Kyiv withstand the growing scale of Russian attacks, Alyona Getmanchuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to NATO, told POLITICO on Friday.

EU to ban metal scrap exports to India, Egypt on environmental grounds

BRUSSELS — The EU has proposed banning metal waste exports to India and Egypt after both countries failed to prove they manage the waste in an “environmentally sound” manner.

British MPs to tackle UK crisis — why it does so badly in Eurovision

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom, the country that gifted the world The Beatles and S Club 7, will seek answers on how to make the nation’s pop music more competitive on Europe’s biggest stage.

Far-right Zemmour lets slip French presidential bid

PARIS — Anti-immigration firebrand Eric Zemmour let slip Thursday that he plans to run in next year’s presidential election, seemingly ending speculation that he might step aside to make way for his partner, MEP Sarah Knafo.

Slovakia’s Fico casts doubt over NATO mutual defense clause

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he does not want to see his country dragged into war over NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, raising fresh questions about the populist leader’s commitment to the alliance.

US will see sense on EU-Canada deal, Irish finance minister says

Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will join a gathering of EU finance ministers hosted by Simon Harris in Dublin Friday.

EU warns Turkey to clean up waste treatment or face trade ban

BRUSSELS — The European Commission will consider banning the export of plastic waste to Turkey if the country fails to address pollution and environmental concerns, a Commission official told POLITICO.

Deutschlands Kampfjet-Dilemma

Ein teures Symbol der Abhängigkeit: In Texas nimmt Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius den ersten F-35-Kampfjet für die Bundeswehr entgegen. Die Tarnkappenflieger sichern die nukleare Teilhabe Deutschlands, offenbaren aber zugleich das Scheitern europäischer Rüstungsprojekte. Rixa Fürsen erklärt, warum Europa diese technologische Lücke derzeit nicht aus eigener Kraft schließen kann. Nach dem tödlichen Angriff auf einen Zugbegleiter im

Germany and Spain go head-to-head in EU budget fight

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and four other leaders compete with Spanish finance minister in POLITICO articles signaling EU budget deal is still far off.

Germany’s Merz girds for a post-election fight for political survival

One conservative official predicts "all hell breaks loose" if the ruling CDU fails to win any seats in the regional election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Who needs Parliament?

If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up free here. ESSENTIALS — Tony Burke’s migration reveal — Labor’s ‘Anyone but Shoebridge’ ultimatum to Greens — The inevitable veterans’ health cap backflip DRIVING THE DAY MIGRATION VIBE CHECK Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke treated his National Press Club audience like adults. And we all

Tusk warns of ‘accidental’ Russian strikes against Ukraine’s allies in fall and winter

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned Thursday that Russia could launch drone or missile strikes in the coming months against countries supporting Ukraine and play them off as accidents.

Trump floats setting up Army base in Poland

President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested the U.S. might set up its first Army base in Poland, a significant shift from earlier in the year when the administration sought to pull troops from the country.

AI king Jensen Huang pushes ‘responsible optimism’ at Charles III’s gathering

Britain's monarch asked tech CEOs to prioritize AI safety and international cooperation.

California governor plans to get tough on AI safety

SAN FRANCISCO — Gavin Newsom told POLITICO he plans to take further action on AI safety before leaving office, raising the possibility of a special California legislative session amid escalating concerns about the technology’s potential risks to humanity. His plans, he said, could take the form of a special session, executive action or steps by state agencies under their existing authority.

Romanian president taps EU lawmaker Mureșan to lead country out of crisis

Romanian President Nicușor Dan proposed member of European Parliament Siegfried Mureșan as the country’s next prime minister in a third attempt to wrench Bucharest out of its political crisis.

Russia’s global fuel customers push back against US sanctions bill

The global response to the Russia sanctions bill the U.S. Congress approved late Wednesday has been swift and defiant, with Moscow warning it would prolong its war on Ukraine, India vowing to protect its interests, and Beijing pushing back against what it called illegal “long-arm jurisdiction.”

French presidential hopeful Attal vows to build ‘United States of Europe’

PARIS — French presidential candidate Gabriel Attal laid out an ambitious pro-European platform for his campaign Thursday, vowing to make France part of a powerful, economically muscular “United States of Europe” if he wins next year’s race to succeed President Emmanuel Macron.

French PM to propose €54B budget squeeze for 2027

PARIS — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said his government’s budget for 2027 will include a staggering €54 billion in savings as he attempts to contain the country’s growing deficit in a year that’s seen little to no economic growth.

Carburants, budget, présidentielle : le cocktail explosif

Emmanuel Macron réunit les chefs de partis pour parler de la crise, Sébastien Lecornu prolonge les aides ciblées pour les secteurs touchés, les candidats à la présidentielle multiplient les annonces : la hausse des prix de l’énergie perturbe la marche de l’exécutif et s’impose dans la campagne. Cela rebat-il les cartes de la présidentielle ?

Security for Ireland’s easy-access politicians dealt a blow

Prime minister calls attack on lawmaker Michael Healy-Rae a watershed moment in a country where he and others ‘can walk through our streets unhindered.’

Immunity of Greek ex-commissioner lifted amid Qatargate probe

ATHENS — Greece’s parliament voted Thursday to lift the immunity of ex-commissioner and current New Democracy lawmaker Dimitris Avramopoulos after Belgian authorities issued an arrest warrant in connection with the Qatargate scandal.

New taxes crucial to preserve EU budget, says Irish PM

DUBLIN — Brussels needs new taxes to avert major cuts to its next seven-year budget, Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin said Thursday.

Carneys Vorstellungen über Handel in einer assoziierten Partnerschaft

STRASSBURG – Mark Carney nutzte eine Rede vor dem Europäischen Parlament, um zu skizzieren, was Ottawa sich von engeren Beziehungen zur EU erhoffen würde. Allerdings stellte er sich nicht uneingeschränkt hinter Ursula von der Leyens überraschenden Vorstoß eines „assoziierten Mitgliedstaats“.

Jensen Huang: Don’t regulate AI like social media

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AI should not be regulated like social media because AI is a “technology” rather than a “product.”

Carney to Trump: No one tells Canadians what to do

STRASBOURG — Canada’s warming relationship with the EU “is a positive” process and Ottawa will not be cowed into abandoning the relationship, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday.

Sweden’s left wins razor-thin election victory

Four days after voting ended in one of the closest elections in Swedish history, the count is finally done, pointing to a new center-left government and a comeback for former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

OpenAI entdeckt sechs neue Fälle von „besorgniserregendem“ KI-Verhalten

Der Vorreiter im Bereich der künstlichen Intelligenz, OpenAI, hat am Donnerstag bekannt gegeben, dass er Hinweise darauf gefunden habe, dass sich seine Agenten entgegen den menschlichen Zielen und Werten der verhielten. Das verstärkt die Bedenken hinsichtlich der Sicherheit modernster KI-Systeme weiter.

Canada’s Carney stops short of endorsing von der Leyen’s associate member plan

STRASBOURG — Mark Carney used an address to the European Parliament to to sketch out what Ottawa would want from closer ties with the EU but declined to give full-throated approval of Ursula von der Leyen’s surprise “associate member” plan.

Russia launches massive overnight attack on Kyiv and southern Ukraine

Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones Wednesday night, damaging homes and commercial infrastructure in Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.

Carney on EU-Canada ties: ‘What matters is the substance’

Mark Carney is addressing the European Parliament a day after Ursula von der Leyen’s surprise proposal to make Canada the EU’s first “associate member” left capitals scrambling.

What does a party of former PMs reveal?

What happens when the keys to Number 10 are handed back? Anne reports from a gathering of former prime ministers – Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer – and reveals what life after power really looks like. Meanwhile, after some football diplomacy with Canadian PM Mark Carney, could it offer a chance for Andy Burnham to

King Charles: Pace of AI is ‘deeply concerning’

AYRSHIRE, Scotland — King Charles will say the pace of AI development is “deeply concerning” and tell industry leaders they must provide the public with “reassurance” as he hosts an exclusive gathering on Thursday about the future of the technology.

Von der Leyen makes it awkward with Canada

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney takes the stage in Strasbourg after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised EU capitals by floating “associate membership” for Canada — a status that doesn’t actually exist, and that Ottawa itself seems reluctant to define. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton ask whether von der Leyen got ahead of both

Kann die Tanksäule den Kanzler aus Krise retten?

Rekordpreise an den Zapfsäulen und der Kanzler versucht sein Standing zu retten, auch indem er Entlastung verspricht. Doch die Koalition streitet über das richtige Rezept zur Entlastung.Während SPD-Finanzminister Lars Klingbeil auf eine saubere Gegenfinanzierung pocht, will Friedrich Merz direkte Auszahlungen an die Bevölkerung. Für ihn steht nach bitteren Wahlniederlagen in Sachsen-Anhalt viel auf dem Spiel:

Farage aide caught in donor sting attended Egypt retreat with JL Partners

The polling company invited a top Nigel Farage lieutenant as a guest speaker.

Don’t get ‘locked in’ by EU rules, top nuclear adviser warns Burnham

John Fingleton tells POLITICO "risk aversion" in Whitehall must not slow Britain's dash for new nuclear.

In Ceuta, it’s up to Europe to clean up the Spanish government’s mess

Europe must reckon with the failure of the leadership in Madrid and do everything to prevent a worsening of the crisis.

Friedrich Merz’s endgame: All the scenarios, rated

Germany's chancellor is on the brink. We map out what happens next.

Trump threatens to impose ‘serious tariffs’ on Europe if Canada joins EU as associate member

President Donald Trump pulled out one of his favorite words as he threatened retaliation if the European Union were to admit Canada as an associate member.

US House passes Russia sanctions bill, handing Trump more leverage against Moscow

The House passed the sweeping Russia sanctions bill long championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday, sending the legislation to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature after more than a year of congressional maneuvering.

‘The US can’t lose’: Pentagon plows ahead on AI despite warnings

Military leaders warn the risks of falling behind adversaries in artificial intelligence research outweigh the potential risks of the technology.

US central bank hikes interest rates and signals more to come, defying Trump

The Federal Reserve unanimously voted Wednesday to raise interest rates for the first time in three years and signaled it might hike again this year, a move that will test the delicate relationship between President Donald Trump and his new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh.

EU blindsided by von der Leyen’s Canada ‘associate member’ pitch

The Commission president unveiled the idea without consulting EU capitals — and Ottawa quickly tamped down expectations.

Von der Leyen fleshes out Carney’s vision to paint Europe as leader of world’s middle powers

European Commission president says she wants to “build global coalitions for our resilience and democracies.”

Von der Leyen risks fresh EU-NATO turf war

Proposals to give the EU crisis decision-making powers and hold emergency talks threatens to overlap with NATO's mission.

Anthropic policy chief says winning AI race key for safety

Anthropic’s policy chief Sarah Heck said Wednesday that the U.S. can’t make artificial intelligence safer if it falls behind China in the global tech race.

Germany to send fighter jets to Latvia during election amid drone threat

BERLIN — Germany will deploy Eurofighter jets to Latvia to help protect its airspace during next month’s parliamentary election as repeated drone incursions have raised security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank.

Macron / von der Leyen : la course pour interdire les réseaux sociaux aux mineurs

C’est l’une des annonces majeures du « discours sur l’état de l’union » d’Ursula von der Leyen : la commission européenne va déposer une législation pour interdire les réseaux sociaux aux moins de 13 ans. Que propose-t-elle ? Pourquoi cette annonce intervient-elle aujourd’hui ? Pourquoi Emmanuel Macron s’active, malgré tout, pour imposer une loi allant

Macron invites EU leaders to Pope Leo speech

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron has invited European heads of state to attend Pope Leo XIV’s address on the last day of his visit to France later this month, three European diplomats told POLITICO.

Brussels won’t offer ‘associate EU membership’ to Brexit Britain

LONDON — The European Union has just offered Canada “associate EU membership.” Don’t expect it to do the same for Brexit Britain.

‘AI has been marketed horribly,’ LinkedIn co-founder says

LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman admitted on Wednesday that artificial intelligence has been mismarketed to Americans, even as he sees a narrow lane for a tech optimist to win them back in 2028.

Germany’s rearmament push runs through America

Germany wants a more self-reliant military — but it needs the U.S. for that.

‘We absolutely can’t surrender,’ top Republican says of AI race with China

House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie said Wednesday that he agrees serious concerns exist about the growing power of artificial intelligence — but warned against adopting the kinds of strict regulations that he argues have depressed tech advances in Europe.

Ozempic-maker turns to Anthropic to turbocharge medical research

Novo and Anthropic announced a collaboration Wednesday to accelerate the development of new medicines and AI-driven software.

French Socialist MP barred from presidential primary over alleged ‘criminal’ behavior

PARIS — French Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun was barred Wednesday from running in an internal presidential primary over unspecified allegations against him that “may constitute a criminal offense.”

Das Streamer-Problem der AfD

Nach dem Wahlsieg in Sachsen-Anhalt steht AfD-Spitzenkandidat Ulrich Siegmund vor der Regierungsbildung – doch sein Vorgehen weckt Zweifel an seinen wahren Absichten. Anstatt Mehrheiten zu sondieren, brüskiert er potenzielle Partner wie das BSW und knüpft die Umsetzung von Wahlversprechen an unrealistische Bedingungen wie eine AfD-Alleinregierung. Die Analyse zeigt auf, ob die Partei in den Ländern

What von der Leyen’s words reveal about the mood in the EU

Europe is at a “tipping point,” according to Ursula von der Leyen. In her State of the Union address on Wednesday, the Commission president warned that the bloc had reached a watershed moment on several levels — from trade with China to climate change and artificial intelligence. The EU is “the strongest it has ever been,” even though it could equally “feel as precarious as it has ever been,” said von der Leyen.

Russian drone found off Poland’s coast carried explosive warhead, prosecutor says

The Russian drone found Monday off Poland’s northwestern coast was carrying a warhead with a detonator, prosecutors handling the case announced Wednesday.

British lawmakers demand probe into cost of Trump NHS deal

LONDON — British lawmakers called on the U.K.’s spending watchdog to investigate how much the U.K.-U.S. drug pricing deal will cost taxpayers.

Hague court sentences Kosovo ex-president Thaçi to 25 years in prison for war crimes

Alongside Thaçi, three other former KLA leaders were also sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

12 takeaways from von der Leyen’s State of the Union

Everything you need to know about what was said — and not said — in the European Commission president's big speech.

JD Vance: US cannot be ‘subservient’ to Israel on Middle East policy

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington cannot allow its Middle East policy to be “subservient to the State of Israel,” in a blunt assertion about a key regional ally from one of the Trump administration’s top figures and a leading 2028 Republican presidential contender.

Turkey sees Greece’s militarization of Aegean Islands as ‘threat’

ATHENS — Ankara considers Greece’s militarization of the Aegean Islands a security threat, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, as tensions between the two neighbors rise.

UK to make ‘doxxing’ a criminal offense

LONDON — The U.K. government plans to update the Online Safety Act to clamp down on so-called “doxxing”— publicly sharing private or personal information about a person online without their consent — following the harassment of volunteers at a charity which helps people at sea, Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy said.

Tiny village votes to quit UK in protest at asylum-seeker accommodation

A tiny village in the south-East of England has symbolically “voted” to leave the U.K. in protest at the housing of asylum-seekers at a nearby military site.

US exposes alleged Russian terror network targeting Ukraine allies

U.S. prosecutors have charged five people allegedly working for Russian intelligence with conspiracy to finance terrorism and, in three cases, conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

EU wants Canada to become ‘associate member,’ von der Leyen says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union, she said in her annual State of the Union address on Wednesday.

Von der Leyen pitches European Security Council in response to Trump and Putin

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said she would propose a new security forum for EU and like-minded leaders in response to escalating Russian attacks and fraying transatlantic relations.

Why ministers paid £2m to influencers

Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how political communication has changed – from Keir Starmer’s government paying influencers to promote its message, to Andy Burnham putting himself front and centre of the social media operation. Sam has a scoop on how much it all costs. Elsewhere, former Number 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeny

Keir Starmer’s top aide Morgan McSweeney tried to set up a No. 10 think tank

Former chief of staff said he wanted a space for Downing Street thinking that would be “protected from the level of scrutiny” that comes with government.

AI fears grow as von der Leyen takes the stage

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is giving her State of the European Union address this morning … her biggest set-piece speech of the year.  Host Zoya Sheftalovich is at the European Parliament in Strasbourg with her ears to the ground, trying to figure out which hot-button issues we can expect to hear about. Two

Vertrauensfrage à la Merz

Friedrich Merz steht massiv unter Druck. Gibt es nach den anstehenden Wahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern eine indirekte Vertrauensfrage im CDU-Präsidium? Maximilian Stascheit und Rasmus Buchsteiner analysieren, wie Merz mit Themen wie Spritpreisen und Rentenreform in die Offensive gehen will und warum er eine New-York-Reise absagt, um die CDU-Ministerpräsidenten auf seinen Kurs einzuschwören. In Straßburg hält Kommissionspräsidentin

Germany’s embattled leader Merz cancels New York trip amid mounting domestic pressure

Chancellor Friedrich Merz will instead stay in Germany to deal with fallout of elections in which his party is expected to fare badly.

Iran war has cost US taxpayers $38B — and counting

The first five months of the Iran war cost the U.S. $38 billion, according to Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper, the most comprehensive look at the extended military conflict ahead of the midterm elections.

OpenAI: AI capabilities are in a ‘different place’ and require urgency

President Donald Trump called AI concerns a “hoax.” One of the country’s leading AI companies said Tuesday it’s hoping Washington will still act.

EU demands answers as France pushes for billionaire’s Russia sanctions release

BRUSSELS — France has a week to reassure fellow EU countries that its push to remove a controversial Russian-Uzbek billionaire from the bloc’s sanctions list won’t start a free-for-all that fractures restrictions on Moscow.

Top union leader demands Burnham commits to 2030 defense spending target

BRIGHTON, England — The U.K. government must commit to spending 3 percent of GDP on defense by 2030, one of Britain’s most powerful union leaders told POLITICO.

How to watch Carney and Burnham’s first meeting like a pro

Middle power centrist dads unite! And there's plenty of policy meat to get stuck into over the football.

EU approves sending mountains of trash to Turkey despite environmental fears

BRUSSELS — The European Union will continue to export hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic waste to Turkey each year, despite finding evidence of environmental damage that could breach EU rules.

Welsh leader of Farage’s Reform UK quits after arrest

LONDON — The Welsh leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK resigned Tuesday after being arrested on suspicion of assault.

Philippe et les retraites : l’heure de vérité

Plus possible de se dérober : Edouard Philippe s’apprête à dévoiler enfin sa réforme des retraites, cinq ans après avoir promis qu’il était prêt à décaler l’âge légal de départ à 65, 66 ou 67 ans. Plusieurs fois repoussée, l’annonce est redoutée par son équipe. Encore plus depuis que le candidat Horizons se voit accusé

Ursula von der Leyen’s diplomatic faux pas with Mark Carney

The last thing the European Commission president needed was a diplomatic headache. She got one all the same.

US Democrats demand answers on Trump Jr.’s ties with Russian oligarch

House Democrats have demanded that Donald Trump Jr. preserve all records, documents and communications related to his relationship with Umar Kremlev, the Russian oligarch who reportedly paid for parts of Trump Jr.’s, wedding celebrations in the Bahamas.

MEPs lift immunity from Polish far-right leader charged with Holocaust denial

Members of the European Parliament voted Tuesday to waive the parliamentary immunity of far-right MEP Grzegorz Braun, who is facing Holocaust denial charges in Poland.

Reiche Länder müssen sich laut OECD noch weitere 20 Jahre lang auf Covid-Folgekosten einstellen

Die gesundheitlichen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen von Covid-19 werden laut einem heute veröffentlichten Bericht der reichsten Industrieländer der Welt voraussichtlich noch zwei weitere Jahrzehnte andauern.

Trade unions urge Andy Burnham to drop Brexit ‘red lines’

LONDON — Andy Burnham should drop Labour’s “arbitrary” Brexit red lines and build a close new relationship with the EU, Britain’s trade unions said Tuesday.

Migration, trade and future EU members to dominate summit of bloc’s leaders

BRUSSELS — Presidents and prime ministers from across the EU will be asked to review the bloc’s dependencies on increasingly uncertain trading partners, weigh in on the row over its €2 trillion long-term budget and consider how to pave the way to admitting new countries as members.

Rich countries face Covid-related costs for 20 more years, says OECD

The health and economic impacts from Covid-19 will likely continue for another two decades, according to a report out today from the world’s wealthiest countries.

Security-Update: Russlands neuer Luftkrieg – mit Moritz Schularick

Ein Nachtzug aus Kyjiw stoppt abrupt, weil eine russische Drohne in unmittelbarer Nähe einschlägt. An Bord ist Moritz Schularick, Präsident des Kieler Instituts für Weltwirtschaft, der die neue Realität des Krieges hautnah erlebt: Russland greift inzwischen mit rasend schnellen, chinesisch angetriebenen Jet-Drohnen an, die kaum noch abzufangen sind. Während die Ukraine auf einen verheerenden Winter

Australia ‘on the same page’ as Canada on deepening EU ties, says key minister

Canberra is watching Canada’s attempt to build a closer relationship with the European Union and is aligned with Ottawa on the issue, according to Don Farrell, Australia’s trade minister.

EU countries to discuss AI rules as Trump calls safety warnings a ‘hoax’

Government officials from across the European Union will gather in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to set global rules to counter the threat from new AI models, according to two EU diplomats and a draft agenda seen by POLITICO.

World Trade Organization reform failure could cost 10% of global GDP, report warns

The document says that the current trading system is facing its worst disruption in 80 years.

Sabotage suspected as parts of Dutch rail network come to a standstill

Dutch police are investigating a suspected act of sabotage after large parts of the country’s rail network came to a standstill Tuesday morning, causing delays and cancellations for passengers across central and northern parts of the Netherlands.

Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech — live updates

It’s a big day for Ursula von der Leyen, as she’ll give her State of the Union address, outlining her vision for Europe’s future. We know she’ll talk about topics such as AI, climate, migration and social media, but in how much detail? And will there be surprises? Plus, what will be the reaction from members of the European Parliament and a watching Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister? Our top team of reporters in Strasbourg, Brussels and beyond will give you all the latest news and analysis. Scroll down for updates.

Carney presses 10 EU countries to ratify Canada trade deal

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged the 10 EU countries that have yet to ratify the bloc’s trade deal with Canada to do so, as he seeks closer ties with Europe after trade talks with Washington collapsed.

Alarm in Denmark after Russian ship fires at military helicopter

A Russian ship fired flares at a Danish military helicopter off the southern coast of Denmark on Monday, triggering alarm in Copenhagen as the Kremlin’s belligerence against Europe ramps up.

Can less paperwork get EU workers moving?

Why is it easier for a jar of peanut butter to cross EU borders than it is for a European worker? According to the Commission, varying social security systems and professional qualifications make it hard for Europeans to work outside their home country in the bloc. The EU executive’s Fair Labour Mobility Package — unveiled

Deutschlands Weg aus dem Bildungsdesaster

Deutschlands Bildungssystem befindet sich im freien Fall. Nach dem jüngsten PISA-Schock belegt nun auch der neue Bildungsmonitor eine Abwärtsspirale, die jeden Bildungspolitiker und die Regierung alarmieren müssen. Maximilian Stascheit analysiert die Lage und präsentiert fünf konkrete Thesen, wie durch einen Fokus auf Basiskompetenzen und ungeschönte Daten die Trendwende gelingen kann. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview erklärt Bildungsministerin Karin

Meet the most powerful woman in Sweden

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s nail-biting election battle will come down to which prime minister candidate can cobble together a coalition with majority support in a new parliament that looks likely to be split almost equally between left and right.

Carney plans to spotlight Europe pivot with visit to tiny French archipelago

PARIS — Mark Carney will wrap up a week spent shifting his country’s foreign policy toward Europe on Sunday with the first-ever visit by a Canadian prime minister to the obscure French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, where he’ll meet President Emmanuel Macron.

Supreme Court blocks Trump mail-in ballot plan

The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to enforce new mail-in ballot delivery rules that threatened to severely disrupt the looming midterm elections.

Houthi advances leave Trump with only bad choices

Washington appears loath to step into another front as new oil disruptions send prices soaring.

America’s democratic decline is becoming Europe’s problem, new report says

“Whatever happens in the U.S. has global ramifications,” says IDEA’s Kevin Casas-Zamora.

Gavin Newsom says he won’t run for president if Kamala Harris runs again

Gavin Newsom will pass on a presidential bid if Kamala Harris runs again, he told CNN in an interview posted Monday, effectively giving the former vice president the right of first refusal in the 2028 race.

Von der Leyen U-turns, will attend landmark Carney speech

STRASBOURG — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, reversing an earlier decision to skip the speech.

EPA scraps climate curbs for US power generation

The announcement was timed to splash down amid an energy-focused gathering of the G20 in Houston.

Von der Leyen’s warring EU Parliament allies want her to pick a side. Can she appease them?

STRASBOURG — The two biggest factions in the European Parliament want completely different things from Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech on Wednesday. If she can’t keep them both happy, the rift between these traditional centrist allies risks becoming a chasm as the far-right makes gains across the continent.

EU Parliament to open office in Canada

The European Parliament is to open an office in Canada, Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced Monday.

Trump says Ukraine and Russia agreed to halt strikes on energy. Zelenskyy is not so sure

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has poured cold water on his American counterpart Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure.

7 points qu’Ursula von der Leyen abordera dans son discours sur l’état de l’Union

Voici ce que la présidente de la Commission européenne va annoncer dans son discours le plus important de l’année.

Lecornu : pas de pitié pour les retraités

Le gouvernement ne fait plus mystère de sa volonté de mettre à contribution les retraités pour faire des économies dans le budget 2027, une mesure forcément impopulaire. Sébastien Lecornu peut-il réussir là où ses prédécesseurs ont échoué ? La volonté de Marine Le Pen de négocier sur le budget change-t-elle la donne ? Anthony Lattier

Nationalist chiefs sign pact to make Burnham ‘the last UK prime minister’

A summit of Scottish, Irish and Welsh leaders follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise backing of calls for a united Ireland.

Record number of Brits have unfavorable view of Nigel Farage

LONDON — A record proportion of British voters now have an unfavorable view of Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage, according to polling firm YouGov.

Eurocrat salaries, staff numbers face cuts in next long-term budget

BRUSSELS — Most EU countries support slashing the bloc’s personnel costs to make savings as part of the next long-term budget, the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU wrote in a document seen by POLITICO.

Europe hesitates as Russian attacks escalate

While European nations use strong words against the Kremlin and discuss future response options, the strategy for now is to “keep calm and carry on," according to a senior NATO diplomat.

European firms unprepared for China shock as EU tries to cut reliance on Beijing

European companies are feeling the effects of the U.S.-China trade and tech war even as the EU readies measures to reduce its dependence on China, according to a new Bertelsmann Stiftung survey seen exclusively by POLITICO ahead of its publication Monday.

EU, China trade chiefs to hold call as talks near crunch time

European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič will hold a videoconference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Thursday, a Commission spokesperson confirmed to POLITICO.

Russia wanted to cow Ukraine allies with railway drone attack, says top EU diplomat

Russia’s Sunday morning drone strike on a Warsaw-bound train near the Ukraine-Poland border was intended to push Western countries to stop their backing for Kyiv, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday. “This is clearly intended to frighten Western countries into ceasing their support for Ukraine, into refraining from going there to demonstrate their support,” Kallas told reporters after landing in Finland for an Arctic summit. Kallas’ words were echoed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot,

EU to propose KIDS Act on social media safety

The European Commission will propose an EU KIDS Act on Thursday to set a a minimum age for accessing social media throughout the bloc.

Finland joins France’s nuclear deterrence push

PARIS — Finland is joining France’s plans to cooperate more closely with other European countries on nuclear deterrence, the two countries announced Monday.

Left edges ahead in Swedish election thriller

With most results in, the opposition left bloc leads by just three seats over an alliance that includes the far-right Sweden Democrats.

Carney eyes ‘unique alliance’ with EU as Trump trade war strains Canada’s ties with US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that he is not seeking full EU membership but wants to forge much closer ties with the bloc, as he prepares to travel to Strasbourg amid an escalating trade war with the U.S.

Why Reform’s donation will change British politics

Will a record breaking £72 million change the face of British politics? After receiving two of the biggest political donations in history – £36m each from crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the political fallout – are the donations legal, will the government legislate to stop them and

The EU’s plan for ‘weaponized’ migration

When Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives her big State of the European Union speech on Wednesday, the topic of migration is likely to feature heavily. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur discuss the EU executive’s proposed new tool to counter “weaponized” migration — like we saw in Ceuta this summer. Plus,

Italy eyes nuclear power comeback by 2035

Senate approval of Italy's atomic bill is expected within days.

Merz zwischen Arktis und CDU-Abgrund

Mitten im schwersten Sturm seiner bisherigen Kanzlerschaft sucht Friedrich Merz Abstand am Polarkreis. Während der Kanzler beim Arktis-Gipfel in Finnland über die EU-Strategie in der dortigen Region spricht, wackelt zu Hause die Koalition. Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen zeigt einen sichtlich angeschlagenen Regierungschef, dessen Rückhalt dramatisch schwindet. Rixa Fürsen und Hans von der Burchard sprechen

Les lois physiques du réseau électrique ignorent la politique

La transition énergétique ne peut reposer sur les seuls décideurs politiques. La gestion des systèmes électriques requiert une ingénierie solide, des réseaux unifiés et une véritable accessibilité financière.

‘Slowing things down’: Trade wars hit global electrification shift

Tariffs on everything from EVs to grid components could slow the energy transition.

Trump cuts Ireland’s whiskey tariff as a parting gift

DOONBEG, Ireland — How do you get U.S. President Donald Trump to cut tariffs? Evidently, let him host your nation’s golf tournament in one of his resorts.

Sweden election forecast says vote too close to call

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s high-stakes general election is too close to call, according to an analysis of early results that suggests a late surge in support for the right.

Sweden exit poll: Left on course for election win in blow to far right

Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson is heading for a comeback as prime minister in charge of a left-wing coalition, exit polling suggests.

Suspected Russian spy behind drone attack in Leipzig

A Belarusian citizen and a Russian national linked to the country's military intelligence services have been identified as the main suspects in the August drone attack.

The ideas shaping von der Leyen’s pitch to Carney

From defense to critical raw materials, a new wave of EU-Canada agreements is on the horizon.

How to write a State of the Union speech

Big promises, special guests and social media influencers have become a routine part of the EU's most high-profile address.

Trump calls on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries

DOONBEG, Ireland — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries in light of the surging price of diesel fuel worldwide.

France climbs down in social media row with US after ambassador’s appointment blocked

BRUSSELS — France has defused a social media row with the U.S. after an online spat over voting in the U.N. General Assembly reportedly led to the delay in the confirmation of Paris’ envoy to Washington.

Russian drone hits passenger train headed from Kyiv to Warsaw

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the attack by stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are “knocking directly on the doors of the EU and NATO.”

How to watch Sweden’s election like a pro

Latest polls put Sunday's vote in NATO’s newest member on a knife-edge.

Will Lagarde bite the apple? ECB president leaves everyone guessing in Normandy

Speculation over Lagarde’s early departure and her involvement in the presidential campaign continues to rise.