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Centrist dilemma
|
AI generated Text-to-speech The best of POLITICO’s coverage selected by Senior Executive Editor, Europe Kate Day. Discover the most impactful stories in Europe and beyond. By KATE DAY View in your browser Dear readers, Another week when the political center’s conventional case for competent government seems to be met by voters with their fingers in their ears. Liz Truss told Anne McElvoy — who traveled to Washington to see Britain’s fleeting prime minister hobnob with those seeking to “Make America Great Again” — that voters are sick of “technocratic managerial crap.” You can listen to the interview on this week’s episode of Westminster Insider. Plenty more below to get you through the weekend and set you up for the coming week. All best wishes, Kate Day How Belgium’s De Wever derailed the EU’s ‘insane’ €140B Ukraine loan plan Belgium dug its heals in over the European Union’s €140 billion loan for Ukraine at this week’s summit in Brussels. Read the story. European Commission under pressure over Hungarian spying allegations The European Parliament is demanding answers from the Commission over what it knew about an alleged Hungarian spy ring operating out of the country’s embassy in Brussels. Read the story. Inside the Commission reshuffle Our excellent new Brussels Playbook author Gerardo Fortuna sketches out a high-stakes reshuffle of the EU executive’s top ranks. Read all the details in Tuesday’s Playbook. 5 reasons Starmer’s new election disaster should spook Europe’s centrists A disastrous by-election defeat for Labour in a Welsh seat held by the party for over 100 years spells trouble for centrist incumbents across Europe. Read the story. Liz Truss’ dream of boosting British cheese exports falls flat in Japan Exclusive: The second appearance for Truss in this list, but this one was too good to leave out. In 2014 Truss famously called it a “disgrace” that Britain didn’t export more cheese. Five years after the U.K. and Japan signed their trade deal, the Japanese still aren’t buying British. Read the story. UK considers scrapping oil and gas windfall tax in bid to boost growth Exclusive: The Treasury is weighing proposals to scrap the oil and gas windfall tax as soon as next year, as the government scrambles to revive the U.K.’s flagging economy. Read the story. EU considers withholding funds from countries that don’t fix pension systems Exclusive: Brussels fears Europe’s aging population will cause fiscal crises unless member countries address unsustainable retirement systems. Read the story. EU Confidential: How about them assets — making Russia pay for Ukraine The EU wants to lend €140 billion in cash from frozen Russian funds to Ukraine; Belgium is afraid it will be the one on the hook for paying it back. That’s just one of the tough topics EU leaders discussed as they gathered in Brussels at a meeting devoted to fighting the external threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin — and the internal threat from the far right. Listen to the episode. Westminster Insider: What Liz Truss wants Britain to learn from Trump Liz Truss is never far from the shores of the United States, hobnobbing with the folk seeking to “Make America Great Again.” What does she think Britain can learn from the second Trump era? Anne McElvoy travels to Washington to talk to the former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who’s on a self-proclaimed “mission” to remake the U.K. in the image of MAGA-land. Listen to the episode. Read this week’s Declassified column. Caption competition “And in his search for food, Pavel the Polar Bear decided to leave Russia’s sphere of influence, so I sent a fleet of drones and had him killed. The end.” Can you do better? Email us at [email protected] or get in touch on X @POLITICOEurope. Last week, we gave you this photo: Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best from our postbag — there’s no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze. “No, you don’t know how to play rock, paper, scissors.” by Stephen Robinson SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
|
Kate Day
|
[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-25T08:00:00Z
|
2025-10-25T08:00:00Z
|
2025-10-25T08:05:09Z
| 7,387,977
|
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-confidential/centrist-dilemma/
|
|
Machthaber: Alexander Lukaschenko
|
Listen on Wer regiert die Welt – und was treibt sie an? In unserem regelmäßigen Machthaber-Spezial geht es um die mächtigsten und umstrittensten Politikerinnen und Politiker unserer Zeit. Wir zeigen, wie sie denken, entscheiden – und was das für uns bedeutet. Eine Politikerin oder Politiker, alle zwei Wochen, ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der Macht. Die nächste Folge hört ihr am Samstag, den 8.11.2025. Dann geht es um den polnischen Ministerpräsidenten Donald Tusk. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
|
Gordon Repinski
|
[
"der podcast",
"german politics",
"russia sanctions",
"russian politics",
"u.s. foreign policy",
"politics"
] |
Playbook
|
[
"Belarus",
"Poland",
"Russia",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-25T07:37:51Z
|
2025-10-25T07:37:51Z
|
2025-10-28T12:33:46Z
| 7,392,519
|
https://www.politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/machthaber-alexander-lukaschenko/
|
|
Moody’s cuts outlook on France as Lecornu struggles to pass budget
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Moody’s decision not to lower France’s credit rating will be a relief for the government after downgrades by S&P and Fitch in recent weeks. PARIS — Rating agency Moody's on Friday maintained its credit rating on France but revised its outlook to "negative" from "stable" as the beleaguered government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu struggles to push through his budget. Moody's decision not to lower France's rating will be a relief for the government after downgrades by the other two big ratings agencies — S&P and Fitch — in recent weeks. Moody's kept its long-term sovereign rating on France at Aa3, but cited political instability and the resulting difficulties in taming the government's budget deficit in lowering its outlook to negative. The negative outlook means the rating agency's next update likely could be a downgrade. Friday's decision "reflects the increased risk that the fragmentation of the country's political landscape will continue to impair the functioning of France's legislative institutions," Moody's said in a statement. "This political instability risks hampering the government's ability to address key policy challenges such as an elevated fiscal deficit, rising debt burden and durable increase in borrowing costs," the agency said. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said in a statement that Moody's decision showed “the absolute need to build a common path toward a budget compromise.” He added that the administration "remains determined" to meet the deficit target of a 5.4 percent of GDP this year and to get the budget shortfall below 3 percent of GDP by 2029. In an interview with POLITICO shortly before the decision was published, Moody’s Chief Credit Officer Atsi Sheth said that putting some order in France's public finances was increasingly "challenging" because of the inability of French parties to find compromises. The French parliament's lower house, the National Assembly, earlier this week started discussing the €30 billion budget squeeze proposed by the government for next year. In yet another concession to win the Socialists' support, Lecornu promised not to use a constitutional backdoor that would have allowed him to bypass a vote in parliament to pass the budget and ignore most parliamentary amendments. But that leaves his budget draft vulnerable to dilution during the parliamentary process and to the risk that deficit cuts will be smaller than expected. Uncertainty looms over France’s ability to cut its debt, ratings agency’s chief credit officer tells POLITICO. The French president’s domestic woes have dimmed his ambitions and weakened his influence within the European Union. PM Sébastien Lecornu was expected to survive after committing to suspend an unpopular law that raised the age of retirement. The French president makes a desperate bid to save his fragile latest government.
|
Giorgio Leali
|
Moody’s decision not to lower France’s credit rating will be a relief for the government after downgrades by S&P and Fitch in recent weeks.
|
[
"credit rating agencies",
"debt",
"french political crisis",
"french politics",
"national budgets",
"pensions",
"tax",
"central banker"
] |
Financial Services
|
[
"France"
] |
2025-10-25T06:50:57Z
|
2025-10-25T06:50:57Z
|
2025-10-25T07:04:46Z
| 7,388,346
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/moodys-france-rating-outlook-budget-deficit-political-crisis/
|
Europeans vow to choke Russian oil sector after Trump sanctions
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Ukraine’s leader capped a week of dramatic escalation by solidifying Europe’s unified front. AI generated Text-to-speech Keir Starmer pledged to “take Russian oil and gas off the global market” as he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a bid to sustain momentum on ending the war in Ukraine after a whiplash week that saw the collapse of a potential ceasefire summit. Starmer hosted a meeting of Ukraine's allies that sought to build on Donald Trump's biggest intervention yet against Vladimir Putin as he sanctioned Russia's two largest oil companies. Zelenskyy hailed the move by the Americans as “a big step” but urged allies to go further, saying, “we have to apply pressure, not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies.” NATO chief Mark Rutte, who joined fresh from meeting Trump in Washington, said he hoped U.S. sanctions on Russia's largest oil companies “will starve them of revenue and significantly increase the pressure on Putin.” They also praised EU leaders for agreeing to support Ukraine's finances for the next two years, despite the failure of talks in Brussels to release billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to help fund the country's defense. Starmer, Zelenskyy and Rutte met in London alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, ahead of a virtual meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, which was also joined by Japan for the first time. Since it was formed, the coalition’s talks have focused on ways to guarantee security in the event of a ceasefire. This week, however, conversation was focused more sharply on how to ramp up pressure on Putin to restart peace talks in the face of intransigence from the Russian leader. Zelenskyy had two key aims in meeting European leaders: capitalizing on Trump’s new sanctions and keeping long-range weapons on the table. One person familiar with Friday’s discussion pointed out Surgutneftegas, Putin’s personal company, has not been targeted yet and predicted: “If their [Russia’s] entire oil sphere could be squeezed it would have some chance of bringing Putin to the table.” A senior U.K. official separately added that the U.S. action had been "a really important new step" and it is "always more powerful when nations act together." The same person close to Friday’s talks said long-range missile capabilities must feature in European and U.S. efforts. "Everyone saw how Putin reacted to the Tomahawks prospect," they said. "But then Americans backed down from the idea and Putin swiftly turned away from diplomacy." The U.S. president has seesawed back and forth in his willingness to listen to Zelenskyy and Putin, and European onlookers were nervous about his plan to meet the Russian leader in Hungary this week. However, that meeting was canceled after a phone call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov went badly. On Wednesday, the U.S. announced sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies, marking a shift in attitude from the White House. Trump, who had previously said he would not introduce more sanctions unless European countries backed off Russian oil and gas, told reporters: "I just felt it was time." Amid a row over a collapsed China spying trial, it’s not just Keir Starmer who relies on veteran Northern Ireland peace negotiator Jonathan Powell. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet. British troops will join a US-led task force that is overseeing the fragile truce brokered by Donald Trump last week, amid violence on both sides. Embattled Starmer hopes a deal with Kosovo will help meet his migration pledge.
|
Esther Webber
|
Ukraine’s leader capped a week of dramatic escalation by solidifying Europe’s unified front.
|
[
"defense",
"missiles",
"oil",
"sanctions",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"Hungary",
"Japan",
"Ukraine",
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T18:58:34Z
|
2025-10-24T18:58:34Z
|
2025-10-24T18:59:53Z
| 7,391,940
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-oil-sector-donald-trump-sanctions-keir-starmer-volodymyr-zelenskyy/
|
London Playbook PM: Manhunt
|
AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Intuit By EMILIO CASALICCHIO with NOAH KEATE PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good afternoon. This is Emilio Casalicchio in the grand Locarno Suite in the Foreign Office, where Keir Starmer has been giving a press conference with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO boss Mark Rutte, Netherlands PM Dick Schoof and Danish leader Mette Frederiksen. It’s more of a gold-trimmed ballroom than a suite. — Westminster has been left agog after the Epping hotel migrant convicted of sexual assault was released by accident. — The story broke just as Keir Starmer was preparing for a big international presser. — The PM said western allies are “choking off” the Russian war machine. — There are loads of lessons to unpick from the Welsh election that saw Labour crushed. — A wad of letters about the collapsed China espionage case show bureaucrats at war. **A message from Intuit: AI boosts productivity and unlocks growth opportunities for small businesses. Today, more than a third of UK small and mid-sized businesses are using AI, up 10% in just a year. Discover the latest insights on AI adoption in new research from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** REVERSE MIDAS STRIKES AGAIN: Keir Starmer wanted to talk about helping Ukraine but a massive state blunder was revealed right before his big moment. Broken Britain: A police manhunt is underway after Hadush Kebatu — the Epping hotel asylum seeker jailed for sex assaults — was accidentally released from prison, the Sun team scooped this evening, in what is a properly astonishing story. What is wrong with us? The paper cites a “senior justice source” who says of Kebatu: “He has been released in error – this is the mother of all f**k ups.” The same source says Justice Secretary David Lammy is “aware” and “furious.” Lammy tweeted this evening he was “appalled” and has ordered an “urgent investigation.” Wasn’t on the grid: It’s already the top story on the BBC, Telegraph and Mail website and just led the six o’clock news. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp fumed: “A dangerous convicted pedophile who attacked a 14-year-old girl has been allowed to vanish back onto our streets. He should have been deported immediately.” Nigel Farage is already leaping on it, saying: “Britain is broken.” Also adding to the headaches: It comes hours after Deng Majek — a Sudanese national who was staying at the Park Inn Hotel with other asylum seekers — was found guilty of murdering hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte. The details of that case are truly horrific. Reminder: Big chunks of the public are already fuming about these hotels and thugs are on hand to exploit the anger. This will dominate for days at a time the government needs it least. Weird vibes: The Kebatu revelation broke just minutes before Starmer filed into the Locarno Suite in the Foreign Office, flanked by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO boss Mark Rutte, Netherlands PM Dick Schoof and Danish leader Mette Frederiksen. Five (pre-picked) hacks were allowed questions but no-one asked about the release disaster. Most hacks still hadn’t clocked the story and four of the five were working for foreign outlets. What the famous five wanted to talk about: Their video call with other Ukraine-supporting allies this afternoon including U.S. President Donald Trump. “Ukraine’s future is our future,” Starmer said. “We are determined to act now to dial up the pressure on Putin and finally bring him to the negotiating table in good faith.” The problem is: There are hold-ups (as usual) on the two big things Zelenskyy is asking his pals for help on. Trump is still mulling whether to hand over long-range Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine to blast at Russia, and the EU failed last night to agree a plan to unlock Russian assets to fund the Ukrainian war machine. Nevertheless: Zelenskyy insisted a “political agreement” on the assets issue at the EU last night was progress and a “practical agreement” could come before the end of the year. Frederiksen said allies must agree a plan before Christmas. There was some back-patting about … the latest EU sanctions on Russian oil and its first ever sanctions on Russian gas this week. The bloc hopes to phase out the latter before 2027. Mette agreed the plan did “come too late” although Zelenskyy said it was “better now than never.” Starmer admitted it was going to be “a hard winter” for Ukraine but insisted that — alongside the Russian oil sanctions from the U.S. this week — “we’re choking off funding for Russia’s war machine.” Periodic reminder: The Foreign Office building the five were meeting in is heated by gas from TotalEnergies — which owns a 20 percent stake in Russian fossil fuel firm Yamal LNG. FIRST READ THIS: Our Dan Bloom crunched five things to learn from the Caerphilly by-election. He notes among the factors the importance of non-voters and tactical voting; the trouble for incumbents; the impact of poor messaging; and the teflon nature of populists when Britain is deemed broken. On non-voters: Reform-backers who emerge from the shadows for the first time in decades and head to the ballot box to give Labour a kicking pose a proper logistical issue for Keir Starmer. “We’ve spent all these years farming data on people who we know vote, and are often inclined to vote Labour,” one Labour strategist told Dan. “Whereas these voters, because they don’t vote, our first instinct is we don’t bother. So we have no data on them.” On messaging: The same person argued hitting people with data (think stats showing migration is not a big thing in their area) doesn’t work against populists. “There are still too many people who think that if people only knew the truth, they wouldn’t vote Reform,” the person said. But but but: The high-level stuff about “patriotic national renewal” or “growth in people’s pockets” doesn’t quite cut it either. “We’ve got to start listening to people and delivering on the basics,” a minister told Dan. “Stop trying to be existential and be too big picture.” Readers might be wondering … how TF much of the fallout still seems obsessed with Reform, despite it not winning the election. One minister told Playbook PM it’s because the Plaid vote “shows people are desperate to be tactical against Reform.” So life is becoming a referendum on Nigel Farage? Tim Shipman reckons similar. Which is not the Labour line in public: Downing Street and Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds are trotting out the usual lines that incumbents often lose by-elections. NTS told Radio 4 the result (a dismal 11 percent for Labour) was not a rejection of Starmerism but because it’s been difficult to make change with the state the meanie Tories left the nation in. Starmer told Sky’s Beth Rigby at the presser it was all “deeply disappointing” and that Labour needs to “double down” on delivering. We’re also sad: Farage was putting a brave face on things after ending up 11 points behind Plaid. He said on X that Labour vote collapsed to Plaid because the movement is well known and its candidate Lindsay Whittle is a “popular local politician.” He insisted: “The Senedd elections next year are a two-horse race between Reform UK and Plaid Cymru.” Speaking of Plaid: Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has been taking a victory lap all day. He told an event at Caerphilly Castle the result was “historic.” SPIES, DAMNED SPIES AND HEURISTICS: Keir Starmer will be hoping new deets about the collapsed China espionage case throw it all back to the Tories. But the claims and counterclaims remain a proper tangle ahead of some crucial grillings next week. Pen pals: Labour aide and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, alongside his civil service second-in-command Matthew Collins, wrote to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy answering questions about the government evidence the Crown Prosecution Service last month decided was not sufficient to put two spying suspects on trial. CPS boss Stephen Parkinson also did similar in his own letter (more on that one in a sec.) The interesting bits: Powell and Collins confirm a draft of the first (of three) witness statements in the case, which Collins submitted in 2023 while the Tories were still in power, described China as an “enemy” — a requirement for conviction under the Official Secrets Act. But the word was removed before submission, because the Tories did not describe China as an enemy in official policy documents. Nevertheless: The CPS decided it could still charge the suspects, because “enemy” could be defined as a nation the U.K. might be at war with in future. But a later Russian espionage case led the CPS to believe a more specific threshold was required: That the nation “presently poses an active threat to the UK’s national security” or “represents a current threat to the national security of the UK” at the time of the alleged offenses. And so … the CPS went back to the government in 2025 (after Labour came into power) requesting new evidence that their Conservative predecessors had held that view. Collins tried to meet the threshold twice (see here and here) but could not quite hit the wording the CPS was looking for. He and Powell argue that’s because the Conservative position did not warrant it. Parkinson however argues that what the Tories said was not the point, but rather whether China was “as a matter of fact” an active threat at the time — a.k.a. a judgment from Collins. And lo: “His unwillingness to say that at the material time China was an active threat to national security was fatal to the case,” Parkinson said of the deputy national security adviser. The DPP added that the fact the witness statement draft referred to China as an “enemy” but was then amended to remove that word could have been used as defensive evidence in the trial. All in all: It’s a mind-melting mess of claims and counter-claims which appears to hinge on whether civil servants could have gone further than politicians to describe whether another nation was enough of a threat at a specific point in the past. Parkinson admits in his letter that the CPS prompted the infamous echoing of the Labour manifesto in one of the later witness statements — despite it not being material to a trial. The letters also suggest Collins was not consulting ministers. The snortingly funny bit, is … the one politician to see evidence before it was submitted was then-Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, in 2023. It appears neither he nor his political aides questioned China not being described as an enemy in the statement. Once the suspects were charged, further evidence could not be shared with politicians or advisers. So Labour figures never saw it and were not involved with gathering it for the later two statements. Which means … the Tories have had lotsa fun making noise about this, but now face their own questions. TBF it was under Sunak that the Official Secrets Act was updated to the National Security Act, which lowered the evidential threshold for the case. Labour argues that if the Tories had done all that earlier (it was first mooted in 2015) this case might have been tried under the new law. Nevertheless: The Conservatives probably front-loaded enough of their noise that any cut-through to the public about this farce will have been on claims Labour messed up. It’s a classic example of the Keir Starmer administration’s perma-back-footedness, despite some fire coming Kemi Badenoch’s way tonight. Indeed: “Kemi Badenoch has well and truly been hoist by her own petard,” Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson said this afternoon. “Today’s revelations make a mockery of the Conservative leadership’s faux outrage over the past fortnight — they owe the public an apology for misleading them.” Nope, still going: Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel insisted this evening: “This weak Labour government hold all responsibility for the collapse of the case and for undermining our national security.” More bedtime reading: There are various other details in the Powell/Collins and Parkinson letters, and there are also letters from bête noire of the right Richard Hermer (noting he had zero involvement in the case aside from top-line updates) as well as from Darren Jones and Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald. Coming attractions: Parkinson will appear at the JCNSS on Monday from 4.30 p.m., followed by Wormald and Collins. Jones and Hermer will appear on Tuesday at 9.45 a.m. SUNAK SLAPDOWN: Rishi Sunak gently hit back at Robert Jenrick’s comments about integration in Birmingham after the shadow justice secretary said he went to Handsworth without seeing “another white face.” Speaking to the Times’ Alice Thomson, the ex-PM (who just so happens to start a Sunday Times column this weekend), said “integration is important, but it’s not the way I would have spoken about it. It is not just about the color of your skin.” Although a more interesting news line … is how Sunak ordered food at the Dover restaurant in Mayfair, via the Vittles food newsletter. “I think you can tell a lot about a person not from what they order but from how they order it,” writer Jonathan Nunn noted. “I respect people who know what they want and just order it, without compromising. Sunak’s technique was to ask every single person at the table what they were ordering, ask the waiter for his thoughts, spend the next ten minutes fussing about whether the Dover sole was too big, asking the waiter if he thought the Dover sole was too big (answer: no), trying to negotiate sharing it with someone else at the table and failing, before capitulating and ordering penne arrabbiata.” What it all means: “After witnessing this dithering over a piece of flatfish, I left The Dover with a better understanding of our ruling class. How can you possibly hope to lead the country if you cannot even lead your own stomach?” SCOOP — TRICKY BUSINESS: Business groups have launched a fresh bid to water down Labour’s workers’ rights bill, Playbook’s Dan Bloom writes in. A fight looms in the Lords after 13 bodies including the CBI, IoD, Federation of Small Businesses, Food and Drink Federation and UK Hospitality wrote to all peers this afternoon, calling for employees’ protection against unfair dismissal to only kick in after six months. Good luck with that: Labour promised “day one” protection against unfair dismissal in its manifesto (down from two years). Tories, crossbenchers and Lib Dems already passed a Lords amendment in July to change this to six months, but MPs ditched it. The business groups now want peers to have another go in Lords “ping pong” next Tuesday … but Labour is likely to fight. “The unions will go bananas” if the bill changes, one MP told Dan. Not good enough? Ministers are promising to smooth business fears by consulting on a nine-month “statutory probation period” where it’s easier to dismiss workers for poor performance. But clearly this isn’t enough for the business groups. Their letter says Labour’s plans “will cause significant damage to employment and growth in this country.” BAIL-OUT: Nigel Farage indicated to Bloomberg he would oust Bank of England boss Andrew Bailey if Reform wins the next election. “He’s had a good run. We might find someone new,” Farage said. He also said Reform will “probably go further” than the £50 billion in spending cuts its manifesto pledged in the 2024 election. STILL TO COME: Rachel Reeves has done an interview with “financial educator” Tim Paul, which will appear here at 6 p.m. She tells him how she gets “wound up” about her mum reading “rubbish” Budget speculation stories in the papers, after Paul said his parents wanted him to ask her about pensions. On which note … Downing Street of course refused to comment on the Guardian writeup that Reeves will break her manifesto promise not to hike income tax. A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said the manifesto promises still stand. Watch this space. HOUSE IN ORDER: The High Court dismissed challenges brought to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act after a defense from the government. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook called the judgment a “resounding victory for millions of leaseholders.” NORTH OF THE BORDER: Three Scottish Green councilors defected to Your Party to give Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s fledgling outfit its first Scottish representatives. Holyrood has more. RAISE THE SPENDING: Reform UK-run Nottinghamshire County Council will allocate £75,000 to install 164 Union Jack and St George’s flags across 82 locations. The Indy has a rundown. OFFERING A MAPLE BRANCH: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was prepared to resume trade negotiations with the U.S. “when the Americans are ready” after President Donald Trump canned all talks over an advert critical of his tariffs. The BBC has his comments. **A message from Intuit: In a survey of over 1,500 UK business leaders, 35% say they’ve adopted AI technology, representing a 10% jump from last year. AI adoption among small and mid-sized businesses is accelerating quickly. For many small businesses, AI is becoming central to growth, helping small business owners automate administrative tasks and streamline operations. Intuit will soon introduce agentic AI experiences to help small businesses and accountants using QuickBooks in the UK unlock next-level efficiency. These AI agents are designed to handle everything from routine tasks to complex workflows, helping business owners stay efficient, agile, and in control. Discover how AI is transforming small business growth in the UK in the new report from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** Aasmah Mir at Drive (LBC, until 7 p.m.): Political guru John Curtice (5.05 p.m.) … Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson Olly Glover (6.35 p.m.). Drive with Peter Cardwell (Talk, until 7 p.m.): Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois (5 p.m.) … former British Army Officer Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (5.30 p.m.) … Popular Conservatism Director Mark Littlewood (6 p.m.). Drive with Carolyn Quinn (Times Radio, from 5 p.m.): Former Welsh Secretary Alun Michael … former YouGov President Peter Kellner … former NATO Policy Planning Director Fabrice Pothier … former Defence Attaché in Moscow and Kyiv John Foreman … former Downing Street Director of Communications Matthew Doyle … former Tory Cabinet Minister Penny Mordaunt … former Shadow Cabinet Minister Jonathan Ashworth … Vadym Prystaiko … former Lib Dem PPC Edward Lucas … POLITICO’s own Anne McElvoy. The News Agents (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Norway’s Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Any Questions (Radio 4, 8 p.m.): Education Minister Georgia Gould … Shadow Wales Secretary Mims Davies … Stop the War Coalition Convenor Lindsey German … the Spectator’s Isabel Hardman. Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): More in Common’s Luke Tryl … Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales. TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: Alfie Tobutt. REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): The Lead’s Zoë Grünewald and former Lib Dem adviser Jo Phillips … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Guardian’s Zoe Williams and commentator Benedict Spence. HAPPENING OVERNIGHT: The Commons Treasury Committee has a report out on the Cash ISA at midnight into Saturday. AT LAST: The winner of Labour’s deputy leadership contest to replace Angela Rayner is announced at 10 a.m. on Saturday. TICK TOCK: British summer time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday. BUT THERE’S NO REST FOR … Rachel Reeves, who is undertaking the first visit from a U.K. chancellor to the Gulf in more than half a decade. She’s taking 24 business leaders focused on trade and investment. ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS: It’s Wes Streeting vs. Chris Philp for the government and official opposition lines. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM: Keir Starmer appears on Radio 3’s Private Passions to chat about playing the flute and his love of Beethoven, Mozart, Shostakovich and Brahms, from 12 p.m. on Sunday. Ayesha Hazarika with Times Radio Drive (Times Radio, 4 p.m. on Saturday): Former Labour Cabinet Minister Alan Johnson (6 p.m.). Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips (Sky News, 8.30 a.m. on Sunday): Health Secretary Wes Streeting … Reform UK Head of Policy Zia Yusuf … former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King … the News Agents’ Jon Sopel … journo Sonia Sodha … former Treasury Minister Angela Knight. Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (BBC One, 9 a.m. on Sunday): Wes Streeting … former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. The Camilla Tominey Show (GB News, 9.30 a.m. on Sunday): Wes Streeting … Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp … Zia Yusuf … Deltapoll’s Joe Twyman … the Times’ Aubrey Allegretti. Lewis Goodall (LBC, 10 a.m. on Sunday): Wes Streeting … Chris Philp … Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper … Labour MP Justin Madders … suspended Labour MP Rachael Maskell … Plaid Cymru LeaderRhun ap Iorwerth … former Reform UK Director of Communications Gawain Towler … former U.N. Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown … British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson … authorDarren McGarvey. Sunday Morning with Adam Boulton (Times Radio, 10 a.m. on Sunday): Wes Streeting … Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales Ayesha Hazarika with Times Radio Drive (Times Radio, 4 p.m. on Sunday): Labour MP Jeevun Sandher … Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Richard Fuller … Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader Liz Saville-Roberts … the Express’ Sam Lister. Westminster Hour (Radio 4, 10 p.m. on Sunday): Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti … Shadow Treasury Minister Gareth Davies … Lib Dem Culture Spokesperson Anna Sabine … the Times’ Geri Scott. Peter Cardwell (Talk, 10 a.m. on Saturday): Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin phone-in (10 a.m.) … former Labour adviser James Robinson (10.30 a.m.). Peter Cardwell (Talk, 10 a.m. on Sunday): Wes Streeting (10.35 a.m.) … Chris Philp (11 a.m.). BROKEN BRITAIN: A large area in front of the Despatch Box coffee bar in Portcullis House has been cordoned off with scaffolders building a tower to the ceiling to replace some roof panels. Water collection boxes have been sat in the atrium this week to catch drips from leaks. Bear in mind the building was opened in 2001. THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: Want to see inside the £4.75 million rural pile where incoming Conservative Treasurer Simon Dudley held a hype event for Robert Jenrick last night? You’re welcome. BEAR WITNESS: The Beeb’s Adam Fleming will host a non-stop *25-hour* edition of Newscast next month to raise money for Children in Need. Aided by political bigwigs Chris Mason and Laura Kuenssberg, plus Broadcasting House presenter Paddy O’Connell (and possibly Pudsey the bear) the podcast will be on air from 8 a.m. on Nov. 13 to 9 a.m. on Nov. 14. WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: The four part Substack from Labour strategist Chris Clarke about how Labour might take on populism and beat Reform. One, two, three, four. What else I’ve been reading watching: How to behave in a British pub and what “rounds” are, in a bid to teach Americans. (H/t former government comms chief Abigail Morris on her Substack.) MEA CULPA: The Guardian scoop about Conservative MPs complaining to whips about Katie Lam was by Eleni Courea and Peter Walker. ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On Oct. 24, 1945 the U.K. became a founding member of the United Nations. On the same day in 2022, Rishi Sunak became Conservative leader despite losing the contest against Liz Truss just a month and a half earlier. WRITING SUNDAY CRUNCH: Mason Boycott-Owen. WRITING PLAYBOOK MONDAY MORNING: Dan Bloom. THANKS TO: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
|
Emilio Casalicchio
|
[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-24T17:35:48Z
|
2025-10-24T17:35:48Z
|
2025-10-24T17:36:35Z
| 7,367,283
|
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/london-playbook-pm-manhunt/
|
|
Catalan, Basque and Galician get a boost as Merz and Sánchez team up in Brussels
|
Whether it’s green deregulation or official EU languages, both leaders have their pet topics. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are helping each other navigate EU politics to deliver their government’s promises following a meeting in Madrid just over a month ago. On Friday, the Spanish government announced that Germany had agreed to reconsider its opposition to making Catalan, Basque, and Galician official EU languages. “Our two governments have agreed today to open a dialogue with the aim of finding a response to Spain’s request,” a statement read. The two countries have opened bilateral talks with the objective of proposing an agreed text to all EU countries in an upcoming indefinite meeting. Making Catalan an official EU language is one of the key promises Sánchez gave to nationalist leader Carles Puigdemont, whose party, Junts, and their seven seats in the Spanish parliament hold the key to Sánchez’s mandate stability, as he needs their votes to reach a majority. Germany was the largest country to oppose the move when EU countries voted on it in May. It’s the latest example of cooperation after a September meeting in Madrid between Merz and Sánchez, who represent Europe’s two biggest political families — the Conservatives and the Social Democrats. At that rare German-Spanish lovefest, they vowed to work closely together at the EU level to deliver on their promises, helping each other strengthen their grip on power in Berlin and Madrid. “Germany and Spain will continue to strengthen their ties and commit to more Europe,” Sánchez said back then. “That message of unity is the most powerful one we can convey to our fellow citizens right now.” Similarly, Merz argued that, since the European Socialists in Brussels are led by a Spaniard (Iratxe García), and the European center-right by a German (Manfred Weber), both leaders “agreed to talk to each other and try to overcome the differences so that the two groups can then truly work together effectively in the European Parliament.” In the weeks that ensued, practical examples this freshly forged alliance are coming to the fore and having a real impact at the European level. The announcement on linguistic recognition comes just two weeks after Sánchez intervened with the Socialists group in the European Parliament to force them to rubber-stamp a controversial simplification package, slashing green reporting rules for businesses, put forward by the center-right European People’s Party — Merz’s party. The proposal, known in Brussels as Omnibus 1, is a brainchild of Merz and was at the center of his campaign for the chancellery in the spring. Political group leaders voiced concern the move could set a precedent for restricting media in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s center right weighs turning its back on historical mainstream alliances in its push to cut red tape. A draft of a letter seen by POLITICO being drawn up by all four mainstream political groups demands major changes to Commission plan. Roberta Metsola says the coalition that has traditionally controlled Brussels may no longer always be able to pass legislation.
|
Max Griera
|
Whether it’s green deregulation or official EU languages, both leaders have their pet topics.
|
[
"omnibus",
"parliament",
"rights",
"stability"
] |
Uncategorized
|
[
"Germany",
"Spain"
] |
2025-10-24T17:08:55Z
|
2025-10-24T17:08:55Z
|
2025-10-24T17:09:03Z
| 7,391,463
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/catalan-basque-galician-boost-friedrich-merz-pedro-sanchez-team-up-brussels/
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Merz’s mixed messages
|
AI generated Text-to-speech A weekly newsletter on German politics, with news and analysis on the new government. By NETTE NÖSTLINGER Send tips here | Subscribe for free | View in your browser MOOD SWINGS: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz somehow forgot to practice what he preached when briefing reporters on his party’s strategy to counter the rising far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, now polling in first place. Preach: “We will now make very clear where the AfD stands in terms of content. We will distance ourselves very clearly and distinctly from them,” Merz said Monday, ruling out cooperation with the far-right force following an internal debate on the issue (last week’s Bulletin has more). But just a couple minutes later, Merz refused to retract a statement that, according to his critics, was retrieved from the far-right playbook and stirred anti-immigrant sentiment. During a visit to Brandenburg the week before, he had spoken of a “problem in the cityscape” to be solved by “carrying out repatriations on a very large scale.” Throwing oil on the fire: “Let me ask you something in return,” Merz said in response to a reporter’s question. “I don’t know if you have children — but if you have daughters, ask them what I might have meant by that. I suspect you’ll get a pretty clear and straightforward answer,” he said. “I have nothing to take back. On the contrary, I emphasize once again that we must change this.” Not all women agreed: Among them, Germany’s most well-known activist and a member of the Greens, Luisa Neubauer, who called on Germany’s young women to gather in front of the party headquarters of Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) on Tuesday evening — with a couple thousand showing up. Taking it to the ‘gram: Merz’s comments proved Instagram silver (see here and here) — and would probably have been gold any other week, had it not for that other meme-perfect news story that dominated our feeds here at the Bulletin (see here, here and here). But then again, what’s new? It’s not surprising for Merz to drop polarizing statements, nor for progressive women to disapprove of them. He has, for example, said that the Bundestag was “not a circus tent” when asked to weigh in on a discussion about raising the LGBTQ+ flag above the parliament to celebrate Pride a couple of months ago. Before becoming chancellor, he referred to the sons of migrants as “little paschas” following attacks on policemen and firefighters. Upping standards: But this time around, party members of Merz’s coalition demanded more caution from their head of government. Not funny: “Merz is no longer the witty commentator on the sidelines who knocks you out. As chancellor, he has a special responsibility for the cohesion of our society, the culture of debate and a positive narrative for the future,” said Dennis Radtke, a member of the European Parliament for Merz’s CDU. Cabinet members from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), Merz’s coalition partner, underscored that sentiment. The pressure from within ultimately prompted Merz to read out a statement during a press conference in London, which clarified that he’d been referring to migrants who lack legal residence permits, while stressing that Germany needed legal migration to shore up its labor pool. Counterproductive: “This communication does not benefit the CDU at all. We always see that this type of communication actually only benefits the AfD,” political science professor Sabine Kropp of the Freie Universität Berlin told the Bulletin. “Merz should know this. He has often been unsuccessful with this type of communication,” she added. Getting lectured: In an almost absurd turn of events, one of the party leaders of AfD — which has been classified as a right-wing extremist organization by the German intelligence authorities in several federal states — called on Merz to be more balanced. “I want to make it very clear, and we have always said this: that we should differentiate,” said Tino Chrupalla in a television interview. SUMMIT BLOOPER: Merz announced at the European Council summit Thursday that all EU leaders had approved the controversial Mercosur trade deal. “All 27 countries voted unanimously in favor,” Merz said with a big smile. “It’s done.” The remark sparked confusion among delegations, as the European Council doesn’t vote on trade agreements — trade falls under the remit of the EU executive, the European Commission — and eventually triggered a clarification from European Council President António Costa, who said he’d only asked EU leaders to speak with their ambassadors to resolve final translation issues with the agreement. “But that was it. We didn’t discuss it. We didn’t make any decisions,” Costa clarified. Lashing out at Parliament: Another growing headache for Merz is the fact that the European Parliament isn’t cooperating with plans to cut red tape in a series of simplification bills. Merz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had previously teamed up to force the centrist coalitions in the European Parliament to agree on the bill. Seems parts of the center didn’t listen, as Parliament rejected the bill in a secret ballot this week. Merz — who is pushing to cut bureaucracy amid the worsening economic climate at home — was furious over that setback, labeling the outcome of the vote “unacceptable” upon his arrival at the summit. The decision was “a fatal mistake and must be corrected,” he added. Unexpected Belgian blockade: The ultimate spoiler at Thursday’s gathering of EU leaders turned out to be Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who dug in his heels against using Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine. His resistance came as another big surprise to German officials, who had signaled they were pretty certain Belgium would give the green light. “There are still a number of unresolved technical issues, but I believe the political direction is clear and I see a broad consensus emerging for Thursday,” a senior official had told reporters earlier this week. That didn’t happen. Fun fact: De Wever is known to be fascinated by ancient Roman history (he likes to wear cuff links bearing the image of Julius Caesar and celebrated his party’s election victory in Antwerp last year with a Roman eagle trophy, carried by his son). As Nicholas Vinocur pointed out in Friday’s Brussels Playbook, the Belgian leader in the run-up to Council might have been rereading Caesar, who famously wrote: “Of all the Gauls, the strongest are the Belgians.” ASKING FOR A FRIEND: Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier accused the AfD of spying for Russia via its parliamentary right to ask questions. “One cannot help but get the impression that the AfD is working through a list of tasks assigned by the Kremlin,” Maier told Handelsblatt in an interview this week. “The AfD is particularly interested in police IT and equipment, for example in the area of drone detection,” he said. The AfD in Thuringia made nearly 50 parliamentary inquiries centered around critical infrastructure over the last 12 months, he said, adding that a similar tendency could be observed in the Bundestag. AfD lawmakers strongly rejected the “absurd” accusations and Thuringian leader, Björn Höcke, filed a defamation complaint against Maier. ‘AUTUMN OF CRUELTY’: Merz over the summer vowed to launch fundamental economic and social reforms in the fall — including changes to the long-term unemployment benefit system, pensions and health care — intended to help revive the sluggish economy. Some of his lawmakers dubbed those plans the “fall of reforms.” This week, the leaders of Germany’s two largest trade unions announced large-scale demonstrations against the austerity plans, and came up with their own catchy term: The “autumn of cruelty.” ARMY WISH LIST: Berlin intends to build the Bundeswehr into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” An internal document seen by our defense colleague, Chris Lunday, adds hardware to that ambition. The sprawling 39-page list lays out €377 billion in desired buys across land, air, sea, space and cyber. The Bundeswehr wants to launch about 320 new weapons and equipment projects over the next year’s budget cycle. Of those, 178 have a listed contractor. The rest remain “still open,” showing that much of the Bundeswehr’s modernization plan is still on the drawing board. German companies dominate the identifiable tenders with around 160 projects, worth about €182 billion. WADEPHUL STAYS HOME: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul postponed a trip to China, originally scheduled for the beginning of next week, because there were not enough meetings with the Beijing side on Wadephul’s agenda. MERZ IN TURKEY: Merz will be in Ankara Thursday for his inaugural visit, where he will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The agenda includes bilateral issues and closer cooperation in the areas of economics, migration and security, according to a German government spokesperson. THANKS TO: Editor Sonya Diehn and former colleague Ana Fota for meme inspiration. HATE MAIL: Send complaints (if you must), tips, checks and random thoughts to [email protected]. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
|
Nette Nöstlinger
|
[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-24T15:36:17Z
|
2025-10-24T15:36:17Z
|
2025-10-24T15:40:01Z
| 7,390,221
|
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/berlin-bulletin/merzs-mixed-messages/
|
|
EU ‘not ready’ to raid Russian assets for Ukraine loan, Belgian commissioner says
|
Hadja Lahbib defends Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s blockade of a disputed plan to help Kyiv fight Vladimir Putin. AI generated Text-to-speech The EU is “not ready” to take the unprecedented step of raiding €140 billion of frozen Russian assets to send a massive loan to Ukraine, Belgium’s European commissioner said Friday. Speaking to POLITICO, Hadja Lahbib, a former Belgian foreign minister, warned that a lot of work is still needed to ensure the legal risks are minimized and shared fairly between Belgium, the other 26 EU countries and even the G7 before the plan can move forward. She suggested other EU countries where assets are held are not doing enough to release funds to Ukraine, pointing out that Belgium — which holds most of the funds in the financial depository Euroclear — had already contributed interest accrued to help Kyiv’s war effort against Russia. Lahbib's comments followed the collapse of a plan to raid Russia’s sovereign assets that have been immobilized in the EU since the start of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Under the proposal, the money would be sent to Kyiv as a “reparations loan,” only due for repayment in the unlikely event that Russia pays war damages in future. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever blocked the plan at a European Council leaders’ summit in Brussels on Thursday night because he feared his country would face legal and financial retaliation from Putin. “We are not ready,” said Lahbib, who holds the humanitarian aid and crisis management portfolio, when asked why the proposal was delayed. “It’s unprecedented. It is the first time that we are doing so, so we are in the territory that we need to explore very carefully to deal with all the potential consequences." The assets, she said, belong to Russia's central bank and are protected under international law, which must be respected. "Belgium but also other member states are aware that we need to go forward cautiously," she said. Lahbib said she would not “name and shame” the other EU countries where Russian assets are deposited, but questioned whether they were playing their full part in using the interest from these assets to help Ukraine in the way Belgium has done. Deposits are also held in France, Luxembourg and Germany, among other countries. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, will now work up detailed proposals for how to help Ukraine plug its funding shortfall. If €140 billion in Russian assets is eventually sent to Kyiv, it will meet Kyiv’s needs for at least the next two years. EU leaders have pledged to look again at what options the Commission proposes — including using the assets — when they next meet in December. Asked if the plan would be ready to be approved by then, Lahbib sounded cautious. “If we have the good lawyers, the good system, the support of the G7, the 27 member states and all of them ready to take the responsibility with Belgium, it can go quickly,” she said. “Ask the others. Are they ready?” Hadja Lahbib tells POLITICO she has ‘doubts’ about Netanyahu’s commitment to Trump’s ceasefire, and vows to keep up the pressure on Israel. EU chiefs lost some credibility when they failed to get a deal to fund Ukraine using Russian assets. Zelenskyy could lose a lot more. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tells POLITICO Ukraine must be equipped to match or exceed Russia’s capabilities because Vladimir Putin only responds to strength. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Tim Ross
|
Hadja Lahbib defends Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s blockade of a disputed plan to help Kyiv fight Vladimir Putin.
|
[
"banks",
"central banks",
"russia sanctions",
"war",
"war in ukraine",
"financial services uk",
"defense"
] |
Financial Services
|
[
"Belgium",
"France",
"Germany",
"Luxembourg",
"Russia",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-24T14:24:13Z
|
2025-10-24T14:24:13Z
|
2025-10-24T14:29:44Z
| 7,390,767
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ukraine-loan-russian-assets-euroclear-hadja-lahbib-bart-de-wever-vladimir-putin/
|
EU businesses say things are getting better … except in France
|
Europe appears to be doing surprisingly well — with a notable exception. AI generated Text-to-speech European businesses reckon things are getting better — except in France, where political turmoil continues to sting economically. The preliminary readings of the purchasing managers indices — a closely watched gauge of business conditions — showed the perception of both services and manufacturing improving across the eurozone, with services leading the way. The main outlier to the new data was France, which saw a decline in the headline figure to its lowest level since February. Services also declined and even an apparent pickup in manufacturing “masked declines in output,” HSBC Eurozone Economist Chris Hare said in a note. The country has been roiled by political infighting since snap elections were called last year, leading to parliamentary deadlock that has hampered efforts at financial reform and increased borrowing costs. Elsewhere, things were a little rosier. Across the bloc, services rose to 52.6 from 51.3, hitting a 14-month high, while manufacturing improved moderately, according to the eurozone PMI. The composite measure, a combination of both, rose to 52.2 from 51.2, the fifth increase in as many months. The picture was positive even for recent stragglers like Germany, which also experienced a boost led by services, although manufacturing remained contractionary. “France is increasingly becoming an outlier in the PMI survey, with drawn-out political uncertainty relating to budget negotiations appearing to have a dampening effect on sentiment,” said Hare. However, he added that a recent business confidence survey by INSEE had suggested a more positive outlook for the country. Once a northern separatist, the League leader is betting his legacy on uniting Italy. Lenders and leaders have yet to decide on how the banks will be taxed, but those to Meloni’s right won’t let up. This time, Rome appears to have learned its lesson, and is planning to engage more proactively with Italy’s banks, which are open to compromise. Unlike in France, the noisy politics around Rome’s 2026 budget are just that — noise.
|
Ben Munster
|
Europe appears to be doing surprisingly well — with a notable exception.
|
[
"budget",
"crisis",
"manufacturing",
"services"
] |
Central Banker
|
[
"France",
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-24T13:13:17Z
|
2025-10-24T13:13:17Z
|
2025-10-24T13:46:02Z
| 7,389,882
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-businesses-report-rosy-outlook-except-france/
|
Russia’s central bank tries to prop up ailing economy with rate cut
|
The move comes after U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil — oil and gas account for around a fifth of Russia’s GDP. AI generated Text-to-speech The Central Bank of the Russia Federation lowered its key interest rate today and slashed its growth forecast for 2025 as the country's economy is battered by a combination of high inflation and wide-ranging Western sanctions. The move comes after the U.S. imposed sanctions on two of its major oil suppliers, Rosneft and Lukoil. Oil and gas account for around a fifth of Russia's gross domestic product (GDP). The bank updated its outlook, forecasting that the economy would grow by between 0.5 to 1 percent in 2025, down from 1 to 2 percent earlier. It also lowered its key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points, to 16.5 percent, despite raising its forecast for inflation next year slightly, to between 4 and 5 percent. It's unusual for a central bank to lower its policy rate while revising its inflation outlook upward, since lower rates are usually linked to higher inflation, and central banks are tasked with maintaining price stability. However, the combination of managing escalating foreign sanctions on the economy, together with the need to maintain a high level of industrial output to produce the armaments necessary to prolong its war on Ukraine, has put the bank's governor, Elvira Nabiullina, in a tough spot. Ukraine's ongoing drone campaign aimed at crippling Russia's oil refineries has heaped further pressure on the country's economic output. On Thursday, Herman Gref, who heads Russia's largest lender Sberbank, said that it had been a mistake to focus too much on inflation at the expense of economic growth. In its statement, the central bank said that it sees inflationary pressures increasing in the medium term, as tax hikes, trade disruption and fluctuations in the oil price all bite. “Geopolitical tensions remain a significant uncertainty factor,” it said. Once a northern separatist, the League leader is betting his legacy on uniting Italy. Two big U.S. bankruptcies have revived memories of the last time the financial sector went bad. Paris’ benchmark 10-year borrowing costs have risen above Rome’s due to concerns about its ability to put public finances back on a solid footing. ‘The political leaders should sit down with the companies that are investing money,’ says ASML executive.
|
Carlo Martuscelli
|
The move comes after U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil — oil and gas account for around a fifth of Russia’s GDP.
|
[
"armaments",
"banks",
"central banks",
"drones",
"growth",
"inflation",
"interest rates",
"oil",
"produce",
"sanctions",
"stability",
"tax",
"trade",
"war"
] |
Central Banker
|
[
"Russia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T12:13:39Z
|
2025-10-24T12:13:39Z
|
2025-10-26T22:18:32Z
| 7,389,711
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-central-bank-tries-prop-ailing-economy-with-rate-cut/
|
Hungary’s Orbán vows to ‘circumvent’ US sanctions on Russian oil titans
|
“The battle is not over yet,” Hungarian prime minister says, teeing up a possible fight with the White House. AI generated Text-to-speech Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday that Budapest was working on how to “circumvent” American sanctions on Russian oil and gas companies. U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he was imposing “tremendous” new sanctions on Russia’s multinational Lukoil and its state-owned Rosneft, in the first such measures since he took office. While the details are still being firmed up, the sanctions could force Moscow to shut off its remaining oil pipelines to Europe — and that’s bad news for Hungary, which gets the majority of its supplies from Russia. Orbán — a longtime Trump ally — was defiant, however, claiming the “battle is not over yet,” and insisting Budapest will find ways to get around Washington's sanctions. “There are indeed sanctions in place against certain Russian oil companies,” he told the radio program "Good Morning Hungary." “I started the week by consulting with MOL executives several times, and we are working on how to circumvent these sanctions," Orbán said, referring to Hungary's MOL energy company. “Anyone who wants utility price reductions must defend Hungary's right to buy oil and gas from Russia,” he added. The Hungarian leader has previously argued that Budapest has no choice but to rely on Russia for cheap oil and gas due to its landlocked geography, insisting prices would explode for consumers otherwise. Even as the rest of the EU has weaned off Moscow’s exports since Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the winter of 2022, Hungary and neighboring Slovakia have remained deeply dependent on the Kremlin to keep the lights on, claiming they have no real alternatives. That’s despite the insistence of Croatia that Zagreb could meet both Hungary and Slovakia's energy needs with its own capabilities, including the Adria oil pipeline. Belgium’s government is moving to curb benefits for its unemployed. Vilnius is just being “petty,” Belarusian leader says. A packed agenda promised a summit of fireworks. Nothing really took off. From the climate to critical minerals to Russia’s frozen assets, the agenda of Thursday’s European Council is jam-packed.
|
Seb Starcevic
|
“The battle is not over yet,” Hungarian prime minister says, teeing up a possible fight with the White House.
|
[
"bilateral trade",
"companies",
"energy",
"exports",
"kremlin",
"oil",
"pipelines",
"rights",
"sanctions",
"trade",
"transatlantic relations",
"politics",
"foreign affairs"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"Croatia",
"Hungary",
"Russia",
"Slovakia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T11:36:10Z
|
2025-10-24T11:36:10Z
|
2025-10-24T11:38:55Z
| 7,389,486
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-viktor-orban-vows-to-circumvent-us-sanctions-on-russian-oil-titans/
|
China and EU to talk raw materials next week
|
Rare earths and magnets are on the agenda. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — Brussels and Beijing will discuss China’s recent restrictions on exports of rare earths and magnets next week, the European Commission said on Friday. “We can confirm that both in-person and virtual high-level technical meetings will take place next week,” trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters. The talks will not include Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič or his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao just yet. “Teams will engage under the Export Control Dialogue which was upgraded after EU-China summit in July,” Gill added. It is unclear if restrictions on chips will also be discussed. Germany Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday postponed a trip to China due to start next week. Beijing’s export controls came up in the talks during Thursday’s meeting of EU leaders, according to two EU officials, with some leaders expressing their concerns. One said the EU’s most powerful trade weapon, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, was mentioned, but didn’t garner much interest around the table. The EU, which imports many of its critical raw materials, almost all rare earths and permanent magnets from China, is caught in the crossfire between Beijing and the Trump administration in the U.S. “A crisis in the supply of critical raw materials is no longer a distant risk,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this week in a speech to European lawmakers. Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. Like in many European countries, the Netherlands faces a severe housing crisis — making where and how to build a major campaign issue. A senior EU official explained that Brussels had wanted to give the rector “the opportunity to share his own experience with students.” China and the EU will “intensify contacts at all levels,” says trade chief Maroš Šefčovič.
|
Koen Verhelst
|
Rare earths and magnets are on the agenda.
|
[
"anti-coercion instrument",
"cars",
"crisis",
"critical raw materials",
"exports",
"imports",
"industry",
"raw materials",
"security",
"trade",
"wang wentao",
"weapons",
"competition and industrial policy",
"trade uk",
"mobility",
"sustainability",
"technology"
] |
Trade
|
[
"China",
"Germany",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T11:28:28Z
|
2025-10-24T11:28:28Z
|
2025-10-24T11:41:19Z
| 7,389,648
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/china-and-eu-to-talk-raw-materials-next-week/
|
Diplomatic bombshell as German foreign minister postpones China trip
|
Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday postponed an imminent diplomatic trip to China, over a dearth of meetings on his schedule. "The trip cannot take place at this time and will be postponed to a later date," said a spokesperson for Germany's Federal Foreign Office. With the exception of a sitdown with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, there were not enough meetings with the Beijing side on his agenda, the spokesperson added. Wadephul's bombshell will likely roil relations between Berlin and Beijing. It comes amid an increasing deterioration of Germany-China relations in recent months over Beijing's export curbs on rare earths and microchips, as well as German criticism over China's posture toward Taiwan and behavior in the South China Sea. A few hours earlier, German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche announced that Berlin was lodging a diplomatic protest against China for blocking semiconductor shipments. "We have been hit hard by the chip shortage because the German economy depends on these chips," she said in Kyiv. In August, Wadephul also noted that China was providing "crucial" support to Russia that enabled President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war against Ukraine. The foreign minister was originally scheduled to depart for China on Sunday. Wadephul had planned to press Beijing to ease export restrictions on rare earths and semiconductors, he told Reuters on Thursday — and discuss pushing Russia toward negotiations to end its war in Ukraine. Brussels, for its part, is pressing ahead in talks with Beijing. The European Commission on Friday told reporters that it “can confirm that both in-person and virtual high-level technical meetings will take place next week” after the bloc's Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Tuesday. While Budapest received the worst marks for justice in the bloc, Russia and the U.S. led a broader global retreat from the rule of law in 2025. “Criminal networks respond with detours, new transit countries, and often even more potent ‘substitute substances,’” German drug and addiction commissioner says. Cops questioned Norbert Bolz about a post on X that featured a Nazi-affiliated slogan. Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli named as Sakharov Prize winners.
|
Ferdinand Knapp
|
Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile.
|
[
"eu-china relations",
"german politics",
"trade",
"trade uk",
"competition and industrial policy",
"technology",
"technology uk"
] |
Politics
|
[
"China",
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-24T11:11:37Z
|
2025-10-24T11:11:37Z
|
2025-10-24T11:19:43Z
| 7,389,321
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/china-trip-by-german-top-diplomat-cancelled/
|
Israeli-American global cooling startup raises $60M to test sun-reflecting technology
|
The fundraising haul marks strong enthusiasm for experiments aimed at lowering temperatures, said the company. But it also raises questions about commercializing technologies with potentially damaging consequences. AI generated Text-to-speech CLIMATEWIRE | A once-outlandish idea for reversing global warming took a major step toward reality Friday when Israeli-U.S. startup Stardust Solutions announced the largest-ever fundraising round for any company that aims to cool the Earth by spraying particles into the atmosphere. Its plan to limit the sun's heat raised $60 million from a broad coalition of investors that included Silicon Valley luminaries and the Agnelli family, an Italian industrial dynasty. The disclosure, critics said, raises questions about involvement of venture capital firms in driving forward a largely untested, thinly researched and mostly unregulated technology that could disrupt global weather patterns and trigger geopolitical conflict. The investors were "putting their trust in the concept of, we need a safe and responsible and controlled option for sunlight reflection, which for me is [a] very important step forward in the evolution of this field," Stardust CEO Yanai Yedvab said during an interview this week in POLITICO's London office. He and co-founder Amyad Spector, who also flew in for the interview, are both nuclear physicists who formerly worked for the Israeli government. The startup's fundraising haul was led by Lowercarbon Capital, a Wyoming-based climate technology-focused firm co-founded by billionaire investor Chris Sacca. It was also backed by the Agnellis' firm Exor, a Dutch holding company that is the largest shareholder of Chrysler parent company Stellantis, luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari and Italy's Juventus Football Club. Ten other firms — hailing from San Francisco to Berlin — and one individual, former Facebook executive Matt Cohler, also joined Stardust's fundraising round, its second since being founded two years ago. The firm has now raised a total of $75 million. It is registered in the U.S. state of Delaware and headquartered outside Tel Aviv but is not affiliated with the state of Israel. The surge of investor enthusiasm for Stardust comes amid stalled political efforts in Washington and other capitals to reduce the use of oil, gas and coal — the main drivers of climate change. Meanwhile, global temperatures continue to climb to new heights, worsening wildfires, floods, droughts and other natural disasters that some U.S. policymakers have baselessly blamed on solar geoengineering. The new influx of cash is four times the size of the startup's initial fundraising round and, Yedvab argued, represents a major vote of confidence in Stardust and its strategy to land government contracts for deploying its technology at a global scale. It also shows that a growing pool of investors are willing to bet on solar geoengineering — a technology that some scientists still consider too dangerous to even study. Even advocates of researching solar geoengineering question the wisdom of pursuing it via a for-profit company like Stardust. "They have convinced Silicon Valley [venture capitalists] to give them a lot of money, and I would say that they shouldn't have," said Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at Columbia Business School and author of the book "Geoengineering: The Gamble." "I don't think it is a reasonable path to suggest that there's going to be somebody — the U.S. government, another government, whoever — who buys Stardust, buys the [intellectual property] for a billion bucks [and] makes the VC investors gazillions. I don't think that is, at all, reasonable." Lowercarbon Capital did not respond to emailed questions. Stardust claims to have created a particle that would reflect sunlight in the same way debris from volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the planet. The company says its powder is inert, wouldn't accumulate in humans or ecosystems, and can't harm the ozone layer or create acid rain like the sulfur-rich particles from volcanoes. It plans to seek government contracts to manufacture, disperse and monitor the particles in the stratosphere. The company is in the process of securing patents and preparing academic papers on its integrated solar geoengineering system. The startup would use the money it has raised to begin "controlled outdoor experiments" as soon as April, Yedvab told POLITICO. Those tests would release the company's reflective particles inside a modified plane flying about 11 miles (18 kilometers) above sea level. The idea, Yedvab explained, is that "instead of displacing the particles out to the stratosphere and start following them, to do the other way around — to suck air from the stratosphere and to conduct in situ experiments, without dispersing essentially." He said the company could have raised more money but only sought the funding it believes is necessary for the initial stratospheric testing. Stardust only took cash from investors who are aligned with the company's cautious approach, he added. The fundraising round wasn't conducted "from a point of view of, let's get as much money as we can, but rather to say, this is what we need" to advance the technology, Yedvab said. Stardust's new investors include the U.S. firms Future Ventures, Never Lift Ventures, Starlight Ventures, Nebular and Lauder Partners, as well as the British groups Attestor, Kindred Capital and Orion Global Advisors. Future Positive Capital of Paris and Berlin's Earth.now also joined the fundraising round. Corbin Hiar reported from Washington. Karl Mathiesen reported from London. Silicon Valley loudly criticized President Donald Trump when he quit the climate accord in his first term. This time? Crickets. The billionaire Tesla CEO has Trump’s ear. Here’s what he might tell the former president about rising temperatures, clean energy and making money. The petroleum-rich country received a surprise endorsement from its arch-rival Armenia. The Biden administration’s public embrace of the United Arab Emirates oil chief running the global climate talks brings political risks. Can it yield a deal to slash fossil fuel pollution?
|
Corbin Hiar
|
The fundraising haul marks strong enthusiasm for experiments aimed at lowering temperatures, said the company. But it also raises questions about commercializing technologies with potentially damaging consequences.
|
[
"cars",
"climate change",
"coal",
"conflict",
"natural disasters",
"oil",
"patents",
"startups",
"technology",
"venture capital",
"energy and climate uk"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"Columbia",
"Israel",
"Italy",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T11:08:52Z
|
2025-10-24T11:08:52Z
|
2025-10-24T12:45:55Z
| 7,389,558
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/global-cooling-startup-raises-60m-to-test-sun-reflecting-technology/
|
Politics at Sam and Anne’s
|
Two of Westminster’s best-connected journalists Anne McElvoy (POLITICO) and Sam Coates (Sky) bring you everything you need to know about the week ahead in British politics. By SAM COATES and ANNE MCELVOY Send ideas here Here’s a round up of this week’s episodes of Politics at Sam and Anne’s, from manifesto announcements to TV debates and more. The week kicks off with a rare Monday morning cabinet meeting – but have the government managed to shake off all the stories about China? With Anne still in Washington, she has the latest gossip on the race to replace Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the U.S. – as the job advert goes live. Listen here. What is parliament’s role in what happens to Prince Andrew from here? With Virginia Giuffre’s book released today and new reports that he’s not paid rent on the Royal Lodge in Windsor for two decades – Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how uncomfortable Westminster might be feeling about the former trade envoy. Listen here. With growing signs that Britain’s top civil servant will leave Number 10 in the coming weeks – some ask, does Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have a problem with people? Sam and Anne discuss the potential impact of Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald’s departure from the government machine and whether there could be more exits on the horizon. Listen here. Could ‘Maga-fication’ change the course of British politics? Anne has been speaking to former Tory prime minister Liz Truss, who outlines several perceived problems in the country – from lack of growth to higher taxes. Listen here. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
|
Sam Coates
|
[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-24T11:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T11:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T11:00:00Z
| 7,387,929
|
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politics-at-sam-and-annes/politics-at-sam-and-annes-7/
|
|
Trump’s narco strikes threaten to reroute drugs to Europe, German official warns
|
“Criminal networks respond with detours, new transit countries, and often even more potent ‘substitute substances,’” German drug and addiction commissioner says. AI generated Text-to-speech U.S. President Donald Trump's war on drugs threatens to result in even more illegal narcotics flooding into Europe, according to a top German expert. The American administration has, in recent weeks, launched airstrikes against what it says are South American drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. “A tougher U.S. crackdown on drug cartels in Colombia and Venezuela is unlikely to ease the situation in Europe or Germany — on the contrary: Experience shows that criminal networks respond with detours, new transit countries, and often even more potent ‘substitute substances,'” German Drug and Addiction Commissioner and virologist Hendrik Streeck told German tabloid BILD late Thursday. “For Germany, that would mean possible shifts along sea and land routes, as well as in digital distribution. We already have highly dynamic structures of organized crime — especially online. The U.S. administration’s announced ‘war on drugs’ could further intensify this,” he added. Streeck, who is pushing for a partial rollback of Germany’s cannabis legalization, described the narcotics situation in Germany as an “impending" crisis. He warned that cocaine prices are falling, that consumers are getting younger and drug-related deaths among people under 30 would rise dramatically. According to the EU Drugs Agency, cocaine availability continues to increase across Europe. In 2023, for the seventh consecutive year, EU member countries reported a record amount of cocaine seized. The U.S. government expanded its campaign against drug traffickers this week. On Tuesday, American forces launched an attack on a suspected smuggling vessel off Colombia's western coast, killing two people. The strike fueled tensions between the two countries. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the lethal strike in a social media post, saying such operations would continue “day after day.” While Budapest received the worst marks for justice in the bloc, Russia and the U.S. led a broader global retreat from the rule of law in 2025. Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. Cops questioned Norbert Bolz about a post on X that featured a Nazi-affiliated slogan. Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli named as Sakharov Prize winners.
|
Ferdinand Knapp
|
“Criminal networks respond with detours, new transit countries, and often even more potent ‘substitute substances,’” German drug and addiction commissioner says.
|
[
"illicit drugs"
] |
Health Care
|
[
"Colombia",
"Germany",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T10:15:23Z
|
2025-10-24T10:15:23Z
|
2025-10-24T10:18:39Z
| 7,387,851
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-war-on-drugs-threaten-europe-warns-german-drug-commissioner/
|
How to pass a green law in an anti-green age in 6 easy steps
|
A Slovak liberal quietly steered one of the last surviving environmental files to the finish line. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — When most of Europe’s green agenda is being trimmed, delayed or scrapped, a draft bill to protect something as unglamorous as dirt shouldn’t have stood a chance. Yet this week, a plan to track the health of Europe’s soil survived its final vote in the European Parliament, paving the way for it to become law. At the center of that unlikely success is Martin Hojsík, a Slovak liberal and former Greenpeace campaigner who somehow steered the file through the EU’s entire decision-making maze, from a skeptical European Commission to divided member states and finally a hostile Parliament. “It started with a simple idea — that we can’t protect what we don’t measure,” Hojsík told POLITICO on his way back from Strasbourg. “Five years ago, nobody wanted an EU-wide system for monitoring soil health. Not the Commission, not the big political groups. But we showed it could work.” It’s a “truly historic moment,” said Italian Socialist MEP Annalisa Corrado, one of half a dozen lawmakers, aides and officials interviewed for this article. The issue may sound abstract, but soil health underpins Europe’s food system and climate goals. Degraded soil holds less water, stores less carbon and yields less food — and according to EU estimates, between 60 and 70 percent of soils across the bloc are already in poor condition. Europe last tried to legislate on soil almost 20 years ago, but that attempt collapsed after countries such as Germany and the U.K. said it would create red tape. When Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched her sweeping European Green Deal in 2019 — the bloc’s plan to make its economy climate-neutral — soil protection wasn’t even mentioned. Hojsík, then a little-known first-term lawmaker, began lobbying to change that. In 2021 he drafted a non-binding motion calling for an EU-wide soil strategy. The Parliament backed it, forcing the Commission to come forward two years later with an actual proposal. The goal was modest: require every country to measure the condition of its farmland and industrial land, share that data and identify polluted or degraded areas. But getting that through would mean overcoming growing political fatigue around environmental regulation. By now, it was 2024. Hojsík knew he couldn’t rely on the traditional green-left majority that pushed through much of the Green Deal. The political center had shifted. Farmers were protesting, industry groups were louder and many lawmakers were tired of new rules. “The crucial thing was to listen and understand the different concerns,” he said. “Not to come in saying: ‘this is my version and it has to pass,’ but to find a form that could be accepted by the majority.” He softened the proposal’s language, gave governments more flexibility and framed the whole project as practical: data collection rather than diktat. That pragmatism paid off. Despite their leadership’s opposition, dozens of conservatives from the powerful European People’s Party broke ranks to back the final text. Many were swayed by national concerns about land degradation and flooding, while others saw the compromise as mild enough not to burden farmers. Polish EPP member Elżbieta Łukacijewska, who voted in favor, said soil monitoring made practical sense, citing potential for “higher yields, less fertilizer use and, ultimately, healthier food,” she said. “It can almost be considered a success these days when a pro-nature regulation isn’t completely watered down, mutilated or rejected,” said German Green MEP Martin Häusling, one of Hojsík’s negotiating partners. Inside the Parliament, Hojsík and his allies stopped talking about “soil protection,” which sounded abstract, and started linking it to everyday life: safer food, cleaner water, drought resilience. The new rules, said Corrado, the Italian socialist, finally recognize soil “as a living, limited and precious resource — one that must be protected just like water and air.” Corrado argued the plan will help countries identify contaminated sites and track pollutants such as pesticides and so-called “forever chemicals.” Opponents didn’t disappear. Ahead of the vote, Copa-Cogeca, the EU’s powerful farm and agri-cooperative lobby, wrote to MEPs urging them to reject the law. The group argued it clashed with the EU’s priorities on competitiveness and simplification and would add layers of bureaucracy to existing national soil rules. Germany’s largest farmers’ group denounced the law as bureaucratic and costly. Some industrial lobbies in Brussels went further, circulating misleading emails, seen by POLITICO, that exaggerated the law’s reach and potential impact on business. In the end, their warnings didn’t land. Officials involved in the talks said most lawmakers were appeased once it became clear the law wouldn’t impose direct obligations on farmers or target specific sectors. “It’s reassuring that a majority of MEPs resisted populism and disinformation,” said Caroline Heinzel of the European Environmental Bureau, one of the NGOs that campaigned for the law. More than 140 scientists also weighed in before the vote, urging lawmakers to back the plan and warning that erosion, contamination and loss of organic matter in the soil are costing the EU tens of billions each year. The final text drops some of the original ambition. Countries will decide themselves how to monitor soil and how quickly to act on contamination. The goal of “healthy soils by 2050” remains aspirational. “It’s not as strong as it should be, but it’s a first step in the right direction,” said Heinzel of the EBB. For Hojsík, that’s the price of survival. “Would I like it to go further? Of course,” he said. “But we have something to build on — and that’s what matters in this Parliament.” The result is “remarkable,” said an EU diplomat who followed the talks. “It shows that with enough persistence and a pragmatic rapporteur, environmental legislation can still pass.” Hojsík insists he isn’t celebrating. “I hope we’ll start seeing real improvement — that national monitoring systems can talk to each other,” he said. “If that happens, we won’t have to keep fighting the same battles again.” For now, his victory is a rare one. At a time when many of the EU’s flagship environmental projects have stalled, the soil law has become a case study in how to pass a green measure in a skeptical age: start small, listen widely, compromise early — and never stop counting votes. Lucia Mackenzie contributed reporting. Europe’s animal welfare overhaul is on life support. Denmark’s farm minister thinks he can still revive it — one compromise at a time. Brussels wants to fix Europe’s aging farm problem, but its new plan may lack the cash to pull it off. More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s capital endures constant Russian attacks while watching European solidarity fray. The ink was barely dry on the European Parliament’s prohibition across the bloc when its own chefs dished up “vegan burgers,” leaving lawmakers choking on the irony.
|
Bartosz Brzeziński
|
A Slovak liberal quietly steered one of the last surviving environmental files to the finish line.
|
[
"agriculture",
"agriculture and food",
"agriculture emissions",
"biodiversity",
"chemicals",
"common agricultural policy (cap)",
"european green deal",
"farm to fork",
"farmer protest",
"farmers",
"nature restoration",
"pesticides",
"pollution",
"small farmers",
"sustainable agriculture",
"sustainability"
] |
Agriculture and Food
|
[
"Czech Republic",
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-24T10:05:10Z
|
2025-10-24T10:05:10Z
|
2025-10-25T10:45:19Z
| 7,383,465
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/how-to-pass-green-law-in-anti-green-age-6-easy-steps-soil-health/
|
5 reasons Starmer’s new election disaster should spook Europe’s centrists
|
Britain’s ruling Labour Party has had a dismal by-election in its Welsh heartland. As left-wing and populist parties go mainstream, can the center hold? AI generated Text-to-speech The south Wales town of Caerphilly is known better for its vast, 13th century castle than its politics — but establishment parties might want to pay it a visit. A century of rule by the center-left Labour Party was smashed to rubble Friday in a by-election for the Senedd, the Welsh parliament. Labour’s vote bled away in its oldest heartland to two rivals: Welsh nationalists Plaid Cymru on the left (47.4 percent) and Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK on the right (36 percent). Labour’s mere 11 percent is alarming strategists ahead of full elections to the Senedd in 2026, as well as a Westminster general election by 2029. By-elections must be read with skepticism because they give voters a “free hit” on the ruling party. And in many ways, this result was uniquely Welsh. Labour only regained Westminster in 2024 but here the party had all the trappings of incumbency, long running both the local council and Welsh government. Plaid’s specific support base for Senedd elections does not read across to Westminster. Welsh institutions including health and education are creaking. Welsh political rows (such as Labour’s 20mph road speed limits) were prominent. Yet the result also has wider lessons for an establishment party fighting populists in a fractured age, facing both ways to two rivals each promising to restore pride in their country. POLITICO looks at five takeaways that will resonate beyond the castle walls. Turnout on a wet October Thursday was 50.4 percent, Caerphilly’s highest ever in a Senedd election. This was fueled in part by people who rarely vote choosing to back right-wing populists, argued strategists from Labour and Reform. The phenomenon was not as great as Farage’s party hoped, and it met a greater surge of Plaid voters seeking to stop him. Even so, one Labour strategist — granted anonymity to speak freely, like others in this article — argued non-voters were “definitely” a factor in Reform’s support. They pointed to higher-than-usual turnouts in recent council by-elections where Reform has done well. Gareth Beer, a Reform parliamentary candidate in 2024, recalled one interaction this week in Caerphilly: “This guy said he hadn’t voted for 26 years, and he’s going to vote for Reform now, just to give [Labour] a kick up the backside.” This “poses a challenge for our traditional campaigning methods,” argued the Labour strategist quoted above. They added: “We’ve spent all these years farming data on people who we know vote, and are often inclined to vote Labour. Whereas these voters, because they don’t vote, our first instinct is we don’t bother. So we have no data on them.” Polling by Survation, shared with POLITICO, indicates there might a similar pattern across the U.K., albeit less pronounced. In a September sample of around 1,200 people who did not vote in 2024, 27 percent said they would now back Reform — up from 8 percent a year earlier. Only 20 percent of them would vote Labour, down from 35 percent. Plaid argued successfully that it — not Labour — was best placed to keep Reform out of power. “People have seen it’s a two-horse race and they’ve decided they have to vote tactically to stop Reform,” a Plaid Cymru strategist said on polling day. Labour used unorthodox methods in a failed bid to swing voters the other way. A Labour leaflet circulated this week depicted Reform on 32 percent, Labour 28 and Plaid 19 with the headline: “Is it worth the risk?” Yet the small print admitted it was based on six-month-old modelling for the Westminster seat. This speaks to an existential dilemma. Labour’s dominance has long made it the fallback option for voters who want to keep the Conservatives — or Reform — out of power. If Prime Minister Keir Starmer can no longer convince people of that, he is in deep trouble. Ironically, this question of tactical voting matters least in Wales. This was likely the last Senedd election under the current system before a semi-proportional model launches next year. But Westminster elections are still fought under “first past the post,” a winner-takes-all system where each seat has only one MP. Tactical voting in a U.K. general election, where Labour is facing multiple fronts, will be far more unpredictable than Caerphilly. While Plaid is an “established receptacle for disaffected progressives,” according to the Labour strategist quoted above, the centrist and left-wing vote in England is split between Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and a nascent party co-founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Labour knows the force of anti-incumbency in Britain, having run its 2024 campaign on a single word — “change.” That same word has now come back to bite Wales’ Labour establishment. The result suggests there are no safe havens where parties can count on historical support, and that parties that were until recently on the sidelines (Plaid and Reform) can hit the big time. “Betrayal was the most common word we heard on the doorstep,” said one Reform aide. Labour’s proposed solution is the same as it has been since summer 2024: “delivery.” Nick Thomas-Symonds, a ministerial ally of Starmer and Welsh historian of Labour, promised Friday to “redouble our efforts” on showing tangible change. One Labour minister said: “We’ve got to start listening to people and delivering on the basics. Stop trying to be existential and be too big picture. That’s not going to cut it any more — people are fed up and disengaged and angry.” This by-election result will make that harder in itself. Labour is two seats short of a Senedd majority, so will need opposition support to pass its budget in January. The result might suggest the center cannot hold — but with caveats. Welsh Labour itself is not centrist, and has long been further to the left than U.K. Labour. Even so, the Labour strategist quoted above said: “We’re losing progressives to Plaid, and we’re losing post-industrial lower-middle class people who are sick of everything to Reform.” The picture may be more positive for Labour in Scotland, where it is up against the incumbent Scottish National Party in May 2026 elections. One Labour official said: “The dynamics there are different … I think the thing that’s keeping Scottish Labour going is most people say they’re driven by whether or not the NHS runs. And they don’t think the SNP has done a good job of running public services in Scotland.” Many internal Labour grumbles were about the party’s messaging. Incumbency left Labour’s candidate Richard Tunnicliffe in an impossible position locally. His interventions included fighting library closures proposed by Caerphilly’s own Labour council. By contrast, Reform and Plaid were able to score easy wins by campaigning on local and Welsh issues, such as the NHS, education and 20mph zones (Reform put up a striking billboard against the latter). There was also frustration in Labour that Reform could talk up concerns about migration when the issue is not devolved to the Welsh government. But Beer said people’s concerns were justified: “They watch TV and they see what’s happening in the rest of the country.” And the Labour strategist quoted above said: “We can’t just fight this fight with facts. It’s vibes. You can tell people that only 2.5 percent of people on Caerphilly are immigrants, but this isn’t how you fight that fight. There are still too many people who think that if people only knew the truth, they wouldn’t vote Reform. It’s not that simple.” Some Labour figures raised eyebrows too about a social media strategy designed to appeal to 16- and 17-year-olds (who can vote in Senedd elections). This included a slow-motion TikTok clip portraying Labour’s candidate as sexy “daddy” and a low-fi polling day message that said “our graphic designer is on leave” and “pls vote welsh labour today x.” A Labour Senedd member said there was “huge unhappiness in the Labour group at the way the campaign has been run — not we that thought we could do well, but for making us look like idiots.” Plaid and Labour both had a gift handed to them mid-campaign. Reform’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, pleaded guilty in September to taking bribes to make statements in favor of Russia while being a Member of the European Parliament. Yet there was disagreement between activists who spoke to POLITICO about how much it had come up on the doorstep, if at all. One Welsh Labour strategist argued the issue did cut through to voters, but “whether it cut through to the extent where it makes a massive difference I don’t know.” For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls. This speaks to a wider question troubling Labour strategists (and pleasing Reform aides) in Westminster — whether any attack can stick to Farage’s outfit. “You might say we’re a bit Teflon,” Beer accepted. “But the general public are not interested in petty squabbling and the kind of stuff we get stuck in the weeds about, the tittle tattle. They just want to get the country fixed.” There is a silver lining for Labour, though. Reform’s performance in Caerphilly was worse than a Survation poll last week predicted. The 11-point gap with Plaid was far wider than expected. And the party is now grappling with a delivery problem of its own, planning tax rises in councils where it won control in England. Reform might — just — be starting to see where the ceiling lies on its support. Or at least, that’s what its rivals will fervently hope. Amid a row over a collapsed China spying trial, it’s not just Keir Starmer who relies on veteran Northern Ireland peace negotiator Jonathan Powell. After years of staying quiet, Britain’s ruling party is preparing to blame its economic woes on leaving the EU. Like PM Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pulled through her party conference with an announcement that pleased the faithful. But will the public notice — and will it save her from an internal challenge? Officials briefed the Trump administration on fresh proposals for pharma pricing earlier this week.
|
Dan Bloom
|
Britain’s ruling Labour Party has had a dismal by-election in its Welsh heartland. As left-wing and populist parties go mainstream, can the center hold?
|
[
"british politics",
"populism"
] |
Politics
|
[
"United Kingdom",
"Wales"
] |
2025-10-24T09:58:52Z
|
2025-10-24T09:58:52Z
|
2025-10-24T10:07:32Z
| 7,387,812
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/5-reasons-uk-labour-keir-starmer-new-election-disaster-should-spook-europes-centrists-plaid-cymru-reform/
|
EU accuses Meta, TikTok of breaching digital rules
|
Move comes as EU faces pressure over enforcing its tech lawbooks. BRUSSELS — The European Commission on Friday accused Meta and TikTok of breaching the bloc’s landmark social media regulation. The EU executive said Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok all failed in their obligations to give researchers access to data from their platforms. The two Meta platforms also failed on three obligations to empower users in flagging illegal content and challenging moderation decisions, it said. The platforms now have the right to reply to the Commission’s allegations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Should they fail to convince the EU executive, they risk fines of up to 6 percent of annual global revenue. “We disagree with any suggestion that we have breached the DSA, and we continue to negotiate” with the Commission on these issues, Meta spokesperson Ben Walters said. Meta has “introduced changes to our content reporting options, appeals process and data access tools since the DSA came into force and are confident that these solutions match what is required under the law in the EU,” he said. TikTok spokesperson Paolo Ganino said the firm was "reviewing the European Commission's findings, but requirements to ease data safeguards place the DSA and [General Data Protection Regulation] in direct tension. If it is not possible to fully comply with both, we urge regulators to provide clarity on how these obligations should be reconciled." Ganino added it had "made substantial investments in data sharing and almost 1,000 research teams have been given access to data through our Research Tools to date." The moves are part of ongoing efforts to enforce the bloc’s digital rules. Meta is the second American platform to be accused of breaking the rules: Elon Musk's X was accused of doing so more than a year ago, in July 2024. China’s Temu and AliExpress have also been accused of breaches. The EU executive opened its investigation into Meta in April last year and expanded it in May. TikTok’s probe started in February 2024, and was extended twice in April and in December (with the April section closed after TikTok agreed to pull the product in question from Europe). None of the findings have so far led to fines. Friday’s findings said Facebook and Instagram didn’t make a system to allow users to flag illegal content sufficiently user-friendly, and also that the companies designed the interface deceptively. The platforms also made a difficult interface to use in order to challenge content moderation decisions, the Commission said. Several other parts of the probes remain open, including on how the platforms protect minors and their role in election manipulation. The Trump administration has launched repeated attacks on the EU’s DSA law, calling it “Orwellian” and accusing the bloc of censorship. Countries are not yet on the same page about how to protect children from the harms of the online world. Monday’s disruption comes as EU leaders prepare to address digital sovereignty at a gathering this week. The call comes as the EU progresses investigations into Meta, TikTok and others. Most EU countries have backed the idea of a digital age of majority.
|
Eliza Gkritsi
|
Move comes as EU faces pressure over enforcing its tech lawbooks.
|
[
"algorithms",
"big tech",
"content moderation",
"data",
"data protection",
"digital services act",
"platforms",
"regulation",
"services",
"transparency",
"cybersecurity and data protection"
] |
Technology
|
[] |
2025-10-24T09:45:03Z
|
2025-10-24T09:45:03Z
|
2025-10-24T09:50:32Z
| 7,385,292
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-accuses-meta-tiktok-of-breaching-digital-rules/
|
North Korea to build museum glorifying its troops fighting against Ukraine
|
Pyongyang’s soldiers helped the Kremlin repel an offensive by Ukraine on Russian territory in 2024. AI generated Text-to-speech North Korea has begun construction of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in Pyongyang to glorify its army’s overseas operations, mainly in Russia’s Kursk region, where it helped the Kremlin push out Ukrainian forces in 2024. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch ceremony of the museum dedicated to “the combatants of the armed forces of the Republic, who performed the brilliant military exploits and services in the military operations to liberate the Kursk Region of the fraternal Russian Federation at the cost of their blood and lives,” local state Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday. Pyongyang covertly deployed some 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean army troops to Russia last year to help the struggling Kremlin forces push the Ukrainian army out of some 1,000 square kilometers of territory they had captured in Kursk after a surprise incursion on Aug. 6, 2024. Ukrainian forces controlled the territory for more than six months, until the North Korean army helped the Russians to push them out in March 2025. Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive partnership treaty in the summer of 2024. While both initially denied reports of the latter’s troops entering battle, they later admitted it was true after the successful operation in Kursk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously estimated that about 4,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded, while U.S. officials offered a lower estimate of around 1,200 casualties. After reports of the removal of North Korean troops from the front line, they were spotted at war again, the Ukrainian Army General Staff said on Oct. 16, this time to support Russian military operations in Ukraine’s Sumy region, bordering Kursk. “From the territory of the Kursk region, these units conduct reconnaissance activities using drones, identify the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and provide assistance in adjusting fire on the positions of Ukrainian units in Sumy,” the general staff said. Ukraine’s president also wants the EU to step up by unlocking Moscow’s frozen assets to help Kyiv. Moscow digests the U.S. decision to target its oil giants. “The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness,” says Ukraine’s sanctions envoy. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Veronika Melkozerova
|
Pyongyang’s soldiers helped the Kremlin repel an offensive by Ukraine on Russian territory in 2024.
|
[
"counteroffensive ukraine",
"defense",
"drones",
"kremlin",
"war",
"war in ukraine",
"weapons"
] |
Foreign Affairs
|
[
"North Korea",
"Russia",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-24T09:22:19Z
|
2025-10-24T09:22:19Z
|
2025-10-24T10:12:31Z
| 7,387,848
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/north-korea-to-build-a-museum-glorifying-its-troops-fighting-against-ukraine/
|
Well Plaid
|
AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Intuit By ANDREW MCDONALD with MARTIN ALFONSIN LARSEN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good Friday morning. This is Andrew McDonald. A GOOD PLAID-ING: Welsh Labour was, as predicted, roundly humiliated in the Caerphilly Senedd by-election overnight … but it ended up not being one for Nigel Farage’s history books either. A tactical voting surge powered Welsh nationalists Plaid Cymru to an extraordinary victory, with Reform UK in a strong second (albeit 11 points behind) and Labour a very distant third. It’s a decisive rejection of a Labour Party that has towered over this part of south Wales for a century, leaving it with some bleak soul-searching in Cardiff and Westminster ahead of May’s Senedd election. Brace yourself for the spinners to fight over the narrative this morning, but at least they can agree one thing: politics is never boring these days. The results: Lindsay Whittle of Plaid Cymru 15,961 (47.4 percent) … Reform UK 12,113 (36 percent) … Labour 3,713 (11 percent) … Conservatives 690 (2 percent) … Greens 516 (1.5 percent) … Lib Dems 497 (1.5 percent) … Gwlad 117 … UKIP 79. Now, the fallout: Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds — who, as a historian of his party, will know better than anyone how meaningful this loss is — and Reform Chair David Bull have already embarked on broadcast rounds. NTS will have been well prepared to don his somber voice and insist that Labour has work to do and voters to listen to … but for Bull, it is not quite the victory lap he hoped for. **A message from Intuit: Most small and mid-sized businesses use up to 10 business apps, relying on fragmented systems to manage operations. Intuit will soon introduce agentic AI experiences that will help businesses unlock smarter, faster workflows. Learn more about businesses' digital tools usage in a new report.** Cardinal sin: Reform played up its chances, spent a lot of cash and even had plans in place for a celebration (complete with balloons). Farage visited the constituency on multiple occasions. A win would have been a clear marker for Reform’s 2026 Senedd hopes and kept up the sense of momentum in Westminster created by the party’s position at the top of the polls. Farage, unsurprisingly, was nowhere to be seen at the count in the end. Now, to be fair … Reform did increase its vote share by 34 points (from practically nothing) and achieve its goal of smashing Labour. Expectation management wasn’t helped by a Survation poll last week putting Reform 4 points ahead of Plaid, on 42 percent — but the 36 percent result overnight isn’t a million miles off, especially when activists in both Reform and Labour had thought Survation was overdoing it. Grumpy Reform spinners were insisting the result still shows a “historic realignment in Welsh politics,” leaving the May 2026 contest as a straight shootout between it and Plaid. The takeaway everyone agrees on: Politics these days is … weird. The turnout in Caerphilly, at 50 percent, was the highest the constituency has ever had in a Senedd contest, and is higher than the national turnout at any Senedd election. Those on the ground were pointing out that the emergence of Reform brought lots more people out to vote than you’d typically expect — both to vote for it and tactically against it. The other established parties on the center-left failed to take more than 15 percent between them. With a new, semi-proportional electoral system coming in May, the voting might be less tactical — but it can only get more chaotic. Not so much nuance needed here: For Labour the result is an unmitigated disaster — even worse than the 12 percent predicted by Survation (which some Labour folk had been insisting was too downbeat). To give you an idea of how bad this is for Labour, some party figures were relieved early in the night when it became clear they wouldn’t lose their deposit. Remember, Labour had held the Senedd seat since its creation, and the corresponding Westminster seat for more than 100 years. Welsh Labour spinners were insisting the result shows people in Wales don’t want Reform either — but if that’s what the result says about Farage’s party, what does it say about Labour on 11 percent of the vote? Time for another reset? For Keir Starmer back in London, it prompts yet more tough questions about the direction of his leadership. The collapse of its left and right flank won’t help quell the nerves of MPs concerned about No. 10 strategists’ focus on Reform, either. And for all that Labour will be relieved not to see a grinning Farage on the telly today, the complete collapse of its vote in a former stronghold ain’t the best omen for May’s elections. And one in Cardiff Bay too? Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan — who has walked a delicate line of distinguishing herself from Starmer with a so-called Red Welsh Way while trying not to slag him off — must now decide if she’ll go further. MSs were already at odds with Westminster MPs about how much they were facing Plaid rather than just Reform. They meet for a postmortem later today, according to the BBC. This result suggests most of the MSs not already planning to quit (and loads of them are) will lose their jobs, while the rest mull the prospect of being junior partners in a Plaid-Labour pact. That is quite something. The first line to take: Reacting to the result overnight, Morgan pointed to “difficult headwinds nationally” and said she’d “heard the frustration on doorsteps in Caerphilly that the need to feel change in people’s lives has not been quick enough.” If the mood on the doors continues to be this grim as May approaches, expect a lot more where that came from. A word for the new guy: Whittle won election to the constituency at the 14th time lucky, after standing repeatedly for the Westminster and Cardiff Bay Caerphilly seats. He had a brief spell as a regional MS from 2011 to 2016, and has lived in the town his entire life. Wales Online has a nice profile of him here. Whittle and the triumphant Plaid Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth — who said it shows “we can win anywhere” and run the Welsh government for the first time — have a photo-op outside Caerphilly Castle at 9.30 a.m. And for his predecessor: Whittle began his victory speech with an emotional tribute to Hefin David, whose sudden death in August triggered the by-election. “I will never fill his shoes, but I assure you I will walk the same path that he did,” he said. COW HERD: The PM will have to swiftly turn his mind from the result in Wales because he’s hosting Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders for a meeting of the coalition of the willing aimed at restoring momentum among Ukraine’s allies. But without Donald Trump involved, the gang will face the usual questions about whether it’s all a bit futile. On the agenda: Starmer is hosting the Ukrainian president in No. 10 this morning, before the pair head off down Whitehall to the FCDO. They’ll be met there by NATO’s Mark Rutte (who is fresh from a catch-up with Donald Trump in Washington) and the Danish and Dutch PMs, who are traveling to London for the summit. They’ll sit down for a 90-minute call with around 20 other Western leaders mid-afternoon. Before the main event … of a Starmer/Rutte/Zelenskyy press conference at 5 p.m. in front of U.K. and foreign hacks (meaning our Playbook PM will land an hour later than normal). Who fancies ruining government spinners’ day by throwing in questions on Caerphilly or the other domestic nasties hitting the PM? Impaling Vlad: Talks in London (and on Teams) will focus on how leaders can “further strengthen Ukraine’s hand and cripple Russia’s ability to continue to wage war,” according to an overnight release. Starmer will tell his pals to act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market and — Tomahawk missiles alert — step up “the gifting of long-range capabilities” for Ukraine. Or pushing Vlad toward peace: A U.K. official told my colleague Esther Webber today is all about applying on Russian President Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace talks, and by any means possible. Officials hope to emerge with concrete plans for more sanctions and new weapons for Ukraine. The obvious problem being … it doesn’t look like Putin is listening. Asked Thursday about the U.S. sanctions on Russian oil firms — which No. 10 also gushed about over in its overnight release — Putin said the levies are an “unfriendly” act but won’t significantly affect Russia’s economic position. The increased pessimism over Putin’s willingness to engage seriously with Trump explains the vibe shift of sorts today from previous COW calls between allies — which were much more focused on the potential post-ceasefire landscape and the prospect of peacekeeping troops on the ground. Keir’s other ask: The PM also wants to step up chats on using Russian frozen assets to fund the Ukrainian war effort — though that might be a tough sell if Belgium’s PM Bart De Wever joins the call. At last night’s gathering of EU leaders in Brussels, De Wever played spoiler and refused to endorse a leaders’ statement that would have given a preliminary, political green light to the idea of using €140 billion in frozen Russian assets as the basis for a “reparation loan” for Ukraine. More from my POLITICO colleague Tim Ross here. IN A PIECE OF UNHELPFUL TIMING … it looks like the Ministry of Defence will have to make big cuts to avoid blowing its budget. The Telegraph’s Ben Riley-Smith got hold of a leaked MoD internal spending estimate from the summer, revealing a £1.6 billion overspend for the 2025-26 financial year. Just as well there aren’t any major wars in Europe threatening our security. PARLIAMENT: Not sitting. CALLING IT: The Guardian’s Lobby team went over the top last night and wrote what many in Westminster suspect — that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering a manifesto-busting hike to income tax in order to plug the fiscal black hole. The paper reports that Reeves is “in active discussions” about breaking the pledge not to raise income tax, citing three sources close to the budget process. The Treasury weren’t playing budget Whac-a-Mole last night … but watch for the precise wording of any denials in the coming days. Thanks for that: If Reeves fancies blaming any tax rises on Liz Truss, you’ll be shocked to hear the former PM ain’t a fan of that argument. “I think she is a disingenuous liar. I have no time for Rachel Reeves … I don’t think she’s telling the truth about what is wrong with the British economy,” Truss told our own Anne McElvoy for an episode of Westminster Insider which has dropped here. WHO NEEDS THE FRENCH? Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is seeking more one in, one out deals with Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the Times’ Matt Dathan hears. Helpfully, the Dutch PM is in London today with the PM if he fancies moving that one along. THE NATHAN GILL WEB GROWS: Two more UKIP/Brexit Party MEPs made “strikingly similar statements” criticizing Ukraine in the European Parliament, after joining Nathan Gill — the former Reform leader in Wales who pled guilty to eight counts of bribery for making pro-Russia statements — on a trip paid for by pro-Russia interests, the Observer’s Cat Neilan reports. One of the former MEPs, Jonathan Arnott, told the Observer he felt he had been “misled” by Gill about the trip. The other, David Coburn, didn’t respond to requests for comment. There is no suggestion either received “Xmas cards” or “postcards” as Gill did. LAM-ING SEASON: The Guardian’s Peter Walker reports that Tory MPs have complained to party whips about Katie Lam’s Sunday Times interview in which she called for the deportation of people living here legally. Plus … Walker points to speculation that Kemi Badenoch wasn’t actually fully aware of her party’s own proposals on indefinite leave to remain — announced by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp back in May — until the reaction to the Lam interview. Tory officials dismissed this as nonsense, obvs … but one Tory told Playbook that Philp’s announcement was done “so badly” that nobody heard it and it got no coverage. “It was pretty embarrassing, to be honest,” they added. Ask her: Badenoch is off on a visit to Surrey, with a pool clip (no time was confirmed last night) in which she’ll want to chat about Tory hopes of abolishing business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. WHAT THE LIB DEMS WANT TO TALK ABOUT: Bike theft. The Libs are calling for the National Crime Agency to set up “Operation Bike Bait” to tackle persistent theft by placing bikes fitted with trackers in theft hotspots. The BBC writes it up here. Expect to see: Ed Davey on a bike in London, where he’ll be doing a pool clip at 12.30 p.m. ROYAL RUMBLE: Could Prince Andrew be about to blow a hole in the lack of scrutiny of Britain’s royal funding system? Our own Annabelle Dickson raises that question in this smart piece. One former senior official involved in past decisions about royal finances warned that while the public is fine with the arrangements if royals behave themselves, “things break down if there are members of the royal family who aren’t keeping that side of the bargain.” THINK OF THE BUSINESSES: Nearly 50 Labour MPs have written to Business Secretary Peter Kyle warning that prospective EHRC guidance on how businesses should respond to the Supreme Court ruling on trans rights in April could create a costly “legal and compliance minefield,” the Guardian’s Peter Walker reports. MORE GROOMING GANG CRITICISM: The HMICFRS emergency services watchdog warned that “significant challenges” remain in how police tackle grooming gangs, in a new report. LBC writes it up here. Meanwhile … officials were admitting it will take months to find the right chair for the inquiry. The Times — which also has an interview with former chair candidate Jim Gamble — splashes on the admission. BAD TIMING: The Care Quality Commission’s annual audit of the health and social care system warns that services remain poorly joined up and under immense strain, as the government prepares for a shift from hospital to community care. The report’s release has been overshadowed by departure of the regulator’s Chief Executive Julian Hartley, who quit Thursday after an independent inquiry was announced into the Leeds NHS trust he led. More on that in the Guardian. SW1 EVENTS: Campaign group Best for Britain presents findings from a report into public attitudes to Brexit based on YouGov polling of more than 4,000 respondents (12 p.m., online) … and the UCL Constitution Unit is hosting an event asking whether the government’s electoral reforms go far enough, with guests including Labour MP Cat Smith (1 p.m., online). REPORTS OUT TODAY: The Cabinet Office is unable to manage the outsourced administration of the 1.7 million-member civil service pension scheme, says the Public Accounts Committee … and the Environmental Audit Committee warns that government plans to limit carbon emissions from the aviation sector as it greenlights the expansion of major airports are “insufficient” and could put net zero delivery in “serious jeopardy.” ON COMMITTEE CORRIDOR: Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Chair Chi Onwurah has sent a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood asking when the government will use technological solutions to address rising rates of phone theft. IN POLL POSITION: Catherine Connolly, a left-wing critic of NATO and EU, is poised to become Ireland’s next president as voting opens today. POLITICO’s Shawn Pogatchnik has more on the former Galway mayor who has built up a commanding poll lead against her only opponent, from the centrist Fine Gael party. BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Donald Trump suspended all trade negotiations with Canada, because of an advert featuring former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Yeah, really. More from my POLITICO colleagues here. HITTING OUT: U.S. Vice President JD Vance said a vote by Israel’s parliament backing the annexation of the West Bank was a “very stupid political stunt.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was “potentially threatening” to the peace deal recently secured between Hamas and Israel. The FT has the download on their comments and broader Arab and U.S. opposition to the (largely symbolic) move. State of affairs: Meanwhile, the U.N.’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, said he felt like he was “driving through the ruins of Hiroshima, or Stalingrad, or Dresden” while on a visit to Gaza last week. He told the BBC’s Nick Robinson that former PM Tony Blair played an “incredible role behind the scenes” in the lead-up to the Gaza peace deal, and that the Trump administration was instrumental in enabling him to enter the Middle Eastern territory. THE EAGLE AND THE DRAGON: Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as part of a trip to Asia that will include visits to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Reuters has more. **A message from Intuit: In a survey of over 1,500 UK business leaders, 42% of small and mid-sized businesses say they use fewer than five software apps in their businesses, and 37% use 5-10. This fragmentation may explain why, despite increasing AI adoption, many small and mid-sized businesses still feel they are not realising the full benefits of technology. Intuit will soon introduce new agentic AI experiences to help small businesses and accountants using QuickBooks in the UK unlock next-level efficiency. These AI agents are designed to unify data and workflows, helping business owners save time, improve accuracy, and inform decision-making. Explore the AI trends transforming how businesses operate in a new report from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds broadcast round: Times Radio (6.50 a.m.) … BBC Radio Wales (7.05 a.m.) … Sky (7.15 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … Today (8.10 a.m.) … GMB (8.30 a.m.) … GB News (9.05 a.m.). Shadow Home Office Minister Matt Vickers broadcast round: Times Radio (7.35 a.m.) … GB News (8 a.m.) … LBC (8.20 a.m.) … Sky (8.40 a.m.). Reform UK Chair David Bull broadcast round: BBC Breakfast (6.30 a.m.) … GMB (7.10 a.m.) … LBC (8.50 a.m.) … Sky (9.30 a.m.). Also on Today: Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts (7.09 a.m.) … Reform UK Chair David Bull (7.30 a.m.). Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: Former Culture Secretary and Reform defector Nadine Dorries (7.10 a.m.) … and the BMA’s Jack Fletcher (7.20 a.m.). Also on Times Radio Breakfast: His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer (7.15 a.m.) … polling guru John Curtice (8 a.m.). Also on Good Morning Britain: Former Conservative SpAd James Price and Amnesty International’s Steve Valdez-Symonds (7.35 a.m.) … Prince Andrew biographer Andrew Lownie (8.15 a.m.) … former Labour MP Caroline Flint and former Tory SpAd Salma Shah (8.45 a.m.). Also on Sky News Breakfast: Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko (7.30 a.m.) … Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo (8.15 a.m.) … Russia expert James Nixey (9.20 a.m.). Also on LBC News: Former U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson (8.50 a.m.). POLITICO UK: Prince Andrew scandal blows hole in Britain’s opaque royal funding system. Daily Express: We are strictly done dancing. Daily Mail: Now end the witch hunt. Daily Mirror: Hand of history. Daily Star: Strictly ballroom. Financial Times: Asia refineries weigh curbing Russia oil after US sanctions. Metro: Quitterball. The Daily Telegraph: ‘Stop the show trials for veterans.’ The Guardian: Reeves ‘discussing an increase to income tax’ in November budget. The Independent: Streeting blasts BMA: doctors’ strike is ‘slap in the face’ for NHS. The i Paper: Reeves in talks on 1p income tax rise — risking Labour manifesto pledge to fill £30bn hole. The Sun: Tess & Claud’s secret pact to quit. The Times: Grooming inquiry may be off until next year. The Economist: Winning the trade war. EU Confidential: POLITICO’s Gregorio Sorgi breaks down why lending €140 billion in frozen Russian assets is so difficult, while host Sarah Wheaton chats with colleagues on the ground at the European Council summit to hear the latest on how debates over climate, sanctions and deregulations played out. Westminster Insider: Former Prime Minister Liz Truss talks with Anne McElvoy about the “existential threat” that Reform UK represents to the Conservative Party, her prognosis for the British economy and her belief that the Green Party could become the official opposition in parliament. Plus six of the other best political podcasts to listen to over the weekend: The Mishal Husain Show: Reform Leader Nigel Farage chats about topics including his domestic spending plans, his approach to Russia and Vladimir Putin, and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. Chopper’s Political Podcast: Host Christopher Hope interviews Conservative MP Robbie Moore and Labour MP Natalie Fleet on the grooming gangs scandal, and chats with former Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt about why Conservative Remainers who delivered Brexit are the “real heroes.” The Rundown: Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan, ReState’s Rosie Beacon and the King’s Fund Siva Anandaciva join host Alain Tolhurst to assess whether the NHS is ready for another winter crisis. Politics Inside Out: Hosts Gloria De Piero and Jonathan Ashworth chat with former Mirror Editor Lloyd Embley, who lifts the lid on breaking the Partygate scandal and the relationship between tabloids and politicians. Political Thinking: U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher discusses with host Nick Robinson his recent visit to Gaza, the role of former Prime Minister Tony Blair in negotiating the recent peace deal and the Trump administration’s approach to the U.N. All Talk: Host Iain Dale talks with Sky broadcaster Sophy Ridge about her move to a breakfast slot after hosting the network’s early evening show, her best and worst interview moments and what it takes to break into journalism. WESTMINSTER WEATHER: Sunny in the early morning, giving way to clouds for the rest of the day. High 13C, low 8C. SPOTTED … at a party hosted by Conservative think tank Onward and incoming Conservative Treasurer Simon Dudley at his massive house by the Thames, with wood paneling, an engraved ceiling, a roaring fire, the flag of Berkshire on the front lawn and £1,000 of cheese: Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who gave a speech and unveiled a canvas print of Dudley dressed as Henry VIII wearing a “build baby build” cap … Jenrick’s wife, lawyer Michal Berkner … Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden … Shadow Energy Minister Nick Timothy … Shadow Education PPS Jack Rankin with his chief of staff Anna Robinson … former Deputy Prime Minister Thérèse Coffey … former Economic Secretary to the Treasury Angela Knight … property and energy bosses including Torsion Group boss Dan Spencer, Noventum Power’s Andrew Middleton and Daniel Binnion and Grainger’s Michael Keaveney … And breathe: Onward’s James Yucel, Chris Worrall, Gavin Rice, Laurence Fredericks, Caroline Elsom and Ellie Craven … CCHQ’s Zac Spiro and Mike Chatty … Jenrick comms adviser Tom Milford … Mel Stride’s comms adviser James Davies … Nigel Huddleston’s comms adviser Hannah Lee … JL Partners’ Tom Lubbock … former SpAd Alice Hopkin … Open Justice UK’s Adam Wren … the Center for Policy Studies’ Melisa Tourt Unal … Next Gen Tories’ Noa Cohen … the Free Speech Union’s Connie Shaw … Catholic Education Services’ Elizabeth Jellie … hacks Aubrey Allegretti, Will Lloyd, Christian Calgie, Madeline Grant, Grant Tucker, Tali Fraser and Ellie Wheatley … former Conservative parliamentary candidate Jamila Robertson … and political commentator Chris Rose. Also spotted … at the PM’s official spokesperson David Pares’ leaving drinks at Walker’s of Whitehall, as he returns to his old Treasury parish to steer comms into the budget: the PM’s PPS Dan York-Smith … deputy official spokesperson Tom Wells … Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ailsa Terry … No. 10 press SpAds Sophie Nazemi, George Mason and Tom Price … loads of civil service spinners including Ben Claxton, Patrick Dwyer-Cummins, Cat Simmons, Freddie Isbister, Lucy Stretch, Emilie Beckwith and Joseph Brookes … and No. 10’s Matt Cook and Ellie Khan … pol eds Ben Riley-Smith, Jack Elsom, Kate Ferguson, Lizzy Buchan, Natasha Clark, David Hughes, Liz Piper and Adel Darwish … hacks including Arj Singh, Chris McKeon and Ryan Sabey. Also spotted … at the book launch for “Prosperity Through Growth” by Laffer Curve wonk Arthur Laffer, former Vote Leave supremo Matthew Elliott, economist Douglas McWilliams and hedge funder Michael Hintze at the Library on Birdcage Walk: Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly … Reform defectors Jake Berry and Tim Montgomerie … former Deputy Prime Minister Thérèse Coffey … former Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley … former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat … former Conservative campaign chief Lynton Crosby … LOTO’s Dylan Sharpe … CCHQ’s Sheridan Westlake … former No. 10 Policy Unit director Munira Mirza … former SpAd Shelley Williams-Walker … former CCHQ comms director Alex Wild … Conservative peers Lucy Neville-Rolfe, George Bridges, Daniel Hannan, Franck Petitgas, Jonathan Moynihan, Andrew Roberts and Kulveer Ranger … media proprietor Paul Marshall … World Wide Web founder Tim Berners-Lee … former Treasury perm sec Nick MacPherson … Reform UK’s Andy Wigmore … former MEP Lance Forman … and businessmen Octavius Black and Neil Record. EVERY CLOUD: Embattled Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald had a civil service pension pot of £2,499,000 as of March this year, according to Cabinet Office accounts published Thursday. The accounts also revealed that Simon Case got a £200,000 payoff when he quit as head of the Civil Service in December. NEW GIG: Downing Street press official Ben Claxton has been promoted to senior media operations officer in the No.10 broadcast team. NOW READ: LabourList columnist Tom Belger has a piece about the threat to Labour from Reform, the Greens and the nascent Your Party, which reveals that it’s just 4 percentage points ahead of Nigel Farage’s outfit in its 10 safest seats. Oh, and: The New Statesman’s Will Lloyd has a cracking interview with Piers Morgan, who is promoting his subtly-titled book “Woke is Dead.” MEA CULPA: Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips wrote to the Home Affairs Committee before any grooming gang victims came forward, rather than to survivors this week. WRITING PLAYBOOK PM: Emilio Casalicchio. WRITING PLAYBOOK MONDAY MORNING: Dan Bloom. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Shadow Attorney General Jeremy Wright … Tatton MP Esther McVey … Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles … Labour peer Doreen Lawrence … GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope … Wall Street Journal Editor Emma Tucker … former Labour MP Simon Danczuk … former Cambridge University Chancellor David Sainsbury … former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull. And celebrating over the weekend: Former No. 10 chief of staff Eddie Lister … former Treasury Second Permanent Secretary Charles Roxburgh … the Financial Conduct Authority’s Stephen Braviner Roman … former Lincoln MP Karl McCartney … crossbench peer Bernard Hogan-Howe … the New Statesman’s Rachel Cunliffe … Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander … former UK Health Security Agency chief Jenny Harries … Conservative peer Edward Garnier … former Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward … crossbench peer Jean Coussins … UUP peer and former leader Reg Empey … media consultant Tristan Davies … and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editors Zoya Sheftalovich, Alex Spence and Dan Bloom, researcher Martin Alfonsin Larsen and producer Dean Southwell. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Andrew McDonald
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2025-10-24T06:02:16Z
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2025-10-24T06:02:16Z
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2025-10-24T06:05:06Z
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/well-plaid/
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How Belgium blew up EUCO
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AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Amazon By NICHOLAS VINOCUR with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser BELGIUM’S DE WEVER IS NOT FOR WAVERING: Forget Viktor Orbán. The spoiler at last night’s gathering of EU leaders in Brussels turned out to be Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who dug in his heels against using Russian frozen assets to help Ukraine. Nee: The Flemish nationalist PM, who’s repeatedly laid out his objections to the loan, refused to endorse a leaders’ statement that would have given a preliminary, political green light to the idea of using €140 billion in frozen Russian assets as the basis for a “reparation loan” for Ukraine. Fail: Instead, De Wever demanded watered down language in the Council conclusions that scrubbed any reference to the reparation loan. The final version simply states that leaders commit to addressing Ukraine’s “pressing needs” and “invite the Commission to present, as soon as possible, options for financial support” for Ukraine. Why it matters: The reparation loan is Ukraine’s best bet to keep financially afloat next year amid an escalating Russian campaign against civilian targets. Despite announcing sanctions, the United States is not pledging any new financial support. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed reporters during the summit, said that without a fresh injection of cash Kyiv would likely run into serious financial hardship next year. **A message from Amazon: 60% of sales on Amazon come from independent sellers like Caroline from 3Bears in Munich, Germany. “We're beginning to reach customers across Europe and, as a small team, it's so exciting to see where we'll go next,” says Caroline. Learn how Amazon helps European small businesses grow.** Speaking to POLITICO, an EU diplomat acknowledged the impasse: “Nobody wants to be seen to be responsible for Ukraine running out of money — but there’s nothing [agreed] yet to actually send them any money.” The Commission has no choice but to keep consulting with national capitals, namely Brussels, to try to strike a deal at the next summit on Dec. 19. Putin trolls summit: Adding to the sense of urgency, Lithuania’s president denounced a violation of his country’s airspace by Russian planes just before leaders were about to tuck in for langoustine and filet veal during a working dinner. “We have to react to this,” Gitanas Nausėda said in a short video posted to X. How did this happen? It’s hard to understand how the Commission and Council could have flubbed the summit stagecraft so badly. As Tim Ross writes in this account, the Commission had months to assuage Belgian concerns about getting sued by Russia over the assets, which are held in Brussels-based Euroclear. It’s not as if De Wever is hard to get ahold of — his office is down the road from the Berlaymont. It’s gonna be great! Yet on the day of the summit, EU leaders failed to manage expectations about the possibility of a Belgian blockage. As leaders were pulling up to the Justus Lipsius building, European Council President António Costa gleefully told reporters, standing alongside Zelenskyy, that they would be taking a “political decision” during the summit to free up the loan. That’s not how things panned out. According to diplomats at the summit, the reason likely comes down to the fact De Wever and his aides felt the Commission had failed to fully take their concerns into account, including causing offense by circulating a reparations loan plan to capitals before they had run it by authorities in Brussels. The domestic angle: De Wever may also have been acting on domestic concerns, with his coalition on thin ice over finances. Belgium’s government has been stuck in marathon talks to agree a budget — so far without a deal — against a backdrop of protests against its plan to cut spending. “Just imagine having to pay out €180 billion plus damages next year or in two years. That’s completely insane,” De Wever said. “A bad boy! Me?” De Wever said, referencing his starring role in POLITICO’s list of the EUCO summit bad boys. “If you talk about the immobilized assets, we’re the very very best.” Norway to the rescue? As Gregorio Sorgi, Camille Gijs, Jacopo Barigazzi and Hanne Cokelaere explain here, a big part of the problem is coming up with enough funds to guarantee the loan. On this score, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suggested oil-rich Norway, though not a member of the EU, could provide the necessary backing. “That would be great,” she said when asked about possible Oslo support. But no such aid is forthcoming for now. The bottom line: Ukraine’s financial needs are likely to be met before they get too dire. French President Emmanuel Macron said at a closing press conference that the idea “hasn’t been buried.” But at this summit, De Wever was determined not to get steamrolled by bigger powers. Perhaps he’d been re-reading his Julius Caesar, who wrote: “Of all the Gauls, the strongest are the Belgians.” LISTEN UP — HOW ABOUT THEM ASSETS? This week’s episode of the EU Confidential podcast has full explainer on the debate about using the frozen assets from Gregorio Sorgi. (What even is Euroclear, anyway?) Plus, late-night impressions from the Council lobby from Gabriel Gavin, Zia Weise, Tim Ross and yours truly. Listen and subscribe to EU Confidential. POLAND, GREECE ARGUE — EU TOO BROKE TO BE GREEN: The other big story of the EUCO was climate, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis telling Gabriel Gavin ahead of the summit that the EU needed to balance its push for decarbonization against the need to bolster competitiveness. Freaked out: “I’ve been very, very clear — the green transition cannot be an end in itself,” Mitsotakis said in an exclusive interview. “I hate to put a figure on it but the last 10, 15 or 20 percent of the green transition is, right now, frighteningly expensive and we don’t even have the technologies to actually drive that figure through.” Tusk exults: As talks on the EU’s climate agenda were wrapping up, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emerged from the leaders’ meeting room to say he was “more happy than tired.” He was touting a “revision clause” in the EU’s plan to extend its carbon trading system to heating and transport. “We’ve defused a threat to Polish families and drivers,” he said. But as Zia Weise and Louise Guillot write, the final wording accepted by leaders did not demand specific changes to climate legislation. Gone till November: Thursday’s debate centered on how to align the EU’s climate goals with economic priorities, and was meant to resolve a deadlock over the bloc’s new emissions-cutting target for 2040. Yet the text leaders agreed is vague and stops short of endorsing the 2040 goal. They may just have “delayed the crisis” to a new meeting on Nov. 4, a diplomat said. MERZ MAKES A MESS: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced after the summit that all EU leaders had voted in favor of signing the controversial Mercosur trade deal. That triggered quite the clarification from António Costa, who said he’d only asked EU leaders to speak with their ambassadors to resolve final translation issues with the agreement. “But that was it. We didn’t discuss it. We didn’t make any decisions,” the European Council president said. MERZ LASHES OUT OVER EU PARLIAMENT REJECTION ON RED TAPE: Another growing headache for EU leaders is the fact that European Parliament isn’t cooperating with their plans to slash red tape in a series of simplification bills, which were rejected earlier this week. How do you really feel? Leaders were furious over the setback, with Merz — who along with 18 other leaders called this week for a “cultural change” in EU regulation — labeling the vote “unacceptable.” The decision was “a fatal mistake and must be corrected,” Merz added. Speaking at EUCO, Roberta Metsola said she believes the Parliament will find a way to reach agreement on key issues, even if it involves a break with the traditional ways of working. Thinking outside the center: “Majorities are always strongest from the center out,” the Parliament president said. “But if this is not possible, I know that this House will deliver regardless. Especially because the prime ministers around the table were unanimous in saying that this needs to happen.” Back it up: The Parliament’s major centrist groups — the European People’s Party (of Ursula von der Leyen and Metsola herself), Renew and the Socialists and Democrats — had agreed to back the red tape proposal. But in a secret ballot, a number of Socialist MEPs rebelled and voted against the deal. Reality check: Metsola conceded centrists may no longer be able to pass legislation and may have to team up with right-wing and far-right parties. More on that here. NOW READ THIS: 29 things to know about last night’s EUCO summit, brought to you by Seb Starcevic. **A Message from the Berlin Global Dialogue: Shifting Power, Shaping Prosperity. From October 23–25, Berlin Global Dialogue unites leaders from business, government, and academia to shape global prosperity in times of shifting power dynamics. Watch the livestream now!** IRONY DETECTED: Who said the European Commission doesn’t have a sense of humor — or at least an eye for irony? In its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, Brussels is targeting Nikita Anisimo, a Russian university rector who offers a degree in … sanctions evasion. A senior EU official said: “We thought it would be a good idea to sanction the rector of this university so that he can have the opportunity to share his own experience with students.” Who else? Brussels is also targeting Ilya Sorokin, known as “Dr Evil” for torturing Ukrainian POWs, as well as 11 new people involved in abducting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children. More here. LUKOIL NEXT: The senior official also flagged that the EU was looking to “disentangle” itself from Russian energy firm Lukoil, which was sanctioned by the U.S. this week but not included in the EU package. The official said Brussels was “working towards” a transaction ban with Lukoil, but explained the company — which is privately owned, unliked sanctioned Rosneft and Gazprom — maintains an extensive presence in Europe including refineries in Bulgaria and Romania and retail outlets around the continent. “We need to find a way to disengage on these items before we can fully impose sanctions,” the official said. Full story here. TALK ABOUT IT TODAY? Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders head to London today for a “coalition of the willing” confab. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts Zelenskyy in No. 10 this morning; they’ll then meet NATO chief Mark Rutte (fresh off his catch-up with Trump in Washington), before sitting down for the 90-minute call co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron at 4 p.m. Who won’t be on the call: Friedrich Merz, per our Berlin Playbook colleagues — Germany will be represented by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. MEPs CALL FOR VÁRHELYI OUSTER: In a letter obtained by Max Griera, 35 European lawmakers urge Ursula von der Leyen to seek Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi’s resignation. “We would like to ask you to present us with concrete measures you are taking to protect the integrity of the institutions,” wrote the lawmakers from the Socialist & Democrats, the Left and Greens parties. MOODY’S MOOD: Tonight, rating agency Moody’s will release its credit rating decision on France just weeks after both Fitch and Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country. POLITICO’s Giorgio Leali sat down with Atsi Sheth, Moody’s chief credit officer, in Paris. “We do believe that fiscal consolidation is a goal, but we anticipate that meeting that goal is going to be very challenging,” she said, adding that the agency is also looking into the consequences of the suspension of Macron’s controversial pension reform. LOUVRE FIASCO LATEST: Victor Goury-Laffont has a top read on Sunday’s robbery at the Louvre, reporting that complaints of underfunding had brewed for months. A confidential report from France’s top court of auditors highlighted “persistent” delays in replacing security equipment, Victor reveals. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING: Donald Trump suspended all trade negotiations with Canada because of an ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. The ad was produced by the province of Ontario to warn Americans that Trump’s tariffs could ultimately kill their jobs. More here. TRUMP TO MEET XI: Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea during a trip that will also include visits to Malaysia and Japan. FRIDAY FEATURE: Paul Dallison has obtained the prison diary of Nicolas Sarkozy for this week’s Declassified humor column. — Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa meet Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at noon. — European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is in Milan. Meets with the presidents and representatives of business associations at 3 p.m. Watch. — Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is in Auckland, New Zealand for the EU-New Zealand Business Summit. Meets Prime Minister Christopher Luxon … meets Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. — U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, ahead of a “coalition of the willing” group call at 4 p.m. co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron. WEATHER: High of 10C, rain. NEW JOB: Dirk De Smedt will be sworn in today as the Brussels region’s new finance and budget minister after Sven Gatz resigned last week, citing health reasons. NEW JOB 2: Brussels Playbook alum Florian Eder will as of Jan. 1 take over as editor-in-chief of Neue Zürcher Zeitung in Germany. The outgoing NZZ editor, Marc Felix Serrao, joins Axel Springer’s Global Reporters Network. Speaking of Axel Springer: Israel’s President Isaac Herzog earlier this week presented the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer (which owns POLITICO), among others. NEW JOB 3: Ann Mettler, the former vice president of Breakthrough Energy, has joined Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy as a distinguished visiting fellow. BIRTHDAYS: MEPs Pär Holmgren and Sabine Verheyen; former MEPs Sabrina Pignedoli, Florian Philippot; Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova; Rut Rey of Netflix; Mayor of Autun Vincent Chauvet; POLITICO’s Vlad Hosu. United Nations Day. CELEBRATING SATURDAY: MEPs Thomas Geisel; former MEP and POLITICO 28 alum Olga Sehnalová; Hungarian politician Norbert Erdős; U.S. embassy in Rome’s Stefano Giustiniani; POLITICO alum Brandy Miller. CELEBRATING SUNDAY: Former MEPs Eva Kaili, Cristian Dan Preda, Max Andersson and Jordi Solé Ferrando; European Environment Agency’s Caroline Zickgraf; NYT’s Mark Landler; ADF International’s Robert Clarke; Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Austrian National Day. THANKS TO: Playbook editor Alex Spence, reporter Ketrin Jochecová and producer Dean Southwell. CORRECTION: This newsletter was updated on Oct. 24 to correct an error in a new job announcement. It is Marc Felix Serrao who is joining Axel Springer’s Global Reporters Network. **A message from Amazon: Caroline's 3Bears started as a dream. “It was kind of a fairytale idea, but we made it a reality,” says Caroline. “We wanted to help people start their day with high-quality porridge.” 3Bears represents thousands of European success stories selling on Amazon. In 2024, EU-based small businesses sold more than 1.3 billion products and generated more than €34 billion in sales within the EU alone. These entrepreneurs are creating an estimated 350,000 jobs across the EU, many in rural areas. Learn more about how Amazon helps European businesses thrive in our latest EU Small and Medium Enterprises Impact Report at AboutAmazon.eu.** SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Nicholas Vinocur
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Uncategorized
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2025-10-24T05:00:10Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:10Z
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2025-10-24T06:25:50Z
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/how-belgium-blew-up-euco/
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Place au Palais Boxon
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Synthèse vocale générée par l'IA Présenté par Amazon Par SARAH PAILLOU Avec ANTHONY LATTIER PRÉSENTÉ PAR Envoyez vos infos | Abonnez-vous gratuitement | Voir dans le navigateur LA PLUME DANS SA PLAIE. Si vous trépignez d’impatience dans l’attente du prochain livre de Bruno Le Maire, nous avons quelques nouvelles pour vous. Ma collègue Judith Chetrit a repéré en ligne les premières mentions dudit ouvrage, dont la parution est annoncée pour le mois de février. Titres visiblement envisagés : Qui décide ou Le temps d’une décision. Logique, puisque la prose de l’ex-ministre de l’Economie portera sur “la question du pouvoir de décision au 21eme siècle avec de multiples anecdotes, portraits, réflexions personnelles”, nous a glissé hier l’un de ses proches . Du retour au retrait. Pour ceux qui se demandent ce que le recordman de longévité à Bercy devient, sachez qu’il a retrouvé ses postes de professeur invité au centre Entreprise for Society en Suisse et de consultant pour le groupe néerlandais ASML, depuis son retour-mais-en-fait-non au gouvernement. Avant même le pataquès causé par sa nomination, tout le monde autour de “BLM” n’était pas ravi-ravi de son choix de revenir aux affaires, a-t-on ouï dire, alors qu’il était supposé rester un peu plus longtemps éloigné du tumulte quotidien. Et ne réapparaître qu’au moment qui lui permettrait de s’inviter dans la liste des présidentiables pour 2027. Ce ne sera donc pas ce vendredi 24 octobre 2025. On vous souhaite malgré tout un réveil en pleine forme, la journée s’annonce historique (si, si). C’EST LE JOUR 1. “La vraie course commence” aujourd’hui, comme l’a planté, hier sur France 2, Roland Lescure, le ministre de l’Economie. Playbook veut bien admettre s’enthousiasmer parfois pour des épisodes politiques qui pourraient laisser perplexes les moins zinzins, pardon, les moins passionnés d’actu d’entre vous. Mais cet après-midi, les premières heures d’examen du budget de l’Etat dans l’hémicycle de l’Assemblée nationale, sur la partie “recettes”, seront inédites à bien des égards. Ce qui est nouveau. Pas seulement parce que Sébastien Lecornu himself sera présent pour défendre le projet de loi de finances 2026 (au moins pour les premières étapes du processus parlementaire, à savoir une motion de rejet déposée par La France insoumise, et la discussion générale du texte). Surtout parce que le Premier ministre s’est engagé à ne pas recourir à l’article 49.3 de la Constitution pour adopter le PLF. Ce qui devrait se traduire par une affluence record au Palais Bourbon — particulièrement pour un vendredi, jour traditionnellement réservé aux activités en circonscription, et encore plus demain, les députés étant invités à siéger sur une partie de leur week-end. **Un message d'Amazon : Chez Amazon, plus de 50 % des commandes sont désormais livrées avec moins d’emballage, voire sans aucun emballage additionnel. En savoir plus.** Ce que ça change : Le gouvernement ne pourra pas balayer, comme souvent ces dernières années, la copie amendée par les députés pour valider son propre projet via 49.3. En d’autres termes, toute modification entérinée dans l’hémicycle figurera dans le texte envoyé, après le vote solennel du 4 novembre, au Sénat (s’il est adopté, sinon c’est la version gouvernementale qui arrivera dans la Chambre haute). Dans cette Assemblée morcelée, chaque voix comptera lors de scrutins forcément incertains, dont le résultat dépendra beaucoup de la mobilisation des troupes. Equilibrisme. “Toutes les heures vont être clé : si vous votez un irritant, vous perdez un groupe”, confirmait hier le rapporteur général du budget Philippe Juvin. Le député Droite républicaine (le nom du groupe Les Républicains depuis 2024) prenait l’exemple de la taxe Zucman sur les très hauts patrimoines, chère aux socialistes : si elle était adoptée, le “bloc central” ne pourrait soutenir le texte, selon lui. Rappel des troupes. D’où la nécessité pour les groupes d’être nombreux en séance, s’ils veulent gagner des batailles. Cela demande un peu d’organisation : fermes rappels des présidents et secrétaires généraux (SG) des groupes … calendriers de présence pour organiser un roulement et ne pas épuiser les troupes … inscriptions des députés via Framadate … appels à la “responsabilité” et au “sérieux”, compte redire le ministre des Relations avec le Parlement, Laurent Panifous, selon l’une de ses conseillères, aux élus du “socle commun” et de Liot qu’il reçoit à midi. Conséquence : l’un des SG sondés imaginait jusqu’à 400 personnes présentes dans l’hémicycle cet après-midi. A la one again. Et le gouvernement ? Dans cet exercice à première vue sans précédent, il cherche encore la bonne place… et improvise. Entre tentative de début de coordination du bloc central et lien quasi constant entre Matignon et les socialistes, toutes les coulisses des plans de l’exécutif sont dans cet article de mon collègue Paul de Villepin, réservé à nos abonnés PRO, ces gros chanceux. A noter : tout à son intention de choyer les députés du socle commun, Sébastien Lecornu s’est retrouvé à bouter (sans le vouloir, nous jurait-on hier soir autour de lui) Bruno Retailleau hors de la prochaine réunion du groupe DR. Le président des Républicains comptait s’y rendre mardi, puis a renoncé en apprenant que le Premier ministre y serait. Pas d’bol. DANS LES VOULOIRS DE L’ASSEMBLÉE. Le dialogue PS-gouvernement est un poil sorti de l’ombre, hier soir. Boris Vallaud a prévenu dans Le Parisien : “Si [le bloc central] n’est pas capable de justice fiscale, je ne suis pas sûr qu’il sera possible de discuter de la suite.” Citant la taxe Zucman ou “l’ISF sur les milliardaires” parmi ses priorités, le président du groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée n’a pas exclu une censure avant la fin du débat budgétaire. Réponse de Roland Lescure depuis le plateau de France 2 : “il y a une vraie demande de justice fiscale, […] il faut que les groupes parlementaires y répondent”, mais “non à la surenchère fiscale”, “il faut rester raisonnable”. Sus aux Gafam. Une mesure pourrait notamment réunir tout ce petit monde, jusqu’à La France insoumise et la droite : un amendement d’Ensemble pour la République (anciennement Renaissance), visant à taxer les géants de la tech Google, Amazon, Meta ou encore Microsoft. Son auteur, Jean-René Cazeneuve, propose rien de moins que de quintupler le taux de l’impôt sur les services numériques (dit “taxe Gafam”) de 3% à 15%. Ce qui avait séduit une majorité de députés en commission des Finances, mercredi. Même pas peur. Quid des foudres de Donald Trump, le président américain ayant multiplié les menaces contre l’existence même de cet impôt ? “C’est une manière d’envoyer un message [aux Etats-Unis] car je crois au rapport de forces”, assumait, dans la soirée auprès de ma collègue Klara Durand, Jean-René Cazeneuve. Lequel a pratiqué de près les géants de la tech, pour avoir été directeur général d’Apple France entre 2001 et 2005. Klara vous décrypte les enjeux de la mesure par ici (en français, pour nos abonnés PRO). À GUETTER AUJOURD’HUI. Histoire d’ajouter un petit coup de pression aux artisans du budget (nombreux, donc, vous l’aurez compris), Moody’s doit rendre son verdict ce soir sur les capacités françaises de remboursement de la dette. L’agence de notation suivra-t-elle ses consoeurs, Standard & Poor’s et Fitch, qui ont dégradé Paris ? Atsi Sheth, responsable des notations de l’organisme au niveau mondial, a exceptionnellement papoté avec mon collègue Giorgio Leali. Ce qu’elle en dit. Si elle considère que l’assainissement budgétaire est un objectif réel du gouvernement, Atsi Sheth prévoit que ce sera “un défi” d’atteindre ce but, pointant notamment : “La suspension [de la réforme des retraites] signifie que le risque budgétaire qui aurait été traité par celle-ci demeure.” Vous pouvez en lire plus par ici (en anglais et en libre accès). LEUR HEURE CHEZ LES LEURS. 2027 sera à nouveau dans les têtes ce week-end, au moins du côté de Xavier Bertrand et des Ecologistes. Le premier, en pleine tournée médiatique pour la sortie de son livre, organise samedi le troisième anniversaire de son mouvement, Nous France, dans son fief de Saint-Quentin (Aisne). Seule en son royaume. Chez les Verts, dimanche est la date limite pour candidater au départage interne visant à désigner leur champion pour la primaire de la gauche non mélenchoniste (même si celle-ci demeure fort hypothétique). On vous décrivait ici la démarche des Ecologistes, qui ne plaît pas à tout le monde au parti — ce serait trop facile sinon. Il n’y a pas vraiment de suspense : Marine Tondelier, la secrétaire nationale de la formation, qui ne s’est pas gênée pour se déclarer candidate à la présidentielle, a très, très peu de risques d’être battue lors du scrutin (prévu du 5 au 8 décembre pour le premier tour, du 12 au 15 décembre en cas de second tour). D’autant plus qu’elle pourrait bien être l’unique prétendante. SOS FLOTTE FANTÔME. C’est à l’aune d’“un véritable tournant” dans la guerre en Ukraine que la coalition des volontaires se réunit cet après-midi en visio, avec notamment Emmanuel Macron. Ce “véritable tournant”, c’est, dans les mots du président, la décision américaine de sanctionner deux entreprises russes d’hydrocarbures. Selon un diplomate européen, les dirigeants discuteront de mesures plus fermes contre la flotte fantôme russe, dont certains vaisseaux seront maintenant sous sanctions américaines. A Bruxelles. Dans la colonne des moins bonnes nouvelles pour l’Ukraine, les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de l’UE n’ont pas réussi à s’accorder, hier, sur l’utilisation des avoirs russes gelés en un prêt destiné à soutenir l’Ukraine. La Belgique, où la majorité de ces avoirs sont détenus, craint de se retrouver seule en ligne de mire en cas de pépin. Ses partenaires n’ont pas su la rassurer. La discussion continue. Mes collègues bruxellois vous expliquent tout ici (gratuit, en anglais). Emmanuel Macron copréside avec Keir Starmer une réunion de la “coalition des volontaires”, à 16 heures. Monique Barbut tient une réunion de préparation de la COP30 avec des ONG. Annie Genevard s’entretient avec Jérôme Foucault, président de Pact’Alim. Laurent Panifous convie, à midi, les représentants des groupes parlementaires des groupes Droite Républicaine, Horizons, EPR, MoDem et Liot. Gérald Darmanin se rend à l’Ecole nationale de la magistrature à Bordeaux. Françoise Gatel participe à l’assemblée générale de l’Association des maires ruraux d’Ille-et-Vilaine. Stéphanie Rist se rend à l’Ehpad Les Marronniers, à Levallois-Perret. Mathieu Lefèvre est à Lille pour visiter et rencontrer les agents du service Vigicrues de la Direction régionale de l’environnement, de l’aménagement et du logement. Nicolas Forissier visite l’entreprise Barilla implantée à Montierchaume, dans l’Indre. Marina Ferrari reçoit Franck Présumey, délégué général de la Ligue de l’Enseignement. Eléonore Caroit s’entretient avec Diene Keita, directrice exécutive du Fonds des Nations unies pour la population. Gérard Larcher est en déplacement au Vatican. Assemblée nationale : à 10 heures, la commission du Développement durable et de l’Aménagement du territoire auditionne Monique Barbut, Catherine Chabaud et Mathieu Lefèvre, puis Philippe Tabarot à 14 heures. En séance publique, à 15 heures et 21h30, discussion du PLF 2026. Marine Le Pen se rend, à 12 heures, au Carrousel du Louvre pour le Salon du Patrimoine culturel. Marine Tondelier est à Coutances (Manche) pour la 3e édition des Universités des Ruralités Ecologistes. L’agence de notation Moody’s dévoile sa note sur la dette française. Samedi : Marina Ferrari inaugure la rue Pierre Carraz à Aix-les-Bains (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).Alice Rufo visite le mémorial du Débarquement et de la libération en Provence à Toulon. Marine Le Pen et Jordan Bardella se rendent à 11h30 à la foire de Poussay, dans les Vosges. Xavier Bertrand tient une réunion à Saint-Quentin (Aisne) pour célébrer les trois ans de son mouvement Nous France. Assemblée nationale : en séance publique, à 9 heures, 15 heures et 21h30, discussion du PLF 2026. Dimanche : Date limite de dépôt des candidatures des Ecologistes à leur scrutin interne de désignation de leur candidat à la potentielle primaire de la gauche en vue de la présidentielle. 7h15. France 2 : Luc Larriba, journaliste et auteur de Trafic d’œuvre d’art, une enquête au cœur de l’OCBC. 7h30. Public Sénat : Vincent Capo Canellas, sénateur centriste de la Seine-Saint-Denis. 7h40. TF1 : Pascal Demurger, directeur général de la MAIF et co-président du Mouvement Impact France … RTL : Franz-Olivier Giesbert, journaliste et auteur de Voyage dans la France d’avant … RMC : Yann Rivoallan, président de la Fédération française du prêt-à-porter féminin. 8h00. Public Sénat : Christian Saint-Etienne, économiste et auteur de Trump et nous : Comment sauver la France et l’Europe. 8h10. Europe 1/CNEWS : Philippe Tabarot, ministre des Transports … France 2 : Amélie de Montchalin, ministre des Comptes publics. 8h15. Radio Classique : Vincent Meylan, journaliste et historien spécialiste de la haute joaillerie … Sud Radio : Manuel Bompard, coordinateur de LFI. 8h20. France Inter : Katia Roux, chargée de plaidoyer à Amnesty France, Stéphanie Mistre, membre du collectif Algos Victima et Samuel Comblez, psychologue, directeur général adjoint de l’association e-Enfance … RFI : Fabcaro et Didier Conrad, auteurs du 41ème album d’Astérix, Astérix en Lusitanie. 8h30. Franceinfo : Philippe Juvin, rapporteur général DR du budget à l’Assemblée nationale … BFMTV/RMC : Peimane Galeh-Marzban, président du tribunal judiciaire de Paris. DANS NOS NEWSLETTERS PRO CE MATIN : PARIS INFLUENCE : Présent, mais pas trop : le gouvernement et ses conseillers à l’heure de jouer au budget … Philippe Juvin nous expose la méthode pour éviter d’envoyer le PLF en réanimation … Et si la France valorisait mieux ses aides européennes (et en décrochait plus) ? TECH MATIN : Après la répétition générale en commission, le budget 2026 débarque pour de bon … Bleu et S3NS, chevaux de Troie des Américains au Sommet de la souveraineté … Les députés Eric Bothorel et Philippe Latombe veulent (re)réssusciter le filtre anti-arnaque. ÉNERGIE & CLIMAT : Budget, les dossiers chauds arrivent dans l’hémicycle … Le post-Arenh n’a pas les faveurs des députés… et embête RTE … Eolien offshore, faut-il ouvrir la porte à la Chine ? DANS LE JORF. Laurent Panifous s’entoure, comme conseillers parlementaires, de Maroussia Kossonogow, Laetitia Chabert, Thomas Papa, Guillaume Jollet et Alice D’Eramo. Laurent Beteille est nommé directeur adjoint du cabinet d’Annie Genevard. Diarra Badiane (conseillère éducation, jeunesse) et Rachel Chane-See-Chu (conseillère équipement, transports, logement) joignent Naïma Moutchou. Jean-Philippe Rey reste dircab du ministère des Sports, conservé par Marine Ferrari, aux côtés de Guillaume Vaille (dircab adjoint), Pauline Malerbes (cheffe de cabinet), Thouraya Abdellatif conseillère jeunesse, vie associative et insertion professionnelle), Anaïs Walter (conseillère affaires juridiques, éthique intégrité), Matthieu Sigur (conseiller Parlement), Benjamin Maze (conseiller haute performance et vie fédérale), Adrien Déprez (conseiller éducation) et Adrien Rousseau (conseiller sport professionnel et Alpes 2030). MÉTÉO. Un week-end pluvieux en vue, avec des températures ne dépassant pas les 15°C. ANNIVERSAIRES : 24 octobre : Jean-Christophe Lagarde, ancien président de l’UDI … Laurent Duplomb, sénateur LR de la Haute-Loire … Florian Philippot, président des Patriotes … Jean-Pierre Bataille, député Liot du Nord. 25 octobre : Pap Ndiaye, ancien ministre … Sébastien Huyghe, député EPR du Nord … Nadège Lefebvre, présidente du conseil départemental de l’Oise … Alexandra Martin, députée DR des Alpes-Maritimes. 26 octobre : Valérie Simonet, présidente du conseil départemental de la Creuse … Rémy Heitz, procureur général près la Cour de Cassation. PLAYLIST. Golden, du film KPop Demon Hunters, si, retirés du monde, vous étiez passés à côté. Un grand merci à : Clea Caulcutt, Klara Durand, Giorgio Leali, notre éditeur Matthieu Verrier, Kenza Pacenza pour la veille et Dean Southwell pour la mise en ligne. **Un message d'Amazon : Dans le cadre de son engagement d'atteindre zéro émission nette de CO2 d'ici 2040, Amazon fait de la réduction de l'impact des emballages un pilier essentiel de sa stratégie. Notre priorité est d'éliminer les emballages inutiles grâce à notre programme 'Expédié sansemballage supplémentaire', qui privilégie l'expédition des articles dans leur emballage d'origine. En 2023, 12% de nos colis dans le monde ont voyagé ainsi, représentant plus d'un milliard de livraisons en Europe sur cinq ans. Aujourd'hui, plus de 50% des colis Amazon en Europe sont livrés sans boîte carton, utilisant à la place des sacs en papier et des enveloppes cartonnées plus légers et entièrement recyclables. Nos algorithmes de pointe déterminent la taille optimale des emballages nécessaires, permettant de maximiser l'espace dans nos véhicules de livraison et ainsi réduire le nombre de trajets nécessaires. Ces initiatives ont déjà permis d'économiser plus de 4 millions de tonnes de matériaux depuis 2015. En savoir plus.** ABONNEZ-VOUS aux newsletters de POLITICO (en anglais): Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | Berlin Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | POLITICO Pro newsletters
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Sarah Paillou
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Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
| 7,382,661
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/playbook-paris/place-au-palais-boxon/
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Time to reform the UN Security Council, argues Annalena Baerbock
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“Without the United Nations, no country in this world would be safer,” says the U.N. General Assembly president and former German foreign minister. Annalena Baerbock says reforming the United Nations Security Council is “long overdue” — but doesn’t expect a breakthrough during her one-year tenure as president of the U.N. General Assembly. “It won’t happen during my term,” Baerbock, the former German foreign minister, said on POLITICO’s Berlin Playbook Podcast. Progress, she said, must come “in small steps,” through “more transparency” and “requirements to explain vetoes.” On the 80th birthday of the U.N. Charter, the organization’s foundational treaty, Baerbock strongly defended the U.N.’s relevance despite growing struggles with multilateralism. “Without the United Nations, no country in this world would be safer,” she said. She stressed that the goal must be “to overcome blockades” and make the organization more efficient — such as by merging agencies, increasing local staffing and using AI. “There is such financial pressure on this organization that it’s become clear we must ask more urgently what the U.N.’s core areas really are,” Baerbock added. As for who will succeed Secretary-General António Guterres, Baerbock proposed that a woman lead the U.N. An organization committed to women’s and human rights “has not managed to have a woman at its helm in 80 years,” she noted, which is “no longer appropriate.” On the role of the U.S. in the organization, Baerbock said she still sees strong and important support for multilateralism despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s forceful America First agenda. It is crucial, she added, that major powers take responsibility and “do not call the Charter into question.” The U.N. remains “the place where controversies must be addressed” and “solutions developed.” The intervention comes after EU regulators fined the tech giant nearly €3 billion for abusing its dominant position. Memo by a top commander calls for more than doubling the size of the German military over the next decade. Austrian leaders say while they are leading the charge on Europe’s tough-on-migration turn, they believe they have a partner in the German chancellor. “We have discussed how we can implement European sanctions and American sanctions at the same time,” European Commission chief tells POLITICO.
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Gordon Repinski
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“Without the United Nations, no country in this world would be safer,” says the U.N. General Assembly president and former German foreign minister.
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[
"diplomacy",
"german politics"
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Politics
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[] |
2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
| 7,382,367
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https://www.politico.eu/article/un-security-council-annalena-baerbock-un-antonio-guterres/
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Kanzler-Ausrutscher in Brüssel
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KI generierte Text-to-Speech Präsentiert von YouTube Von HANS VON DER BURCHARD Mit PAULINE VON PEZOLD PRÄSENTIERT VON Schicken Sie uns Ihre Tipps hier, hier oder hier | X @GordonRepinski @vonderburchard @R_Buchsteiner | Das Playbook anhören oder online lesen Moin. Es ist Freitag, hier ist Ihr Berlin Playbook mit Hans von der Burchard. Kurz vor Mitternacht ist der EU-Gipfel gestern zu Ende gegangen – mit gemischtem Ergebnis: Beim Ukraine-Kredit gab es einen Rückschlag, gegenüber China eine subtile Drohung. Doch für Aufsehen sorgte ein erneuter Kanzler-Ausrutscher bei seiner Pressekonferenz in Brüssel. Dazu gleich mehr. Außerdem schalten wir in die USA: Zum 80. Geburtstag der UN-Charta hat Gordon Repinski einen Podcast-Spaziergang mit Annalena Baerbock durch New York geführt. Es ging um Reformen und die Zukunft der Institution, die zu ihrem Jubiläum politisch wie finanziell so angeschlagen wie noch nie ist. Weitere Top-Themen: Das Startdatum für den Nationalen Sicherheitsrat steht, die Haushaltsplanung für nächstes Jahr ebenfalls, und Sahra Wagenknecht hat in der Causa Neuauszählung mit Absagen zu kämpfen. **(Anzeige) Eine Nachricht von YouTube: Die Creator-Branche leistet einen wichtigen Beitrag zur deutschen Kreativwirtschaft. Was 2007 mit dem YouTube-Partnerprogramm begann, ist heute ein starker Wirtschaftsfaktor. Eine aktuelle Studie von YouTube und Oxford Economics zeigt: Das kreative Ökosystem von YouTube trug 2024 über 1 Milliarde Euro zum deutschen BIP bei. Mehr erfahren im vollständigen Bericht.** KATERFRÜHSTÜCK: Nach einem langen Gipfeltag wacht Friedrich Merz heute noch einmal in seinem Brüsseler Hotel auf. An der Videokonferenz der „Koalition der Willingen“ zur Ukraine muss er nicht teilnehmen, das macht Johann Wadephul. Zeit also, noch einmal in Ruhe durchzugehen, was da gestern schief gelaufen ist: Mit impulsiven Aussagen bei Pressekonferenzen hatte der Kanzler zuletzt ja einigen Ärger, Stichwort „Stadtbild“. Gestern gab es wieder so einen Moment: Diesmal auf den ersten Blick nicht ganz so politisch, sondern Brüssel-typisch zu einer eigentlich technischen Frage. Und dennoch sorgte es für Irritation in höchsten politischen und diplomatischen EU-Kreisen. Was für einen deutschen Bundeskanzler durchaus ungewöhnlich ist. Was war passiert? Mit geradezu überschwänglicher Freude hatte Merz nach Abschluss des Gipfels verkündet, dass sich alle EU-Chefs bei einer Abstimmung für die Unterzeichnung des Mercosur-Deals ausgesprochen hätten. Den Handelsdeal, auf den die deutsche Wirtschaft und der Kanzler so sehr hoffen. „Der Weg ist frei für Mercosur“, so der Kanzler. Das sorgte für Aufsehen: Dass Mercosur – was 25 Jahre lang verhandelt wurde und in Ländern wie Frankreich oder Polen hochumstritten ist – beim Gipfel zur Abstimmung gestanden hätte, war nicht bekannt gewesen. Doch auf Nachfrage legte Merz nach: „Alle“ hätten zugestimmt. „Es gibt aus den Mitgliedsstaaten jetzt keine Vorbehalte mehr. Das ist erledigt. Das ist durch.“ (Video hier). Das Problem: Der große Durchbruch, den der Kanzler da voreilig ankündigte, stimmt so gar nicht. Umgehend trudelten verwunderte Textnachrichten aus anderen EU-Delegationen ein. EU-Ratspräsident António Costa stellte klar: Er habe lediglich die EU-Chefs gebeten, mit ihren Botschaftern zu sprechen, um letzte Übersetzungsprobleme beim Abkommen zu lösen — als Vorbereitung für eine Abstimmung. „Aber das war es. Wir haben darüber nicht diskutiert. Wir haben keine Entscheidungen getroffen.“ Noch deutlicher war der Widerspruch aus Österreich: „Wenn abgestimmt wird bei der derzeitigen Lage, werde ich gar nicht anders können als mit Nein zu stimmen, weil ich an einen Parlamentsbeschluss gebunden bin“, erklärte Kanzler Christian Stocker. Auch Emmanuel Macron betonte, dass Frankreich seine Haltung zum Abkommen erst in einigen Wochen kommunizieren könne. Aber er deutete an – und das ist eine kleine Ehrenrettung für Merz – dass sich aus französischer Sicht bei Mercosur alles in die richtige Richtung bewege. Fairerweise muss man sagen: Es war ein langer Tag. Seit rund 8 Uhr hatte Merz mit EU-Chefs verhandelt, noch mit Wolodymyr Selenskyj über Hilfen gegen Putins Aggression gesprochen, die Pressekonferenz war erst um 23 Uhr. Und ultimativ dürfte der Kanzler recht behalten: Es sieht gut aus für eine Mercosur-Unterzeichnung (laut Merz am 19. Dezember). Geschickt war das Vorpreschen aber sicher nicht: Andere EU-Chefs wie Macron haben es nicht gern, wenn ein deutscher Kanzler ihre (angebliche) Entscheidung vorab kommuniziert. Schon gar nicht bei so einem hochsensiblen Thema. Am Ende blieb viel Verwunderung zurück: Vielleicht hatte Merz da auch einfach etwas völlig missverstanden? Lernen sollte er aus dem Vorfall allemal. KEIN DURCHBRUCH BEIM UKRAINE-KREDIT: Nach überraschend starken Bedenken durch den belgischen Premierminister Bart De Wever haben die EU-Chefs das Thema auf den nächsten Gipfel im Dezember verschoben. Die EU-Kommission soll bis dahin konkrete „Optionen“ zur Verwendung des russischen Staatsbankvermögens vorlegen. Ein Rückschlag: „Es gibt hier noch eine ganze Reihe von sehr ernsthaften Fragen zu prüfen“, räumte Merz ein und gelobte, mit der belgischen Regierung eng im Austausch zu bleiben, damit ein Deal bis Jahresende gelinge. Über den Streit um Putins Milliarden habe ich auch mit Rixa Fürsen im Update Podcast gesprochen. Deutschland prüft derweil zivile Hilfe: Selenskyj habe ihm „einen Vorschlag mitgegeben, wie er gerne die Energieinfrastruktur durch deutsche Technik über den Winter gesichert hätte“, so der Kanzler. „Das prüfen wir.“ Die US-Sanktionen setzen die EU unter Druck: Lange schaffte es Brüssel nicht, die EU von russischem Öl zu lösen – die US-Maßnahmen gegen Rosneft und Lukoil könnten dies nun deutlich beschleunigen. Im Fall des verstaatlichten Rosneft Deutschland sagte Merz, er „gehe davon aus, dass eine entsprechende Freistellung“ von den Sanktionen erfolge. Etwas Humor muss sein: Als Teil des eigenen, gestern angenommenen 19. Sanktionspakets hat die EU die Vermögen eines Moskauer Rektors eingefroren, dessen Universität ein Studium in Sanktionsumgehung anbietet. Der Rektor habe jetzt „die Möglichkeit, seine eigenen Erfahrungen mit den Studenten zu teilen“, scherzte ein EU-Beamter. AN CHINA GAB ES EINE DEUTLICHE BOTSCHAFT: Die Ausfuhrbeschränkungen für Seltene Erden und Mikrochips müssen zurückgenommen werden. Merz ging laut EU-Diplomaten auch auf die Flut kleiner Pakete aus China ein (Temu lässt grüßen!). Im Gipfel-Statement fordern die EU-Chefs die Kommission auf, gegen „unlautere Handelspraktiken […] alle wirtschaftlichen Instrumente der EU wirksam einzusetzen.“ Ja, das ist eine Drohung: Wenn Peking so weitermacht, könnte die Kommission Gegenmaßnahmen wie Zölle ergreifen. Jetzt richten sich die Blicke gespannt auf die China-Reise von Johann Wadephul am Montag und Dienstag: Macht Peking Zugeständnisse? Anzeige BAERBOCK MAHNT REFORMEN AN: Am 24. Oktober 1945 trat die UN-Charta in Kraft – 80 Jahre später feiert man heute in New York ein Jubiläum in sehr ungewissen Zeiten. Gordon hat sich dazu mit der neuen Präsidentin der UN-Generalversammlung verabredet. Beim Spaziergang mit Annalena Baerbock ging es über das UN-Gelände und durch die mächtigen Halle der Generalversammlung sowie die New Yorker Innenstadt. Baerbocks Botschaft: Reformen des UN-Sicherheitsrats seien „absolut überfällig“. Allerdings: Während ihrer einjährigen Amtszeit in New York „wird es nicht passieren“, sagt die Ex-Außenministerin im Playbook Podcast. Man müsse „in kleinen Schritten“ vorankommen, etwa durch mehr Transparenz und Erklärpflichten nach Vetos. Aber auch nicht zu langsam: „Die UN muss reformiert werden, sonst landet sie irgendwann in der Irrelevanz.“ Die Relevanz der Vereinten Nationen sei nicht zu unterschätzen: „Ohne die Vereinten Nationen würde kein Land auf dieser Welt sicherer sein“, so Baerbock. Wenn da nicht das Problem mit dem Geld wäre… „Es ist so ein finanzieller Druck auf dieser Organisation, dass vollkommen klar ist, man muss sich mehr fragen, was sind die Kernbereiche der Vereinten Nationen“, sagt Baerbock. Ziel müsse es sein, die Organisation effizienter zu machen – unter anderem durch das Zusammenlegen von Agenturen, mehr lokale Beschäftigung und den Einsatz von KI. Gerade erst hatte António Guterres eindringlich gewarnt, dass die Vereinten Nationen im Jahr 2026 bankrottgehen könnten. Mehrere große Mitgliedstaaten, darunter die USA, China und Russland, haben ihre Pflichtbeiträge nicht oder nur teilweise gezahlt, wodurch der UN über 1,5 Milliarden US-Dollar fehlen. Who runs the United Nations? Bislang boys… Deshalb fordert Baerbock eine Frau als Nachfolge von Generalsekretär António Guterres. Eine Organisation, die für Frauen- und Menschenrechte eintrete, habe es „in 80 Jahren noch nicht geschafft, eine Frau an ihrer Spitze zu haben“. Das sei „nicht mehr zeitgemäß“. Zur US-Rolle sagt Baerbock, sie sehe trotz Kritik am Multilateralismus weiterhin wichtige Unterstützung. Entscheidend sei, dass große Staaten Verantwortung übernähmen und „nicht die Charta in Frage stellen“. Das ganze Interview hören Sie hier. **(Anzeige) Shifting Power, Shaping Prosperity. Berlin Global Dialogue vereint heute führende Persönlichkeiten aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Politik an der ESMT Berlin. Wandel, Wirkung und Weltpolitik im Herzen der Hauptstadt. Seien Sie dabei - jetzt im Livestream!** STARTSCHUSS FÜR NATIONALEN SICHERHEITSRAT: Gute Nachrichten für Jacob Schrot – die Postenbesetzung seiner neuen Stabsstelle im Kanzleramt geht voran, jetzt gibt es auch ein Startdatum für den Nationalen Sicherheitsrat: Den 5. November. Für Anfang nächster Woche ist eine vorbereitende Sitzung auf Staatssekretärs-Ebene geplant. Der CDU-Vorstandsbeschluss von Montag verrät, dass sich die erste Sitzung schwerpunktmäßig mit hybriden Bedrohungen beschäftigt. Hierzu soll ein ressortübergreifender Aktionsplan beschlossen werden. ET VOILÁ: Die deutsche Haushaltsplanung für das Jahr 2026 steht – die EU-Kommission und die Eurogruppe kennt sie schon seit dem 15. Oktober, der Haushaltsausschuss im Bundestag hat sie heute erhalten. Jasper Bennink auch. Die wichtigsten Zahlen: Das BMF rechnet damit, dass die öffentlichen Ausgaben von Bund, Ländern und Kommunen um fast fünf Prozent höher liegen als die Einnahmen. Erst später „würden die Finanzierungsdefizite schrittweise aufgrund einer einsetzenden Beschränkung des Ausgabenwachstums bei gleichzeitiger wirtschaftlicher Erholung sinken.“ Die Staatsschuldenquote dürfte 2026 auf gut 69 Prozent steigen, bis 2028 könnten es bis zu 78,5 Prozent sein. Im Bericht listet das Finanzministerium auch auf, wann die geplanten Projekte implementiert werden sollen – alles nachzulesen hier. DREI ABSAGEN FÜR SAHRA WAGENKNECHT: Die BSW-Chefin hofft weiter auf eine Neuauszählung der Bundestagswahl, bei der ihrer Partei nur rund 9.500 Stimmen zum Einzug fehlten. Der Wahlprüfungsausschuss prüft das Ergebnis und einen Wahleinspruch des BSW. Wagenknecht wollte mit dem Ausschusschef Macit Karaahmetoğlu darüber bei einem persönlichen Gespräch reden. Doch der SPD-Politiker sagte ab, wie unser Welt-Kollege Kevin Culina erfuhr – gleich dreimal: Im Mai, im Juli und im Oktober. Aber: Man prüfe den BSW-Einspruch „priorisiert“, schreibt Karaahmetoğlu . Konsequenzen, bitte: Wagenknecht wirft Karaahmetoğlu Zeitspiel vor: „Wenn der Vorsitzende mit seinen Aufgaben überfordert ist, sollte er sein Amt an einen geeigneteren Abgeordneten übergeben.“ AFD </3 REMIGRATION? Das Bundesverwaltungsgericht stuft das Remigrationskonzept von Martin Sellner als verfassungswidrig ein, wie die nun veröffentlichten schriftlichen Urteilsgründe zur Aufhebung des Compact-Verbots zeigen. Maximilian Krah drängt seine Partei zu einer Abgrenzung: „Die AfD ist durch das Urteil zur Klarheit verdammt. Wer den Begriff Remigration verwendet, muss klarmachen, dass Staatsbürger nicht gemeint sind“, sagt Krah unserem Welt-Kollegen Frederik Schindler. Widerspruch aus dem Höcke-Lager: „Krah sollte davon absehen, seine offenbar persönliche Abneigung gegenüber Martin Sellner zum Gegenstand einer Partei-Policy zu machen“, sagt Torben Braga. RUSSISCHE WOCHE IM KONGRESS: Senatoren beider Parteien wollen die neuen Sanktionen der US-Regierung gegen Russland mit ihrem eigenen Paket flankieren. Die treibenden Kräfte beider Parteien fordern den Senat auf, die Vorlage endlich zur Abstimmung zu bringen. Einmalige Gelegenheit: „Wir können ein Sanktionsregime schaffen, das rechtlich unanfechtbar ist“, so Senator Lindsey Graham, einer der Urheber des Gesetzentwurfs. Der Entwurf sieht hohe Zölle auf Staaten vor, die russische Energie importieren, sowie Sekundärsanktionen gegen Firmen, die Moskaus Energieproduktion unterstützen. Das letzte Wort scheint aber weiter das Weiße Haus zu haben. Mehrheitsführer John Thune sprach von enger Abstimmung mit der Regierung. READY FOR TAKE-OFF: Heute Abend um 23 Uhr wird Donald Trump seine mehrtägige Reise nach Asien antreten, die am Donnerstag in einem Treffen mit Xi Jinping – dem ersten seit 2019 – gipfeln soll. Es wird wohl eine seiner heikelsten Missionen. Alle zur Asienreise des US-Präsidenten und das mögliche Gipfeltreffen mit Xi lesen Sie heute Morgen in unserem US-Newsletter DC Decoded. MANGELERSCHEINUNG: Der Halbleiter-Krisencall zwischen Wirtschaftsministerium und Industrie ließ einige Teilnehmer ratlos zurück. Zwar wurden drei Maßnahmen benannt, doch die Lage könnte sich noch verschärfen. Welchen Branchen bald schon Produktionsstopps drohen könnten – und welche Industrien sich vergleichsweise sicher wähnen – lesen Sie im Pro Industrie und Handel. Hier können Sie sich testweise kostenlos anmelden. ABSCHIED VOM SZ DOSSIER: Ab dem 1. Januar wird Florian Eder neuer Chefredakteur der NZZ Deutschland. Er folgt somit auf Marc Felix Serrao, der zum Global Reporters Network von Axel Springer wechselt. Das bisher von Eder geleitete SZ Dossier wird von Matthias Punz übernommen und Teil des Digital-Abos SZ Pro werden. NOT SPOTTED: Auf X teilte Markus Söder gestern ein Foto zum „Auftakt der Jahreskonferenz der Regierungschefinnen und Regierungschefs in Mainz“, wie er dazu schrieb – nur erstere sucht man auf dem Foto vergeblich. „Haben die Regierungschefinnen das Foto gemacht?“, lautete nur eins der vielen spöttischen Kommentare. Grund dafür war, dass Anke Rehlinger und Manuela Schwesig aus privaten Gründen nicht dabei sein konnten. 4 Uhr – Säbelrasseln in der Karibik: US-Überschall-Bomber nähern sich erneut der Küste Venezuelas. Flugdaten zufolge starten mehrere Bomber des Typs B-1 von einer Air Force Base in Texas. Ein US-Beamter bestätigt, dass es sich um einen Trainingsflug handelt. — Die Regierungspressekonferenz findet um 11:30 Uhr statt. — Revolutionäre Kräfte treffen sich heute in der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Das Hausmagazin „Die Politische Meinung“ organisiert mit der Digitalinitiative „Merzrevolution“ einen Strategiedialog, die Keynote spricht CDU-Generalsekretär Carsten Linnemann. Die Merzrevolution gilt mit über 100.000 Followern auf Instagram mittlerweile als echter Machtfaktor in der Partei. — Viel unterwegs: Erst tauscht sich Alois Rainer um 9:30 Uhr mit dem Präsidium und Vertretern der ostdeutschen Landesbauernverbände im Rahmen ihrer Klausur aus, dann hält er um 11 Uhr bei der Jahrestagung des Milchindustrie-Verbands einen Vortrag. Um 14:30 Uhr besucht er in Leitzkau die Modellregion für Biosphärenreservate Elbaue, bevor er den Tag mit einer Keynote bei den TASPO Awards abschließt. — Bundeslagebilder: Um 10 Uhr stellt Alexander Dobrindt in Wiesbaden gemeinsam mit dem BKA-Chef Holger Münch und Henrik Streeck die Lagebilder Organisierte Kriminalität und Rauschgiftkriminalität vor. — Bayern-Tour: Um 10 Uhr nimmt Dorothee Bär an der Mitgliederversammlung des Bayerischen Handwerkstags in Bamberg teil. Um 13 Uhr besucht sie in Hirschaid das TUMO-Zentrum. Samstag: — An der Elfenbeinküste wird ein neues Parlament gewählt. Sonntag: — Deutscher Umweltpreis: Um 11 Uhr spricht Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Chemnitz bei der Preisverleihung. — Am Treffen der Justizminister von Deutschland, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Österreich und der Schweiz in Vaduz nimmt Stefanie Hubig teil. — In Argentinien finden Parlamentswahlen statt. EIN WOCHENENDE ZUM VERGESSEN: Heute wird es bei Temperaturen bis zu 11 °C und Regen äußerst ungemütlich. Morgen wird es etwas besser und am Sonntag könnte sich sogar vereinzelt die Sonne zeigen. GRUß AUS DER KÜCHE: — Mitarbeiterrestaurant JKH: Petersilienkartoffeln mit Kräuterquark, Leinöl und buntem Salat oder Ofen-Seelachsfilet mit leichter Kräuter-Mayonnaise, Möhren-Rohkostsalat und Kartoffel-Wedges — Lampenladen PLH: Hirtentasche gefüllt mit Fetakäse und Spinat, dazu Risotto und Frühlingslauch oder Fischroulade gefüllt mit Gemüsestroh an Weißweinsoße, dazu Spinat und Risoleé-Kartoffeln — Die Kantine RTG hat heute geschlossen. GEBURTSTAGE: Felix Banaszak, Grünen-Parteichef (36), Wiebke Knell, Mitglied im FDP-Bundesvorstand (44), Katrin Eder, Umweltministerin in Rheinland-Pfalz (49) Samstag: Ulrich Siegmund, AfD-Spitzenkandidat in Sachsen-Anhalt (35), Sonja Eichwede, SPD-Fraktionsvize (38), Helge Limburg, Grünen-MdB (43), Carsten Träger, Umweltstaatssekretär (52) Sonntag: Sven Heinemann, Landesgeschäftsführer der Berliner SPD (47), Daniel Stich, Innenstaatssekretär in Rheinland-Pfalz (49), Steffen Meyer, Finanzstaatssekretär (57) Regierungsviertel: Jasper Bennink, Rasmus Buchsteiner, Carlotta Diederich, Rixa Fürsen, Jürgen Klöckner, Franziska Nocke, Pauline von Pezold und Gordon Repinski Internationales Team: James Angelos, Chris Lunday und Nette Nöstlinger Industrie und Handel: Laura Hülsemann, Thorsten Mumme, Romanus Otte, Frida Preuß und Tom Schmidtgen Energie und Klima: Josh Groeneveld, Frederike Holewik, Joana Lehner und Johanna Sahlberg. Brussels Decoded: Oliver Noyan und Anouk Schlung DC Decoded: Julius Brinkmann, Maximilian Lembke, Franziska Nocke und Oliver Noyan Produktion: Dean Southwell Das war die 411. Ausgabe des Berlin Playbook! Schicken Sie uns Feedback hier. Wenn Sie es noch nicht abonniert haben, können Sie das hier kostenlos tun. Ich wünsche Ihnen ein aufregendes Wochenende! Herzlichst Ihr Hans von der Burchard **(Anzeige) Eine Nachricht von YouTube: Der Erfolg von Creator*innen auf YouTube ist auch ein Erfolg für die deutsche Wirtschaft. Wenn Kreative Einnahmen erzielen, sorgen sie nicht nur für ihren eigenen Lebensunterhalt, sondern stärken auch die Wirtschaft, indem sie Teams einstellen und in weitere Projekte investieren. Dieser positive Beitrag zur Kreativwirtschaft ist ein Kern des YouTube-Modells. Wie eine aktuelle Studie von YouTube und Oxford Economics zeigt, trug das kreative Ökosystem von YouTube 2024 über 1 Milliarde Euro zum deutschen BIP bei. Dieser Erfolg basiert auf einem wirkungsvollen Prinzip: YouTube ist nur erfolgreich, wenn seine Partner erfolgreich sind. Hier klicken, um mehr über den Beitrag von YouTube zu erfahren.** ABONNIEREN Sie die Newsletter von POLITICO: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | POLITICO Pro
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Hans von der Burchard
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Uncategorized
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T08:37:04Z
| 7,385,742
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/berlin-playbook/kanzler-ausrutscher-in-brussel/
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How about them assets — making Russia pay for Ukraine
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AI generated Text-to-speech From Brussels and around the Continent — the top European politics podcast. By SARAH WHEATON, DIONISIOS STURIS, ANNE MCELVOY and ABIGAIL FRIZON Send ideas here | Tweet @swheaton | View in your browser The EU wants to lend €140 billion in cash from frozen Russian funds to Ukraine; Belgium is afraid it will be the one on the hook for paying it back. That’s just one of the tough topics EU leaders discussed as they gathered in Brussels at a meeting devoted to fighting the external threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin — and the internal threat from the far right. POLITICO’s Gregorio Sorgi breaks down why lending Russian frozen assets is so tricky, while host Sarah Wheaton catches up with colleagues Zia Weise, Gabriel Gavin, Nick Vinocur and Tim Ross on the ground at the European Council summit to get a handle on how debates over climate, sanctions and deregulation played out. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Sarah Wheaton
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Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
| 7,386,558
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/eu-confidential/how-about-them-assets-making-russia-pay-for-ukraine/
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What Liz Truss wants Britain to learn from Trump
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POLITICO’s weekly political series lifts the curtain on how Westminster really works, offering in-depth insight into the political issues which typically only get broad-brush treatment in the wider media. By ANNE MCELVOY Liz Truss is never far from the shores of the United States, hobnobbing with the folk seeking to “Make America Great Again.” What does she think Britain can learn from the second Trump era? Anne McElvoy travels to Washington to talk to the former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who’s on a self-proclaimed “mission” to remake the U.K. in the image of MAGA-land. It’s exactly three years since she left Downing Street after just 49 days in office following a mini-budget that sent the markets into freefall — and has haunted her party ever since. In a wide-ranging interview, Truss tells Anne that the Green Party might end up being the official opposition party after the next general election and argues that voters are sick of “technocratic managerial crap” in politics. She insists that she will foreseeably not be joining Reform UK, despite criticizing her own party’s record in office. Truss also pours scorn on both Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of her old party and the Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whom she blames for an impending economic crisis. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Anne McElvoy
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[] |
Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-24T05:00:00Z
| 7,381,962
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/westminster-insider/what-liz-truss-wants-britain-to-learn-from-trump/
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Ein Spaziergang mit Annalena Baerbock durch New York
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Listen on Zu diesem 80. Jahrestag der Gründung der Vereinten Nationen hört ihr einen Spaziergang durch die UN und durch das politische Leben von Annalena Baerbock.In ihrer neuen Rolle als Präsidentin der UN-Generalversammlung spricht die frühere grüne Außenministerin über Macht, Reformen und die Frage, warum die Weltorganisation gerade jetzt gebraucht wird. Baerbock erzählt, wie sie in New York direkt in die High-Level-Week geworfen wurde, was sie an Boutros Boutros-Ghali erinnert und warum sie Diplomatie als tägliche Arbeit gegen die Hölle versteht.Im Gespräch mit Gordon Repinski geht es um Kriege, Krisen und Kommunikation: Baerbock erklärt, warum Social Media für sie politische Aufklärung ist, wie sie mit Shitstorms umgeht und weshalb High Heels zur feministischen Außenpolitik passen können.Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis:Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski:Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
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Gordon Repinski
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[
"der podcast",
"diplomacy",
"negotiations",
"playbook",
"politics"
] |
Playbook
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[
"Germany",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T04:44:41Z
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2025-10-24T04:44:41Z
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2025-10-24T04:44:44Z
| 7,384,437
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https://www.politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/ein-spaziergang-mit-annalena-baerbock-durch-new-york/
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Budget : les députés cherchent des recettes auprès des Gafam
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Proposée par les macronistes, la hausse de la taxe sur les services numériques a obtenu un large soutien en commission des Finances. La mesure pourrait bien faire son chemin dans l’hémicycle, où l’examen du budget 2026 commence ce vendredi. Synthèse vocale générée par l'IA PARIS — Les plateformes en ligne pourraient bien faire face à un petit séisme. Lors de l’examen du budget 2026 en commission des Finances mercredi, les députés ont adopté un amendement de Jean-René Cazeneuve (EPR) qui augmente le taux de la taxe sur les services numériques (dite “taxe Gafam”) de 3% à 15% et relève son seuil à 2 milliards d’euros de chiffre d’affaires monde (contre 750 millions actuellement). Premiers visés par cette évolution : les géants de la tech Google, Amazon, Meta ou Microsoft. “Les Etats-Unis nous taxent nos produits sous prétexte qu’ils sont très déficitaires. Mais ils ont oublié de dire que, sur les services, ils sont très excédentaires vis-à-vis de nous. J’assume complètement cet amendement”, souligne Jean-René Cazeneuve, contacté par POLITICO. “C’est une manière de leur envoyer un message car je crois au rapport de force”, reconnaît celui qui a été directeur général d’Apple France. L’élu du Gers pointe notamment l’impact des droits de douane américains sur les vignerons de son terroir. “On a subi de plein fouet ces changements économiques”, témoigne Cazeneuve, qui a commencé à travailler sur cet amendement lors de l’accord passé cet été entre le président Trump et la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen. Si la partie recettes du PLF 2026 n’a finalement pas été adoptée en commission des Finances, les débats ont mis au jour une alliance transpartisane inattendue (de La France insoumise à la Droite républicaine), qui pourrait bien se confirmer en séance. L’amendement a d’ailleurs été redéposé par le groupe EPR en vue des débats dans l’hémicycle. “Nous voulons défendre en priorité la compétitivité de nos entreprises et nos entrepreneurs”, justifie un élu du bloc central auprès de POLITICO, précisant qu’EPR se lance dans cette bataille “pour défendre le pouvoir d’achat des Français”. “Je pense qu’on doit être dans une stratégie de réciprocité pour être dans les mêmes taxations qui nous sont imposées. Pas plus, pour ne pas être dans le protectionnisme ; pas moins, pour ne pas se faire marcher dessus”, a plaidé Denis Masséglia (EPR). Cette mesure suscite toutefois des inquiétudes, notamment parmi les acteurs de la tech qui craignent des représailles de l’administration Trump. “C’est une attaque directe contre les entreprises américaines. Donc c’est certain que, de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique, il y aura des mesures de rétorsion sur d’autres secteurs français, ce que les députés n’anticipent pas forcément”, pointe le représentant d’une plateforme. Outre-Atlantique, les réactions n’ont d’ailleurs pas tardé à venir. “J’exhorte la France à coopérer avec les Etats-Unis sur leurs sujets de préoccupations, plutôt que d’augmenter des taxes discriminatoires”, a réagi le soir même Jason Smith, élu républicain à la Chambre des représentants, qui n’exclut pas que les Etats-Unis engagent “des mesures de rétorsion agressives”. Les Big Tech ne seraient d’ailleurs pas les seules frappées par cette taxe à 15%. Car l’écriture de l’amendement ne permet pas forcément, à ce jour, d’épargner les champions français du secteur d’une telle hausse, selon le cabinet Samman. “Des entreprises comme Mistral AI, par exemple, le jour où elles atteindront les 2 milliards de CA au niveau mondial, partiront. On peut oublier la souveraineté numérique”, prévient Thaima Samman. “Il faudrait au moins pousser le seuil à 3 milliards pour vraiment épargner les entreprises françaises et européennes”, précise sa collaboratrice Sabina Lindstedt. “On a monté le seuil justement pour ne pas impacter les quelques grosses entreprises françaises”, assure, quant à lui, Jean-René Cazeneuve. Le chemin s’annonce encore sinueux pour cette mesure qui, même si elle passe le cap de l’Assemblée, devra encore convaincre le Sénat. “Tout va dépendre de la façon dont le secteur français va se mobiliser et rappeler que la France ne peut pas empêcher des entreprises de se développer et de faire du profit”, analyse Thaima Samman. Du côté de la droite sénatoriale, aucune position n’est encore prise à ce stade. “On attend de voir ce qui sera adopté à l’Assemblée nationale”, indique-t-on dans l’entourage du président du groupe LR, Mathieu Darnaud. “Je suis un homme de compromis. Donc évidemment que s’il y a une contre-proposition du Sénat ou du gouvernement, on l’étudiera”, assure Jean-René Cazeneuve. Une troisième voie — poussée par le gouvernement, ou non — pourrait ainsi se profiler en commission mixte paritaire, afin d’éviter des représailles américaines. Les entreprises de la tech l’ont bien compris. Certaines ont déjà prévu de faire remonter leurs inquiétudes au ministre de l’Economie, Roland Lescure. “Le risque, c’est que le gouvernement n’ait aucun poids sur les députés à l’heure actuelle”, tempère, auprès de POLITICO, le représentant de l’une d’entre elles. Reste que le Conseil constitutionnel pourra toujours censurer le dispositif après son éventuelle adoption. Le relèvement du seuil à 2 milliards, qui vise très franchement les entreprises américaines, pourrait constituer à ses yeux une discrimination patente. Dirigeants d’entreprise ou d’administration, élus, lobbyistes… Découvrez notre classement des personnalités les plus influentes du secteur. Après le décès en direct du streameur sur la plateforme Kick, la famille des influenceurs se fait discrète, alors qu’une nouvelle vague de régulation se prépare. Alors que la pétition prend le chemin d’un nouveau record, le média Bon pote et d’autres influenceurs ont tout fait pour affoler le compteur des signatures. Dans un entretien accordé à POLITICO, la directrice générale de la DGCCRF, Sarah Lacoche, revient sur la procédure lancée contre l’enseigne asiatique en 2023, et les pistes envisagées pour améliorer les contrôles en ligne.
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Klara Durand
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Proposée par les macronistes, la hausse de la taxe sur les services numériques a obtenu un large soutien en commission des Finances. La mesure pourrait bien faire son chemin dans l’hémicycle, où l’examen du budget 2026 commence ce vendredi.
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[
"actualité",
"budget",
"paris influence"
] |
Tech France
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[
"France"
] |
2025-10-24T04:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T04:00:00Z
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2025-10-27T03:54:16Z
| 7,383,162
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https://www.politico.eu/article/budget-les-deputes-cherchent-des-recettes-aupres-des-gafam/
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Moody’s says it will be ‘very challenging’ for France to rein in budget ahead of key verdict
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Uncertainty looms over France’s ability to cut its debt, ratings agency’s chief credit officer tells POLITICO. AI generated Text-to-speech PARIS ― Political instability is likely to hurt French efforts to get the country’s public finances in order, a top executive at Moody's said ahead of a hotly anticipated credit rating decision on Friday. “We do believe that fiscal consolidation is a goal, but we anticipate that meeting that goal is going to be very challenging,” Moody’s Chief Credit Officer Atsi Sheth told POLITICO in an interview in Paris. “The last couple of months have just been evidence of that challenge.” Moody’s is the last of the three big agencies that still considers France a AA-rated credit, following downgrades to the single-A category from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch in recent weeks. Sheth acknowledged Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s public commitment to narrowing a budget deficit that is set to hit 5.4 percent of gross domestic product this year, but said the “process is fraught with challenges, challenges that are rising given the political environment.” France has been in the throes of heightened political instability for the last two years, cycling through no fewer than five prime ministers. Lecornu’s predecessor, François Bayrou, was toppled in September over his plans to squeeze the 2026 budget by €43.8 billion, and Lecornu himself was forced to resign earlier this month just 14 hours after naming his government. President Emmanuel Macron reappointed him to the job days later. Lecornu has put forward a budget for next year that includes €30 billion worth of savings and could narrow the deficit to 4.7 percent of GDP. But getting it approved will be a fraught process. To help ensure the survival of his minority government, the 39-year-old has promised not to use a constitutional backdoor that would have allowed him to bypass a vote in parliament to pass the budget. That leaves his draft vulnerable to dilution during the parliamentary process. Sheth said that Lecornu’s pledge to let the parliamentary debate happen is the type of move that is taken into account when deciding a credit rating. But she stressed that the most important thing was for France to signal it’s serious about cutting runaway public spending. More than anything, that means reining in the cost of France’s generous pension system, by measures such as the unpopular 2023 law that raised the retirement age for most workers to 64. Lecornu has pledged to pause that measure, a concession to the left to ensure his government’s survival. The freeze will cost state finances €400 million in 2026 and €1.8 billion in 2027, which will have to be found elsewhere, Lecornu said. When Moody's downgraded France last year, it said that backtracking on that reform could negatively impact France's credit. “The suspension does mean that the fiscal risk that would have been addressed by it remains,” Sheth said. Moody’s downgraded France to Aa3 from Aa2 in December, citing the political uncertainty but left its outlook stable. Another downgrade would see France drop out of the prestigious group of countries rated double-A, such as the United Kingdom. As such, a downgrade could see French bonds vanish from the portfolios of investors who are limited to holding assets with a minimum of one AA-rating. The risk of a downgrade is, however, somewhat mitigated by the fact that Moody’s latest judgment on the credit outlook was “stable” rather than “negative.” “It is really up to us — the government and parliament— to convince observers, rating agencies and financial markets,” Finance Minister Roland Lescure said last week after S&P downgrade. Moody’s decision not to lower France’s credit rating will be a relief for the government after downgrades by S&P and Fitch in recent weeks. The French president’s domestic woes have dimmed his ambitions and weakened his influence within the European Union. PM Sébastien Lecornu was expected to survive after committing to suspend an unpopular law that raised the age of retirement. The French president makes a desperate bid to save his fragile latest government.
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Giorgio Leali
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Uncertainty looms over France’s ability to cut its debt, ratings agency’s chief credit officer tells POLITICO.
|
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Financial Services
|
[
"France"
] |
2025-10-24T02:21:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:21:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:22:13Z
| 7,367,094
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/moodys-credit-rating-france-budget-debt/
|
Build more, say Dutch politicians ahead of another election. But where?
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Like in many European countries, the Netherlands faces a severe housing crisis — making where and how to build a major campaign issue. AI generated Text-to-speech VELDHOVEN, Netherlands — Dutch politicians are in a bidding war to convince voters ahead of a general election that they can solve a national shortage of 400,000 homes. Most of them focus on one thing: build more. While Dutch political parties agree on the need for more housing, there's disagreement on how to do it. The polling leader, far-right anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders, wants to raze the national public media campus and redevelop it into a residential neighborhood. GreenLeft-Labor wants to turn two airports into housing. And, in a country where more than a quarter of the land is below sea level, the progressive D66 party even wants to reclaim more land near Almere, a new town built in the 1970s. For Caroline van Brakel, a Christian Democrat in the town of Veldhoven where the housing crunch is especially acute, there’s no need to close airports or create new islands to solve the Netherlands’ space issue. “We’re building 400 new houses per year, while it used to be below 200,” Van Brakel told POLITICO this month while standing on a building site opposite the headquarters of ASML, Europe’s most-valuable tech company and the world-leading maker of chip manufacturing machines. More housing can fit inside towns and cities, she thinks. Van Brakel is the housing councilor for Veldhoven, a town separated from Eindhoven by only a highway — and has an ambitious plan to transform their four joined villages into a proper city. A lot will need to squeeze in between the empty building site and the gleaming white towers of ASML. “The river is coming back in a green belt, there will be a rapid transit line to Eindhoven and 2,800 housing units,” she said. Veldhoven lies in one of the country’s fastest-growing corners. With ASML as the main driver, Eindhoven’s “Brainport” region also includes other high-tech players, an automotive campus and one of the Netherlands’ three technical universities. Almost every region of the Netherlands faces a severe housing crisis. Farmers across the kingdom — the second-largest agricultural exporter globally — might need to be bought out because there is too much nitrogen in the air. Nitrogen pollution from animal farming is another issue that where consecutive governments have failed to make the necessary changes. The electricity network is congested, the armed forces need more space and distribution centers have “boxed up” the flat landscape for years. The Netherlands is already the most densely populated country in Europe (besides tiny states like Malta). Its population of 18 million is forecast to reach 19 million by 2037. And across Europe, twin crises of housing availability and affordability make up significant pressure points on politicians, both at national and EU levels. Property prices in the Netherlands have almost quadrupled over the last 30 years, while wages have only doubled. In recent research by pollster Gallup, satisfaction with the availability of affordable housing plummeted from 65 percent to 29 percent between 2017 and now. Of people aged 15 to 29, only 14 percent were satisfied. Home-hunters making just above minimum wage can no longer afford buy their own four walls — but also earn too much to qualify for social housing, which long made up the lion’s share of all dwellings in the country. Reflecting a Europe-wide trend, the share of one-person households is rising. More seniors are being pushed to stay at home for as long as possible due to the cost of residential care, keeping high-quality houses occupied for longer. Finally, lax rules that allow investors to speculate on real estate add to the problem. Because the issues are so tangled up, easy solutions won’t cut it. However, “No single party is genuinely considered as owning the issue” of housing, said Asher van der Schelde, senior researcher at polling company Ipsos I&O. That’s not for lack of trying. “They all make roughly the same point, namely: We need to build many more homes,” he said. Wilders’ one-man Freedom Party is expected to top next week’s polls. The Christian Democrats (CDA), GreenLeft-Labor and liberals of D66 are all vying for second place. After Wilders blew up the last government, however, all the mainstream parties vowed to steer clear of him — complicating the task of forming a new government. For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls. One of the buyers of an apartment opposite ASML, a 24-year-old project manager at the company called Bart, said he preferred a two-year wait for a new apartment over buying an overpriced house in need of renovation. “Rents are very high here, and existing housing seems totally full. But most people need to find something right now, so they cannot wait for new projects,” said Bart, who declined to give his last name. Veldhoven lacks a train station, meaning there’s lots of traffic around ASML amid an unusually car-friendly townscape. Van Brakel explained the municipality will receive funding from The Hague for its express bus connection to Eindhoven. But to make that line feasible, the narrow band between ASML and the old town square of Veldhoven, small- and medium-sized enterprises will need to make way for a whole new neighborhood. This reflects the long-standing Dutch tradition of “inbreiden,” or “in-panding” (as opposed to expanding) within town limits instead of pushing into precious green areas. “The countryside mosaic needs to be protected,” Van Brakel added. “A few big cities — but otherwise, smaller towns and green between the villages.” Veldhoven’s new apartment buildings have a long process behind them, with construction only starting now — seven years after the first permit requests. Including this October’s, three national elections have taken place in that period. The housing shortage has only increased since, with prices rising at record speed in 2021. “Politics can barely keep up with technology and the economy these days,” said Leiden University philosophy lecturer Bart Zantvoort. If elections keep occurring every two years, there is less time to change policy — and less incentive for politicians to sketch long-term horizons. “Citizens are often unwilling to accept the slowness inherent in democratic politics, creating more dissatisfaction,” he said, acknowledging that this might explain why most of Wilders’ voters continue to support him even after he blew up the coalition government last summer. Other parties don’t seem to have a clear counternarrative, instead adopting Wilders-style tactics like scrapping airports or farmland in favor of housing. “All pigs in this country have a roof above their head — but a student or first-time buyer cannot even find an affordable broom cupboard,” D66 leader Rob Jetten said in a recent debate. “Nowadays, it becomes almost impossible to construct a political movement based on broad consensus,” said Zantvoort. He linked the testy political climate to increasing social polarization that is undermining the give-and-take that once characterized consensus politics in the Netherlands — and in pluralist parliamentary democracies across Europe. Back in Veldhoven, Bart says he bought his future apartment under an arrangement called duokoop, which involves also paying a small monthly rent for the land the building stands on. “That scares away the speculative investors,” he explained, adding that it also means the units are not all gone in a few days’ time. Hanne Cokelaere, Pieter Haeck and Eva Hartog contributed to this report. Rare earths and magnets are on the agenda. Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. A senior EU official explained that Brussels had wanted to give the rector “the opportunity to share his own experience with students.” China and the EU will “intensify contacts at all levels,” says trade chief Maroš Šefčovič.
|
Koen Verhelst
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Like in many European countries, the Netherlands faces a severe housing crisis — making where and how to build a major campaign issue.
|
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Technology
|
[
"The Netherlands"
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2025-10-24T02:19:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:19:00Z
|
2025-10-24T14:46:13Z
| 7,363,146
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/build-more-say-dutch-politicians-ahead-of-election-but-where-housing-crisis/
|
Trump does what Brussels couldn’t: Kill Russian oil in Europe
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New U.S. sanctions will be “catastrophic” for Lukoil’s operations across the continent, warns former company executive. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — Donald Trump’s surprise move to sanction Russia’s largest oil companies won’t paralyze Vladimir Putin’s war machine — but it will help the EU kick Russian oil out of the bloc for good. On Wednesday, Trump announced “tremendous” new sanctions targeting Russia’s Lukoil and its state-owned Rosneft, marking the first U.S. sanctions on Moscow since he took office. The details of the new measures are still being worked out. But in theory, they threaten to force the two firms to sell their assets and end their remaining oil pipeline supplies to Europe. “This is a significant step,” said Kimberly Donovan, a sanctions expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, “and it is going to force … European countries and companies that have been continuing to import energy to reconsider those transactions” by Nov. 21, when the sanctions kick in. The announcement comes a month after Trump lambasted Europe for “inexcusably” continuing to buy energy from Russia, which in total provides a quarter of income for the Kremlin’s war chest. At the time, he also issued an ultimatum to Europe, writing: “I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA.” Now, he’s followed through. For Moscow, the new sanctions will mean immediate pain, but are unlikely to curtail its war effort in Ukraine. Rosneft and Lukoil account for around two-thirds of the 4.4 million barrels of crude Russia exports each day, according to David Fyfe, chief economist at the Argus media consultancy. The sanctions threaten to take out “half” of those supplies, he said, given the measures prevent the two firms from selling their cargoes in dollars, the currency used almost exclusively for trading crude internationally. For Lukoil in particular, the sanctions “will hurt significantly,” said one former executive at the company, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive matters. The firm will likely have to sell its stakes in overseas projects from Egypt to Iraq, the person said, hitting up to 20 percent of its revenue. But the majority of Chinese and Indian buyers, Russia’s two largest oil trading partners, are likely to continue importing from Moscow, said Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analysis at the Kpler commodities firm, given its cheaper prices and limited alternatives in the case of China. After an initial period of hiatus, “most buyers would go back into buying,” he said, once they have found workarounds including purchasing cargoes via companies that obscure their Russian ownership. “This will complicate exports and trade,” said Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister-turned-Putin critic. But “these companies ... already have alternative work schemes in place, so there will be damage but it’ll be limited.” On Thursday, Putin himself admitted the new sanctions were “serious,” while blasting the move as an “unfriendly act that does nothing to strengthen Russian-American relations.” But one place where the measures are likelier to have a clear effect is Europe. Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, the EU has strained to end its reliance on Russia for energy. Brussels has slapped an embargo on Russian crude, fuel and coal entering the bloc by sea; and has whittled down the Kremlin’s share in the EU’s gas market from 45 to 13 percent. (It is now finalizing a bill that would bring that down to zero.) Rosneft, which once owned refineries and controlled oil flows to Germany, has been largely dispossessed in Europe after Berlin took control of its local subsidiary in late 2022. “We assume that the measures taken by the United States … are not intended to target Rosneft’s subsidiaries in Germany, which are held in trust by the German states,” said a spokesperson for the German economy ministry. On Thursday, the EU also tightened its sanctions against the Kremlin-controlled company. But it’s a different story with Lukoil. Russia’s largest private oil firm runs hundreds of gas stations across the EU, including around 200 in Belgium; operates giant refineries in Romania and Bulgaria; and retains a 45 percent share of a fuel processing plant in the Netherlands. It also supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia, which still rely on Moscow for between 86 and 100 percent of their imports. Exploiting a sanctions opt-out, the two countries have stubbornly resisted ditching Moscow — despite intense pressure from the EU. So far, Brussels has repeatedly failed to target the company despite being linked to sanctions circumvention in the bloc. Neither Rosneft nor Lukoil responded to POLITICO’s requests for comment. Now things are set to change. The U.S. Treasury has said it “may” impose sanctions on anyone working with the Russian firms, meaning no bank will now handle payments for them in Europe, said Donovan, the sanctions expert. “It’s going to be a huge signal to [European banks and businesses] that they really need to step away from this, or otherwise they’re exposing themselves to sanctions,” she said. On Thursday, the European Commission said it too was mulling its own transaction ban against Lukoil. For Hungary and Slovakia, in particular, the new sanctions are sparking anxieties that oil flows could be cut off entirely. If enforced, it “would lead to the stopping of imports,” acknowledged one Slovak official, also granted anonymity to speak frankly, saying the government will “most likely” seek an exemption from Washington. Hungary’s foreign ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment. In fact, the impacts of the measures are already starting to be seen. Finnish energy firm Neste on Thursday suspended fuel deliveries to Lukoil subsidiary Teboil after the U.S. and U.K. sanctions against the firm. Romania’s state secretary for energy, Cristian Bușoi, told POLITICO that Lukoil will now have “an obligation” to sell its south-central Petrotel refinery before next month’s deadline. “We would be happy not to have Lukoil anymore,” he added. The Dutch government, too, now sees a quick sale of Lukoil’s stake in its southwestern Zeeland refinery as “the most likely scenario,” according to a person familiar with the matter. Bulgaria’s eastern Neftochim refinery will also “have to stop operation on Nov. 21” unless it is sold, added Martin Vladimirov, a senior energy analyst at the Sofia-based Center for the Study of Democracy think tank. The Bulgarian energy ministry declined to comment. “They’ll have to be sold,” echoed the former Lukoil executive. For the company, it will be “catastrophic,” the person added. Koen Verhelst contributed to this report. Restrictions imposed by Washington will force the company to end its exports to European countries. The two Central European countries have long spurned a phaseout. Now, EU capitals are ready to overrule them. A majority of NATO countries have joined the PURL scheme, and the rest are under pressure “to put your money where your mouth is.” The Defense secretary spoke before a meeting of European defense leaders that he has skipped in the past.
|
Victor Jack
|
New U.S. sanctions will be “catastrophic” for Lukoil’s operations across the continent, warns former company executive.
|
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Energy and Climate
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[
"Russia",
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2025-10-24T02:18:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:18:00Z
|
2025-10-24T12:58:10Z
| 7,383,657
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-sanctions-russian-oil-europe-lukoil-rosneft/
|
Huawei’s solar tech sparks fears of Europe’s next dependency crisis
|
Cyber officials fear the Chinese tech giant’s grip on energy networks. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — First it was telecom snooping. Now Europe is growing worried that Huawei could turn the lights off. The Chinese tech giant is at the heart of a brewing storm over the security of Europe's energy grids. Lawmakers are writing to the European Commission to urge it to "restrict high-risk vendors" from solar energy systems, in a letter seen by POLITICO. Such restrictions would target Huawei first and foremost, as the dominant Chinese supplier of critical parts of these systems. The fears center around solar panel inverters, a piece of technology that turns solar panels' electricity into current that flows into the grid. China is a dominant supplier of these inverters, and Huawei is its biggest player. Because the inverters are hooked up to the internet, security experts warn the inverters could be tampered with or shut down through remote access, potentially causing dangerous surges or drops in electricity in Europe's networks. The warnings come as European governments have woken up to the risks of being reliant on other regions for critical services — from Russian gas to Chinese critical raw materials and American digital services. The bloc is in a stand-off with Beijing over trade in raw materials, and has faced months of pressure from Washington on how Brussels regulates U.S. tech giants. Cybersecurity authorities are close to finalizing work on a new "toolbox" to de-risk tech supply chains, with solar panels among its key target sectors, alongside connected cars and smart cameras. Two members of the European Parliament, Dutch liberal Bart Groothuis and Slovak center-right lawmaker Miriam Lexmann, drafted a letter warning the European Commission of the risks. “We urge you to propose immediate and binding measures to restrict high-risk vendors from our critical infrastructure,” the two wrote. The members had gathered the support of a dozen colleagues by Wednesday and are canvassing for more to join the initiative before sending the letter mid next week. According to research by trade body SolarPower Europe, Chinese firms control approximately 65 percent of the total installed power in the solar sector. The largest company in the European market is Huawei, a tech giant that is considered a high-risk vendor of telecom equipment. The second-largest firm is Sungrow, which is also Chinese, and controls about half the amount of solar power as Huawei. Huawei's market power recently allowed it to make its way back into SolarPower Europe, the solar sector's most prominent lobby association in Brussels, despite an ongoing Belgian bribery investigation focused on the firm's lobbying activities in Brussels that saw it banned from meeting with European Commission and Parliament officials. Security hawks are now upping the ante. Cybersecurity experts and European manufacturers say the Chinese conglomerate and its peers could hack into Europe’s power grid. “They can disable safety parameters. They can set it on fire," Erika Langerová, a cybersecurity researcher at the Czech Technical University in Prague, said in a media briefing hosted by the U.S. Mission to the EU in September. Even switching solar installation off and on again could disrupt energy supply, Langerová said. “When you do it on one installation, it's not a problem, but then you do it on thousands of installations it becomes a problem because the ... compound effect of these sudden changes in the operation of the device can destabilize the power grid.” Surges in electricity supply can trigger wider blackouts, as seen in Spain and Portugal in April. Some governments have already taken further measures. Last November, Lithuania imposed a ban on remote access by Chinese firms to renewable energy installations above 100 kilowatts, effectively stopping the use of Chinese inverters. In September, the Czech Republic issued a warning on the threat posed by Chinese remote access via components including solar inverters. And in Germany, security officials already in 2023 told lawmakers that an "energy management component" from Huawei had them on alert, leading to a government probe of the firm's equipment. The arguments leveled against Chinese manufacturers of solar inverters echo those heard from security experts in previous years, in debates on whether or not to block companies like video-sharing app TikTok, airport scanner maker Nuctech and — yes — Huawei's 5G network equipment. Distrust of Chinese technology has skyrocketed. Under President Xi Jinping, the Beijing government has rolled out regulations forcing Chinese companies to cooperate with security services' requests to share data and flag vulnerabilities in their software. It has led to Western concerns that it opens the door to surveillance and snooping. One of the most direct threats involves remote management from China of products embedded in European critical infrastructure. Manufacturers have remote access to install updates and maintenance. Europe has also grown heavily reliant on Chinese tech suppliers, particularly when it comes to renewable energy, which is powering an increasing proportion of European energy. Domestic manufacturers of solar panels have enough supply to fill the gap that any EU action to restrict Chinese inverters would create, Langerová said. But Europe does not yet have enough battery or wind manufacturers — two clean energy sector China also dominates. China's dominance also undercuts Europe's own tech sector and comes with risks of economic coercion. Until only a few years ago, European firms were competitive, before being undercut by heavily subsidized Chinese products, said Tobias Gehrke, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. China on the other hand does not allow foreign firms in its market because of cybersecurity concerns, he said. The European Union previously developed a 5G security toolbox to reduce its dependence on Huawei over these fears. It is also working on a similar initiative, known as the ICT supply chain toolbox, to help national governments scan their wider digital infrastructure for weak points, with a view to blocking or reduce the use of “high-risk suppliers.” According to Groothuis and Lexmann, “binding legislation to restrict risky vendors in our critical infrastructure is urgently required” across the European Union. Until legislation is passed, the EU should put temporary measures in place, they said in their letter. Huawei did not respond to requests for comment before publication. This article has been updated. Many governments want to pay rather than take in more asylum-seekers. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner confirmed a delay and gave no indication of when an agreement would be reached. Migration will also feature at next week’s EU summit as governments ramp up their battle against far-right politicians. A European Union law aiming to fight child sexual abuse online has privacy activists and tech firms up in arms.
|
Sam Clark
|
Cyber officials fear the Chinese tech giant’s grip on energy networks.
|
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Cybersecurity and Data Protection
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"China",
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2025-10-24T02:16:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:16:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:18:51Z
| 7,359,228
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-solar-industry-having-huawei-moment/
|
The prison diary of Nicolas Sarkozy
|
The former president of France shares details of how he is getting on behind bars. Welcome to Declassified, a weekly humor column. The cold steel door of Nicolas Sarkozy’s cell swung shut on Tuesday as the former French president and legal trouble enthusiast began his prison sentence. He’s the first former French head of state to end up behind bars — a fate almost worse than being named prime minister — since Nazi collaborator Philippe Pétain. Sarkozy told Le Figaro that he would be taking with him a copy of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” — which tells the story of a man who escapes prison after being falsely accused of treason and locked up without trial — along with a biography of Jesus Christ (no spoilers about the end of that one, please). But Sarkozy hasn’t just been reading while inside. He has also been working on his prison diary, and has shared an extract with Declassified (in exchange for a packet of cigarettes, the ultimate French prison currency). Prison de la Santé, Paris. October 2025 As if we needed any more proof that France is a far greater country than the United States, French prisoners do not have to wear a uniform, and especially not a bright orange jumpsuit (Carla would never visit me if I had to commit such a fashion faux pas). But that is some rare good news from this hellhole (at least the prison is in the 14th arrondissement, which is kind of acceptable). I am staying in the laughably titled VIP wing of the jail, which means I get my own room with a television, although it is not high-definition and I cannot fully enjoy my favorite TV show, “L’amour est dans le pré.” My biggest fear is that, because of prison overcrowding, I’ll one day be forced to share my cell with the people who robbed the Louvre. A few things give me comfort in these difficult times. One is the famous names that have been in this place over the years, including Carlos the Jackal. In my new role as a hardened — albeit innocent, very innocent — prisoner, maybe I should have a nickname too. I used to be called President Bling-Bling, which I quite liked, and Le Top Cop, but that might not go down too well with my fellow inmates. Speaking of whom, many of these prisoners are downright rude. They have been singing “Oh Sarko, la ch*tte à ta mère, réveille-toi!” at the top of their voices in order to keep me awake at night. For my English readers and admirers, that sentence is an extremely defamatory statement about my mother and I have instructed my lawyers to take action. Another famous inmate in this place was Michel Vaujour, who escaped by helicopter after threatening guards with a fake pistol and nectarines painted as grenades. His wife took helicopter lessons so she could be the getaway pilot. Carla says she is too busy to take such lessons but I have strong hopes for my son Louis, who is already a high flyer (that is a little joke). It was darling Louis who urged my fans to come out and show their support as I was headed to jail — and as many as 100 did so. That’s how beloved I am. Vaujour also once escaped from another prison by making an impression of a key in the rind of a Babybel, but I would never stoop so low … as to eat a Babybel (I prefer Époisses de Bourgogne). Nicolas, aged 70 CAPTION COMPETITION “And in his search for food, Pavel the Polar Bear decided to leave Russia’s sphere of influence, so I sent a fleet of drones and had him killed. The end.” Can you do better? Email us at [email protected] or get in touch on X @POLITICOEurope. Last week, we gave you this photo: Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best one from our mailbag — there’s no prize except the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far preferable to cash or booze. “No, you don’t know how to play rock, paper, scissors.” by Stephen Robinson OpenAI’s Sam Altman says erotic material will soon be allowed on ChatGPT, but that’s nothing new. The European Parliament is the latest in a long line to mix politics and gnomes. MEP Terry Reintke gives her chocolate in “the hope is that the serotonins and dopamines will translate into good Green legislation in return.” Good news for Michel Barnier and Liz Truss, Sébastien Lecornu lasted just 27 days in office.
|
Paul Dallison
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The former president of France shares details of how he is getting on behind bars.
|
[
"declassified"
] |
Politics
|
[] |
2025-10-24T02:02:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:02:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:02:00Z
| 7,358,667
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/nicolas-sarkozy-prison-france-former-president-book-monte-cristo/
|
A fiasco at the Louvre was inevitable
|
A team of thieves accomplished in minutes what museum employees have been trying to do for years: expose the French icon’s fragility due to decades of underfunding. AI generated Text-to-speech PARIS — A cinematic four-man scheme to steal an estimated €88 million in jewelry from the world’s most-visited museum stunned the globe. But not those who work there. “Among colleagues, we’ve been saying for months that it’s incredible that nothing dramatic has happened yet,” Elise Muller, a room supervisor and trade unionist at the Louvre Museum, said in an interview after the robbery. France — and Paris in particular — may love to showcase the country’s cultural exceptionalism, but critics say the audacious heist is the latest proof that the state hasn’t been putting money where its mouth is when it comes to the Louvre. Complaints of underfunding at the museum had brewed for months before the robbery on Sunday, which took only minutes. Louvre General Administrator Kim Pham told lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing in February of the “poor condition, sometimes dilapidated state” of its infrastructure and said it was “absolutely necessary” to install updates, including to overhaul security. Muller said that union representatives like herself have “repeatedly and with insistence” warned the French Ministry of Culture of the severity of the problems linked to underfunding — including “reducing staff specialized in safety and surveillance” — to no avail. And a confidential report from France’s top court of auditors, which POLITICO saw parts of, highlighted “persistent” delays in replacing security equipment such as cameras — one-third of the rooms in the Louvre wing where the heist took place reportedly have none. The audit, which is conducted on a regular basis, said the rate at which the museum’s security infrastructure was becoming obsolete outpaced the investments made to address the problem. Though French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans earlier this year for a €700 million to €800 million, privately funded effort to modernize the museum, those changes aren’t expected to be finished until 2031. Peter Fowler, CEO of the British Westminster Group, which provides security solutions for the Tower of London, said he suspected complacency was a factor that the robbers took advantage of. “How easy it was … shows you how lax the security was,” he said. When asked for comment on allegations of security failures, representatives for the museum referred POLITICO to an online statement, which quoted the French culture minister saying that the Louvre’s safety mechanisms had been “operational.” More than 230 years since Louis XVI was guillotined just outside the Louvre, there are again calls for heads to roll. The first scalp the Parisian left and far right are gunning for is that of Culture Minister Rachida Dati, a fiery, outspoken conservative who plans to run for Paris mayor in next year’s election. Dati admitted that the success may have been partly tied to administrative shortcomings, but she argued that responsibility was shared after “40 years of abandonment during which problems were swept under the rug.” “We always focused on the security of cultural institutions for visitors, much less for that of the artworks,” Dati said in an interview with broadcaster M6. There were also calls for the Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, to step down. Des Cars delivered her first public remarks since the heist on Wednesday before the cultural committee in the French Senate, the upper house of parliament. Des Cars faced tough questions challenging her leadership despite being grilled in the Senate, where debates are typically more courteous than the rowdier, more powerful directly elected National Assembly. Over two hours, the stern-looking 59-year-old curator — showing the strain of what have been the most trying days of her career — spoke with gravitas, attempting, not without difficulty, to assert that the Louvre’s security procedures had been properly followed despite the break-in’s success. “Despite our efforts, we were defeated,” she said. Des Cars added that she has throughout her career tried to draw attention “to the state of deterioration and general obsolescence of the Louvre, its buildings and its infrastructure.” In the heist’s aftermath, several press reports alleged financial mismanagement by des Cars and suggested she had allocated resources to nonurgent needs, including a luxurious dining hall. Des Cars said the accusations had been “distorted” and amounted to “personal attacks.” The aforementioned dining room, she pushed back, was designed to be a “meeting room which is not exclusively reserved for the Louvre’s president.” She also disputed aspects of the leaked auditors’ report, insisting that there had been no delays in planned investments to upgrade security and that the document did not yet reflect new measures she intended to present. During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Macron called on his ministers to “keep their cool” amid the uproar surrounding the Louvre heist while investigations continue. The Louvre renovation was supposed to be, much like the restoration of the Notre-Dame Cathedral following the devastating fire there five years ago, a crown jewel of Macron’s legacy. (But one that thieves wouldn’t be able to run off with.) Earlier this year, he announced plans for a “new Louvre Renaissance” — an expensive overhaul of the museum to update its infrastructure and security as well as move its most-visited painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” into its own dedicated room. The project has now taken on added urgency. Macron has requested proposals to accelerate implementation of its security-related aspects — including next-generation surveillance cameras, enhanced perimeter detection and a new central security control room — to be on his desk by next week, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said Wednesday. That, of course, comes at a cost. And for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s fragile minority government, which faces an uphill battle in its attempt to rein in public finances while also investing billions in priorities like defense and reindustrialization, museum security may not seem like the most pressing reason to dip into state coffers “There are budgetary constraints, but financial promises for the Louvre have been made, and they need to be kept,” said Valérie Baud, who represents the Louvre’s personnel on the museum’s board of directors. “The Louvre is 68 percent self-funded, which is huge. As for the rest of the budget, the state can no longer impose cuts on the museum,” she added. Tiphaine Auzière testified in a cyberbullying trial on Tuesday. But the French president still thinks the retirement age will need to rise eventually. MEP Marion Maréchal called France the “laughingstock of the world” after the robbery. The fallen conservative star is expected to start serving his sentence Tuesday.
|
Victor Goury-Laffont
|
A team of thieves accomplished in minutes what museum employees have been trying to do for years: expose the French icon’s fragility due to decades of underfunding.
|
[
"budget",
"culture",
"french politics",
"society and culture"
] |
Politics
|
[
"France"
] |
2025-10-24T02:01:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:01:00Z
|
2025-10-24T09:37:22Z
| 7,380,213
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/louvre-inevitable-crisis-france-rachida-dati-emmanuel-macron-laurence-des-cars/
|
Prince Andrew scandal blows hole in Britain’s opaque royal funding system
|
Revelations that King Charles’ disgraced brother appears to be living rent-free prompt fresh scrutiny of the royal coffers. AI generated Text-to-speech LONDON — The British aristocracy has always seen talking about money as a little bit grubby. But the scandalized Prince Andrew is forcing the issue front and center. King Charles’ transgressive younger brother is facing torrid headlines over his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. And the revelation in The Times this week that he appears to be living rent-free in a vast lodge is prompting a barrage of wider questions about the way Britain’s royals are funded. In the House of Commons Wednesday, Britain’s center-left Prime Minister Keir Starmer did nothing to tamp down opposition calls for an inquiry into whether taxpayer interests are being protected when it comes to Andrew, who stepped back from Royal duties in 2019 and gave up key titles just last week. “It is important, in relation to all Crown properties, that there is proper scrutiny,” Starmer said. On Thursday, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee — parliament’s public spending watchdog — said he would be requesting more information on Andrew’s Royal Lodge agreement. The scandal has sent questions about royal finances rocketing up the U.K. political agenda, just months before a scheduled review of a key part of the arrangement, known as the Sovereign Grant, kicks off. Andrew’s living arrangements are part of “much, much wider problem” with a system of royal finances, which is still mired in secrecy, said Margaret Hodge, the U.K. government’s anti-corruption czar. How the U.K. government covers the cost of the monarchy — expenses like royal engagements, staffing costs and the upkeep of grand residences such as Buckingham Palace — has long been a subject of debate. The current system — known the Sovereign Grant — was brought in by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012. It links public funding of the monarch to the profits of the Crown Estate. The Crown Estate is essentially a portfolio of assets that was owned and managed by monarchs pre-1760 and is now run as a business whose revenue is returned to the U.K. Treasury. It generates significant revenue, which has been bolstered in recent years by lucrative wind farm deals with developers. In the wake of the Andrew revelations, Clifton-Brown said his committee would decide next year whether to “undertake any work” on the Crown Estate accounts. Charles and Prince William also receive an income from two vast inherited estates — the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall respectively. This money, according to their own websites, is used to support themselves and their families, and their philanthropic work. They also have their own investments and inherited wealth — which include private residences in Balmoral, Scotland, and in Sandringham, Norfolk. Charles and William are not legally liable for income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. But they pay certain taxes voluntarily under an agreement the late Queen Elizabeth II made with the Treasury. As part of this agreement, the government agrees not to publish any information about their tax bill. Because some assets, such as the official residences, the Royal Archives, the Royal Collection of paintings and other works of art are not sold to provide income or capital for the personal use of the king, and pass from one sovereign to the next, it would be inappropriate for inheritance tax to be paid on them, the agreement argues. A former senior official involved in past decisions about royal finances said this system had been designed to ensure the British monarchy, which still has public support, is “not placed in a position of subservience” to the government of the day. It is also meant to allow the royals the “same principle of confidentiality” as other British citizens. But that same former official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, warned there was a “quid pro quo” to that. “The public will acquiesce in these arrangements if it is seen that the members of the royal family conduct themselves in a way that is, although privileged, not extravagant, and not flagrant. Things break down if there are members of the royal family who aren’t keeping that side of the bargain,” the former official added. Senior royals are acutely conscious of the sensitivities around the way they’re funded. William is reported to be mindful of the cost of the monarchy and will assess the “footprint” of the institution, The Times reported in June. But Hodge, an ex-public accounts committee chair who has long probed royal finances, believes the system needs much wider reform. She said the Royal Lodge deal for Andrew looked “rotten.” This matters to the taxpayer, she argued. Financial reports on both Duchies are published, but they remain private estates and Hodge believes this makes for “muddy territory.” “In my view, they are public [funds] because they were given by the state to the royal family for the purpose of sustaining themselves,” she said of the arrangement. “I think we need transparency.” Britain’s populist party thinks Prince Andrew has been punished enough. Its supporters disagree. Populist challengers Reform say “serious surgery on the system” is required. Can the British prime minister turn things around? Amid a row over a collapsed China spying trial, it’s not just Keir Starmer who relies on veteran Northern Ireland peace negotiator Jonathan Powell. After years of staying quiet, Britain’s ruling party is preparing to blame its economic woes on leaving the EU.
|
Annabelle Dickson
|
Revelations that King Charles’ disgraced brother appears to be living rent-free prompt fresh scrutiny of the royal coffers.
|
[
"monarchy",
"parliament",
"public funding",
"tax"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Scotland",
"United Kingdom",
"Wales"
] |
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
| 7,381,653
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/prince-andrew-scandal-britains-opaque-royal-funding-system/
|
29 things we learned from the EU leaders’ summit
|
A packed agenda promised a summit of fireworks. Nothing really took off. BRUSSELS — Heard the one about the 12-and-half-hour meeting of 27 national leaders that succeeded in agreeing very little apart from coming up with quite a lot of “let’s decide in a couple of months” or “let’s just all agree on language that means absolutely nothing but looks like we’re united” or “let’s at least celebrate that we got through this packed agenda without having to come back on Friday”? No? Well let us enlighten you. And if that makes you question how we’ve managed to squeeze 29 things out of this, well let’s just say one of these is about badly functioning vending machines… The day was off to a flying start when Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico lifted his veto over the latest raft of Russia sanctions on the eve of the summit — allowing the package to get formally signed off at 8 a.m. before leaders even started talking. Fico rolled over after claiming to achieve what he set out to do: clinch support for Slovakia’s car industry. He found an unusual ally in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who he met separately to discuss the impact of climate targets on their countries’ automotive sectors. There was a moment earlier in the week where the EU looked to be on the cusp of a breakthrough on using Russian frozen assets to fund a €140 billion loan for Ukraine. Belgium, the main holdout, appeared to be warming to the European Commission’s daring idea to crack open the piggy bank. But Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stuck by his guns , saying he feared taking the assets, which are held in a Brussels-based financial depository, could trigger Moscow to take legal action. The Flemish right-winger’s prerequisites were threefold: the “full mutualization of the risk,” guarantees that if the money has to paid back, “every member state will chip in,” and for every other EU country that holds immobilized assets to also seize them. Leaders eventually agreed on that classic EU summit outcome: a fudge. They tasked the European Commission to “present options” at the next European Council — effectively deciding not to decide. “Political will is clear, and the process will move forward,” said one EU official. But it’s uncertain whether a deal can be brokered by the next summit, currently set for December. After POLITICO ranked the Belgian leader among its list of “bad boys” likely to disrupt Thursday’s summit (rightfully, might we add), he protested the branding. “A bad boy! Me? … If you talk about the immobilized assets, we’re the very, very best,” he said. The high-level talks “allowed us to identify points we need to clarify,” the Commission president said tactfully. “Nobody vetoed nothing today,” European Council President António Costa chimed in. “The technical and legal aspects of Europe’s support need to be worked upon.” Translation in case you didn’t understand the double negative: The EU needs to come up with a better plan to reassure Belgium — and fast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ― a guest of the summit ― told reporters Russia must pay the price for its invasion, calling on the EU to follow through with its frozen assets proposal, adding he thought the leaders were “close” to an agreement. “If Russia brought war to our land, they have to pay for this war,” he said. “We will see,” was Zelenskyy’s message on the topic of acquiring the long-range missiles from the U.S., which Donald Trump has so far ruled out selling to Kyiv. “Each day brings something … maybe tomorrow we will have Tomahawks,” Zelenskyy said. “I don’t know.” Merz held a meeting with Zelenskyy about “the situation in Washington and the American plans that are now on the table,” a German official said, adding Zelenskyy made “specific requests” to the chancellor about helping Ukraine with its “defense capabilities.” After the summit, the German leader said Berlin would review a proposal on how German technologies could help to protect Ukrainian’s energy and water infrastructure. EU leaders endorsed the Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030 presented last week by the Commission, which aims to prepare member countries for war by 2030. One of its main objectives is to fill EU capability gaps in nine areas: air and missile defense, enablers, military mobility, artillery systems, AI and cyber, missile and ammunition, drones and anti-drones, ground combat, and maritime. The plan also mentions areas like defense readiness and the role of Ukraine, which would be heavily armed and supported to become a “steel porcupine” able to deter Russian aggression. As leaders deliberated, a Russian fighter jet and a refueling aircraft briefly crossed into Lithuanian airspace from the Kaliningrad region, underscoring the need for the EU to protect its skies. Ukraine will prioritize domestic and European industry when spending cash from the proposed reparation loan funded by Russia’s frozen assets, Zelenskyy told leaders at the summit — but wants to be able to go across the pond when necessary. Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez said the country had committed to contributing cash to a fund organized by NATO to buy weapons for Ukraine from the U.S. “Today, most of the air defense components, such as Patriots or Tomahawks … which Ukraine clearly needs, are only manufactured in the United States,” he said. Madrid has been a thorn in Washington’s side over its lax defense spending. Merz stunned trade watchers when he announced the leaders had backed a controversial trade agreement with Latin American countries. “We voted on it today: The Mercosur agreement can be ratified,” the German chancellor told reporters, adding that he was “very happy” about that. “All 27 countries voted unanimously in favor,” Merz added on Mercosur. “It’s done.” The remark sparked confusion amongst delegations, as the European Council doesn’t usually vote on trade agreements — let alone one as controversial as the mammoth agreement with the countries of the Latin American bloc of Mercosur, which has been in negotiations for over 25 years. One EU diplomat clarified that it’s because European Council President António Costa sought confirmation from EU leaders that they would agree to take a stance on the deal by the end of this year — and no formal vote was taken yet. One of the hotter potatoes ahead of the summit passed surprisingly smoothly. Leaders ultimately refrained from bulldozing the EU’s climate targets, agreeing to a vaguely worded commitment to a green transition, though without committing to a 2040 goal, which proposes cutting emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990 levels. In the words of one diplomat: “Classic balance, everyone equally unhappy.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the summit a “turning point” in Europe’s approach to green policy, adding he succeeded in inserting a “revision clause” into the EU’s plan to extend its carbon-trading system to heating and transport emissions that will give member countries the option to delay or adjust the rollout. “We’ve defused a threat to Polish families and drivers,” he declared, calling the change a signal that “Europe is finally speaking our language.” Ministers are set to reconvene and cast a vote on the 2040 goal on Nov. 4, described by one diplomat as “groundhog day.” Aside from promising to make migration a “priority,” the EU’s leaders failed to make any kind of breakthrough on a stalled proposal for burden-sharing. Reminder: The EU missed a deadline last week to agree on a new way of deciding which member countries are under stress from receiving migrants and ways of sharing the responsibility more equally across the bloc. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and the Netherlands’ Dick Schoof have kept up their informal pre-summit “migration breakfasts” since last June, swapping innovative ideas on tougher border and asylum policies. They met again on Thursday with von der Leyen, who updated them on the EU’s latest plans for accelerating migrant returns, and the trio agreed an informal summit will take place next month in Rome. As expected, the leaders endorsed a minimum age for kids to use social media, but failed to commit to a bloc-wide ban, with capitals divided on whether to make the age 15 or 16, as well as on the issue of parental consent. Journalists were frantically pressing their sources in the Council and national delegations to find out what was happening at the leaders’ table as the meeting dragged into the late hours. It eventually finished at 10.30 p.m. ― 12 and a half hours after it began. The EU Parliament’s Greens group co-chair Bas Eickhout wandered the hallways of the Justus Lipsius building ready to brief bored journalists about the wonders of the Green Deal — while leaders debated how to unravel it in the other room. One of the pillars of the EU’s green transition, its 2035 de facto combustion engine ban, was set to play a major role in the competitiveness and climate discussions, with Merz and Fico spoiling for a fight over the proposal — yet it barely registered as a footnote. Slovakia used the climate talks to oppose the ban, and the Czech Republic chimed in to agree, but in the end the summit’s official conclusions welcomed the Commission’s proposed ban without mentioning how it should be watered down. Officials and journalists alike found that the vending machines in the EU’s Justus Lipsius building, which incidentally is due for a €1 billion renovation, about as efficient as a roundtable of 27 national leaders lasting 12 and a half hours. Beijing’s export controls on rare earths came up in the talks on competitiveness, according to two EU officials, with some leaders expressing their concerns. One of the officials said the EU’s most powerful trade weapon, the Anti-Coercion Instrument, was mentioned, but didn’t garner much interest around the table. Leaders spent a chunk of time discussing the continent’s housing crisis. A solid start for the topic, which made it onto the agenda for the first time at Costa’s behest. During talks, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on the Commission to create a database tracking which housing policies work — and which don’t — across Europe. Most leaders agreed that, while housing remains a national competence, the EU still has a role to play. The EU executive “is ready to help,” von der Leyen said after the summit, announcing a European Affordable Housing Plan is in the pipeline and the first EU Housing Summit in 2026. For lunch, langoustine with yuzu, celeriac and apple, fillet of veal with artichokes and crispy polenta, and a selection of fresh fruit. For dinner, cannelloni with herbs, courgette velouté, fillet of brill with chorizo and pepper, and fig meringue cake. Yum. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the most notable absence, rocking up several hours late due to a national holiday in Budapest. Portugal and Slovenia’s leaders were also absent at one point. The European Council president pledged to streamline summits under his watch, making them one-day affairs instead of two. And with just a couple hours to spare, he was successful. Okay, breathe. Did we miss anything? (Don’t answer that.) Gerardo Fortuna, Max Griera Andrieu, Jordyn Dahl, Gabriel Gavin, Hanne Cokelaere, Clea Caulcutt, Hans von der Burchard, Kathryn Carlson, Tim Ross, Jacopo Barigazzi, Gregorio Sorgi, Eliza Gkritsi, Carlo Martuscelli, Nicholas Vinocur, Saga Ringmar, Sarah Wheaton, Louise Guillot, Zia Weise, Camille Gijs, Bartosz Brzezinski and Giedre Peseckyte contributed to this report. CLARIFICATION: This article was updated on Oct. 24 with new wording on the social media ban. Belgium’s government is moving to curb benefits for its unemployed. Vilnius is just being “petty,” Belarusian leader says. “The battle is not over yet,” Hungarian prime minister says, teeing up a possible fight with the White House. From the climate to critical minerals to Russia’s frozen assets, the agenda of Thursday’s European Council is jam-packed.
|
Seb Starcevic
|
A packed agenda promised a summit of fireworks. Nothing really took off.
|
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Politics
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[
"Belgium",
"China",
"Czech Republic",
"Denmark",
"Germany",
"Italy",
"Portugal",
"Russia",
"Slovakia",
"Slovenia",
"Spain",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
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2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T16:40:35Z
| 7,385,406
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-summit-sanctions-russia-frozen-assets-politics-ukraine-war-germany-defense/
|
Von der Leyen and Costa fail to cash in on Trump smacking Putin
|
EU chiefs lost some credibility when they failed to get a deal to fund Ukraine using Russian assets. Zelenskyy could lose a lot more. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — It takes two minutes to drive from the Europa building, the futuristic headquarters of the European Council, to the office of the Belgian prime minister in Brussels. The question EU diplomats are privately asking is whether anyone running this week’s leaders’ summit bothered to make that short trip down Rue de la Loi to find out what Bart De Wever was really thinking. De Wever, who has been Belgium’s prime minister only since February, derailed EU plans to raid frozen Russian assets and release a vital loan of €140 billion that would help fund Kyiv for the next two years. His opposition to the plan — based on fears that Vladimir Putin would retaliate against Belgium, where the assets are held — means EU leaders will now have to come back to the question of how to help meet Ukraine’s cash shortfall in December, if they don’t call an emergency gathering sooner. “It’s a mess,” one diplomat said, granted anonymity like others to speak freely. “This was not how it was meant to play out.” Belgium’s opposition took EU diplomats and ministers, as well as top officials working for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, by surprise: Her team had spent days telling colleagues they had found a fix for De Wever’s concerns. But it was the European Council President António Costa who arguably had the biggest portion of egg on his face. “Today in this European Council we will take the political decision to ensure the financial needs of Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, including for acquisition of military equipment,” Costa told Zelenskyy as they entered the summit together on Thursday morning. “And this is a very strong message to Russia,” he said. “We said repeatedly that we will support Ukraine as long as necessary and whatever it takes. And now we have concretized this.” At a late night press conference at the end of the gathering, Costa and von der Leyen were reduced to trying to explain what had happened — and what the now vaguely worded final summit conclusions actually meant. Diplomats weren’t sure. Gone was any explicit mention of using the immobilized assets to finance a “reparations loan” for Ukraine, alongside the proposals for allaying Belgium’s concerns. Was the whole plan dead? Costa insisted it was not. But nobody could say for certain when, if ever, the EU will agree to using the frozen state assets of Russia to help Kyiv finance its defense. It could all have been very different. Before the discussion over assets went awry, the mood among Ukraine’s allies had been buoyant. The EU had passed its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, hitting Putin’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, and the banking and energy sectors. And Donald Trump, for the first time, finally took action against Moscow, slapping what he called “tremendous sanctions” on Russia’s biggest oil firms. He had run out of patience after months of talks about peace with Putin that he said “just don’t go anywhere.” Privately and publicly, at the start of Thursday’s summit, senior officials in Europe were delighted with Trump’s move. “It’s been a week of ups and downs but at the moment we are in a pretty good place,” one adviser said in the morning. The EU’s traditional bad boy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, helped the rest of the leaders make progress by staying away from the gathering for most of the day and then keeping out of the discussions on Ukraine. He doesn’t believe Europe should be fighting someone else’s war but has lately taken a view that he doesn’t want to go to war with the EU too much either. After sometimes tense discussions, leaders even managed to agree to the summit conclusions on the bloc’s climate targets without a fatal breakdown. The final text stopped short of endorsing the 2040 emissions reduction target and left key decisions for a later date. It was, one diplomat said, a “classic” EU outcome, with “everyone equally unhappy.” But by 11 p.m. the attention had switched back to Ukraine and the autopsy of the plan that Belgium had strangled. French President Emmanuel Macron said the proposal for using the assets to create a loan to Kyiv was not being abandoned. “It hasn’t been buried, we were able to discuss technical details,” he told reporters. “We need to progress with method, because we can’t do anything that breaks international law.” Von der Leyen tried to put a brave face on the outcome and argued that the EU would remain a staunch ally for Kyiv. “We are in for the long haul,” she explained. Ukraine, however, says it needs the money early next year. Many of the EU’s leaders will meet again on Friday with Zelenskyy and the U.K.’s Keir Starmer as part of the coalition of the willing to support peace efforts. Zelenskyy will be hoping they have more success. “After our sanctions, and Trump’s sanctions, the reparations loan should have made this a really good day,” one EU diplomat said. “But it’s an opportunity we’ve missed.” Hadja Lahbib tells POLITICO she has ‘doubts’ about Netanyahu’s commitment to Trump’s ceasefire, and vows to keep up the pressure on Israel. Hadja Lahbib defends Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s blockade of a disputed plan to help Kyiv fight Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tells POLITICO Ukraine must be equipped to match or exceed Russia’s capabilities because Vladimir Putin only responds to strength. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Tim Ross
|
EU chiefs lost some credibility when they failed to get a deal to fund Ukraine using Russian assets. Zelenskyy could lose a lot more.
|
[
"russia sanctions",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Belgium",
"Russia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-24T09:31:41Z
| 7,386,210
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-donald-trump-ukraine-russia-war-defense-summit-finance/
|
How Belgium’s De Wever derailed the EU’s ‘insane’ €140B Ukraine loan plan
|
Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook. BRUSSELS ― The European Union’s €140 billion loan for Ukraine remains in doubt ― and looks set to be for at least another two months ― after the leader of the bloc’s eighth-largest country dug his heels in over using confiscated Russian assets to pay for it. Belgium ― one of the EU’s founding six members and renowned for its love of the art of the classic European compromise ― succeeded in massively watering down language published at a summit in Brussels. The result does little besides postponing the decision over whether to go ahead with the plan until the next time leaders meet. And it renews concerns over the bloc's commitment to Ukraine. The prime minister in question, Bart De Wever, is a right-wing Flemish nationalist who is under pressure over the plan at home because he says the operation carries huge financial and legal risks for Belgium, where most of the Russian assets are kept. EU chiefs say they understand his concerns ― but they couldn’t find a way to reassure him. "It’s a bit sour for me that we are finger-pointed, now, as the unwilling country,” De Wever told reporters. He described the idea of Belgian taxpayers ending up on the hook as "completely insane." Donald Trump's ambiguous attitude to how to deal with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, despite this week sanctioning Russia’s two biggest oil companies, has put the onus on Europe to bolster its support. While Europe's governments and the European Central Bank long considered using Russian assets to arm and rebuild Ukraine unthinkable over fears it would break international law, it emerged as a real prospect in the past few months as the war has dragged on. The EU on Thursday was hoping to give the European Commission a firm mandate to make a legal proposal outlining the loan as early as next week. De Wever ensured that didn't happen. A full day of frantic negotiations saw talks break up without agreement at one point ― only for leaders to return later in the evening after their advisers worked on compromise language. De Wever allowed the final summit statement to say that he wouldn’t stand in the way of the Commission further exploring the assets confiscation idea. That was hardly the stuff Kyiv dreamed of. It is “a sufficiently balanced text to allow interpretations that respond to all needs and sensibilities so everyone will then give a certain interpretation that's good for themselves,” said an EU diplomat briefed on the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were in private. Few were able to conceal the fact that the outcome raises renewed questions about the EU’s fragile support for Ukraine with the conflict nearing its four-year anniversary. The assets plan "hasn’t been buried," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters. "We were able to discuss technical details.” No other funding options were on the table for Ukraine aid, he said. ECB President Christine Lagarde told leaders that the risks associated to the loan are "manageable." With Belgium signaling that it felt uncomfortable with the plan, national and EU diplomats spent many days in the run-up to the summit trying to find legal language to reassure De Wever and still give the Commission the instructions it would need to plow ahead with the idea. But while those previous drafts of the joint statement, even as late as the morning of the summit, explicitly called on officials to put forward a legal proposal ― effectively a signal that the plan was likely to become a reality ― the wording leaders ended up with merely "invites the Commission to present, as soon as possible, options for financial support," and punts the issue to the next summit. That's scheduled for December, but officials didn't rule out an earlier meeting. The stakes seemed too high for De Wever given that the bulk of Russia’s immobilized assets in Europe are held by the financial firm Euroclear, which is registered in Belgium, the diplomats said. He repeatedly told his counterparts that the operation carried huge financial and legal risks for Belgium, they said. A clue to De Wever's stubbornness is that he is embroiled in inconclusive talks to agree on a budget to bring Belgium's finances back in balance. De Wever rejected an 11th-hour compromise that would have envisaged stronger language in favor of the loan, according to four EU officials. “We agreed on the what, now we have to work on the how,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters. Faced with the Commission's reassurances that the financial operation carried little risk, Belgian diplomats replied in internal EU meetings that a plane had little chance of crashing — but if that happens, tens of people still lose their lives, according to two diplomats with knowledge of the talks. During the past weeks, Belgian officials have repeatedly called on the Commission to paper over the most sensitive aspects of the loan together bilaterally — and were left incensed when EU officials refused to do so. “My feeling is that the friends from the Commission underrated the complexities of this very sophisticated financial construction," said one of the EU diplomats. "This underrating is the reason why Belgium is worried.” The EU's late-night compromise allows everyone to save face ― and leaves De Wever with the power to veto any future actions if they don't meet his red lines. If “Russia can actually claim the money for whatever reason … the cash needs to be there immediately," De Wever said, adding "trust in the entire financial system of Europe" would be at stake. "Who’s going to give that guarantee. I asked my colleagues, 'Is it you? Is it the member states?' ... This question was not answered with a tsunami of enthusiasm around the table," the Belgian leader said. Gerardo Fortuna contributed reporting. A draft of a letter seen by POLITICO being drawn up by all four mainstream political groups demands major changes to Commission plan. The idea of joint European borrowing is rejected by most of the bloc’s governments. That’s why the Commission is using it as leverage to get them to approve the use of Moscow’s assets for Ukraine. Calls to rebuild economic ties with Russia are “an alarm bell,” Polish prime minister says in Sunday Times interview. One suspect was taken into custody while trying to leave the country, Paris prosecutor says.
|
Gregorio Sorgi
|
Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook.
|
[
"budget",
"conflict",
"construction",
"macron",
"negotiations",
"rights",
"space",
"central banker",
"trade",
"politics"
] |
Financial Services
|
[
"Belgium",
"Russia",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-24T00:31:20Z
|
2025-10-24T00:31:20Z
|
2025-10-24T06:55:42Z
| 7,385,097
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-loan-plan-eu-summit-bart-de-wever-russian-assets-finance-brussels/
|
Costa pumps the brakes on Merz’s victory lap on Mercosur
|
“We didn’t discuss, or take any decision” on the deal with the Latin American countries, the Council chief says. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — European Council President António Costa poured cold water on a claim by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that all EU leaders backed a contentious trade agreement with the Mercosur countries during a European Council meeting on Thursday. “What made me very happy today was that we voted on it: the Mercosur agreement can now be put on track. So the way is clear for Mercosur,” the German chancellor told reporters. Merz said this opened the way for signing the trade deal on Dec. 19. “Unanimously agreed, all 27 agreed that the permanent representatives can then sign. And in that respect, this is a clear mandate ... There are now no more reservations from the member states. It's done. It's through,” Merz said. But the remark sparked confusion amongst delegations, several diplomats said, because the European Council doesn't usually vote on trade agreements — let alone such a controversial one as the mammoth deal with the Mercosur bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, which has been in negotiations for over 25 years. Costa said a vote had not yet been taken on the controversial pact with the Latin American countries. "There wasn’t a discussion on that, I asked the leaders to talk to their ambassadors to sort out technical problems with translations so we can sign the agreement in time," the Council president told reporters on Thursday evening. “We didn’t discuss, or take any decision.” Merz's comments, however, indicate that the political wind is shifting in favor of the trade agreement, which Berlin has backed for years while France and Poland have fiercely fought against it. French President Emmanuel Macron signaled Paris was warming to the trade deal, which goes into “right direction.” Responding to a question from POLITICO on Thursday, Macron added however that France's final decision would be made in the coming weeks. After years of opposition to the deal, French concerns have been appeased over “safeguard measures” to support European farmers. Gerardo Fortuna contributed reporting. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would jet into Brazil to ink the long-awaited accord on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give the green light. Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook. The decision comes on the eve of a crucial meeting of European leaders that will seek to stress the EU’s support for Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen is selling simplification like a Kinder Egg — sweet on the outside for European business, with a surprise inside for the U.S. president.
|
Camille Gijs
|
“We didn’t discuss, or take any decision” on the deal with the Latin American countries, the Council chief says.
|
[
"agriculture",
"beef",
"dumping/duties",
"farmers",
"imports",
"industry",
"markets",
"mercosur",
"parliament",
"poultry",
"regulation",
"trade",
"agriculture and food",
"sustainability"
] |
Trade
|
[
"Argentina",
"Brazil",
"France",
"Italy",
"Paraguay",
"Poland",
"Uruguay"
] |
2025-10-23T23:51:15Z
|
2025-10-23T23:51:15Z
|
2025-10-24T04:16:34Z
| 7,385,703
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/mercosur-countries-antonio-costa-friedrich-merz-european-council/
|
A POLITICO bad boy? Me?! cries Belgian PM De Wever
|
The Brussels leader was aghast he’d been bracketed alongside Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán. BRUSSELS — Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever couldn’t believe POLITICO named him as one of the four “bad boy” leaders likely to disrupt Thursday’s EU summit. In fact, he disagreed with it so much he brought it up at the gathering, during a press conference to discuss his opposition to the bloc’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund a loan to Ukraine. “POLITICO said that I’m a bad boy,” he said. “A bad boy! Me? Can you imagine that?” Ahead of the summit, which touched on climate targets, the housing crisis and defense as well as the assets issue, POLITICO said De Wever, Slovakia’s Robert Fico, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were likely to be the biggest thorns in the EU side. As it turned out, De Wever was the only one who really followed through on his threats. He forced his fellow leaders to water down their language on assets and push any decision to December. “I’m not a bad boy, we’re best boy in town,” he said. “If you talk about immobilized assets, we’re the very, very best.” As custodian of the Euroclear depository, Belgium holds close to €170 billion of Russian cash reserves and is therefore most exposed to potential litigation and damages if the gambit is successfully challenged by Moscow. Belgium warned during the talks that its key conditions for supporting using the funds in the form of a loan for Kyiv had not been met, according to four diplomats and officials. It had been seeking protections in the event of a judicial ruling against the move and burden-sharing in case it is forced to repay the money. According to European Council conclusions agreed late Thursday night, the bloc’s executive will now be tasked with presenting a series of options to placate critics ahead of the next summit on Dec. 19. It was “a bit sour we are being finger-pointed now as the unwilling country,” De Wever told reporters. With one day to go before the Netherlands elects a new parliament, three parties are expected to win 23 seats each. It’s not easy being a European liberal. Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook. A YouGov survey finds a rift in how EU nations perceive security and their general reluctance to rearm under Brussels’ supervision.
|
Hanne Cokelaere
|
The Brussels leader was aghast he’d been bracketed alongside Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán.
|
[
"financial services",
"central banker"
] |
Foreign Affairs
|
[
"Belgium"
] |
2025-10-23T23:29:56Z
|
2025-10-23T23:29:56Z
|
2025-10-23T23:40:14Z
| 7,385,697
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/politico-belgian-pm-bart-de-wever-eu-summit-brussels-bad-boy-leade/
|
Leaders vent worries but refrain from blowing up the EU’s green agenda
|
In the words of one diplomat: “Classic balance, everyone equally unhappy.” AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — The European Union's national leaders spent a summit venting their frustration about the bloc's green transition — and ultimately agreed on language that didn't demand specific changes to climate legislation. Thursday's debate centered on how to align the EU's climate goals with economic priorities, and was meant to resolve a deadlock over the bloc's new emissions-cutting target for 2040. Many leaders raised national pet issues during the discussion, seven diplomats briefed on the talks said. But they refrained from insisting their specific concerns be addressed in the final summit text — which would have made it impossible to reach a consensus agreement. The eventual conclusions were agreed unchanged from the draft text prepared by diplomats this week — though few countries were entirely satisfied with the outcome. "Classic balance, everyone equally unhappy," one diplomat said. Members of several governments were left wondering what difference the agreement would make for the 2040 climate target. Ministers had postponed their vote on the new goal in September, after some of the EU's largest countries refused to approve the law without their leaders having a say. But the text agreed Thursday is deliberately vague, and stops short of endorsing the 2040 goal. That target, as proposed by the European Commission, would reduce the EU's planet-warming emissions by up to 90 percent below 1990 levels. Ministers are due to reconvene and cast a vote on Nov. 4 — "groundhog day," a second diplomat said. A third EU diplomat said they did “not see how the cards are any different" than in September, when ministers first tried to vote on the target. Leaders may just have “delayed the crisis” to Nov. 4, the diplomat added. Yet a fourth and fifth diplomat said they felt the discussion had sufficiently reassured key countries, particularly France and Germany, to enable them to support the target in the upcoming vote. The leaders' agreement sets out "the enabling conditions" to achieve the climate target, the fourth diplomat said, with details to be worked out ahead of the Nov. 4 meeting. But the devil may be in those very details. After leaders approved the text, some diplomats interpreted a passage on the bloc's new carbon tax on transport and heating fuels as opening the door to delaying its implementation. Other diplomats said that was not how they read the text. Still, many diplomats expressed relief that the debate had gone smoothly amid concerns that some leaders wanted to use the discussion to demand the EU weaken certain climate laws. Earlier in the week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had issued a letter offering concessions to leaders, including revisions of some green laws and measures to limit the new carbon price. This letter, a seventh diplomat said, "was a game changer" and a decisive factor allowing leaders to reach Thursday's agreement. Clea Caulcutt contributed reporting. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gambles leaders will land a climate target deal without trashing her green legacy. A Greek veto prevents the EU from reendorsing a global carbon price on shipping in its position for next month’s climate summit. In a letter, the Commission president defends the 2040 goal but offers several concessions to governments. China stands ready to fill the gap as EU infighting leaves a vacuum in global talks.
|
Zia Weise
|
In the words of one diplomat: “Classic balance, everyone equally unhappy.”
|
[
"2040 climate target",
"emissions trading system",
"mobility",
"sustainability"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[] |
2025-10-23T19:27:54Z
|
2025-10-23T19:27:54Z
|
2025-10-23T20:22:06Z
| 7,383,624
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-brussels-summit-climate-policy-green-transition/
|
Russian aircraft cross into Lithuanian airspace as Brussels debates defense
|
A Russian fighter and a refueler crossed the EU’s external border Thursday night as the bloc’s leaders discussed their defense plans. A Russian fighter jet and a refueling aircraft briefly crossed into Lithuanian airspace from the Kaliningrad region on Thursday evening, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda condemned what he described as "a cruel violation of international law and territorial sovereignty of Lithuania.” “We have to react to this,” he wrote on X, posting from Brussels. The intrusion came as EU leaders in Brussels were discussing ways to strengthen the bloc’s security at Thursday's European Council. For Lithuania, which has seen a growing number of airspace violations in recent months — from fighter jets and drones to balloons — air defense remains a top priority. "We cannot remain unresponsive, and this also clearly reflects the importance of the issues we are discussing today in European Council," Nausėda said in a statement. "The decisions we intend to make are certainly aimed at strengthening Lithuania’s air defense.” The planes — which were likely conducting mid-air refueling training — penetrated about 700 meters into Lithuanian territory near the south-western town Kybartai and remained there for roughly 18 seconds before turning back. In response, two Spanish Air Force jets deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air policing mission were scrambled to intercept and subsequently remained in the air to patrol the area. The situation “is fully under control,” Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said in a Facebook post, adding that Lithuania’s response to the threat had been appropriate. “This incident once again demonstrates that Russia acts as a terrorist state, disregarding international law and the security of its neighbors,” she said, adding that “together with our allies, we will guard and defend every inch of our country.” This article has been updated. “We are sending a signal to Belarus that no hybrid attack will be tolerated, and we are taking the strictest measures to stop such attacks,” prime minister says. Inga Ruginienė’s new government suffers second ministerial casualty. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė points the finger at Belarus over airspace incident. Lithuania’s defense minister Dovilė Šakalienė to resign after prime minister loses trust in her.
|
Giedrė Peseckytė
|
A Russian fighter and a refueler crossed the EU’s external border Thursday night as the bloc’s leaders discussed their defense plans.
|
[
"airspace",
"baltics",
"missions",
"policing",
"defense",
"mobility"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Lithuania"
] |
2025-10-23T18:00:24Z
|
2025-10-23T18:00:24Z
|
2025-10-23T18:55:04Z
| 7,383,654
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-aircraft-debate-defense-brussels-lithuania-armed-forces/
|
EU sanctions Russian university rector for offering degree in … how to bust sanctions
|
A senior EU official explained that Brussels had wanted to give the rector “the opportunity to share his own experience with students.” BRUSSELS — The EU on Thursday sanctioned the rector of a Moscow university after the school started a program on how to circumvent Western sanctions. A senior EU official said “we thought that it would be a good idea to sanction the rector of this university so that he can have the opportunity to share his own experience with students,” adding that “I hope this will be [seen as a] little trait of humor.” The Higher School of Economics announced in July it was opening a two-year master’s program on sanctions-busting, as reported by The Moscow Times. Formally called a Masters in Sanctions Compliance, the program promised “vivid case studies illustrating real-life risk situations faced by Russian and international companies.” But the degree program is not the only reason for listing the rector, Nikita Anisimov. Already in 2023 — a year into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — Anisimov announced his university would fund the education of Russian soldiers partaking in the war, the EU’s legal documents state. The symbolic move, published Thursday after EU leaders had agreed on the 19th package of sanctions on Russia, freezes Anisimov’s assets in Europe, if indeed he has any. This week also saw the U.S. move to impose the first new sanctions on Russia since Donald Trump took office as president back in January. Trump sanctioned the oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, rather than applying tariffs to India and China, buyers of Russia’s oil, as he had previously threatened to do. Rare earths and magnets are on the agenda. Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. Like in many European countries, the Netherlands faces a severe housing crisis — making where and how to build a major campaign issue. China and the EU will “intensify contacts at all levels,” says trade chief Maroš Šefčovič.
|
Koen Verhelst
|
A senior EU official explained that Brussels had wanted to give the rector “the opportunity to share his own experience with students.”
|
[
"education",
"sanctions",
"war",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Russia",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-23T17:54:53Z
|
2025-10-23T17:54:53Z
|
2025-10-23T17:55:01Z
| 7,383,459
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-sanctions-russia-higher-school-of-economics-moscow/
|
London Playbook PM: Fighting over Jess
|
AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Intuit By EMILIO CASALICCHIO with NOAH KEATE PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good afternoon. This is Emilio Casalicchio. — Grooming gang survivors are at war over whether Jess Phillips should resign. — The government warns that finding a new chair for its probe into the issue is expected to take months. — A committee is asking questions about Prince Andrew and his free rent. Keir Starmer doesn’t want to go there. — Rachel Reeves could scrap the oil and gas windfall tax much earlier than planned. — We have the full select committee reshuffle list. **A message from Intuit: Only 11% of UK small and mid-sized businesses say they use technology to a ‘great extent’ to automate or streamline operations. Despite rising AI usage, many face barriers to AI adoption. Explore insights like these and learn how AI can level the playing field for small businesses.** FIGHTING OVER JESS: Five grooming gang victims are piling pressure on Keir Starmer to sack Home Office Minister Jess Phillips … while five others are insisting she remains in post. Pitched battle: A fifth former victim (calling herself Carly) confirmed to the BBC she wants Phillips gone — joining forces with four others who this week quit the panel helping to set up the official investigation into the historic injustice. But unlike the others, Carly will remain on the panel, whereas the four other victims have made the departure of Phillips a condition for rejoining the team. Bear in mind: The demand for Phillips to quit hinges on the letter she wrote to select committee chairs this week insisting claims the government wants to widen the scope of the probe to dilute it amount to “misinformation.” The five victims argue her comments effectively branded them liars, because the NWG charity they are working with on the setup of the panel asked if it should remain focused on grooming gangs or be widened. Of course … a third party organization asking a question which different victims disagree on the answer to might seem innocuous. But this issue is so charged that anything appearing to lack tact has a habit of exploding. As such: Carly told the Beeb Phillips “can’t lie about what we all know,” so “maybe the best thing for Jess to do is resign.” She added: “Maybe the prime minister needs to come and meet us survivors ourselves, because you can’t really sit there and preach when you have not actually come and met us.” Starmer is indeed attempting to speak with the victims who have spoken out. But but but: There is now a second faction of victims threatening to quit if Phillips is sacked or resigns as victims minister. The Guardian’s Geraldine McKelvie got the scoop this afternoon, quoting a statement from the women arguing Phillips must “remain in position for the duration of the process for consistency,” while praising her help and support. Where the divide lies: The five (one of whom was named, while four chose to use pseudonyms) are arguing the probe should cover all types of sexual exploitation, because some cases might not fit under a strict grooming gangs scope. So the two sides seem irreconcilable. Watching on with horror: During a visit in East Sussex this morning, Keir Starmer stood with his minister. “Yes, of course, I do,” he said in a TV clip, when asked whether he still has faith in Phillips. “Jess has been working on issues involving violence against women and girls for many, many years.” What happens next: A government official told Playbook PM is re-engaging with victims about their concerns and taking urgent steps to find the right chair (after the two candidates in the running quit.) A whole new field of candidates will be found who will work with Louise Casey, now helping to set the thing up. Officials are promising to move as fast as possible but warning appointing the right chair will probably still take months. The thing is … Phillips has other victims to think about too. Crime stats out this morning showed an increase in people aged between 16 and 59 experiencing sexual assault over the past decade — from 1.7 percent in the 12 months to March 2015 to 2.4 percent in the 12 months to March 2024. The decade before that it had been decreasing. We are on it: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the figures showed “violence against women and girls is a national emergency” and pledged to “redouble our efforts to eradicate this evil.” Elsewhere in the crime stats: Murder was down 6 percent in the 12 months to June and police-recorded knife crime was down 5 percent … but shoplifting was up 13 percent and theft from the person was up 5 percent. Those numbers are here. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp — who oversaw rises in the same crimes as policing minister — claimed Labour had “turned Britain into a soft touch for criminals and a nightmare for victims.” AUDITORS COME KNOCKING: Public finances-obsessed MPs are writing to the Crown Estate and Treasury demanding more details about how moisture-free princeling Andrew Windsor has been managing to live in a 30-room mansion rent-free for two decades. Public Accounts Committee Chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown this afternoon confirmed his team will be “raising a number of questions” about the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge and will mull whether further investigation is needed, depending on the answers. Which is useful because … Keir Starmer appears to have forgotten the last 800-odd years of British history and is letting Buckingham Palace decide what happens in parliament — after Speaker Lindsay Hoyle confirmed this morning that MPs can indeed debate and criticize royal issues, including finances relating to Prince Andrew. Confusion had arisen because MPs cannot criticize the royals during unrelated question sessions, Hoyle told the Commons. But it’s up to the government — which dictates almost all Commons business — to allow a debate on Andrew. And of course … the government is blocking it. A spokesperson for Keir Starmer offered hacks the excuse that “the royal family would not want to take time from other important issues.” God forbid — not least when numerous Labour MPs complain about government business in the Commons being light. SCOOP — WINDFALL DOWN: Rachel Reeves is mulling proposals to scrap the oil and gas windfall tax Labour pressurized the previous government into implementing, as she scrambles to kickstart the economy, my POLITICO colleague Nick Earl revealed. He writes that officials have asked oil and gas firms to calculate the value of potential investment if ministers ditch the tax on profits in 2026, four years before it’s due to expire. GROUNDHOG DAY ON STEROIDS: Hospital doctors will strike for five days between Nov. 14 -19 over their long-running wages dispute, following similar strikes over the summer. BMA committee chair Jack Fletcher said resident doctors had been left with “little option,” while Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was “preposterous that the BMA have rushed headlong into more damaging strike action a week after its new leadership opened discussions with the government.” The Beeb has a writeup. A Streeting clip should be running on broadcasters around now. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Housing developers in London will be able to swerve taxes for local infrastructure and deliver fewer “affordable” dwellings under plans to unblock building in the capital. Developers will benefit from a fast-tracked planning process and be free to lower their “affordable” quota from 35 percent to 20 percent as long as the building gets going fast, according to a new consultation paper. Developers who fail to meet the “use it or lose it” conditions will have to share their profits with councils. The plans also include new powers for Sadiq Khan to approve developments larger than 50 homes. Kudos to the i Paper for being ahead of all this in recent weeks (here and here.) Bear in mind: Some Labour MPs and councillors might kick up a stink about the affordable housing quota reduction. But government officials note that the current rules are stopping homes being built at all, and 35 percent of nothing is … nothing. What else the government wants to talk about: Keir Starmer visited the Peacehaven Mosque in East Sussex this morning to announce a £10 million increase in funding to protect Muslim communities, including via CCTV, fencing and alarms. It follows the £10 million he gave Jewish communities last week for the same reason, after hate crime stats showed the extent the two groups are targeted. ID INDICATION: The Cabinet Office is taking charge of digital ID development, the government announced, including over legislation and strategic oversight, while the tech department will do the grunt work of building it. It shows the extent to which ministers expect the tool to cut across departments. Expect some new words from the PM about digital ID to land in the next hour or so. SPIES, DAMNED SPIES: Three men were arrested this morning on suspicion of assisting Russia’s foreign intelligence service. The Metropolitan Police arrested the men — aged 48, 45 and 44 — at addresses in west and central London. Full writeup from our Noah here. BLACK MARK: The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey dug into awkward comments Mark Sedwill made about Donald Trump … just as the former cabinet secretary is mooted as the frontrunner to replace Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington. It’s not like Trump dwells on this stuff… PHEW IT’S OVER: Labour deputy leadership hopeful Lucy Powell told supporters in an email after polls closed at noon that she “couldn’t be prouder or more grateful” for their help in the race to replace Angela Rayner. Her rival Bridget Phillipson said it was “crucial now that we come together” following a bruising contest. Expectation remains that Powell will win when the results are revealed on Saturday — so a Phillipson victory would be a significant upset. OPEN GOAL: The Lib Dems said Liz Truss offering lectures about economics “is like a pyromaniac giving a talk on fire safety,” after the former PM lashed back on our Westminster Insider podcast at criticisms of her infamous borrowing-for-tax-cuts budget. The full podcast drops tomorrow morning — with plenty more great lines. YOU’RE DEAD RIGHT: At the special Lords committee on assisted dying this morning, Suzy Lishman, a senior advisor on medical examiners at the Royal College of Pathologists, and Thomas Teague, the former chief coroner, agreed with a concern raised by Labour peer (and assisted death skeptic) Luciana Berger that cases where domestic abuse is a factor will not be considered under the bill. Clip of that here. CIVIL WAR CONTINUES: Reform’s sole black branch chair Neville Watson left Nigel Farage’s party, arguing the tone of the migration debate in Britain is “doing more harm than good.” Though Watson said he hadn’t experienced racism in Reform, he told the Guardian’s Chris Osuh he was concerned about the growing influence of Christian nationalism and thought some members were “sympathetic” to far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. FUN FOR SOME: Tory frontbenchers want a Charity Commission probe into a Tower Hamlets fun run that did not allow women to take part in the fun. Aaron Newbury has more in the Express. CAERPHILLY DOES IT: Polls close in the by-election for the Senedd seat of Caerphilly at 10 p.m. OOPS! OUR BAD: Former multi-department minister (and now Spectator Editor) Michael Gove used X to apologize for failing to deliver on a Conservative promise to ban no-fault evictions. Keep a watch on his feed in case admissions relating to the rest of his tour of government are forthcoming. BATTLE OF THE TIKTOKS: The New Britain Project has compiled the five most successful Reform TikToks vs the five most successful Labour TikToks. It’s a growing news source but it’s still banned inside the Palace of Westminster. WILTING AT THE ROOTS: Welsh Labour’s X feed desperately tried to get some traffic on polling day in Caerphilly with a questionable drawing of a rose as “our graphic designer is on leave.” ASKING FOR A CAPTION CONTEST: The photo of Kemi Badenoch sitting at a desk in a classroom of kids is top stuff from political snapper Stefan Rousseau. “Badenoch goes to school after she realizes her numbers don’t add up,” one Labour aide quipped. ACROSS THE IRISH SEA: A former British soldier who shot unarmed protesters on Northern Ireland’s “Bloody Sunday” 53 years ago was acquitted of murder after a five-week trial decades in the making. Judge Patrick Lynch said Thursday that the hearsay evidence central to the prosecutors’ case was insufficient to find the ex-soldier — known as Soldier F — guilty of murdering two of the 13 people killed on Jan. 30, 1972. Full story — and political reaction — from POLITICO’s Shawn Pogatchnik here. SO MUCH FOR DOGE: The Reform UK minority administration running Worcestershire County Council asked residents for their views on hiking council tax by up to 10 percent after Cabinet Member for Finance Rob Wharton warned the council was in a “very, very challenging situation.” The Beeb has the rundown. ON THE CONTINENT: Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists on the sidelines of the European Council that Russia must pay the price with its frozen assets for invading his country. The president called for the EU to enact its plan of using Moscow’s €140 billion to support Kyiv and said Russia was “very much” afraid of the bloc taking this action. My colleagues have a live blog. WORD OF WARNING: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel not to annex the West Bank after the Knesset voted in favor of a bill applying Israeli law to the occupied territory. Speaking before heading to Israel, Rubio stated American opposition to the deal and suggested it is “potentially threatening to the peace deal” his boss Donald Trump has been so keen to talk up. Sky has a writeup. **A message from Intuit: In a survey of over 1,500 UK business leaders, only 11% say they use technology to automate or streamline operations “to a great extent,” revealing a significant efficiency gap despite growing AI adoption. Larger firms with 250+ employees and business-to-business firms were more likely to report using AI tools to streamline their business operations. AI is helping level the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses to compete globally, but many face barriers to adoption. Intuit will soon introduce agentic AI experiences to help small businesses and accountants using QuickBooks in the UK unlock next-level efficiency. These agents are designed to manage everything from routine tasks to complex workflows, freeing up time to focus on what matters most. Discover how UK small and mid-sized businesses are leveraging AI in the new report from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) and ITV Evening News (6.30 p.m.) focus on the Bloody Sunday verdict … BBC News at Six leads on King Charles’ visit to the Vatican. Aasmah Mir at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): Former Met Police Constable Alice Vinten (5.05 p.m.). Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): lawyer representing grooming gang victims David Greenwood … former Volodymyr Zelenskyy adviser Igor Noviko … Russian politician Yevgeny Popov … More in Common’s Luke Tryl … former Tory adviser Kirsty Buchanan. The News Agents (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales. Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Labour peer and former Home Secretary David Blunkett … Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols … the Spectator’s James Heale … Playbook’s own Bethany Dawson. Politics Hub (Sky News, 7 p.m.): Former Labour minister Caroline Flint … former Tory SpAd Salma Shah … Royal United Services Institute Senior Associate Fellow Richard Connolly. Iain Dale (LBC, 7 p.m.): UCU General Secretary Jo Grady phone-in (8 p.m.). The Evening Edition with Kait Borsay (Times Radio, 7 p.m.): Tony Blair’s former political secretary John McTernan (7.35 p.m.) … former U.N. Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev (8 p.m.). Question Time (BBC Sounds and iPlayer 9 p.m. and BBC One, 10.40 p.m.): Health Minister Stephen Kinnock … Shadow Business Minister Harriett Baldwin … former Tory Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries … broadcaster Mariella Frostrup. Newsnight (BBC Two, 10.30 p.m.): Labour MP Alex Sobel … former Tory Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt … Reform UK’s Head of Policy Zia Yusuf … Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader Delyth Jewell. TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: Alfie Tobutt. REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): HuffPost’s Kevin Schofield and former Tory MP Julie Kirkbride … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Telegraph’s Tony Diver and the FT’s Miranda Green. MASHED WITH MILLENNIALS: Looking for Growth hosts a shindig at the O2 with speakers including Labour Growth Group’s Chris Curtis, Tory MP Katie Lam, former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings and former government AI adviser Matt Clifford, from 5 p.m. SLOSHED WITH SPOKESPEOPLE: Keir Starmer’s former spokesperson Dave Pares holds leaving drinks in a Westminster pub ahead of his move to run comms for the Treasury, from 5.30 p.m. TIPSY WITH TORIES: Tory peer and former Vote Leave Chief Exec Matthew Elliott launches a new book on prosperity in the age of autocracy and AI at One Birdcage Walk, from 6.30 p.m. WHERE TO FIND BOOZE IN POSH BERKSHIRE HOUSES TONIGHT: Opposition frontbencher Robert Jenrick (alongside his wife Michal Berkner) is the star turn tonight at a Conservative autumn reception in Maidenhead at the home of Tory-about-town Simon Dudley. It’s cocktail attire — whatever that means — and the house looks plush AF, right on a canal. HAPPENING OVERNIGHT: The by-election result for the Senedd seat of Caerphilly should be announced in the small hours. ALSO HAPPENING OVERNIGHT: The Net Zero Committee has a report out about nuclear power plants … the Environmental Audit Committee has one about airport expansion … the Public Accounts Committee has one on civil service pensions … and the Scottish Affairs Committee has one about North Sea Oil. ACROSS THE IRISH SEA: Ireland holds a presidential election. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Keir Starmer is hosting a call with his “coalition of the willing” pals. What else the government wants to talk about: Dementia care, financial services and solar panels. WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES WANT TO TALK ABOUT: Kemi Badenoch will be out on a visit to chat shop lifting. IN THE COMMONS: Just the despatch boxes. Back on Monday. IN THE LORDS: Peers drift in from 10 a.m. with legislation including the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill at third reading, the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill at second reading and the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill at second reading. INQUISITORS ASSEMBLE: The Labour deckchairs on committee corridor have been reshuffled … thanks to the government’s reshuffle last month. Daniel Aldridge and former Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders replace Whip Gregor Poynton and health PPS Rosie Wrighting (business and trade) … Anneliese Midgley and former Whips Jeff Smith and Vicky Foxcroft replace justice PPS James Frith, DEFRA PPS Tom Rutland and Lords PPS Paul Waugh (DCMS) … former Northern Ireland Minister Fleur Anderson replaces Business Minister Blair McDougall (foreign affairs) … Lewis Atkinson, Peter Prinsley and Jo White replace Justice Minister Jake Richards, defense PPS Shaun Davies and DESNZ PPS Connor Rand (home affairs) … And breathe: Samantha Niblett and former Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner replace health PPS Steve Race and No 10 PPS Jon Pearce (DSIT) … Jacob Collier replaces FCDO PPS Catherine Atkinson (transport) … Jim Dickson, Luke Murphy and former FCDO Minister Catherine West replace DCMS PPS Lola McEvoy, DBT PPS Jeevun Sandher and Rachel Blake (Treasury) … Terry Jermy replaces DEFRA PPS Andrew Pakes (DEFRA) … Sean Woodcock and Andrew Cooper replace Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan and justice PPS Joe Powell (MHCLG) … former Education Minister Janet Daby replaces Cabinet Office PPS Alice Macdonald (international development) … Tony Vaughan replaces Home Office Minister Mike Tapp (justice) … Keep scrutinizing: Former Education Minister Catherine McKinnell and Tristan Osborne replace Whip Nesil Caliskan and DBT PPS Luke Charters (public accounts) … Kevin McKenna, former DCMS PPS Kim Leadbeater and Nadia Whittome replace Treasury PPS Kirith Entwistle, DWP PPS Natalie Fleet and No 10 PPS Catherine Fookes (women and equalities) … and Lee Barron, David Baines and former Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali replace David Pinto-Duschinsky, Gill German and Frank McNally (work and pensions.) SPAD MOVES: The Cavendish consulting group has put together a useful guide to all the Labour SpAds across all government departments — to help lobbyists (and reporters) know who to tap up on which issues. HACKING AWAY: Press Gazette announced the shortlist for its British Journalism Awards with a plethora of political reporters/stories up for a gong: The Times’ Max Kendix was nominated for new journalist … Anushka Asthana (formerly of ITV News), the Guardian’s Pippa Crerar, the Sun on Sunday’s Kate Ferguson, the Economist’s Matthew Holehouse, Sky’s Beth Rigby and the Times’ Steven Swinford are all up for politics journalism … the Sun on Sunday’s tale about Angela Rayner’s three homes and the News Agents’ story on the Afghan data leak were both nominated for scoop of the year … and the Times’ analysis into the data leak was up for investigation of the year. Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine hosts the do at London Hilton Bankside on Dec. 11. Many congrats to all! WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: Sky reporter Faye Brown’s assessment of the similarities between Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage despite their wildly different politics. She writes that the pair are “cutting through in a changing media landscape when attention is scarce and trust in mainstream politics is scarcer still.” Oh, and: The Speccie’s James Heale has a good piece about the influences on Nigel Farage’s thinking. SPOTTED IN PORTCULLIS HOUSE: MPs laden with swag from Northamptonshire to celebrate the area (including lots of Weetabix products): Rachel Taylor … Mike Reader … Rosie Wrighting … Gen Kitchen … Jeevun Sandher … Lee Barron … Lucy Rigby … Marie Tidball … Caroline Noakes … Alistair Strathern … Emily Darlington … and Stephen Timms. PACKED LUNCH OR PALACE LUNCH: Subject to change, here are the lunch menus on the estate tomorrow: The Debate: Breaded hake sub with endive and gribiche (Google this before ordering) sauce; BBQ pork ribs with chili rice and corn on the cob; Vietnamese rice noodles with a vegetable spring roll, crushed peanuts, pickled daikon and carrot … Terrace Cafeteria: Fish and chips; bratwurst hot dog with caramelised onions and mustard; peanut tofu and eggplant satay with coconut rice. ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On Oct. 23, 1707 the first parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain met. On the same day in 1922, Andrew Bonar Law replaced David Lloyd George as prime minister, serving until May 1923. And in 1951, Winston Churchill wound up his election campaign with a speech denying accusations of warmongering, before winning power back from Clement Attlee. WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Andrew McDonald. THANKS TO: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Emilio Casalicchio
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[] |
Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-23T16:13:07Z
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2025-10-23T16:13:07Z
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2025-10-23T18:44:17Z
| 7,366,848
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/london-playbook-pm-fighting-over-jess/
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German soldier shot by police during training exercise
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The mishap has raised fresh questions about how Germany’s armed forces coordinate domestic training drills. BERLIN — A joint military exercise in Bavaria went badly wrong this week after a German soldier was shot and wounded by police officers who mistook him for an armed threat, authorities said Thursday. The incident occurred Wednesday evening in the town of Erding, northeast of Munich, when police received an emergency call reporting “a man with a long gun,” according to the Bavarian police. Officers responding to the call surrounded the area and, amid what officials later described as a “miscommunication,” opened fire. “It was a communication failure,” a police spokesperson told the German press agency dpa, adding that the local police were unaware that a Bundeswehr training exercise was taking place in the area. The soldier, who was participating in a drill simulating combat during wartime, was hit and lightly injured. He was treated in hospital and released later that night, police said. The shooting happened during “Marshal Power,” a large-scale defense exercise involving several hundred soldiers across 12 Bavarian districts. The Bundeswehr said the drill was meant to test coordination between soldiers, police, firefighters and rescue services in a mock national defense scenario. According to Bild, the Bundeswehr’s military police may have fired training blanks at the responding officers, apparently mistaking them for part of the ongoing drill. The police, unaware of the exercise, allegedly returned fire with live ammunition, injuring the soldier. The police confirmed that the local units had not been involved in planning the drill and were unaware that armed personnel would be active in the area that day. “We are now intensively examining where the communication broke down,” a police spokesperson said. The Bavarian state criminal police and prosecutors in Landshut have opened an investigation into the incident. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, who oversees the Bavarian police, has not yet commented publicly. It’s the first official acknowledgment from a NATO ally that Washington is scaling back forces on the continent. A new procurement blueprint seen by POLITICO shows Germany’s plan to become the backbone of the continent’s defense revival. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius intervened to halt a coalition deal that would have reintroduced limited military service by lottery. Paris is significantly weakened, and a trilateral meeting between France, Germany and Spain scheduled for October is now on hold.
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Chris Lunday
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The mishap has raised fresh questions about how Germany’s armed forces coordinate domestic training drills.
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[
"defense",
"hospitals",
"military",
"military exercises",
"services"
] |
Defense
|
[
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-23T16:00:35Z
|
2025-10-23T16:00:35Z
|
2025-10-23T16:01:20Z
| 7,382,226
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https://www.politico.eu/article/german-solider-police-shooting-training-exercise-bavaria/
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Das Update zum Streit um Putins Milliarden
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Listen on Beim EU-Gipfel trifft Friedrich Merz auf die Realität europäischer Politik und auf die Blockade des belgischen Premiers Bart De Wever. Der Streit um die Nutzung eingefrorener russischer Staatsvermögen für einen 140-Milliarden-Euro-Kredit an die Ukraine bringt die Verhandlungen ins Wanken. Hans von der Burchard berichtet über Druck, Deals und womögliche diplomatische Nachtschichten. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis:Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski:Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
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Gordon Repinski
|
[
"belgian politics",
"der podcast",
"eu council presidency",
"eu summit",
"finance and banking",
"german politics",
"playbook",
"russia sanctions",
"russian politics",
"politics"
] |
Playbook
|
[
"Belgium",
"Germany",
"Ukraine"
] |
2025-10-23T15:53:26Z
|
2025-10-23T15:53:26Z
|
2025-10-23T15:53:29Z
| 7,382,718
|
https://www.politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/das-update-zum-streit-um-putins-milliarden/
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Socialist critic of NATO and EU poised to win Ireland’s presidency
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Independent socialist Catherine Connolly’s coolness to Brussels and hostility to Donald Trump put her at odds with the Irish government. DUBLIN — She’s slammed NATO, voted against EU treaties, been accused of offering propaganda boosts for dictators from Russia to Syria — and now she’s on track to become Ireland’s next president. Catherine Connolly, a former mayor of the western city of Galway who’s spent the past nine years as an opposition socialist lawmaker in Ireland’s parliament, has built a commanding polling lead ahead of Friday’s election versus her only challenger, former government minister Heather Humphreys from the center-ground Fine Gael party. The latest opinion poll, published Wednesday night, put Connolly on 55.7 percent support compared to Humphreys’ 31.6 percent. Results will be announced Saturday, but the surprisingly fleet-footed 68-year-old Connolly acts and talks like she’s already won. A Connolly victory shouldn’t be a surprise, given how Ireland’s presidency has evolved in the public mind since civil rights lawyer Mary Robinson’s trailblazing win in 1990. Once a sinecure for senior statesmen backed by the dominant Fianna Fáil party, Robinson’s breakthrough augured in a new era of presidents coming from the opposition benches or outside political ranks. That reflects many voters’ apparent preference today for a presidency — a largely ceremonial post with no role in day-to-day government — that can challenge the establishment and, more specifically, the current Fianna Fáil-led coalition. Should she win, Connolly will succeed another Galway socialist, Michael D. Higgins, who spent the past two terms and 14 years expanding what the president is allowed to say and do. Like Higgins, Connolly has been outspoken in condemning Israel for its two-year war in Gaza — a certain vote-winner in a country that openly sympathizes with the Palestinians and has wretched relations with Tel Aviv. But Connolly has gone farther, defending Hamas’ right to play a future role in any Palestinian state. That drew rebukes from Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, and Foreign Minister Simon Harris, leader of Fine Gael, the other party in Ireland’s center-right government. It’s her NATO-critical stance on Ukraine, and opposition to wider European security moves, that could soon be generating the most awkward headlines for an Irish government caught between the state’s official neutrality and its support for EU efforts to bolster Ukraine. Connolly faced questioning from supporters at one campaign event in a Dublin pub after she compared Germany’s current plans to boost defense spending with Nazi militarization in the 1930s. But she’s stood firm in her opposition to the EU’s ReArm Europe plans to boost defense spending by €800 billion. At the final televised presidential debate Tuesday night, Connolly was asked how she would treat a visiting U.S. President Donald Trump — and whether she would challenge him to his face about U.S. backing of Israel and its Gaza war. “Genocide was enabled and resourced by American money,” Connolly began, before being asked again if she would say this to Trump, who has a golf resort in Ireland and plans to visit when it hosts the Irish Open next year. “If it’s just a meet and greet, then I will meet and greet. If the discussion is genocide, then that’s a completely different thing,” she said. Connolly’s dominance in the campaign has been delivered, in part, by her ability to win backing from all of the opposition parties on Ireland’s normally fractious left wing — most crucially the nationalist Sinn Féin, which declined to run its own candidate. Instead, Sinn Féin chief Mary Lou McDonald and the party’s leader of the government in neighboring Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, have joined Connolly on the campaign trail. Conspicuous in their absence have been Connolly’s previous highest-profile allies, socialist radicals Mick Wallace and Clare Daly — dubbed Moscow Mick and Kremlin Clare by their political opponents. Connolly in 2018 joined Daly and Wallace in a tour of government-controlled parts of Syria back when all three were opposition lawmakers in the Irish parliament. Daly and Wallace subsequently were elected MEPs, but lost their Brussels seats in the 2024 European Parliament election. In media interviews and televised debates, Connolly has repeatedly batted away questions about the wisdom of taking that one-sided tour of Syria in areas under the control of President Bashar al-Assad, who was deposed by rebels last year. She has dismissed media questions about her links with Daly and Wallace as attempts at “guilt by association.” Veterans of Ireland’s diplomatic service have expressed fears that a President Connolly might confuse the world about the Irish government’s true positions. They stress Ireland’s economic dependence on hundreds of U.S. multinationals and the EU’s strong support for Ireland following the U.K.’s disruptive exit. Bobby McDonagh, a former Irish ambassador to the U.K. and EU, says Connolly “has made statements and taken stances that, in my strong view and the view of many, are essentially anti-EU.” He called Connolly’s criticisms of increased German defense spending in the face of rising Russian security threats “fatuous” and her comments suggesting a parallel to Nazi-era militarization “absurd.” McDonagh said that, while “the pro-European majority in this country and the government can simply ignore her,” positions taken by a President Connolly would “register internationally and would have the capacity to damage Ireland’s reputation and interests.” Catherine Connolly’s lop-sided victory to be Ireland’s next head of state was accompanied by a surge in vandalized ballots from right-wing voters. A Belfast judge rejects 53-year-old hearsay evidence from other soldiers deemed “just as guilty” as the accused. The verdict raises doubts over scores of other potential cases linked to the Troubles. Political novice Jim Gavin quit the election race to become Ireland’s next head of state after being accused of being a rip-off landlord. A Catholic conservative from Ireland’s outgunned right, Maria Steen, fails in her last-ditch bid to join Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys on the Oct. 24 ballot.
|
Shawn Pogatchnik
|
Independent socialist Catherine Connolly’s coolness to Brussels and hostility to Donald Trump put her at odds with the Irish government.
|
[
"defense",
"elections",
"mayors",
"media",
"parliament",
"poll",
"security",
"services"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Ireland",
"Northern Ireland",
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-23T15:50:00Z
|
2025-10-23T15:50:00Z
|
2025-10-23T15:59:48Z
| 7,380,792
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/catherine-connolly-socialist-critic-nato-eu-poised-win-ireland-presidency/
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Ex-soldier acquitted of 1972 killings on Northern Ireland’s Bloody Sunday
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A Belfast judge rejects 53-year-old hearsay evidence from other soldiers deemed “just as guilty” as the accused. The verdict raises doubts over scores of other potential cases linked to the Troubles. BELFAST — A former British soldier who shot unarmed protesters on Northern Ireland’s “Bloody Sunday” 53 years ago has been acquitted of murder in a troubling test case for those still seeking justice for hundreds of unsolved killings. After a five-week trial decades in the making, Judge Patrick Lynch said the hearsay evidence central to the prosecutors’ case was insufficient to find the ex-soldier guilty of murdering two of the 13 people killed on Jan. 30, 1972, in the Northern Irish city of Londonderry. Near the end of his three-hour verdict in Belfast Crown Court, Lynch said the accused — a former Parachute Regiment soldier hidden by a blue curtain from public view and identified only as Soldier F — was part of a squad of soldiers who deliberately shot unarmed and fleeing civilians at close range. But he said the evidence didn’t provide specific proof that Soldier F, rather than his comrades, had definitely fired the fatal shots. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, whose Sinn Féin party long has campaigned for Bloody Sunday soldiers to be convicted of murder, called the verdict “deeply disappointing.” The failure to convict anyone — 15 years after a mammoth British state inquiry found that the soldiers had killed unarmed civilians without justification — was “an affront to justice,” she said. The moderate Irish nationalist who represents Londonderry in the House of Commons, Colum Eastwood, agreed. But he stressed that the case had been too dependent on 53-year-old statements provided by two other paratroopers, identified in court as Soldier G and Soldier H. Both also took part in the killings, but “G” is dead and “H” refused to testify on the grounds it would incriminate him. “The problem with the prosecution was that they were relying on the statements of liars, of former paratroop soldiers,” Eastwood said. “They were lying through their teeth in those statements. That was always going to make it difficult to convict.” In his judgment, Judge Lynch said Soldiers G and H “are, in effect, just as guilty as F,” but no supporting forensic or other evidence could prove who fired the shots that killed any particular victim. He said both had committed perjury to the original discredited 1972 probe that exonerated all of the soldiers and, in the case of H, to the subsequent fact-finding tribunal that published its conclusions in 2010. “A 53-year-old statement cannot be cross-examined, nor can I assess the demeanor of a sheet of A4 paper,” Lynch said in explaining why the soldiers’ past testimony to police investigators wasn’t sufficient to secure a conviction of Soldier F. Passions flared outside the courthouse as military veterans welcomed the verdict — and relatives of the Bloody Sunday dead, standing behind them and waiting their turn to address the media, hurled insults. “The terrorists in this community murdered 44 soldiers in 1971 and 104 soldiers in 1972. I will ask you, who is the terrorist?” said Paul Young, a medal-chested spokesman for the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, as those behind him cried “scumbag!” and worse. “I hope there is no more soldiers brought to the courts here,” Young said over the heckling. But relatives of the dead and their lawyers said they would press next for perjury charges to be brought against the still-living Soldier H. “A coward walks free from the dock today,” said Mickey McKinney, whose 26-year-old brother William was among those allegedly slain by Soldier F. A lead lawyer for the families, Ciarán Shiels, said it had been hoped that securing a conviction of Soldier F would have opened the doors to further prosecutions of retired soldiers guilty of up to 188 killings of Northern Irish civilians from 1970 to 1974, the deadliest years of the conflict. But Shiels conceded that the chance for successful prosecutions may have died long ago, because the quality of required evidence was never collected at the time. “He stood trial on a sliver of the evidence that once was available,” Shiels said. Catherine Connolly’s lop-sided victory to be Ireland’s next head of state was accompanied by a surge in vandalized ballots from right-wing voters. Independent socialist Catherine Connolly’s coolness to Brussels and hostility to Donald Trump put her at odds with the Irish government. Political novice Jim Gavin quit the election race to become Ireland’s next head of state after being accused of being a rip-off landlord. A Catholic conservative from Ireland’s outgunned right, Maria Steen, fails in her last-ditch bid to join Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys on the Oct. 24 ballot.
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Shawn Pogatchnik
|
A Belfast judge rejects 53-year-old hearsay evidence from other soldiers deemed “just as guilty” as the accused. The verdict raises doubts over scores of other potential cases linked to the Troubles.
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[] |
Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-23T15:21:21Z
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2025-10-23T15:21:21Z
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2025-10-24T13:29:09Z
| 7,381,938
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https://www.politico.eu/article/ex-soldier-acquitted-1972-killings-northern-irelands-bloody-sunday/
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Europe’s centrists may have to work with far right after Parliament chief says ‘I need to keep majorities working’
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Roberta Metsola says the coalition that has traditionally controlled Brussels may no longer always be able to pass legislation. AI generated Text-to-speech The centrist forces that have ruled Brussels for decades may no longer be able to pass legislation, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Thursday. If so, it means the center ground may have to work with rightwing groups to pass laws. Metsola was speaking at the EU summit a day after members of Parliament rejected a landmark proposal to cut red tape for businesses amid division over how far the EU should go in scaling back its laws. That vote sparked anger in national capitals. “Yesterday’s decision by the European Parliament is unacceptable,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said upon arrival at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, adding the decision was “a fatal mistake and must be corrected.” However, Metsola said she believes the Parliament will find a way to reach agreement on key issues, even if it involves a break with the traditional ways of working. She did not use the words “right,” “right wing” or “far right” in either her press conference or her address to leaders at Thursday’s summit. “Majorities are always strongest from the center out because we believe that this is the way to move Europe forward,” she said in a press conference after meeting the EU leaders. “But if this is not possible, I know that this House [the Parliament] will deliver regardless. Especially because the prime ministers around the table were unanimous in saying that this needs to happen.” The Parliament’s major centrist groups — the European People’s Party (of Ursula von der Leyen and Metsola herself), Renew and the Socialists and Democrats — had agreed to back the red tape proposal. But in a secret ballot, a number of Socialist MEPs rebelled and voted against the deal. MEPs will vote again in November, and the EPP may need to rely on the far right to push through the deregulation package. When asked how she felt about the right wing being needed to back legislation, Metsola said she would prefer majorities to come from the center but that this won’t always be possible. “To be very clear, the message to me from the Council is get the numbers where you find them,” Metsola said. “I have an institutional responsibility, I need to keep majorities working and I need to keep groups working in sync together. “Some positions cannot be bridged but many can,” Metsola concluded, adding that the centrist forces have found agreement on the likes of defense funding and agriculture policy but struggled to do so on migration and green simplification. “It’s not about majority; if anything, it’s about pragmatism,” she said. For decades, the main centrist forces have found ways to work together and exclude the far right. However, groups on the right enjoyed great success in the 2024 EU election, and working with those groups is becoming less taboo. Metsola said she had asked leaders for “their help” to make sure that MEPs “mirror the agenda” of the countries they represent, especially as some of the Socialist MEPs who voted down the agreement are part of governments pushing for the simplification package, such as the Germans, Austrians and Poles. There will likely be a lot more simplification proposals for the Parliament to vote on. In a letter dated Oct. 20, obtained by POLITICO, the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and others called for “a constant stream” of simplification proposals from the European Commission. This article was updated to make clear that Metsola did not use the words “right,” “right wing” or “far right.” The underdog-turned-front-runner tells POLITICO the Netherlands must embrace a more central role in Europe. Political group leaders voiced concern the move could set a precedent for restricting media in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s center right weighs turning its back on historical mainstream alliances in its push to cut red tape. A draft of a letter seen by POLITICO being drawn up by all four mainstream political groups demands major changes to Commission plan.
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Max Griera
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Roberta Metsola says the coalition that has traditionally controlled Brussels may no longer always be able to pass legislation.
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[
"diplomacy",
"european parliament election 2024",
"far right"
] |
Politics
|
[] |
2025-10-23T14:53:49Z
|
2025-10-23T14:53:49Z
|
2025-10-23T18:32:13Z
| 7,381,398
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-centrists-may-have-to-work-with-the-far-right-to-get-work-done-warns-eu-parliament-chief-roberta-metsola/
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European giants strike deal on €6B space champion to rival Elon Musk
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The three-way pact between Airbus, Leonardo and Thales would create a challenger to Musk’s SpaceX. BRUSSELS — Europe is finally firing back at Elon Musk. Aerospace companies Airbus, Leonardo and Thales said Thursday they had reached a preliminary agreement to combine their space activities to create the kind of European champion that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has envisaged. Announcing “a leading European player in space,” the companies said they would combine their satellite and space systems manufacturing into a €6.5 billion business that will employ around 25,000 people across Europe. The three-way deal seeks to create a challenger to Musk’s SpaceX — especially in low-earth orbit satellites of the type that power his Starlink internet service. SpaceX’s projected 2025 revenue is around $15 billion. The deal — initially named Project Bromo after a volcano in Indonesia — has been a long time coming. Talks among the three companies were complicated by the involvement of five governments as shareholders or partners. And winning antitrust approval was always going to be a tall order. France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the U.K. will all have an interest in the new company, which will be headquartered in Toulouse in southern France but will be split out into five different legal entities to preserve sovereign interests. The governance structure mirrors that of European missilemaker MDBA. Airbus, the European aerospace giant, will own a 35 percent stake, while Leonardo of Italy and Thales of France will own 32.5 percent each. There will be a sole yet-to-be-named CEO and managing directors for each country, an Airbus spokesperson told POLITICO. French Economy Minister Roland Lescure hailed the announcement as “excellent news.” “The creation of a European satellite champion allows us to increase investment in research and innovation in this strategic sector and reinforce our sovereignty in a context of intense global competition,” he said in a post on Bluesky. Sounding rather less enthusiastic, a spokesperson for German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said Berlin was following the possible consolidation of the European aerospace industry “with great interest” and was in touch with Airbus and its defense subsidiary. France and Germany have been vocal on the need to create continental champions — with industry chiefs from both countries recently issuing a joint appeal to Brussels to relax its merger rules to enable companies to gain scale and compete in a global setting. In a twist of irony, the deal involves a company — Airbus — that is widely seen as the only European corporate champion ever built. With roots dating back to 1970, Airbus was created in its current incarnation through a Franco-German-Spanish merger in 2000. France and Germany each own 10 percent stakes and Spain 4 percent. Italy has a 30 percent stake in Leonardo, which in turn owns 33 percent of Thales Alenia Space. The new company will pool, build and develop “a comprehensive portfolio of complementary technologies and end-to-end solutions, from space infrastructure to services.” It is expected to generate annual synergies producing “mid triple digit million euro” operating income five years after closing, which is expected in 2027, according to a press release. The tie-up requires a green light from the Commission’s competition directorate, which will have to weigh the tension between its current rulebook for reviewing mergers and von der Leyen’s desire to pick European winners. The joint venture would compete with overseas players on satellites for commercial telecommunications. However, it would face scant competition for military and public procurement tenders in the EU, for example with the European Space Agency (ESA). These are typically restricted to home-grown bidders. Rolf Densing, ESA’s director of operations, has voiced concerns that the deal would leave the agency with limited options for sourcing satellite contracts. Germany’s OHB would be left as its last remaining competitor. OHB’s CEO Marco Fuchs has warned that the deal threatens to create a monopoly that would harm customers and European industry. That could herald a rerun of the tensions that the Commission faced when it blocked a Franco-German train industry merger between Siemens and Alstom in 2019 — although today the political environment is more favorable to the companies. The Commission’s competition directorate is under pressure to broaden its views on mergers to take into account the bloc’s wider push for growth and an increased capacity to compete with U.S. and Chinese players. A review of the bloc’s merger guidelines is due next year, according to the Commission’s latest work program. Alexandre Léchenet in Paris and Tom Schmidtgen in Berlin contributed reporting. Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni all put their names on a call to slash additional business rules. PARIS — Some signatories of a joint appeal by French and German business bosses to loosen merger rules and scrap environmental laws to promote European industrial “champions” … Spokesperson Podestà says she was acting in good faith when she said a press conference didn’t go ahead because of the competition chief’s travel arrangements. Appointment of ex-Vestager adviser to Cabinet signals the European Commission chief’s heightened attention to a policy area that has become increasingly political.
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Francesca Micheletti
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The three-way pact between Airbus, Leonardo and Thales would create a challenger to Musk’s SpaceX.
|
[
"antitrust",
"companies",
"competition",
"environment",
"governance",
"growth",
"industry",
"infrastructure",
"innovation",
"investment",
"manufacturing",
"mergers",
"military",
"missiles",
"public procurement",
"research",
"satellites",
"services",
"space",
"space launchers",
"technology",
"defense"
] |
Competition and Industrial Policy
|
[
"France",
"Germany",
"Italy",
"Spain",
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T14:43:47Z
|
2025-10-23T14:43:47Z
|
2025-10-23T15:00:23Z
| 7,380,294
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-giants-ink-deal-space-champion-take-elon-musk/
|
German police search journalist’s home over social media post
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Cops questioned Norbert Bolz about a post on X that featured a Nazi-affiliated slogan. AI generated Text-to-speech Police in Berlin on Thursday searched the home of prominent conservative political commentator and former university professor Norbert Bolz over a social media post he wrote in 2024 that contained a Nazi-era slogan. On Thursday morning, officers arrived at Bolz’s home and questioned him about a post on X that featured the Nazi-affiliated expression, “Deutschland erwache!” (“Germany, awake!”). Bolz confirmed his authorship of the post, avoiding the seizure of his laptop, he told POLITICO. “The friendly police officers gave me the good advice to be more careful in the future. I’ll do that and only talk about trees from now on,” Bolz sarcastically commented in a separate post on X. Bolz is a regular commentator for WELT, a sister publication of POLITICO in the Axel Springer Group. A Berlin public prosecutor confirmed that police carried out a search in connection with an investigation into the “use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.” Bolz had shared a post from the left-wing newspaper taz that read, “Ban of the AfD and a petition against Höcke: Germany awakens,” and added ironically: “A good translation for “woke”: Germany awake!” The German case comes after U.K. authorities arrested “Father Ted” co-creator Graham Linehan on suspicion of inciting violence with a series of social media posts about transgender people, amid a wider debate over hate speech laws and free expression in the U.K. and other European countries. In February at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance lambasted European leaders, arguing that free speech was increasingly under threat on the continent, though the Trump administration has itself also clamped down on some commentary posted on social media. While Budapest received the worst marks for justice in the bloc, Russia and the U.S. led a broader global retreat from the rule of law in 2025. Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. “Criminal networks respond with detours, new transit countries, and often even more potent ‘substitute substances,’” German drug and addiction commissioner says. Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli named as Sakharov Prize winners.
|
Ferdinand Knapp
|
Cops questioned Norbert Bolz about a post on X that featured a Nazi-affiliated slogan.
|
[
"extremism",
"hate crime",
"law enforcement",
"media",
"munich security conference",
"rights",
"security",
"social media"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Germany",
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T14:33:21Z
|
2025-10-23T14:33:21Z
|
2025-10-23T14:33:28Z
| 7,381,161
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/german-police-search-journalist-home-over-social-media-post/
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French lawmakers vote to hike tax on American tech giants
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President Donald Trump has warned he would retaliate against any move that targets U.S. companies. PARIS — French lawmakers have voted in favor of a fivefold increase on the taxation of tech giants in France amid ongoing negotiations on the country’s 2026 budget. The amendment that passed the National Assembly’s finance committee on Wednesday would raise the digital services tax on tech giants from 3 percent to 15 percent. It would also lift the global revenue threshold from €750 million to €2 billion — shielding smaller national players from the scope of the tax, according to the proposal put forward by Jean-René Cazeneuve, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s party. The 2026 budget will go to a plenary vote in the National Assembly on Nov. 4, after which it must pass the French Senate. Most political groups are backing an increased digital tax — albeit with differing proposals on how big the increase should be. “This measure clearly shows that we don’t have to wait for Europe,” said Éric Coquerel, a left-wing MP who heads up the finance committee. Fellow lawmaker from the right-wing Republicans, Corentin Le Fur, echoed: “We need to act decisively.” U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned against digital services taxes, alongside any measures that he says discriminate against American companies. In August he vowed to “impose substantial additional tariffs” on countries with such rules. If the move survives highly volatile budget talks, companies say they will sound the alarm to the economy minister — warning of potential sharp retaliation from Washington. "It’s a direct attack on American companies, so it’s certain that on the other side of the Atlantic there will be retaliatory measures on other French sectors,” said a representative of a U.S. platform who was granted anonymity to speak on the issue. The move prompted immediate reaction in Washington. “If France moves forward with raising Digital Service Taxes that indiscriminately target American digital companies, the Ways and Means Committee stands ready to work with President Trump and U.S. Trade Ambassador Greer and pursue aggressive retaliatory action,” Republican U.S. representative Jason Smith, who is chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, wrote in a post on X. “I urge France to work cooperatively to address U.S. concerns rather than doubling down on these discriminatory taxes,” he wrote. PARIS — French lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to double a tax on big tech firms — backing away from a more aggressive push amid fears … American tech companies have piled into EU capital with bigger budgets and beefed-up teams. France and Germany are not yet on the same page to detox from Big Tech. Inclusion in 2026 Commission plan follows China’s move to limit export of rare-earth magnets.
|
Mathieu Pollet
|
President Donald Trump has warned he would retaliate against any move that targets U.S. companies.
|
[
"big tech",
"budget",
"companies",
"negotiations",
"services",
"tariffs",
"tax",
"trade",
"financial services"
] |
Technology
|
[
"France",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T14:28:44Z
|
2025-10-23T14:28:44Z
|
2025-10-23T15:49:46Z
| 7,381,440
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/french-lawmakers-vote-to-hike-tax-on-american-tech-giants/
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Who knew what about the ‘spies’ in Rue de Trèves?
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AI generated Text-to-speech A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By MARI ECCLES Tips, tales, traumas to [email protected] | View in your browser Good afternoon! I’m Mari Eccles, dialing in from the health team to bring you an espionage-focused EU Influence this week. One place we won’t be breaking into any time soon: the European Commission. According to an internal note seen by Jacopo Barigazzi, the EU executive is beefing up its internal security with an eye to more secure meeting rooms. Coming in from the cold to steer EU Influence next week is the perfect spy in the making: top mobility reporter and China expert, Jordyn Dahl. What we’re snooping on this week: — Fallout from Hungarian spy allegations as the heat turns up on Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi. — A rare win for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Pfizergate case. — The never-ending saga of foreign influence rules. CHEAT SHEET: We’re now two weeks into a scandal in Brussels, which means the details are starting to get fuzzy. Let’s get up to speed. The latest: Screws are turning on Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, who this week faced calls by members of the European Parliament and nongovernmental organizations to be sacked. Why? Because he was Hungary’s ambassador to the European Union between 2015 and 2019, during part of the time period a spy network was alleged to have operated from the embassy on Rue de Trèves in the heart of Brussels’ EU Quarter. Reminder: The spy network is alleged to have existed from 2012 to 2018, and have targeted EU officials specifically, with Hungarian spies pretending to be diplomats working in the embassy. Yesterday, the Left Group in Parliament called for Várhelyi’s immediate dismissal because of what it says is his “direct” involvement with the alleged spy ring. Before we get carried away: There’s no suggestion in the original reporting that Várhelyi was involved in any of the alleged spy networks. He told von der Leyen earlier this month that he was “not aware” of any of the alleged Hungarian efforts to recruit spies in Brussels, according to a Commission spokesperson. But but but: The Hungarian network operating out of the embassy “was an open secret,” says one EU official who spoke to EU Influence on the condition of anonymity, and who claims to have been approached by a Hungarian spy while working in the institutions. Pointing the finger: What’s more, Viktor Orbán’s rival Péter Magyar, who worked at the permanent representation under Várhelyi, said the Commissioner had not been entirely honest. Magyar accused Várhelyi of holding back information about his time as an ambassador, writing in a Facebook post that he believes Várhelyi “did not reveal the whole truth when he denied this during the official investigation the other day.” Magyar sits in the opposition in Hungary and is rising in polls against Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party ahead of a national election next April. Magyar continued: “It was a common fact at the EU Embassy in Brussels, that during the period of János Lázár’s ministry in 2015 to 2018, secret service people were deployed to Brussels.” Lázár oversaw EU affairs from 2012 to 2018. (Lázár did not respond to POLITICO’s request for comment on Magyar’s post, but was quoted in the Hungarian press as saying: “I don’t recall the exact details — I’m not great at remembering — but … if Hungarian intelligence had gone to Brussels … I would honor them, not reprimand them.”) As a result: Critics say it’s not appropriate for Várhelyi to stay in his job at the heart of the Commission while the EU executive is investigating just what happened. Adrián Vázquez Lázara, a lawmaker from the center-right European People’s Party, said in a plenary debate Wednesday he was “rather surprised” that Várhelyi has not been relieved of his duties until the probe is complete. “I thought that was a minimum, the least we could expect, isn’t it?” Due process: Others argue that we’re putting the cart before the horse. Socialists and Democrats MEP Elio di Rupo said, “One must always work on the basis of assumption of innocence” — but that the allegations in the press deserve an in-depth investigation (he’s also pushing for a Parliament probe, as opposed to just a Commission one). FWIW: Di Rupo, who was Belgian Prime Minister until 2014, told EU Influence he hadn’t heard of the espionage allegations during his premiership. “There was no sign at that time of what we are speaking about now,” he said. “Absolutely nothing.” One curiosity: Something interesting was mentioned in yesterday’s plenary debate on the subject. Polish EU lawmaker Patryk Jaki of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists said that a similar “attack” against Várhelyi had taken place 10 years ago. “Back then, the Commission announced these accusations were nonsense, Belgian authorities investigated the issue and concluded the same.” He didn’t provide any further details on the subject or evidence sought in this supposed investigation. His office didn’t pick up to calls from us today on the subject, and the Commission didn’t respond to a request for information ahead of EU Influence’s publication. Planting the seed: He, and lawmakers on the right of the chamber, point out that the accusations come at a politically convenient time for Orban’s opponents, with campaigning for the Hungarian election kicking off right about now. Back in Brussels: There’s a key question here. If the spies targeted EU officials, how much did the institutions themselves know? “There’s two options,” the anonymous official we quoted earlier said. “That the European Commission didn’t know, and learned from articles” — but lacked measures to stop it then. “If that’s the case, that’s a disaster. The other is, that they knew and didn’t act,” presumably because the operation was so amateurish. “The real question is, why did they let this spy network function without any controls?” Groundhog day: We reached out to multiple members of Várhelyi’s cabinet and the Commission spokespeople with all of the allegations raised here, and we did not receive a response to our questions. What next? The Commission will speak to the Hungarian government about the reports, the EU’s anti-fraud Commissioner Piotr Serafin told MEPs last night. Our reporter Antoaneta Roussi reports that Belgium’s intelligence services will cooperate with the Commission’s investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. CATCHING A BREAK: While her Hungarian commissioner might be causing a few difficulties, Ursula von der Leyen did finally get some good news this week after a three-year legal battle finally came to an end. Belgian judges in the country’s Court of Cassation ruled that a court in Liège was right to dismiss the criminal complaint against the Commission chief over the Covid-19 vaccine procurement contract, Belgian media reported. Back in 2023: Former EU lobbyist Frédéric Baldan (who at the time ran a China-focused lobbying firm called CEBiz) filed a criminal complaint against von der Leyen over the texts she exchanged with the CEO of Pfizer at the height of the pandemic, in what came to become known as Pfizergate. He accused the Commission president of “usurpation of office and title,” “destruction of public documents,” and “illegal taking of interests and corruption.” Several other plaintiffs, including the Hungarian government, joined him. Thrown out: Baldan suffered a blow in January of this year, when the Liège court ruled that his complaint was inadmissible because he had no legal standing. It had the knock-on effect of making the complaints filed by all the other parties inadmissible, too. Now, the court in Brussels backed that assessment. Vindication after blow: It will come as some relief to von der Leyen after the top EU court found earlier this year that the Commission was wrong to block access to her messages with Pfizer’s boss, Albert Bourla. Not over yet: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating allegations of criminal wrongdoing in connection with vaccine negotiations between von der Leyen and the CEO of Pfizer, EPPO confirmed. PAPERWORK FOR CLARITY: Brussels’ plan to make lobbying on behalf of non-EU countries more transparent has moved one step closer to becoming a reality after lawmakers in the internal market and consumer protection committee finally agreed on a position. The major change from the Commission’s (unpopular) “third country interest transparency” proposal? A carve-out from new reporting requirements for NGOs that get grants from non-EU sources. Ineffective? EU democracy researcher Luise Quaritsch at the Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin says that transparency registers “are unlikely to be an effective instrument to address foreign interference.” And she argues that it will still lead to more paperwork for civil society. FASHION POLICE: The Viktor Orbán-backed think tank, MCC Brussels, regularly rails against the EU’s slew of rules and regulations. But the dress code being imposed for their most recent events is one of the strictest we’ve seen in a long while. Eagle-eyed agriculture editor Sarah Wheaton spotted this in her inbox from the think tank for its commemorative “Freedom Breakfast” this morning: Please note: the dress code is smart casual or business attire. Sports shoes and jeans are not permitted and a jacket is required for men Canceled for wearing Sambas: “Really?! You think these are strict?” MCC’s comminications chief John O’Brien told me in an email follow-up. “Naturally, we have no intention of excluding anyone,” he wrote. He added: “This particular event is being held in a private members’ club, and we must respect their rules.” The dark lord returns: When this EU Influence reporter first came to Brussels a decade ago, ex-Commission acquaintances would trade stories of their run-ins with someone they used to call the “prince of darkness.” These days, he’s better known as the monster of the Berlaymont. Whatever name he goes by, the implication is the same: German diplomat Martin Selmayr takes no prisoners. Commission staffers, brace yourselves: he’s on his way back to Brussels (in what capacity … well, that’s less clear). Death by influence: Is this the first European dismissal that can be blamed on an influencer? My health team colleague Giedrė Peseckytė wrote about a spat in her native Lithuania between the country’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and her (now ex-)Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, over the latter’s lobbying over the defense budget without disclosing it. An interesting quirk: Šakalienė is accused of briefing influencers to lobby on her behalf for a bigger defense budget. Well, it ended badly: On Monday, the prime minister stripped Šakalienė of her defense portfolio; on Tuesday, Šakalienė announced her resignation; and by Wednesday, Ruginienė had fired Šakalienė. Funding EU’s thoughts: Which country is propping up the EU’s think tanks the most? The United States, according to analysis out today from Follow the Money. The most influential think tanks operating in Brussels get a third of all of their money from U.S. companies and philanthropists, the publication found. And finally: How do you subtly signal to everyone bothering you at work that you are not in the mood for it today? Take a leaf out of this frazzled EU Influence reader’s book and pop it in your out-of-office reply. CONSULTANCIES Teneo has appointed Germany’s former Finance Minister Christian Lindner as a senior advisor, working on advising key clients in the U.S., the EU and Germany Marco Valli, a former Italian MEP for the right-wing and Euroskeptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, has joined SEC Newgate as a senior adviser on financial services. EU INSTITUTIONS A slew of moves at the European Commission announced this week — read more in Brussels Playbook. Emmanuelle Maincent has been named as the principal adviser for the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, the body within the Commission that advises the College of Commissioners. Beatriz Sanz Redrado will start as the deputy director-general in charge of Financial Rules, Controls & Reporting at DG BUDG. Despina Spanou has been announced as deputy director-general in charge of the directorate for cybersecurity and trust at DG CONNECT. MEDIA Florian Eder, formerly of this parish and currently heading up the SZ Dossier at the Süddeutsche Zeitung, will take over as Berlin editor-in-chief for Neue Zürcher Zeitung from Jan. 1 Catherine Stupp is joining Capitol Forum to cover tech antitrust from Dec. 1. Stupp is leaving the Wall Street Journal, where she was cybersecurity correspondent based in Brussels in past years. Simon Taylor has joined the News Tank group of news agencies as editor-in-chief of News Tank Academic, which covers higher education and research. Brussels Playbook anchor (and much more importantly, ex-EU Influence legend) Sarah Wheaton has been promoted to agriculture and food editor at POLITICO. Big thanks to: Max Griera, Sarah Wheaton, Paul Dallison, Kathryn Carlson, Mathieu Pollet, Stephen Fidler, Jordyn Dahl, my editor Sonya Diehn, and producer Ellen Boonen. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Mari Eccles
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[] |
Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-23T14:20:00Z
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2025-10-23T14:20:00Z
|
2025-10-23T14:20:00Z
| 7,374,978
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-eu-influence/who-knew-what-about-the-spies-in-rue-de-treves/
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TotalEnergies condamné pour tromperie sur ses affirmations écologiques
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Le tribunal estime que le géant pétrolier s’est livré à des “pratiques commerciales trompeuses” à la suite d’une plainte déposée par des groupes de défense du climat. This article is also available in: English Le géant pétrolier TotalEnergies a trompé ses clients et le grand public en prétendant être un acteur majeur de la transition énergétique, a jugé aujourd’hui le tribunal judiciaire de Paris. A la suite du changement de nom de Total en TotalEnergies en 2021, le producteur pétrolier français avait lancé une campagne publicitaire affirmant que l’entreprise avait une “ambition de neutralité carbone d’ici 2050” Elle affirmait être “un acteur majeur de la transition énergétique” et mettre “le développement durable au cœur de notre stratégie, de nos projets et de nos opérations pour contribuer au bien-être des populations, en ligne avec les Objectifs de développement durable définis par les Nations Unies” (des déclarations encore lisibles sur leur site). Le tribunal a estimé que la major pétrolière s’était livrée à des “pratiques commerciales trompeuses” en diffusant sur son site web des affirmations faisant apparaître ses activités comme plus vertes qu’elles ne l’étaient — une pratique connue sous le nom de greenwashing (écoblanchiment). Selon le tribunal, ces affirmations étaient “de nature à induire en erreur le consommateur, sur la portée des engagements environnementaux du groupe”. Le tribunal a ordonné à TotalEnergies de cesser de diffuser les allégations trompeuses “dans un délai d’un mois”, sous peine d’une amende de 10 000 euros par jour de retard. Le procès contre la major pétrolière a été intenté en 2022 par un groupe d’ONG environnementales, dont les Amis de la Terre France, Greenpeace et Notre Affaire à Tous, avec le soutien de l’organisation caritative spécialisé dans le droit de l'environnement ClientEarth. “Nous espérons que la décision du tribunal aidera à faire la lumière sur la réalité des activités de Total, qui continue son expansion pétrogazière”, a déclaré Juliette Renaud, membre des Amis de la Terre France, dans un communiqué. “Il est temps de contraindre Total et les autres majors à se conformer aux recommandations des scientifiques pour en finir avec le développement de nouveaux projets fossiles”, a-t-elle ajouté. Dans un communiqué, TotalEnergies déclare prendre en compte le jugement, insistant sur le fait qu’il “a rejeté l’essentiel des demandes [notamment celles visant] sa communication sur le rôle du gaz naturel ou des biocarburants dans la transition énergétique”. L’entreprise ajoute qu’elle va tenir compte du jugement et retirer les mentions litigieuses de son sites web. Cet article a d’abord été publié par POLITICO en anglais, puis a été édité en français par Alexandre Léchenet. Il a été mis à jour pour ajouter la réaction de TotalEnergies. Des pétroliers vétustes ont navigué sans entrave dans les eaux européennes après avoir laissé derrière eux des nappes d’or noir près du continent. BRUXELLES — Les gouvernements européens ne voteront pas jeudi prochain pour fixer l’objectif climatique de l’Union en 2040, ont déclaré quatre diplomates à POLITICO. Les ministres de … En réponse à la réticence des gouvernement concernant les mesures climatiques, Bruxelles propose un objectif plus faible qu’initialement prévu. Cette décision risque d’affaiblir les ambitions écologiques internationales de l’Union.
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Louise Guillot
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Le tribunal estime que le géant pétrolier s’est livré à des “pratiques commerciales trompeuses” à la suite d’une plainte déposée par des groupes de défense du climat.
|
[
"climat",
"pétrole"
] |
Energie et Climat France
|
[] |
2025-10-23T13:49:35Z
|
2025-10-23T13:49:35Z
|
2025-10-23T15:23:50Z
| 7,381,608
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https://www.politico.eu/article/totalenergies-condamne-pour-tromperie-sur-ses-affirmations-ecologiques/
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Netherlands-China chip war terrifies European car industry
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Automakers worry they’re in for a repeat of pandemic-era chip shortages after Dutch seizure of Nexperia. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — The geopolitical war around Dutch-based, yet Chinese-owned, chip supplier Nexperia is terrifying Europe's carmakers that they'll be hammered by a chip shortage that could wreak havoc with supply chains and shutter production lines. The car industry’s supply of crucial chips from Nexperia is dwindling just weeks after the Dutch government seized control of Nexperia and both the U.S. and China imposed export controls on the company. “We will see production stops and slowdowns in short order globally because a lot of suppliers don’t have the depth of stock of the chips,” said a senior automotive official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. “The auto sector is at the heart of the storm.” Nexperia chips are used throughout the automotive value chain in everything from airbags to entertainment systems. The shortage threatens a replay of 2022, when pandemic-era microchip shortages similarly brought car plants to a halt. Yet automakers have done little to shore up their supply chains against geopolitical shifts, and an EU plan to reshore some chip manufacturing is falling far short of its targets. The Dutch-based chipmaker warned its customers of an “unforeseen development that may affect the availability of certain products,” according to a force majeure declaration issued on Oct. 9, reported on by several media and seen by POLITICO. The notice lit a fire under automakers and their suppliers to get their hands on any available chips, provoking a run on the materials. “It’s like the pandemic when people went on toilet paper buying sprees,” said a second auto industry insider. Following the 2022 shortage, the EU passed the Chips Act to alleviate the sector’s dangerous reliance on other regions for advanced or “mature” chips. Fast forward three years, and seemingly not much has changed. This time, mayhem kicked off when the Dutch government decided at the end of September to invoke a 1952 national law to seize control of Nexperia, which was acquired by Chinese company Wingtech in 2019. The Dutch government feared that Nexperia’s CEO, who founded Wingtech, was transferring the chipmaker’s technology and production assets out of the country. Its decision came a day after the U.S. extended export controls on Wingtech to its subsidiary Nexperia. Four days after the Dutch seized control of Nexperia, the Chinese Commerce Ministry imposed export controls on Nexperia China, prohibiting the export of components manufactured in China. Chips are ubiquitously used in modern manufacturing, driving the green and digital transition. While Nexperia’s chips are not the most advanced ones, they are critical to automakers: A traditional car contains up to 500 of the company’s chips — an electric vehicle as many as 1,000. China’s export clampdown on the chips, coupled with its control of rare-earth magnets — an equally important vehicle component — have sent the Nexperia crisis to the top of Brussels’ list of priorities. “The issue of chips is one of big importance, for many aspects of our policy, most notably the energy transition,” European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said on Monday. She added that Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné raised the issue in a meeting with industry leaders on the same day, “to hear from the companies whether there are shortages.” The companies’ input fed into a call between EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič and his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Tuesday. Next up is an anticipated visit by Chinese officials to the EU to discuss the export controls. Companies have already begun publicly discussing the potential impact of what’s happening at Nexperia. Car lobby group ACEA said last week that it was “deeply concerned by potential significant disruption” to manufacturing if there was no quick resolution of the interruption of Nexperia’s supply of chips. The group argued that the chips coming from Nexperia could be sourced elsewhere, but shifting would take longer than the current stock of Nexperia chips would last. Volkswagen has warned its workers that potential production stoppages are imminent, German outlet Bild reported. “Nexperia is not a direct supplier of the Volkswagen Group. However, some Nexperia parts are used in our vehicle components, which are supplied to us by our direct suppliers,” a VW spokesperson told POLITICO. “At this time, our production is unaffected. However, given the evolving circumstances, short-term effects on production cannot be ruled out.” The Nexperia case and possible shortages have put the EU’s dangerous microchip reliance back on the political map. The European Commission announced this week that it plans to introduce a second Chips Act in the first quarter of next year, following a scheduled review due by September 2026. Currently, the bloc is nowhere close to reaching the goal of the first Chips Act, which was to boost the bloc’s market share in the global microchips value chain to 20 per cent by 2030 — about double its current share. Both lawmakers and EU countries want a second Chips Act. “The European Chips Act 2.0 is in the making. But the Nexperia case shows the time is short,” Herman Quarles van Ufford, senior policy fellow at the European Council for Foreign Relations, said in a blog post on Wednesday. Cyber officials fear the Chinese tech giant’s grip on energy networks. The powerful Chinese company is back at one of the bloc’s most influential lobbies, raising questions over its impact on watering down policies aimed at limiting Beijing’s ability to hack key infrastructure. A letter signed by Germany’s economy minister has the center-left SPD up in arms. The scrambling of jets and airspace closures are becoming more frequent as multiple NATO countries report drone sightings and other incursions.
|
Jordyn Dahl
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Automakers worry they’re in for a repeat of pandemic-era chip shortages after Dutch seizure of Nexperia.
|
[
"cars",
"chips act",
"companies",
"development",
"digital",
"energy",
"exports",
"industry",
"manufacturing",
"markets",
"microchips",
"supply chains",
"technology",
"trade",
"trade uk"
] |
Mobility
|
[
"China",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T13:46:52Z
|
2025-10-23T13:46:52Z
|
2025-10-23T18:55:19Z
| 7,380,894
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/car-sector-fears-sequel-pandemic-era-microchip-shortages/
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You would never block the chain
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AI generated Text-to-speech POLITICO’s weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the U.K. By MASON BOYCOTT-OWEN Tips, gossip, state secrets and coffee requests @Masonboyowen or [email protected] | View in your browser — The next general election could be the first digital currency election, and Britain ain’t ready. — The government still won’t say whether it wants to ban crypto donations — if it does, it will really annoy Reform UK. — Farage’s insurgent crew is schmoozing top consultancies as it continues its business charm offensive. YOU WOULD NEVER BLOCK THE CHAIN: The indomitable John Johnston is away, so I’ve donned my Patagonia quarter-zip to ask: “Um yuh, so, have you heard about this cool new thing called crypto? It could like really, um, be like a threat to democracy, hyah.” Horizon scanning: Following the announcement that Nigel Farage’s Reform UK will become the first party to accept crypto donations — and a scoop from the Observer that is has received its first donation — we’re very much off to the races on what could be the future (dystopian or otherwise) of how politics is funded… and how dodgy countries might try and meddle with us. What timing: As luck would have it the, RUSI security think tank has just launched a new “Cryptocurrencies in U.K. Politics” project looking at exactly that. Influence sat down with Tom Keatinge — the director of RUSI’s Centre for Finance and Security — ahead of a report due next year. We ain’t ready: Keatinge says Britain is now “not a million miles away” from where digital payments might be a defining factor in an election. “The 2029 election — or whenever it is held — could be that moment if we don’t have the right controls in place.” Everything in moderation: “The crypto world is wildly populated with knee-jerk reactions: ban it, let it rip, and everything in between,” says Keatinge, adding: “The starting point, both for our research and for where we are as a country, is that we’re not in the right place from the get-go.” Don’t ban it … well, maybe … but not yet: Keatinge doesn’t subscribe to banning crypto donations — just yet. “It’s not that this might not be the right place to end up, but I just think that experience over the last 10 or 15 years teaches us that people who ban crypto in whatever sphere think that means the problem goes away. It doesn’t. It just goes underground.” Will they ban it? We don’t know yet. The Elections Bill is due to be brought forward at some point this parliament, though it is unlikely to be this year. A policy paper — introduced by Angela Rayner and Rushanara Ali (who have, er, both left government) — outlined what would be in the bill, but notably did not include crypto donation regulation as a specific issue. Government officials last night refused to comment on whether a ban on crypto donations is under consideration, as it appeared to be before the reshuffle. Drowned out: The elections bill is set to be dominated by its headline policy of votes for 16 and 17-year-olds, meaning that crypto could be drowned out as an issue. However, Keatinge says it would be “irresponsible” for the government not to explain why the issue doesn’t warrant greater attention. Push for more: Rose Whiffen from Transparency International UK tells us: “The government has committed to protecting our democracy through strengthening the rules on political donations. Tackling the risks posed by crypto should form part of a more substantive package of reforms to tackle foreign interference and big money in politics in the forthcoming Elections Bill.” As it stands: The Financial Conduct Authority is right now in the process of regulating cryptocurrencies for British consumers, my POLITICO colleague Eleanor Myers texts in to say. Rules are expected to be in place in the latter half of 2026. The Bank of England — which regulates big players — will publish its rules on stablecoins next month. In Westminster: Crypto’s biggest support is unsurprisingly Nigel Farage, who has labelled Bank of England governor Andrea Bailey a “dinosaur” for its proposals on digital currencies. I don’t think you can handle this: Keatinge says there is a belief in government that “if — and it’s a big if — you’ve got the right system in place for non-crypto donations, then you will similarly catch any nefarious activity that is going on in the crypto world.” He reckons the government hasn’t really got enough evidence for the “heroic assumptions” that either system is up to scratch. Transparency fallacy: “There is an alarming reliance on the crypto Kool Aid, which is that the blockchain is transparent, and you can see everything that’s going on. That just simply isn’t true in practice,” he warns. One of the risks: Monitoring the blockchain — the supposedly immutable record of crypto transactions, and crucially where they have come from — is key to this. “But, we know that there are ways it can be changed into opacity,” he says — including how AI can generate multiple wallets where payments are below the threshold which requires reporting under electoral law. Another job for a beleaguered regulator: Just as Ofcom was given the unenviable task of regulating pretty much the entire internet, the Electoral Commission is set up to be tasked with checking crypto donations are all that they seem. However, back-end checks on where crypto originates are still subject to know-your-donor checks conducted by political parties themselves — who in turn farm them out to crypto platforms who deal with the transactions. Resources, resources, resources: Keatinge notes that there is still a “long-standing concern about the capacity of the Electoral Commission” to do its job. This ain’t a criticism of the regulator — but a question of resources. So, what actually are the risks? Crypto, in theory, makes it easier for money from outside the U.K. to pour in, Keatinge points out. “It is materially easier to move money across borders with limited oversight using crypto than it is using a bank,” he says. What does that look like in practice? “If money goes from a crypto wallet — from who knows where — into the wallet of a political party, which may also be offshore, and then finds its way into the coffers of that political party, it might be used … to pay for Facebook advertising campaigns which are operating and being funded from outside Britain.” Ruble truble: Public enemy number one on the list of state threats who may want to sow disruption and let slip the digi-dogs of war is, of course, Russia. Like any self-respecting bond villain, the Kremlin is naturally looking at all the fun new tools it can use to destabilize the West — and crypto is one of them. What does it use crypto for? Cut off from the global banking system, crypto has provided Russia with a financial lifeline through sanctions evasion. Russia’s growing interest in crypto has also seen stablecoins pegged to the ruble. Its most concerning use, however, has been seen in reports of how it has used cryptocurrency to try and undermine elections in Moldova through the payment and direction of political activists. And beyond Moldova? My colleague Esther Webber was told by one senior U.K. official that Britain is helping to combat cyber attacks and disinformation in Montenegro as it tries to push back at Russia in Europe. One Western Balkan leader also told her that their country has been experiencing similar threats to Moldova through Russia’s funding of disinformation and pro-Russia groups under the guise of political opposition. It’s on the radar of the spooks: Ken McCallum, the director general of MI5, said in a speech last week that Russian intelligence services are recruiting useful idiots “on social media platforms, instructing them via encrypted apps, and offering payment in cryptocurrencies.” Tee hee, not telling: When asked how MI5 is tackling and monitoring crypto, McCallum said: “That’s one of those places where you have to allow me just to keep on my side of the fence the various things that we may or may not be doing to understand this methodology and either use it to provide us with investigative advantage or disrupt it.” Thanks, chief! REFORM IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Of course, any move from the government to block crypto donations, or meddle with the system, will be a matter of keen interest for the only party which currently accepts it as a currency: Reform UK. Farage, like Trump, is unashamedly pro-crypto and this week said he holds some “crypto investments that are long-term.” Crystal ball: “If the government were to make it more difficult, or to shut down, or to even have a moratorium on crypto donations until we have reviewed the potential vulnerabilities that have been brought to our attention, Reform will scream bloody murder,” Keatinge suggests. Care to comment? Reform wouldn’t be drawn on what it thinks of the idea of banning their new money-spinner, with a spokesperson saying: “All donations, including those in cryptocurrency, are subject to Electoral Commission rules and permissibility checks. Reform UK has robust systems in place to ensure that we only accept donations from a permissible donor where the identity of the donor is known.” REFORM’S CHARM OFFENSIVE: Farage’s Reform has meanwhile started its own smoked salmon offensive with public affairs pros as it eyes power at the next election, my colleague Bethany Dawson writes. The outfit’s chairman Richard Tice and DOGE boss Zia Yusuf have been engaging in early morning chats with businesses, with spreads put on by “dozens” of large consultancies, Reform’s director of external affairs Matthew MacKinnon says. Order up: Hanbury Strategy are one of the agencies that’s hosted a breakfast with Tice. The consultancy says “clients are rightly keen for insight into Reform’s current and future policies, given how they are shaping the political agenda. Where it’s relevant to do so, we’ve helped many of our clients to build Reform engagement into their public affairs strategies.” From the inside: Consultancies are also looking to bolster their in-house Reform expertise. Leah Thornton, who worked with Farage for two years, most recently running his parliamentary office, joined Flint Global a few weeks ago. Buffet-offering Hanbury is on the same wavelength, having recently hired Reform MP Lee Anderson’s former staffer, Katy Colthup, in July. MINISTER, REMOVE MY GAG: Top Whitehall wonk shop the Institute for Government went studs-up after ministers effectively banned civil servants and other public officials from doing public panels and outward-facing events earlier this year. Now it’s claiming at least a partial victory. How come? Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds wrote back to the think tank after it fired off a missive making clear that “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility.” New guidance referenced by Thomas-Symonds in his letter — shared with Infleuence — also stresses that “civil servants are able to take part in stakeholder engagement and sector engagement activity.” Read the full take from the IfG here. BLAIR ON BILLS: Future ruler of Gaza Former Prime Minister Tony Blair reckons the government should scrap its flagship clean power 2030 target and focus instead on cutting energy costs, according to a new report from his highly influential think tank. More here from my colleague Abby Wallace. Dan Gerrella is the new 2026 president-elect of top PR industry body the CIPR. Gerrella is associate director at Liz Male Consulting and has worked with the CIPR for more than a decade. Under the CIPR’s system, he’ll become president of the group in 2028. Bradshaw Advisory is launching a “strategic alliance” with leading U.S. lobbying firm, Akin. It’s aiming to help to advise firms on transatlantic trade and security, a totally sleepy beat at the moment, we’re sure. It comes after Bradshaw snapped up former U.K. Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser Crawford Falconer, and will bring together former ambos, top officials and U.S. members of Congress from both firms. Ysabel Chen joined Global Counsel as an associate after a stint at WPI Strategy. Polly Mackenzie — ex of Demos and Coalition Spad-land — is launching Zinc Innovation Partners alongside its co-founder and chief scientist Rachel Carey. Its mission statement is that “great science deserves a clear path to real-world impact.” More deets. Charlotte Butterick is starting a new gig as public affairs manager, England at the National Energy System Operator. Jobs jobs jobs: The Confederation of British Industry is looking for a policy adviser. … Boston Consulting Group needs a PR and external comms manager, plus a senior manager for corporate and internal comms. Job ad for that one here … The NFU needs an external affairs manager. Thanks to: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster for being so clever and cool and definitely not writing this bit himself. And to the POLITICO production team for actually getting this into your inbox. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Mason Boycott-Owen
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[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-23T13:13:21Z
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2025-10-23T13:13:21Z
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2025-10-23T13:19:11Z
| 7,380,777
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-london-influence/you-would-never-block-the-chain/
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Living Cities: The European Council takes on housing
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A conversation on what makes a livable city. By AITOR HERNÁNDEZ-MORALES with VICTOR GOURY-LAFFONT Send tips here | Tweet @aitorehm | View in your browser Happy Thursday, city lovers! As you read this sentence, EU leaders are gathered in Brussels for a meeting of the European Council in which, for the first time ever, the bloc-wide housing crisis is on the agenda. Below, we dig into the implications of the meeting and, further down, also reveal why many are less than thrilled with the Paris region’s newest public transport option. FINALLY, HOUSING: For decades, the EU has taken the view that housing isn’t its problem. But its inclusion in the agenda for today’s summit of EU leaders means that for the first time ever, the European Council, Commission and Parliament are accepting their role in tackling the housing crisis. Why the shift? The bloc-wide issue has been seized on by the far right, which has been campaigning on mainstream parties’ inability to solve it. Taking note of that dynamic ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, center-left groups began demanding the EU get involved. That push ultimately led Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to appoint Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen as the bloc’s first dedicated housing commissioner, and the Parliament to create a special committee on the housing crisis. Council President António Costa included the issue on the EU Leaders Agenda for 2025 last January, but we’ve had to wait until October for national leaders to formally discuss the topic. Not of one mind: It’s great news that the Council is now debating the crisis, but forging a consensus may prove difficult. National leaders are likely to be divided on how — or whether — to rein in speculation or regulate short-term rentals, and not all may support prioritizing the flow of EU cash to cooperatives and other affordable public housing schemes. Already disengaging? It’s also unclear just how much they want the EU to get involved. A line added to the Council summit’s draft conclusions on Wednesday stresses that the EU’s response should have “due regard” for subsidiarity — the legal principle that holds the EU should only meddle in an area if it’s certain to achieve better results than national, regional or local actors. That wording has housing experts worried that national leaders are already seeking to undermine Brussels’ ability to deal with housing, and are preparing to rein in the Commission if they determine its upcoming Affordable Housing Plan or short-term rental rules are excessively interventionist. Read my story here. CARRY ON, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: As we scooped last week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the college’s 2026 Work Program on Tuesday, reaffirming Brussels’ commitment to tackle the housing crisis. As mentioned above, in addition to the Affordable Housing Plan due this December, the Commission will unveil an initiative on short-term rentals next spring. Simplify it! Brussels will also publish its Construction Services Act — aimed at slashing red tape related to the building sector — toward the end of 2026. The move will please the European People’s Party, which proposed a wide-ranging plan to simplify regulations and boost housing construction across Europe this week. More here. SPEAKING OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS: Italy’s right-wing coalition has been bickering for weeks over Brothers of Italy’s proposal to raise the flat tax on holiday rentals from 21 percent to 26 percent. But change might be in the air, with the budget law’s final version partially giving in to the League and Forza Italia’s demands that the higher rate only apply to properties managed by real-estate agents or online platforms. It also spares primary homes, except those not occupied by their owner. According to recent surveys, around 200,000 of the 700,000 apartments in Italy’s tourist rental market will fall under the new rate. QUOTA UNDER FIRE: London Mayor Sadiq Khan and U.K. Housing Secretary Steve Reed are being urged to abandon a controversial proposal that would slash the number of affordable homes builders must include in new developments to obtain fast-track planning approval. Under this scheme, the share of affordable apartments in new residential buildings would drop from 35 percent to 20 percent. Bottom line: Building has stalled in London, with just 4,170 homes green-lit for construction last year. The timetable for delivering affordable housing in the capital is now under serious strain, but critics warn the increased speed promised by Khan and Reed’s plan will only deepen London’s affordability crisis. NOT FUNNY: Spaniards are not amused by a new Ministry of Housing advertisement that appears to make light of the housing crisis. Titled “What future do you envision for yourself?” and shot for the cost of €660,000, the commercial depicts a group of older adults living in a shabby flat-share in 2055, lamenting about sharing a bathroom and dealing with each other’s mess. Critics say the ad reads like a cruel joke, coming from an administration under which Spain’s housing crisis has only grown worse. FUNICULAR DISASTER LATEST: The preliminary report on last month’s fatal funicular disaster in Lisbon points to “careless negligence” on the part of Carris, the Portuguese capital’s public transit authority. According to investigators, the accident occurred after a cable that “was not certified for the transport of people” snapped. There are also indications that the system’s maintenance — subcontracted to a private company — wasn’t carried out correctly. Accountability: Recently reelected Mayor Carlos Moedas maintains there’s no political blame in the report, but representatives from parties across the political spectrum are demanding someone take responsibility. It’s unclear if Carris President Pedro Bogas’ decision to step down will be enough. ESTONIA ELECTS: As previewed in last week’s Living Cities, Estonia’s governing Reform Party was the big loser in Sunday’s local elections, failing to win a single seat on Tallinn’s city council. Its junior coalition partner, Estonia 200, was also nearly wiped out — it received just 1.7 percent of the vote — triggering fears over the national government’s future. Big winners: While the Center Party underperformed, it was still the most-voted party nationwide, and is proposing the formation of a two-party coalition in the capital with the center-right Ismaa party. Performing better than expected, Ishmaa says it will only agree to “pro-Estonian” governing deals. RESTART SCAMPIA: The demolition of Naples’ notorious Vela Rossa — the vast sail-shaped apartment blocks where dozens died during a mafia war in the early 2000s — has officially begun. The teardown marks the next phase of ReStart Scampia, the city’s long-delayed regeneration project aimed at replacing the decaying vele with new housing, parks and civic spaces. SEXIST PUBLIC TRANSPORT: An ambitious new public transport project right outside Paris was conceived with one major blind spot, critics say: women’s safety. Urban gondolas: The Câble C1, unveiled last month by President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France Valérie Pécresse, is set to open to the public on Dec. 13. The first of its kind in the Paris region, the line will link Créteil — one of the capital’s most populous suburbs — with nearby municipalities via eight-seater ski-resort-style gondolas. Cable cars are common in Latin America and have cropped up in several European cities, including Porto in Portugal, Koblenz in Germany, and the French cities of Toulouse and Brest. But their arrival in Paris has sparked concerns that women could find themselves trapped in closed cabins with no option to disembark between stations. Political drama: France Unbowed lawmaker and National Assembly Vice President Nadège Abomangoli blasted the project, describing it as a “hotbed for sexual assault.” She also proposed introducing single-gender cabins — a measure used elsewhere in the world, notably in Japan — to address concerns. But Pécresse quickly defended the project: “All cabins on the Câble C1 will be equipped with video surveillance and an alert button, and personnel will be present at every station to ensure everyone’s safety,” she wrote on social media. A wider issue: Women’s safety on public transport remains a pressing concern in Paris and beyond. According to a recent French Interior Ministry report, 10 percent of women who experienced sexual harassment or indecent exposure said it occurred on public transit. Women made up 91 percent of those reporting sexual assault on transit — and in 96 percent of cases, the alleged perpetrators were men. Highlighting the problem, a 2024 European Investment Bank study found that while operators increasingly claim to factor gender-sensitive security into new projects, “explicit measures specifically targeting women’s security in daily operations remain rare.” “To ensure adequate comfort during public transport trips, facilities dedicated to female passengers — and which account for women’s travel patterns — are key,” the report noted. “A lack of inclusivity in transport planning can significantly limit access to economic opportunities, particularly for women, who tend to rely on shorter, more frequent trips due to caregiving responsibilities and depend on public transport more than men.” We’re back with our weekly cities-related trivia challenge! Legendary Street Smarts champ John Beaven of Madrid was quickest to identify Lisbon as the EU capital with a building that boasts the earthly remains of one murdered president, one assassinated presidential candidate, a legendary singer and an equally legendary footballer. In 1681, King Pedro II commissioned a monumental church on the hill of Santa Engrácia, but his successors lost interest in the project, and the building wasn’t completed until 1966. Portugal was a republic by then, so the grand structure was instead designated a National Pantheon, where national heroes could be laid to rest. The Pantheon’s building took 285 years to complete. | swissbert/Creative Commons via Wikimedia Initially, only the remains of a small group of former presidents — among them Sidónio Pais, the strongman head of state assassinated in 1918 — and notable writers were welcomed in the building. But after the Estado Novo regime, the Pantheon also became home to opposition figures like General Humberto Delgado, who challenged dictator António de Oliveira Salazar by running for president in 1958 and was murdered for his pro-democracy efforts. More recently, legendary fado singer Amália Rodrigues and striker Eusébio da Silva Ferreira — widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time — have been honored with internment in the Pantheon. Other figures, like diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who sacrificed his professional career to issue visas to thousands of refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied France, are commemorated with cenotaphs. This week’s challenge: Which European capital replaced its most important statue of Vladimir Lenin with one that personifies wisdom? The first reader to identify it — preferably without using a search engine — gets a shout-out next week. — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces backlash after referring to the presence of migrants in his country as a “problem in the cityscape,” our colleagues in Berlin report. — The French government ordered cultural institutions to review their security protocols following last week’s jewel theft at Paris’ Louvre Museum, Reuters reports. — Spanish authorities are investigating the murder of the Almassora mayor’s ex-husband, whose body was found in a dumpster last week, El Mercantil Valenciano has more. THANKS TO: Victor Goury-Laffont, my editors Leyla Aksu and Stephan Faris, and producer Giulia Poloni. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | Living Cities | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters POLITICO’s Global Policy Lab is a collaborative journalism project seeking solutions to challenges faced by modern societies in an age of rapid change. Over the coming months we will host a conversation on how to make cities more livable and sustainable.
|
Aitor Hernández-Morales
|
[] |
Uncategorized
|
[] |
2025-10-23T13:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T13:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T13:00:00Z
| 7,214,448
|
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/global-policy-lab/living-cities-the-european-council-takes-on-housing/
|
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London cops arrest 3 men on suspicion of spying for Russia
|
Counterterrorism official says there’s been a spike in ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services. AI generated Text-to-speech LONDON — Three men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of assisting Russia’s foreign intelligence service. The Metropolitan Police arrested the men — aged 48, 45 and 44 — at addresses in west and central London. Searches are ongoing at those addresses as well as another west London address. The capital’s police force said the alleged offenses related to Russia. Counter Terrorism Policing London Commander Dominic Murphy said: “We’re seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services and these arrests are directly related to our ongoing to efforts to disrupt this type of activity. “Anyone who might be contacted by and tempted into carrying out criminal activity on behalf of a foreign state here in the U.K. should think again.” Murphy added: “This kind of activity will be investigated and anyone found to be involved can expect to be prosecuted and there are potentially very serious consequences for those who are convicted.” Moscow was put on the enhanced tier of the U.K.’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme in July, meaning anyone working for the Russian state needs to declare their activity or risk jail. Three men were convicted earlier this year after an arson attack at a warehouse containing aid for Ukraine. The Tory leader asked the PM to confirm income tax, national insurance and VAT wouldn’t be increased next month. He refused to answer. Former British PM says Tory pledges to roll back climate reforms are an “extreme and unnecessary measure.” She will serve as Keir Starmer’s deputy from the backbenches — and could cause a headache for the embattled British prime minister. Man claimed to be a victim of modern slavery from smugglers in northern France and wants to claim asylum in Britain.
|
Noah Keate
|
Counterterrorism official says there’s been a spike in ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services.
|
[
"british politics",
"intelligence",
"intelligence services",
"policing",
"security",
"services",
"terrorism",
"westminster bubble"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Russia",
"Ukraine",
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-23T12:42:08Z
|
2025-10-23T12:42:08Z
|
2025-10-23T12:42:35Z
| 7,380,891
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/london-cops-arrest-three-men-on-suspicion-of-spying-for-russia/
|
TotalEnergies misled customers with green claims, French court rules
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Court rules the oil giant engaged in “misleading commercial practices” after case was filed by climate groups. AI generated Text-to-speech This article is also available in: French Oil giant TotalEnergies misled its customers and the general public when it claimed to be a leading actor in the transition to green energy, a French court ruled today. Following its rebranding from Total to TotalEnergies in 2021, the French oil producer launched an advertising campaign stating that the company had the "ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050." It claimed "to be a major player in the energy transition" and to put "sustainable development at the heart of our strategy, our projects, and our operations to contribute to the well-being of populations, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations." But the court found that TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by disseminating claims on its website which made the company's operations appear greener than they were — a practice known as greenwashing. According to the court, these claims were "likely to mislead consumers about the scope of the Group's environmental commitments." The court ordered TotalEnergies to stop spreading the misleading claims "within one month" or face a €10,000 fine per day of delay. The case against the oil major was brought in 2022 by a group of green NGOs including Friends of the Earth France and Greenpeace France with the support of the legal charity ClientEarth. "We hope that the court's decision will help shed light on the reality of Total's activities, which continue to expand oil and gas operations," Juliette Renaud, a member of Friends of the Earth France, said in a statement. "It is time to force Total and the other majors to comply with scientists' recommendations to put an end to the development of new fossil fuel projects," she added. TotalEnergies noted in a statement that the ruling "dismissed most of the claims" relating to "its communications on the role of natural gas or biofuels in the energy transition." It added that it would modify the green claims displayed on its website that were singled out in the ruling. The company has two months to appeal the decision. This story has been updated to include TotalEnergies' comments. European leaders are pushing for more industry flexibilities to reach a deal. Harris also said she has reflected about whether she should have urged Biden to pull out of the 2024 race. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special presidential representative, is set to meet with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday in Florida. U.S. president is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week.
|
Louise Guillot
|
Court rules the oil giant engaged in “misleading commercial practices” after case was filed by climate groups.
|
[
"carbon neutrality",
"climate change",
"courts",
"cutting emissions",
"energy",
"ngos",
"oil",
"sustainability",
"energy and climate uk"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"France"
] |
2025-10-23T12:22:36Z
|
2025-10-23T12:22:36Z
|
2025-10-23T15:41:47Z
| 7,380,738
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/totalenergies-misled-customers-with-green-claims-french-court-rules/
|
Russia on Trump’s oil sanctions: Denial, anger, bargaining …
|
Moscow digests the U.S. decision to target its oil giants. KYIV — Moscow was going through a whirlwind of emotions Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump finally brought the hammer down on top Russian oil giants. Trump’s sanctions triggered a wave of reactions from President Vladimir Putin’s allies, who suggested, in turn, that: the measures were evidence the White House is a warmonger not a peacemaker; the sanctions don’t hurt anyway, honest; and don’t forget about the sweet, sweet economic deals discussed on the Washington-Moscow leaders’ call last week. The deniers included foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova — a top Kremlin propagandist — who said the sanctions on energy majors Rosneft and Lukoil were no big deal. “As for us, we won’t face any particular difficulties,” Zakharova said, avoiding any mention of Trump. “In connection with the aforementioned decision by the U.S. Treasury, our country has developed a strong immunity to Western restrictions and will continue the steady development of its economic potential, including in the energy sector.” Typically angry was former Russian president turned social media motormouth Dmitry Medvedev. “If anyone had any illusions ... The U.S. is our adversary, and their talkative ‘peacemaker’ has now entered the war against Russia. Yes, he’s not actively fighting on the side of Kyiv, but from now on it’s his conflict, not Biden’s,” Medvedev blasted on Telegram. “Some will say he had no other choice, he was pressured by Congress and others. But this does not change the fact: this decision is an act of war against Russia. And Trump is now in full solidarity with crazy Europe,” he added. During the foreign ministry press briefing, Zakharova said that Russia will still be open to connect with the U.S. State Department to implement agreements that were supposedly reached during the telephone conversation between Putin and Trump on Oct. 16. Last week, Trump said both presidents agreed to meet for a peace summit in Budapest, where the U.S. wanted to push Russia toward a ceasefire in Ukraine, where it has persisted with a full-scale invasion since February 2022. But senior Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, again brushed off talk of a truce, claiming the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine need to be eliminated. That phrase is Kremlin shorthand for turfing out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and ensuring the country is demilitarized and never joins the NATO military alliance. Moscow’s maximalist demands prompted the U.S. to postpone the Hungary summit — though officials in Budapest, who have maintained close ties with both the U.S. and Russia, remain hopeful. “Preparations are ongoing and the only question is timing, not intention,” Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a post on X. But that hopeful posture doesn’t chime with the ongoing, trenchant rhetoric emerging from the Kremlin. “We would like to reaffirm that the Russian Federation consistently proceeds from the non-negotiable nature of the goals of the special military operation as declared in February 2022,” Zakharova said, adding that Ukraine must be a neutral, non-aligned, non-nuclear state, “denazified and demilitarized,” as only that will ensure lasting peace. Eva Hartog contributed to this report. Ukraine’s president also wants the EU to step up by unlocking Moscow’s frozen assets to help Kyiv. Pyongyang’s soldiers helped the Kremlin repel an offensive by Ukraine on Russian territory in 2024. “The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness,” says Ukraine’s sanctions envoy. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Veronika Melkozerova
|
Moscow digests the U.S. decision to target its oil giants.
|
[
"donald trump",
"economic sanctions",
"energy",
"foreign policy",
"oil",
"russia sanctions",
"war in ukraine",
"trade",
"foreign affairs"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"Russia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T10:47:11Z
|
2025-10-23T10:47:11Z
|
2025-10-23T10:48:08Z
| 7,380,180
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-donald-trump-sanction-denial-anger-bargaining/
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Ukraine and EU cheer Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil
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“The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness,” says Ukraine’s sanctions envoy. KYIV — There were cheers in Ukraine and the EU when the Trump administration sanctioned Russia’s two biggest oil companies Wednesday. The U.S. sanctions "are a clear signal that prolonging the war and spreading terror come at a cost," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Thursday. "This is a fair and absolutely deserved step. It is precisely pressure on Russia that will be effective for achieving peace, and sanctions are one of its key components.” He also called it "a strong and much-needed message." The U.S. slapped sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and their subsidiaries in an attempt to pressure Russia to take ceasefire negotiations more seriously. “I just felt it was time,” Trump said less than a week after he announced that he’d be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary and declared that the Russian leader was ready for peace. This was the first time Trump has slapped any sanctions on Russia. The European Union's 19th package of sanctions against Russia will likely be approved Thursday after Slovakia dropped its opposition late Wednesday. Across the bloc, there was also support for the U.S. move. U.S. "Treasury decision to sanction major Russian oil companies in the face of Russia’s lack of commitment to the peace process. With the imminent adoption of the EU’s 19th package, this is a clear signal from both sides of the Atlantic that we will keep up collective pressure on the aggressor,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X Wednesday night. “So it happened. … The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness. The complete oil infrastructure is subject to sanctions as it should be. I think the effect will be big and quick,” the Ukrainian president’s sanctions envoy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said in a post on Facebook on Thursday. The sanctions target not only Lukoil and Rosneft but also dozens of their subsidiaries. “Those subsidiaries cover all key links in the oil and gas business — exploration, production, transportation, processing, trade, and service,” Vlasiuk said. Rosneft alone accounts for approximately 40 percent of Russia's oil production and 14 percent of its gas production, and remains the primary contributor to the federal budget, having paid 6.1 trillion rubles in taxes in 2024. The company also has a fleet of at least 39 vessels. “What adds spice to this particular solution is that Lukoil, Rosneft, and others were preparing cooperation proposals for the U.S. — on the eve of Anchorage [summit], Reuters reported this, and we also knew about it from other sources,” Vlasiuk said. “U.S. sanctions open Pandora’s box. We are working to have more.” Ukraine’s president also wants the EU to step up by unlocking Moscow’s frozen assets to help Kyiv. Pyongyang’s soldiers helped the Kremlin repel an offensive by Ukraine on Russian territory in 2024. Moscow digests the U.S. decision to target its oil giants. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Veronika Melkozerova
|
“The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness,” says Ukraine’s sanctions envoy.
|
[
"budget",
"companies",
"cooperation",
"donald trump",
"economic sanctions",
"infrastructure",
"kremlin",
"negotiations",
"oil",
"russia sanctions",
"sanctions",
"services",
"spices",
"trade",
"trade uk",
"u.s. foreign policy",
"war",
"war in ukraine",
"energy and climate uk",
"politics",
"foreign affairs"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"Hungary",
"Russia",
"Slovakia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T09:39:41Z
|
2025-10-23T09:39:41Z
|
2025-10-23T09:40:49Z
| 7,379,931
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-turmp-ukraine-russia-vladimir-putin-eu-sanctions-oil/
|
Liz Truss tells Anne that Kemi is captured by the ‘blob’
|
Listen on Could ‘Maga-fication’ change the course of British politics? Anne has been speaking to former Tory prime minister Liz Truss, who outlines several perceived problems in the country – from lack of growth to higher taxes. The duo also discuss her comments about what the Tories really stands for and the threat from Reform UK as the party grapples for prominence in the polls.
|
Anne McElvoy
|
[
"british politics",
"politics at sam and anne’s"
] |
Uncategorized
|
[
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-23T08:32:25Z
|
2025-10-23T08:32:25Z
|
2025-10-23T08:32:28Z
| 7,379,976
|
https://www.politico.eu/podcast/politics-at-sam-and-annes/liz-truss-tells-anne-that-kemi-is-captured-by-the-blob/
|
|
Greek leader pushes EU on joint defense debt
|
A “joint European borrowing facility” would help countries face down a more uncertain world, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tells POLITICO. BRUSSELS — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted Thursday before an EU leaders' summit that the bloc must play a bigger role in finding tens of billions of euros for countries to pay for increased military spending. Mitsotakis said he would use the meeting in Brussels to call for the bloc to go further at an "inflection point where we realize we need to take more ownership over European defense" and support EU-wide borrowing for common projects. Russia's war on Ukraine, which has included recent violations of EU airspace by hostile drones and Russian fighter jets in recent months, has focused minds on collective security. "My argument is very simple — if defense is the ultimate European public good, we need European structures and European funding to develop our defense capabilities," Mitsotakis said in an interview with POLITICO. "There is an elephant in the room. We don't openly talk about it, but could we envision a scenario where we have a joint European borrowing facility that is targeted to support European defense projects?" he added. "I would most certainly support that, provided there are projects that clearly qualify as European public good ... let's use European money to do things that we may not be able to do at the national level," Mitsotakis said. While the European Commission has brought forward a series of plans to loosen fiscal rules and allow capitals to borrow more to fund a large-scale rearmament program, countries have remained deadlocked on the idea of sharing the debt to unlock additional funds. A series of cross-border projects have been identified, including anti-drone measures, but it remains largely up to national governments to make the investments. "I think the challenge is, can we have additional funding and can this additional funding be attached to conditionalities that push us in the direction of a stronger preparation," Mitsotakis said, "which would be joint procurement, be the development of new technologies, especially drones and AI, and I think the Commission and European institutions have a clear role to play." According to a draft joint statement prepared by ambassadors from all 27 EU countries ahead of Thursday's summit, the bloc will agree to "increasingly gear defense investment towards joint development, production, and procurement." Fiscally conservative countries such as the Netherlands have traditionally opposed new joint debt mechanisms to bolster spending capacity in other nations. In the interview, Mitsotakis also delivered a warning on environmental priorities, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces a rebellion from countries that fear green policies and climate neutrality targets are harming their economies. "I've been very, very clear — the green transition cannot be an end in itself," said Mitsotakis. "Otherwise, we may realize at some point we are running in the wrong race. It needs to be balanced with competitiveness and it needs to foster, or at least not to hinder, social cohesion." "I hate to put a figure on it but the last 10, 15 or 20 percent of the green transition is, right now, frighteningly expensive and we don't even have the technologies to actually drive that figure through," he added. Budapest’s reluctance to point the finger has delayed the bloc’s response for days. Staffers who are most “at risk” are those on short-term contracts, said one official, as employee associations demand transparency. The idea of joint European borrowing is rejected by most of the bloc’s governments. That’s why the Commission is using it as leverage to get them to approve the use of Moscow’s assets for Ukraine. Restrictions imposed by Washington will force the company to end its exports to European countries.
|
Gabriel Gavin
|
A “joint European borrowing facility” would help countries face down a more uncertain world, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tells POLITICO.
|
[
"airspace",
"climate neutrality",
"competitiveness",
"debt",
"defense",
"development",
"drones",
"european defense",
"investment",
"military",
"procurement",
"regions/cohesion",
"rights",
"energy and climate",
"central banker"
] |
Politics
|
[] |
2025-10-23T07:52:09Z
|
2025-10-23T07:52:09Z
|
2025-10-23T09:03:41Z
| 7,379,691
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/how-to-share-defense-debt-elephant-room-eu-says-greek-pm/
|
Fear and loathing in the Home Office
|
AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Intuit By ANDREW MCDONALD with MARTIN ALFONSIN LARSEN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good Thursday morning. This is Andrew McDonald. GRID OF SH*T: Keir Starmer will be praying his Thursday looks a lot different to his Wednesday after a torrent of headlines portraying Home Office dysfunction and government futility put officials on the back foot. But with plenty of questions still to answer and updates coming on several fronts, the pressure on the PM and his team — not to mention the total sidelining of the government news grid — is unlikely to let up. Especially with … a looming by-election defeat in Wales to come, which looks overwhelmingly likely to paint a picture of Labour being torn apart from left and right in its traditional strongholds. Polls have opened now in the Caerphilly Senedd race, with a result expected around 2 or 3 a.m. Those on the ground reckon Labour will get smashed in a knife-edge fight between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. Losing here? Expectation management is a thing and we’ll see what happens, but few in Labour expect any kind of positive news emerging from Wales to improve moods across the party. One mole told Playbook they even overheard a Welsh Labour grandee telling a friend they’re not heading to Caerphilly because they have “got more bloody sense.” **A message from Intuit: Approximately 60% of small businesses use generative AI for writing, design, or admin tasks, often to support their marketing and communications. Explore how AI is reshaping how small businesses work in new research from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** Choose your own adventure: There’s other irritating news around for No. 10 before that result lands; from Tony Blair’s think tank giving Labour’s energy plans another kick to more briefing wars over the Cabinet secretary. Though there is a big silver lining too, FWIW — government officials are buzzing at the announcement of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, the first update or set of new sanctions on Russia since the Trump administration came into office. Plenty more on all of this stuff below. BUT FIRST: The Home Office is on fire. Not safe: Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips is under pressure externally and internally over the mess that is Britain’s coming grooming gangs inquiry, after more resignations from its victims panel and the withdrawal of the frontrunner to lead the inquiry. Last night the four women who resigned from the panel said they would be happy to return … but only if Phillips quits. Brutal: In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood first reported in the Telegraph, the four women said Phillips’ “conduct over the last week has shown she is unfit to oversee a process that requires survivors to trust the government. Her departure would signal you are serious about accountability and changing direction.” They set out five conditions for returning, including consultation on appointing a senior judge to lead the inquiry and keeping it focused fully on grooming gangs. Double brutal: There are angry quotes about Phillips from MPs and ministers in the papers too. One minister tells the Times’ Lobby team they could not “see how Jess remains at this point,” while a Labour MP added they “haven’t seen her deliver anything apart from loud noise.” Meaning: Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister, on the morning broadcast round, will be asked straight off the bat if Phillips retains the government’s confidence, which officials were insisting last night she does. Stand by for another tricky Lobby briefing for the PM’s spokesperson at 11.30 a.m., too. Any more resignations or angry words from victims will further undermine the government’s insistence that Phillips is the right person for the job. And otherwise: There was little update last night from officials on the next steps toward getting a new inquiry chair in place, and no confirmation that planned interviews with prospective chairs — if there are any left — will go ahead. “We need to make progress, so we need to have a chair that commands [victims]’ confidence,” one official said. Despite also chairing a social care review and being touted as a replacement for under-fire chief mandarin Chris Wormald, Starmer’s favourite troubleshooter Louise Casey is giving advice on getting the inquiry up and running and appointing a new chair. In the frame: The i’s Arj Singh and Kitty Donaldson report that new Victims Commissioner Claire Waxham and former child sex abuse inquiry head Alexis Jay have been suggested to the Home Office as possible chairs. As it stands, the government remains opposed to having a judge lead the full thing as they reckon it would slow down the process, due to ongoing criminal proceedings. Hear, from Keir? It wasn’t clear last night if there would be a chance to hear from Starmer himself today. Earlier in the week Playbook had picked up whispers of a planned PM visit today, but No. 10 was stonewalling questions about whether this was confirmed to be going ahead. Definitely popping up … will be the Tories. Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch is off to a Jewish school in North London to talk about antisemitism, where she’ll record a pool clip in which she may well go on the attack on grooming gangs. It will drop in the afternoon. Shadow Communities Secretary James Cleverly will be making similar points on his morning round … while trying to dodge the issue of why the Tories didn’t set up a full national probe during its decade and a half in office. Badenoch also took a bit of heat last night from Jim Gamble, the withdrawn inquiry chair frontrunner, who told Times Radio he was “disappointed” at LOTO using the voices of victims to score points. Also at the banter years department: Many of the papers go with the same joke on their splashes this morning — never a great sign. Three separate papers go with “one in, one out and back in again” on their fronts … though Playbook’s favourite is “Le farce” from the Mail. They’re all describing the big mess on the Home Office’s hands of a migrant deported to France under the one in, one out deal, who jumped right back onto a boat and is now back in the U.K. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has an angry op-ed in the Telegraph. Shake it all about: Political officials are pretty furious about the whole thing, as is Mahmood. Thanks to having his biometrics from the man’s first deportation, the migrant has been detained and will be removed again as soon as possible. However, officials admitted there’s nothing they can do to stop him doing the same thing once he’s back in France. One issue … is the prospect of legal challenge slowing down the deportation of this particular migrant, as raised by Mail columnist David Barrett. Since the migrant is claiming to have been a victim of modern slavery in France, he could use anti-exploitation laws to challenge the second deportation, as an Eritrean migrant did last month to Mahmood’s chagrin. It could be a good early test of the Home Office’s planned modern slavery law reforms, which Mahmood says in a Sun op-ed she has “already taken action on.” Bad timing: The BBC has brought Mahmood more bad news this morning from France, where three sources say plans for a new French maritime doctrine to intercept small boats at sea is on hold — at best — thanks to the legal and safety risk and political chaos in Paris. More bad timing: The Times has also finally got hold of a report that the Home Office kept secret for years. Written by former SpAd turned Tory MP Nick Timothy, the 2023 report found that the department is detached from reality and beset by a “culture of defeatism” on immigration. Can Louise Casey fix this? Some of the key findings — it’s worth reading the write-up in full — include that the immigration system consists of “several confused and conflicting systems working to contradictory ends” … that its lawyers take an overly “defensive approach” … that it doesn’t brief ministers properly … that too much time is wasted on identity politics, though this is one of Timothy’s own personal bugbears … and that talented officials don’t want to join the department. Saying it all: “To those who have encountered the Home Office in recent years, the revelations are all too familiar,” Mahmood said. She said she would work with new Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo to transform the department … which is one of those political aims that is definitely easier said than done. Things can only get … better? Figures on crime in England and Wales for the 12 months up to June 2025 drop here at 9.30 a.m. The Home Office would welcome a bit of good news. REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD: Tony Blair is back influencing the headlines again — this time with a new report from his think tank that is deeply unhelpful to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. You know, the guy who infuriated Blair and his allies by not bothering to defend the New Labour record when he became leader. Tonty Blair is behind this: The former PM’s TBI think tank reckons the government should scrap its flagship 2030 clean power target and instead focus on cutting energy costs. It basically warns that Labour’s hopes to decarbonize the grid in five years isn’t achievable if it also wants to bring down bills by £300 a year, which the government has also promised to achieve by 2030. Our own Abby Wallace writes it up here. Punch in the ‘Ed: “We’re in a cost of living crisis and we’re in a climate crisis — you can’t just pick one and pretend the other doesn’t exist,” the TBI’s Ryan Wain said. It’s the institute’s second public swipe at Miliband’s agenda in the last few months, after an April report criticizing the government’s net zero drive. Starmer defended his ally that time … will he do the same again? Hell yes, we’re tough enough: Unsurprisingly, Miliband’s DESNEZ put out a snippy spokesperson quote insisting the report “rightly recognizes that clean power is the right choice for this country” (even though the TBI says the government should reprioritize its focus onto cheaper, rather than cleaner energy). It adds too that the government is already delivering many of the policies the TBI is calling for, with the exception of zonal pricing which it disagrees with the think tank over. Playbook would love to be a fly on the wall the next time TBI bods engage with DESNEZ officials. More bad news for Miliband … from economist Pawel Czyzak, who wrote a 2023 report on which he based his now infamous pledge to cut energy bills by £300 a year. Czyzak told the BBC overnight that it could be “wiped out” by rising electricity costs. AND THAT COMES … as two other think tanks respected by the government published new reports on hot-button issues among Labour MPs. ‘Ere comes a Keir-shaped compromise: The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published an analysis on the government’s options when it comes to the two-child limit, the scrapping of which it says is “one of the most cost-effective options the government has to achieve a quick reduction in child poverty.” But if the government isn’t minded to do that, the think tank helpfully proposes “intermediate options.” Examples: The think tank says that the government could reintroduce a payment for third and subsequent children, but at a lower rate than that given for first and second children (at a cost of around £1.8 billion) … exempt “working families” from the limit at a cost of £2.6 billion … or introduce a “three-child limit.” All of these options would lift far fewer children out of poverty than scrapping the limit altogether, which it reckons would cost around £3.6 billion. As it stands: The government hasn’t made a choice yet about what it will do with the limit, officials confirmed last night. They pushed back too on the suggestion in the i that the child poverty strategy is ready to go, insisting that both the two-child limit and other issues in the report are still being worked out. SEND FOR A DELAY: The Labour-friendly IPPR think tank has also published a report on SEND reform this morning, which its flacks reckon is part of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s decision to postpone its schools white paper until early in the new year. The report recommends a new statutory “additional learning support” category in schools for children with special educational needs, with the eventual replacement of EHCPs (education, health and care plan documents) with specialist plans. Schools Week writes it up here. BIG MOVE: The Trump administration’s sanctioning of Russia’s two biggest oil companies couldn’t have come at a better time for Starmer and his Western leaders — as they prepare for a meeting of the coalition of the willing Friday. Hitting Vlad: “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last night. Asked about the move and why they are now sanctioning Russia — having held off and claimed sanctions close the door on diplomacy — Trump said he “just felt it was time.” Which would have made for a … cheerful flight to Rome last night for Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is off to the Vatican with the king for a visit to meet the new pope. “Yvette’s been working on these sanctions with Rubio for a number of weeks,” an FCDO official said. Cooper is doing a reading in the Sistine Chapel from the letter of St Paul to the Romans at 12.10 p.m. Future planning: Ukraine is in talks with European allies including the U.K., France and the European Union about a potential ceasefire plan modeled partly on Donald Trump’s peace initiative in Gaza, per POLITICO’s Tim Ross, Veronika Melkozerova and Esther Webber. And closely involved in all of that … is of course the under fire national security adviser Jonathan Powell — who my colleagues Annabelle Dickson, Esther and Dan Bloom write about today in this in-depth piece on why Starmer (and some in Europe) are fighting hard to keep him. They hear that some civil servants refer to him as the “real foreign secretary,” thanks to his own personal networks greasing the wheels of diplomacy. The sheer extent to which he’s basically the glue holding government foreign policy together makes it worth a read. Maybe he and Louise Casey should just become co-PMs. On the agenda back home: John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorious are on a joint to visit to RAF Lossiemouth, where they will launch a new cyber partnership (my colleagues Chris Lunday and Esther Webber got the scoop on that). They will also be announcing the conducting of joint patrols for Russian submarines from the coast of Scotland. Expect the pair to do an “Aussie-style” huddle press conference at 11.50 a.m. SCOOP — UNEXPECTED ENDORSEMENT OF THE DAY: Liz Truss reckons the Greens’ Zack Polanski “might end up leader of the opposition at this rate,” the ex-PM has told POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy. Truss praised the “honesty” you see in the Greens, who she appeared to be suggesting could leapfrog her own Conservative Party. He’ll be gutted: Truss, who has been meeting MAGA luminaries in Washington, also told Anne she is “not offering [her] services” to Reform’s Nigel Farage — though she didn’t rule it out in the future, for any nervous Reform press officers reading. “I’m doing what I’m doing on an independent basis for now … reaching out to people, to network and to understand the lie of the land,” she said. You can hear clips of the interview on Politics at Sam and Anne’s today and the full Westminster Insider interview drops tomorrow. WORMALD FIGHT BACK: Britain’s top official (or his “allies”) aren’t taking his rumored defenestration lying down. The Telegraph’s Tony Diver has quotes from a bunch of Wormald pals accusing Starmer of failing to protect his top official from a “toxic working environment”. One source tells him that Starmer has “developed a habit of hiring people, blaming them and then firing them”, having done this already with his political team, press team policy unit and civil servants. Dog bites man: Another person added that the PM chose Wormald for the post “over other candidates who are less experienced but probably more radically-minded, and knew exactly what he was getting, so this is all very bemusing.” Or as another Wormald ally puts it more pithily to the Mail’s Dan Hodges “it’s like buying a dog, then complaining when it starts barking.” WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: New partnerships with Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Weetabix for its free breakfast clubs. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says she’s launching 2,000 new clubs (there are already 750), but DfE said applications haven’t opened yet for the newly announced clubs. Plus: Deputy PM David Lammy will announce a new deal with OpenAI that will see thousands of officials get their hands on its tech at a closed-door event in London. The AI behemoth is also promising to allow companies to store data in the U.K. to overcome concerns about how sensitive data is handled and reliance on the U.S. Watch for … whether we hear about any of those things ever again. The New Britain Project had some fun/depressing research on government grid policy announcements, showing that most of them capture the public’s attention for just 24 hours. DEADLINE: Noon marks the deadline for Attorney General Richard Hermer and PM Chief Secretary Darren Jones to answer the Joint Committee on National Security’s questions on the China spy collapse case. A public hearing will take place next Tuesday. We’re also still waiting for the committee to announce details of its witnesses in the next few days. NOT WESTMINSTER BUT: There’s a big Tory autumn reception happening at a house in Berkshire later today, where Robert Jenrick is expected to appear. PHEW: The Labour deputy leadership contest ends at 12 p.m. as ballots close, with a result announced Saturday. LabourList has the final messages to members from Lucy Powell and Phillipson. HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 9.30 a.m. with Cabinet Office questions … business questions to Commons Leader Alan Campbell … and a general debate on Black History Month. Labour MP John Whitby has the adjournment debate on government support for cement decarbonization. WESTMINSTER HALL: Sits from 1.30 p.m. with debates on topics including the Justice Committee’s report on the County Court (Labour MP Andy Slaughter) … the impact of NHS workforce levels on cancer patients (Liberal Democrat MP Clive Jones) … the performance of the Building Safety Regulator (Labour MP Chris Curtis). On committee corridor: Ministry of Justice perm sec Jo Farrar is grilled on the aftermath of the Legal Aid cyberattack (10 a.m.) … experts from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Association of Social Workers testify before the Lords committee scrutinizing the assisted dying bill (10.15 a.m.), followed by figures from the Royal College of Pathologists and NHS England, along with the former chief coroner of England and Wales (11.30 a.m.) … and the Work and Pensions Committee publishes the government’s response to its report about routes into work at 11 a.m. HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 11 a.m. with the introduction of the Bishop of Portsmouth Jonathan Frost to the Lords … oral questions on topics including maternal mortality, staffing levels in job centers, and the China spying case’s impact on the proposed Chinese super embassy … a report from the select committee investigating the conduct of former Lord Speaker Frances D’Souza … the third reading of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill … and a debate on the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2005 (Digital Economy Minister Liz Lloyd). NOT AI-ING THE EXIT: The Irish presidential election campaign has been disrupted by an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake video of independent candidate Catherine Connolly announcing her “withdrawal” from the race, my colleague Pieter Haeck reports. Connolly, who looks set to win the race according to the Irish Times, labeled the video “entirely false and malicious.” BRITISH PLANNING LAWS COULD NEVER: The full East Wing of the White House will be torn down to make way for Trump’s splashy $250 million ballroom, despite the president saying the project would not interfere with the landmark. Reuters has the story. Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister broadcast round: Live (7.05 a.m.) … Sky (7.15 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.35 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … GMB (8.30 a.m.). Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly broadcast round: LBC (7.05 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.45 a.m.) … GB News (8 a.m.) … Sky (8.15 a.m.) … Talk (9.05 a.m.). Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor (8.35 a.m.) … broadcaster Piers Morgan (8.50 a.m.). Also on Good Morning Britain: Grooming gangs survivor Samantha Walker-Roberts (7.10 a.m.) … and former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and former Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth (8.45 a.m.). Also on Times Radio Breakfast: The Oxford Migration Observatory’s Peter Walsh (7.05 a.m.) … Spectator Editor Michael Gove (8.05 a.m.) … Looking for Growth’s Lawrence Newport (8.35 a.m.) … the House’s Sienna Rodgers and broadcaster Albie Amankona (9 a.m.) … the Times’ Martin Samuel (9.45 a.m.). Also on Sky News Breakfast: UNRWA’s Sam Rose (8.30 a.m.). Politics Live (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Labour MP Chris Curtis … former Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston … and Tax Justice UK’s Faiza Shaheen. **A message from Intuit: In a survey of over 1,500 UK business leaders, 6 in 10 say they are turning to generative AI for writing, editing, design, and brainstorming. By comparison, 30% use AI integrated into business software for administrative tasks and note-taking, while 10% apply it to internal systems or operations. AI is helping level the playing field for small businesses. Intuit will soon introduce new agentic AI experiences to help small businesses and accountants using QuickBooks in the UK unlock next-level efficiency. These AI agents are designed to manage everything from routine tasks to complex workflows, giving entrepreneurs more time to focus on customer service. Learn more about how AI is shaping small business growth in a new British Chambers of Commerce report in partnership with Intuit.** POLITICO UK: Why Europe needs Britain’s under-fire security chief Jonathan Powell. Daily Express: It’s one in, one out and back in again! Daily Mail: Le farce. Daily Mirror: Unmasked. Daily Star: Traitor at the Beeb. Financial Times: Lawyers and accountants rail against Reeves’ plans for tax raid on partners. Metro: One in, one out and then back in again. The Daily Telegraph: One in, one out … and back in again. The Guardian: Fresh turmoil as candidate for chair quits ‘toxic’ grooming gang inquiry. The Independent: Small boats farce: one in, one out … and back in! The i Paper: Raise income tax, Reeves urged — as Labour budget splits emerge. The Sun: Come again? The Times: Grooming victims say minister should quit. The New Statesman: Doom loop. The Spectator: The ultras. WESTMINSTER WEATHER: High 12C, low 5C. A yellow warning for rain and wind has been issued. BAD COP STRIKES AGAIN: Playbook hears that Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones told a fundraiser for Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Chris Elmore that there’s “7000 civil servants in the Government Communications Service, I’ve no idea what they do.” Playbook’s DMs are open to any GCS officials keen to point out how hard they work. SPOTTED … wealth tax proponent Gary Stevenson at the Adam Smith Institute’s annual Ayn Rand Lecture delivered by businessman and former Conservative MEP Lance Forman. REACH FOR THE MIRROR: Union-affiliated journalists at the Mirror voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action over concerns about redundancies, working conditions and the impact of AI on editorial quality. It comes after its publisher, Reach, announced job cuts in September that the NUJ says resulted in the loss of around 40 writers and editors. ANOTHER ONE FOR YOUR INBOX: Eleanor Langford is helming the iPaper’s new weekday newsletter, Politics Unwrapped, which promises to “cut through the Westminster noise” and “make sense of the big stories and how they could actually impact your life.” Its debut edition examined how long the costly pensions triple lock can survive. DIARY DATES: Labour MP and former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is set to appear on “Have I Got News for You” next Friday, and Green Party Leader Zack Polanski will appear in the following week’s espisode. SHOWING OFF: Sky’s new morning presenters Sophy Ridge and Wilfred Frost are launching a podcast on Nov. 3 titled Cheat Sheet. It will provide a 10-minute rundown of the day’s five most important stories at 6 a.m. The Spectator’s Economics Editor Michael Simmons is also starting a new podcast, Reality Check, with its first episode landing today. OUT NOW: Broadcaster Iain Dale has edited “The Taoiseach,” a collection of essays about the 16 men who have served as Ireland’s premier. NOW READ: This week’s Spectator cover story by Angus Colwell and Max Jeffery focuses on the four pro-Gaza independent MPs and their inchoate electoral alliance with former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana — and increasingly the Green Party. They pick up on the contradictions of the politics of those at the heart of the movement. WRITING PLAYBOOK PM: Emilio Casalicchio. WRITING PLAYBOOK FRIDAY MORNING: Andrew McDonald. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Reform defector and East Wiltshire MP Danny Kruger … Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson … retired Conservative peer Anthony Bamford … former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Matthew Barzun … former Scottish Labour General Secretary James Kelly. PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editors Zoya Sheftalovich, Alex Spence and Dan Bloom, researcher Martin Alfonsin Larsen and producer Dean Southwell. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Andrew McDonald
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Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-23T06:04:52Z
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2025-10-23T06:04:52Z
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2025-10-23T08:30:14Z
| 7,375,650
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/fear-and-loathing-in-the-home-office/
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EU finally takes ownership of housing crisis
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The pressure is now on Brussels to adopt real measures — or risk pushing more voters into the arms of the far right. BRUSSELS ― For decades, the EU’s view on housing policy has been simple: It’s not our problem. Housing isn’t explicitly listed as an institutional competence in any of the EU’s treaties, and though Brussels has issued legislation tackling topics like the energy performance of buildings or the quality of construction materials, it has left regulating the housing market to national, regional and local authorities — until now. National leaders attending Thursday’s European Council summit are abandoning that position, acknowledging they must provide a united response to a housing crisis that has become impossible to ignore and that is fueling the far right. “For the very first time, the European Union’s leaders will debate this critical issue at the very highest level,” European Council President António Costa said at a press conference Wednesday. “It is crucial that we, as European leaders, come together to discuss how the European Union can complement these efforts.” The meeting signals the Council’s decision to join the European Commission and the European Parliament — which have both staked a claim on the issue this year — in affirming that the EU now intends to tackle the affordability of homes. But with national leaders split on how best to address the crisis, it appears housing will be the latest of many issues the Council is deadlocked on ― a status quo that may favor far-right populists, and could also prove an obstacle to the Commission in its bid to roll out ambitious regulation. While housing prices have been rising across Europe for at least a decade, the EU’s institutions have limited their response to symbolic gestures like the 2017 European Pillar of Social Rights, which declares all Europeans have the right to decent housing, but which does nothing to guarantee access to shelter. The institutional shift began ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, when center-left groups embraced the issue, and ultimately convinced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to appoint Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen as the bloc’s first dedicated housing commissioner. Jørgensen intends to unveil the EU’s landmark Affordable Housing Plan in December and has announced plans to present an initiative on short-term rentals in 2026. Following the Commission’s lead, the Parliament launched a dedicated special committee to analyze the scale of the problem last January, and is due to present its measures in the coming months. Shortly after taking over the Council — which hadn’t organized a single meeting of the EU’s housing ministers from 2013 to 2022 — Costa included the issue on the EU Leaders Agenda for 2025. Thursday’s summit consolidates his aspiration to have national leaders work together on the crisis he believes poses a triple threat to the EU, as it “affects the fundamental rights of citizens, negatively impacts competitiveness, and is undermining trust in democratic institutions.” The complexity of the crisis means reaching a consensus in the Council will be difficult. National leaders are likely to be divided on how — or whether — to reign in speculation or regulate short-term rentals, and not all may support prioritizing the flow of EU cash to cooperatives and other affordable public housing schemes. In this week’s draft conclusions, national leaders described the crisis as “pressing,” but only proposed that the Commission present its already-scheduled Affordable Housing Plan. Moreover, the latest version of the text, seen by POLITICO on Wednesday, stresses that Brussels’ response should have “due regard” for subsidiarity — the legal principle that holds the EU should only meddle in an area if it’s certain to achieve better results than actors at the national, regional or local level. Sorcha Edwards of Housing Europe — which represents public, cooperative and social housing providers — said the text suggests the Council is preemptively excusing itself from intervening, and potentially setting itself up for a clash with the Commission if it considers Jørgensen’s Affordable Housing Plan to be excessively interventionist. “I’m not very surprised because each country will be defensive about their own approach,” she said, adding “short-term rental platforms will welcome the news.” But Edwards said a dedication to subsidiarity could be a good thing if it means the EU focuses on taking serious action on debt rules and funneling Brussels cash to social and public housing projects, while giving local authorities more tools to address the problem. Thursday’s summit will be closely watched by local leaders, like Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni — one of 19 politicians from major EU cities who signed an open letter urging the EU to do more, if only to rein in the far right. “This week’s European Council summit is an extremely relevant milestone towards an ambitious EU response to the housing crisis — the main source of social inequality in Europe,” Collboni told POLITICO. “We, the cities, expect a clear mandate for the European Commission to put forward an Affordable Housing Plan, which includes three key elements for cities: agile funding, regulation tools and decision-making capacity.” Pulled support leaves Spain’s minority government incapable of passing legislation. While the Commission president says the focus on housing is about competitiveness, it’s also about stopping the far right. Brussels proposed ending seasonal time changes in 2018, but seven years later everyone’s still winding their clocks back and forth. Competition chief said the EU must stand firm in the face of the American president’s “outbursts.”
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Aitor Hernández-Morales
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The pressure is now on Brussels to adopt real measures — or risk pushing more voters into the arms of the far right.
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[
"affordable housing",
"cities",
"far right",
"living cities"
] |
Politics
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[] |
2025-10-23T05:34:25Z
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2025-10-23T05:34:25Z
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2025-10-23T05:34:31Z
| 7,357,440
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https://www.politico.eu/article/the-eu-finally-takes-ownership-of-the-housing-crisis/
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Ukraine talks set the pace at mammoth EUCO
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AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Amazon By GERARDO FORTUNA with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING: Slovakia lifted its veto on the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia last night, meaning the proposal is likely to be approved today. Not to be outdone, the U.S. announced its own Russia sanctions targeting the country’s two largest oil companies, citing the Kremlin’s failure to commit seriously to the peace process. More on all this below. CIAO THERE. Gerardo Fortuna here on this special Thursday morning edition … and if you’ve heard helicopters hovering since last night, you already know what that means: it’s EUCO day. IT’S GONNA BE A BIG ONE: Today’s gathering of EU leaders has a ridiculously packed agenda. We’ll dive into the details in a sec. But first, check out my colleague Seb Starcevic’s killer cheat sheet — 11 things to know about this summit — it’s honestly way more useful than half the pre-EUCO briefings I’ve sat through in the past few days. TIMING: Arrivals start at 8:30 a.m. … exchange with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at 10 a.m. … first working session from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by lunch … Then it’s back at 3 p.m. for the second round, rolling into the Euro Summit working dinner with ECB chief Christine Lagarde. You can follow all the action today via POLITICO’s live blog. **A message from Amazon: 60% of sales on Amazon come from independent sellers like Caroline from 3Bears in Munich, Germany. “We're beginning to reach customers across Europe and, as a small team, it's so exciting to see where we'll go next,” says Caroline. Learn how Amazon helps European small businesses grow.** CONCLUSIONS PREVIEW: The final draft of the Council conclusions, approved by EU ambassadors on Wednesday and seen by POLITICO, is 57 paragraphs long. Plus there are 18 more via the now-customary EU26 declaration on Ukraine. (Hungary won’t sign anything Ukraine-related again — Viktor Orbán isn’t even showing up until the evening.) Few fights, one flashpoint: Despite the heavy agenda, all member countries appeared satisfied with the conclusions as of last night — apart from one paragraph. The one sore point: Ukraine’s reparation loans. Some countries, like Belgium, carry most of the financial risk of tapping Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s defense. (There’s more in this story by Gregorio Sorgi and Jacopo Barigazzi.) How the Ukraine talks go will set the pace for the whole day. CLIMATE (OR SHOULD WE SAY COMPETITIVENESS): It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had a leaders’ debate on climate action, but here we are. (Merci, Manu.) Leaders will discuss climate and competitiveness this afternoon. This deliberately vague subject line conceals a high-stakes debate on the bloc’s 2040 emissions-cutting target — but not only that. The big picture: Today’s debate is chiefly a chance for each of the 27 leaders to vent their frustration about the bloc’s green legislation. The question is whether they can agree on useful guidance for ministers to approve the 2040 target in time for next month’s COP30 climate summit … and without trashing the Green Deal in the process. Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa sure hope so. Read the story from Zia Weise and Karl Mathiesen here. Wild card: A diplomat warned that the debate on competitiveness could open a Pandora’s box of national grievances. It’s the kind of topic on which literally anything can pop up. So we’ll be watching it closely. CUTTING RED TAPE: There’s broad support for simplification. My colleagues Francesca Micheletti and Hans von der Burchard reported earlier this week that 19 EU countries have written to European Council President António Costa ahead of today’s summit, calling for a “constant stream” of proposals to simplify EU rules (though I prefer the term “fleet of omnibuses,” h/t Ursula von der Leyen). FINALLY HOUSING: For decades, the EU’s view on housing has been simple: not our problem. But its inclusion in the agenda for today’s summit of EU leaders means that, for the first time ever, the European Council, Commission and Parliament are accepting their role in tackling the housing crisis. What’s worrying experts: A line added to the Council summit’s draft conclusions on Wednesday stresses that the EU’s response to the crisis should have “due regard” for subsidiarity — the legal principle that holds the EU should only meddle in an area if it’s certain to achieve better results than actors at the national, regional or local level. The wording has housing experts worried national leaders are already seeking to undermine Brussels’ ability to tackle housing and are preparing to rein in the Commission if they determine its upcoming Affordable Housing Plan or short-term rental rules are excessively interventionist. COMBUSTION ENGINE BAN — AGAIN: Yet another debate looms over the 2035 de-facto ban on combustion engines. Capitals are keen to sway von der Leyen before she tables a proposal to revise the law later this year. Germany remains split internally, while France and Spain put forward their own proposal at this week’s Environment Council. EUROSUMMIT: In the evening, the Eurogroup will turn to the EU’s macroeconomic outlook, the digital euro, the international role of the euro, fiscal sustainability and defense — plus, of course, the Capital Markets Union. Russia’s frozen assets are expected to come back on the table at dinner. The goal: To reassure Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever enough to green-light the Commission’s plan to use those assets as collateral for a loan to Ukraine. Belgium refused to back that section of the Council conclusions until it gets solid guarantees from its EU partners. WITH A SINGLE CALENDAR TWEAK: Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that earn politicians the biggest credit. Take António Costa’s decision to trim EU summits from two days to one. It was universally hailed a success by leaders, journalists, and anyone living or working around Rond-point Schuman. Dress rehearsal for December: The time has now come to test whether that innovation can withstand a ridiculously packed agenda. One EU diplomat said today’s summit is a test run before the December EUCO — when the EU long-term budget battle will formally begin, and the Danes unveil their “nego-box” (one of the cutest pieces of EU jargon out there). If Costa can keep everyone feeling heard and happy today, we might just get another one-day EUCO — and a free Friday in December as well. READING BETWEEN THE LINES: One topic that won’t appear explicitly in the EUCO conclusions — but will definitely hang over the room and on leaders’ minds — is China. As two diplomats and one EU official told Playbook, when you spot words like economic pressure or unfair trade practices, that’s code for Beijing. And right on cue: Per the latest draft conclusions, EU leaders will urge the European Commission to “make full use of the EU’s economic security instruments” to “offset unfair trade practices.” That language is still relatively mild — but could harden before it’s adopted. Some capitals see economic coercion as a real and present danger (though others insist dialogue must continue). France, Poland and even Germany are planning to raise Beijing’s export controls on critical minerals — likely during the competitiveness debate. Seizing the moment: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she’s “ready to propose further measures to ensure Europe’s economic security” and will “accelerate what we have already put in motion.” Her warning: “A crisis in the supply of critical raw materials is no longer a distant risk.” One diplomat told Playbook that the Commission’s sudden enthusiasm for economic security looks “a bit suspicious” — perhaps a way to score a policy win after setbacks on defense. (Remember the roadmap debacle and the much-mocked “drone wall” idea that left many leaders scratching their heads?) Dust off the trade bazooka! Some expect leaders to quietly float the bloc’s so-called trade bazooka — the anti-coercion instrument meant to fend off foreign pressure. But only as a last resort, and only if diplomacy with Beijing fails. FICO FLIP: Slovakia lifted its veto on the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia last night. That immediately triggered the written procedure for EU Council approval. Which is Brussels-speak for “it’s a done deal.” The package will be approved unless objections land before an 8 a.m. deadline today. The headline: Natural gas. The sanctions target Russia’s key revenue streams through new energy, financial and trade measures. And for the first time, the EU will sanction Russia’s LNG. Nobody would’ve believed it: The main element of this package is economic, an EU official commented to our Gabriel Gavin, but the possibility to restrict Russian diplomats’ movement is also particularly useful. “Nobody would’ve believed that would be possible to get an agreement on two months ago,” the official said. Speed record: The most impressive part is that it only took a month. Despite pushback from countries like Slovakia and Austria, concerns were ironed out and the package was negotiated and wrapped up in record time. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel already has his sights set on preparations for “the next package to further increase the pressure.” What Slovakia got: According to two diplomats, Bratislava’s change of heart came after the inclusion of references to emissions, ETS2 (the emissions trading system for buildings and transport) and high energy prices in the EUCO conclusions — all key Slovak concerns. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: Not to be outdone, the U.S. Treasury also announced a fresh round of sanctions in response to Moscow’s lack of serious engagement in peace efforts, targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies. “Today’s actions increase pressure on Russia’s energy sector and degrade the Kremlin’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine and support its weakened economy,” the Treasury said on X. Von der Leyen tipped off: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen got a heads-up from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called her ahead of the announcement. “With the imminent adoption of the EU’s 19th package, this is a clear signal from both sides of the Atlantic that we will keep up collective pressure on the aggressor,” von der Leyen said on X. One thing more. This is the most significant step Donald Trump has taken as president to put pressure on Putin over the Ukraine war. There’s one other thing he could also do, Finnish PM Petteri Orpo told POLITICO’s Tim Ross: equip Ukraine with U.S. long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to match (if not exceed) Russia’s capabilities. **A Message from the Berlin Global Dialogue: Shifting Power, Shaping Prosperity. From October 23–25, Berlin Global Dialogue unites leaders from business, government, and academia to shape global prosperity in times of shifting power dynamics. Watch the livestream now!** METSOLA’S GLOOMY EUCO: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will have an awkward seat at the table today as she joins the 27 EU leaders at EUCO — forced to explain why the Parliament is holding up the bloc’s drive to simplify EU laws. Governments have been slamming MEPs for being too slow. Down the drain: On Wednesday, a majority of MEPs rejected a hard-fought deal between the centrist groups — the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew — on a corporate green reporting simplification package, which now heads back to plenary on Nov. 12, with amendments open until then. Unstable: The vote throws serious doubt on Ursula von der Leyen’s ability to hold her centrist coalition together on divisive files like green regulation and migration. “This is the most unstable Parliament ever,” one EU official told Playbook. “It’s very difficult for the Commission to predict their moves.” Socialist rebellion: Despite a coalition deal, S&D leader Iratxe García failed to keep her group in line. Many of her MEPs defected, rejecting what they saw as a deal that leaned too far right. EPP officials said those Socialist votes were key to sinking the deal, although others pointed to absences among all three centrist groups, including Renew. Let the blame game begin: In the Parliament’s hallways, a list is circulating of 31 Socialist MEPs who challenged the agreement and requested it be put to a vote. It includes three S&D vice-chairs — Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim, Germany’s Gabriele Bischoff and France’s Christophe Clergeau — as well as the entire Austrian, French, Dutch and Polish delegations, plus parts of the Belgian, German and Luxembourgish ones. From the horse’s mouth: Dutch MEP Lara Wolters, who quit as S&D’s lead negotiator after being forced to sign the EPP-backed deal, said on social media that the EPP tried to “bully” the Socialists instead of engaging in “good faith negotiations.” She said she hopes talks can now resume “with compromise on all sides.” EPP hits back: EPP leader Manfred Weber, ahead of Wednesday’s vote, said the Socialists were unreliable for breaking their word. His negotiator, Jörgen Warborn, said after the vote that he “tried to compromise” but accused the S&D of undermining the simplification agenda and creating instability for businesses. If the EPP and S&D can’t mend fences, the center-right will likely turn to a right-wing majority (the so-called Venezuela majority) to push the bill through. EU BUDGET COUNTDOWN BEGINS: Political group leaders agreed Wednesday to add a debate on the architecture of the EU’s long-term budget (or Multiannual Financial Framework) to the Nov. 12 plenary, Gregorio Sorgi and Max Griera report. Hard deadline: That date also marks the cutoff for Parliament and the Commission to agree on changes to controversial national plans that were proposed by the EU executive, said Siegfried Mureșan, an MEP from the EPP and lead negotiator on the MFF. News coming soon: Mureșan said MEPs expect the Commission to table updates to its budget proposal as early as next week — a move that “will fundamentally affect our position.” If those revisions fall short, both the EPP and S&D plan to hit back with a plenary resolution. Right-wing alliance: At the same meeting, the EPP teamed up with the far right to shake up the Parliament’s internal oversight of national plans — swapping out the Socialist-led employment committee for the ECR-led budget committee, alongside agriculture and cohesion. The right-wing majority also blocked an S&D bid to give the Socialist-run economy committee a lead role in shaping the European Competitiveness Fund. THIS IS FINE: Senior NATO and Spanish government officials are downplaying Donald Trump’s threats to penalize Spain for its low defense spending. A senior NATO officer said the threat “is not being taken seriously” and that Spain is “reacting calmly.” Read more POLITICO has more here. TIGHTENING UP: The European Commission is beefing up its internal security, including plans for more secure meeting rooms, according to an internal note seen by POLITICO. DEEPFAKE DISRUPTION: The Irish presidential campaign has been disrupted by an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake video — an imitation of an RTÉ news report — purportedly showing frontrunner Catherine Connolly announcing her “withdrawal” from the race. (Latest polls set her on course for commanding victory). **Europe’s automotive industry is losing its edge. With global rivals racing ahead in electrification and digital manufacturing, can Europe stay in the fast lane? Join EU policymakers, industry leaders, and experts at Race for Traction to explore what it will take to keep Europe competitive. Apply now to attend onsite in Brussels.** — European Council summit. Arrivals and doorsteps from 8:30 a.m. … press conference by Parliament President Roberta Metsola at 11:30 a.m. … press conference by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa following the end. Watch. — Euro summit takes place on the margins of EUCO. — European Parliament plenary continues in Strasbourg. Highlights: Combating violence against women at 9 a.m. … voting at noon … debate on discontinuing seasonal time change at 3 p.m. Agenda. — European Economic and Social Committee plenary session. Inaugural ceremony at 11 a.m. with Costa, von der Leyen and Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Michael McGrath. Agenda. Watch. — Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen is in Riga, Latvia … delivers a keynote speech at Techritory Forum … meets Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds … Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže … Latvian Economy Minister Viktors Valainis … Latvian Transport Minister Atis Švinka. — Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen is on a high-level mission with around 80 EU agri-food firms in São Paulo, Brazil. Meets Brazilian Secretary of Commerce Luis Rua and local agricultural sector representatives. — Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius is in Berlin to participate in the panel debate “Securing Europe: Aligning Industry and Investment for a New Era of Defense” at the Berlin Global Dialogue … meets with European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño. — Commission Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu is in Tallinn, Estonia … meets Estonian Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi … and Education Minister Kristina Kallas. — Democracy Commissioner Michael McGrath is in Canada; delivers a keynote address on “Safeguarding Europe’s Information Ecosystem” at the Attention Forum Conference … meets Industry Minister Melanie Joly. WEATHER: High 16C and stormy. The Royal Meteorological Institute has issued yellow warnings for rain and wind. TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS: Traffic and public transport in Brussels around the EU Quarter will be disrupted due to the EUCO lasting until Friday. Expect disruptions also in the center on Friday because of the visit of Luxembourg’s royal visit. Details. RAIL STRIKE EXTENDED: Railway workers will now strike on all three days scheduled for the end of next month, extending the action from the previously planned single day. LAST DAYS OF POMPEII: An immersive exhibition that allows visitors to explore the streets of Pompeii through virtual reality opens today at Brussels Expo. More here. BIRTHDAYS: POLITICO alum Saim Saeed; UNHCR’s Matthew Reynolds; Expedia’s Ana Perdigao; André Ruivo Félix of the European Disability Forum; Paul Kagame, Rwandan president; Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. Hungarian Republic Day. THANKS TO: Gabriel Gavin, Max Griera, Gregorio Sorgi, Zia Weise, Aitor Hernández-Morales, Camille Gijs and Jordyn Dahl; Playbook editor Alex Spence, reporter Ketrin Jochecová and producer Dean Southwell. **A message from Amazon: Caroline's 3Bears started as a dream. “It was kind of a fairytale idea, but we made it a reality,” says Caroline. “We wanted to help people start their day with high-quality porridge.” 3Bears represents thousands of European success stories selling on Amazon. In 2024, EU-based small businesses sold more than 1.3 billion products and generated more than €34 billion in sales within the EU alone. These entrepreneurs are creating an estimated 350,000 jobs across the EU, many in rural areas. Learn more about how Amazon helps European businesses thrive in our latest EU Small and Medium Enterprises Impact Report at AboutAmazon.eu.** CORRECTION: This newsletter was updated on Oct. 23 to remove quotations that were mistakenly attributed to Manfred Weber and Jörgen Warborn. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/ukraine-talks-set-the-pace-at-a-mammoth-euco/
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Putin, China, Klimaziele: Merz’ Sorgen beim EU-Gipfel
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KI generierte Text-to-Speech Präsentiert von YouTube Von HANS VON DER BURCHARD Mit JASPER BENNINK PRÄSENTIERT VON Schicken Sie uns Ihre Tipps hier, hier oder hier | X @GordonRepinski @vonderburchard @R_Buchsteiner | Das Playbook anhören oder online lesen Bonjour et Goedemorgen, hier meldet sich Hans von der Burchard aus Brüssel. Vor Ort dreht sich alles um den großen EU-Gipfel, aber auch die mögliche Beförderung von Martin Selmayr: Plötzlich beschäftigt dieser Brüsseler Krimi auch das Kanzleramt. Eigentlich mangelt es an deutschen Beamten in EU-Spitzenpositionen: Doch nachdem Europaminister Gunther Krichbaum deutliche Unterstützung für Selmayr signalisiert hatte, hieß es aus Regierungskreisen: Das war nicht abgesprochen. „Wir werden uns nicht für Herrn Selmayr einsetzen.“ Wer sagt da noch, dass Europapolitik langweilig wäre? Weitere Top-Themen: Erstmals Trump-Sanktionen gegen russische Ölkonzerne, die Suche nach dem Wehrdienst-Kompromiss und eine vorsichtige Annäherung von Kanzler und Vizekanzler im Stadtbild-Streit. Hörtipps: Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht Gordon Repinski mit Olaf Lies über die Zukunft des Verbrenners. Und im Update geht es mit Jan Schäfer um die Causa Tilman Kuban. **(Anzeige) Eine Nachricht von YouTube: YouTube ist eine Plattform für Wachstum durch Kreativität und stärkt so die deutsche Wirtschaft. Dieser positive Beitrag ist messbar: Im Jahr 2024 trug das kreative Ökosystem von YouTube über 1 Milliarde Euro zum deutschen BIP bei. Jetzt den ganzen Bericht lesen und mehr erfahren.** DAS IST JA DER GIPFEL: Friedrich Merz hat einen extra langen Tag in Brüssel vor sich. Ab 7:30 Uhr finden informelle Vortreffen zum EU-Gipfel statt – darunter mit der Europäischen Volkspartei sowie ein Get-Together der migrationskritischen EU-Chefs (mittlerweile 15) – bevor es um 10 Uhr offiziell im Ratsgebäude am Schuman-Platz losgeht. Einen doppelten Espresso bitte, für Jacob, Stefan und Michael ebenfalls: Das könnte heute locker bis nach Mitternacht gehen. Denn neben Entscheidungen zum Ukraine-Kredit aus Putins Staatsbankvermögen und neuen Russland-Sanktionen ist auch mit einer kritischen Debatte zu China rechnen – sowie mit Streit rund um die Klimaziele. Und dann auch noch das: Während Merz und andere EU-Chefs auf mehr Tempo beim Bürokratieabbau drängen, hat das erste „Omnibus“-Paket gestern im Europaparlament die notwendige Mehrheit verpasst – trotz Deal von Merz und Pedro Sánchez. Nächsten Monat soll ein neuer Versuch folgen. LOS GEHT ES HEUTE MIT DER UKRAINE: Zu dem 140-Milliarden-schweren Kredit für Kyjiw wird mit einer politischen Einigung gerechnet, auch wenn noch juristische Fragen offen sind. Auch die nationalen Parlamente müssen wohl noch zustimmen. Ebenfalls ungelöst: Ist das Geld für Wiederaufbau oder allein für militärische Hilfe (Merz will letzteres)? „Es ist jetzt absolut entscheidend, dass wir diese Einigung erreichen“, sagt EU-Kommissar Valdis Dombrovskis zu Jakob Hanke Vela vom Handelsblatt. Ansonsten „gerät die Ukraine finanziell in ernste Schwierigkeiten.“ Die Kommission will bis Mitte November einen Gesetzesvorschlag vorlegen. Spannende Entwicklung über Nacht: Die Trump-Regierung hat Sanktionen gegen Russlands größte Ölkonzerne Rosneft und Lukoil verhängt und unternimmt damit erstmals ernsthafte Schritte, um den wirtschaftlichen Druck zu einer Beendigung des Krieges zu erhöhen. Auch die EU will heute den Weg für ihr 19. Sanktionspaket frei machen: Robert Fico hat (auch nach Intervention des Kanzlers) seinen Widerstand aufgegeben. Spannendes Detail: Die Sanktionen richten sich auch gegen Firmen aus anderen Ländern wie China, die Putins Angriffskrieg unterstützen. UND DAMIT SIND WIR AUCH SCHON BEI CHINA: Kurz vor Johann Wadephuls Antrittsbesuch am Montag und Dienstag ist die Lage sehr ernst, Stichwort Ausfuhrbeschränkungen für Rohstoffe und Mikrochips. So ernst, dass nun auch die einst so zurückhaltende Bundesregierung mit Emmanuel Macron und Donald Tusk den Druck auf China erhöhen will. Es geht um chinesischen Exportkontrollen für Seltene Erden: Die im Handelskrieg mit Donald Trump verhängten Beschränkungen treffen auch die deutsche Industrie hart – von Autobauern bis hin zu Rüstungsfirmen. Ärger gibt es auch bei Mikrochips: In einer Video-Schalte haben Unternehmen und Verbände gestern Abend mit dem Wirtschaftsministerium über Versorgungsengpässe beraten, nachdem China Exporte der Firma Nexperia blockierte. Insbesondere der Autoindustrie drohen gravierende Folgen (mehr im Pro-Newsletter Industrie und Handel). Beim Gipfel soll über das Anti-Zwangs-Instrument der EU gesprochen werden: Das gibt der EU die Möglichkeit, sich gegen Erpressungen mit Zöllen oder reduziertem Marktzugang zu wehren. Man will Peking den eigenen „Werkzeugkasten“ zeigen. Eine Entscheidung wird heute nicht erwartet, aber die Drohung ist da – und auch eine unmissverständliche Botschaft an Peking: „Business as usual“, so wie unter Angela Merkel, wird es mit dieser CDU-geführten Bundesregierung nicht geben. DRITTES GROßES THEMA HEUTE SIND DIE KLIMAZIELE: Der Kanzler fliegt Anfang November zur COP30 nach Belém, aber kann sich die EU bis dahin auf verbindliche Ziele wie eine 90-Prozent-Emmissionsreduzierung bis 2040 einigen? Weichere Vorgaben und die Forderung nach einer „Review“-Klausel werden heute Thema: Frankreich und Italien machen Druck. Neben-Thema dabei: Das Verbrenner-Aus. Anders als Frankreich oder Spanien hat Merz noch immer keine Regierungslinie, danke Markus Söder. C’mon Markus, do something: Niedersachsens Ministerpräsident erwartet ein Einlenken. „Es geht nicht um das Aus von einem Aus“, sagt Olaf Lies im Playbook Podcast. „Wir müssen ein bisschen weg davon kommen, dass es um Trophäen geht.“ Nichts verpassen: Alle Entwicklungen des EU-Gipfels gibt‘s im POLITICO Liveblog. LAUFENDE ERMITTLUNGEN: Nach einer Strafanzeige seiner Noch-Ehefrau gegen den CDU-Abgeordneten Tilman Kuban genießt dieser keine Immunität des Bundestags mehr. Wie Bild berichtet, sollen die Vorwürfe im Zusammenhang mit einem Trennungsstreit stehen. Der Immunitätsausschuss des Bundestags war am 9. Oktober darüber informiert worden, dass die Staatsanwaltschaft in der Angelegenheit ein Ermittlungsverfahren einleiten will. Am 10. Oktober beriet daraufhin die Unions-Fraktionsführung über das weitere Vorgehen. Das Ergebnis: Kuban lässt sein Amt als Sprecher und Vorsitzender der Arbeitsgruppe Angelegenheiten der Europäischen Union ruhen, sein Stellvertreter Roland Theis rückt vorerst nach. In einer E-Mail, die uns vorliegt, bestreitet Kuban die Vorwürfe „vehement“. Anzeige ANGETRETEN: In der ersten Novemberwoche wollen sich Boris Pistorius und die Verhandler von Union und SPD – Norbert Röttgen, Thomas Erndl, Siemtje Möller und Falko Droßmann – treffen, um einen neuen Kompromiss beim Wehrdienst zu zimmern, berichtet Rixa Fürsen. Informeller Austausch: Auf dem Regierungsflug von Ottawa nach Lossiemouth suchte Pistorius das Gespräch mit Erndl. Etwa eine halbe Stunde lang, beobachtete Rixa. Ganz nonchalant kam er aus der Ministerkabine und setzte sich zu dem Unionspolitiker. Sie hatten sich verabredet, die Streitpunkte rund um den Dienst noch einmal auf der Reise zu besprechen. Verdiente Auszeit: Nach Zankereien mit dem Parlament und der langen Nordatlantik-Reise legt Pistorius nächste Woche die Akten beiseite (soweit möglich). Eine Woche Urlaub steht auf dem Programm. RHETORISCHE ABRÜSTUNG: Nach deutlichen, voneinander abweichenden Ansagen vom Kanzler und Vizekanzler (in den sozialen Medien verbreitet auf dem BMF-Account) zum Stadtbild in Deutschland übten sich beide am Abend in vorsichtiger Annäherung. Am Ende seines London-Besuchs konkretisierte Friedrich Merz – auch nach Kritik aus dem eigenen Lager – das Bild. Ein Problem seien die Migranten ohne Aufenthaltsstatus, die häufig keine Arbeit haben und sich nicht an die Regeln halten. „Viele von diesen bestimmen auch das öffentliche Bild in unseren Städten“, so Merz. Er sagte gleichzeitig, dass der Arbeitsmarkt ohne den Einsatz von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund schon heute nicht mehr funktionieren würde. Auch Lars Klingbeil machte einen Schritt auf Merz zu: Beim Bürgergespräch in Brandenburg an der Havel am Abend verteidigte er Merz: „Ich würde dem Kanzler nie etwas Schlechtes unterstellen, weil ich darüber viel mit ihm rede“, verteidigte Klingbeil Merz. Als SPD-Vorsitzender sage er schlicht zu ihm: „Wir müssen aufpassen, dass wir an dieser Stelle die Menschen nicht verlieren.“ Ansonsten war Deregulierung das große Thema bei seinem Dialog-Format „Klingbeil im Gespräch”, bei dem Louis Polczynski und Jasper Bennink zugehört haben. Klingbeil sagte, er habe in seinem eigenen Haus Schritte zur Entlastung ergriffen. Zudem ließ Klingbeil die Tür offen für weitere Renten-Anpassungen: Bisher sollen Selbstständige nicht von der Aktivrente profitieren, das könne sich im parlamentarischen Verfahren jedoch ändern, sagte der Finanzminister. GRUNDLAGENARBEIT: Der Bundesrechnungshof fordert das Finanzministerium auf, genaue Ziele für das Sondervermögen Infrastruktur und Klimaschutz zu definieren, damit das (vom Haushaltsausschuss geforderte) Monitoring gelingt. Das geht aus einem kritischen Bericht hervor, der Jasper vorliegt. Wie schon beim Haushalt für dieses Jahr arbeitet sich die Bonner Behörde auch beim 2026er-Haushalt an der mittelfristig steigenden Bundesschuld ab und kritisiert die wachsende Zinslast – und zwar hier. Auch den Bericht zur allgemeinen Finanzverwaltung schickte der BRH gestern an den Haushaltsausschuss. HOCH HINAUS: Boris Pistorius ist gestern Abend in den Highlands gelandet, empfangen von seinem britischen Kollegen John Healey. Das gute Verhältnis zwischen den beiden Sozialdemokraten ist bekannt. Es geht beim Treffen um alte und neue Partnerschaften – und um einen gemeinsamen Flug, berichtet Rixa Fürsen. Noch höher: Heute Vormittag heben Pistorius und Healey mit der P-8A Poseidon zum Rundflug über die schottische Küste ab. Der Seefernaufklärer fliegt bei den Briten seit 2020, Deutschland hat erst vor Kurzem das erste Exemplar erhalten. Allerdings noch nicht einsatzbereit: Daher übt Pistorius vorerst in britischer Begleitung. Unterwasser-Bedrohung: In Lossiemouth geht es um die Sicherheit des Nordatlantiks und die wachsende Gefahr aus Russland. Vor genau einem Jahr unterzeichneten Pistorius und Healey die Trinity House Vereinbarung, um gemeinsam den Nordatlantik zu schützen. Künftig sollen die deutschen Flieger vom Typ P-8A von Schottland aus agieren. NEUAUFSTELLUNG IM BSW? Im Dezember will die Wagenknecht-Partei einen neuen Bundesvorstand wählen. Ob die Namensgeberin Sahra Wagenknecht nach dem Scheitern am Bundestagseinzug weitermacht, wird mit Spannung erwartet. Ein erster Neuling im Spitzen-Team wurde nun bekannt: Der Nahost-Publizist Michael Lüders soll Vize-Vorsitzender werden, wie mein Welt-Kollege Kevin Culina erfahren hat. In „Zeiten der Aufrüstung und wachsender Kriegsgefahr“ sei Lüders Außenpolitik-Expertise gefragt, kommentiert die (Noch?-)Chefin Wagenknecht. Wer neben Lüders das neue Spitzenpersonal wird, soll eine Klausurtagung des BSW-Vorstands am ersten November-Wochenende in Berlin klären. Dort wolle man einen Personalvorschlag erarbeiten, so die Parteispitze um Wagenknecht. GRÜN SORTIERT SICH: Heute Mittag wird feststehen, welche sechs von 70+ Mitglieder-Anträgen zu Verschiedenem man neben den Großthemen Klima/Energie, Außen und Kommunen auf dem Parteitag Ende November besprechen will. Linksausleger dürften chancenlos sein, darunter die Grüne-Jugend-lastige Forderung, Rheinmetall zu enteignen. Und nicht nur Berliner Parteilinke lehnen strikt Pflicht-Dienst und Wehrpflicht ab. Abstimmen können circa 170.000 Grünen-Mitglieder. GEDULDSFADEN GERISSEN: US-Finanzminister Scott Bessent kündigte gestern eine „erhebliche Verschärfung“ von Sanktionen gegen die beiden größten russischen Ölkonzerne Rosneft und Lukoil sowie dutzende Tochtergesellschaften an. Der Grund: „Die Weigerung des russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin“, den „sinnlosen“ Krieg in der Ukraine zu beenden, wird Bessent in einer Erklärung zitiert. Gilt ab sofort: Jede wirtschaftliche Interaktion mit den beiden Konzernen ist untersagt. Das gilt nicht nur für US-Unternehmen, sondern auch für ausländische Banken und Partner. Vermögenswerte werden eingefroren, Kollaborateuren droht strafrechtliche Verfolgung. Präsident Trump: „Ich hatte einfach das Gefühl, dass es Zeit war.“ (Nur) ein Anfang: Das Finanzministerium sei bereit, gegebenenfalls auch weitere Maßnahmen gegen Russland zu ergreifen, wie es in der Erklärung weiter heißt. Alle Details zu den Sanktionen lesen Sie heute Morgen in unserem US-Newsletter DC Decoded. TEURER WUNSCHZETTEL: Die Bundeswehr soll zur „stärksten konventionellen Armee Europas“ werden – ein internes Regierungsdokument zeigt nun konkret, was das bedeuten soll. Auf 39 Seiten sind hier Rüstungsprojekte für den Verteidigungshaushalt 2026 im Gesamtwert von 377 Milliarden Euro aufgelistet. Im Pro Industrie und Handel finden Sie detailliert, welche Systeme beschafft werden sollen und welche Unternehmen die Aufträge erhalten. Hier können Sie sich testweise kostenlos anmelden. HINTER DEN KULISSEN: Mehrere Verbände stellen die Verlängerung der Initiative Energieeffizienz- und Klimaschutz-Netzwerke infrage. Hintergrund ist ein Konflikt mit dem Wirtschaftsministerium um die Gesetzeslage zur Energieeffizienz. Alle Details lesen Sie in der neuen Ausgabe von Energie und Klima. Hier können Sie kostenlos ein Probeabo abschließen. JOBWECHSEL, DIE X-TE: Nach seinem Ausscheiden aus der Politik bleibt Christian Lindner äußerst aktiv auf der Suche nach neuen Aufgaben. Nun wird er Senior Advisor bei Teneo. LETZTER ZUG: Wie von der EVG in der vergangenen Woche gefordert, beruft die Deutsche Bahn die DB-Cargo-Chefin Sigrid Nikutta zum Ende des Monats ab. Die seit 2020 tätige Nikutta war vor allem wegen ihres Sanierungsplan in die Kritik geraten. MATHE-NACHSITZEN: Gestern haben wir dem CSU-Präsidiumsmitglied Winfried Bausback fälschlicherweise zum 70. Geburtstag gratuliert, dabei ist er 60 geworden. Ein Rechenfehler. Auf diesem Wege ein großes Sorry nach München und vielen Dank für die Zuschriften! HANDLUNG GEFORDERT: Antimikrobielle Resistenzen zählen zu den größten Gesundheitsbedrohungen unserer Zeit, auch in Deutschland steigen die Fallzahlen weiter. Bei einem Panel im Axel-Springer Journalistenclub am 10. November diskutieren führende Wissenschaftler und Gesundheitspolitiker über das Thema. Hier können Sie sich zu der Veranstaltung anmelden. TAGESTHEMEN: Im Streit um den Ausgleich vom Bund für die Kosten der Länder – beispielsweise bei der Gastrosteuer und der Pendlerpauschale – forderte Alexander Schweitzer am Abend Bewegung bei der Bundesregierung. „Es ist zunächst mal wichtig, dass wir in den nächsten Wochen vom Bund klare Signale empfangen, […] die Situation der Länder und Kommunen anzuerkennen, zu unterstützen“, so der Ministerpräsident in Rheinland-Pfalz. MARKUS LANZ: Am Abend sagte Julia Klöckner, sie konfrontiere Menschen, die ihr Hasskommentare senden, häufiger unmittelbar mit den eigenen Nachrichten. „Ich mach das ab und zu auf längeren Autofahrten, dann ruf ich Leute auch an“, sagte sie. **(Anzeige) Shifting Power, Shaping Prosperity. Berlin Global Dialogue vereint heute führende Persönlichkeiten aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Politik an der ESMT Berlin. Wandel, Wirkung und Weltpolitik im Herzen der Hauptstadt. Seien Sie dabei - jetzt im Livestream!** 3 Uhr – Konflikt in Nahost: Israels anvisierte Annexion des Westjordanlandes gefährdet nach den Worten von US-Außenminister Marco Rubio die Pläne von Präsident Donald Trump zur Beendigung des Konflikts in Gaza. — Die Österreich-Reise von Frank-Walter Steinmeier endet heute. Gemeinsam mit seiner Frau Elke Büdenbender und dem Bundespräsidenten Alexander Van der Bellen und dessen Frau Doris Schmidauer besichtigt er in Innsbruck die Baustelle des Brenner Basistunnels. Danach lädt der Landeshauptmann von Tirol, Anton Mattle, zum Mittagessen ein. Nach einem Gang durch die Innsbrucker Innenstadt endet der Staatsbesuch mit einem Empfang mit einer Tiroler Schützenkompanie. — „Heimatgespräche“: Ab 9:30 Uhr ist Alois Rainer in Niedersachsen unterwegs, wo er erst die Biogasanlage in Bahrenborstel besucht. Um 10:30 Uhr tauscht er sich dann in Kirchdorf mit Landwirten zu aktuellen Herausforderungen in der Landwirtschaft aus, um 13 Uhr ist er auf Einladung von dem CDU-Abgeordneten Andreas Mattfeldt in Verden und um 17 Uhr spricht er bei einer Vortragsveranstaltung mit den Landvolkverbänden Osterholz und Verden. — Beim 8. Ordentlichen Gewerkschaftskongress der IG BCE in Hannover spricht um 10:10 Uhr Bärbel Bas. — Die 169. Steuerschätzung stellt Lars Klingbeil um 11 Uhr bei einer Pressekonferenz im Finanzministerium vor. — An der Übergabe von Einsatzfahrzeugen der medizinischen Taskforce an Bayern und Nordrhein-Westfalen in Bonn nimmt um 14 Uhr Alexander Dobrindt teil. — Humboldt-Universitäts-Gesellschaft: Um 18:30 Uhr spricht Karsten Wildberger bei der Veranstaltung „Zukunftsmut: Wie wir die Chancen der Künstlichen Intelligenz nutzen“. SCHIETWETTER: Heute wird es nass und grau, bei Temperaturen bis zu 16 °C. GRUSS AUS DER KÜCHE: — Mitarbeiterrestaurant JKH: Kartoffel-Brokkoligratin mit gerösteten Kürbiskernen und Feldsalat oder Geflügel-Cevapcici mit Paprikagemüse, Tsatsiki und Reisnudeln — Lampenladen PLH: Blumenkohl-Käse Medaillon mit Preißelbeeren, dazu Mischgemüse in Rahm und Kräuterreis oder hausgemachter Hackbraten mit Zwiebelsoße, dazu Rahmporeé und Salzkartoffeln — Kantine RTG: Hühnerfrikassee mit Erbsen, Kapern, Karotten, Reis und Salat oder Gemüsecurry mit Kokosnuss, Ingwer, Mungosprossen und Reis GEBURTSTAGE: Stefan Gruhner, Thüringer Minister für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten (41) Regierungsviertel: Jasper Bennink, Rasmus Buchsteiner, Carlotta Diederich, Rixa Fürsen, Jürgen Klöckner, Pauline von Pezold und Gordon Repinski Internationales Team: James Angelos, Chris Lunday und Nette Nöstlinger Industrie und Handel: Laura Hülsemann, Marek Michaelis, Thorsten Mumme, Romanus Otte und Tom Schmidtgen Energie und Klima: Josh Groeneveld, Frederike Holewik, Joana Lehner und Johanna Sahlberg. Brussels Decoded: Oliver Noyan und Anouk Schlung DC Decoded: Julius Brinkmann, Maximilian Lembke und Franziska Nocke Produktion: Dean Southwell Das war die 410. Ausgabe des Berlin Playbook! Schicken Sie mir Feedback hier. Wenn Sie es noch nicht abonniert haben, können Sie das hier kostenlos tun. Ich wünsche Ihnen einen inspirierenden Donnerstag! Herzlichst Hans von der Burchard **(Anzeige) Eine Nachricht von YouTube: YouTube hat die Art, wie Unterhaltung erlebt und gestaltet wird, grundlegend verändert. Doch die Plattform ist mehr als das: Sie ist ein entscheidender Faktor für die deutsche Kreativwirtschaft. Kreative können hier nicht nur ihr Publikum finden, sondern auch Karrieren starten und Unternehmen aufbauen. Weltweit hat YouTube in den drei Jahren vor 2024 mehr als 70 Milliarden US-Dollar an Urheber, Künstler und Medienunternehmen ausgezahlt. Dieser finanzielle Fluss hat auch in Deutschland eine messbare Wirkung: Das kreative Ökosystem von YouTube trug 2024 über 1 Milliarde Euro zum deutschen BIP bei. Jetzt klicken und mehr über den Beitrag von YouTube zur deutschen Wirtschaft erfahren.** ABONNIEREN Sie die Newsletter von POLITICO: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Canada Playbook | POLITICO Pro
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Hans von der Burchard
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Uncategorized
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2025-10-23T05:05:08Z
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2025-10-23T05:05:08Z
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2025-10-23T05:05:22Z
| 7,378,437
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/berlin-playbook/putin-china-klimaziele-merz-sorgen-beim-eu-gipfel/
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Plutôt 2027 que les recettes
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Synthèse vocale générée par l'IA Présenté par Amazon Par SARAH PAILLOU Avec ANTHONY LATTIER PRÉSENTÉ PAR Envoyez vos infos | Abonnez-vous gratuitement | Voir dans le navigateur UN SEUL ÊTRE SE PLANTE et tout est explosé. Ceux qui rêvent de présidentielle ont forcément repéré cette énième chute sondagière d’Edouard Philippe. Descendu en 14e position du classement des politiques préférés des Français, le maire du Havre déçoit surtout dans son propre camp : moins 15 points en un mois parmi les électeurs d’Emmanuel Macron de 2022, selon le baromètre Cluster17* pour Le Point, publié hier. Embouteillage. Les prétendants Les Républicains y ont-ils vu le top départ de la course à la présidentielle ? Bruno Retailleau accélère son calendrier, a repéré L’Opinion ; ses rivaux à droite s’agitent aussi en ce jeudi 23 octobre 2025 — Xavier Bertrand publie son livre aujourd’hui, Laurent Wauquiez s’affiche ce matin dans Le Figaro. Pas sans lui. La dégringolade d’Edouard Philippe, qu’on vous contait déjà ici, a peut-être aussi donné envie à Gérald Darmanin de refaire parler de lui : le garde des Sceaux, aux ambitions officiellement mises entre parenthèses, était hier soir sur CNews, où il a notamment redit son intention de rendre visite à Nicolas Sarkozy en prison, tant pis (ou tant mieux ?) pour la controverse. Pas comprise. Playbook n’est en revanche pas certain du lien entre les scores du président d’Horizons et le lancement hier de Marine Tondelier, désormais “candidate à la présidentielle” (elle devra d’abord remporter la compétition interne aux Ecolos, dont elle est favoritissime, puis une primaire de la gauche encore tout à fait hypothétique). On tiquait jusque dans son camp, à l’instar du maire adjoint de Paris Florentin Letissier, qui nous a spontanément pianoté : “La priorité du moment ce sont quand même les élections municipales et […] donner un budget à la France.” Reprenez votre souffle, on s’y penche d’ailleurs de ce pas. Bonjour à toutes et tous. **Un message d'Amazon : Amazon offre à ses salariés en France jusqu’à 3 500 € renouvelables chaque année pour financer des formations reconnues par l’État et accompagner leur évolution de carrière. En savoir plus.** SUIVI À LA LETTRE. Dans la famille des procédures découvertes grâce au bazar régnant à l’Assemblée nationale, la petite dernière sera présentée ce matin en Conseil des ministres : la lettre rectificative, qui intègre la suspension de la réforme des retraites au projet de loi de financement de la Sécurité sociale (on vous expliquait tout ça lundi). Pourquoi ça compte : en rassurant ainsi les socialistes, qui avaient obtenu cette promesse de Sébastien Lecornu en échange de leur non-censure, le Premier ministre donne un peu plus de chances au PLFSS d’être adopté, nous soutenaient hier, dans une drôle d’unanimité, un député PS et un autre du RN. On vous explique. “Si à la fin, le PLFSS sort droit, ce n’est pas impossible qu’on le vote”, avançait le premier. Comprenez, et corrigez un chouïa : si le PS parvient à expurger du texte toutes les mesures dont il ne veut pas, il pourrait s’abstenir au moment du vote final, a envisagé Olivier Faure, le premier secrétaire (qui a exclu un vote pour). “On pourra dire qu’on a protégé les assurés sociaux et suspendu la réforme des retraites”, voulait croire notre interlocuteur. Ce qu’il reste à faire. Parmi les dispositions à retirer, le gel des pensions de retraite ou la hausse des franchises médicales, et, désormais, l’effort supplémentaire demandé aux mutuelles pour financer la suspension de la réforme des retraites, prévu par la lettre rectificative. Renfort frontiste. Or la partie ne s’annonce pas si difficile, à en croire le même : les élus du RN, qui ont les mêmes mesures impopulaires dans le viseur, pourraient aider la gauche à réécrire le budget de la Sécu. “Si on sort la désindexation des pensions [sur l’inflation], et s’il y a la suspension de la réforme des retraites, il y a un monde qui commence à se dessiner dans lequel on s’abstient”, nous a confirmé à demi-mot le député lepéniste. Pour avoir une idée de la réalité de cette voie de passage, il vous faudra attendre lundi et le début de l’examen du PLFSS en commission. PROCHAINE ÉTAPE. D’ici là, l’autre texte budgétaire, le projet de loi de finances, débutera demain son parcours en séance publique. Comme attendu, la partie recettes de ce PLF a été rejetée, cette nuit, en commission des Finances (ce qui n’a pas de conséquence sur le débat dans l’hémicycle). Attendus au tournant. Le RN profitera de ce jeudi de pause dans les débats pour présenter ce matin son “contre-budget” en conférence de presse, avec introduction par la présidente du groupe herself, Marine Le Pen — un rendez-vous que ses troupes n’ont pas hésité à qualifier d’événement (en majuscules). Ils vont faire l’appel. “La patronne”, comme on l’appelle en Lepénie, a aussi martelé, mardi, lors de la réunion de ses ouailles, que les débats budgétaires devaient “être prioritaires sur toute autre activité en circonscription, sur la préparation des municipales”, nous racontait le député RN précité. Un calendrier de présence a été mis en place pour assurer qu’au moins une centaine d’élus lepénistes soient en permanence présents dans l’hémicycle, selon le même. Ils ne veulent pas sentir la rose. Si “MLP” en fait des caisses, c’est pour deux raisons, expliquait notre interlocuteur. Petit un, l’exercice budgétaire est toujours, pour les lepénistes, l’occasion de tenter de se départir des procès en amateurisme ou socialisme économique (l’accusation principale des Républicains), dans l’espoir de séduire les sympathisants LR. D’où “une forme de libéralisation” du discours RN (traduit par exemple par le rejet désormais beaucoup plus frontal de la taxe Zucman), soutenait le député. Petit deux, les lepénistes entendent “bloquer un certain nombre de folies de la gauche”, pour donner des gages, encore une fois, à leur électorat de conquête. Mais aussi pour éviter que le gouvernement et le bloc central “développent l’argumentaire du ‘regardez ils ne sont pas responsables, on reprend la main’”, complétait notre interlocuteur. TUTEUR NÉ. Ça commence à devenir une habitude. Gabriel Attal a encore énervé certains macronistes historiques de Renaissance, le parti qu’il dirige. En cause cette fois, la “mise sous tutelle” de quatre assemblées départementales par la direction du mouvement, décidée mercredi dernier en bureau exécutif (le “burex”, instance décisionnaire de la formation). Ce dont on parle. Les présidents des assemblées départementales (les “PAD”, comme on dit au parti) de la Creuse, de l’Ille-et-Vilaine, de la Meuse et de la Haute-Vienne ont carrément disparu du trombinoscope du site. Ils ne sont pas les seuls : selon un proche du secrétaire général de Renaissance appelé la semaine dernière, une dizaine d’autres territoires ont subi la même sanction ces derniers mois. Notre interlocuteur expliquait : “on reprend toute l’implantation territoriale” pour “remobiliser tout le monde” dans des territoires jugés “dysfonctionnels”. En clair : où il ne se passe plus rien (ni participation aux formations, ni réunions locales, ni opérations militantes…). L’ire du Dr Moreau. Intolérable pour Jean-Baptiste Moreau, qui y voit un autoritarisme déplacé. L’ancien député Renaissance de la Creuse, pas franchement fan de Gabriel Attal (pour euphémiser) et proche d’Emmanuel Macron, nous pianotait, il y a quelques jours, sa colère, au point d’évoquer une démission du burex, dont il est membre. S’il reste, écrivait-il, c’est seulement parce qu’il “refuse de laisser un quarteron d’opportunistes, sans conviction ni colonne vertébrale si ce n’est leur petite carrière, phagocyter leur aventure collective pour laquelle nombre d’entre nous ont plus perdu que gagné”. Gauchisation. Un cadre d’un autre département concerné partageait son sentiment. “Tous les adhérents investis depuis des années ont été humiliés, c’est tellement injuste”, se désolait-il lundi, au téléphone avec nous. Dénonçant l’absence de voie de recours, “des méthodes trotskistes”, “brutales et antidémocratiques,” ce responsable y voyait “des règlements de comptes politiques” dans des sections “pas alignées” avec un Gabriel Attal qui ne s’intéresserait qu’à la prochaine présidentielle. “Un mauvais procès”, nous avait rétorqué le proche du secrétaire général déjà mentionné, assurant que d’autres PAD non attalistes “ne [posaient] pas de problèmes”, ou que certains départements “très alignés” avaient été mis sous tutelle. JOKER. Le gouvernement a finalement trouvé comment contourner le “barrage parlementaire” fomenté hier par La France insoumise contre le report des élections provinciales en Nouvelle-Calédonie, qu’on vous détaillait à l’aube. Contre Uno. Les macronistes ont eux-mêmes dégainé et voté une motion de rejet de la proposition de loi, qu’ils soutiennent pourtant, pour l’envoyer directement en commission mixte paritaire, sans examen par les députés. Cette réunion de députés et sénateurs (qui avaient, eux, adopté le texte) devrait se tenir lundi, selon deux conseillères gouvernementales interrogées dans la soirée. L’ASSOMMÉ EUROPÉEN. Les dirigeants européens retrouveront aujourd’hui, lors du Conseil européen à Bruxelles, un Emmanuel Macron sacrément affaibli par la situation politique française. Conséquences sur la scène européenne : une perte d’influence de Paris, et des ambitions revues à la baisse. Le président n’est plus “le champion européen” de ses débuts, analysent mes collègues dans cet article (en anglais et en libre accès). Dégel. Lors de leurs conciliabules, les 27 chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de l’UE causeront, on vous le donne en mille, de la guerre en Ukraine. Ils tenteront de s’accorder sur de nouvelles mesures de soutien à Kiev. Parmi elles, la sempiternelle question de l’emploi des avoirs russes gelés pourrait enfin trouver une issue, écrit mon collègue Gregorio Sorgi par ici (en français et en libre accès). L’exécutif européen devra toutefois encore convaincre la France, qui s’inquiète des conséquences qu’une telle décision pourrait avoir pour la zone euro. Autre sujet de remue-méninges des 27, et c’est une première, relatent mes collègues dans cet article (gratuit, en français) : comment faire reculer l’extrême droite, qui progresse un peu partout sur le Vieux Continent. Les dirigeants européens papoteront donc bien sûr immigration, mais aussi de la crise du logement, sur laquelle ont surfé les partis populistes lors de récentes élections en Europe. Pour être au fait des nombreux débats lors de ce sommet, plongez-vous dans ce récap de mon collègue Seb Starcevic (gratuit, en anglais). LA CARTE BARBUT. Les Vingt-Sept débattront aussi du nouvel objectif climatique européen pour 2040, une étape-clé avant la COP30 sur le climat, début novembre au Brésil. D’ici au rendez-vous de Belém, Emmanuel Macron passera le relais à la nouvelle ministre de la Transition écologique, Monique Barbut. Il compte bien s’appuyer sur cette experte des négociations climatiques pour faire atterrir ces âpres discussions, dans lesquelles il s’est beaucoup impliqué. Pour faire connaissance avec cette proche du président, dévorez son portrait (en français et en libre accès), dressé par mon collègue Nicolas Camut. Emmanuel Macron est à Bruxelles pour deux jours à l’occasion du Conseil européen et préside en visio, à 9h30, le deuxième Conseil des ministres de la semaine. Sébastien Lecornu réunit, au sujet de France Santé, Stéphanie Rist, Françoise Gatel et Amélie de Montchalin. Il échange ensuite avec Laurent Nuñez, Catherine Vautrin, Gérald Darmanin et Jean-Noël Barrot. Il se rend à 15h30, avec Amélie de Montchalin, à Romainville, au siège de la Direction nationale des enquêtes fiscales et de la Direction des vérifications nationales et internationales. Roland Lescure rencontre les patrons d’entreprises du réseau One Planet des Fonds souverains. Edouard Geffray s’entretient successivement avec les représentants de l’UNSA Education et avec les représentants du syndicat national des lycées, collèges, écoles et du supérieur. Annie Genevard s’entretient successivement avec Pierrick Horel, président des Jeunes agriculteurs et avec Véronique Le Floc’h, présidente de la Coordination rurale. Françoise Gatel reçoit Jean-François Husson, rapporteur général de la commission des Finances au Sénat. Jean-Noël Barrot clôt la quatrième Conférence ministérielle des diplomaties féministes. Eléonore Caroit s’entretient successivement avec Kaushalya Ariyarathne, vice-ministre sri-lankaise chargée des Médias, et avec Laura Gil, secrétaire générale adjointe de l’Organisation des Etats américains. Marina Ferrari assiste à la présentation du Tour de France 2026 et du Tour de France Femmes 2026. Elle reçoit Béatrice Bourgeois, présidente de l’Agence française de lutte contre le dopage. Philippe Tabarot s’entretient avec Jean-Luc Crucke, son homologue belge. Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq se rend à la Maison de l’autisme à Aubervilliers. Alice Rufo visite le treizième régiment de dragons parachutistes (RDP) à Martignas-sur-Jalle (Gironde). Yaël Braun-Pivet rencontre les équipes médicales de la Chartreuse de Dijon. Gérard Larcher s’entretient successivement avec Laurent Panifous, Naïma Moutchou et Amélie de Montchalin. Il remet l’insigne de chevalier de la Légion d’honneur à Cécile Zammit-Popescu, maire de Meulan-en-Yvelines, présidente de la communauté urbaine Grand Paris Seine et Oise. Assemblée nationale : à 9 heures, en séance publique, discussion sur le rapport de la commission mixte paritaire de la proposition de loi (PPL) visant à modifier la définition pénale du viol et des agressions sexuelles. Conférences de presse du RN à 11 heures, des Ecologistes à 11h30, sur leurs propositions budgétaires. Sénat : en séance publique, de 10h30 à 13 heures et de 14h30 à 16 heures, débat sur la PPL visant à se libérer de l’obligation alimentaire à l’égard d’un parent défaillant et sur la PPL sur le cadre fiscal des micro-entrepreneurs et petites entreprises. Marine Tondelier est en déplacement à Tours, aux côtés d’Emmanuel Denis, maire de la ville. Xavier Bertrand publie Rien n’est jamais écrit (Robert Laffont). Session plénière du Parlement européen à Strasbourg. 7h15. France 2 : Eric Brocardi, porte-parole de la Fédération nationale des sapeurs pompiers de France. 7h30. Public Sénat : Pierre-Antoine Levis, sénateur centriste du Tarn-et-Garonne. 7h40. TF1 : Serge Papin, ministre des Petites et moyennes entreprises, du Commerce, de l’Artisanat, du Tourisme et du Pouvoir d’achat … RTL : Vincent Jeanbrun, ministre de la Ville et du Logement … RMC : Wilfried Fonck, secrétaire national UFAP UNSA Justice. 7h45. Radio J : Franck Louvrier, maire LR de la Baule. 7h50. France Inter : Tibo InShape, créateur de contenu. 8h00. Public Sénat : Mathieu Darnaud, président du groupe Les Républicains au Sénat. 8h10. Europe 1/CNEWS : Sébastien Chenu, député RN du Nord … France 2 : Agnès Evren, sénatrice LR de Paris. 8h15. Radio Classique : Pascal Perrineau, politologue … Sud Radio : Aurore Bergé, ministre de l’Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes et de la Lutte contre les discriminations … RTL : Gabriel Zucman, économiste. 8h20. France Inter : Xavier Bertrand, président LR du conseil régional des Hauts-de-France … RFI : Tobias Cremer, eurodéputé social-démocrate allemand. 8h30. Franceinfo : Manuel Valls, ancien Premier ministre … BFMTV/RMC : Jean-Philippe Tanguy, député RN de la Somme. DANS NOS NEWSLETTERS PRO CE MATIN : PARIS INFLUENCE : Comment s’est terminé le premier tour de chauffe budgétaire à l’Assemblée … A un petit mois du Congrès des maires, l’AMF enregistre déjà une affluence record … La taxe sur les emballages plastiques rejetée, mais bientôt déterrée. TECH MATIN : Les députés recentrent la taxe Gafam sur les plus gros acteurs de la tech et quintuplent son taux … La taxe sur les petits colis passe comme une lettre à la Poste … Les datacenters passent à côté d’une ristourne de 36 millions d’euros. ÉNERGIE & CLIMAT : Les mesures budgétaires adoptées jusqu’au bout de la nuit … Climat : la France est en position de faire la pluie et le beau temps à Bruxelles … Devant le Sénat, Catherine MacGregor fait la liste de son Engie … Désinfo climatique : les résultats de QuotaClimat inquiètent et interrogent. DANS LE JORF. Les divers mouvements de l’Elysée ces derniers mois ont été officialisés ici. Sébastien Delescluse a rejoint Matignon comme conseiller santé. Catherine Vautrin s’entoure des conseillers Claire Lucas (industrie et innovation) et Ismaël Amiar (mémoire, culture et discours). François Villerez est nommé directeur de cabinet de Mathieu Lefèvre et Adrien Laroche dirige celui d’Anne Le Hénanff et François Bolard celui de Serge Papin. Roland Lescure complète ici son équipe. Patrice Faure est nommé préfet de police de Paris. MÉTÉO. De la pluie et de la grisaille persistent à Paris, avec des températures ne dépassant pas les 12°C. ANNIVERSAIRES : Benjamin Haddad, ministre délégué chargé de l’Europe … Philippe Gosselin, député DR de la Manche … Yves Hemedinger, ancien député … Justine Gruet, députée DR du Jura … Bernard Pillefer, sénateur UC du Loir-et-Cher. PLAYLIST. Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall. Un grand merci à : Nicolas Camut, notre éditeur Matthieu Verrier, Kenza Pacenza pour la veille et Dean Southwell pour la mise en ligne. (*) Sondage Cluster17 pour Le Point, réalisé sur Internet du 16 au 18 octobre 2025, via le panel propriétaire de Cluster17, auprès d’un échantillon de 1 153 individus, âgés de 18 ans et plus, représentatif de la population française et constitué selon la méthode des quotas. Cette newsletter a été mise à jour pour préciser l’agenda du président de la République. **Un message d'Amazon : Amazon offre à l’ensemble de ses salariés des opportunités de formation pour leur permettre de booster leur carrière. Avec le programme Options de Carrière, Amazon propose à ses salariés éligibles jusqu’à 3 500 € renouvelables chaque année pour suivre des formations certifiantes, acquérir de nouvelles compétences, se perfectionner ou se reconvertir dans les nouveaux métiers du cloud, de l'informatique, de la sécurité, de la maintenance, de l'environnement, de la mécatronique et bien plus encore. En savoir plus.** ABONNEZ-VOUS aux newsletters de POLITICO (en anglais): Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | Berlin Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | POLITICO Pro newsletters
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Sarah Paillou
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Uncategorized
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2025-10-23T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-23T05:00:00Z
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2025-10-23T10:04:32Z
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/playbook-paris/plutot-2027-que-les-recettes/
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EU leaders paper over splits on US tech reliance
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France and Germany are not yet on the same page to detox from Big Tech. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — Call it a digital love triangle. When EU leaders back a “sovereign digital transition” at a summit in Brussels this Thursday, their words will mask a rift between France and Germany over how to deal with America’s overwhelming dominance in technology. The bloc’s founding members have long taken differing approaches to how far the continent should seek to go in detoxing from U.S. giants. In Paris, sovereignty is about backing local champions and breaking reliance on U.S. Big Tech. In Berlin the focus is on staying open and protecting Europe without severing ties with a major German trading partner. The EU leaders’ statement is a typical fudge — it cites the need for Europe to “reinforce its sovereignty” while maintaining “close collaboration with trusted partner countries,” according to a near-final draft obtained by POLITICO ahead of the gathering. That plays into the hands of incumbent U.S. interests, even as the bloc’s reliance on American tech was again brought into sharp focus Monday when an outage at Amazon cloud servers in Northern Virginia disrupted the morning routines of millions of Europeans. As France and Germany prepare to host a high-profile summit on digital sovereignty in Berlin next month, the two countries are still seeking common ground — attendees say preparations for the summit have been disorganized and that there is little alignment so far on concrete outcomes. When asked about his expectations for the Nov. 18 gathering, German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger told POLITICO he wanted “to have an open debate around what is digital sovereignty” and “hopefully … have some great announcements.” In her first public appearance following her appointment this month, France’s new Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff, by comparison, promised to keep pushing for solutions that are immune to U.S. interference in cloud computing — a key area of American dominance. “There are indeed different strategic perspectives,” said Martin Merz, the president of SAP Sovereign Cloud. He contrasted France's “more state-driven approach focusing on national independence and self-sufficiency in key technologies" with Germany's emphasis on "European cooperation and market-oriented solutions." A recent FGS Global survey laid bare the split in public opinion as well. Most French respondents said France “should compete globally on its own to become a tech leader,” while most Germans preferred to “prioritize deeper regional alliances” to “compete together.” The fact that technological sovereignty has even made it onto the agenda of EU leaders follows a recent softening in Berlin, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz becoming increasingly outspoken about the limits of the American partnership while warning against “false nostalgia.” The coalition agreement in Berlin also endorsed the need to build “an interoperable and European-connectable sovereign German stack,” referring to a domestically controlled digital infrastructure ecosystem. Yet Germany — which has a huge trade deficit with the U.S — is fundamentally cautious about alienating Washington. “France has been willing to accept some damage to the transatlantic relationship in order to support French business interests," said Zach Meyers, director of research at the CERRE think tank in Brussels. For Germany, by contrast, the two are "very closely tied together, largely because of the importance of the U.S. as an export market," he said. Berlin has dragged its feet on phasing out Huawei from mobile networks over fears of Chinese retaliation, against its car industry in particular. The European Commission itself is walking a similar tightrope — dealing with U.S. threats against EU flagship laws that allegedly target American firms, while fielding growing calls to unapologetically back homegrown tech. “Sovereignty is not a clearly defined term as it relates to technology," said Dave Michels, a cloud computing law researcher at Queen Mary University of London. He categorized it into two broad interpretations: technical sovereignty, or keeping data safe from foreign snooping and control, and political sovereignty, which focuses on strategic autonomy and economic security, i.e safeguarding domestic industries and supply chains. “Those things can align, and I do think they are converging around this idea that we need to support European alternatives, but they don't necessarily overlap completely. That's where you can see some tensions,” Michels said. Leaders will say in their joint statement that “it is crucial to advance Europe’s digital transformation, reinforce its sovereignty and strengthen its own open digital ecosystem.” “We don’t really have a shared vocabulary to define what digital sovereignty is. But we do have a shared understanding of what it means not to have digital sovereignty," said Yann Lechelle, CEO of French AI company Probabl. Berlin isn’t the only capital trying to convince Europe to ensure its digital sovereignty remains open to U.S. interests. Austria, too, wants to take “a leading role” in nailing down that tone, State Secretary Alexandre Pröll previously told POLITICO. The country has been on a mission to agree a “common charter” emphasizing that sovereignty should “not be misinterpreted as protectionist independence,” according to a draft reported by POLITICO. That “will create a clear political roadmap for a digital Europe that acts independently while remaining open to trustworthy partners,” Pröll said. Next month's Berlin gathering will be crucial in setting a direction. French President Emmanuel Macron and Merz are both expected to attend. “The summit is intended to send a strong signal that Europe is aware of the challenges and is actively advancing digital sovereignty,” a spokesperson for the German digital ministry said in a statement, adding that “this is not about autarky but about strengthening its own capabilities and potential.” “One summit will not be enough,” said Johannes Schätzl, a Social Democrat member of the German Bundestag. “But if there will be an agreement saying that we want to take the path toward greater digital sovereignty together, that alone would already be a very important signal.” Mathieu Pollet reported from Brussels, Emile Marzolf reported from Paris and Laura Hülsemann and Frida Preuß reported from Berlin. PARIS — French lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to double a tax on big tech firms — backing away from a more aggressive push amid fears … American tech companies have piled into EU capital with bigger budgets and beefed-up teams. President Donald Trump has warned he would retaliate against any move that targets U.S. companies. Inclusion in 2026 Commission plan follows China’s move to limit export of rare-earth magnets.
|
Mathieu Pollet
|
France and Germany are not yet on the same page to detox from Big Tech.
|
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Technology
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"Austria",
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2025-10-23T02:13:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:13:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:21:11Z
| 7,334,067
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-germany-united-states-big-tech-sovereign-digital-transition/
|
China tightens its rare earth choke hold on Europe
|
Despite the EU’s efforts to diversify its supply of critical minerals, Beijing’s skillfully crafted dominance gives it immense geopolitical leverage. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — As Beijing further weaponizes its control over the flow of minerals that Western countries need for their green, defense and digital ambitions, Europe has to face an uncomfortable truth: It won’t escape China’s dominance anytime soon. The Chinese government’s shock imposition earlier in October of sweeping export controls on rare-earth magnets and the raw materials needed to make them has escalated a running trade feud with the United States. The embargo threatens vast — and rapid — collateral damage on the European Union and has forced its way onto the agenda of a high-level summit on Thursday. “A crisis in the supply of critical raw materials is no longer a distant risk. It is on our doorstep,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a pre-summit speech to European lawmakers. “Now, we must accelerate decisively and urgently. We need faster, more reliable supply of critical raw materials, both here in Europe and with trusted partners. I will be ready to propose further measures to ensure Europe’s economic security and I will accelerate what we have already put in motion.” Beijing’s announcement this month drew a fierce rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods to 100 percent. Trump is due to hold a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit at the end of October. The EU, which imports nearly all of its rare earths and permanent magnets from the Middle Kingdom, is caught in the crossfire. “We have no interest in escalation,” Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade chief, told reporters Tuesday. “However, this situation casts a shadow over our relationship. Therefore, a prompt resolution is essential.” China and the EU will “intensify contacts at all levels” on the issue, Šefčovič added. Wang Wentao, the Chinese trade minister, has accepted an invitation to come to Brussels in the coming days to discuss the restrictions, Šefčovič said after a two-hour call between the two. The EU is also consulting with the G7 group of industrialized nations on a coordinated response on critical minerals ahead of an Oct. 30-31 ministerial meeting in Canada. Yet, behind the talk of adequate diplomatic responses and potential retaliation there is no escaping the dominance in rare earths that China has built up over decades. For now at least. “In the short term there’s nothing you can do, except try and negotiate with the Chinese,” said Philip Andrews-Speed, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Beijing dominates the entire supply chain of rare earths — a group of 17 minerals used in permanent magnets found in everything from electric vehicles and wind turbines, to F-35 fighter jets and naval vessels. Under its new export controls, importers will need a government license to access not only those permanent magnets, but also the refined metals and alloys that go into them. China already weaponized its leading position in producing and refining critical raw materials — and specifically rare-earth elements like scandium, yttrium and dysprosium — in response to Trump’s first wave of punitive tariffs back in April. Eventually, the White House caved in. This time, again, the Chinese export controls are “a tit-for-tat for U.S. policy,” said a person from the Chinese business sector, granted anonymity to speak candidly. The EU is being hit, too: “The effects are direct and enormous, particularly for the defence sector,” Tobias Gehrke and Janka Oertel of the European Council on Foreign Relations wrote in a commentary. “The EU defence industry risks grinding to a halt as inventory shortfalls could leave it struggling to produce and deliver enough weapons for the war in Ukraine.” China accounts for 61 percent of rare earths extraction and 92 percent of refining, according to the International Energy Agency. It provides nearly 99 percent of the EU’s supply of the 17 rare earths, as well as about 98 percent of its rare earth permanent magnets. In addition to its minerals monopoly, Beijing has built a legal foundation to capitalize on it — through an export control toolbox that mirrors the one Washington has used to cap exports of leading-edge technology to China. The EU lacks a comparable armory that would allow it to respond in kind. Whereas export controls are now a go-to option in Washington’s and Beijing’s trade negotiation strategies, to Brussels, protecting national security remains the sole legitimate justification to deploy such measures. “The EU will need to find a way to live in this new reality,” said Antonia Hmaidi, senior analyst at think tank Merics, adding that the bloc may have to give up its belief in the rules-based trading system that characterized the post-World War Two era. “It could also mean that the EU chooses not to play that game, but then the EU needs a different game to play,” she said, adding that weaponizing EU market access could be a powerful alternative. Ahead of Thursday’s summit, calls are growing to ready the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), the only trade policy tool the EU can wield against economic coercion. Working mostly through deterrence, the bloc’s so-called trade bazooka seeks to prevent foreign powers from pressuring European countries — but only foresees action as a last resort. “It’s the usual sabre rattling from the usual subjects, but activating the ACI is not seriously under consideration at this stage,” said one EU diplomat, who was also granted anonymity. Asked whether the EU executive is looking at the ACI, the Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill said: “Right now we’re focused on engagement, and we’re not going to go down the road of speculating about any other possibility.” That engagement is delivering scant results. In June, Beijing agreed to set up a “green channel” for European companies to speed the approval of export licenses. And yet, Šefčovič said, only half of the 2,000 priority applications submitted by European companies to the Chinese authorities had been “properly addressed.” Moving forward, the EU needs to dramatically ramp up its diversification efforts. At a meeting with industry leaders on Monday, Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné said the EU’s response must build on two pillars, according to his cabinet: a diplomatic solution and a more resilient supply chain. That, however, won’t happen overnight. Especially since the EU executive unveiled its grand plan to diversify its supply of raw materials away from China two years ago, officials have been stressing the need to stockpile more of the metals and minerals, ramp up domestic mining and production and seal new partnerships. But concrete action is still lagging, with experts and industry alike lamenting the lack of funding being put on the table. James Watson, director general at metals lobby Eurometaux, welcomed the EU executive’s decision to award “strategic project” status to some 60 mines and refineries inside and outside the bloc, but added: “We still need dedicated funding for the sector, as well as addressing structural issues, such as higher energy costs and heavier administrative burdens, that put as at a competitive disadvantage compared with our global competitors.” Camille Gijs and Koen Verhelst contributed reporting. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would jet into Brazil to ink the long-awaited accord on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give the green light. Inclusion in 2026 Commission plan follows China’s move to limit export of rare-earth magnets. There’s immense political appetite to clinch a deal in Brussels and New Delhi — but historically thorny issues keep complicating the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff crusade has pushed the EU toward completing its long-awaited agreement with the South American bloc.
|
Antonia Zimmermann
|
Despite the EU’s efforts to diversify its supply of critical minerals, Beijing’s skillfully crafted dominance gives it immense geopolitical leverage.
|
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"critical raw materials",
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Trade
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[
"Canada",
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"United States"
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2025-10-23T02:12:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:12:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:21:59Z
| 7,373,829
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-no-quick-release-china-rare-earth-choke-hold/
|
Think Hamas will lay down arms easily? Look how long it took the IRA.
|
As it was in Northern Ireland, disarmament is shaping up to be the Gaza plan’s most likely stumbling stone. AI generated Text-to-speech Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor and a foreign affairs columnist at POLITICO Europe. When U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point Gaza peace plan, diplomats and commentators noted echoes of another deal former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had a hand in — the Good Friday Agreement. It was this landmark document, signed in 1998, that started the process that would end three decades of sectarian strife in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles. The similarities between the two immediately struck academic David Mitchell, a Trinity College professor of reconciliation and peace studies. Several phrases appeared to be “lifted from the Good Friday Agreement — or at least inspired by it,” he told POLITICO, particularly those about a “process of demilitarization,” the “decommissioning” of weapons and “placing weapons permanently beyond use.” According to Mitchell, “the word ‘decommissioning’ wasn’t much in use until the Good Friday Agreement; people hadn’t really heard it before. I guess [it] was to try to take the sting out of disarmament, and maybe make it look less like a defeat for the paramilitaries.” No doubt this approach helped the Irish Republican Army’s pro-agreement camp eventually sell the landmark deal to the movement’s reluctant hard men. Nonetheless, it took nearly nine years to get Northern Ireland’s IRA to fully disarm and bring the conflict, which saw around 3,500 killed and 50,000 injured, to an end. So how long before Hamas disarms? The fact that the Good Friday Agreement — some of its core assumptions and the overall design of its confidence-building steps — served as a model for Gaza is hardly surprising. After all, Trump tapped Blair to help oversee postwar Gaza’s governance. The former prime minister also worked on the plan during the last six months of the previous U.S. administration, and subsequently with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff when it was revived by the current administration. And as it was in Northern Ireland, disarmament is shaping up to be the Gaza plan’s most likely stumbling stone, particularly as it moves from its fairly simple transactional first phase of hostage–prisoner swaps and the cessation of hostilities to its second phase, which will see Hamas and allied Palestinian militant groups in the enclave lay down their arms. Phase three — if we ever get there — envisions the reconstruction of civil governance and the rebuilding of Gaza, which will of course take years. But so too will disarmament — if what unfolded in Northern Ireland is a guide. On Tuesday, after Hamas was accused of launching an attack on Israeli forces in the Rafah area, an impatient Trump warned the group to disarm or face a “FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!” end. But so far, the only disarmament that has taken place involves a family-based clan in Khan Yunis handing over its weapons to Hamas, as the militant group began a campaign of violence against clan-based opponents and Gazans it claims collaborated with Israel during the war. The main lesson from the Northern Ireland peace process, which came close to unraveling several times over disarmament, is that even with the strongest will in the world, it’s going to take considerable time — something that will give the deal’s opponents, whether Israeli or Palestinian, plenty of opportunity to throw a spanner in the works. The Good Friday Agreement was among Blair’s finest moments, and one he proudly argues remains an example to the world: “You had leaders who were prepared even at personal political risk to face down the recalcitrant elements in their own parties and move forwards,” he said on the 25th anniversary of its signing. “That’s why it’s a lesson for peace processes everywhere.” And moving forward, Blair will no doubt remind us that patience will be vital — something U.S. Vice President JD Vance already hinted at during his remarks in Israel on Tuesday. While echoing Trump and warning that “if Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated,” Vance also stressed it would take “a very, very long time” to implement the 20-point plan and declined to set a deadline or timetable for Hamas to disarm. Drawing further parallels, Mitchell observed that after the Good Friday Agreement was signed, “decommissioning was immediately the most important issue.” It “dominated the whole peace process until 2007 and took on massive symbolic importance. There was some devolution and power-sharing, but it kept collapsing because Unionists didn’t have confidence [in] the IRA’s seriousness about disarmament,” he said. “As a militant group, your weapons are absolutely essential to your identity, which I assume is the case with Hamas. So, you don’t want to give them up lightly,” he added. Indeed, not. Once the ceasefire took effect, Hamas wasted no time, openly reappearing in areas the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had just vacated and reasserting control over a chunk of the enclave. One Hamas officer told Qatar’s Al-Araby TV that redeployed gunmen would confiscate weapons from “fugitives” — a catch-all term for Palestinians opposing the group. And not long after, a video posted on Gaza-based social media networks showed an armed masked man shooting a Palestinian in the leg — a punishment often used by the militants against suspected collaborators. There have been more such shootings and executions since. Hamas claims it has redeployed its gunmen only to ensure the enclave doesn’t plunge into anarchy. But when it comes to eventual disarmament, it has only issued opaque statements, with a senior Hamas official telling Reuters earlier this week that he couldn’t commit to the group’s disarming. Asked if Hamas would lay down its arms, a member of the group’s politburo, Mohammed Nazzal, said: “I can’t answer with a yes or no. Frankly, it depends on the nature of the project. The disarmament project you’re talking about, what does it mean? To whom will the weapons be handed over?” He has a point: When it comes to the mechanics of decommissioning weapons, nothing is in place yet; there’s no one to receive them or monitor their destruction. Hamas is hardly going to hand over its arms to the IDF — much as the IRA didn’t hand theirs to the British army or the province’s police force, then known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary — as it would certainly get pushback from the hard men. Instead, Mitchell explained, it was two churchmen, a Methodist and a Catholic, who monitored the IRA destroying its weapons caches. “Basically, they were driven around the countryside inspecting the destruction of the weapons. It was all very secretive. Then they came back to the media and said: ‘We have seen the full and complete disarmament of the IRA.” Those arsenals were much smaller, though, and it’s difficult to imagine the likes of Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir or Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreeing to such a stealthy process, taking the word of a pair of independent monitors that weapons have been placed beyond use. They will want total evidence and will be keen to rub Hamas’ nose in defeat. The most obvious solution here is for Hamas to hand its weapons over to an international stabilization force, which Vance said is still in the early stages of planning. He did not, however, directly link the actual mechanics of Hamas’ disarmament with the deployment of a stabilization force. That begs the question of Hamas’ intentions — including whether there’s a single chain of command or if splits will emerge within the militant group. “Is Hamas going to give up the weapons? Are they going to give up power? Even in recent days, we’ve seen that militants in Gaza aren’t entirely a monolith. To what extent does Hamas have operational control over all these elements?” asked Ned Price, a former U.S. diplomat who had worked with Blair and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the peace plan during the previous administration. For Mitchell, there’s one huge difference between the Good Friday Agreement and the Gaza plan: The former had the carrot of a political settlement, whereas Trump’s plan has no clear path to a two-state solution. “Northern Ireland’s peace process was linked with political progress, whereas in this agreement, there’s no linkage,” he said. That might prove to be the fatal flaw. Politicians in Berlin fear that the sharp increase in Ukrainian men coming to Germany could reduce support for military aid to Kyiv. Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump could have been much more productive had he recalibrated his thinking and rejigged his agenda after Putin’s lengthy call with the U.S. leader. Relations between the two leaders have warmed since Kyiv learned there could only be “one diva” in the room. U.S. president wades into domestic Israeli politics from his bully pulpit in the Knesset.
|
Jamie Dettmer
|
As it was in Northern Ireland, disarmament is shaping up to be the Gaza plan’s most likely stumbling stone.
|
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"cooperation",
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"unpacked",
"war",
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] |
Commentary
|
[
"Israel",
"Palestine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T02:01:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:01:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:01:00Z
| 7,375,902
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/hamas-war-in-gaza-israel-northern-ireland-disarmament-ira/
|
Greeks look to grieving mother in search for a political savior
|
Maria Karystianou is being touted as the person to shake up Greek politics. AI generated Text-to-speech ATHENS — A doctor whose daughter was killed in a train crash has emerged as the unlikely figurehead of a wave of protests against the political establishment in Greece. Many want Maria Karystianou to run for office, believing an outsider would be the best person to shake up a country that has been rocked by a series of scandals and where trust in politicians has plummeted. Karystianou, a 52-year-old pediatrician, is the president of the Tempi Victims’ Relatives Association, which is seeking justice for those involved in the February 2023 train crash in Tempi in which 57 people died, mostly students. Her 19-year-old daughter Marthi was one of those who died in the deadliest rail crash in Greek history, a disaster that raised deep concerns about the functioning of the state and resulted in mass street protests. “Greece has gone off the rails and remains there,” Karystianou said, juxtaposing the train crash and Greek politics. “I cannot bear to live in such a society, and I cannot imagine how we will continue to live with such a corrupt political system. This is an urgent need of society that cannot be met by the existing political system.” While speculation that Karystianou might be launching a political career has been rampant in local media, she has refused to confirm or deny the rumors, including when she spoke with POLITICO. Any new political movement would join a fragmented landscape, according to opinion polls, one that is overshadowed by profound distrust in the government and low support for the ruling party, the center-right New Democracy of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. With opposition parties also divided and unable to take advantage, some polls suggest a new political movement led by Karystianou could draw the support of 25 percent of voters. “I want to see something new, as does a large part of society. I also belong to this 25 percent,” she said. The deadly Tempi train crash “remains in the news mainly because it has managed to form a voice of opposition and express protest against the government and the political system more broadly. The protest is not necessarily anti-establishment but rather a voice of despair over the government’s chronic incompetence,” said Lamprini Rori, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Athens. The train crash left a deep scar on Greece. Two trains traveling at high speed in opposite directions on the same line — one carrying at least 150 people and one filled with cargo — collided head-on, killing 57 people and injuring 85. The disaster shone a spotlight on Greece’s aging 2,550-kilometer rail network, which had long faced criticism for alleged mismanagement, unfit equipment and poor maintenance. “It is an open wound, as it is a crime committed by the state,” said Costas Eleftheriou, an assistant professor at Democritus University of Thrace and political analysis coordinator at the ENA Institute for Alternative Policies, an Athens think tank. “A railway that never operated according to the required specifications, a ministry leadership that assured it was safe, and then the conditions for the administration of justice are not being met.” “Since those in government and opposition are unable to address the problem, we are currently in a deadlock.” Polls show that the vast majority of Greeks believe the government is trying to cover up what really happened and who was to blame. There have been claims that highly flammable chemicals were being transported. In March 2024 the Mitsotakis government survived a vote of no confidence, but its handling of the fallout has only intensified the scrutiny, with Athens dismissing a call from the European public prosecutor to take action over the potential criminal liability of two former transport ministers. (The government made use of a provision in the Greek constitution that gives ministers immunity.) That’s where Karystianou comes in. Hailing from a middle-class background, she has gained national fame and become a symbol of the call for justice, winning a reputation for speaking clearly but with emotion. Her every word is now scrutinized by supporters and opponents alike. “I feel ashamed that a European prosecutor would come and say that our constitution protects ministers from accountability. This constitutional provision is abused by politicians even in cases of felonies, such as Tempi,” Karystianou said. The victims’ association has organized protests in Greece and beyond, as well as concerts and other events to keep the case in the public eye. Karystianou and other relatives of those who died in the crash have received hundreds of messages from Greeks encouraging the creation of a new political movement. Her phone also buzzes constantly with calls from MPs and political officials pledging to sign up if she does start a party. “A huge lack of trust in the ruling party and the opposition parties has created a demand in society for unconventional politics,” said Eleftheriou, the assistant professor. “When voters think of the victims’ families, they say, ‘These are people like us, and they are claiming their rights.’ They can understand their goal, identify with it, and rally behind it.” The latest street protests were part of a campaign by the families of victims to have their loved ones exhumed, both for identification and so that toxicological and other tests can be performed to check for the presence of flammable material. Panos Ruci, whose son Denis was killed in the crash, went on a 23-day hunger strike and camped outside the Greek parliament to put pressure on the government to agree to the exhumation request. Judicial authorities, who had said no to the request, eventually agreed to dig up the bodies. A group called Till the End has set up a makeshift memorial for the Tempi victims and has written the names of the 57 victims in red paint in front of the parliament. Every night for the past eight months at 11:18 p.m. — the time of the crash — the protesters read out the names of the dead. The government has said it will pass an amendment this month that will stop the mourners and protesters from gathering there, a decision that has met strong opposition. “The systematic and detailed efforts of the victims’ relatives to find evidence of administrative incompetence in the government’s response to the accident reinforced popular opposition to the ruling party,” said Iannis Konstantinidis, associate professor with the Department of International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia. “The victims’ relatives — already having the moral high ground — also gained the political upper hand against a government that was perceived as inadequate at best.” However, he added, moral support doesn’t automatically translate into electoral support: “Their political opponents can attack them with arguments that do not concern morality but rather their inexperience or governability. Their moral and symbolic capital will then be insufficient.” Such attacks from rivals are something Karistianou will have to get used to if she decides to become a politician. “None of us can respond to what Karistianou is saying,” Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis told local radio station Parapolitika. “I respect her as a mother who lost her child. But if she becomes our political opponent tomorrow, she won’t have the same immunity and treatment. She’ll be our political opponent.” Another problem, according to Rori at the University of Athens, is that new parties find it extremely difficult to survive, even if they manage to stick around for a couple of elections. “The intense debate surrounding the possibility of a new party led by Karistianou highlights the need for opposition representation and a potential political opportunity for a newcomer to the political scene. However, it is more likely that such a party would be stillborn — yet another flash party.” Despite New Democracy’s decline in the polls, which suggests it would be unable to form a majority government if elections were held today, no serious challenger to Mitsotakis has emerged. Meanwhile, Greece’s former left-wing prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, stepped down as an MP earlier this month, as speculation mounts that he is planning to form a new party. Pollsters have been trying to predict the public’s reaction to a potential new political party led by Tsipras and reckon that his potential base could be up to 20 percent of the electorate. While he has not officially confirmed rumors about a new party, Tsipras implied as much in his public resignation statement, telling former colleagues in the left-wing Syriza party: “We will not be rivals. Perhaps soon, we will travel together again to more beautiful seas.” Tsipras said he plans to publish a book by the end of the year on his time as prime minister. Another party from the right of the political spectrum is likely to emerge from former Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras. He was expelled from the party last year after strongly criticizing government policies, including on the relationship with neighboring Turkey, as well as what he considers “woke” approaches such as legislation recognizing same-sex marriage. There have been media reports that Karystianou could join forces with Samaras on a new political movement, as one of her associates used to be an adviser to the ex-PM. According to pollsters, some 9 percent of voters could potentially support a new party led by Samaras, which is expected to adopt an agenda that owes more than a little to U.S. President Donald Trump. Millions of euros a year in EU agricultural funds were allegedly siphoned off fraudulently. Tufan Erhürman scored a landslide victory, unseating hard-line incumbent Ersin Tatar, who was considered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s favorite. The center-right government is aiming to transform Greece’s labor market into one of Europe’s most “flexible.” Raid intensifies pressure on Athens to come up with action plan to clean up its handling of farm subsidy payments.
|
Nektaria Stamouli
|
Maria Karystianou is being touted as the person to shake up Greek politics.
|
[
"greek politics",
"infrastructure",
"railways"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Greece"
] |
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:32:05Z
| 7,300,560
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-politics-train-crash-movement/
|
Liz Truss thinks Green Party could be Britain’s next official opposition
|
The former PM says Britain must learn from America’s MAGA movement — but insists she won’t be joining Reform UK, for now. WASHINGTON — Former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss thinks the Green Party might end up becoming the official opposition after the next election. In an interview with POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy for the Westminster Insider podcast, Truss said “I think there’s a certain kind of honesty about the Green Party that you don’t see in the Labour Party,” adding that people are sick of “technocratic managerial crap” in politics. The former prime minister also insisted she will not be joining Reform UK in the foreseeable future, despite criticizing her own party’s record in office. She poured scorn on both Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of her old party and on Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Asked what she made of Reeves’ claim that Truss’ controversial mini-budget in September 2022 had contributed to Britain’s flailing economy today, making tax increases in her budget next month inevitable, Truss shot back: “I think she is a disingenuous liar. I have no time for Rachel Reeves. I don’t think she’s telling the truth about what is wrong with the British economy. I think she’s desperate … the public are now cottoning on to the fact that our country is in serious trouble.” She also accused the Labour chancellor of having “bought the narrative of the Bank of England [about the dangers of the Truss mini-budget], which was a false narrative. Now she is being hung on her own petard.” The government has returned to the Conservatives’ economic record in preparation for a likely tax-raising budget next month, claiming this week that “things like austerity, the cuts to capital spending and Brexit have had a bigger impact on our economy than was even projected back then.” Truss took issue with this assertion. “It is ludicrous to blame Brexit for a 30-year problem,” she said. “These arguments, like the mini-budget or Brexit or austerity, they’re just distractions from what the real problems are.” Speaking to POLITICO, Badenoch’s leadership of the Conservative Party also came in for a lengthy pasting from one of her recent predecessors. “I don’t believe the Conservative Party has come to terms with why we were kicked out after fourteen years,” Truss insisted. “What I was trying to do was shift the Conservative Party into the nationalist space. And what I faced was huge resistance from the Conservative blob who actually want to kowtow to the woke agenda. They want to be part of the transgender ideology, green climate change stuff.” Badenoch, she believes, still needs to choose more decisively “between representing places like Rotherham and Norfolk on the one hand and places like Surrey and Henley-on-Thames on the other. They haven’t chosen, and that’s a fundamental issue. And what Nigel Farage has done is he has moved into that space. That’s an existential threat for the Conservative Party.” But she had an optimistic assessment of the outlook for the Greens, reenergized under Zack Polanski’s leadership. “People don’t want this kind of technocratic managerial crap anymore. [Polanski] might end up leader of the opposition at this rate,” she said. “I think there’s a certain kind of honesty about the Green Party that you don’t see in the Labour Party … because there’s nothing for people to believe in.” Truss was speaking during a trip to Washington, D.C. and Virginia, where she met with leading figures from the conservative MAGA movement. In an extensive interview, Truss hinted, however, that her position could change when it comes to staying above the party fray. Asked how she saw Reform, she retorted: “I’m not offering my services,” even if there is a chance of bumping into its leader, Farage, who enjoys close links with U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House. However, she didn’t shut the door on some alignment with Reform: “I’m doing what I’m doing on an independent basis for now … reaching out to people, to network and to understand the lie of the land. I’m not going to say … my definite plans for the future.” Truss resigned three years ago after just 49 days — the shortest period in office of any British prime minister. After losing her seat in last year’s general election, she has made regular visits to the U.S., attending right-wing conferences and conventions where she has praised Trump. Last week she joined a roster of Christian conservatives who support the MAGA movement. She spoke at a business summit at Liberty University in Virginia, founded by the late televangelist and conservative activist Jerry Falwell, alongside Gen. Mike Flynn, the former national security adviser to Trump, whose stump speeches described a Manichean fight between good and evil and Trump as the nation’s savior. Reflecting on the event afterward, Truss told McElvoy: “There’s a huge amount we can learn from [Trump] and what is happening in America and the MAGA revolution in the U.K. and Europe.” Asked if she identified with the more fundamentalist view of religion and politics of the evangelical pro-Trump activists, she described her work “mission” to remake the U.K. and said: “I think the [Church of England] needs to be restored to its former glory … it needs serious change.” Even Badenoch, who has fought “woke” institutions and now wants to abandon the Climate Change Act, remains in hock to “modernizers” who Truss believes still control the party. But she had a positive word for Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick’s recent plan to restore the lord chancellor’s direct role in appointing judges. “I did agree with his policy on that — he’s right about it.” Truss remains defiant about the circumstances of her resignation as prime minister. She admitted to having been “upset to be deposed,” but was dismissive of her detractors and the jokes about her premiership being outlasted by a supermarket lettuce. “The people who joke about it or take the mick … I mean if I had been just a truly kind of mediocre, incompetent prime minister, I wouldn’t have been deposed. We’ve had plenty of those. I was deposed because people didn’t like my agenda and they wanted to get rid of me. “We’ve had years and years of pantomime personality politics, like Angela Rayner’s tax bill. And it doesn’t actually change the fact that the country is going down the tubes. And until the public and journalists understand where power and the British system actually lies and start to challenge it, start to question it … nothing will change.” Former Tory leadership contender changes stance to support Kemi Badenoch’s policy after opposing British withdrawal in 2022. The shadow chancellor’s rebuke breaks ranks with Kemi Badenoch’s response to the controversial comments. Andrew Griffith says stronger ties could scupper wider trade deals for Britain’s Labour government. Conservative leader insists her party should “hold its nerve” amid plunging poll ratings and defections.
|
Anne McElvoy
|
The former PM says Britain must learn from America’s MAGA movement — but insists she won’t be joining Reform UK, for now.
|
[
"austerity",
"brexit",
"british politics",
"budget",
"climate change",
"elections",
"religion",
"tax",
"war",
"westminster insider"
] |
Politics
|
[
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
| 7,374,645
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/liz-truss-politics-uk-reform-party-labour-rachel-reeves-nigel-farage/
|
Crunch EU leaders’ climate talks risk opening ‘Pandora’s box’
|
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gambles leaders will land a climate target deal without trashing her green legacy. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — The EU is bracing for national leaders to vent their concerns about its green agenda — and hoping it doesn’t turn into an outright rebellion. On Thursday, the 27 heads of state and government will have their say on a new target for slashing the bloc’s planet-warming emissions by 2040, a core promise of Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as European Commission president. It’s a critical balancing act for von der Leyen. She is looking for a way to appease the economic and political concerns of a growing number of EU members without allowing them to erode a set of stringent climate laws she built during her first five years leading the EU executive. Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa “are responsible for the success” of Thursday’s summit, said Linda Kalcher, director of the Brussels-based Strategic Perspectives think tank. “It’s in their interest to manage the debate well and avoid unravelling with leaders opening the Pandora’s box to weaken laws.” The discussion is meant to break a stalemate that is holding up an agreement on the new climate goal, but could just as easily lead to demands to weaken the policies designed to cut pollution. In an effort to preempt such demands, von der Leyen this week offered a slate of concessions — vowing to tweak existing climate laws to address governments’ economic concerns, but without substantially weakening the measures. The question is whether that will prove enough. Von der Leyen has already spent much of her second term chipping away at green laws she proposed over the previous five years, slashing requirements for companies and promising more flexible rules. Those efforts have been balanced, however, with her desire to protect the core of the bloc's mission to zero out climate-warming pollution by 2050. Her proposed 2040 target also grants significant leeway to governments, even allowing them to outsource a portion of the required emissions cuts abroad. To date, this approach hasn’t placated leaders. Ahead of Thursday’s summit, 19 countries were calling for even more deregulation from the Commission. A vocal contingent — including Poland’s Donald Tusk and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni — have made far-reaching demands that the bloc’s existing measures be weakened, in return for even considering supporting the 2040 goal. Leaders are not expected to spend much time discussing the actual target, although some countries that are unhappy with the Commission’s proposal — a plan to cut emissions by up to 90 percent below 1990 levels by 2040 — are bound to vent their frustration. Costa, who chairs the discussion, has instead asked leaders to discuss how the bloc can marry climate efforts with economic competitiveness. Both he and von der Leyen were unwilling to debate the target itself, according to one diplomat from an EU country and a European official briefed on the preparations for Thursday’s summit. But his invitation to leaders to outline their conditions for supporting the 2040 target risks "a Christmas tree" effect, the diplomat said, where each leader hitches their own pet policies to the target. The diplomat, who was granted anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the summit, added that French President Emmanuel Macron — who pushed for the leaders’ debate — was seen as pivotal. The Commission has offered France significant concessions for backing the 2040 target, including a large hike on steel tariffs. The attitude Macron brings to the summit could make or break the talks, the diplomat warned. Other leaders are expected to push to weaken existing rules as a tradeoff for backing the target. Poland hopes to delay a carbon tax on fossil fuels used in transport and heating, while Italy has requested changes to the EU’s combustion-engine phaseout. Others want reassurances about future policies. France would prefer to avoid a fresh renewable energy target that sidelines its nuclear power fleet, and Germany wants a less onerous decarbonization path for its heavy industry. The details of what is agreed will be key. “It depends on the nature of the tweaks,” said Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. Those might simply make compliance easier, or conversely could weaken the bloc’s climate efforts. “But overall, yes, we are entering dangerous territory.” In the words of one diplomat: “Classic balance, everyone equally unhappy.” A Greek veto prevents the EU from reendorsing a global carbon price on shipping in its position for next month’s climate summit. In a letter, the Commission president defends the 2040 goal but offers several concessions to governments. China stands ready to fill the gap as EU infighting leaves a vacuum in global talks.
|
Zia Weise
|
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gambles leaders will land a climate target deal without trashing her green legacy.
|
[
"2040 climate target",
"carbon",
"companies",
"competitiveness",
"decarbonization",
"emissions",
"fossil fuels",
"industry",
"nuclear power",
"pollution",
"renewable energy",
"steel",
"tanks",
"tariffs",
"tax",
"transport"
] |
Energy and Climate
|
[
"France",
"Germany",
"Italy",
"Poland"
] |
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:00:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:24:10Z
| 7,374,489
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-2040-ursula-von-der-leyen-climate-talks-antonio-costa/
|
Finland to Trump: Now let Zelenskyy hit Russia with Tomahawks
|
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tells POLITICO Ukraine must be equipped to match or exceed Russia’s capabilities because Vladimir Putin only responds to strength. BRUSSELS — Donald Trump should allow Ukraine to use America’s long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. In an interview with POLITICO, Orpo warned that Russia represents a “permanent threat” to European security and urged the U.S. president to grant Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself and bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Orpo’s comments came as Trump announced sweeping sanctions on Russian state-owned oil firms, in the most significant step he has taken as president to put pressure on Putin over the Ukraine war. “Putin believes only in power,” Orpo said as he arrived in Brussels for a summit of European Union leaders at a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s more than three-year war against Russian invaders. “If we want to stop the war we have to be on the same level or even stronger” than Russia, Orpo said. After failing to persuade Putin to meet Trump for ceasefire talks in Hungary, the U.S. seems to be running out of patience with the Kremlin. On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against Moscow’s biggest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Russia’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process.” “Today is a very big day in terms of what we are doing. These are tremendous sanctions,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “We hope that they won’t be on for long. We hope that the war will be settled.” Trump displayed frustration with Putin’s foot-dragging in negotiations to end the invasion. “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere. They just don’t go anywhere,” he said. But Trump added that he did not want to let Ukraine use American Tomahawks. It takes “a year of intense training” to learn how to fire the “highly complex” missiles, Trump said, and that’s too long to wait. Finland is one of the EU’s most influential countries with Trump after its president, Alexander Stubb, bonded with the American leader on the golf course. The Finns are among the most hawkish in Europe on security as they share a 1,300 kilometer border with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argues Putin only showed an interest in peace with Trump when he suggested he would let Ukraine use Tomahawks — and as soon as Trump took the cruise missiles off the table, Russia backtracked on peace. So should Trump give Zelenskyy the missiles he wants? “I really hope that they can get the capabilities that they need to [counter]strike Russia and defend themselves,” Orpo said. “We know that this is a question between Zelenskyy and the United States and I really hope they can find a solution.” On Thursday, EU leaders in Brussels aim to make progress on a plan to raid Russia’s frozen financial assets for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine. One question is what sort of conditions the EU should attach to the loan, which could be worth as much as €140 billion, enough to keep Ukraine in the fight for two or three years. France is reportedly leading the push to make Ukraine spend the money on weapons manufactured in Europe. Some other countries, including Sweden, are said to want Ukraine to be able to choose how to use the loan. Orpo argues Europe must have a say. “I don’t think that whole freedom is the best way,” he said. “We give loans and so we need to do it in good cooperation with them … we need to know that they will use this huge amount of money in a responsible way.” That means, where possible, buying European. “I hope that they can buy more and more weapons from Europe,” Orpo said. “But we know that we don’t have all those capabilities and weapons in Europe that they need. So it’s reality that they also must be allowed to buy from the U.S., if needed.” He added: “This is not only a question of Tomahawks. If we can find a solution on how we can finance Ukraine strongly and find a long-term solution using frozen assets it will be so strong a message to Putin that he understands that he cannot win this war. This can be a game changer.” Hadja Lahbib tells POLITICO she has ‘doubts’ about Netanyahu’s commitment to Trump’s ceasefire, and vows to keep up the pressure on Israel. Hadja Lahbib defends Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s blockade of a disputed plan to help Kyiv fight Vladimir Putin. EU chiefs lost some credibility when they failed to get a deal to fund Ukraine using Russian assets. Zelenskyy could lose a lot more. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
|
Tim Ross
|
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tells POLITICO Ukraine must be equipped to match or exceed Russia’s capabilities because Vladimir Putin only responds to strength.
|
[
"americas",
"borders",
"cooperation",
"finance",
"golf",
"kremlin",
"missiles",
"security",
"war",
"war in ukraine",
"weapons",
"politics"
] |
Defense
|
[
"Finland",
"France",
"Russia",
"Sweden",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T23:36:41Z
|
2025-10-22T23:36:41Z
|
2025-10-23T09:47:27Z
| 7,377,594
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/tomahawks-finland-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-cruise-missiles-sanctions-war/
|
Tony Blair says UK should drop clean power targets
|
It’s the second time the former prime minister has weighed in on the government’s energy strategy. LONDON — Britain should scrap its flagship target of cleaning up the power system by 2030 and focus instead on cutting energy costs, according to former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s think tank. In a new report published Thursday, The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) argued the government risked “getting the balance wrong” and blamed “decades of policy decisions” for Britain’s high electricity costs. It called on the government to shift away from its totemic clean power target, and prioritize making electricity cheap to preserve support for the net zero agenda. “If the transition continues in a way that raises costs, weakens reliability and undermines growth, it will fail both politically and practically,” the report said. It is the second time the former prime minister, through the TBI, has weighed in on the government’s energy strategy. Earlier this year, Blair argued that global attempts to cut fossil fuel consumption are “doomed to fail” without a reset. The intervention comes as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband faces increasing pressure to cut energy costs for struggling households, especially after the Labour Party pledged to cut them by up to £300 during last summer’s general election. Just last week, bosses of Britain's largest energy suppliers warned MPs that the costs levied on bills — used to pay for grid upgrades and other green schemes — could continue to push up electricity bills, even if wholesale costs start to dip. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “This report rightly recognises that clean power is the right choice for this country. This Government’s clean power mission is exactly how we will deliver cheaper power and bring down bills for good. “Our mission is relentlessly focused on delivering lower bills for the British people, to tackle the affordability crisis that has been driven by our dependence on fossil fuel markets.” Opposition parties have seized on high electricity costs to hammer the government over its decarbonization plans. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho last week accused the government of creating a “recipe for public outrage” over its pledge to cut bills through the clean power plan. The TBI defended the 2050 net zero target and the shift to clean electricity, but does not pinpoint a specific date to achieve the goal. “Circumstances have changed” since Labour set the 2030 target, it argued, while “pushing the system too quickly risks driving up costs and undermining confidence.” The TBI also proposed a string of reforms to government plans, including cutting some carbon taxes on gas and bringing back a controversial proposal to overhaul the electricity market by slicing the U.K.’s single national wholesale price into different “locational” prices. The report’s authors reckon scrapping the carbon price support levy on gas would save the average household around £20 per year. The report also called for the government to give Britain’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) a mandate to “monitor net zero delivery for cost-effectiveness,” phase out subsidies for the controversial Drax biomass power plant, and implement “radical reform” to the planning regime. The 2030 target was “right for its time,” said the TBI’s Energy Policy Advisor Tone Langengen, who authored the report. “But circumstances have changed — the U.K. now needs more than a decarbonization plan, it needs a full-spectrum energy strategy built on growth, resilience and abundant clean electricity.” Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party has pledged to ditch the U.K.’s flagship climate law if they get back into government, in the latest signal that the party is firmly walking back on net zero commitments. The U.K. boss of the Heartland Institute said she had been influencing Reform UK “at the highest level.” The Green Party’s new leader wants to make it a populist left-wing force. Not all his colleagues are convinced. Polanski won a crushing 85 percent of the vote.
|
Abby Wallace
|
It’s the second time the former prime minister has weighed in on the government’s energy strategy.
|
[
"biomass",
"carbon",
"decarbonization",
"elections",
"electricity",
"energy",
"fossil fuels",
"growth",
"markets",
"net zero",
"politics"
] |
Energy and Climate UK
|
[
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-22T23:01:00Z
|
2025-10-22T23:01:00Z
|
2025-10-23T02:35:17Z
| 7,371,609
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/tony-blair-uk-should-drop-clean-power-targets/
|
Brussels to question Orbán’s government over EU spying allegations, anti-fraud commissioner says
|
Piotr Serafin promises MEPs the Commission will “raise its concerns” with Budapest over alleged spying from Hungary’s EU embassy. STRASBOURG — The European Commission will speak to the Hungarian government about reports of alleged historic spying conducted from its embassy in Brussels, the EU’s anti-fraud Commissioner Piotr Serafin told MEPs on Wednesday. Several outlets reported earlier this month that Hungarian intelligence officials from Viktor Orbán’s government had pretended to be diplomats and tried to recruit EU staffers as spies between 2012 and 2018. Serafin told MEPs in Strasbourg that the alleged incidents "undermine the principle of loyal cooperation between member states and EU institutions." “Even though the investigations have not yet been fully completed, I can assure you that the Commission will raise its concerns with the Hungarian government at all levels,” he said. But he stopped short of sharing details of the Commission’s broader investigation, saying confidentiality is needed to “ensure the integrity of the investigation.” Some lawmakers had argued in the plenary debate on the scandal that the Commission should suspend Hungary's commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, who has the health portfolio. Várhelyi has drawn scrutiny because he was Hungary’s ambassador to the EU for part of the time the spy network was alleged to have operated from the embassy. There is no suggestion that Várhelyi was involved in any alleged espionage, and he has told Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that he was “not aware” of supposed efforts by Orbán’s government to recruit spies in Brussels, according to a Commission spokesperson. But Sophie Wilmès, an MEP from the centrist Renew group, said the EU executive should have suspended the commissioner “at least [while] waiting to shed some light on the matter.” “If the Commission isn’t going to act responsibly,” she said, then it's “up to Parliament to do so, and that is why we would support the creation of a committee of inquiry immediately to deal with these issues.” Adrián Vázquez Lázara, a lawmaker from the center-right European People’s Party, also said he was “rather surprised” that Várhelyi hasn’t been "relieved of his duties pending the outcome of the investigation. I thought that was a minimum, the least we could expect, isn't it?" But right-wing MEPs in the chamber said the furor had been sparked by anonymous claims with the aim of undermining Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary election. “What’s Várhelyi’s biggest sin?” asked Polish parliamentarian Patryk Jaki from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists group. “He has a different set of opinions than the set of correct opinions.” This story has been updated to clarify that MEP PatrykJaki is Polish. The watchdog is examining a complaint that the executive has been “evasive” about its meetings with lobbyists. MEPs want to know if the EU executive knew about alleged Hungarian spying. Some are calling for Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to resign if implicated. Robert W. Malone was launching the Make Europe Healthy Again movement in the European Parliament. Challenger Peter Magyar holds a sharp lead on the Hungarian prime minister ahead of the April election in Hungary.
|
Mari Eccles
|
Piotr Serafin promises MEPs the Commission will “raise its concerns” with Budapest over alleged spying from Hungary’s EU embassy.
|
[
"intelligence services",
"agriculture and food"
] |
Health Care
|
[
"Hungary"
] |
2025-10-22T21:14:07Z
|
2025-10-22T21:14:07Z
|
2025-10-23T08:38:21Z
| 7,376,607
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/piotr-serafin-hungary-spying-allegations-viktor-orban/
|
EU split over whether to let Ukraine use €140B loan to buy US weapons
|
France, Germany and Italy want Ukraine to use their potential mega-loan to buy EU-made weapons. BRUSSELS ― European countries haven't yet agreed whether to give Ukraine a €140 billion loan to buy weapons to fight Russia — but that's not stopping them from debating what strings to attach to it. One idea, pushed by the EU's three biggest countries, is to ensure that loan money spent on weapons flows back as much as possible into the EU's defense sector — and not across the Atlantic. Tensions are expected to sharpen during a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, where prime ministers and presidents aim to task the Commission with putting forward a legal proposal outlining the loan. While many key issues related to the operation have yet to be agreed, friction is already growing over whether to attach conditions to the loan, which will be financed using frozen Russian assets. The proceeds of the credit will be used for both defense needs and ordinary budget support ― but the exact breakdown hasn't yet been discussed. In order to boost their burgeoning defense industries while helping Ukraine, France and to a lesser extent Germany and Italy support using the loan to buy European weapons for Kyiv. The idea was first proposed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a Financial Times op-ed in September. "Such a comprehensive programme must also help to strengthen and expand the European defence industry," he wrote. "That would serve both our collective security and European sovereignty." However, a rival camp that includes the Netherlands and the Nordic and Baltic states argues that Ukraine should have free rein to spend the money according to its needs ― including purchasing weapons produced by U.S. companies. Following pressure from Berlin and Paris, the draft conclusions for the summit refer to “the importance of reinforcing the European defence industry” with the loan. Critics say this approach smacks of hypocrisy. “If the aim is to keep Ukraine in the fight, you need to keep the criteria open,” said a senior EU diplomat. They claim that attaching a “Buy European clause” would prevent Kyiv from accessing much-needed weapons such as the Patriot missile defense system that are only produced in the U.S. “I hope that they can buy more and more weapons from Europe but we know that we don’t have all those capabilities and weapons in Europe that they need. So it’s reality that they also must be allowed to buy from the U.S., if needed,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in an interview with POLITICO. Divisions on this issue emerged last week during a dinner of EU defense ministers, according to an EU official. Former Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė ― who stepped down on Wednesday over disagreements with the country's prime minister on the defense budget ― supported opening the Ukraine loan to U.S equipment in an interview with POLITICO. “If we can use the reparation loan to fund what Ukraine needs the most, this is great, and it can be great if it could be used to cover the most urgent needs of Ukraine, including the weapon systems made by United States.” She referred to a NATO initiative ― the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List ― that envisages the U.S. selling weapons to Kyiv provided that European allies pay for them. Tim Ross contributed to this report. A draft of a letter seen by POLITICO being drawn up by all four mainstream political groups demands major changes to Commission plan. The idea of joint European borrowing is rejected by most of the bloc’s governments. That’s why the Commission is using it as leverage to get them to approve the use of Moscow’s assets for Ukraine. Calls to rebuild economic ties with Russia are “an alarm bell,” Polish prime minister says in Sunday Times interview. One suspect was taken into custody while trying to leave the country, Paris prosecutor says.
|
Gregorio Sorgi
|
France, Germany and Italy want Ukraine to use their potential mega-loan to buy EU-made weapons.
|
[
"budget",
"defense",
"manufacturing",
"war"
] |
Financial Services
|
[] |
2025-10-22T20:52:24Z
|
2025-10-22T20:52:24Z
|
2025-10-22T20:52:49Z
| 7,376,418
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-weapons-ukraine-war-defense-budget-allies-deal-loan/
|
Banks furious as UK shies away from making Big Tech pay for fraud
|
Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged before the election to put tech giants on the hook for fraud. AI generated Text-to-speech The British government is preparing to roll back on its pledge to make Big Tech companies pay for scams in its upcoming fraud strategy. According an individual with direct knowledge of the strategy, there is no inclusion of a financial incentive for social media giants like Meta, or telecommunications firms like Virgin Media, to crack down on fraud originating on their platform. Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged before the election to put tech giants on the hook for fraud, removing some of the burden from banks which must reimburse victims of payments scams up to £85,000. The U-turn has incensed Britain’s banks, which have repeatedly called for tech and telcos to contribute to that cost. In a letter to Fraud Minister and peer David Hanson in August, bank lobby group UK Finance said no improvement had been made by the platforms, and the financial services sector "continues to shoulder the burden of reimbursing victims, with no tangible alignment with and from those sectors where fraud originates." The vast majority of fraudulent payments — 70 percent — start on an online platform. Meanwhile, Britain’s payments regulator found more than half of payment scams in the U.K. involve a Meta platform, with users defrauded out of £62.7 million via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp in 2023. In the U.K., fraud now constitutes 44 percent of all crime. During the U.K. election campaign, before Labour won in a landslide in July 2024, Starmer said an existing voluntary approach for the tech and telco sectors wasn't working and his government would change that. Tech companies should have a "clear obligation — and a clear financial incentive," to prevent scams, he told a pre-election debate. "At the moment, Britain's banks do most of the work of trying to prevent and detect fraudulent transactions, and bear all the cost of reimbursing victims, but the tech giants do little or nothing for either effort. That has to change," Starmer said at the time. The Labour government has however appeared loath to take on American tech companies since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump. The president this year threatened “substantial” additional tariffs on countries which imposed a digital services tax on America companies, which he said would be “discriminatory.” The writing has been on the wall for some time. In July, POLITICO revealed the chancellor, home secretary and technology secretary wrote to Big Tech firms praising their “demonstrable” efforts on combatting fraud. The fraud strategy, which is still in a draft format and could change before publication early next year, includes a data sharing agreement between banks and law enforcement agencies, which the financial services industry is supportive of. However, as it stands, there is little detail around how the data sharing agreement will function, and how much will be asked of Big Tech firms. The plan also lacks specific targets to bring down fraud, containing only a vague aim to reduce it, prompting one financial services executive to argue this means there is "no accountability." “If fraud is reduced by 0.1 percent, will that be considered a success? This feels like a document written by people with no ambition or money to solve the fraud problem,” they added. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Fraud is a serious and damaging crime, and we are determined to bring those responsible to justice. That’s why we’re developing an ambitious Fraud Strategy, which places working collaboratively with a range of partners, which we will be publishing in the new year. We continue to urge tech companies to step up to go further and faster to protect the public on their platforms." Reform leadership leans on BoE to scrap gilt sales and cut interest payments on excess reserves. Labour peer and anti-corruption champion Margaret Hodge will visit the BVI after it missed a key transparency deadline. Letter from senior ministers Rachel Reeves, Yvette Cooper and Peter Kyle contrasts with tough-on-tech rhetoric on the election campaign trail. Increasing numbers of young people are getting investment tips from social media influencers. But who’s policing their questionable advice?
|
Eleanor Myers
|
Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged before the election to put tech giants on the hook for fraud.
|
[
"accountability",
"americas",
"banking",
"banks",
"big tech",
"companies",
"data",
"digital",
"elections",
"financial crime/fraud",
"financial services",
"fraud",
"industry",
"law enforcement",
"media",
"payments",
"platforms",
"services",
"social media",
"tariffs",
"tax",
"technology",
"technology uk"
] |
Financial Services UK
|
[
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T20:52:11Z
|
2025-10-22T20:52:11Z
|
2025-10-24T08:52:17Z
| 7,372,398
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/keir-starmer-big-tech-banks-fraud/
|
Why Europe needs Britain’s under-fire security chief Jonathan Powell
|
Amid a row over a collapsed China spying trial, it’s not just Keir Starmer who relies on veteran Northern Ireland peace negotiator Jonathan Powell. LONDON — Jonathan Powell gives Britain’s prime minister his street cred on the world stage. Keir Starmer — and European leaders too — might do well to keep him in their gang. As the world tries to both keep the fragile Gaza ceasefire on track and resolve the long-running war in Ukraine, Starmer’s top foreign policy aide — also the country’s national security adviser — is taking flak. Jonathan Powell, a veteran of Tony Blair’s government, is feeling the political heat over the collapse of a high-profile Chinese espionage trial. Starmer’s Westminster opponents say Powell has questions to answer about a crucial government meeting held before prosecutors dropped charges against two alleged Chinese spies operating in Westminster. They have cited a lack of government evidence that Beijing posed a threat to national security. No. 10 has repeatedly insisted the meeting was about handling Britain’s wider relationship with China, not the trial evidence. Colleagues fiercely defend Powell, a political appointee, who they insist was not involved in any decisions about evidence put before the court. But China hawks and Starmer’s critics smell blood. The fact that his political opponents are so vehemently attacking the national security adviser speaks volumes about Powell’s importance in the No. 10 operation. He would be a “good scalp,” one former Conservative adviser, still closely connected to the party and granted anonymity, like others in this piece, said. Powell is “someone we know the PM relies on.” It’s not just Starmer who wants Powell in the room when big diplomatic decisions are being made. Britain’s allies seem to rate him too. In Paris, one French MEP noted Powell is “the man to watch” in the Starmer administration. He has “unique credibility” in international circles, a European diplomat said, citing Powell’s well-documented background in international conflict resolution, after playing a crucial role in securing peace in Northern Ireland as ex-PM Blair’s chief of staff. “His deep personal networks equip him with credibility that resonates globally,” the European diplomat said. They pointed to the direct line Powell has to Washington, including links with Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, in Kyiv. Powell draws on his personal network. “There are various examples of when there have been attempts through official channels to make contact with a prime minister or president’s office, to no avail. But Jonathan will know somebody who knows somebody, which means the contact can be made right away,” a former No. 10 official said. As the finishing touches to Trump’s Gaza peace plan were being drawn up earlier this month, Powell was in regular contact with both Blair and the White House, particularly United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, a senior U.K. official noted. Powell’s experience negotiating the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland peace deal struck after years of bloodshed, is directly relevant, the same British official said, bolstering U.K. claims they could, and should, play a key role in implementing the Gaza plan. The inclusion of phased incentives, an amnesty for former Hamas members, as well as a process for security normalization, all have echoes of elements of the Good Friday Agreement. On the Ukraine beat, Powell has been credited — alongside Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte — as a key player in helping to repair the damage of Zelenskyy’s Oval Office brawl with Donald Trump in March, helping coach the Ukrainian president in how to best approach the U.S. president. It was Powell who Starmer singled out for inclusion at an August White House summit of European leaders to discuss Ukraine when he was limited to just one adviser, a person with knowledge of the delegation said. Powell joins the morning meeting of Starmer’s half a dozen most senior aides when there is foreign policy to discuss, a separate person with knowledge of those meetings said. He sits two rooms from the PM and reports directly to Starmer, not to Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, like other senior advisers. He works with a team including private secretary for foreign affairs Ailsa Terry and long-serving political aide Henna Shah, who also advises on foreign policy. But Powell provides “the strategic overlay for everything that’s done on the foreign policy side,” the former No. 10 official quoted above said. “Powell is a proper grown-up. He’s a heavy-hitter — he’s bigger than almost anyone in there [No. 10],” a second former No.10 official said. “All foreign policy is driven out of Jonathan Powell,” a current government official added. Some civil servants even refer to him as “the real foreign secretary.” “He is one of the most knowledgable people in government — if you put a bunch of SpAds [advisers] together he probably has more knowledge on foreign policy than all of them combined,” a person who has worked with Powell in the past said. “He is quietly confident. If he [has] something he wants to pursue he will do it,” they added. Indeed, Powell was an influence on Starmer’s government before it existed. David Lammy, Starmer’s first foreign secretary, and his team took soundings from Powell before the 2024 general election that swept Labour back to power. But Powell’s dual roles as national security adviser and the PM’s leading foreign policy aide mean he embodies a tension at the core of every government — how to balance security against diplomacy. “He is operating on a different level because of who he is and what he brings. We haven’t had a national security adviser who has operated in the way that he has,” a second U.K. official said. The first former No. 10 official noted he is “used to operating within the center of that Venn diagram. That is what he knows and understands, going back to when he was working on the Northern Ireland brief in No. 10 under Tony Blair.” Powell’s profile — and broad reach — comes with political risk, too, as this month’s China furor has demonstrated. Even before the collapse of the spy case, his stance on China was under scrutiny. He was appointed special envoy for negotiations between the U.K. and Mauritius on the Chagos Islands — linking him to the controversial government decision to go ahead and hand the territory back to an ally of China. “He’s more publicly prominent [than other NSAs] because he’s a more public figure than most,” Alex Thomas, a program director at the Institute for Government, said. “What you’re buying with Jonathan Powell is a more expansive character who will range across the foreign policy piece. “There are only so many hours in a day, so playing a wider foreign policy role means that some of those domestic security questions are more likely to be to be delegated under departments or to others in the national security operations in the Cabinet Office,” Thomas said. There is frustration in No. 10 that much of the heat around the China case has been fuelled by government secrecy that aides believe is necessary due to national security laws. Likewise, despite his high profile, Powell has, until now, been protected from any parliamentary scrutiny. Ministers have only just agreed he can be quizzed by the Joint National Security Strategy Committee on the government’s national security strategy — albeit in private — after a year-long stand-off with the group of lawmakers. “There’s a scrutiny gap there, and of course, all officials prefer to operate with without the hassle of parliamentary or other scrutiny, but that doesn’t always lead to the best outcomes,” Thomas points out. Powell’s role at the center of the Starmer administration will mean more — not less — scrutiny in the months and years ahead. Jamie Dettmer and Clea Caulcutt contributed reporting from Brussels and Paris respectively. Britain’s populist party thinks Prince Andrew has been punished enough. Its supporters disagree. Populist challengers Reform say “serious surgery on the system” is required. Can the British prime minister turn things around? Revelations that King Charles’ disgraced brother appears to be living rent-free prompt fresh scrutiny of the royal coffers. After years of staying quiet, Britain’s ruling party is preparing to blame its economic woes on leaving the EU.
|
Annabelle Dickson
|
Amid a row over a collapsed China spying trial, it’s not just Keir Starmer who relies on veteran Northern Ireland peace negotiator Jonathan Powell.
|
[
"conflict",
"courts",
"diplomacy",
"elections",
"espionage",
"foreign policy",
"meps",
"negotiations",
"rights",
"security",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Politics
|
[
"China",
"Ireland",
"Mauritius",
"Northern Ireland",
"Ukraine",
"United Kingdom",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T20:20:31Z
|
2025-10-22T20:20:31Z
|
2025-10-22T20:21:50Z
| 7,363,674
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-britain-security-chief-jonathan-powell/
|
Slovakia lifts veto on latest Russia sanctions
|
The decision comes on the eve of a crucial meeting of European leaders that will seek to stress the EU’s support for Ukraine. BRUSSELS — A weeks-long stalemate holding up the latest package of sanctions against Russia was ended Wednesday night after Slovakia lifted its veto, the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU confirmed. The bulk of the package — the 19th to be imposed on Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago — focuses on sapping the Kremlin’s war chest by imposing restrictions on energy traders and financial institutions, many of them in third countries. Companies helping the Russian war effort will be targeted, in addition to 117 new tankers considered to be part of the shadow fleet that ships Russian fossil fuels in violation of the oil price cap. Earlier this week, energy ministers from 27 member countries agreed by qualified majority to a landmark phaseout of Russian gas, against the objections of Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakia had vowed to hold up the sanctions package unless it was given assurances on how to combat high energy prices and aid heavy industries like car making. Austria and Hungary had also expressed concerns over the sanctions package but lifted their veto in recent days. Slovakia was the last country blocking the new restrictions — and had sought concessions in the statement to be agreed at Thursday’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels. "All our demands … were included [in the statement]," a Slovak diplomat confirmed to POLITICO. The summit will seek to stress the EU's support of Ukraine, in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's pressure on Kyiv to cede territory to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to join parts of the meeting in Brussels. Leaders are expected to emphasize the need to further hit Moscow with hefty sanctions over its war against Ukraine. Defense spending as well as the use of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv are all on the agenda. The sanctions package will also significantly expand the number of non-Russian companies banned from doing business with the bloc in a bid to prevent Moscow from circumventing the restrictions. Specifically, the bloc seeks to add export controls on another 45 companies that are deemed to be working together to evade sanctions. Those include 12 Chinese, two Thai and three Indian entities that have enabled Russia to circumvent the bloc’s sanctions. The package also restricts the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU. They will have to notify other EU governments of their movements before crossing the border of their host country. The package will now go through a so-called written procedure, where capitals have until Thursday morning to speak up. If no one does, the text is approved. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen would jet into Brazil to ink the long-awaited accord on Dec. 20 — as long as EU capitals give the green light. Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook. “We didn’t discuss, or take any decision” on the deal with the Latin American countries, the Council chief says. Ursula von der Leyen is selling simplification like a Kinder Egg — sweet on the outside for European business, with a surprise inside for the U.S. president.
|
Camille Gijs
|
The decision comes on the eve of a crucial meeting of European leaders that will seek to stress the EU’s support for Ukraine.
|
[
"banks",
"borders",
"cars",
"companies",
"council presidency",
"defense",
"diplomacy",
"energy",
"eu council presidency",
"eu-russia relations",
"exports",
"fossil fuels",
"gas",
"industry",
"kremlin",
"liquefied natural gas",
"military",
"natural gas",
"oil",
"sanctions",
"war",
"war in ukraine",
"energy and climate",
"mobility",
"financial services"
] |
Trade
|
[
"Austria",
"Denmark",
"Hungary",
"Russia",
"Slovakia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T20:09:44Z
|
2025-10-22T20:09:44Z
|
2025-10-22T20:17:53Z
| 7,376,808
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-veto-russia-sanctions-kremlin-war-russia/
|
Czech foreign minister blasts election winner Babiš as Orbán’s ‘puppet’
|
Jan Lipavský told POLITICO he’s worried Czechia will be diminished on the world stage under likely incoming PM Andrej Babiš. Czechia’s likely next prime minister Andrej Babiš may act as a “puppet” of Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán at the European leaders’ table, harming the country’s standing on the world stage, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. Babiš, a populist tycoon who was reelected earlier this month but has yet to form a government, stated after his victory that he would not be seeking confrontation with the European Union. But for Lipavský, who’s part of Czechia’s outgoing government, the likely incoming prime minister is set to follow in the footsteps of his political ally Orbán, who is at odds with Brussels and the EU mainstream on everything from the rule of law to support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Babiš “will not behave like [an] Orbán figure,” Lipavský said in an interview with POLITICO ahead of a gathering of European leaders on Thursday. “He will behave like Orbán’s puppet. That’s a big difference. To behave like Orbán and be someone’s puppet. And he will be all about [being a] puppet.” Babiš won’t be at the European Council gathering, where Czechia will be represented by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Babiš is negotiating with two right-wing parties to form a government and, according to a person aware of his thinking, intends to make debut at an upcoming European leaders’ summit in December. When Babiš does return, Lipavský warned, he could be under the influence of two hard-right parties at home — which he described as “MAGA style” and resembling the far-right Alternative for Germany party — and was likely to be acting in concert with Orbán as part of a “Visegrad” coalition. “I feel that Andrej Babiš … is living in his dream of strong leader banging with shoe to the table, saying no, vetoing things and [pretending to bring] back some benefits from Europe to to Czechia. But the real European politics do not work this way,” Lipavský said in the interview, which took place on the sidelines of a foreign ministers’ gathering in Luxembourg. In the past few years, Czechia has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters on the EU stage, launching an ammunition scheme which has pooled resources from across the bloc to deliver more than 3 million shells to Kyiv. Prague has also taken some of Europe’s toughest measures to limit the movements of Russian diplomats in and out of the country. But this stance was likely to change under Babis in a way that would negatively affect Czechia’s reputation among countries opposed to Russia, said Lipavský. “I am very pessimistic that Czechia will keep its place on the world stage in terms of support to Ukraine, because he’s [Babiš] is criticizing the ammunition initiative,” said the foreign minister. He’s saying that he will not provide any new money for Ukraine,” he added. He went on: “It’s difficult to say what will be the final platform of the new government, but I’m afraid that it will destroy our international reputation because of anti-Ukrainian statements.” Babiš’s populist style of politics has won him comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump. His ally, Orbán, has often touted his special ties to the United States as proof that Hungary’s go-it-alone European policy is working. For Lipavský, however, the chances of a rapprochement between Czechia and Washington under Babiš were slim due to his reluctance to spend more on defense — a key demand of Trump for his European NATO allies.“Babiš attacks, for example, the procurement of [U.S.-made] F-35, the best plane in the world. We are procuring it and he wants to give it away,” said Lipavský.“He’s promised so many things to people like on social welfare. And the only source is debt or money, which our government has put into increasing military expenditure,” he went on. “Donald Trump is saying: ‘Spend more money on defense.’ What will Andrej Babiš do? Most likely spend less money on defense.” “I don’t see that it will help to the relationship with the USA. It will do the otherwise. We will be perceived maybe like Spain in that way.” For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls. Budapest wants to boost its political alliances in Brussels, Viktor Orbán’s political director says. The idea of joint European borrowing is rejected by most of the bloc’s governments. That’s why the Commission is using it as leverage to get them to approve the use of Moscow’s assets for Ukraine. France, Austria and the Netherlands say funding should be stripped from groups that fail to uphold EU values. The French president’s domestic woes have dimmed his ambitions and weakened his influence within the European Union.
|
Nicholas Vinocur
|
Jan Lipavský told POLITICO he’s worried Czechia will be diminished on the world stage under likely incoming PM Andrej Babiš.
|
[
"ammunition",
"czech politics",
"defense",
"elections",
"elections in europe",
"european politics",
"foreign policy",
"military",
"war",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Hungary",
"Luxembourg",
"Russia",
"Spain",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T19:12:32Z
|
2025-10-22T19:12:32Z
|
2025-10-24T09:35:52Z
| 7,373,274
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/czech-foreign-minister-andrej-babis-viktor-orban-politics-eu/
|
UK considers scrapping oil and gas windfall tax in bid to boost growth
|
Treasury officials are searching for ways to boost U.K. growth ahead of November’s budget. LONDON — The Treasury is weighing up proposals to scrap the oil and gas windfall tax as soon as next year, as the government scrambles to revive the U.K.’s flagging economy. Officials have asked oil and gas firms to calculate the value of potential investment if ministers ditched the Energy Profits Levy in 2026, four years before it is due to expire, according to an industry figure with knowledge of discussions between the fossil fuel industry and government. This challenge from the Treasury was confirmed by industry lobby group Offshore Energies UK. Earlier this month, OEUK unveiled its latest lobbying offensive with fresh proposals in a new report and a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The group is calling for the windfall tax to be wound down early and replaced with a new tax regime, estimating it would unlock £40 billion in investment across more than 90 projects. “This is a critical time. Embrace our proposal, and our members stand ready to deliver economic growth and a sustainable future,” OEUK CEO David Whitehouse wrote in the letter. The EPL, dubbed the "windfall tax" was first introduced by then-Conservative Chancellor Rishi Sunak in May 2022 — initially as a three-year intervention to harness record profits from oil and gas companies to fund support packages for households grappling with ultrahigh bills. But the tax rate and its duration have been raised by both later Conservative and Labour administrations. The sector currently faces an effective 78 percent tax rate on revenues until the end of the decade. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was an early cheerleader for the windfall tax while in opposition, and any row-back on the tax would be a U-turn on Labour's manifesto commitments. He also disputed suggestions that easing the tax regime would lower oil and gas prices in an interview with Sky News in April. “It is not set by the tax rate on U.K. companies, it is set by the global price [of commodities],” he said. A Treasury spokesperson said: “The EPL will end by March 31, 2030, at the latest. We’re working with the sector and others to decide how the tax system should deal with unusually high prices once the levy ends, so businesses have certainty and still pay a fair share when there is a price shock.” The U.K.'s economy grew 0.1 percent in August, after a 0.1 downturn in July, reflecting just a 0.3 percent in U.K. gross domestic product growth in the three months to August. The government is grappling with a £22 billion black hole ahead of the budget next month, the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates. Oil and gas companies have been in and out of the Treasury this month making their case, said the industry figure cited above, granted anonymity to comment on private discussions. There was “a power play between No. 10 and No. 11,” they argued, with HMT pushing for “a more pro-growth and pro-jobs position.” The government is consulting on introducing a new North Sea fiscal regime from 2030, when the windfall tax is due to expire, and has pledged that oil and gas production will continue for “decades to come,” while banning new licenses and toughening the tax regime. But the industry has noted sharp declines in projections both for investment and production, and is now looking to put pressure on the Treasury ahead of the budget next month. “Bring [a new tax regime] in for 2026 and therefore allow the industry to invest and have that production,” the figure said. They feared that without the windfall tax being lifted, “you wouldn’t see any investment moving in.” Meanwhile, green groups are pressing the government to sustain their approach to the sector amid its clean power drive and net-zero ambitions. Whitehall “must not allow a declining oil and gas industry, or its cheerleaders in politics, to dictate U.K. energy policy,” said Tessa Khan, boss of anti-fossil fuel campaigners Uplift. With decisions on North Sea drilling looming, new guidance risks setting up a row between Ed Miliband, campaigners and Labour MPs. The U.K.’s third party said the policy, adopted in 2019, is “no longer practically possible”. The U.K.’s third party believes green policy is the way to hoover up Tory-backers. “France isn’t in a hurry, and it’s not its turn to pay,” one French union official said.
|
Nicholas Earl
|
Treasury officials are searching for ways to boost U.K. growth ahead of November’s budget.
|
[
"budget",
"companies",
"energy",
"fair share",
"fossil fuels",
"growth",
"industry",
"investment",
"lobbying",
"net zero",
"north sea",
"oil",
"power play",
"tax",
"uk"
] |
Energy and Climate UK
|
[
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-22T19:01:19Z
|
2025-10-22T19:01:19Z
|
2025-10-23T09:56:59Z
| 7,371,891
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-treasury-oil-gas-windfall-tax-growth-november-budget/
|
Dozens arrested over Greece’s farm fraud scandal
|
Millions of euros a year in EU agricultural funds were allegedly siphoned off fraudulently. ATHENS — Greek authorities made dozens of arrests on Wednesday related to Greece’s spiraling farm fraud case, in an investigation led by European prosecutors. Some 37 people suspected of being members of an organized criminal group involved in large-scale agricultural funding fraud and money laundering activities were arrested, and searches were carried out throughout the country, according to a statement by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. In a snowballing scandal, the EPPO is pursuing dozens of cases in which Greeks allegedly received agricultural funds from the European Union for pastureland they did not own or lease, or for agricultural work they did not perform, depriving legitimate farmers of the funds they deserved. POLITICO first reported on the scheme in February. Several ministers and deputy ministers have resigned over their alleged involvement in the scandal. The EU has already fined Athens €400 million after finding evidence of systemic failings in the handling of farm subsidies from 2016 through to 2023. Greece also risks losing its EU farm subsidies unless it provides an improved action plan on how it will stop funds being siphoned off into corruption. The original deadline was Oct. 2, but this has now been pushed back to Nov. 4. “The Commission is awaiting the submission of the revised action plan and in the meantime, it continues to be in contact with the Greek authorities,” a European Commission spokesperson told POLITICO earlier this month. Wednesday’s operation centered on a criminal network accused of illegally obtaining EU farm subsidies through false declarations submitted to the organization in charge of distributing EU farm funds in Greece, OPEKEPE. According to the EPPO, in the course of the preliminary investigation, 324 individuals were identified as subsidy recipients, causing an estimated cost of more than €19.6 million to the EU budget. Of these, 42 are believed to be involved in this case and are considered current members of the criminal group, says the EPPO. Most of them appear to have no actual connection to farming or producing, according to the Greek and EU authorities. The EPPO said that, at least since 2018, the group "allegedly exploited procedural gaps" in the submission of applications using falsified or misleading documents to claim agricultural subsidies from OPEKEPE. They are suspected of fraudulently declaring pastureland that did not belong to them or did not meet eligibility criteria. They allegedly inflated livestock numbers to increase their subsidy entitlements. To conceal the illicit origin of the proceeds, they are believed to have issued fictitious invoices, routed the funds through multiple bank accounts, and mixed them with legitimate income. Part of the misappropriated money was allegedly spent on luxury goods, travel and vehicles, to disguise the funds as lawful assets. Greece’s anti-money laundering authority is investigating Giorgos Xylouris, a farmer from Crete and until recently member of ruling New Democracy. Xylouris is one of the key characters mentioned in EPPO case files, under the nickname Frappé (“Iced Coffee”), regarding the OPEKEPE scandal. Some €2.5 million was discovered in his bank accounts during a random inspection, the Greek officials said. Authorities found that Xylouris had failed to submit the required financial documentation and could not justify the large sum. Eight vehicles were also identified in his possession, including a Jaguar luxury car. The case file has been sent to the prosecutors to examine possible violations of anti-bribery laws and an investigation is ongoing regarding whether money laundering has occurred. Maria Karystianou is being touted as the person to shake up Greek politics. Tufan Erhürman scored a landslide victory, unseating hard-line incumbent Ersin Tatar, who was considered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s favorite. The center-right government is aiming to transform Greece’s labor market into one of Europe’s most “flexible.” Raid intensifies pressure on Athens to come up with action plan to clean up its handling of farm subsidy payments.
|
Nektaria Stamouli
|
Millions of euros a year in EU agricultural funds were allegedly siphoned off fraudulently.
|
[
"anti-money laundering",
"budget",
"common agricultural policy (cap)",
"corruption",
"eu budget",
"farmers",
"farms",
"financial crime/fraud",
"fraud",
"livestock",
"money laundering",
"subsidy"
] |
Agriculture and Food
|
[
"Greece"
] |
2025-10-22T16:25:57Z
|
2025-10-22T16:25:57Z
|
2025-10-22T17:16:54Z
| 7,374,066
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/dozens-arrested-over-greeces-farm-fraud-scandal/
|
London Playbook PM: Tough day at the (Home) Office
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AI generated Text-to-speech Presented by Intuit By EMILIO CASALICCHIO with NOAH KEATE PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good afternoon. This is Emilio Casalicchio. — Shabana Mahmood is grappling with twin crises on grooming gangs and small boats crossings. — It’s all part of the “24/7 circus of sh*t” that is the Home Office, according to one ex-aide to the department. — Even Keir Starmer thinks Prince Andrew’s rent-free lease agreement needs investigating. — Angela Rayner fought back tears as she delivered her ‘oops-I-got-sacked’ speech to the Commons. — Zia Yusuf fled the struggling Reform “DOGE” unit to come up with other bright ideas. **A message from Intuit: Most small and mid-sized businesses use up to 10 business apps, relying on fragmented systems that don’t talk to each other. Intuit’s agentic AI experiences will bridge that gap, connecting data across tools to unlock smarter, faster workflows. Discover these insights in a report from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** TOUGH DAY AT THE (HOME) OFFICE: Shabana Mahmood is facing twin crises this evening after the remaining candidate to chair the grooming gangs probe pulled out and after an enterprising migrant blew a hole in the flagship small boats deterrent deal. Lost the Gamble: The last of the two remaining candidates in the running for the grooming panel chairmanship — former police officer Jim Gamble — this afternoon followed social worker Annie Hudson out the door. LBC’s Henry Riley and GB News’s Charlie Peters got the scoop. It means the government is back at square one in finding a chair — although all the complaints about hiring a former social worker or a former police officer had made either appointment unlikely anyway. What happened here: According to Home Office officials, both candidates pulled out due to the huge pressure over the probe — which is little surprise, since it borders on the toxic. Other candidates are now being considered. “We are disappointed that candidates to chair that inquiry have withdrawn,” a spokesperson said this afternoon. “This is an extremely sensitive topic, and we have to take the time to appoint the best person suitable for the role.” Remember: Four grooming gang victims have also quit a board helping to set up the investigation — claiming concerns are not being listened to, and after being asked for views on possible expansion of its scope. Cabinet Minister Emma Reynolds told Times Radio this morning she was “sorry” victims were asked about expanding the remit, with officials appearing to blame the abuse charity setting up the probe. “That shouldn’t have happened,” Reynolds said. “The home secretary has been clear that we are not diluting the focus of the inquiry.” Hope springs eternal: One victim told Charlie Peters she would be open to rejoining the advice panel if new chairs are proposed. And Keir Starmer is reaching out to the departed victims to discuss their concerns. He has also tasked his go-to troubleshooter, Louise Casey, to help set up the investigation once its top team has been confirmed. Her long-awaited social care review just became even longer-awaited. Amid all this pressure … it was inevitable Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch would punch the grooming gangs chaos bruise at PMQs. Labour MPs did not appreciate her claiming the government has “been engaged in a briefing war with victims” and began hissing “shame” in response. Never one to back down from a half-truth, Badenoch then accused the MPs of hissing “shame” at grooming gang victims. Badenoch also suggested Home Office Minister Jess Phillips should resign, and noted that some victims want a judge to lead the probe. In response … the PM admitted the setup was going through “hard yards” but pledged to press on to get it right. He backed Phillips and said the recent Casey audit into grooming gangs noted that a judge-led probe would take longer and might have to wait for criminal investigations to conclude before beginning its work. Small-but-fierce Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp scowled at all this and kept barking out something inaudible. Starmer made the obvious point that Philp and his Conservative pals had a decade and a half to launch a grooming gangs probe (while Phillips was campaigning on the issue) but never bothered. Our Noah’s PMQs scorecard is here. On which note: Labour MP Natalie Fleet pointed out on the Radio 4 World at One show the Tories burned through three chairs in two years while attempting to get their own child sexual exploitation inquiry going (the one they now argue was not good enough to investigate grooming gangs). “We don’t want that to happen,” Fleet said. “We want to get the right chair in place the first time that people have trust in.” It’s evidence that … people in Labour sometimes do put their political attacks in salient terms. On Phillips, Fleet argued “there is not a more formidable campaigner who cares more about grooming that I can think of in the entire country — politics or otherwise.” Present but not involved: Despite latching onto the grooming gangs issue around a decade earlier than the rest of Westminster, Nigel Farage did not get stuck in during PMQs. He preferred instead to sit in the VIP galleries above, with his old pal Arron Banks — while whinging on Twitter that he gets attacked each week but gets little chance to respond. Four nights a week of unfettered ranting on prime time TV just isn’t enough for some people. Open goal: A Labour spokesperson said choosing to be a spectator “sums up” Farage, while the Lib Dems quipped: “It’s not the first time Farage has made a habit of looking down on people.” THE OTHER CRISIS: While government spokespeople were fielding post-PMQs questions on grooming gangs, the Guardian revealed that a man sent to France under the “one in, one out” scheme agreed between London and Paris had returned to Britain on a small boat. Mind-melting: The migrant (who clearly thought risking his life to cross the water once was not dangerous enough) argued he is not safe in France. He said he was forced to work, abused and threatened by traffickers there … so paid them to transport him back across the Channel. Some things are just baffling. Our writeup here. What happens next: Government officials reckon that under the terms of the deal, the man should be eligible for immediate re-deportation. Although Badenoch quipped, above a screenshot of the Guardian piece: “Does that mean we now have to take two people from France to return him?” She doesn’t mind the Guardian sometimes. But the revelation emerged as … figures showed some 60,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power. “The floodgates are open, the borders are gone, and the British public are left picking up the pieces,” said Philp, who was part of the team that also oversaw failure on the issue during his time in the Home Office. As such, Mahmood blamed the Tories (in a statement first given to the PoliticsUK Twitter feed) and added: “These figures are shameful — the British people deserve better … I will do whatever it takes to restore order to our border.” Here’s an idea: Aussie Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told PolHome sending illegal arrivals to third nations (i.e. not their origin nation and not letting them remain in Britain) is the sole route to tackling the issue. Best of luck with that, Shabana. That sound you can hear is … Yvette Cooper breathing a sigh of relief about the plum foreign secretary role she landed in the reshuffle, freeing her from the endless Home Office binfires. “Everyone in government thinks their job is challenging and high stakes, before they step foot in the Home Office,” one Conservative former aide to the department told Playbook PM. “It’s a 24/7 circus of sh*t.” NET CLOSES IN ON PRINCELING PENNY-PINCHING: Both the government and the official opposition are backing another look at the rent arrangements that walking blob of anti-perspirant Prince Andrew has been benefitting from at possible expense to the taxpayer. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey asked Keir Starmer during PMQs whether a select committee should investigate the lease arrangements for the 30-room mansion Andrew has paid zero rent on for two decades — and whether the committee should call the princeling himself to give evidence. And the answer will shock you: Starmer said “it is important, in relation to all crown properties, that there is proper scrutiny. I certainly support that.” No.10 did not shoot down the suggestion it was a committee probe he was expressing support for. And MPs on the Public Accounts Committee are up for it, according to the Guardian’s Jessica Elgot. A spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch, meanwhile, said the National Audit Office should refresh its 2005 report into the lease deal. “There is a case for a review of that,” he said. “It’s important that we get value for money and that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely.” Couldn’t agree more: Veteran Labour anti-corruption campaigner Margaret Hodge told Radio 4 this morning that royal finances are “mired in secrecy” and should be more transparent. She said the Andrew lease arrangement “looks like a rotten deal” for the taxpayer but the government is too frightened to hold the royals to account. “It’s like treading on eggshells — they just don’t dare do it properly,” she said. I’M NOT CRYING IT’S JUST RAYN: Angela Rayner fought back tears as she delivered her booted-from-office speech in the Commons this afternoon. The former DPM and housing sec, who managed to skip a big tax bill after ignoring recommendations to get specialist advice on a house purchase, insisted it was “an honestly-made mistake, but when you make a mistake you take responsibility.” In the House where it happened: The Commons was silent as she delivered her address, her hands shaking. The Labour benches were well attended, and cabinet ministers David Lammy, Steve Reed (both successors to her roles), Bridget Phillipson and Heidi Alexander were among them. Rayner almost cried when she mentioned fighting for victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster. But she pushed back the tears and powered through. Watch it here. Put that in your vape and puff it: Playbook PM’s Noah Keate explored what influence Rayner could have as a backbench MP after almost a decade on the frontbench. “People are frightened of Angela Rayner because she’s the genuine politician,” said a left-wing Labour MP. Ex-Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner, who entered parliament with Rayner in 2015, told Noah he “would be surprised if she doesn’t find her way back to the top of politics” soon enough. THE NIGEL REVOLUTION MARCHES ON: Zia Yusuf has stepped down as head of the “DOGE” unit that has been struggling to find council waste to cut, just four months into the role. Reform second-in-command Richard Tice will take over instead. Yusuf, who got the DOGE gig after resigning as chair in June then regretting it less than 48 hours later, will remain head of Reform policy. A Reform official insisted Yusuf wants to focus his energies on the “huge job” of developing the policy platform. Coming up with new ideas is more fun than attempting to deliver them, TBF. HERE WE GO AGAIN: A “peace board” to oversee any ceasefire in Ukraine — chaired by Donald Trump along the same lines proposed for Gaza — is being discussed by European allies ahead of a call between the “coalition of the willing,” my colleague Esther Webber writes in. She hears the proposal is indeed on the table, following stories overnight by Bloomberg and the FT, but that a wider “12-point plan” for Ukraine is being seen by the U.K. as one proposal among many for ending the war with Russia. Speaking of the Russians: Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan intercepted and monitored Russian warship Vice Admiral Kulakov as it sailed through U.K. waters. It marked the first time a Royal Navy warship was tasked directly under NATO Allied Maritime Command for such an operation. Sky has more. And speaking of European allies: Keir Starmer continued to place migration at the center of the summit of Western Balkan leaders in London today, imposing sanctions on Balkan-based criminal groups and gang leaders accused of people smuggling. The FCDO named and shamed members of a Kosovo-based organized crime group and a Croatian gang leader, all of whom have been producing and supplying false travel documents. They will now be banned from traveling to the U.K. and have their assets frozen. On the topic of organized crime: This House Mag piece from Sally Dawson and Sophie Church about submarines transporting cocaine from South America is bonkers. THE LINE FOR EVERYTHING: “I am not satisfied with these numbers,” Chancellor Rachel Reeves said about the sustained 3.8 inflation figure for September. But the numbers could be good news for Reeves, suggesting inflation has peaked for the moment, with a slower rise in food prices preventing the headline figure hitting the 4 percent market traders were expecting. Full writeup here. HEAT GOING NOWHERE: Scroll down the Twitter feed of the Right to Life (anti-assisted death) campaign for a sense of how opponents will weaponize hearings of the new special committee on the bill against the plans. Watch the hearing here. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: A fast-tracking of the process to approve a third runway at Heathrow, which Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander claims could see planes taking off three years earlier than the current (and disputed) timetable … and plans set to be slipped into the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize assets from fake immigration lawyers. CLASSIC COUNCILLOR CAMEOS: The Tories slipped a couple of unidentified councillors into their video about scrapping tax on house purchases, as the Mirror’s Dave Burke discovered. Old habits die hard, of course. But Playbook PM is more concerned that no one touched the millionaire shortbreads on the table while delivering the housing chat script. Spotted — more to come: Badenoch and her Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride were outside the Bank of England this afternoon filming more content for the socials. The pair had a meeting with Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey this afternoon. PASSING THE BUCKS: The Scottish government doesn’t want to pay the bill for Donald Trump and JD Vance’s summer trips — and London doesn’t want to stump up the cash either. The SNP is seeking to recoup around £20 million in policing and security costs from the Treasury for the U.S. president’s trip to his Scottish golf courses in July, according to the BBC, as well as £6 million for policing Vance’s holiday in Ayrshire in August. But Whitehall insists Scotland must pick up the tab as they were private visits rather than official government business. Full writeup here. ALSO NORTH OF THE BORDER: South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth was granted bail after appearing at Dumfries Sheriff Court, where he was charged with alleged voyeurism and possession of indecent photographs of children. Smyth did not enter a plea and remains suspended from Scottish Labour. The Scotsman has further info. IN SWINDON: Green Party leader Zack Polanski bagged two more councillors defecting from Labour, making the environmentalists the third largest group on the borough council. Tom Butcher and Repi Begum joined Ian Edwards, who left last week, saying the government has “moved away” from their values. A jubilant Polanski said “Swindon is a political bellwether” and Labour had “abandoned its principles.” The Swindon Advertiser has the lowdown. UKRAINE UPDATE: At least seven people were killed, including children, and 17 people were injured after Russian strikes across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. Moscow launched 28 missiles and 405 drones overnight, according to Kyiv’s airforce. The Times has a writeup. Russia said it carried out a major training exercise involving nuclear weapons, per Reuters. IN SERBIA: Shots were fired outside the parliament building in Belgrade, leaving a 57-year-old man injured. A tent near the building was also on fire and approached by armed security. President Aleksandar Vučić described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” Sky has more details. IN LITHUANIA: Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė dismissed Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė over a disagreement about Vilnius’ defense budget. Šakalienė’s defense ministry had indicated next year’s military budget would be lower than planned and reportedly sought to pressure the government to increase it. My continental colleagues have the full story. **A message from Intuit: In a survey of over 1,500 UK business leaders, 42% of small and mid-sized businesses say they use fewer than five software apps in their businesses, and 37% use 5-10. This fragmentation may explain why, despite increasing AI adoption, many small and mid-sized businesses still feel they are not realising the full benefits of technology. Intuit will soon introduce new agentic AI experiences to help small businesses and accountants using QuickBooks in the UK unlock next-level efficiency. These AI agents are designed to unify data and workflows, helping business owners save time, improve accuracy, and inform decision-making. Explore the AI trends transforming how businesses operate in a new report from the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Intuit.** LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) and ITV Evening News (6.30 p.m.) lead on 15-year-old boy Mohammed Umar Khan getting a life sentence of at least 16 years in prison for the murder of Sheffield teenager Harvey Willgoose earlier this year … Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) focuses on the grooming gangs inquiry. Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Labour MP Natalie Fleet … Merlin Strategy’s Scarlett Maguire … former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton … Democrat U.S. House of Representatives member-elect Adelita Grijalva … International Doctors Federation President Susan Alexander … Estonian MEP Riho Terras … Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik … the Mirror’s Mikey Smith and the Sun on Sunday’s Kate Ferguson (both 6 p.m.). Sky News Daily (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Former Royal United Services Institute Director General Michael Clarke. Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Labour MPs Marie Tidball and Alex Mayer… Shadow Environment Minister Robbie Moore … former Tory Cabinet Minister Damian Green. Dewbs and Co (GB News, 6 p.m.): Lib Dem councilor Carl Cashman. The News Agents USA (Podcast, drops at 6 p.m.): Former Republican U.S. House of Representatives member George Santos. Farage (GB News, 7 p.m.): Labour peer Maurice Glasman … former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng … grooming gangs survivor who resigned from the inquiry panel Ellie Reynolds. Politics Hub (Sky News, 7 p.m.): The Survivors’ Trust Lucy Duckworth (7.05 p.m.) … Natalie Fleet (7.10 p.m.) … Robbie Moore (7.20 p.m.) … U.S. House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chair John Moolenaar (7.30 p.m.). The Evening Edition with Darryl Morris (Times Radio, 7 p.m.): Former Tory Chair Jake Berry (7.40 p.m.) … Doughty Street Chambers barrister Geoffrey Robertson (8.15 p.m.). Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC, 8 p.m.): Labour MP Sarah Smith … Freshwater Strategy’s Matthew Lesh … climate activist Scarlett Westbrook. Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation (GB News, 8 p.m.): Former Tory MP Philip Davies … former Labour PPC Kevin Craig. Patrick Christys Tonight (GB News, 9 p.m.): Former Tory SpAd James Price. Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Green Party Leader Zack Polanski … podcaster and former Tory Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart. TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: Alfie Tobutt. REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): The Sun’s Ryan Sabey and journo Alicia Fitzgerald … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire and Times Radio’s Adam Boulton. OUR RIGHT TO PARTY: Crossbench peer David Alton and organization Liberty host a celebration of 25 years of the Human Rights Act in the Lords’ Cholmondeley Room from 6.30 p.m. LET THE RAKIA FLOW: David Lammy is hosting a dinner with Balkan leaders, following a summit in London which is wrapping up around now. UNHAPPY VALLEY: The Caerphilly Senedd by-election takes place after the death of Hefin David. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Free breakfast clubs and the menopause. WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES WANT TO TALK ABOUT: Kemi Badenoch will be visiting a Jewish school in North London and chatting stamp duty. WHAT BUCK PALACE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: King Charles and Queen Camilla head off on a state visit to the Vatican as part of their reset efforts following the Andrew nightmare. IN THE COMMONS: MPs sit from 9.30 a.m. with Cabinet Office questions, before Alan Campbell’s future Commons business statement and a debate on Black History Month. BROKEN BRITAIN: Crime stats for the 12 months to June drop here at 9.30 a.m. COURTING APPROVAL: Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Jo Farrar faces the Public Accounts Committee from 10 a.m. UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annabel Price and NHS England’s National Director of Patient Safety Aidan Fowler are among those probed by the Lords’ Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee from 10.15 a.m. BENEFIT HINTS: The Work and Pensions Committee will publish the government response to its report about routes into work. IN THE LORDS: Peers glide in from 11 a.m. with the introduction of Bishop of Portsmouth Jonathan Frost, questions, then the third reading of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill and a debate on the steel industry. LAST CHANCE SALOON: Ballots slam shut in Labour’s deputy leadership contest at noon. Don’t all rush to vote at once. CONGRATS TO: My POLITICO colleague Andrew McDonald, who convinced judges he remains under-30, despite aging a few decades since writing morning Playbook. He was picked for a 30-under-30 award and is a legend. NEW GIGS: The government appointed senior barrister Richard Wright to review whether current stalking laws are sufficient … and Neil Crompton has been appointed Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine, succeeding Martin Harris, who’s off to another diplomatic role. Crompton will take up his post this month. New gigs in ermine: Former Royal College of GPs President Clare Gerada and ex-Shelter and Women’s Aid CEO Polly Neate have been appointed to the House of Lords as crossbench peers. SPOTTED: Actor and comedian Miles Jupp watching PMQs from the press seats with the Beeb’s Matt Chorley … a delegation of female senators from Kenya watching from the public galleries (one asked Playbook PM for help finding the PCH visitors enrance this morning) … and arts and crafts peer Andrew Lloyd Webber on Whitehall walking what our spotter described as his “teeny tiny dog.” COMING ATTRACTIONS: Historian Glen O’Hara will publish a new book about the New Labour era, including interviews with key figures including Tony Blair, in February. WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: Veteran political hack Andrew Marr and his damning verdict on the government for this week’s New Statesman cover story. “After Keir Starmer’s victory, I succumbed to that hard-to-forgive journalistic sin: the faint prickle of optimism,” Marr admits, but “it did not feel as if a new government meant a new start, not in daily life.” The magazine’s outgoing pol ed declares his “greatest fear is that we come to feel, before too long, that these past wildly turbulent years were relatively calm and kindly ones.” Eek. PACKED LUNCH OR PALACE LUNCH: Subject to change, here are the lunch menus on the estate tomorrow: Bellamy’s: Jerk chicken with rice and peas; salmon, cod, potato and red onion frittata with basil and feta salad and tomato relish; sesame spiced cauliflower with baby spinach, tomato, fennel and citrus dressing … The Debate: Jerk chicken with rice and peas; chili cheese toastie with roasted eggplant and tomato chutney; Cajun prawn taco with red cabbage salad, mango pepper salsa and avocado and lime cream … Terrace Cafeteria: Jerk chicken with rice and peas; spinach and tofu parcel with roasted peppers, tomatoes and olives; slow cooked pork neck with sage and apricot polenta, roast zucchini and gravy. ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On Oct. 22, 1974 a bomb blast broke out in a London club — and Conservative leader Edward Heath, who was dining nearby, was one of the first on the scene. On the same day in 2019, same sex marriage was legalized and abortion was decriminalized in Northern Ireland. WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Andrew McDonald. THANKS TO: My editor Paul Dallison, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice. SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters
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Emilio Casalicchio
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Uncategorized
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[] |
2025-10-22T16:15:48Z
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2025-10-22T16:15:48Z
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2025-10-22T16:16:33Z
| 7,366,395
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https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/london-playbook-pm-tough-day-at-the-home-office/
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France’s top general expects ‘shock’ with Russia in 3-4 years
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“The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO.” AI generated Text-to-speech PARIS — France's newly appointed chief of defense is preparing the nation's armed forces to be ready for a "shock, that would be a kind of test" from Russia. "Russia is a country that may be tempted to continue the war on our continent," Gen. Fabien Mandon told lawmakers on the National Assembly's defense committee on Wednesday. "The first objective I have given the armed forces is to be ready in three or four years for a shock that would be a kind of test," he added. "The test already exists in hybrid forms, but it may become more violent." Top generals and politicians from EU and NATO countries have warned that Moscow could attack the alliance in the coming years, with timelines varying from 2027 to 2030. Last week, the European Commission presented a road map to help capitals prepare for war by 2030. Traditionally, French military officers have been more reluctant than some of their European counterparts to provide timelines and speak openly about a Russian attack on NATO. In more recent months, however, the French rhetoric on Moscow has become starker, with President Emmanuel Macron saying that Europe is "in a confrontation with Russia." "To assume that the 2022 invasion of Ukraine is the last attack and that it will not happen again on our continent is to ignore the risk facing our societies," Mandon told lawmakers. "The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO." However, the French general added: "Europe is the right scale to address our challenges." France's rearmament push is already a signal to deter Russia, he explained: "If our rivals perceive that we are making this effort, they may renounce. If they feel that we are not prepared to defend ourselves, I don't see what could stop them." Paris has emerged as a top target of Moscow’s hybrid war. The European Commission aims to help the bloc prepare “for the battlefields of tomorrow.” U.S. president berates “unbelievably disrespectful” Madrid for failing to reach NATO’s military investment target. Paris is significantly weakened, and a trilateral meeting between France, Germany and Spain scheduled for October is now on hold.
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Laura Kayali
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“The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO.”
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[
"defense",
"european defense policy",
"military",
"nato",
"war in ukraine"
] |
Defense
|
[
"France",
"Russia"
] |
2025-10-22T16:08:25Z
|
2025-10-22T16:08:25Z
|
2025-10-28T13:27:51Z
| 7,374,153
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https://www.politico.eu/article/french-top-general-expects-shock-with-russia-in-3-4-years/
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Ukraine’s allies work up ceasefire options to offer Trump and Putin
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — Ukraine is in talks with allies in Europe about a potential ceasefire plan, after Donald Trump triggered concerns with his recent comments that he could push Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cede territory to Russia. Discussions are underway between Ukrainian officials and their counterparts in London, Paris, Brussels and other capitals over options for a truce that could win the backing of the U.S. president. One idea is to model the plan clearly on Trump’s Middle East initiative, with a “peace board” mirroring the “council of peace” that he proposed to oversee the administration of Gaza. Speaking at a press conference in Sweden on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said he welcomed the efforts, though added that they needed to be discussed further. “There are propositions, like from France, from some Europeans and I think we understand each other and some European countries are really very helpful,” the Ukrainian president said. “It’s not like a plan [for] how to totally stop the war, it’s mostly a plan of ceasefire.” But, he cautioned: “I know some steps of it, but really we have to discuss it, it’s not done.” The European initiative is coming as Trump’s peace efforts have hit a new wall. On Tuesday, the White House said a mooted meeting between Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Hungary was not imminent, after Moscow reportedly rejected the idea that a ceasefire should be agreed on the current battlefield contact lines. One person familiar with the discussions, granted anonymity like others quoted here to speak freely, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer put forward the idea of a separate ceasefire plan that Ukraine’s allies in Europe would all sign up to. However, a U.K. official disputed this account and said there was no finalized proposal he was pushing forward. A spokesperson for Starmer said: "We're working intensively with our allies and partners to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position before, during and after any ceasefire." The “peace board” idea, first reported by Bloomberg, is just one of many plans that European allies are working on and none of them is yet final, people familiar with the discussions said. EU leaders are discussing long-term finance for Ukraine, among other matters, at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. The following day, leaders from the so-called coalition of the willing, led by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, will meet to discuss how best to continue to support Ukraine, including potential options for a ceasefire proposal, the people said. There’s no finalized blueprint for a ceasefire, the people added. Eva Hartog contributed to this report. Hadja Lahbib tells POLITICO she has ‘doubts’ about Netanyahu’s commitment to Trump’s ceasefire, and vows to keep up the pressure on Israel. Hadja Lahbib defends Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s blockade of a disputed plan to help Kyiv fight Vladimir Putin. EU chiefs lost some credibility when they failed to get a deal to fund Ukraine using Russian assets. Zelenskyy could lose a lot more. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo tells POLITICO Ukraine must be equipped to match or exceed Russia’s capabilities because Vladimir Putin only responds to strength.
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Tim Ross
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes ideas from Europeans about the terms of a truce but says no final proposal has been agreed yet.
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[
"finance",
"middle east",
"war"
] |
Defense
|
[
"France",
"Russia",
"Sweden",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T15:51:48Z
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2025-10-22T15:51:48Z
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2025-10-22T15:59:21Z
| 7,374,243
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https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-allies-work-up-ceasefire-options-to-offer-us-donald-trump-and-russia-vladimir-putin/
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Restricted access: Commission to bolster internal security
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The EU executive is calling for more secure meeting rooms in Commission buildings. The European Commission is beefing up its internal security, including plans for more secure meeting rooms, according to an internal note seen by POLITICO. There is “increased demand” for tighter security, says the note from the Corporate Management Board, which reports to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The board has asked the Commission’s human resources department “for a more thorough and comprehensive assessment of the needs for secure meeting rooms, carefully considering the different categories of information handled.” The board also asked HR “to further explore alternatives for sharing secure meeting rooms, including their cost.” The current Commission has been putting in place measures to bolster security, including through the creation of a Security College. “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” von der Leyen said in March as she celebrated 100 days of her second Commission. “This is also true for my Commission. To deal with the challenging way ahead, we need to switch into a preparedness mindset. This is why, in the next weeks, I will convene the first-ever Security College.” The college is designed to ensure that commissioners are regularly updated on security threats and developments. According to two officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss security issues, security cards used by commissioners and top officials, such as directors general and heads of cabinet, now allow greater access than those used by other staffers. The board also asked HR to draw up “a sound legal framework for personal security clearance for certain categories of staff.” In addition, it said there should be “regular and planned evacuation and shelter in place exercises.” (The latter is a safety drill that simulates an emergency in which people must remain inside.) Leaders pushed issue to next summit after failing to reassure Belgian prime minister that his country wouldn’t be on the hook. France, Germany and Italy want Ukraine to use their potential mega-loan to buy EU-made weapons. The prospect of the divisive civil servant coming back has sparked panic and plotting among some who remember his reign six years ago. Housing, social media regulation, migration and defense spending are all being used by the political mainstream to curb the march of populists.
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Jacopo Barigazzi
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The EU executive is calling for more secure meeting rooms in Commission buildings.
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[
"eu staff",
"security"
] |
Politics
|
[] |
2025-10-22T15:33:42Z
|
2025-10-22T15:33:42Z
|
2025-10-22T15:33:47Z
| 7,372,185
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-beef-up-internal-security-document-says/
|
Das Update zu Tilman Kuban
|
Listen on Die Immunität des ehemaligen Chefs der Jungen Union und heutigen Bundestagsabgeordneten für Niedersachsen, Tilman Kuban, ist aufgehoben worden. Es soll Ermittlungen der Staatsanwaltschaft in Konstanz geben. Die Hintergründe sind privater Natur und sollen mit der Trennung Kubans von seiner Ehefrau zu tun haben. Jürgen Klöckner spricht mit Jan Schäfer, Politikchef und Mitglied der Chefredaktion bei BILD, über die Aufhebung der Immunität von Abgeordneten, über die Reaktionen in der CDU, die möglichen Folgen für Kuban und über die Unschuldsvermutung, die jetzt selbstverständlich für ihn gilt. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis:Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski:Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
|
Gordon Repinski
|
[
"der podcast",
"german politics",
"playbook",
"politics"
] |
Playbook
|
[
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-22T14:57:01Z
|
2025-10-22T14:57:01Z
|
2025-10-22T14:57:05Z
| 7,374,438
|
https://www.politico.eu/podcast/berlin-playbook-podcast/das-update-zu-tilman-kuban/
|
|
Serbia’s Vučić denounces ‘terrorist attack’ after shooting outside parliament
|
“It was a question of time before this would happen,” president rails amid months-long anti-government protests. A shooting Wednesday outside the Serbian parliament in Belgrade that left one person injured was a “terrorist attack,” President Aleksandar Vučić said. “He carried out — this is my political assessment, and as a lawyer — an awful terrorist attack on other people and on others’ property; he caused general danger. The final legal qualification of the act will be given by the competent prosecutor’s office,” Vučić said at a press conference shortly after the shooting. In a video shared on social platform X, gunfire is heard and black smoke rises from a fire at a tent camp outside the parliament. The man who was injured is in serious condition and will undergo surgery, according to local media. The tent settlement was erected by supporters of Vučić in front of the parliament during the anti-government, student-led protests that have turned into the largest demonstrations across the country since Slobodan Milošević’s ouster in 2000. “It was a question of time before this would happen … There were countless calls for this,” said Vučić, who has repeatedly accused the protesters of violence. Vučić said that the suspected perpetrator, a pensioner from Belgrade, was arrested. The students, who plan another big protest on Oct. 31, said in a post on X that their strategy “has never been a path of violence.” The protests began last November after a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people, including two young children, and leaving several others gravely injured. The government denies any blame despite accusations linking the tragedy to a state-run renovation project plagued by shoddy construction and oversight failures. Power walking will soon be illegal in Slovakia as law changes to prevent sidewalk accidents. Underfunding of the Belgian judicial system must be fixed to fight drug-fueled violence and corruption, Antwerp justice warns in blunt intervention. “We are sending a signal to Belarus that no hybrid attack will be tolerated, and we are taking the strictest measures to stop such attacks,” prime minister says. “Extensive mafia-like structures have taken root,” judge writes in anonymous letter laying out how criminality seeps into every part of Belgian society.
|
Ketrin Jochecová
|
“It was a question of time before this would happen,” president rails amid months-long anti-government protests.
|
[
"balkans",
"democracy",
"terrorism"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Serbia"
] |
2025-10-22T14:50:55Z
|
2025-10-22T14:50:55Z
|
2025-10-22T14:51:01Z
| 7,372,896
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/aleksandar-vucic-serbia-parliament-shooting-terrorist-attack/
|
Deepfake video of Irish presidential candidate rocks campaign
|
Deepfake video showed Catherine Connolly had withdrawn from race. AI generated Text-to-speech The Irish presidential election campaign has been disrupted by an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake video of candidate Catherine Connolly announcing her “withdrawal” from the race. “It is with great regret that I announce the withdrawal of my candidacy and the ending of my campaign,” a deepfake version of Connolly can be heard saying, in a video that circulated on social media platforms and was saved by Irish national broadcaster RTÉ. The full video shows an imitation of the RTÉ news report, its new studio, and deepfake versions of presenter Sharon Ní Bheoláin and political correspondent Paul Cunningham, announcing the withdrawal and discussing the possible impact. RTÉ made mention of other deepfake videos, either attacking Connolly or alleging spoiled ballots. Meta has removed some videos related to Connolly for a violation of its voter interference policy. RTÉ reported that a YouTube channel sharing the videos was removed. Google didn’t comment on a request from POLITICO in time for publication. The European Commission acknowledged the existence of the Irish deepfake video in a press briefing on Wednesday and said it is tracking the matter. “We are aware of the deepfake video, we’re in touch with the Irish authorities,” European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said. Elections are a matter of national competence, he pointed out, but he added that under the EU’s social media law, the Digital Services Act, platforms “must protect the integrity of elections on their services.” Eight investment companies invited to Brussels to discuss their involvement. “I’m not ordered to be the funniest or to make the craziest remarks,” said Christian Democrat Henri Bontenbal. Automakers worry they’re in for a repeat of pandemic-era chip shortages after Dutch seizure of Nexperia. Far-right PVV and GreenLeft-Labor were overrepresented as suggested picks, in a test of how four chatbots gave voter advice.
|
Pieter Haeck
|
Deepfake video showed Catherine Connolly had withdrawn from race.
|
[
"digital services act",
"elections",
"media",
"platforms",
"services",
"social media"
] |
Technology
|
[] |
2025-10-22T14:06:07Z
|
2025-10-22T14:06:07Z
|
2025-10-22T15:36:05Z
| 7,373,508
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/deepfake-video-of-irish-presidential-candidate-rocks-campaign/
|
Man sent to France under ‘one in, one out’ scheme returns to UK on small boat
|
Man claimed to be a victim of modern slavery from smugglers in northern France and wants to claim asylum in Britain. AI generated Text-to-speech LONDON — A man sent to France under the “one in, one out” scheme agreed between London and Paris has returned to Britain on a small boat. The Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday that the man, who wants to claim asylum in the U.K., made a second crossing on a small boat as he claims to be the victim of modern slavery at the hands of smugglers in northern France. The “one in, one out” scheme struck between the U.K. and France in July meant undocumented migrants entering Britain via small boats could be returned in exchange for asylum seekers who had never crossed the channel and had a U.K. connection. The first undocumented migrant was returned in September. “If I had felt that France was safe for me I would never have returned to the U.K.,” the man told the Guardian. “The smugglers are very dangerous. They always carry weapons and knives. I fell into the trap of a human trafficking network in the forests of France before I crossed to the U.K. from France the first time.” He added: “They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, abused me, and threatened me with a gun and told me I would be killed if I made the slightest protest.” 25 asylum seekers who were returned to France as part of the deal drafted a joint statement shared with the Guardian earlier this month, warning about the “extremely difficult and unsafe conditions” they were living in. The Home Office confirmed Sunday that 16 small boat arrivals had been returned to France last week, taking the total number of returns to 42, while 23 asylum seekers have been brought to the U.K. under the treaty. A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will not accept any abuse of our borders, and we will do everything in our power to remove those without the legal right to be here. Individuals who are returned under the pilot and subsequently attempt to re-enter the U.K. illegally will be removed.” Bethany Dawson contributed to this report. Former British PM says Tory pledges to roll back climate reforms are an “extreme and unnecessary measure.” She will serve as Keir Starmer’s deputy from the backbenches — and could cause a headache for the embattled British prime minister. Counterterrorism official says there’s been a spike in ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services. The former deputy prime minister reenters the fray with her first Commons speech since quitting the Cabinet in scandal. Is there a way back for her?
|
Noah Keate
|
Man claimed to be a victim of modern slavery from smugglers in northern France and wants to claim asylum in Britain.
|
[
"asylum",
"borders",
"british politics",
"human trafficking",
"rights",
"uk",
"weapons",
"westminster bubble"
] |
Politics
|
[
"France",
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-22T13:50:40Z
|
2025-10-22T13:50:40Z
|
2025-10-22T13:50:45Z
| 7,373,601
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/man-france-under-one-in-one-out-scheme-returns-uk
|
Germany split over Selmayr’s return to Brussels
|
EU minister says controversial civil servant “very much welcome” in Brussels but German government makes clear that is not its official position. AI generated Text-to-speech Divisive German civil servant Martin Selmayr should return to Brussels for the sake of the EU, a senior minister declared Wednesday — sparking an immediate rebuke from his own government. Germany’s EU Affairs Minister Gunther Krichbaum told POLITICO he would “very much welcome” Selmayr returning to the fray in a senior role. The veteran political operator is considering taking a job working for Brussels’ top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, despite opposition from powerful factions in the European Commission and in national capitals. “If we already have civil servants who are playing at Champions League level, we should deploy them in the right place,” said Krichbaum. “That’s also in Germany’s interest, and it would be good for Kaja Kallas if she had him as support.” However, that is not the feeling elsewhere in Berlin. A German government official told POLITICO that “this is not a position agreed by the German government. We will not endorse Mr. Selmayr.” Selmayr was chief of staff to former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker before becoming secretary-general of the EU’s executive arm until 2019. Since then, he has been posted to Rome as the bloc’s ambassador to the Vatican. Selmayr met with Kallas’ top team in recent weeks, amid the creation of an influential new role in her European External Action Service that would see him represent the diplomatic corps in talks with lawmakers and national governments. However, Commission officials have moved to derail that appointment, instead proposing that Selmayr be offered a role as the EU’s special envoy for religious freedom — a far less sensitive and influential post that would nonetheless facilitate his return to Brussels. A German conservative with deep institutional ties, Selmayr garnered a reputation as the “Monster of the Berlaymont” during his time in the Commission’s Brussels headquarters. His 2018 promotion to oversee the Commission drew condemnation from the European Parliament, which said the process failed “to give other possible candidates within the European public administration the possibility to apply.” Berlin-Beijing relations are becoming increasingly fragile. “We didn’t discuss, or take any decision” on the deal with the Latin American countries, the Council chief says. EU Affairs Minister Gunther Krichbaum told POLITICO the legendary backroom dealer is needed in “the right place.” The prospect of the divisive civil servant coming back has sparked panic and plotting among some who remember his reign six years ago.
|
Hans von der Burchard
|
EU minister says controversial civil servant “very much welcome” in Brussels but German government makes clear that is not its official position.
|
[
"diplomacy",
"foreign policy",
"german politics"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Germany"
] |
2025-10-22T13:45:34Z
|
2025-10-22T13:45:34Z
|
2025-10-22T13:56:03Z
| 7,373,709
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-split-over-martin-selmayr-return-to-brussels-eeas/
|
What Angela Rayner did next
|
The former deputy prime minister reenters the fray with her first Commons speech since quitting the Cabinet in scandal. Is there a way back for her? LONDON — Angela Rayner left the corridors of power under a cloud. On Wednesday, she finally inched out from the shadows. Keir Starmer’s ex-deputy PM and deputy Labour leader gave a personal statement from the House of Commons backbenches after resigning last month. In her first public comments, Rayner said she would continue to “bring determination, commitment and my socialist values” to parliament. Rayner stepped down as the PM’s second in command after failing to pay the correct amount of tax — known as stamp duty — on the purchase of a second property. In the immediate aftermath of her exit, she retreated from the public eye by skipping Labour’s conference in Liverpool, giving no interviews and posting just two tweets. Her silence after years in the political trenches was notable. The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne was undoubtedly bruised by quitting such a high-profile role. “The last few weeks have been incredibly tough on my family with my personal life so much in the public eye,” Rayner admitted. “All of us in public life know all too well the toll of the intense scrutiny we face places on our loved ones.” Her speech signals a tentative first attempt to influence from the outside — though it could be a hard journey ahead. “My title may have changed, but the strength and the character of the people of my constituency have not.” Since entering parliament in 2015, Rayner has virtually only known life on the front benches. She was appointed shadow education secretary in 2016, following mass resignations from hard-left Leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet, where she remained until Starmer took charge in 2020. “I knew that Angela would make quite an impression in parliament and so she did,” said former Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner, who became an MP at the same time as Rayner. One former colleague, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said Rayner was “a company politician and has literally not had any time away from frontline politics in over nine years.” “I don’t think anyone would ever accuse her of bending in the wind, whoever the leader was,” said a second former minister. “People are frightened of Angela Rayner because she’s the genuine politician,” argued one left-wing Labour MP. “She wears her heart on her sleeve. She sees things the way that she sees them. She doesn’t sugarcoat issues.” Some see an obvious berth for Rayner as a voice on the soft left of the governing party. Both leadership contenders battling to replace Rayner — Lucy Powell and Bridget Phillipson — have called for the two-child benefit cap, which limits some social security payments for families with more than two kids, to be lifted. The ex-deputy PM could play an influential role should she choose to join that cause. “If Angela came to the fore, she would bring that support from other members of the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] who perhaps would be wavering,” the MP above said. “That would be extremely, extremely important.” “I’m really looking forward to hearing what she has to say with her new voice,” said MP Rachael Maskell, who was suspended from Labour over her own rebellion on welfare reform. “Where our paths cross, she’ll be a huge asset,” Maskell said. Rayner has spoken movingly about her son’s lifelong disabilities and juggling a blended family. “If there is one good thing that can come out of this, I hope that other families in this situation may now be aware of that and avoid getting into the position that I am now in,” said Rayner. “You need to have stability for your kids and maintain all parental relationships,” said another Labour MP about balancing politics with familial responsibilities. “It’s a bloody nightmare!” Labour looks set to reform support for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. Rayner’s personal experience could help make her a leading voice, should she choose to step forward. The first former colleague quoted above said it was likely to have been a “really difficult” transition for Rayner to move to the backbenches, but that the former deputy had been able to “see what she had missed — family, friends — and savor that for a while.” Some hope Rayner’s dramatic exit won’t overshadow her abilities for long. Her working-class background was seen as a rare antidote in Labour’s ranks to Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK, which consistently leads the government in the opinion polls. “She’s got a very good common touch which cuts through to people,” said Zeichner, arguing her “life story is clearly of interest way beyond the normal political discourse.” He added, “I would be surprised if she doesn’t find her way back to the top of politics.” The left-wing Labour MP quoted above concurred, calling her “too popular just to basically wither away on the vine.” The second former minister quoted above suggested Rayner could be a good corrective to “one small clique … running the whole show” at the top of government — and said many MP colleagues would still like to see her as party leader at some point in the future. However, that consensus was not universal. Rayner “made a big mistake which she ought to have avoided,” decried a second left-wing Labour MP. “She needs to be out of the front line for the foreseeable future.” Ultimately, there’s no guarantee a top-table return will happen, regardless of Rayner’s ambition. Tory MP Andrew Mitchell endured a decade in the wilderness between resigning as chief whip in 2012 and making a comeback in a senior Foreign Office job in 2022. “It’s true that in politics you should never say never about almost anything,” he reflected. “Always remember that the two irreducible qualities required for success are boundless energy and a skin as thick as a rhinoceros!” “Backbench or frontbench, elected office is not about us, but about our chance to change the lives of others,” Rayner concluded. “From wherever I sit on these benches, I will fight with everything I have to do exactly that.” Esther Webber contributed to this report. The Tory leader asked the PM to confirm income tax, national insurance and VAT wouldn’t be increased next month. He refused to answer. Former British PM says Tory pledges to roll back climate reforms are an “extreme and unnecessary measure.” She will serve as Keir Starmer’s deputy from the backbenches — and could cause a headache for the embattled British prime minister. Counterterrorism official says there’s been a spike in ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services.
|
Noah Keate
|
The former deputy prime minister reenters the fray with her first Commons speech since quitting the Cabinet in scandal. Is there a way back for her?
|
[
"brexit",
"british politics",
"career",
"education",
"energy",
"environment",
"parliament",
"referendum",
"stability",
"tax",
"westminster bubble"
] |
Politics
|
[
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-22T13:26:01Z
|
2025-10-22T13:26:01Z
|
2025-10-22T13:26:11Z
| 7,365,384
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/what-angela-rayner-did-next/
|
The bad boys who could derail EU summit
|
Whatcha gonna do when they veto you? AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS ― As usual, a summit of the European Union looks like a summit of European disunity. What’s different is that this time it’s not just the usual suspects threatening to throw a spanner into Brussels’ well-oiled machine, which usually tries to prioritize consensus over everything else. From how to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine to questioning the EU’s climate targets, the agenda is packed with potential flashpoints. Here’s a look at the leaders who are sharpening their elbows and readying their vetoes. The Slovak strongman has already signaled his intent to derail Thursday’s summit, announcing on X that he is “not interested in dealing with new sanctions packages” against Russia unless the EU comes up with a plan to help Slovakia’s struggling automotive sector. Leaders are expected to finally approve the 19th package, announced last month, at the summit. Fico is among the most Kremlin-friendly leaders in the EU, visiting Moscow last December and again in May, and has raised objections to sanctions before, though he has ultimately always backed down from his repeated threats to block each new package. It’s likely he will do so again, perhaps after extracting some concessions for Bratislava’s car industry. The EU’s agitator-in-chief is, as always, expected to cause a ruckus. Orbán has stood in the way of unanimity at previous summits, especially on the subject of funneling financial and military aid to Ukraine, forcing the other 26 EU member countries to put out a joint statement without his signature. He could do so again. He has also repeatedly spoken out against a plan to seize Russian assets, arguing it could harm Budapest’s relations with Moscow. As a result, the EU is working on a way to legally sidestep his veto — which, if the bloc can pull it off, is sure to rile the typically pugnacious Hungarian leader. Orbán’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, denied Hungary would block the 19th package of sanctions. Unusually, Orbán is expected to skip much of the summit due to a national holiday commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He will arrive later in the day (though his presence is still sure to loom over the proceedings) and be represented at the discussions in the meantime by Fico. Who’d have thought that compromise-obsessed Belgium would become the one to throw its weight around at a European Council? It’s certainly not a role the Belgians have been used to playing. But that’s before they elected a right-wing Flemish nationalist steeped in the politics of upsetting the status quo as prime minister. The issue that’s concerning him is niche but affects Belgium in a unique way. The EU has warmed to the previously unthinkable idea of seizing €140 billion in Russian assets to fund a big new tranche of aid for Ukraine. (The plan that everyone had agreed on in the past was just to use the interest those assets were accruing.) The problem for De Wever is that most of these assets are housed in Belgium, at the Brussels financial depository Euroclear. The Belgian government is worried that it could bear the brunt of Moscow’s legal and financial retaliation if the EU breaks open the piggy bank. After days of tension, Belgium has signaled it won’t stand in the way, but wants some legal assurances that the bloc will share the risks before signing onto any proposal. Other leaders, including Orbán, but also Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, have voiced similar concerns about the legal complexity of the plan. Merz has one thing on his mind going into Thursday’s EUCO: the fate of Germany’s automotive sector. Ahead of the last leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, he vowed to put a “stick in the wheels” of the EU’s “legislative machine,” and now he is urging the European Commission to overturn its de facto combustion engine ban, co-signing a letter with Italy earlier this month calling for a radical overhaul of the legislation. Berlin is backed by Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland — all of whom have a strong automotive supplier industry — and Austria. France is also open to giving automakers concessions on the 2035 zero emissions target if they include a certain percentage of European components in their vehicles. With the Commission putting forward a revision of the legislation by the end of the year, it’s a question of how many concessions Merz can extract. Scrapping the 2035 deadline outright remains politically difficult, but Merz is pushing for tweaks — notably “technological neutrality,” code for allowing alternative fuels into the mix and, in practice, keeping the combustion engine alive well beyond 2035. Jordyn Dahl contributed to this report. Vilnius is just being “petty,” Belarusian leader says. “The battle is not over yet,” Hungarian prime minister says, teeing up a possible fight with the White House. A packed agenda promised a summit of fireworks. Nothing really took off. From the climate to critical minerals to Russia’s frozen assets, the agenda of Thursday’s European Council is jam-packed.
|
Seb Starcevic
|
Whatcha gonna do when they veto you?
|
[
"alternative fuels",
"banks",
"cars",
"fuels",
"industry",
"kremlin",
"military",
"negotiations",
"sanctions"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Austria",
"Czech Republic",
"France",
"Germany",
"Italy",
"Luxembourg",
"Poland",
"Russia",
"Slovakia",
"Ukraine",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T13:13:30Z
|
2025-10-22T13:13:30Z
|
2025-10-24T05:16:20Z
| 7,359,540
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/euco-bad-boys-viktor-orban-robert-fico-friedrich-merz-bart-de-wever/
|
EU will move to take on Wall Street with major financial reform proposals
|
The Commission is planning to redraw rules for financial markets in a bid to boost the EU’s global competitiveness. AI generated Text-to-speech BRUSSELS — The European Union's executive arm will propose a sweeping package of reforms in a bid to break down national boundaries and create a deeper EU financial market to rival that of the United States. Three people briefed on the plan told POLITICO the European Commission will in December propose amending at least 10 financial laws spanning everything from the regulation of investment products and cryptocurrency to the design of the EU's financial plumbing. The overarching aim is to make more investment available to Europe’s struggling industry in an effort to keep pace with faster-growing competitors in the U.S. and China. The U.S. in particular dwarfs the EU in the amount of capital available to smaller companies looking to grow. As a result, successful European startups routinely relocate to the U.S. to access the investment they need. Brussels desperately wants to halt that trend, and sees the creation of a genuinely open capital market as one of the missing pieces in EU economic integration. But its proposed changes will set the stage for a bitter political fight with the bloc’s governments, with countries particularly divided over the idea of giving the EU central supervisory power of financial markets. The EU executive presented its plans, currently scheduled for December, in a three-hour closed-door briefing for national and European Parliament officials last Tuesday. According to multiple officials present, the Commission is planning to publish a package that will amend around 10 pieces of existing legislation, redrawing the rules for financial markets in the bloc and how they are supervised. Existing laws that will be changed include the EU’s flagship financial market rules, known as MiFID and MiFIR; rules for clearinghouses, known as EMIR; rules for investments, known as AIFMD and the UCITS Directive; rules for central securities depositories, known as CSDR; crypto rules, known as MiCA; and the governing regulation of markets watchdog ESMA. The Commission is also planning to propose a shake-up of how financial markets firms are supervised — an issue that has been deeply political and largely blocked by national capitals in the past. Most firms are currently supervised at the national level, but the Commission wants to shift more supervision to the EU level under the Paris-based watchdog ESMA. Discussion on this issue ended in a stalemate during an EU leaders’ summit in spring 2024, with a coalition of small countries, including Luxembourg and Ireland — which fear their financial services firms will relocate to Paris — blocking a French-led effort to commit to more centralized supervision. France is a major supporter of efforts to centralize supervision, but many small countries are against the plan. Germany’s position is unclear, as it has traditionally been against central supervision, but Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil have spoken positively about the idea of a single EU stock exchange in recent weeks. The country is against central supervision of crypto, which features in the Commission’s plans. The Commission now wants to move supervision of all crypto asset service providers to ESMA. It also wants to shift supervision for big, cross-border stock exchanges, clearinghouses and central securities depositories to the EU central supervisor. ESMA’s governance and funding model would be reformed to reflect its bigger role. The Commission would introduce an independent executive board, which would be responsible for supervisory decisions, unlike the current setup, where a board made up of national finance watchdogs is the key decision-maker. The proportion of ESMA’s funding coming from supervisory fees paid by industry would increase, while the proportion of funding from national watchdogs could decrease. The proposal is certain to be politically divisive. The markets package is expected in December and could be discussed at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels the same month. Because of the international, decentralized nature of financial technologies like crypto, gaps in global rules means providers can go wherever laws are the most lax, which “complicates oversight.” The discussion comes as the Commission attempts to streamline laws in areas including sustainability and defense. The European Central Bank fears putting Putin’s assets to work could undermine the credibility of the euro. Tokyo and Washington would offer useful cover. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne ruled out the prospect of Canada joining the EU.
|
Kathryn Carlson
|
The Commission is planning to redraw rules for financial markets in a bid to boost the EU’s global competitiveness.
|
[
"finance",
"financial services",
"governance",
"industry",
"investment",
"markets",
"national budgets",
"private investment",
"regulation",
"services",
"single market"
] |
Financial Services
|
[
"China",
"France",
"Germany",
"Ireland",
"Luxembourg",
"United States"
] |
2025-10-22T12:33:05Z
|
2025-10-22T12:33:05Z
|
2025-10-27T12:12:29Z
| 7,372,746
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-commission-plans-major-financial-markets-shakeup-in-bid-to-boost-investment/
|
EU urged to tighten anti-hate speech rules
|
France, Austria and the Netherlands say funding should be stripped from groups that fail to uphold EU values. AI generated Text-to-speech The EU should swiftly pull funding from organizations that fail to uphold its values, and do more to tackle hate speech, France, Austria and the Netherlands urged in an informal document seen by POLITICO. Citing a surge in antisemitic and racist incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and the war in Gaza, the three countries call on Brussels and national capitals to “redouble their efforts to combat racism, antisemitism, xenophobia and anti-Muslim hatred” and ensure that “no support is given to entities hostile to European values, in particular through funding.” The document lays out proposals to tighten financial oversight and expand the EU’s criminal and operational response to hate crimes. It calls on the European Commission to fully apply existing budget rules allowing for the exclusion of entities inciting hatred, and to make beneficiaries of programs such as Erasmus+ and CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) sign pledges that they will respect and promote EU rights and values. The document comes just one day before a European Council meeting in Brussels at which EU leaders are expected to discuss support to Ukraine, defense, and also housing, competitiveness, migration, and the green and digital transitions. According to a draft of the Council conclusions obtained by POLITICO, national leaders are expected to stress that EU values apply equally in the digital sphere, with the protection of minors singled out as a key priority. Beyond funding, the document demands tougher measures against online and offline hate speech. It also urges Europol to launch a project looking at hate crimes and calls for education and awareness programs on tolerance and Holocaust remembrance through Erasmus+ and CERV. American economist Jeffrey Sachs, a trenchant critic of Western policy toward Russia, met his match in a TV studio last week. Carlo Calenda told POLITICO about the clash heard round the world. The U.N. General Assembly is expected to confirm the appointment in the coming days. Joint statement from U.K., Germany, France, Italy and the EU comes after U.S. president holds tense meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Anti-mafia prosecutors have opened a probe.
|
Elena Giordano
|
France, Austria and the Netherlands say funding should be stripped from groups that fail to uphold EU values.
|
[
"antisemitism",
"digital",
"digital services act",
"gaza",
"hate crime",
"racism",
"social media"
] |
Politics
|
[
"Austria",
"France",
"The Netherlands"
] |
2025-10-22T12:21:12Z
|
2025-10-22T12:21:12Z
|
2025-10-22T12:21:17Z
| 7,372,731
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-austria-netherlands-eu-tighten-funding-rules-tackle-hate-speech/
|
Von der Leyen warns Europe must defend green tech against China
|
The EU should learn from losing its solar panel industry to China and protect its share of green tech as it surges around the world. STRASBOURG — Europe should protect its share of market from global competitors' investment in green tech, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. Von der Leyen said European Union leaders will discuss the issue during their Thursday summit. “The clean transition is in full swing,” she said during a debate in the European Parliament, pointing out how every year, hundreds of gigawatts of energy are added globally. “Cleantech markets around the world are booming,” including batteries, wind turbines and electric cars. “The rise in cleantech in Europe is also good news for energy security, and it is a great economic opportunity,” she added. Yet, she warned, Europe in the past missed out on chances to lead on green industry, with the loss of solar panel industry to more competitive Chinese companies being “a cautionary tale that we must not forget.” “Europe was a global leader in solar, but heavily subsidized Chinese competitors started to outprice Europe's young industry — and today, China controls 90 percent of the global market.” “This time, we should learn our lesson,” she added, name-checking the Middle East and the “Global South” as regions competing for their spot in the global industrial green tech race. The European Commission expects renewables and other forms of clean energy to supply 50 percent of energy globally, while the cleantech market is projected to grow from €600 billion to €2 trillion over the next 10 years. The EU wants to capture 15 percent of the global production of clean technologies, with the EU market growing to €375 billion by 2035, according to Commission projections. Political group leaders voiced concern the move could set a precedent for restricting media in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s center right weighs turning its back on historical mainstream alliances in its push to cut red tape. A draft of a letter seen by POLITICO being drawn up by all four mainstream political groups demands major changes to Commission plan. Whether it’s green deregulation or official EU languages, both leaders have their pet topics.
|
Max Griera
|
The EU should learn from losing its solar panel industry to China and protect its share of green tech as it surges around the world.
|
[
"batteries",
"cars",
"companies",
"competitiveness",
"cutting emissions",
"electric cars",
"emissions",
"energy",
"energy security",
"green tech",
"industry",
"investment",
"manufacturing",
"markets",
"middle east",
"regions/cohesion",
"security",
"energy and climate",
"competition and industrial policy",
"trade",
"energy and climate uk",
"technology uk",
"trade uk"
] |
Technology
|
[
"China"
] |
2025-10-22T12:20:59Z
|
2025-10-22T12:20:59Z
|
2025-10-22T12:27:46Z
| 7,372,563
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-warns-europe-must-defend-its-share-global-green-tech-market-china/
|
PMQs: Starmer tackles fears grooming gangs inquiry falling apart
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The prime minister was asked if the inquiry could be trusted after four victims quit the survivors’ panel. Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through. What they sparred about: Grooming gangs. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch went toe-to-toe over whether the investigation into widespread child abuse was fit for purpose — or falling apart before it even started. Word of context: The government confirmed a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation would take place in June. Since then, four abuse survivors quit the inquiry’s victims and survivors liaison panel over their treatment. Former senior social worker Annie Hudson also withdrew from a shortlist of potential inquiry chairs. No confidence: Badenoch said the four victims had “lost all confidence” and were “dismissed and contradicted” by ministers. “What’s the point in speaking up if we’re just going to be called liars,” the Tory leader asked on behalf of one victim. Starmer condemned it as one of the “worst scandals of our time” and said the door “will always be open” if they wanted to return. Bookmark this: The PM insisted the inquiry will “never be watered down, its scope will not change, and it will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders.” Starmer confirmed crossbench peer and government troubleshooter Louise Casey (mooted as a future cabinet secretary), who wrote the initial grooming gangs audit, would support the inquiry. War of words: The Tory leader asked why victims would return when “the government has engaged in a briefing war against survivors.” That strong accusation drew cries of “shame” from Labour backbenchers before Badenoch referenced another survivor, accusing Labour of creating a “toxic environment.” Pushing on: Starmer conceded there were still “hard yards” to be done to put survivors at the heart of the inquiry, given their “difficult experiences” and “wide range of views.” Nonetheless, the PM insisted, “I want to press on and get this right.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Badenoch mentioned Starmer’s previous opposition to a national inquiry. “The victims don’t believe them,” she declared. “They don’t like it, but it’s true.” Of course: This sensitive and horrifying chapter in Britain’s history descended into a political knockabout. The PM mentioned work on reopening historic sexual abuse and mandatory reporting, which “fell on deaf ears” from the Tories. He should know: Starmer, often pejoratively labeled a lawyer by Badenoch, was asked why the inquiry wasn’t judge-led, given victims would prefer this, rather than a police officer or social worker chairing proceedings. The PM said judge-led inquiries were “often held back until the end of the criminal investigation,” which he wanted to run alongside the inquiry. Ministerial matters: But Badenoch suggested the chair was not the only problem. Quoting one victim, who accused Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips of lying (which Speaker Linsday Hoyle frowned upon), the Tory leader asked if the PM still had confidence in her. Starmer answered in the affirmative, saying she “has probably more experience than any other person in this House in dealing with violence against women and girls.” The Tories, you won’t be surprised to learn, want Phillips gone. Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Roz Savage, the, er, Lib Dem MP for South Cotswolds, initially made PMQs a bit easier for Starmer after the Political Pics X account snapped her question in a transparent folder heading into No 10 … on Tuesday. “There was a very, very serious breach of national security,” she joked. Keeping Starmer on his toes, Savage instead asked about digital ID and, aptly, the risk of data breaches. Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Starmer 7/10. Badenoch 6/10. Choosing a winner and a loser seems trivial given the main topic this week. Badenoch understandably used the victims’ departure to ask if the inquiry could fulfill its purpose. But the Tory leader’s political points lost the room, with the PM — just about — retaining authority with promises about the inquiry’s scope and remit. The survivors, on and off the panel, will hope those words translate into action. Former British PM says Tory pledges to roll back climate reforms are an “extreme and unnecessary measure.” She will serve as Keir Starmer’s deputy from the backbenches — and could cause a headache for the embattled British prime minister. Counterterrorism official says there’s been a spike in ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services. Man claimed to be a victim of modern slavery from smugglers in northern France and wants to claim asylum in Britain.
|
Noah Keate
|
The prime minister was asked if the inquiry could be trusted after four victims quit the survivors’ panel.
|
[
"breaches",
"british politics",
"data",
"data breaches",
"digital",
"digital id",
"environment",
"history",
"religion",
"rights",
"security",
"war",
"westminster bubble"
] |
Politics
|
[
"United Kingdom"
] |
2025-10-22T12:16:53Z
|
2025-10-22T12:16:53Z
|
2025-10-22T12:16:59Z
| 7,365,819
|
https://www.politico.eu/article/pmqs-keir-starmer-tackles-fears-grooming-gangs-inquiry-falling-apart/
|
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