Civil servants at the European Commission report heavy workloads, cumbersome bureaucracy, and toxic management, contrasting with the institution's high prestige and lucrative compensation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for unified EU action on border security after thousands breached the border into Spain's Ceuta enclave, with EU interior ministers set to discuss responses in an emergency meeting.
Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger EU borders after tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Spain's Ceuta, triggering a dispute among EU nations over migration policy and Spain's handling of returns. EU interior ministers will hold emergency talks.
An analysis argues that Donald Trump's power grabs, characterized by constant scandals, a focus on loyalty over competence, and a spectacle of cruelty, create both autocratic consolidation and significant vulnerabilities, contrasting with 21st-century 'spin dictatorships' like Orbán's and Putin's.
The European Union has activated new powers under its AI Act, allowing the European Commission to inspect AI models, restrict market access, and impose significant fines on providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, regardless of their base. This move intensifies U.S.-EU tech sovereignty tensions.
歐盟AI法規第50條透明度規定於8月2日生效，要求AI系統揭露其性質，AI生成內容須清楚標示。未合規的提供者與部署者將面臨最高1500萬歐元或全球營業額3%的鉅額罰款，影響歐盟內外數百萬AI應用。
The European Commission has announced preliminary findings under the Digital Services Act (DSA), stating TikTok fails to adequately protect children. The Commission recommends adjusting default settings for minors' accounts and warns of potential fines up to 6% of global annual revenue if concerns are not addressed. This follows a similar UK investigation.
EU's pro-competition proposals may expose Google Search to hacking risks. OnePlus exits North America and Europe. San Francisco targets 'nudify' apps. Debate on banning social media for kids. China outsmarts Anthropic's geolocation. Europe seeks its own AI, leveraging the Trump factor.
The EU fined Google €890 million for violating digital regulations by favoring its search engine and Play app store, harming competition. Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera cited unfair prominence and restricted app offers.
Google has been fined a total of €890m by the EU for breaching online competition laws under the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission cited Google's prioritization of its own services in search results and restrictions on app developers from steering consumers to cheaper offers.
EU ambassadors in Brussels failed to reach an agreement on the 21st package of anti-Russian sanctions, which included softer restrictions on Russian LNG transportation to third countries and excluded a proposed ban on Russian fish.
European Commission regulators approved Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, conditional on Paramount ending its joint distribution venture, Universal International Pictures (UIP), with Universal in Europe. The merger still faces a temporary pause from a US lawsuit by 12 states and scrutiny from UK regulators.
Paramount Skydance's £80bn bid for Warner Brothers received conditional EU approval after commitments to end a film distribution joint venture. However, the deal faces significant challenges in the US, including a court-ordered pause and a preliminary injunction hearing, as well as potential intervention in the UK.
China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the European Commission have signed a two-year joint research funding agreement, supporting scientific cooperation until 2027 in areas like food, agriculture, biosolutions, climate change, and biodiversity.
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, largely unknown in Brussels, prepares for an EU-UK summit. He inherits a "reset agenda" aiming to ease trade barriers, link emissions systems, and establish a youth exchange, while navigating familiar Brexit dilemmas and his stated desire to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
Andy Burnham, Britain's new prime minister, is largely unknown in Brussels but is set to lead an EU-UK summit this autumn, inheriting Keir Starmer's reset agenda. Key issues include trade barriers, a youth exchange scheme, and defence cooperation, with his Brexit stance creating both hope and caution.
The European Commission recommended suspending penalties for oil and gas companies breaching methane emission standards from 2027-2030. Citing pressure from the US and global energy market tightness due to the US-Iran war and Middle East conflict, the move aims to prevent energy supply disruptions.
The European Commission fined Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress €550 million, the largest penalty under the Digital Services Act (DSA), for failing to prevent the sale of counterfeit and harmful products in the EU. AliExpress disputes the "disproportionate" fine.
The European Commission fined AliExpress over $625 million, the largest penalty under the Digital Services Act (DSA), for failing to mitigate risks of illegal, unsafe, and counterfeit products. AliExpress expressed surprise and plans to appeal.
The European Commission imposed a record €550 million fine on Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful products, including counterfeits and unsafe toys, on its platform under the Digital Services Act. AliExpress announced it will appeal the decision.
AliExpress has been fined a record €550m by the EU under the Digital Services Act for failing to prevent the sale of illegal and harmful products, including counterfeit clothing and unsafe cosmetics, on its platform. The company condemned the fine as "disproportionate."
New Eurostat data shows corporate debt exceeding 85% of GDP in seven EU states, including Luxembourg (251.1%), Denmark (115.4%), and Sweden (108.6%). While many high figures are due to international financial hubs, France and Sweden's real estate sector show genuine macroeconomic vulnerabilities.
The EU will intensify measures against Chinese imports before an October deadline to protect its market from overcapacity, as negotiations with Beijing to reduce a €1 billion-a-day trade deficit continue amidst high tensions and threats of retaliation.
The European Commission has charged Meta Platforms with violating the EU's Digital Services Act, citing addictive features on Instagram and Facebook. Meta faces potential fines of up to 6% of global turnover if changes aren't made to features like autoplay and infinite scroll.
