The EU's executive branch will engage with China to address trade imbalances and develop new trade defense tools to counter Chinese industrial overcapacity and reduce overdependence on the Chinese economy.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of US forces in Europe, linking its outcome to European allies taking greater responsibility for their own security. He criticized allies for failing to provide access for potential attacks on Iran and for focusing on gender equality and climate change over defense budgets.
French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz clashed with EU leaders over opening communication channels with Vladimir Putin. They argued that the E3 (France, Germany, UK) should lead any future negotiations, while others supported European Council President Costa's efforts to establish a diplomatic channel.
EU leaders met for a two-day summit focusing on Ukraine support, the EU's next long-term budget, and global economic challenges. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged fast-track EU membership. Bulgaria threatened to veto sanctions on Russia over Lukoil. Leaders expressed skepticism about immediate peace talks with Russia.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of US military presence in Europe, linking future troop numbers and NATO dues to allies' defense spending. He criticized "free riding" and "shameful" inaction on using airbases for strikes against Iran, threatening force reductions in low-spending nations.
EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine, including the opening of negotiation clusters for accession. They also addressed the EU's significant trade deficit with China and planned for the next long-term budget (2028-2034).
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced he would cut contact with EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, accusing her of unfairness and a "blood libel" over alleged comparisons of Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid. Kallas attempted to de-escalate, emphasizing dialogue and EU support for a two-state solution, but Sa'ar demanded a denial of the remarks.
Icelanders will vote on August 29 on whether to reopen EU membership talks, a decade after pulling out. The debate is heavily influenced by Brexit, with both pro-EU and Eurosceptic camps using the UK's experience as a reference point. Geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding Greenland, have accelerated the timeline.
A US official stated that allies' failure to meet NATO spending targets puts American troops at risk and could lead to reduced US contributions to NATO's organizational costs.
EU leaders meet in Brussels for a two-day summit addressing competitiveness, trade, Ukraine, the Middle East, defense, and the bloc's next seven-year budget. The summit is the first since leadership changes in Hungary and Bulgaria.
EU leaders convene in Brussels to tackle a packed agenda including Ukraine, the Middle East, the bloc's budget, China's economic influence, migration, defense, and narcotics. Key discussions will focus on trade practices with China, revamping the single market, and the €2 trillion long-term budget amid internal disagreements.
Four new prime ministers are set to join EU leaders in Brussels, altering the political dynamics of the bloc's decision-making body. The changes introduce fresh uncertainty as governments prepare for crucial debates on the EU budget, energy, and foreign policy, with a particular focus on who will fill the void left by Viktor Orbán's disruptive influence.
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss a new China policy, facing internal divisions and trepidation over Beijing's potential retaliation. Despite avoiding the topic on the official agenda, a united front is sought to address global macroeconomic imbalances and protect European competitiveness.
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss a new China policy, facing internal divisions and trepidation over Beijing's potential retaliation. Despite avoiding the topic on the official agenda, a united front is sought to address global macroeconomic imbalances.
EU countries are converging on the need for urgent action to prevent Chinese-driven deindustrialization, supporting a new trade strategy with new instruments and strategic use of existing ones ahead of a key summit.
Former British ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, criticizes Labour's approach to the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU, calling it unprepared and lacking a coherent vision. He argues their proposed solutions are technocratic and irrelevant to the EU's core concerns.
China held a forum in Berlin to promote imports from the EU, aiming to ease trade tensions and address its growing trade surplus. The event, attended by officials and executives, sought to showcase China's market potential amid rising regulatory hurdles and geopolitical shifts in Europe.
The EU and UK will hold their next summit on July 22 in Brussels to discuss resetting relations. Key agenda items include a youth mobility scheme, a food and farm produce trade agreement, and an emissions trading system. The summit has faced delays, partly due to deadlock over the youth mobility program.
EU leaders are converging on a more assertive approach to China, citing unfair trade practices and a growing deficit. While dialogue continues, the EU is considering tools like import quotas and an overcapacity instrument, though a full trade war is unlikely due to economic fragility.
The EU and UK will hold their second bilateral summit on July 22 in Brussels. British PM Keir Starmer, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the meeting after a G7 summit. The summit aims to strengthen cooperation and a closer relationship for European security, resilience, and prosperity.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, became an obstacle to a transatlantic trade deal with the US. He demanded safeguards against Washington's potential non-compliance, clashing with EU institutions and Trump's administration.
Western policymakers claim China has 'overcapacity' in steel, EVs, and green tech, flooding markets with subsidized goods. However, economic data suggests otherwise, with China's capacity utilization for ferrous metals within healthy EU ranges. The EU and US employ double standards, using arbitrary metrics and bypassing the WTO to impose protectionist measures.
US ambassadors' tradition of intimate dinners in Brussels, used for building consensus among European allies, has largely disappeared under Donald Trump. These 'like-minded' gatherings facilitated off-the-record discussions on key policy issues, fostering candid exchanges that are now seen as diminished.
Chinese manufacturers exporting to the EU face new regulatory hurdles due to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The system requires detailed carbon intensity data, causing significant compliance challenges for companies like Neil Miao's, who struggle with understanding and providing the required information.
