The 'collective West,' a post-WWII construct, is undergoing a transformation as the US reduces its direct role in Europe. Western Europe is redefining its identity and purpose, consolidating around an anti-Russian agenda, with Ukraine effectively acting as a proxy force, while public skepticism about the Russian threat persists.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is planning her first solo trip to Beijing since 2024 for a strategic dialogue. The agenda includes China's relations with Russia, Middle East crises, and Taiwan. Insiders describe an already tense encounter, with Kallas pressing Wang Yi on China's support for Russia.
The EU faces division over 60,000 migrants entering Ceuta from Morocco, with right-wing leaders blaming Spain while the EU Commission avoids blaming Morocco, contrasting with its response to Belarus in 2021.
US President Donald Trump launches a 301 trade investigation into the EU following a $1 billion fine on Google for competition law violations, threatening new tariffs.
The European Commission seeks de-escalation with the US after fining Google €890 million under the Digital Markets Act, which angered Washington and jeopardized transatlantic trade dialogue. Brussels aims to engage while preserving its regulatory autonomy.
China's Ministry of Commerce has added 14 entities from the European Union, including German defence giant Rheinmetall, to its export control list. This measure, effective immediately, prohibits the export of dual-use items and is a direct response to recent EU sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong firms over Russia.
The EU fined Google €890 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act, citing self-preferencing in search results and restricting app developers in the Play Store. Google must comply within 60 days or face further penalties.
The European Union has fined Google 890 million euros ($1bn) for breaking digital antitrust rules by favoring its own services and apps on Google Play and its search engine, marking the latest move in Brussels' crackdown on Big Tech.
The European Commission expects EU generic medicines to be exempt from new U.S. tariffs announced by Donald Trump, citing a 2025 transatlantic trade deal. Trump's plan, aiming to boost U.S. pharmaceutical production, proposes 100% tariffs on generic drugs by 2028, escalating to 200% in 2029.
EU foreign ministers approved a position paper labeling China a "critical long-term strategic challenge," accusing Beijing of amplifying security threats and enabling Russia's invasion of Ukraine, despite a prior "de-risking" policy and ongoing trade partnership. This new stance will shape future EU policy on investment and trade.
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.
As trade tensions with China escalate, EU officials are engaging Beijing to de-escalate while simultaneously preparing for a potential trade war to protect its industries from deindustrialisation. Brussels aims to acquire retaliatory tools to counter coercive trade practices.
The European Commission has provided the US with a list of hundreds of EU products, including cheese, wine, and medical devices, totaling €150 billion in exports, for exemption from 15% US tariffs agreed upon in a 2025 trade deal. This follows the EU's removal of its own tariffs on US industrial goods.
A group of EU countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, are pushing the European Commission to propose limiting trade with illegal Israeli settlements. This move faces opposition from the Commission and countries like Germany, creating a standoff over EU Middle East policy.
Spain's Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo proposed a new "European Sovereign Facility" for joint EU borrowing to strengthen the euro's international role amid geopolitical uncertainty. The mechanism aims to centralize debt, reduce costs, and build a €5 trillion stock within five years, though some member states oppose further joint debt.
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Chinese Peking duck imports following complaints from EU producers about unfairly low prices and alleged subsidies. This move escalates trade tensions between the EU and China, potentially impacting ongoing negotiations.
Sweden is set to block efforts to weaken the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) ahead of a policy showdown. Minister Jessica Rosencrantz stated Sweden will "fight to keep the Emissions Trading System strong" against countries seeking to relax rules, arguing a weaker ETS harms climate and competitiveness.
Mohamed Ouahbi, nacido en Bruselas de padres marroquíes, ha pasado de ser profesor de educación física a dirigir la selección absoluta de Marruecos. Tras ganar el Mundial Sub-20, ahora busca llevar al equipo a semifinales del Mundial absoluto contra Francia.
European governments face criticism for poor emergency management of extreme weather and underinvestment, while citizens increasingly buy Chinese air conditioners due to cost-of-living concerns, despite EU trade policy towards Beijing.
The EU is preparing to reopen its MiCA crypto rulebook, likely in 2027, to regulate non-EU stablecoin issuers and broaden its scope. This follows U.S. regulatory moves and concerns over dollar-backed stablecoins dominating the market, potentially impacting the euro's monetary sovereignty.
Nine European countries are asking Brussels to extend emergency flexibility for the Entry/Exit System (EES), citing significant operational difficulties. They want to continue using the built-in emergency mechanism beyond its September 6, 2026 expiry date to ease border congestion.
Spain has proposed a new EU common borrowing mechanism worth up to €850 billion annually to create a benchmark safe asset, reduce financing costs for European firms, and strengthen the euro. The plan, to be presented by Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, faces opposition from Germany and the Netherlands but has support from France and Greece. Spain suggests a voluntary "European Sovereign Facility" with potential for a "coalition of the willing" if not all members participate.
Marine Le Pen announced her fourth bid for the French presidency in 2027, ending speculation she might cede to Jordan Bardella. While both figures pose challenges for the EU, some in Brussels saw Bardella as more pragmatic. Le Pen's decision raises concerns about EU consensus and citizens' rights.
