Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy abruptly ended his visit to Dublin, warning of an imminent, large-scale Russian attack. He stated that Putin has been preparing the strike and urged citizens to heed air raid alerts.
EU leaders confront urgent China policy challenges, highlighted by Volkswagen's reported 100,000 job cuts due to Chinese competition. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic met Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels to launch a new trade consultation platform amidst spiraling tensions.
The EU's focus on constraining China may be misguided, as its real challenges lie in addressing internal limitations exposed by Chinese competition, including trade deficits and dependencies.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is urging Chancellor Friedrich Merz to back European Council President Antonio Costa's proposal to establish communication channels with Russia. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla called on Merz to show leadership by initiating a change in course and supporting Costa's diplomatic outreach.
European leaders, including António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, have paid tribute to Keir Starmer following his resignation as British Prime Minister. The EU-UK summit scheduled for July 22 has been postponed, with leaders expressing hopes for continuity in UK-EU relations.
A new survey reveals two-thirds of EU citizens would support the UK rejoining the bloc, while most UK voters believe Brexit has negatively impacted key issues and desire closer ties, including free movement.
歐盟領袖於布魯塞爾召開理事會，核心議題為終結俄烏戰爭及處理與中國的貿易失衡。芬蘭總理歐爾波表示，與烏克蘭總統的討論坦率且具戰略意義，歐盟聯合戰略奏效。同時，歐盟對中國巨額貿易逆差感到憂慮，認為中國補貼政策扭曲市場競爭，歐洲汽車業受衝擊。會議期間亦有外交插曲引發爭議。
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated China's currency is undervalued by 30%, far exceeding the IMF's estimate. He criticized Beijing's market flooding via subsidies and non-convertible currency, calling it unacceptable and a threat to European manufacturers.
The European Council has not set timeframes for the next stages of Moldova's EU accession negotiations, which began on June 15. While the European Commission urged for talks on all clusters to start in July, a unanimous EU decision was not reached during the summit. The process is merit-based and typically takes over 10 years.
European Council President Antonio Costa defended diplomatic outreach to the Kremlin, stating direct communication with Russia is necessary to support Ukraine, though peace talks are not yet feasible. The initiative revealed divisions among EU leaders.
European Council President Antonio Costa acknowledged a conflict at the EU summit regarding his efforts to open diplomatic channels with Russia. Costa clarified that the EU remains united with Ukraine and does not intend to mediate, but seeks direct communication to convey its own messages and understand Russia's.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated China's currency is undervalued by 30%, significantly above the IMF's estimate. He criticized Beijing's use of high subsidies and non-convertible currency, warning of market flooding and harm to European manufacturers.
European Council President António Costa's chief of staff, Pedro Lourtie, secretly contacted Moscow officials twice to restart Ukraine peace talks, sparking anger among EU governments unaware of the initiative. The Baltic states were particularly furious, while Germany's prior knowledge is disputed.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed cautious optimism about a US-Iran MOU, calling it an "incredibly important" step. He stressed the need for robust verification, addressing wider security concerns like maritime navigation, and rebuilding trust with Iran before economic cooperation. The minister also highlighted the centrality of the Palestinian issue for regional stability.
EU leaders grapple with China's economic threat and a deep internal rift over the bloc's next seven-year budget. Northern/western nations seek modernization and defense spending, while southern/eastern countries prioritize cohesion and traditional sectors, creating a deadlock.
A group of former European leaders urges EU leaders to support a robust Global Europe budget, emphasizing that external investments bolster Europe's security, economic competitiveness, and resilience against global shocks.
As the 10th anniversary of Brexit approaches, Britain debates rejoining the EU, focusing on economic benefits and political feasibility. However, the discussion largely ignores the perspectives of other European nations and the EU's own priorities, such as Ukraine and global economic challenges. While some UK politicians advocate for rejoining, the EU has other candidates and a minority who may not welcome Britain back.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the Chamber of Deputies regarding the upcoming European Council. Key topics included coordinated peace initiatives for Ukraine with the US and G7, a firm stance against Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz, and calls for a more efficient EU. Meloni also highlighted Italy's commitment to defense spending.
European Council President Antonio Costa urged speeding up the EU membership process for six Western Balkan countries, calling enlargement a key geopolitical investment. Leaders will discuss improving methodology at an upcoming summit, aiming to boost trust and avoid frustration, though Costa stressed it won't be easier.
The EU and Mexico signed an updated trade deal to boost economic ties and reduce dependence on the US and China. The agreement aims to expand EU influence in Latin America and includes new market access for agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
Instead of obsessing over rules that have ceased to matter, we must consider giving Beijing a dose of its own medicine The US and Israel may have started the war in Iran, but – apart from the belligerents themselves – it is China and Europe that stand to lose the most from it. Yet while European leaders watch like rabbits caught in the headlights as energy prices shoot through the roof, China has responded to the crisis with remarkable equanimity. It is striking how self-confident Beijing is ahead of this week’s Trump-Xi summit.That’s because China is better prepared for what I call an age of “un-order”. This is not the same as disorder, where rules exist but are broken. Un-order is a world where the rules themselves have simply ceased to matter. While European governments have been obsessed with preserving order, China has been working out how to survive chaos.Mark Leonard is director of the European Council on Foreign Relations and author of Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When the Rules Fail Continue reading...
From talks on Ukraine and defense to clever kids and digs at Viktor Orbán, here's POLITICO's rundown of the latest European Council.
The European Union faces mounting criticism over its slow decision-making architecture as leaders and former officials call for fundamental reform of the European Council. Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that the EU's consensus-based system was not designed for permanent crisis mode, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen specifically criticized the unanimity requirement for foreign policy decisions. The bloc has repeatedly failed to make unified calls on critical issues including Ukraine funding, Russia sanctions, and responses to Middle East tensions.
Michel, the former president of the European Council, defended Ankara as a key ally, reviving his long-term feud with the head of the European Commission.
