From talks on Ukraine and defense to clever kids and digs at Viktor Orbán, here's POLITICO's rundown of the latest European Council.
Edouard Philippe launched a strong attack on the National Rally at his first major campaign rally in Paris, calling the party unprincipled and opportunistic. He criticized their shifting stances and contrasted Marine Le Pen with Jordan Bardella's free-market views, positioning himself as a responsible conservative candidate to beat political extremes.
Edouard Philippe, a French presidential hopeful, launched a strong attack on the National Rally at his first major campaign rally in Paris. He criticized the far-right party for being unprincipled and opportunistic, highlighting perceived contradictions in their platform.
A POLITICO and Public First poll reveals that far-right parties in Western democracies are increasingly associated with national pride, while patriotism itself remains largely nonpartisan. The findings highlight a challenge for left-leaning parties seeking to reclaim patriotic symbols.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius advocates for barring potential far-right AfD ministers from accessing classified information due to their alleged close ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin. He expressed concern over the AfD's potential to win outright majorities in eastern German states.
The European Commission is launching new talks with EU member states to address concerns that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) could cause significant delays for summer travelers. Despite previous denials of issues, officials acknowledge technical problems and infrastructure challenges are leading to longer wait times for non-EU visitors.
The European Commission will hold new talks with EU member states to address potential delays caused by the Entry/Exit System (EES) for summer travelers. The system, which requires biometric data for non-EU citizens, has faced technical issues and long queues, prompting concerns from airlines and trade groups.
