How Spain went woke — and why that may not last (www.politico.eu)
Belgium also bans TikTok on government phones (www.politico.eu)
"TikTok is a Chinese company that currently is mandated to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement. The Belgian ban is based on a risk analysis by the country’s intelligence services and recommendations by the national cybersecurity center.
Here’s what the data shows on Seine pollution levels during the Olympics (www.politico.eu)
Eau de Paris’ data shows that pollution levels in the river exceeded regulatory standards on most days between July 26, the start date of the Olympics, and Wednesday. Eau de Paris did not release data for Thursday and Friday, when the men’s and women’s 10 kilometer swims were held.
Poland’s Tusk hits a wall on legalizing abortion (www.politico.eu)
Failure of abortion vote raises big questions of whether Tusk can deliver the key social reforms he promised in last year’s election....
Orbán parrots Putin’s lines on Ukraine in leaked letter to EU chief (www.politico.eu)
Letter from Ukraine: How will my mom survive if I’m drafted? (www.politico.eu)
China is threatening EU agriculture. Should farmers squeal? (www.politico.eu)
Beijing’s threat of tariffs on EU agricultural imports comes as trade volumes are already falling....
Europe swings to the right — led by France (www.politico.eu)
Europe’s center of political gravity is veering to the right....
Spain to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel (www.politico.eu)
Far-right MEPs set to outnumber EPP in next Parliament (www.politico.eu)
Fragmented extremist forces are seen as unlikely to unite into a single political bloc, however....
Germany’s Ukraine air defense initiative falls flat (www.politico.eu)
Berlin promised to help Ukraine source crucial air defenses, but the reality has been disappointing....
Campus protests: Top French university shuts as police remove pro-Palestinian group (www.politico.eu)
Israel’s war in Gaza stokes European tensions, after clashes erupt between students and cops at American colleges....
Chinese EV makers risk tougher duties over failure to cooperate with EU probe (www.politico.eu)
European Commission warns BYD, SAIC and Geely that their lack of cooperation frees its hands to impose higher penalties, letters seen by POLITICO show....
Soviet-era attitudes to disability hinder Ukrainian fighters’ recovery (www.politico.eu)
Injured soldiers face social stigma … and their numbers have soared....
Europe’s banks retreat from Moscow, with the ECB at their heels (www.politico.eu)
Europe’s banks’ retreat from Moscow is entering its final stage, but instead of having General Winter at their heels, they have the European Central Bank....
Papua New Guinea PM slams Joe Biden over ‘cannibals’ comment (www.politico.eu)
Time for a European single market ‘with teeth’ to take on China, India, leaders told (www.politico.eu)
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta tells POLITICO that government subsidies should become a “European tool.”...
Georgia’s EU bid is being sabotaged by its own government, Brussels fears (www.politico.eu)
Some 80 percent of Georgians want to join the EU, but the government seems to fear that membership could undermine its grip on power....
Occupy Brussels! Viktor Orbán’s plan for Europe (www.politico.eu)
In the Hungarian leader, the EU faces a new type of Euroskeptic, one who doesn’t want to leave the bloc but shape it....
With threats to judges and journalists, Slovakia spirals eastward (www.politico.eu)
As the crucial April 6 second round of presidential elections approaches in Slovakia, statements by its Moscow-sympathizing prime minister, Robert Fico, are confirming his government’s reputation as Europe’s new problem child....
Serious security breach hits EU police agency (www.politico.eu)
Disappearance of sensitive files of top law enforcement officials has sparked a crisis at Europol....
Scholz and Macron feud over arms for Ukraine – POLITICO (www.politico.eu)
As Ukraine runs short on ammunition, the German and French leaders are at odds over military aid.
Orbán invites Swedish PM for talks on NATO bid (www.politico.eu)
Turkey is also promising to move on Sweden’s alliance application....
Bulgaria, Romania get official green light for partial entry into Schengen area (www.politico.eu)
EU member countries reached agreement Saturday on removing air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania, but the two countries’ full entry into the bloc’s passport-free Schengen zone remains subject to further discussions....
EU and Mercosur give up on clinching trade pact next week (www.politico.eu)
Argentina says it intends to leave decisions on the trade deal to incoming President Javier Milei, who has threatened to quit Mercosur....
