The leaders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have stated the need for a joint decision on dismantling railway connections with Russia and Belarus. The presidents of the Baltic countries discussed this issue and handed it over to the ministers for further consideration.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium expresses concerns about legal aspects and potential risks for its taxpayers.
Spain, the largest pork exporter in the EU, has deployed soldiers and drones to contain swine fever near Barcelona. Due to the outbreak, Mexico and Japan have suspended purchases of Spanish pork, and 91 cities have been locked down.
The European Commission will open an antitrust procedure regarding the use of artificial intelligence in Meta-owned WhatsApp. The investigation will focus on the competitive implications of integrating Meta's AI assistant into the messenger.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled a trip to Oslo to persuade Belgium to support a €165 billion "reparation loan" to Ukraine. The loan is proposed to be secured by frozen Russian state assets located in Belgium.
Spiegel reported that the Élysée Palace, in a statement to the German publication, denied that Macron had spoken of any betrayal.
MEPs are considering regulating energy drinks for minors due to health risks. Some EU countries already have age restrictions, but the European Commission notes that there is insufficient data for safe daily limits for children.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced significant progress on the issue of using frozen Russian assets. Ukraine hopes for a relevant decision to be adopted by the end of this year.
The Italian company Prada has successfully completed the acquisition of the fashion house Versace from the American Capri Holdings for 1. 3 billion euros. Versace, founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace, will now join Prada.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed the US administration about plans to develop a reparation loan system for Ukraine. This initiative involves using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine in 2026-2027, covering two-thirds of its needs amounting to 90 billion euros, with the possibility of providing 165 billion euros.
The European Commission is proposing a “reparation loan” of 165 billion euros to Ukraine, using frozen Russian state assets. This loan is part of a broader financial package worth up to 210 billion euros to support Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that "almost all" of Belgium's concerns regarding a "reparation loan" for Ukraine have been addressed. This concerns the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's needs.
The European Commission presented two solutions for financing Ukraine in 2026-2027: EU borrowing and a "reparations loan. "
The Chinese Foreign Ministry believes that using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would not contribute to peace negotiations. Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions that violate international law.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU pays Russia 1. 5 billion euros monthly for fossil fuels. She emphasized that this amount has significantly decreased since the beginning of the war, but is still too high.
Three suspects in the corruption case, including Federica Mogherini and Stefano Sannino, have been released from custody. They are accused of fraud, corruption, and conflict of interest, but are not considered a flight risk.
Ukraine aims to close the negotiation clusters for accession to the European Union by the end of 2026. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that technically, Ukraine is ready to open all six clusters by the end of this year.
The European Commission is proposing a legal solution to avoid Belgium having to pay billions of euros if Hungary vetoes the extension of sanctions against Russia. This would allow €140 billion of frozen Russian assets to be used as a loan to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's readiness to immediately open three clusters in EU membership negotiations, and the rest by the end of this year. He emphasized that the European Commission recognizes that Ukraine can open three clusters, which is half.
The Irish media regulator has launched an investigation into TikTok and LinkedIn. The reason is a suspicion of inadequate mechanisms for reporting illegal content, which could lead to a fine of up to 6% of annual revenue.
SAP tears apart internal conflicts despite the external success of Operation Midas - ex-prosecutor revealed behind-the-scenes incidents.
Three people, including former Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, have been detained in Belgium on suspicion of fraud involving EU funds. The investigation concerns alleged favoritism in the European External Action Service's awarding of a program to the College of Europe.
US officials intend to return Russian assets after a peace treaty is concluded. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposes using them to support Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron will make his fourth state visit to China this week. Europe is seeking to strike a balance between economic and security threats from Beijing and its dependence on the world's second-largest economy.
The European Central Bank has rejected participation in the European Commission's proposal to use frozen Russian assets. This complicates the attraction of a loan secured by the immobilized assets of the Russian central bank.
European governments accuse Belgium of excessive demands for protection in case the Kremlin sues over the use of 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets. This could derail negotiations on the EU's plan to provide these assets to Ukraine before the December summit.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the preparation of new EU sanctions against Belarus. This is a response to hybrid actions against Lithuania, including an increase in the number of incursions by contraband balloons.
He emphasized the importance of progress in developing security guarantees and a long-term foundation for the stability of Ukraine and Europe.
The European Commission is actively, though not publicly, participating in peace consultations on Ukraine, maintaining constant contact with Kyiv and the United States. Brussels ensures that the EU's interests are taken into account in the discussions and supports Ukraine's sovereignty.
The European Commission is developing a list of satellite services for EU military needs, which will be integrated into a new satellite constellation. The project envisages investments in satellites to provide high-quality Earth images at 30-minute intervals.
