European Commission
Since August 2, mandatory requirements for general artificial intelligence systems have been in force in the EU. Companies must publish training data and comply with copyright.
The Government of Ukraine has approved amendments to the Ukraine Plan for the Ukraine Facility. The new version must be approved by the EU Council by the end of September, which will allow reporting for the third quarter of 2025 according to the new schedule.
The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission welcomed the signing by the President of Ukraine of the law on NABU and SAPO, calling it a positive step. They emphasized the importance of continuing reforms in the rule of law and anti-corruption spheres for Ukraine's European path.
The United States of America will apply 15% tariffs on imports of European wine and spirits starting August 1. Despite efforts by France and Italy, these goods were not included in the list of exceptions.
18 EU member states have expressed interest in receiving loans worth 127 billion euros under the SAFE defense instrument. The SAFE program will allow mobilizing up to 150 billion euros in investments, Ukraine expects investments in its defense.
The European Commission announced that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) will become operational on October 12, 2025. It will gradually register data of third-country nationals, replacing passport stamps.
The Italian Antitrust Authority has launched an investigation into Meta over an artificial intelligence feature in WhatsApp. The company is suspected of abusing its dominant position by installing the feature without user consent.
Ukraine's leading allies in Europe plan to approach the EU for tens of billions of euros in loans for joint procurement of weapons for Ukraine and to strengthen their own defense. The SAFE program envisages loans for weapons, financed by EU debt with a 45-year repayment period.
The White House and the European Commission published separate fact sheets regarding the trade agreement, which contain conflicting data. Key details of the agreement, including tariffs and exceptions, remain unclear, despite the intention to publish a joint statement by August 1.
Nine countries have officially expressed interest in borrowing funds from the EU military procurement program SAFE by the deadline. Poland plans to request 25 billion euros, and Greece – at least 1.2 billion euros.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the compromise in the tariff dispute with the administration of US President Donald Trump would significantly harm the German economy and lead to higher inflation. He thanked the European Commission for the negotiations, noting that it was the best possible outcome, although it cannot satisfy Germany.
The European Commission has accused the Chinese online marketplace Temu of violating EU rules due to insufficient measures to prevent the sale of illegal products. This could lead to a fine of up to 6% of the company's annual global turnover.
Norway, Ukraine, and Great Britain may join the EU's secure satellite network IRIS², which is an alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink. Norway is already in negotiations, while Ukraine and Great Britain have not yet started them, despite concerns about Starlink's market dominance.
According to the German Chancellor, the trade agreement between the EU and the US helped avoid a conflict that could have harmed Germany's export-oriented economy. In particular, tariffs on cars will decrease from 27.5% to 15%, which is key for the German automotive industry.
The European Union and the United States of America have signed a trade agreement. The EU plans to use American energy resources to achieve energy independence from Russia, replacing Russian gas and oil with purchases of American LNG, oil, and nuclear fuel.
President Zelenskyy and European Commission President von der Leyen discussed the anti-corruption bodies bill, which is to be adopted next week. Ukraine continues reforms to receive financial assistance and synchronizes sanctions against the Russian Federation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with US President Donald Trump in Scotland to conclude a trade deal before Friday's deadline. If no agreement is reached, 30% tariffs on EU exports to the US will come into effect.
US President Donald Trump called the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, urging them to cease hostilities that erupted at the beginning of the week, and warned about the absence of trade agreements. Both countries face economic challenges, including the threat of high US tariffs, and Thailand, which depends on exports, has not yet concluded agreements with the US.
Qatar, the third largest LNG exporter, threatens to cut gas supplies to the EU in response to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The country demands changes to the law concerning forced labor and environmental standards, and also objects to the requirement for climate transition plans.
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine states that it has fulfilled its obligations to the EU, expecting €12. 5 billion in support for 2025. This comes amid a reduction in the next aid tranche due to reform delays, although Ukraine claims that 13 out of 16 necessary reforms have been completed.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with US President Donald Trump in Scotland to discuss a trade deal. European diplomats do not expect a quick agreement due to Trump's tendency for last-minute cancellations and the complexity of decision-making in the EU.
The European Parliament is considering proposals to accelerate the EU's abandonment of Russian gas to January 2027, a year earlier than the European Commission's initial plan. Lawmakers propose obliging governments to impose sanctions on companies that violate the ban.
US President Donald Trump said the chances of reaching a trade deal with the European Union are "50-50, maybe even less. " He noted that for an agreement, Europe would have to lower its tariffs.
This will increase the burden on Ukraine's state budget, whose deficit exceeded 20% of GDP last year.
The price on the spot gold market decreased by 0. 5% to $3350.08 per ounce. The strengthening of the US dollar and optimism regarding trade negotiations between the US and the EU are putting pressure on gold prices.
The European Commission has received support from EU member states for the introduction of 30% tariffs on goods from the USA if a trade agreement is not reached. The tariffs could affect goods worth 93 billion euros, but their introduction has been suspended until August 7 for negotiations.
The European Commission has sent warning letters to 18 EU member states for failing to notify the full implementation of the Directive on criminalizing the violation of EU restrictive measures. Countries have two months to respond and complete implementation.
EU ambassadors have agreed to use the €392 billion cohesion fund for defense-related projects, which accounts for approximately one-third of the EU's 2021–2027 budget. This decision allows EU countries to use regional funds to support the defense industry and modernize infrastructure.
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association called for additional incentives for electric vehicles after the largest drop in new car sales in 10 months in June. New EV registrations fell by 5.1% to 1.24 million, indicating a slowdown in demand growth.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. They urged China to use its influence on Russia to end its aggressive war against Ukraine, acknowledging that relations between Beijing and Brussels have reached a "watershed moment."