Brussels

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly pushing back against the EU's budget plans, according to a DW report. The revolt signals friction between Berlin and Brussels over the next long-term EU budget, with Germany resisting spending proposals put forward by the European Commission. The report has drawn attention across European political circles, as Germany's stance could shape negotiations over the bloc's finances.

Google is pushing back against a European Union effort that would require it to open Android to rival AI assistants. The dispute forms part of ongoing enforcement of the EU's Digital Markets Act, under which Brussels has pressed the company to give competitors greater access to its dominant mobile platform. Google argues the changes would harm user security and privacy, while regulators see them as key to fair competition in the fast-moving AI market.

The US government has moved to insert itself into Elon Musk's legal fight with the European Union, a dispute reportedly worth €120 million. The move adds a transatlantic political dimension to what was already a high-profile clash between Musk and Brussels regulators, drawing attention to mounting tensions between Washington and the EU over tech regulation and enforcement against American companies.

Google is mounting a legal challenge against European Union regulatory orders that would force it to give AI companies and rival search engines greater access to its services and data. The dispute is the latest clash between Big Tech and Brussels over competition rules, with regulators arguing open access is needed to level the playing field for emerging AI and search competitors.

Google's parent company Alphabet has filed a legal challenge against two European Union orders requiring the company to give AI and search competitors access to Android and to its search data. The dispute centres on how far the EU can force dominant platforms to open up mobile and search infrastructure to rivals, and it adds to Alphabet's growing regulatory battles with Brussels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new expansion of Russia's military, according to reporting picked up by international outlets including The Brussels Times. The decree adds to a series of build-ups announced since the invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to enlarge troop numbers and strengthen its armed forces. The move is being watched closely by NATO members and European governments concerned about long-term Russian military capacity.

The European Union has introduced a new Space Threat Response Architecture, outlined by the European External Action Service. The framework explains how the EU and its member states would detect, assess and respond to threats against European space assets such as satellites, which underpin navigation, communications and security. It reflects growing concern in Brussels about risks to orbital infrastructure and the need for a coordinated European response.

Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg are pushing the European Union to adopt a binding renewables target for 2040, according to Bloomberg. The joint appeal calls on Brussels to set a clear goal for expanding clean energy as part of the bloc's next phase of climate policy, signalling that member states want firmer commitments ahead of negotiations over the EU's post-2030 emissions and energy framework.

EU policy in Brussels is taking a more protectionist direction, according to the Financial Times, and this is worrying free-market-minded members of the bloc. The shift, framed as a turn away from open-market principles, has reportedly unsettled governments and politicians who favour trade liberalisation. Concerns centre on what the change means for the EU’s single market and its traditional support for open competition.

Piotr Serafin, the EU Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Corruption and Public Administration, said in an interview that EU bonds are AAA-grade safe assets and pitched investment in them as a way to strengthen ties between the European Union and the Republic of Korea. His remarks aim to encourage Korean institutional investors to buy EU debt while deepening bilateral financial and political relations between Brussels and Seoul.

A new CEPR analysis examines the true scale and structure of the European Union's debt, aiming to make the often opaque accounting of EU liabilities more transparent. The discussion centres on how much debt the EU and its member states actually carry, how it is recorded, and what the hidden obligations could mean for future fiscal policy and budget negotiations in Brussels.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said Brexit has done more harm than good, and that he will lay out options at the government's next EU reset summit aimed at tightening the relationship between the UK and the European Union. His intervention adds to pressure on Labour to go further in rebuilding ties with Brussels, reigniting debate over the economic impact of leaving the EU.

Canadian law firms are expecting an increase in European business as Ottawa and Brussels explore a form of 'associate membership' for Canada in the European Union. Law.com reports that firms see potential new work advising clients on trade, regulatory and cross-border matters if the negotiations advance. The talks signal a deepening of Canada-EU economic and political relations, though the exact scope and feasibility of associate membership remain to be defined.

Ukraine is urging EU leaders in Brussels to provide immediate support after a new wave of Russian drone attacks struck Kyiv. The attacks have renewed debate across Germany about air defense, with discussions focusing on how quickly European partners can deliver additional anti-drone systems and air defense capabilities to protect Ukrainian cities.

Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, is calling for closer regulatory alignment between South Korea and the European Union. In an interview published by the EU delegation, she argues that harmonised standards would ease trade and cooperation between the two economies. The remarks come as Brussels and Seoul weigh deeper economic and digital partnership.

Brussels, long the symbol of European integration, is increasingly described as a stage for Belgian disintegration, as the country's fractured coalition politics leaves the capital without a functioning government while EU institutions push for deeper union. Commentators contrast the unified Europe taking shape in Brussels with a Belgium that struggles to hold itself together across linguistic and regional lines.

The European Union is considering delaying its methane emissions law, while the International Energy Agency says it stands ready to discuss coordinated releases of oil stockpiles if market conditions require. The developments point to Brussels balancing climate rules against energy supply and price concerns, and come as governments weigh how firmly to enforce green regulations amid ongoing energy security worries.

Brussels is seeking to strengthen the European Union's external border controls in the wake of the Ceuta crisis, when thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco. The proposal would give the EU greater say over border management, after the episode exposed gaps in how the bloc responds to sudden migration surges at its frontiers. It is expected to fuel debate among member states over shared responsibility for borders and migration policy.

EU Ambassador Caspar Veldkamp held a meeting with Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China, in Beijing. The talks come amid ongoing efforts by Brussels and Beijing to maintain dialogue on economic and financial matters. Details of the discussion, including specific topics or outcomes, have not been publicly disclosed so far.

Reporters Without Borders held an event in Brussels with EU institutions and exiled Russian journalists to promote the Svoboda satellite broadcasting package, designed to bypass Kremlin jamming and deliver independent Russian-language news into Russia. The initiative aims to counter state propaganda as pressure on independent media inside Russia intensifies.

RFE/RL's Wider Europe Briefing asks whether the European Union will soon lift sanctions on Belarusian potash, one of the country's key exports that was targeted amid Minsk's crackdown on opposition and its role in the war in Ukraine. The question feeds a broader debate in Brussels over whether sanctions on Belarus should be eased or kept in place.

Euronews is holding its Travel & Tourism Summit in Brussels today, with proceedings streamed live online. The event brings together industry and policy figures to discuss the future of European travel and tourism. Little detail has been released about the speaker line-up or agenda beyond the broadcast itself.

Google has filed an appeal against a European Commission decision requiring the company to share search history data with rivals under the Digital Markets Act. The dispute centres on whether the EU's competition rules can force the search giant to hand over sensitive user data. The case adds to Google's long-running regulatory battles with Brussels over its market power.

Brussels Airport has begun a €25 million renovation of the passenger boarding bridges at Pier A. The project will modernise the jet bridges that connect travellers to aircraft at the airport's main pier, with works carried out while operations continue. The investment is part of ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade infrastructure at one of Europe's key hub airports.

The European Union has given the green light to its first five joint defense projects designated as being of common interest. The move marks an early step in Brussels' push to get member states to cooperate more closely on military capability development, reduce duplicated national spending, and strengthen Europe's ability to act independently on security and defense.

Euronews is streaming its Travel & Tourism Summit 2026 live from Brussels, bringing together industry and policy figures to discuss the future of European travel. The event comes as the sector weighs sustainability pressures, changing tourist flows and post-pandemic recovery, with viewers able to follow the debates as they happen.

Reporters Without Borders brought its case to Brussels, urging European Union institutions to support exiled journalism as a way to counter Russian propaganda. The press freedom group argues that independent media forced out of Russia play a key role in providing accurate information to Russian-speaking audiences. The initiative calls for EU backing of these outlets as part of Europe's broader response to disinformation.

The European Union has chosen Orange Business to develop a sovereign communications backbone, an infrastructure project intended to keep official EU communications under European control. The move fits into a broader push in Brussels for digital sovereignty, reducing reliance on non-European cloud and telecom providers. Details on the contract's value and timeline have not yet been made public.

Alphabet's Google has filed an appeal against European Union orders requiring the company to share search data with rivals. The move escalates a long-running regulatory standoff between the tech giant and Brussels over competition rules in digital markets. The case is being closely watched as a test of how far the EU can go in forcing major platforms to open up valuable data to competitors.

European Union climate policies are under strain as an energy crisis raises questions about the cost and feasibility of the bloc's green transition. Commentators are debating whether Brussels should soften emissions targets and carbon rules to ease pressure on households and industry, or stay the course. The clash pits long-term climate commitments against short-term energy security and affordability concerns across member states.

The EU's top migration official said the bloc's positive work on migration was overshadowed by events in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave where a major migration incident drew widespread attention. The comment reflects frustration in Brussels that broader EU migration cooperation and policy efforts were eclipsed by the situation at the Spain-Morocco border, which sparked sharp political debate across Europe.