Owen Morgan

Commission goss confirmed by our @anupriyadatta.bsky.social

Ukraine 'Coalition of the Willing' to get headquarters in Paris - Euractiv The HQ led jointly by France and the UK, will rotate to London after 12 months and enable flexible military contributions from partner nations.

Story via @alexowski.bsky.social

New Coalition of the Willing headquarters as leaders step up support for Ukraine's immediate flight The Coalition of the Willing will have a new permanent headquarters in Paris, with plans in place for a future coordination cell in Kyiv, as command structures for the future reassurance force are fin...

Macron and Starmer launch 'permanent' HQ in Paris for the coalition of 31 countries looking to provide post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine

A step towards formalising a body that today met via videocall

But how 'permanent' is an HQ that will 'rotate to London after the first 12 months'?

UK drops zonal electricity pricing plan - Euractiv Opting against the split “just cost Labour 100 seats at the next election,” energy analyst Michael Liebreich reacted.

Add it to the list of Labour oofs

www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...

And here’s the roll call.

Striking are the 🇮🇪 breaking ranks. Ciaran Mullooly the sole Renew group member to vote to bring down von der Leyen.

Two big names abstaining. Development committee chair Barry Andrews, and the only Irish socialist Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Both are fierce VdL critics on Gaza.

Von der Leyen easily survives far-right-led censure vote - Euractiv Most centrist groups opposed the motion primarily because it came from the far right, even as they criticised von der Leyen’s EPP for its own shift in that direction.

Snap take here from @euractiv.com 👇

The motion was signed by 77 MEPs initially - so they've generated more support, almost entirely from the two large far-right groups.

553 votes in total, out of 720 MEPs. So quite a few no-shows

CENSURE: As expected, vote on censure of von der Leyen Commission fails:

For: 175
Against: 360
Abstain: 18

Interesting to see where those 18 came from...

VdL’s censure has been (rightly) dismissed as political theatre. So let’s talk about how the show looked and sounded.

It was exciting. My most head-in-the-sand mates texted me about it. People noticed this happened.

So, what can pro-EU MEPs learn from their dalliance with drama?

For @euractiv.com

Schengen at 40: Border checks become the new normal Four decades on, the Schengen area no longer feels quite so free.

Schengen at 40: Border checks become the new normal

Sneak peak at the much-anticipated European Competitiveness Fund via @wulffwold.bsky.social and @nicolettaionta.bsky.social

EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen Media reports allege €4.3 million in EU funds was misused by the far-right Identity and Democracy group from 2019-2024.

EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen

“Ursula von der Leyen is being hauled to the podium today to answer to a far-right MEP whose boss can't get over having lost the Romanian election.

You could get 72 MEPs to agree on just about anything”

Clarity ahead of the absurdity set to unfold in Stras in an hour - via @eddywax.bsky.social

Sorry Brussels Playbook but the US and China are not "Europe's two biggest trade partners" if that means the EU, not even close. Bit closer to home you'll find an EU trade relationship €200bn larger than that with China.

Given their dominance around the Council table, the EPP's pre-summit meetings – where they align and strategise – are arguably as consequential as the main summit.

But there's a familiar figure exerting himself there – and not everybody's thrilled.

Via our Berlin head honcho Nick Alipour 👇

He was the EU’s great Brexit survivor. Can Maroš Šefčovič now pull off a trade deal with Trump? EU’s longest-serving commissioner faces arguably his sternest test with the clock ticking before 9 July deadline

He was the EU’s great Brexit survivor. Can Maroš Šefčovič now pull off a trade deal with Trump?

The EU’s 2040 #climate goal is likely to affect Europeans’ wallets – and those of the companies they work for. But whether a 90% cut in Europe's greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 will bring net costs or benefits depends on how #EU leaders choose to implement the target.

Five fights that will shape the EU’s next €1.2 trillion budget - Euractiv There is a broad consensus that the EU needs a more agile budget but the bloc is a heavy machine – and always at risk of taking the path of least friction.

Struggling to follow the MFF debate? Here’s how the EU's current €1.2 trillion budget is spent, and how it may (radically) change for 2028-2034

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart The trilogue process doesn't have the benefit of being codified in law. It is a custom that has arisen because the alternative would probably drag on for years. But lately, several governments haven't quite been playing the game.

The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart

Bonding over the fact they both still have to explain on foreign trips that their name isn't 'Michael'

Leaked by the WSJ last week, denied by the EU's top US trade official earlier this week, not really brought up by EU leaders yesterday.

Then, Trump suggests today DMA/DSA enforcement could be on the table as EU-US trade talks tick towards 9 July deadline.

w/ @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social

@euractiv.com EUCO liveblog www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Can anyone stop Manfred Weber? - Euractiv In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about France calling to rethink the 2040 climate target, Hungary threatening Pride-goers, and a bid to bring down the Commission rattling the ECR.

Blockbuster edition of the Capitals today

- Huawei-gate scoop
- Interview with EU rightwing chief Manfred Weber
- An ECR attempt to bring down the Commission
- and we tee up the EUCO summit today

@nicolettaionta.bsky.social

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Blogging all day from the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels

Migration, Middle East, and Merz on debut

Tune in 👇

NEW: An investigation by @euractiv.com (with De Standaard & Le Vif) unveils the testimony given to police by the lobbyist at the centre of Huawei’s cash-for-influence scandal in the EU Parliament.

Via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social and our new Chief Brussels Correspondent @elisabraun.bsky.social

Curious timing for this message after weeks of reluctance to back this Sunday's Budapest Pride...

Socialist leader Iratxe Garcia met von der Leyen today, and reportedly wanted reassuring of VdL's centrist pro-European chops amid the anti-greenwashing law debacle.

Is this an olive branch? 👀

Sandeel row latest via @maria-simon.bsky.social

🚨 A post-Qatargate lobbying crackdown is causing major rifts in the EP. S&D, Greens, Transparency Int'l & UN experts warn it echoes “foreign agent” laws in Russia, Georgia & Hungary - threatening civil society, but centre-right EPP group is ready to push it through. W/ @eddywax.bsky.social

EU funding turns sour: How a Croatian anti-corruption NGO fell out with Brussels PSD's legal battle with Brussels has taken on broader significance – with the NGO claiming they were 'used' to cover up political failings.

EU funding turns sour: How a Croatian anti-corruption NGO fell out with Brussels

Meanwhile, top UK and EU officials met in Brussels for a Specialised Committee on citizens' rights - their twice-yearly check in and the first post-'reset' summit.