Germany lost role at centre of EU during Scholz era, but now Merz back in driving seat (defence, cars, Ukraine). But Macron's resistance, at EU summit, to Mercosur and unfreezing of Belgian's assets means grit in the Franco-German engine and a repair price to pay. www.ft.com/content/99d2...

So quaint! @dublinbusnews.bsky.social you can’t pay contactless and you even get a paper ticket! Wait till they hear about the internet!

@dublinbusnews back in dublin after 6 months, and, again, grappling with bus service with stops with no route maps - just destination of name of a rd. and some as Gaeilge.Am on 82 and nearly every person has asked driver “where is this bus going” . Come on Dublin. Printing is old tech. U can do it.

Talks went on to 2am - but EU agreed 90bn euro loan for Ukraine out of EU budget with carve out for Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia on loan guarantees. Two tier EU on UA with 24 v 3? Mercosur also postponed till January www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Ministers warn that UK US deal built on sand - the May deal hasn't yet delivered for steel or farmers (no sign of quotas promised and needed from Jan for beef), pharma deal no text, and tech deal secured after Trump's state visit hits bump in road www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rumours that Keir Starmer would be guest at tomorrow’s European Council meeting have been dismissed as untrue www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

UK to rejoin Erasmus, finally spmething from the UK EU reaet talks www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

This it the point that veteran Volvo chief exec and Polestar chief exec (who is German, and worked in Asia and VW) made when I interviewed them a few weeks ago. Volvo man also questioned why EU makes a decision 10 years out. ICMYI @adrianhiel.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Manfred Weber, head of EPP, the conservatives group in EU parliament, tells Bild the 2035 ban on combustion engine cars, agreed by the parliament just three years ago, will be modified, paving way for continued sale of hybrid cars. Victory for German car industry www.theguardian.com/business/202...

EU finally got ahead to permanently freeze Russian assets, after months and months of opposition in Belgium, which would have to bear the financial risk if Russia, post war, sued for their returns. full story in @jakubkrupa.bsky.social live blog www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Full story: Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Switzerland's new US tariff rate of 15% will be effective from 14 November. full story here www.theguardian.com/business/liv...

The UK and EU reset: Much progress? Insiders say they are confident on Erasmus, youth experience, SPS, CBAM.... Nick Thomas Symonds met Sefcovic today. No comment. Sefo: "We discussed implementation of existing agreements + advancing our renewed agenda in strategic partnership. Our roadmap is clear

NEW: Iceland not to take part in Eurovision - RUV

Thaw in relations between Nexperia and Chinese owner Wingtech? Dutch mgt invited China. Two weeks ago Dutch publicly begged Wingtech to engage saying comms had completely broken down in wake of Dutch intervention in Netherlands in Sept. Full story here www.theguardian.com/business/liv...

"We are holding X responsible for undermining users’ rights and evading accountability" - Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

EU makes first ever adjudication against X, two years after opening investigation and three years after Elon Musk bought Twitter. Fined €120m for breaches of DSA. Musk has 90 days to respond. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Voting breakdown on whether to discuss Israel participation in european song contest

Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia to boycott Eurovision. 65% voted in favour of changes to public voting system to be enough to address disquiet over Israeli "public" support. So there was no vote on opposition on the grounds of war in Gaza www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Irish authorities asked to investigate Microsoft over alleged unlawful data processing by Israeli military including storage of phone data of Palestinians www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Hardline slogans such as UK’s “smash the gangs” having opposite effect according to biggest piece of qualitative research involving interviews with 80,000 migrants and 458 smugglers www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Full story: EU would consider forcing companies to diversify supplies away from China if industry doesn't do so . Over reliance on China has led to "firefighting" on rare earths (April) and chips (Nexperia) in October and NOv. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Sejourne on threat to force EU industry to buy non-Chinese materials. If they don't then "obviously we would make this compulsory, compulsory diversification of supply, and that would be done through a delegated act, if necessary. "

NEW: EU would consider forcing companies to diversify from China. Sejourne: EU could "force European companies to ... compulsory diversification of supply, ... through a delegated act, if necessary. It's not what is proposed within the plan, but this is a wake up call, a very strong wake up"

NEW: EU says it would make it "compulsory" for industry to diversify for China if they do not do so, under the new 3bn initiative launched today. "This is not what we are proposing today, " said commissioner Stephane Sejourne, "but this is a wake up call".

Sefcovic presser now: “Today's proposal shows the EU is shifting into higher gear … Europe will continue to champion open trade and global investment, but our openness must be backed by security,” he added warning that the EU would in future be “more assertive” about its markets.

NEW: EU launched €3bn strategy to wean itself of China for critical raw materials "Today's proposal shows the EU is shifting into higher gear," says Maros Sefcovic. Six areas identified to prevent danger of hostile acts www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Zelensky gets standing ovation in the Dail, Ireland's parliament, for carefully composed speech talking about the right and just peace, which resonated in the chamber, given Ireland's own history

Polestar, Europe's only 100% electric vehicle manufacturer excluded from the EU's strategic dialogue on future of the industry which will pronounce on 10 December. “I wrote twice, I’m not even sure we got an answer to the second letter,” says CEO www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Asked if Brussels is suspicious of Volvo because of Chinese ownership, Samuelsson refers back to when Ford owned part of firm. "We are Swedish. We are no more Chinese than we were American. We are as Swedish as Abba and Ikea. “ www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Interview: Polestar CEO, German Michael Lohscheller “The Chinese will not pause. They will take over" If Von der Leyen succumbs (correcting spelling earlier 😍) to pressure from Merz and car industry to delay 2035 petrol car ban. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Interview: Polestar CEO, German Michael Lohscheller “The Chinese will not pause. They will take over" If Von der Leyen succumbes to pressure from Merz and car industry to delay 2035 petrol car ban. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Exclusive. Delaying the ban on new petrol cars will just open the door wider to Chinese. Bosses at Volvo and Polestar hit out at efforts by Germany to get the EU to delay the 2035 ban in new petrol cars www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Hugh Wallace, architect and TV presenter, dies aged 68. A great loss and shock. An architect, who like many lost all in 2010 crash. he became a firm fixture of RTE presenting two shows showing value of architects in modern design but also reviving near ruins. RIP www.irishtimes.com/culture/2025...

Dublin City council considers denaming of park in Dublin named after an Irish born president of Israel. Move widely condemed by government and others including the taoiseach. Vote tonight suspended. Now council look at motion condemning taoiseach interference. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

NEW: US agrees UK pharma deal - US guarantees exemption from tariffs for duration of Trump presidency. But -UK agrees a reduction in the drugs rebate payment system to 15% (EU countries are less than 10%) - NHS agrees to pay 25% more on new innovative drugs Thoughts? www.ustr.gov/about/policy...

Campaign launched to stop Dublin City Councillors denaming a park in Rathgar, named after the Belfast born former president of Israel. A step denounced by the government. Dep PM Simon Harris says he is "completely opposed" to move amid fears of reputational damage www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...

Ryanair closes members club after 8 months as customers took too much advantage of discounts and free seats www.theguardian.com/business/202...

BLOG POST: Sefcovic has already met Lutnick and Greer . Says he had "constructive" talks in Brussels but talks more "stocktaking" exercise after 2 month pause caused by government shut down. Steel and steel derivatives and fight against China the priority. www.theguardian.com/business/liv...

New: Sefcovic on talks with Lutnick and Greer today. We will "discuss our relations with China" and a shared goal of "securing reliable supplies" "We also recognise that more work lies ahead especially on steel and derivatives, where we seek both to reduce tariffs and to confront global capacity".

NEW: EU's trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic has said he has had "constructive" talks with US trade representative Jamieson Greer yesterday and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick this morning. "more work lies ahead" to reduce tariffs "especially on steel and steel derivatives" he told reporters

While EU works up alternative to Moscow peace plan for Europe, Lutnick flies into brussels on his own jet to restart trade talks.. meeting trade ministers for lunch tomorrow. Then 3 commissioners. US not happy with slow pace of european parliament. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Moving, warm, rich, desperately sad but also, in a way that only death achieves, an uplifting insight into Rachel Cooke’s life as a writer, by her husband Anthony, in today’s Observer. Like a loving blanket thrown over her to warm all our hearts. RIP and respect observer.co.uk/style/featur...

Starmer has announced new critical minerals and rare earths strategy. Mentions lithium and copper. £50m fund. But Lithium has to b refined 4 car batteries. I have twice interviewed boss of EU's only lithium hydroxide factory. So far cost £150m - 3 times UK fund www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Howard Lutnick to fly to Brussels to restart trade talks. Steel, steel derivatives, food and drink... Lunch with 27 foreign ministers, meets with three commissioners and bilaterals. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Daily Mail's parent company agrees a deal to buy Telegraph for £500m! Media consolidation, let's go, ya gonna blink and stop this competition regulators? Over to you, Nandy? Strong potential everyone just waves the sale through to STOP HAVING TO READ OR THINK ABOUT IT. www.ft.com/content/cd8e...

Reform UK’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 and a half years for taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia when he was an MEP www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

ICYMI - Eu wants UK to pay in for greater ties/reset relationship. Already talking about a 6bn ask for SAFE defence participation + MEP Barry Andrews denounces “glacial pace” of reset talks www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Helen McEntee to go to foreign affairs. Simon Harris takes over from Paschal Donohoe.