Following U.S. budget cuts, Geneva’s international neighborhood is facing decline. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/gene...

One thing Labour’s warring factions can agree on: Nigel Farage risks throwing their plans to topple Keir Starmer into disarray. To challenge the PM, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham must first win a by-election and political circus like no other.

Late PM Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” scandal is back on the Italian political agenda. It is now wreaking havoc in Giorgia Meloni’s justice ministry. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/ital...

Just as its Conservative predecessors did before it, Britain's Labour government risks driving the U.K.’s economy into a ditch with an internal party fight over the steering wheel.

In London Playbook PM: 🗳️ Labour bosses declared Andy Burnham eligible to fight the Makerfield by-election. 🔥 Keir Starmer continues his “this is fine” routine. 🗂️ MPs complained about being blocked from seeing Peter Mandelson files. Dig in 👇

The EU will step up efforts to reduce its economic reliance on China and protect its industries from a glut of cheap imports, under new proposals drafted by Brussels that are due to be discussed by leaders next month.

Greece demanded today that the EU "step in" over what it said was unlawful fishing and violations of maritime law by Turkish fishermen.

EXCLUSIVE: The EU is preparing to rubber-stamp the terms and conditions underpinning the bloc’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine early next week, two EU officials told POLITICO. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

Poland insists all is fine despite Washington’s unexpected decision to cancel a troop deployment in the country. But there’s no disguising that the U.S. move left Warsaw flat-footed. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/pola...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today he would no longer advise young people to move to the U.S. for work or study, citing what he described as the worsening “social climate” in America.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has picked a French AI firm over the U.S. security giant Palantir, in a push to make Europe less reliant on American tech, according to German media reports.

Reform UK will not be able to block government-approved large-scale solar farms hated by local campaigners, the party has admitted.

After days of turmoil, Britain’s Labour MPs believe the competing routes to replacing their PM are becoming clear. It’ll take much longer than some had hoped. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/keir...

European governments have agreed to “clarify” how the European Convention on Human Rights applies in migration cases — in a bid to fend of populist attacks on the 75-year-old agreement.

Poland, one of the closest U.S. allies in Europe, was blindsided by this week's surprise decision from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to cancel the planned deployment of 4,000 American troops to the country.

From ABBA to Céline Dion, here are some of EU leaders’ favorite songs from the Eurovision Song Contest 👇

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war today, each freeing 205 people as part of a deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump that is expected to involve 2,000 prisoners in total.

Elon Musk's X will introduce new measures to protect U.K. users from illegal hate and terror content, the online safety regulator Ofcom announced today.

🔴 Keir Starmer woke up in No. 10 Downing Street today, but for how much longer? After a week of turmoil, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has finally made his move — and the roadmap to a British leadership change is suddenly visible. Follow live: www.politico.eu/article/uk-l...

Finland was “not facing any direct military threat” after a drone entered the country’s airspace near Helsinki, President Alexander Stubb has said.

Former French President François Hollande’s affair was a big deal in 2015. But the world has changed since then, and there’s seemingly less interest in Emmanuel Macron’s personal life. In his latest Declassified column, @pdallisonesque.bsky.social explores why 👇

The sweeping shift away from multilateralism that has marked Donald Trump’s second term and triggered significant budget cuts is now hollowing out Geneva’s international community.

Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has been at loggerheads with Donald Trump, but agrees with his old boss on at least one thing: Europe should get involved in Iran.

On the second anniversary of the attempt on his life, Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico has used social media to show off his strength.

Britain’s embattled PM Keir Starmer stared down one leadership rival yesterday lunchtime. By nightfall, another was banging on his door.

EXCLUSIVE: The EU is preparing to rubber-stamp the terms and conditions underpinning the bloc’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine early next week, two EU officials told POLITICO.

Late PM Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” scandal is back on the Italian political agenda, wreaking havoc in Giorgia Meloni’s justice ministry.

Governments should resist tobacco industry pressure to follow Sweden’s permissive approach toward nicotine pouches, as it will only lead to more people becoming hooked on the stimulant, World Health Organization officials have warned.

There appears to be a clear path for Andy Burnham to become Britain’s next PM, potentially by the summer recess. But first, he would need to beat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. More in London Playbook 👇

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez has renewed his war of words with Israel, throwing his support behind FC Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal after he waved a Palestinian flag while celebrating the team’s league title win.

IDEA is Ursula von der Leyen’s in-house advisory service — a much smaller DG than the European Commission’s traditional powerhouses. But its proximity to the president gives it a different kind of weight. Brussels Playbook has more 👇

Les initiatives perso de Knafo irrite au sein de Reconquête. A découvrir dans Playbook Paris, concocté par @sarah-paillou.bsky.social 👇

A putsch to oust the center-left Prime Minister Keir Starmer by competing factions within his own party is finally taking shape after the most turbulent week in U.K. politics since former Conservative PM Liz Truss resigned weeks into the job in 2022.

Spain’s alleged misuse of the EU’s post-Covid funds to pay government pensions is triggering outrage in Germany and the Netherlands and reigniting criticism of joint EU debt. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/frug...

Most Europeans are overwhelmingly opposed to having a U.S. military base in their country. But Poland is a clear outlier with a majority favoring a larger American presence, according to new polling. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/poll...

In London Playbook PM: — Wes Streeting quit the Cabinet. — A Labour MP quit their seat so Andy Burnham can try for a route back to parliament. — Keir Starmer urged his troops not to mirror the post-Brexit Conservative circus. Dig in 👇

EXCLUSIVE: Britain's Keir Starmer has vowed to put his country “at the heart of Europe.” But London's refusal to negotiate a broader reopening on trade and economic integration will jeopardize those efforts, according to EU politicians and officials. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/uk-m...

Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission structure is proving a headache for green and equality advocates, who say industry has a smoother path to lobbying the institution. 🔗 politi.co/3PF40J5

EXCLUSIVE: Palantir CEO Alex Karp criticized Germany after a top Berlin official said the country doesn’t plan to award military contracts to the U.S. data analytics giant. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/pala...

The ECB is edging closer to raising interest rates to prevent the latest oil shock from morphing into a broader inflation spiral, Bank of Malta Governor Alexander Demarco told POLITICO. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/ecb-...

🔴 U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from Keir Starmer’s government — but is so far keeping his powder dry on a leadership challenge to the embattled British PM. Follow live: www.politico.eu/article/keir...

More than half of U.K. respondents to The POLITICO Poll said Labour has no realistic chance of being re-elected when the next election comes. For Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, the verdict is dramatically more positive. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/poll...

Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi delivered a stark warning to Europe in Aachen, Germany, today. "For the first time in living memory, we are truly alone together," he said.

Most Europeans are overwhelmingly opposed to having a U.S. military base in their country, but Poland is a clear outlier with a majority favoring a larger American presence, according to new polling.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plans for a major reset with the EU risk falling flat if he doesn't relax his negotiating “red lines.”

Critics of EU debt in Germany and the Netherlands have seized on claims that Spain used COVID recovery funds to pay for social spending. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/frug...

Latvia’s center-right Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said today she would resign, after her left-wing coalition partner withdrew its support for her in response to the firing of one of its ministers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former adviser Andriy Yermak once mingled with world leaders. Now he’s languishing in a Kyiv cell on money-laundering charges.

🔴 U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is braced for an imminent challenge to his leadership, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting expected to launch a bid to lead the ruling Labour Party today. Follow our live blog for the latest updates and analysis 👉 www.politico.eu/article/keir...

🎙️ Sam and Anne have started the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as U.K. health secretary, triggering a Labour leadership contest. But a new intervention may have changed everyone’s calculations. 🎧 Listen on #PASAA: podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/w...