Europe’s digital ambitions keep running up against a familiar rift: how far should the continent go in detoxing from U.S. tech? Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month. 👇

"If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?" a spokesperson for the EU executive said, following up on Ursula von der Leyen's backing of a "digital majority age." 👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

Hybrid warfare isn’t new for Europe’s frontlines. But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave. 👇

The European Media Freedom Act kicks in today. But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers. 👇

We’ve all been there: Calls dropping, video streaming crashing, browsers timing out, signal bars taunting you. 🛜 📶 If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter). This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.

As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced, and survived, a vote of confidence, Russian propaganda engines went into overdrive. That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network. 👇

The European Parliament is considering revoking lobbying access for every interest group tied to Amazon. But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs. 👇

What if Trump could flip the switch and plunge Europe into the (digital) dark? (Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.) 👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...

...he says to Signal's president

BREAK - The European Commission has opened the door for delaying some of its flagship AI rules if guidance or standards for companies aren’t ready in time. By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me pro.politico.eu/news/199865

Hungary is violating European Union law by cracking down on LGBTQ+ content children might be exposed to, a top adviser at the EU's highest court said today.

ANALYSIS: The EU is set to deliver a sobering message to a growing movement in Europe calling for a detox from U.S. Big Tech. The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon. W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Ooooow snap — Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up." Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit. www.politico.eu/article/its-...

Donald Trump's "America First" hits the big screen. The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.

Just in: Huawei "terminated the employment of two individuals" and suspended a third for their alleged involvement in the bribery investigation surrounding the Chinese technology giant and the European Parliament. 👇

The EU holds a Big Tech-shaped card in the trade war deck — but it can't decide how and when to play it. With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇

Elon Musk says Ukraine’s front line would collapse without Starlink. The EU wants to prove him wrong — but can’t. Yet. 👇

Three Huawei employees and a Forum Europe boss were in court this week for hearings related to the corruption investigation into the Chinese tech giant's EU lobbying.

Huawei corruption scandal: The heat is on over a 2021 Huawei-friendly letter. Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands? We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇

Lawmakers are demanding Roberta Metsola “set aside” any peers suspected of involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, according to a letter signed by 28 members of the European Parliament and seen by POLITICO.

Don’t let your smartphone fool you. 📶 Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G. While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇

A new bribery case involving the Chinese tech giant Huawei — a former lobbying powerhouse — is rocking the European Parliament, echoing the 2022 Qatargate scandal. Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇

Just back from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where I sat down with Telefónica’s new boss, Marc Murtra. His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them. 👇

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr doubled down on the warning shot from the U.S. against EU tech laws, with the Digital Services Act’s "censorship" as his prime target. 👇

The battle over the EU’s standard essential patents bill keeps raging on. National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal. Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇

Now available for free! Read our recap of all the changes at the Commission wants to make to corporate sustainability disclosure rules: www.politico.eu/article/brus...

What’s brewing at the upcoming India-EU Trade and Technology Council? We got our hands on the draft joint statement — here’s what to expect. With @camgijs.bsky.social, @jordyndahl.bsky.social.👇👀

The European Commission is drafting a new Cable Security Action Plan — with more funding, surveillance and diplomacy to safeguard Europe’s subsea infrastructure. 👇📄 pro.politico.eu/news/194303

Elon Musk's Starlink mega constellation beams internet from space, but will Europe care? 🚀📶 With solid broadband coverage and low prices already in place, cracking this market won’t be easy for satellite internet providers. 👇

The European Commission's decision to drop its standard essential patents (SEP) bill is sparking mixed reactions. The heavily lobbied proposal has pitted smartphone and car makers against patent holders, including Europe's homegrown tech giants Ericsson and Nokia. 👇 pro.politico.eu/news/193858

🚨 The European Commission wants to scrap draft laws on privacy and financial institutions’ data access, according to the latest work program obtained by POLITICO. Read for yourself. 👇📄 pro.politico.eu/news/193718

The AI Action Summit officially kicks off in Paris today. 🇫🇷🤖 My ace colleagues @heroceane.bsky.social, @pieterhaeck.bsky.social, @tombristow.bsky.social, and more are on the ground to bring you the latest. But, in the meantime, we prepped a massive primer. No excuses — you’re all caught up. 👇🧵

National governments are pushing for a "trans-European network" instrument for digital infrastructure, modeled after existing EU programs for energy grids and roads. 📄👇 pro.politico.eu/news/193560

We got hold of the European Commission's to-do list for 2025 — to be presented officially next week — with all the upcoming initiatives. Read for yourself. 👇 pro.politico.eu/news/193478

The European Commission wants to crack down on cheap parcels from China, pitching more customs checks and fees. That pales in comparison to the U.S. Postal Service, which has just suspended inbound packages from China and Hong Kong. 👇 www.politico.eu/article/chin...

Critics say new European Union bans on artificial intelligence have too many loopholes that allow European police and migration authorities to use the technology to help track perpetrators of serious crimes. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/ai-d...

Fact-checkers are bracing for impact in Europe. Mark Zuckerberg said he would pull the plug on Meta's independent fact-checking program — starting in the United States — because it “often became a tool to censor.” 👇

We had a glimpse at the European Commission's work program. (It is to be unveiled on Feb. 11) What to expect on tech, and when to expect it. 👇

La demande de création d'une commission d'enquête a été transmise à la présidente de l'Assemblée ⬇️ www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORF...

EU capitals want the European Commission to double down on the 5G Security Toolbox. The real test will come when Henna Virkkunen delivers on the "further measures" she hinted at today to fix its "very uneven" implementation. 👇

Europe is falling behind China, the U.S. and South Korea in having robots take on services and chores, according to a draft document that will be soon presented as part of the so-called Competitiveness Compass. 🔓👇 www.politico.eu/article/robo...

Brussels to Budapest: You can still step back from the brink. Exclusive first interview with the EU’s new rule-of-law boss Michael McGrath, by @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me. www.politico.eu/article/new-...

Michael McGrath is a fresh EU face offering a fresh start for Brussels’ tense rule-of-law row with Viktor Orbán’s Hungary. "I will not be aggressive or bombastic in any way, but that should not be mistaken for weakness," he said in his first interview since he took office. 👇

NEW: In an unprecedented move, TikTok is ordered by the European Commission to store all data and evidence on Romanian elections, and any upcoming national elections until March next year. Pressure on the platform is ever-growing. www.politico.eu/article/euro...

The European Commission's competitiveness adviser Mario Draghi wants the bloc to slash telecom regulation and relax merger rules — but its national governments just aren't buying it. 🔗 trib.al/IREkOin

Mario Draghi's blueprint to reverse Europe’s decline in competitiveness is running into a reality check from national governments. 👇

Henna Virkkunen will present a communication on countering hybrid attacks and migrant smuggling next week, according to a document seen by POLITICO. She also faces new deadlines for the plan on the cybersecurity of hospitals and on e-commerce platforms. 👇

Mini scoop w/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social: The European Commission aims to unveil its much-anticipated Clean Industrial Deal on Feb. 26. pro.politico.eu/news/190395

Scoop: Here are the new spokespeople for the European Commission that will start December 1. Chief spox Paula Pinho, deputies: Arianna Podesta, Stefan de Keersmaecker Foreign affairs: Anouar El Anouni, Anitta Hipper Budget: Balazs Ujvari (1)

Elon Musk's social giant X "strives to be the town square of the internet by promoting and protecting freedom of expression." That's what the company told the European Commission in a document that has just been made public. 👇