Andrej Babiš and his ANO (YES) movement have won the elections in Czech Republic. His most likely coalition partners are two far-right parties: Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motorists for Themselves (Auto).

Viktor Orbán's vetoes eclipse two days of back-to-back summits in Copenhagen. "I will not allow one country, and I will certainly not allow Mr Orbán, to take decisions upon the entire European future," Mette Frederiksen said. My closing piece.

Viktor Orbán: "Belgium needs the mutualisation of the responsibility. No way. We’re not part of the deal," he says. "Therefore, if the EU decides to touch and take away the money of somebody else, we will not be part of that (deal). So we don’t have any responsibility in the future for that move."

🚨 Belgium's Bart De Wever wants strong answers and guarantees from the European Union before issuing a €140 billion loan to Ukraine, which would use the Russian sovereing assets held at Euroclear. "You lose the golden eggs if you eat the chicken." A must-read.

🇪🇺 Ursula von der Leyen responds to Belgium's concerns about the €140 billion "Reparations Loans" for Ukraine: "It's absolutely clear that Belgium cannot be the only member state that is carrying the risk, but the risks have to be put on broader shoulders," she says at the end of #EUCO.

🇩🇰 Mette Frederiksen at the end of the informal #EUCO: "We talk a lot about security guarantees to Ukraine, but, in fact, it's the other way around: Ukraine is today Europe's security guarantee. Our support to Ukraine is a direct investment in our own security."

Jane Goodall has died, aged 91.

The two motions of censure against Ursula von der Leyen will be debated *jointly* on Monday at 17.00 and voted *separately* on Thursday at 12.00, according to the agenda of the European Parliament. The motions have been filed by Patriots for Europe and The Left, respectively.

Political support is growing for using the Russian frozen assets to issue a €140 billion "Reparations Loan" to Ukraine. However, key questions remain unanswered. Story from #EUCO.

More: "If you look at Ukraine from a European perspective instead of a national perspective, if you look at Russia and hybrid war from a European perspective instead of your own national perspective, then I think everybody has to be on the same page that we have to rearm all of us."

🇩🇰 Mette Frederiksen endorses €140 billion "Reparations Loan" for Ukraine: "There are some legal questions that have to be asked. I'm confident that we will find a way through this, but I think the whole idea of using the (Russian) frozen assets, I think it's a good idea." #EUCO

Emmanuel Macron on "Made in Europe": "We don't protect our domestic players. In the US, you have a US agenda. In China, it's no more Chinese preference. It's Chinese exclusivity, sometimes. In Europe, this is the only place where you can finance with taxpayers' money 100% non-European players."

28 European companies, including Novo Nordisk, SAP, Airbus, Thales, Orsted, Maersk, Siemens, Equinor and Vodafone, offer to increase their investments by 50% in exchange for "ambitious reforms". That is, cut red tape "as soon as possible".

Costa's plan is off to a rough start: "We're not convinced at all of changing the rules of the game during the game," says a senior diplomat. "There's a very big risk of the process being extremely politicised, and that its merits-based (nature) might suffer."

None of the EU's top 10 biggest countries (nor the EU itself) are due to hold their main elections in 2026. Given elections every 4-5 years the odds of that happening are around 5% - once every two decades or so. An absence of electoral pressure should offer a major window for reform in the EU.

Sweden and Finland fully support the €140 billion "Reparations Loan" for Ukraine based on Russian frozen assets. "We encourage the Commission to swiftly move forward with a concrete proposal and all member states to engage decisively," they say in a non-paper ahead of the informal EUCO.

EU leaders have welcomed Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza and urged Hamas to accept it "without delay".

Another pertinent question: Is it really reparations if you have to give them back?

Ursula von der Leyen says a "part" of the €140 billion reparations loan for Ukraine will be used "for procurement in Europe and with Europe". "Importantly, there is no seizing of the assets. Ukraine has to repay the loan if Russia is paying reparations," she says. Mark Rutte, by her side: "If!"

António Costa is testing the waters to switch from unanimity to a qualified majority in the opening of accession clusters, thereby bypassing the Hungarian veto and allowing Ukraine (and Moldova) to move forward. His plan might be put on the table as soon as Wednesday when EU leaders meet.

🚨 Donald Trump announces 100% tariffs on "any and all moves that are made outside of the United States," a frontal attack on cinema as a global art. Note: the EU-US trade deal only governs goods, so European filmmakers could be painfully hit.

The European Commission admits the use of a qualified majority, rather than unanimity, could be "explored" to open clusters in the accession process. Unanimity would then be used to close the clusters. As of today, Hungary is preventing Ukraine (and, by extension, Moldova) from advancing.

The people of Moldova have spoken and their message is loud and clear. They chose democracy, reform, and a European future, in the face of pressure and interference from Russia. The EU stands with Moldova. Every step of the way. 🇲🇩🇪🇺

Denmark has banned all civilian drone flights in Danish airspace from Monday to Friday in anticipation of back-to-back European summits in Copenhagen. The ban doesn't apply to military drones, state aviation and emergency services.

Moldova's pro-European party PAS claimed a clear lead and a new majority in parliamentary elections, rebuking Moscow's heavy-handed interference. Moldova's large diaspora looked likely to play a decisive role in the outcome.

Brussels believes it can issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine using Russia's frozen assets without engaging in outright confiscation. #EuropeNews

It's official: the EU has launched the drone wall. "We need to recognise that at the moment our effectiveness to fight drones was not at that level which we need to have," Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.

How would the "reparations loans" work? Under the plan, Euroclar would transfer the cash balances of the frozen assets to the Commission, and then the Commission would issue the €140 billion to Ukraine. And then this would (or should) happen:

The European Commission is pitching a highly innovative proposal to use the cash balances of Russia's frozen assets to issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. Repayments will begin only when Russia agrees to provide war reparations. Here's what we know. (It's very complex.)

And just like that, Hungary has joined the drone wall and is taking part in today's first meeting.

European Commission seems confident: “The United States intends to promptly ensure that the tariff rate (…) applied to originating goods of the European Union subject to Section 232 actions on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber does not exceed 15%.”

The first big test of the EU-US trade deal: Trump moves to impose 100% on pharma. Brussels has said the 15% tariff under the deal will be “all-inclusive” and protect EU firms from additional duties. Will it work?

Zelenskyy has announced Ukraine will begin exporting domestically produced weapons, lifting a restriction introduced when martial law was declared. Ukraine is producing over 4 million drones annually and has the potential to double that number with sufficient funding.

The US has formally lowered tariffs on EU cars from 27.5% to 15%, as agreed under the trade deal.

NATO will also take part in tomorrow's first meeting of the Drone Wall project. Online talks will start at 12.00 CET, chaired by 🇪🇺 Commissioner Andrius Kubilius. Participants so far: 🇩🇰🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵🇱🇷🇴🇧🇬🇸🇰 + 🇺🇦 Hungary could still join (or not).

🚨 Denmark says drone incursions in Copenhagen and Aalborg airports constitute a “hybrid attack” carried out by a “professional actor.” But there’s no military threat at this stage and no evidence yet of Russian involvement.

Tariffs, markets, currencies, minerals, energy, migrants. States are tightening chokeholds at the stroke of a pen, inflicting pain and sowing chaos. Can the European Union survive in this new brutal age of weaponisation? My long read is out this morning.

Ursula von der Leyen after meeting Chinese Premier Li Qiang: "I expressed my request to China to use its influence to help bring an end to the killing and encourage Russia to go to the negotiating table. Time for diplomacy is now. It would send a strong signal to the world."

The European Ombudsman is investigating why the European Commission failed to archive a text message sent by Emmanuel Macron to Ursula von der Leyen regarding the EU-Mercosur free trade deal. Hint: it involves auto-delete.

The EU has a new plan: tariffs on Russian oil to make Hungary and Slovakia change suppliers for good. Here's what we know so far.

Slovakia will participate in the first meeting of the drone wall, the Commission has just announced. Regarding Hungary, there's no request yet to join.

The European Commission will propose tariffs on Russian oil that's still coming into the EU market. The proposal isn't part of the 19th package of sanctions and will be unveiled "in due course," says a spokesperson. Unlike sanctions, tariffs require a qualified majority.

In a dramatic shift, Donald Trump now says Ukraine, with the support of the EU and NATO, could “be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!” “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” he says.

Poland will reopen its border with Belarus, thus allowing the resumption of a train route between the EU and China.

Following the drone incident at Copenhagen airport, Denmark has joined the EU's new project to build a drone wall alongside the eastern flank. Participants so far: 🇩🇰🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵🇱🇷🇴🇧🇬 + 🇺🇦 First meeting on Friday. Here's the latest.

The European Commission reacts to the drone incident in Denmark: "We still need to wait for the final outcome (of the investigation), but what we have seen throughout the last weeks points out to Russia in terms of their reckless actions in at least three member states."

The Commission faces criticism over the Q&A format used in the interview, which allowed von der Leyen's team to send written replies without follow-up. "The format agreed was the format agreed, and that's all we have to say on the topic," says spokesperson.

Ursula von der Leyen has responded to written questions submitted by several European newspapers. 🧵 Her answers resemble last week's State of the EU speech but are worth breaking down.

Estonia invokes Article 4 to call consultations among NATO allies after three Russian jets violated its airspace. The same movement as Poland last week.

Dan Jørgensen also confirmed that the 19th package of sanctions leaves untouched the exemption that allows Hungary and Slovakia to purchase Russian oil. It seems Trump's pressure goes only so far.