The conscription debate in Germany continues: Amidst ongoing debates over how to expand the country’s military, Germany’s parliamentary groups agreed to revise the rules for military service. www.euractiv.com/news/germany...

There's near-constant talk in Washington about Europe needing to bolster its defenses, but very little understanding about what Brussels is actually doing. Here's a comprehensive look at Europe's new defense initiatives via @euractiv.com : www.euractiv.com/news/explain...

There's near-constant talk in Washington about Europe needing to bolster its defenses, but very little understanding about what Brussels is actually doing. Here's a comprehensive look at Europe's new defense initiatives via @euractiv.com : www.euractiv.com/news/explain...

After several days of tense talks, EU negotiators struck a late-night agreement on Wednesday to open previously civilian-only research funding to projects with military applications. www.euractiv.com/news/eu-parl...

Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has reignited tensions within Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government after saying that parts of Syria are too devastated for the almost one million Syrians living in Germany to return. www.euractiv.com/news/german-...

Washington told Romania and allies it will reduce some US troops deployed on NATO’s eastern flank. www.euractiv.com/news/romania...

Progressive-liberal party D66 made sweeping gains in the Netherlands’ parliamentary elections, positioning itself to take the lead in government formation as support for far-right leader Geert Wilders dropped. www.euractiv.com/news/progres...

"Three years into the war, timorous politicians under pressure from populists who want to cut Ukraine loose are not coming clean with their populations about the need for sacrifice." www.euractiv.com/news/rapport...

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party is openly tightening its links with Poland’s main opposition party Law and Justice – even as official relations between the two governments sink to their worst point in years. www.euractiv.com/news/fidesz-...

The European Air Shield envisions a multi-layered air defense system, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, to intercept everything from drones to ballistic missiles. A look here at the plans: www.euractiv.com/news/europes...

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Catalan ally Junts decided to “unanimously break relations” with the ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) over “unfulfilled promises.” 7 Junts MPs underpin Sánchez’s gov. www.euractiv.com/news/catalan...

"Rather than putting as many resources as possible to solving the world’s biggest problems, as we’ve been promised AI will do, the technologists of the world are asking simply: how can I put my dick in this?" wiczipedia.substack.com/p/the-bangif...

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Catalan ally Junts decided to “unanimously break relations” with the ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) over “unfulfilled promises.” 7 Junts MPs underpin Sánchez’s gov. www.euractiv.com/news/catalan...

Chatbots Are Pushing Sanctioned Russian Propaganda: ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and Grok are serving users propaganda from Russian-backed media when asked about the invasion of Ukraine, new research finds. www.wired.com/story/chatbo...

Ongoing anti-government protests and controversy over the development of an EU-linked lithium mine in Serbia are straining the already-wobbly relationship between Serbian citizens and Brussels. www.euractiv.com/news/protest...

The Netherlands, once a model of pragmatic consensus, is entering a volatile new phase as voters head to the polls on Wednesday to decide whether to return to the centre or embrace polarisation. www.euractiv.com/news/polaris...

2 Russian planes from Kaliningrad entered Lithuanian airspace, Spanish eurofighters carrying out NATO air policing mission were scrambled SU-30 fighter jet and IL-78 refueling aircraft, possibly during conducting refueling exercise. 18 sec and 700m incurison. www.kariuomene.lt/fiksuotas-or...

Talks among EU leaders on using frozen Russian assets to fund an EU loan to Ukraine are moving forward, but at a glacial pace. They'll continue over dinner with the European Central Bank Chief Christine Lagarde. Follow along via @euractiv.com 👇 #EUCO www.euractiv.com/news/eu-summ...

"Really, between us, we don't know about the plan," Ukrainian President Zelensky tells reporters, responding to a question about a potential peace plan. #EUCO

The @euractiv.com live blog from today's EU summit is up. EU leaders are set to discuss a €140 billion reparation loan for Ukraine using Russia's frozen sovereign assets, and Europe's defence readiness roadmap for 2030, among other hot-button issues. www.euractiv.com/news/eu-summ...

Lawmakers from Germany’s far-right AfD party have been accused of seeking to spy for Russia by asking numerous questions in a regional parliament on sensitive issues. The inquiries covered transport, water supply, as well as digital and energy infrastructure. www.euractiv.com/news/german-...

The @euractiv.com live blog from today's EU summit is up. EU leaders are set to discuss a €140 billion reparation loan for Ukraine using Russia's frozen sovereign assets, and Europe's defence readiness roadmap for 2030, among other hot-button issues. www.euractiv.com/news/eu-summ...

Europe just lost a major advocate for defense spending www.euractiv.com/news/lithuan...

Hungary, which is contracted to import Russian gas through to 2036, is considering legal action against an EU ban. The ban has met with pushback from Hungary and Slovakia, which both say they should be able to veto it. www.euractiv.com/news/hungary...

Interesting: Greenland picks French company Eutelsat over Elon Musk’s Starlink. Greenland's government-owned telecommunications company Tusass signed the agreement with Eutelsat to provide east and north Greenland with better and more reliable internet connectivity. www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...

Brussels: EU diplomats meet on 19th package of Russia sanctions after Austria lifts its veto. Luxembourg: Foreign ministers to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East, and Georgia tensions. 👇👇

I moved to a new country this week, and other news. 🌎 ✍️ open.substack.com/pub/lazolett...

I moved to a new country this week, and other news. 🌎 ✍️ open.substack.com/pub/lazolett...

I am truly impressed by the creativity of the protests in the US, but that's just a normal weekend in the UK when it's hen do season

Chinese lawmakers told members of the European Parliament that NATO shouldn’t exist, and spouted Russian talking points about the war in Ukraine at a rare meeting in Brussels on Thursday. www.euractiv.com/news/nato-sh...

Praised in Brussels as the symbol of Poland’s return to Europe, PM Donald Tusk’s government has reached the halfway point of its mandate. But it faces mounting public dissatisfaction, coalition strains, and accusations of broken promises at home. www.euractiv.com/news/tusk-at...

For those wondering why I'm posting in GMT+2, I'm thrilled to announce that I started this week as a news editor with @euractiv.com, based in Berlin. Sources on both sides of the pond, my new email is [email protected], and my Signal is still Cmaza.12.

You really cannot make this up: The MAGA world is merging with the Balkan World: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Sobering words from the German intelligence services - “We must not sit back and assume that a possible Russian attack would come in 2029 at the earliest. We are already under fire today.” For deterrence now we must take the necessary decisions now. www.euractiv.com/news/german-...

Always mind boggling that a country that prides itself on freedom offers its citizens so little choice for something so important.

The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

“I lost my son because of the funding cuts. It is not only me—many more children in other camps have also died helplessly from hunger, malnutrition and no medical treatment.” “These US cuts to humanitarian aid are assisting the military in their genocidal policy of starvation against the Rohingya.”

Still publishing my weekly reading list as I prepare to fly ✈️ open.substack.com/pub/lazolett...

The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure. www.wsj.com/world/europe...

Changing the rules will be difficult for EU Council President Costa, as it would require unanimity and, consequently, the support of those the change would be designed to circumvent.

This change would allow Ukraine and Moldova to begin the reforms necessary to demonstrate progress on EU standards, and would enable the EU to bypass opposition to opening new chapters from countries like Hungary.

Under Costa’s proposal, negotiating clusters—key legal steps on the path to EU membership—could be opened with the assent of a qualified majority of EU member states rather than a unanimous agreement. Closing a cluster would still require all the EU capitals. www.politico.eu/article/anto...

The Czech-led ammunition program has been a significant lifeline for Ukraine. Now, Andrej Babiš's right-wing populist ANO party is threatening to kill it if they win elections this week. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/w...

A look at all I’ve been reading and writing while preparing to move these last weeks. substack.com/@lazoletters...

At a space conference in Berlin, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius raised concerns about two Russian satellites shadowing Intelsat satellites used by German forces. www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Some personal news: After four rewarding years reporting on foreign policy and defense for @nationaljournal.com in Congress, I am leaving to move back across the Atlantic and begin a new chapter in Berlin, Germany. So grateful for all my colleagues and the work I've done in D.C.

From Ukraine to Sudan, from Colombia to Myanmar, inexpensive commercial drones are changing the face of warfare, and conventional Western militaries are failing to meet the moment. @cmaza.bsky.social reports (unlocked): www.nationaljournal.com/s/729666/wes...

Russia plans to intervene in Moldovan elections and disrupt the Moldovan government’s plan for EU membership, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. The docs show that Russia intended to employ Moldovans abroad to vote and stage disruptive protests. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

This paper is very good and all the think tankers and foundation people (especially leadership and Comms) should take it to heart. It also makes me feel very tired

Populist right-winger Andrej Babiš is the hot favorite to win the Czech general election next month, but the president, Petr Pavel, is weighing barring him over his business interests and ambivalence toward NATO. www.politico.eu/article/czec...