Brussels vs Belgium: Commission says that if Belgium won't sign off on a €140bn loan to Ukraine against Russian assets, EU countries will need to find up to €5.6bn a year to service a loan raised on the open market. @bmoens.bsky.social & I got the document so you don't have to on.ft.com/47LzdiM

End of The Line: how Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city of Neom was undone - by the laws of physics and finance A brilliance piece of interactive, explainer journalism by @alisonkilling.bsky.social @chriscook.news @samjoiner.bsky.social & the FT visual investigations squad ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...

“I don’t want to go down as the commissioner bringing in the Trojan Horses,” EU enlargement head @martakos.ec.europa.eu told @financialtimes.com, floating a “transition period; a kind of probation... we need this discussion and we shouldn’t be afraid of it” w @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/47DD5CC

The latest US attack on EU climate and human rights legislation - this time in conjunction with Qatar. Brussels’ CSDDD is under huge pressure both internally and externally Great scoop from @alicemhancock.bsky.social

Trump told Zelenskyy he was losing the war, warning: “If [Putin] wants it, he will destroy you” The US president threw Ukraine’s battlefield maps to one side & said he was “sick” of seeing the frontline again & again Scoop w @christopherjm.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social & @a-mackinnon.bsky.social

Trump gave Putin a red carpet welcome in Alaska. But Putin stuck to his maximalist demands & gave a rambling historical discursion that caused Trump to raise his voice & threaten to walk out. Read our story @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com @a-mackinnon.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/7af3...

What are the US Tomahawk missiles Trump is considering for Ukraine? Why does Kyiv want them? What are the risks and limitations? We spoke to several experts. Read our FT explainer, w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com and Steff Chávez. on.ft.com/46UypJp

💥 EU to double down on green diplomacy efforts and bypass Trump’s White House by working with IS states, NGOs and businesses, under new strategy drawn up by Brussels New w climate queen @alicemhancock.bsky.social on.ft.com/43ePcV1

The US has for months helped Ukraine mount long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities, in a co-ordinated effort to weaken Vladimir Putin’s economy and force him to negotiate Big story from top colleagues @christopherjm.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social & @a-mackinnon.bsky.social on.ft.com/4pXAcom

The European Commission has full confidence in its Hungarian commissioner after reports he was part of a spying operation targeting the EU executive, a spokesperson told @financialtimes.com, adding president von der Leyen was not aware of the allegations before his appointment on.ft.com/3KHqkiE

EU in hot water over cold showers Europeans are at risk of cold showers after materials critical to hot water tanks weren't included on a list of authorised substances revised by Brussels' green laws Chilling news from special bathroom appliance corro @alicemhancock.bsky.social on.ft.com/4h5koft

💥 Nato allies are discussing more forceful responses to Vladimir Putin’s hybrid war, including by deploying armed drones along the Russian border and lowering the bar on firing at enemy aircraft, officials told @financialtimes.com, in a bid to complicate the Kremlin’s strategy on.ft.com/4h5Orn6

At his current rate he could appoint two or three in that time, surely

Meta and Apple are in the final stages of agreeing a deal with European regulators to change a range of business practices to settle antitrust cases with Brussels, as the US Big Tech groups seek to avoid a series of escalating fines. Great scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/4q7W3d1

Washington has asked Brussels to scrap requirements for non-EU companies to provide “climate transition plans” and to change supply chain legislation to exclude US companies “with high-quality corporate due diligence”, according to a document seen by @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/46Ijpye

Since Feb 2022, the Belgian govt has earned billions of tax from Russian assets held at Brussels-based Euroclear Now the EU wants to loan the cash to Ukraine to save it from bankruptcy, Belgium is resisting & demanding allies put money aside to cover it That's not gone down well on.ft.com/3IORCD2

[Belgium] has spent three years saying Euroclear is Belgian and so are the benefits,” said one senior EU diplomat involved in talks on the matter. “Now, when it wants to share the risks, it claims Euroclear is European.” 🇧🇪🇪🇺🇺🇸 on.ft.com/4nGTIEj

Brussels to curb the travel of Russian diplomats within the EU, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are led by spies operating under diplomatic cover. Czech-led initiative backed after Hungary drops its veto. With @andybounds.bsky.social on.ft.com/46Umr0T

'Buy European' coming to EU AI Brussels' draft Apply AI strategy seen by @bmoens.bsky.social & I aims to “strengthen EU AI sovereignty” & push public procurement towards domestic tech “External dependencies [of AI]...can be weaponised” it warns, by “state and non-state actors” on.ft.com/3VPTRcg

The EU wants to reduce its tech reliance on US and China via a new Apply AI strategy, seen by the Financial Times, which promotes digital sovereignty. The bloc warns AI can otherwise be “weaponised” by rivals. With @henryjfoy.ft.com on.ft.com/3WkfSjs

Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri abdicates in favour of his son, as 43-year-old Guillaume is sworn in as head of the world’s last remaining grand duchy Finally some proper reporting from the FT's European Royal Family Correspondent, @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/4gQkaZf

Opposition to the move from capitals that don’t want to reward the oligarch or endorse Russian court rulings could stymie efforts to pass the EU’s next package of sanctions against Moscow Scoop with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @mjruehl.bsky.social on.ft.com/4o7M3i9

Zelenskyy speaking at EPC in Copenhagen on drones, Russia and European security. Spot the Lego flowers he was gifted in the foreground

This is a terrific story about a Polish hotel chain offering perks to couples who conceive in its properties in a bid to help the country's dire fertility rate. But I just can't get past the idea of *this guy* explaining the terms of the offer to excited couples... on.ft.com/3KC5dhr

💥 Russia’s hybrid war “only the beginning,” 🇩🇰 PM Frederiksen warns, calling on Nato to step up to deter Moscow. As EU leaders arrive for talks in Copenhagen, she tells @richardmilne.ft.com & I: “We need all Europeans to understand what is at stake… the idea is to divide us” on.ft.com/48Oc6pQ

EU seeks France’s backing over proposed €140bn loan for Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets, as Paris raises concerns over impact on highly indebted balance sheets, ‘Buy European’ provisions and Kyiv oversight by @paolatamma.bsky.social & @labboudles.bsky.social on.ft.com/42luH8R

Brussels seeks to convert Europe’s savers into investors, wants countries to offer tax incentives to EU households who put their cash into stocks @paolatamma.bsky.social has the goods: on.ft.com/488f0FS

While others debate the merits of a legalistic change to voting procedures to get around Orban’s veto on starting Ukraine’s technical accession talks, the commission has another idea: Ignore Hungary and just get on with it

The EU is preparing to start technical work on Ukraine and Moldova joining the bloc despite Hungary’s blockade of advancing accession talks, according to officials briefed on the process. With @henryjfoy.ft.com @benhallnews.bsky.social @christopherjm.ft.com on.ft.com/3IGHwnE

Moldova’s pro-EU party defies colossal wave of Russian interference to win majority of votes in parliamentary election, eyeing second term in power. All the details in today’s Europe Express on.ft.com/4gI8zLO @financialtimes.com

"If Russia can bend Moldova to its will, it will embolden similar campaigns elsewhere. Conversely, if Moldova resists, it will show that even small, vulnerable states can withstand Moscow’s playbook with the right support." Kateryna Odarchenko

Prove your rules don’t target US tech or fix them, Trump’s ambassador to Brussels warns EU “Obviously, if we’re going to have a good relationship going forward, you can’t have legislation that punishes... your ally,” Andrew Puzder tells @financialtimes.com w @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/4nUQVXH

Cmmr @andriuskubilius.ec.europa.eu tells @financialtimes.com that Brussels will provide “financial and industrial assistance” to countries after agreeing a “common approach” to the threat. “It is very clear that our capabilities to detect drones are not at that level which we need," he added.

(Another) big digital EU-US scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social EU targets Apple, Google and Microsoft over online financial scams, as Brussels probes US Big Tech groups and Booking Holdings over handling of fake apps and search results - despite Trump's ire at EU tech regulation on.ft.com/46OYxoJ

EU agrees to delay landmark deforestation rules - as anyone who reads @andybounds.bsky.social & @alicemhancock.bsky.social in the @financialtimes.com already knew six hours ago on.ft.com/48wF3Xl

Big story in the battle between Brussels and Big Tech: The EU is poised to exclude Meta, Apple, Google and Amazon from a new system to share citizens’ financial data, in the face of Trump’s retaliation threats @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social with the news on.ft.com/46tA9Yv

Trump takes a question on Putin, says that the US wants to take back Bagram air base from the Taliban as it is "an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons" and then says he settled the war between Azerbaijan and Albania. How can anyone report this?

The EU has styled itself as a world leader in climate change policies and human rights. As we report in this morning’s Europe Express with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @andybounds.bsky.social, Brussels is not living up its own standards on both on.ft.com/4mpUPq9

Mars to invest €1bn into its European operations by the end of 2026 as demand for packaged foods slows in the US and the group seeks EU approval for its $35.9bn acquisition of Pop-Tarts maker Kellanova. Great scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/3KtIiok

Brussels' chief diplomat @kajakallas.bsky.social says EU college of commissioners debated India's participation in the Russian war games before agreeing this partnership offer. "We have clear areas of disagreement," Kallas tells reporters, citing the Moscow military relationship as "an obstruction"

Brussels is preparing ways to use Russia’s frozen assets to back €170bn of “reparation loans” to Ukraine, using cash balances from the matured assets. With @paolatamma.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4585...

How not to tee up today’s bright shiny new EU-India deal, envisaged to pitch Brussels as a better friend than Moscow: While EU officials were in Delhi trying to strike the agreement, Indian soldiers were taking part in Russian war games rehearsing conflict with Europe on.ft.com/3K8BWe4

Europe turns to Ukrainian tech for ‘drone wall’ against Russia on.ft.com/3K4XwQM

Draghi puts the boot into Brussels, blaming "inaction", "inertia" and "complacency" for failing to implement economic reforms that mean the EU has fallen further behind global rivals such as China & the US on.ft.com/48hey86 w crack competitiveness crew @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social

On Saturday @bmoens.bsky.social writes: "Antitrust chief Teresa Ribera under pressure as EU merger reform drifts... creating uncertainty for dealmakers" On Tuesday @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu says: "We will have to advance the publication of the merger guidelines. I think it's now time to deliver" 💪

Despite orders to “modernise the EU’s competition policy”, and rising pressure from industry to clearly define her vision, Ribera has moved cautiously - while prioritising other political interests A brilliant insight into the EU’s antitrust uncertainty by @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/3K14tSH

“This was a rehearsal. To probe & find out how good are our early warning systems," said Ret Gen Ben Hodges. “[Moscow] will have taken note that we have still not learned from what Ukraine has been dealing with for years. We are absolutely not prepared...& now they are at our door” on.ft.com/3IhdGWu

Very surprising that VDL didn't open her annual State of the Union speech with a reference to the Russian drones that violated Poland's airspace overnight. An EU member & Nato member; defence as a core VDL 2.0 topic; eastern flank as a central rhetorical theme... omission seems odd

Poland shoots down Russian drones that violated its territory- Nato operation in the early hours of Wednesday saw fighter jets destroy the drones in the most serious clash between Russia and the US-led military alliance since the start of Moscow’s full-blown war against Ukraine on.ft.com/42iRFxd

💥 Scoop! - Trump crashed a meeting of US & EU officials to make the demand, according to three people briefed on the discussion. “We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” said one US official