Mónica Lisboa becomes Portugal’s deputy EU ambassador

Read @contexte.com's coverage here: www.contexte.com/eu/news/ener... And find the leaked questions they discussed here: www.contexte.com/eu/news/ener... Thanks to @sunderjourno.bsky.social for the on-the-ground reporting from Cyprus!

Don't underestimate what a huge defeat this is for the Trumpist project of destroying the EU and establishing ethnonationalism all over Europe. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/w...

EU leaders agree on the goal: A more competitive economy. But disagree on how to get there. As they gather at Alden Biesen today, the split over deregulation and reform priorities is front and center — and the Commission is feeling the heat. More in @contexte.com: www.contexte.com/eu/article/p...

En année préélectorale, Giorgia Meloni teste ses marges de manœuvre budgétaires vis-à-vis de Bruxelles

Also happy birthday to @energie.contexte.com 🎂 We're 1 years old today. 🥳 In our 231 briefings since then, there have been 1,857 briefs, 72 articles, 179 leaks. I'm looking forward to what we do next!

📣In more grids package updates for @energy.contexte.com 🔒 Broaden scope to fund resilience and protection of energy infrastructure, say six EU countries in new non paper 🫸 France, Poland, three others push back on Commission’s bid to centralise grid planning

Who should plan Europe's grid networks? I teamed up with @sunderjourno.bsky.social to look into the Commission's idea to centralise grid planning and why it is becoming a heated topic in debates around the Grids Package: www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

In Contexte 🔍Cyprus wants Commission to do sensitivity analyses as part of grids package central scenario 🫸Cyprus explicitly excludes ‘final decisions’ on grid projects from tacit approval powers in permitting revision Read more about the central scenario debate ⤵️

Alonso thinks that Chelsea squad fits his ideology, as progress made No serious contact with Liverpool, with Slot still expected to remain www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

European Green Party pushes for EU-UK relations reset

Danish coalition talks collapse, opening door to right-wing government

Arsenal are on the brink of a first Premier League title in 22 years after surviving a hugely contentious finale to beat West Ham 1-0, while Aston Villa were held 2-2 at Burnley on Sunday. u.afp.com/SRUE

What does the Iran war mean for EU energy policy? @jackschickler.bsky.social, Ciarán Sunderland and I tried to answer this in our live podcast recording. Watch it back on @contexte.com for all our analysis 👇 www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

Wave of promotions at Brussels’ law firms

EU countries may consider the impact of fines that “materially reduce import volumes” the document seen by Contexte said. This would create “a Pandora’s box of exemptions”, said Flora Witkowski of Climate Action Network Europe. www.contexte.com/eu/news/ener...

Video - What the Iran war means for EU energy policy ✍️ Jack Schickler, Ciaran Sunderland et Kira Taylor

EU fiscal rules set to hold despite Italy’s push for flexibility

The CBAM fertiliser exemption that never was ✍️ Mariette Thom et Lou Roméo

Interview - Lobby chief calls for dedicated post-2030 wind deployment target ✍️ Kira Taylor

Interview - EU must ‘redouble efforts’ to achieve energy independence, says Irish minister ✍️ Kira Taylor

Infographic - Tracking the 2026 energy crisis ✍️ Kira Taylor, Ciaran Sunderland, Mariette Thom, Damien Genicot, Yann Guégan et Pauline Verge

Europe will consider all retaliatory options should US President Donald Trump follow through on his threat to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, the bloc’s finance ministers said

Member states on track to conclude talks on EU spending ‘performance regulation’

"Leaving now also enables Abu Dhabi to take full advantage of the Strait’s reopening, when it comes, even if that crashes the price." www.ft.com/content/a7b5...

Der FC Bayern verliert ein wildes erstes Halbfinale gegen PSG, kämpft sich aber nach einem Drei-Tore-Rückstand zurück. 90 Minuten wie eine Offenbarung, als hätte jemand auf der Fernbedienung die Geschwindigkeit gepusht.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, an extraordinary encounter becoming the highest-scoring match ever at this stage of the competition u.afp.com/SagK

Prix de l’énergie : électrifier ou subventionner, le dilemme de la Commission ✍️ Ciaran Sunderland

Very nice feature by @allieredoxie.bsky.social on the 'lobbying ban' for the tobacco industry. Sure, the EU (and member States) should apply this lobbying ban. But in practice, EU institutions do not know how to handle this thing. www.contexte.com/fr/article/s...

💶 Qui veut quoi sur le prochain budget pluriannuel de l'UE ? Alors que les dirigeants européens débattent du budget au sommet informel à Chypre, @contexte.com cartographie les différents clubs de pays et leurs positions sur les principaux points de négociations www.contexte.com/fr/article/p...

The vicious cycle of the EU's energy price dilemma While subsidies could help manage the short-term pain of the Iran war, some fear they could only increase demand for fossil fuels and impede the intended switch to electricity. www.contexte.com/eu/article/e...

The CBAM fertiliser exemption that never was ✍️ Mariette Thom et Lou Roméo

Greens push to use Orbán defeat as catalyst for deep EU reforms

🗓️Save the dates: the Commissioners' debate on China returns 29/05. An "orientation debate" on public procurement is set for 03/06. The revision is now expected 01/07. And ETS revision now scheduled for 15/07.

In @Contexte today 🚰  Leak - Commission eyes early 2027 for revamped ETS adoption ⚡ Grids package: Shadow rapporteurs to discuss speeding up talks after Commission push 💰 Electricity lobby want short-term fixes and long-term reforms to cut electricity prices www.contexte.com/eu/news/ener...

Leak - The Commission’s emergency plan to tackle energy price surge ✍️ Ciaran Sunderland

Council and Parliament in the dark over Commission’s promised ‘competitiveness roadmap’

Trump blasts Meloni over Iran stance, straining once-close ties

Russia and China are helping Iran but Trump is angry at... Europe Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT

🚨 @contexte.com got a leak of the Commission communication announcing measures to support Member States in the face of the #energy crisis (kudos to @sunderjourno.bsky.social). The EC is planning to propose a targeted review of production criteria for renewable hydrogen (RFNBOs delegated act) in June

China by no means the top issue in Hungarian election, but Beijing will not enjoy the loss of Orban, for many years its best friend in Europe.

The Fuel Support Scheme has been drafted up and is ready to be presented to ministers for full sign-off at this afternoon’s special cabinet meeting

Just worth saying, for absolutely legal clarity: the government does not have the legal prerogative to abolish carbon tax in its entirety. Carbon tax is a form of excise, and EU directives require excise on diesel to be a minimum of 33c per litre. (1/2)

Resharing this because (a) apparently the Insta version “is going viral within government” (folks, have you maybe considered trying to explain this yourselves?) and (b) it illustrates how hard it will be to offer some other tangible costcutting that can convince the blockades to stand down

🚨 Government to propose a series of direct time-limited payments to haulage, transport and farm operators to help them address spikes in fuel costs - details of the ‘Fuel Support Scheme’ to be outlined to stakeholder groups when meetings resume in about an hour’s time. @virginmedianews.bsky.social

First time we have seen this in 5 days of protests - Gardai using an army heavy towing vehicle to move blockade tractors off the road at Whitegate - vid Brian Connolly

The U.S. military is intensifying efforts to secure greater access to Greenland, a clear signal that President Trump’s interest in the enormous Arctic island has not waned. Here's what to know.

‼️ The situation in the Middle East is disrupting the EU Commissioners’ agenda : they will hold a debate on the war and its consequences (energy, supply chains, internal security...) next Monday. A debate on China that had been planned has been postponed to a later date.

RTE : l’industriel, le financier et l’influenceur ✍️ Marie Guitton

Le Conseil énergie de ce 16 mars devrait permettre d’y voir plus clair sur les rapports de force politiques autour du paquet réseaux. @sunderjourno.bsky.social présente les forces en présence et les points sensibles www.contexte.com/fr/article/e...