Good morning,
World leaders gathered in Rome on Saturday for pope Francis's funeral, where Trump and Zelenskyy held a 15-minute meeting inside St. Peter’s Basilica — their first since a heated Oval Office exchange in February. The conversation was described by both sides as very productive. In a social media post after the meeting, Trump expressed doubts about Putin's willingness to end the war in Ukraine, floating the idea he'd impose new sanctions on Russia. Apart from the Ukraine war, the funeral was also marked by a von der Leyen brush-by, and a Trump faux pas and Francis' embrace of refugees. Andrew Rettman’s piece has the details.
This week, the European People's Party (EPP) is holding a congress in Valencia to re-elect Manfred Weber as president. However, protests over the regional government's handling of the deadly floods are likely to overshadow the meeting, with demonstrations planned just hours before it begins. In October last year, Valencia experienced devastating flash floods that resulted in over 220 deaths and left nearly 80 people missing. The regional government's response, led by the conservative PP, faced severe criticism for delayed emergency alerts and inadequate preparedness. But the finger-pointing continues between the regional government and the capital, Madrid.
- Elena Sánchez Nicolás, editor-in-chief
Advert
If you (or your organisation) is interested in getting access to a unique view on EU affairs, there's more information about institutional memberships here. Share it with your boss and relentlessly pester them to get one. Or share the right contact person with at@euobserver.com.
Agenda
All eyes on Berlin, Valencia and Rio de Janeiro This WEEK
Germany prepares for a conservative-led government with Friedrich Merz as chancellor, while the EPP congress in Valencia could face a backlash over the deadly floods response last October. BRICS, climate talks, and the Kallas plan to support Ukraine are also on the agenda this week.
Read it
What else you need to know
Funeral diplomacy: Trump makes nice on Ukraine, but no EU talks
A Trump-Zelenskyy tête-à-tête, a von der Leyen brush-by, and a Trump faux pas marked Pope Francis' funeral in Rome on Saturday.Read on »
Advert
Trump's upturning of trade risks five million European jobsOpinion
As the EU adapts to Trump's new trade agenda — with five million jobs at stake — it must protect its social model through investment, fair trade deals, and full union involvement in shaping the bloc’s strategy.Read on »
Turkey's 'Year of the Family' — but not for womenAnalysis
Turkey declared 2025 the “Year of Family” — despite the country's rising femicide rate. Rights groups say government policies prioritise family unity over women’s safety, while systemic failures and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention fuel a deadly pattern of violence.Read on »
In case you missed it
Poland’s demographic crisis: a growing security threat for Nato eastern flankOpinion
Poland is widely viewed as a model Nato ally, being on track to spend nearly five percent of its GDP on defence. But behind this robust image lies a deep structural vulnerability that could undermine the country's defence posture in the decades ahead: demographics. Here's why.Read on »
In search for Asian trade allies, EU must avoid past mistakes Column
If they are to make common cause with their Asian counterparts, European policymakers (and those who cheer them on from the sidelines) will have to change outdated paternalistic mindsets. “Now it is about being pragmatic and acknowledging how much we need each other.”Read on »
Sudan gold smuggling poses EU questions on future reconstruction
Sudan's gold exports are financing its warring militias to the tune of billions of US dollars, posing questions as to what extent the EU should help rebuild the country.Read on »
EU states weaken anti-corruption bill, key MEPs say
European lawmakers are complaining that member states are watering down an anti-corruption bill amid questions on whether to include EU institutions as part of its scope. Read on »
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten