France
Of Daddies and Queens — from Trump to von der Leyen — and who’s really in charge in Europe
This week’s episode of EU Confidential comes to you from the Europa building in Brussels. We’ve been covering not one but two high-stakes gatherings, starting with NATO’s …

US State Department adviser wanted to boost French far-right leader Marine Le Pen

UK-style deal is best EU will get from Trump, Lithuanian president warns

Defiant Bayrou won’t concede defeat on pension reform talks

France to cut extra €4.7B in spending this year as debt hits new record

European prosecutors crack down on fraudulent Chinese imports

Von der Leyen can’t go far with the far right
Europe managed to keep Trump in NATO. Now what?
National leaders now need to find the money and buy weapons to deter Russia while facing a potential reduction of U.S. troops on the continent.
Ursula von der Leyen amputates the Green Deal to save its life
Last year’s European election reshaped EU politics. The Commission president must acknowledge a new alternative right-wing majority even as she fights to preserve her signature political achievement.
EU conservative Weber attacks European left over greenwashing clash
The EPP chief lambasted an environmental bill at the heart of a confrontation between conservatives and their center-left partners as “grotesque.”
Friedrich Merz wants a US trade deal within days. The EU fears it will be a bad one.
The German leader is piling the pressure on Brussels to strike a deal soon with Trump so Europe doesn’t end up with the scraps.
How Trump learned to stop worrying and love NATO
European officials deployed flattery and avoided specifics to get “good vibes” and win over the president.
France pushes climate delay, imperiling EU Paris accord ambitions
Publicly Paris denies the allegation, but several other countries say it has raised that position in private meetings.
French PM Bayrou gets temporary lifeline from far right
The National Rally is still threatening to get rid of the prime minister during fall budget talks.
Germany’s energy plans to win EU endorsement as Commission unveils new subsidy rules
EU competition chief Teresa Ribera is due to announce a policy reversal on Wednesday.
Summit set to show how far the EU is from seizing the ‘global euro moment’
European Council President António Costa wants to discuss international role for euro but divisions over large-scale joint borrowing are as wide as ever.
UK to join NATO nuclear aircraft mission as it buys 12 fighter jets
Move has been welcomed by NATO boss Mark Rutte.
French government to face no-confidence vote after pension talks collapse
A vote on Prime Minister François Bayrou’s future will take place within 48 hours.
Tesla accused of deceptive marketing by French government
American automaker faces €50,000-a-day fines over advertisements claiming its cars are fully self-driving.
German finance minister ‘confident’ fiscal expansion won’t run afoul of EU rules
“We can find a common path,” Lars Klingbeil said of upcoming negotiations with the European Commission.
French PM under fire as pensions ‘conclave’ concludes without agreement
Socialists could soon turn on François Bayrou if no progress is made on retirement reform.
How Europe is leading efforts to digitize and save our ocean
To protect life on Earth, we must protect the ocean. UNOC3 revealed how innovative technological advances are helping to translate knowledge into concrete action.
Stars align for drugmakers in final straight of EU pharma package
With the EU’s competitiveness push gaining urgency amid growing trade tensions with the U.S., plans to tighten pharmaceutical rules could soften — making the final legislation more industry-friendly than originally envisioned.
Trump’s Iran bombing tests the limits of British influence
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has bent over backwards to win Trump’s favor. Yet on Iran that approach bore little fruit.
Von der Leyen’s huge gamble puts her biggest policies at risk
The Common Agricultural Policy reform, new rules for deportations and revised environmental standards could all be hit by a recent decision to pull the greenwashing law.
Macron: US strikes on Iran aren’t legal
European leaders are walking a tightrope between condemning Tehran’s nuclear program while calling for restraint.
Paris Olympics cost taxpayers many times more than advertised, auditors say
France’s Court of Auditors said taxpayers ended up spending nearly €6 billion on the Games, but organizers say that figure is inflated.
UK warns Iran against Strait of Hormuz blockade
David Lammy is urging Iran not to escalate in response to U.S. strikes.
French pension ‘conclave’ faces make-or-break moment
The prime minister’s effort to find common ground on retirement reform has a Monday deadline.
Trump can pull the plug on the internet, and Europe can’t do anything about it
Trump is back — and with him, the risk that the U.S. could unplug Europe from the digital world.