The battle for the EU budget - who wins, who loses?
But it's not only about politics - it's about who wins and who loses in crucial areas like technology, agriculture and climate action. Who will finally get their way? And what are the benefits for ordinary citizens?
Questions for our panel this week: Kait Bolongaro, managing editor for Europe at MLEX, Tomi Huhtanen, executive director at the Wilfried Martens Centre and Dave Keating, Brussels correspondent for France 24.
To say that the European Commission's proposal for a long-term budget would not survive in its current form, would be an understatement.
For Chancellor Friedrich Merz the EU must do more with the money it has. This sets up a clash with fellow German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen who believes that rising challenges need an adequate fiscal response - in other words: more money.
Get ready for bruising budget battles that might last two years!
Another fight over money: This time, it would make smoking, in all its forms, more expensive. The EU Commission announced a renewed push to curb tobacco consumption through higher taxation.
At the same time, the World Health Organization is sounding the alarm bell: chronic public health problems are getting out of hand. As a remedy, the WHO is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 percent over the next ten years through higher taxes.
This would save millions of lives and raise 1.4 trillion dollars globally, according to the WHO.
The move would help cut consumption of the products which contribute to diseases like diabetes and cancer. The WHO is now becoming an ally for the European Commission, which wants to modernize the EU's Tobacco Taxation Directive. A strong signal for public health or just another way to squeeze taxpayers? Can public health be improved by fiscal measures?
Finally, panellists discuss the fast-fashion industry operating in Eurpope, as the hunt for super-cheap online bargains might get a little less attractive - at least in France.
The government in Paris has hit Chinese ultra-fast fashion giant SHEIN with a €40 million fine for what regulators call 'deceptive commercial practices.' It's a major escalation in Europe's scrutiny of the fast fashion model.
The blow comes two months after the European Commission found Shein guilty of engaging in illegal commercial practices under EU law, following a coordinated investigation with national consumer protection authorities.
And earlier this year, France already presented new legislation targeting Shein and its Chinese rival Temu, imposing eco-taxes, advertising bans and influencer restrictions.
Will these steps have an impact among consumers? Will they stop buying from those sites?
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