Maroš Šefčovič and the Art of Survival
Ukraine: Trump tells EU leaders he plans to meet Putin and Zelenskyy as early as next week
Populism: At inauguration, Nawrocki vows to defend Polish sovereignty, takes aim at Brussels
Migration: Macron tightens visa rules for Algerian diplomats, escalating deportation row
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In the capital
After two decades in Brussels, Maroš Šefčovič is once again at the centre of transatlantic diplomacy – this time, negotiating a deal with Donald Trump.
Šefčovič, now in charge of trade, has spent his career threading Europe's thorniest needles, from gas deals with Moscow to Brexit, earning himself the nickname 'Mr. Fix It.'
These days, he's also 'Mr. Sell It,' defending the US tariff deal that many in Paris and Berlin consider uncomfortably soft, even as he haggles over its fine print and chases trade agreements with other nations, from South America to India, to broaden the bloc's reach.
'A deal is better than a trade war,' Šefčovič told The Capitals by email. 'It would be easy to seek popularity by taking a hard line but that risks crippling tariffs, stalled trade and damaged transatlantic relations for a generation, perhaps. I choose to keep pushing for an agreement.'
On staying another term? 'This time, I truly don't think so – though, I have said that before,' he said, with a smiley face emoji.
Read my full profile here.
Trump moves toward Ukraine ceasefire talks
The US president is reportedly preparing to meet Vladimir Putin as early as next week, followed by a three-way meeting that would include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Washington ramps up efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.
In a national address last night, the Ukrainian president said Russia appeared 'more inclined' toward a ceasefire, crediting mounting international pressure. The comments came after Trump disclosed that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a 'highly productive meeting' with Putin in Moscow – just days ahead of a deadline Trump set for Russia to reach a deal to end the war or face US sanctions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was notably absent from the call. According to Bloomberg, Moscow may offer to suspend airstrikes in exchange for sanctions relief.
Meanwhile, Trump has imposed an additional 25% levy on Indian goods, punishing New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil, a lifeline for Moscow's war effort.
In the wake of the "biggest trade deal ever" last month...
... the EU and US have repeatedly clashed over what was actually agreed – but on economic security, both sides appear united, with China clearly in their sights, Euractiv's Thomas Møller-Nielsen writes.
A fight over Brussels green space
A former railway yard just north of Brussels, now one of Belgium's most biodiverse urban sites, is at the centre of a growing political standoff. Plans to build over 500 homes – many of them social housing – have drawn pushback from the green party Ecolo, which has proposed a construction moratorium across similar sites until the city updates its 25-year-old land use plan.
With support from several parties, including the liberal MR and Flemish nationalists, the proposal reflects a broader EU tension: how to meet urging housing needs without sacrificing fragile green spaces. Similar debates are unfolding from Lisbon to Berlin as climate woes collide with real estate pressure. Read more.
Poland's president throws down the gauntlet
Law & Justice-backed Karol Nawrocki pledged a tougher line on Brussels as he was sworn in as president yesterday. Promising to defend 'a sovereign Poland,' Nawrocki rejected the idea of being a 'subsidiary farm' of the EU and accused Donald Tusk's government of failing to stand up for national interests. He also vowed to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. Read more.
Meanwhile...
Tensions with Berlin flared after Warsaw sacked its coordinator for German-Polish relations, Krzysztof Ruchniewicz, and abolished the post entirely on this week. Berlin officials were reportedly upset by the move, which followed reports that Ruchniewicz had suggested returning cultural artefacts moved during World War II – a claim he denies. Berlin is pressing Warsaw to fill the 'big gap' the dismissal has left.
The capitals
PARIS | France is pulling back a 2013 deal with Algeria that exempted diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements, a symbolic break that reflects deeper unease. President Emmanuel Macron's move follows mounting tensions, over migration, colonial memory, and a recent knife attack by an Algerian national France had long tried to repatriate.
BERLIN | A media group controlled by family of the late Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is edging closer to a takeover of German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1, raising concerns in Berlin about press freedom. Germany's culture minister warned that editorial independence must be preserved as the deal advances. Read more.
ROME | Lawmakers here now have 60 days to decide whether to approve criminal proceedings against three senior officials – Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovan – over the release of Osama al‑Masri Njeem, a Libyan general wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. PM Giorgia Meloni has defended the move, saying the decision was made collectively.
VILNIUS | Lithuania's ruling Social Democrats party have nominated Social Affairs Minister Inga Ruginienė as its candidate for PM, following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas. A former trade union leader, Ruginienė pledged to steer the coalition with a firmer focus on social justice.
MADRID | Spain's defence ministry has ruled out buying US F-35 fighter jets for its armed forces' air fleet, opting instead for European alternatives like the Eurofighter or the Future Combat Air System, according to El País. Madrid had reportedly been in early talks with US contractors to replace its Harrier AV8Bs, due to be phased out in 2030.
ZAGREB | Croatia plans to use EU-backed defence loans to boost Ukraine's military, PM Andrej Plenković told Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a call. The assistance will come through the EU's SAFE programme, which allows countries to jointly purchase arms for Ukraine, with Croatia among 18 EU states expressing interest. Read more.
BRATISLAVA | Prime Minister Robert Fico's criminal law reform has impacted more than 3,000 cases since coming into force last year, according to an analysis by watchdog Zastavme Korupciu. Shortened statutes of limitation and reclassification of offences have led to dozens of high-profile cases being dropped, said the NGO. Despite EU concerns, the government has largely stood by the law, arguing that punishment under the framework can, in some cases, be harsher.
Also on Euractiv
Spain's smelly algae invasion creeps further into Europe
The slimy stuff has apparently now been found as far away as Sicily and the Bay of Biscay
The seas off southern Spain are turning brown. A Pacific invader, rugulopteryx okamurae, is blanketing the seafloor and upending marine life. It may soon reach France, Sicily – and beyond.
No power, no glory: The expensive weakness of the EU in Israel-Palestine
Europe has a history of making statements and issuing declarations on Israel and Palestine. But it has largely failed to act on its words.
Europe's Gaza inaction undermines its credibility, writes Gershon Baskin, the Middle East Director of the UK-based International Communities Organization. If the bloc wants to be more than a payer, it must use its leverage – even if that means being called antisemitic.
Contributors: Martina Monti, Thomas Møller-Nielsen, Nick Alipour, Bárbara Machado, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Inés Fernández-Pontes, Sara Bertolli, Aleksandra Krzysztoszek, Barbara Zmušková
Editors: Christina Zhao, Sofia Mandilara
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