The Brief – 25 July 2025: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Euractiv

4 days ago

Good Friday afternoon, wherever you may be. Schuman was markedly quieter this morning, coffee shops are shuttered, and motorways are laden with holiday-makers heading south for the Grand Départ.
Fear not, here at Euractiv HQ desks are still occupied and newsletters will still be delivered for two more weeks. And whilst the summer exodus empties a large part of the city, there's still plenty to report on.
Including secluded parties in the depths of the European Parliament, where one young MEP has been hosting exclusive soirées, with DJs, beer on tap, and free pizza. Nicoletta Ionta got the invite and spilled the goods about this novel approach to politicking.
The Asian tour
EU leaders made a fleeting visit to the eastern hemisphere, stopping in Japan on Wednesday before piling back aboard the plane for a rather colder reception in China on Thursday.
The Japan leg was a relatively amiable affair that secured an agreement to cooperate on procuring critical raw materials and strengthen business ties. Given the EU delegation's next stop, any mention of China was avoided, though the Japan mission clearly aims to reduce dependency on the world's manufacturing behemoth.
Thursday's assignment – ostensibly a celebration of 50 years' diplomatic ties between the EU and China – was always going to be awkward, with Europe hooked on Chinese goods but also outraged by its support for Russia, its grip on rare earths, and disregard for human rights.
Von der Leyen has hardened her tone towards this inconvenient trading partner and reiterated these grievances on the visit, though her Chinese counterparts showed little interest, leaving the Europeans to close the day with a press conference devoid of Chinese representatives.
Gaza stirs European consciences
The humanitarian emergency in Gaza has deteriorated for months as Israeli forces continue their ruthless assault on Hamas forces and render the war-torn region practically uninhabitable.
With Palestinian civilians trapped in camps and precious little aid being delivered, acute starvation has become one more cause of death. For many in Europe, the situation has grown intolerable. But EU criticism of Israel's offensive has fallen short of sanctions, and agreements to provide more aid have failed to alleviate the crisis.
In light of the situation, France announced Thursday that it will recognise the State of Palestine – a step taken by Spain and Ireland already last year.
Whether this will significantly shift the dial on EU relations with Israel is not yet clear. An emergency call between France, Germany, and the United Kingdom takes place on Friday afternoon, though Merz has already said his government will not recognise a Palestinian state "in the short term".
The European Parliament is also unsure whether to allow keffiyehs (the traditional Arab headdress now symbolic of solidarity with Palestine) in the building. The lack of clarity makes it likely that this will remain a point of contention – one that already has sparked skirmishes.
Kids and social media
A growing concern about the dangers of social media for minors has seen Brussels set guidelines for how platforms should protect children using their online services.
Measures to restrict access vary between EU countries, with France leading the fight after coming down hard on porn websites last month. Under the auspices of the Digital Services Act, other countries are tightening access requirements and testing age verification.
Much ado about veggie food
If you thought 'Solmon' or 'Tu-nah' were inoffensive labels for non-fish alternatives, think again. The fish industry is in a flap about names that imitate the real thing and want to put an end to it (though it won't stop companies producing the actual products).
"Call a spade a spade," an industry representative argued; one MEP supportive of the cause said that fish lovers should be "worried".
The opposition follows a similar battle for the right to use terrestrial meat terms for plant-based alternatives. But the industry distress has done little to dent veggie appetites, as sales of non-meat delicacies continue to rise.
Belgium-France nuclear cooperation
The anti-nuclear sentiment whipped up by Green parties in Belgium has finally dissipated and the new government has overturned plans to phase out the country's reactors.
But to make a "more sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe", Belgium will work closely with France to extend its nuclear capacity.
Across Europe, attitudes towards the zero-emissions energy sources are changing as governments recognise their potential to deliver energy sovereignty and reduce dependence on natural gas imports.